Squirrelflight's Hope

CHAPTER 15

“I’m coming with you.” Squirrelflight squared her shoulders as she faced Jayfeather.

Jayfeather narrowed his eyes. “This is between medicine cats.”

Alderheart shifted beside the blind tom. “We’re going to talk to Puddleshine, to see if he has seen anything like Larksong’s sickness in ShadowClan.”

“I have to put the Clan’s minds at rest,” Squirrelflight insisted. Through the night, rumors that ShadowClan had been the cause of Larksong’s sickness had spread like fleas through the Clan. By morning, as the rain clouds cleared from above the camp, her Clanmates had barely listened to her orders for the day’s patrols.

Lionblaze had paced the clearing with ruffled fur. “We should send a patrol to ShadowClan.”

“They can’t get away with poisoning a second Clan,” Cinderheart had agreed.

Around them, Poppyfrost, Cherryfall, and Molewhisker had nodded, murmuring their agreement.

Bramblestar had scrambled down from the Highledge and stood beside Squirrelflight. “We don’t have any proof that ShadowClan caused this. And there’s so much tension among the Clans that an accusation like this might lead to war.”

The warriors had backed down and, grumbling, gone on patrol. But Squirrelflight was convinced that the rumors would rumble on unless some cat investigated the claims of poisoning.

Now she blinked hopefully at Alderheart and Jayfeather as they prepared to leave for the ShadowClan camp. “I’ll tell ShadowClan I’m escorting you. I’ll tell them that we’re worried about the threat from the Sisters.” Guilt pricked at her belly. The Sisters weren’t a threat to any cat. But she had to get into the ShadowClan camp and find proof that ShadowClan was innocent.

Jayfeather’s tail twitched impatiently. “You ought to ask Bramblestar’s permission,” he grunted. “We can’t accuse ShadowClan without proof.”

“I’m not going to accuse anyone,” Squirrelflight told him. “I just want to see how ShadowClan acts when I tell them about Larksong. I’ll be able to tell if they’re guilty.”

Jayfeather snorted. “ShadowClan is always guilty of something.”

Squirrelflight held her ground. “I have to come with you.”

Alderheart met her gaze nervously. “ShadowClan might take offense if we bring a warrior to their camp. You should get Bramblestar’s permission.”

Squirrelflight swallowed her frustration. “Bramblestar is out hunting,” she reminded them. “I can’t ask him now.”

“We can’t wait.” Alderheart glanced anxiously toward the medicine den.

“If Puddleshine knows of a way to help Larksong, we need to hear it as soon as possible,” Jayfeather chimed.

Squirrelflight gazed at them desperately. She was Clan deputy. If she wanted to travel with them, she could. And yet she knew they were right. Tensions with ShadowClan were already high. If her visit to their camp made things worse, ThunderClan could find itself facing battle. She needed Bramblestar’s support for her mission. And, she realized, she needed his support as her mate. She was always better with him behind her. She should have realized that from the start. “Let’s find him,” she suggested.

“He could be anywhere,” Jayfeather objected.

“He said he was going to hunt near the beech grove,” she told him. “It’s not far out of the way. We could stop and get Bramblestar’s permission.”

Jayfeather’s ear twitched. “I guess we could,” he conceded. “But I’m not going to wait around while you search the area. If we find him, great. If we don’t, you ought to return home.”

“Okay,” Squirrelflight agreed reluctantly. She would respect her medicine cat’s wishes.

She let Jayfeather and Alderheart lead the way through the thorn tunnel, relieved to be out of camp as they headed into the forest. She couldn’t help Larksong, but hopefully she could put her Clanmates’ minds at rest by proving that ShadowClan wasn’t involved.

Jayfeather followed a rabbit trail into the swaths of blueberry bushes that covered the forest floor around the hollow. Alderheart followed, his gaze darting here and there as though looking for prey.

“Are you hoping to hunt?” Squirrelflight called to him as she padded behind them.

“I’m looking for herbs,” he called back. “New patches appear at the end of greenleaf. They’ll be too young to harvest, but it’s useful to notice where they’ll appear again in newleaf.”

Pride warmed Squirrelflight’s pelt. She remembered Alderheart as a kit, hardly able to tell a good piece of prey from a bad one. He’d been a terrible warrior apprentice, but he’d found his feet as a medicine cat. Now he could recognize every herb in the forest. He’s grown up now, she thought with a pang of grief. He doesn’t need me anymore. She pushed away the longing as she imagined a nest of newborn kits.

The forest sloped. She pricked her ears. The beech grove was beyond the next rise. Opening her mouth, she let the air bathe her tongue, searching for Bramblestar’s scent. What if he wasn’t there? If she had to turn back, would Jayfeather and Alderheart be able to tell whether ShadowClan had been involved in Larksong’s sickness? They hadn’t known them as long as she had. She scanned the woods. Thick brambles crowded between the beeches. The forest was lighter here. Sunshine glimmered through delicate leaves. She felt its warmth on her pelt and slowed, narrowing her eyes as she searched for a sign of Bramblestar’s hunting party.

Jayfeather, who was hurrying ahead, turned his face toward her, his blind blue gaze flashing through the green undergrowth. “We can’t slow down,” he told Squirrelflight. “Larksong is depending on us.”

Alderheart pushed through a stand of ferns. “Bramblestar’s not here.” His eyes glittered with worry. “Are you going to head back?”

“We’re not out of the beech grove yet.” Squirrelflight padded onward, her breath shallow as she scanned the forest desperately for some sign of Bramblestar’s patrol.

Jayfeather shrugged and pushed on, his tail flicking behind him.

Squirrelflight could see the shadows ahead where the beeches gave way to oak and pine beyond. She pricked her ears, listening for paw steps. Ahead, the brambles thinned, and Jayfeather padded softly into a clearing. As he crossed it, Squirrelflight’s heart sank. He isn’t here. Her paws tingled with the urge to keep moving, to go anyway, but in her heart she knew that wouldn’t work. Between Jayfeather’s objections and Bramblestar’s possible reaction, it could have terrible results … and she just couldn’t do that to Bramblestar again. So she wouldn’t be able to visit ShadowClan after all. “Alderheart.” She ducked from beneath a bramble.

He blinked at her. “What?”

“Will you ask Puddleshine whether the poison might have come from ShadowClan?”

His pelt ruffled. “I can’t accuse his Clanmates.”

“But you’ll try to find out as much as you can,” Squirrelflight pressed.

Jayfeather stopped in the clearing. “If Larksong’s sickness has anything to do with ShadowClan, we’ll find out,” he promised. “But we’re not going to start a fight. We’re healers, not warriors.”

“I know.” Squirrelflight’s paws pricked with frustration. She stopped as they headed toward the border, watching them disappear among the brambles on the far side of the clearing. Her heart sank. She hated feeling so powerless. As she turned back to camp, paws thrummed the ground. A squirrel shot from the brambles beside her and cut across her path. It disappeared into the bracken on the other side. Excitement flashed beneath her pelt. As she turned to chase it, a cat exploded from the brambles. Ginger fur blazed past her. Cherryfall! A second warrior burst from the brambles, then a third. Berrynose and Dewnose were on Cherryfall’s heels, their pelts fluffed as they plunged into the bracken.

“Squirrelflight!” Bramblestar’s mew made her jump. She turned as he scrambled to a halt beside her. His tail was bushed and his eyes shone. “What are you doing here?”

“Looking for you.”

“Why?” Bramblestar was out of breath.

Squirrelflight nodded toward the brambles where the medicine cats had disappeared. “Jayfeather and Alderheart are going to consult with Puddleshine about Larksong,” she explained quickly. “I want to go with them.”

“To question ShadowClan about the sickness?” Bramblestar narrowed his eyes.

“I wasn’t going to question them, but I want to see how they react when I tell them about Larksong. There are too many rumors in ThunderClan. I need to tell our Clanmates that I saw for myself that ShadowClan has nothing to do with this.”

“Are you afraid some of our warriors will take revenge?”

“I just think there’s enough tension on the border at the moment.” She searched Bramblestar’s gaze. Was he going to send her back to camp?

He whisked his tail. “I think it’s a good idea.”

“You do?” Surprise fizzed beneath her pelt. She could hardly remember the last time they’d agreed.

“There’s no harm in warning ShadowClan that there might be sickness or infected prey around.” Bramblestar looked toward the ShadowClan border. “And if you find any suggestion that ShadowClan might have been involved, at least we’ll know the worst and be able to prepare.”

She blinked at him. “So I can go?”

“I think you should hurry.” Bramblestar peered through the trees. “Jayfeather’s probably at the border by now.”

Squirrelflight lifted her tail. “Thanks, Bramblestar.” She broke into a run, racing along the route Jayfeather and Alderheart had taken. The scent of pines bathed her nose as she neared the border. She could see Jayfeather’s gray pelt, pale in the shadows. Alderheart paced beside him.

They looked around, blinking as she crashed through a patch of ferns and pulled up beside them.

“I found Bramblestar,” she puffed. “He thinks it’s a good idea if I come with you.”

Jayfeather flicked his tail and turned his muzzle back toward the border, tasting the air. “You made it just in time. Here comes a ShadowClan patrol.”

Squirrelflight pricked her ears, listening for the sound of paw steps.

Alderheart stretched his muzzle forward, scanning the pines. “Where?”

As he spoke, pelts showed in the shadows. Squirrelflight recognized Snowbird’s white pelt moving between the trees. Snaketooth and Cinnamontail were with her.

Snowbird’s eyes narrowed as she headed toward the border, her hostile gaze fixed on Jayfeather. “What do you want?” she asked sharply as she reached them.

“We need to speak with Puddleshine,” Jayfeather told her.

“There’s sickness in our camp,” Alderheart added. “We need his advice.”

“And to warn Tigerstar,” Squirrelflight mewed quickly.

“Warn him?” Snowbird narrowed her eyes. “About what?”

“I’ll tell that to him,” Squirrelflight meowed pointedly.

“Tigerstar’s out hunting,” Snaketooth grunted.

“I can speak to Cloverfoot,” Squirrelflight told him. Would ShadowClan’s deputy know as much as their leader?

Snowbird’s nose twitched warily. “How do we know you’re not bringing the sickness with you?”

“We’re fine,” Jayfeather promised. “A medicine cat would never knowingly spread illness.”

Snowbird eyed him, then nodded. “Okay.” She sniffed his pelt as he crossed the border. Alderheart followed. Squirrelflight glanced at Snaketooth and Cinnamontail, then padded after her Clanmates.

The ShadowClan warriors kept their distance as they escorted the ThunderClan patrol to the ShadowClan camp. Snaketooth and Snowbird exchanged glances but didn’t speak until the camp wall loomed between the trees.

“Go straight to Puddleshine’s den,” Snowbird told Jayfeather as she ducked through the entrance tunnel.

“Why would I want to go anyplace else?” Jayfeather padded after her.

Squirrelflight followed, Alderheart at her heels.

Acrid ShadowClan scent filled her nose as she emerged into the clearing. Sparrowtail and Whorlpelt were dragging old bedding from a den. Yarrowleaf and Berryheart sorted through the fresh-kill pile. Outside the elders’ den, Lightpaw and Pouncepaw were practicing battle moves in front of Oakfur and Ratscar. The apprentices paused as they saw the ThunderClan patrol, turning their heads to stare as Jayfeather and Alderheart crossed to Puddleshine’s den.

Puddleshine ducked out, his eyes lighting as he saw Jayfeather and Alderheart. “It’s good to see you.” He stretched his nose forward, greeting them warmly, and led them inside.

“Can I speak with Cloverfoot now?” Squirrelflight asked Snowbird.

Snowbird swished her tail. “Wait here.” As she headed across the clearing, Ratscar sat up and stared at Squirrelflight. Hostility sharpened his gaze. Sparrowtail and Whorlpelt uncurled their claws. Yarrowleaf pushed a vole to one side and padded closer, her hackles lifting.

Squirrelflight forced her pelt to stay smooth. ShadowClan clearly wasn’t pleased to see her. They must resent the agreement ThunderClan had made with WindClan as much as their leader did. She felt their stares burning though her pelt as she waited for Snowbird to return with Cloverfoot.

Snowbird disappeared into a den at the far end of the camp. She emerged a few moments later, Cloverfoot at her heels. The ShadowClan deputy stared curiously at Squirrelflight, pausing for a moment before crossing the clearing.

Squirrelflight padded to meet her, stopping short as Cloverfoot fluffed out her gray tabby pelt, her gaze hardening into anger.

“What are you doing here?” Cloverfoot asked icily as she reached Squirrelflight.

“I came to warn you that one of our warriors is very sick.” Squirrelflight dipped her head politely.

Cloverfoot frowned. “Why should we care?”

“We don’t know what caused his sickness.” Squirrelflight watched Cloverfoot carefully. Would the ShadowClan deputy give anything away? “He might have eaten tainted prey or picked up an illness in the forest. I thought ShadowClan should know, because we share borders and your warriors might be exposed to whatever made Larksong sick.”

Cloverfoot narrowed her eyes. “Thank you for letting us know.”

“Have any of your cats become ill?” Squirrelflight glanced around the camp, quickly reading the expressions of the other ShadowClan cats. She couldn’t see guilt there, only curiosity.

“No.” Cloverfoot whisked her tail. “Did you say Larksong might have eaten tainted prey?”

“He might have,” Squirrelflight told her. “We’re not sure yet.” Cloverfoot wasn’t showing any sign that ShadowClan might be responsible. “He’s the only cat who’s sick. So we’re hoping it’s an isolated incident.”

“I hope so too.” Concern flashed for a moment in Cloverfoot’s eyes. She blinked it away. “I think you should leave now and take your medicine cats with you.”

“But they want to consult with Puddleshine about Larksong’s symptoms.” Had they had enough time to probe for clues about ShadowClan’s involvement in their Clanmate’s sickness?

“They’ve had long enough.” Cloverfoot grew brisk. “There are injured cats trying to rest in the medicine den.”

“Injured cats?” Squirrelflight pricked her ears. Was ShadowClan in trouble? Another fight with the Sisters? Her chest tightened.

“A dispute with RiverClan border patrol,” Cloverfoot told her. “Since they found out about your agreement with WindClan, they’ve been pushing their border farther and farther, trying to reclaim their marshland.” Anger ruffled her pelt.

Squirrelflight shifted her paws self-consciously. “I’m sorry to hear that.”

“You caused it,” Cloverfoot snapped.

The camp wall shivered. Squirrelflight stiffened as Tigerstar padded into camp. Dovewing, Strikestone, and Scorchfur followed at his heels. He glared at her. “What are you doing here?”

Cloverfoot answered for her. “Squirrelflight’s come to report a sick cat in ThunderClan.”

“There are wounded cats here thanks to ThunderClan.” Tigerstar padded toward her, his hackles lifting.

“I’m sorry RiverClan is causing trouble,” Squirrelflight said, forcing her fur to remain flat. “But we can’t be held responsible for borders that don’t belong to us.”

Tigerstar glared at her. “Even when you caused the dispute?”

“We don’t control RiverClan.” Relief washed Squirrelflight’s pelt as Jayfeather and Alderheart padded from Puddleshine’s den. They should leave. Tigerstar seemed ready for a fight. Quick. She beckoned them with a flick of her tail.

Tigerstar kept his gaze fixed on her. “How can you be so arrogant?” Anger hardened his mew. “You stop us finding new land for SkyClan—”

Squirrelflight interrupted him. “SkyClan hasn’t agreed to move yet.”

Tigerstar snorted. “Everyone knows that Leafstar thinks the mountain territory would make a perfect home for SkyClan.”

“But moving there is SkyClan’s choice, not yours,” Squirrelflight insisted. “Besides, the Sisters still live there. In a moon, the Sisters will be gone and Leafstar will have made a decision.”

“A moon!” Tigerstar lashed his tail. “How many warriors will have been injured in a moon?”

“None, if you and RiverClan agree to wait.”

“Like you and WindClan agreed to wait?” Tigerstar spat. “How can we expect anything but hostility from RiverClan now that you’ve given WindClan their moorland back?”

“Perhaps you should think about giving RiverClan their marshland back—”

Tigerstar cut her off. “How dare you?” he hissed. “You tell me that SkyClan must make their own decision, then tell me I should give RiverClan our land!”

“I’m just trying to help.” Heat burned Squirrelflight’s pelt. She could understand Tigerstar’s frustration. But for the sake of the Sisters, he had to wait.

Jayfeather flicked his tail impatiently. “The last argument didn’t solve this, and neither will this one.” He turned his blind blue gaze on Squirrelflight. “We should get back to camp. Leafpool might need our help.”

A growl rumbled in Tigerstar’s throat. “Your medicine cat is right. Leave.” He nodded to Dovewing and Scorchfur. “Escort them to the border.”

“We know the way,” Squirrelflight told him, bristling.

“I want to make sure you go.” Tigerstar eyed her darkly.

As Squirrelflight stalked past him, he called after her. “Tell Bramblestar that if our border dispute goes on much longer, we won’t wait for StarClan to decide whether we can take the Sisters’ land, or for Leafstar to make her decision. We’ll take the land ourselves. RiverClan might even help us, for the sake of peace.”

She ignored him, but her belly churned with fear. The Sisters were impressive and powerful cats, but could they defend themselves against the aggression of two Clans?

Alderheart fell in beside her, his gaze flitting anxiously around the camp. From all sides, ShadowClan cats were glowering at them menacingly.

Jayfeather padded behind, his tail twitching as Dovewing and Scorchfur followed. “Warriors,” he grumbled. “All they think about is borders.”

As they ducked out of the camp, Dovewing and Scorchfur fanned out. Scorchfur stared ahead, his pelt bristling along his spine.

Dovewing glanced nervously at Squirrelflight. “Tigerstar has a point,” she murmured.

Squirrelflight looked at her, surprised. Dovewing had been raised in ThunderClan. She had kin there and had been a loyal ThunderClan warrior until she’d joined ShadowClan to be with Tigerstar so they could raise their kits together.

Dovewing dropped her gaze. “I just mean I can see ShadowClan’s point of view now.”

“I know they’ve lost territory,” Squirrelflight conceded. “But if they just wait a moon—”

“It’s not that.” Dovewing moved closer, lowering her voice. “It’s the way ThunderClan does things,” she murmured. “I can see why the other Clans get irritated. ThunderClan cats only seem to be able to see their point of view. It’s like they think they’re better than everyone else. And Bramblestar always acts like he knows best, when he doesn’t know any more than any other leader.”

“But he’s smart,” Squirrelflight argued.

“So is Tigerstar,” Dovewing shot back. “And Mistystar and the others. They can see that moving SkyClan to new land would solve everyone’s problems, but Bramblestar is hung up on making sure SkyClan’s feelings don’t get hurt. Tigerstar is right—the mountain territory would be great for SkyClan. It would be great for any Clan.”

Alarm sparked in Squirrelflight’s pelt. “But what about the Sisters?”

“Who cares about the Sisters?” Dovewing blinked at her. “They’re just a bunch of rogues who don’t even want the land. They were planning to move on anyway; we just want them to do it a little sooner. It’s not like chasing a Clan from their home.”

Jayfeather sniffed beside them. “She has a point.”

“No, she doesn’t.” Squirrelflight swished her tail crossly. “Being a warrior is more than being practical. It’s about doing what’s right. Bramblestar is only trying to make sure that SkyClan doesn’t feel they’re being pressured. It’s important that they feel like the other Clans respect them. And the Sisters aren’t rogues. They’re more like a Clan than you think. And their leader is expecting kits. What kind of fox-heart would chase an expectant mother from her den?”

Dovewing shrugged. “I guess ThunderClan will never see that protecting your own Clan is sometimes more important than being right.” She moved away, shadowing the patrol but keeping distance between herself and her old Clanmates.

Squirrelflight glanced at Jayfeather. “Does ThunderClan really think it’s better than everyone else?”

Jayfeather grunted. “Every Clan thinks it’s better than everyone else.” He quickened his pace, his empty gaze on the forest ahead. “Isn’t that part of the warrior code?”

Squirrelflight stared at him. Didn’t cats believe in honor anymore? Couldn’t they see that she and Bramblestar wanted the best for everyone? She shook out her fur. At least and she and Bramblestar agreed on something at last. The borders must stay the same until SkyClan and the Sisters were ready to move. A chill wormed beneath her pelt. But what if protecting the borders led the Clans into battle? War was the one thing StarClan had warned them against. She shivered. By protecting the Sisters, would she anger her ancestors?