Squirrelflight's Hope

CHAPTER 24

Squirrelflight felt soft grass beneath her. She half opened her eyes, remembering the landslide and expecting to feel pain. Hadn’t something hit her head? Sunlight dazzled her. Was she still in the Sisters’ valley? She lifted her head, surprised that she felt so well. She scrambled to her paws and blinked at the flower-dappled meadow rolling away into soft green hills. In the dip below her, a shining pond glittered in sunshine. Around it, willows draped branches toward the water. She shook out her pelt. Her head felt clear, her body strong. She glanced around. Where was everyone? Was the battle over?

Leafpool lay a tail-length away, curled into a small dip in the grass.

Squirrelflight’s chest tightened. Was she hurt? Her sister had been at the back of the cave when it had collapsed. She nudged Leafpool with her muzzle. “Are you okay?”

Leafpool lifted her head blearily and blinked open her eyes. “I think so?” She glanced around, surprise flashing in her eyes. “What are we doing here?”

“Do you know where this is?” Squirrelflight looked at her.

Leafpool looked away without answering.

She must still be groggy. Squirrelflight scanned the landscape. “The others must have carried us here,” she guessed. “It’s probably near the Sisters’ camp. It doesn’t look like Clan territory.”

Leafpool got to her paws. “It’s not,” she mewed softly.

Squirrelflight glanced at her sister. There was a faraway look in her eyes. Unease fluttered in her belly. How could Leafpool know this place?

Leafpool’s pelt rippled along her spine. “Squirrelflight. We’re in StarCl—”

“No!” Squirrelflight froze. “We can’t be dead. There’s too much left to do. We must be near the Sisters’ camp.” She looked around frantically. “We need to find some cat. Bramblestar will be nearby. He wouldn’t leave me alone.”

Leafpool’s gaze flitted past her. Squirrelflight followed it, dreading what she would see. Larksong! The black tom was padding across the grass toward them. Starlight rippled in his fur.

Squirrelflight backed away. The ground seemed to shift beneath her paws. “Did the landslide kill us?”

“You’re not dead yet.” Larksong dipped his head as he reached them.

Relief washed Squirrelflight’s pelt. She glanced down at her own pelt and realized that she and Leafpool didn’t sparkle as Larksong did. We aren’t StarClan—yet.

Leafpool frowned, puzzled. “Is this a vision?”

“No.” He met her gaze somberly. “You were both hurt in the landslide,” Larksong told them. “Your bodies are in the ThunderClan camp. Alderheart and Jayfeather are trying to save you. While they try, you have paws in each world: two in the forest and two in StarClan.”

Squirrelflight stared at him. “Trying to save us?”

Larksong met her gaze. “We don’t know if you’ll live. But you’ll stay here until we find out.”

“I can’t die!” Squirrelflight’s pelt bushed. “Bramblestar thinks I betrayed him! Sparkpelt needs me.” She stared urgently at Larksong, wondering why he was sent to guide them. Because he died so recently? Surely he’ll understand… . “You must send me back.”

“It’s not in my paws,” he told her.

Leafpool tipped her head. “Can I see my body?”

“You can, if you wish.” Larksong glanced toward the shining pond. “You can watch from there.”

Squirrelflight pricked her ears. “Do you mean we can see ourselves in ThunderClan?”

“Yes.” Larksong headed downslope toward the pond.

Squirrelflight hurried after him. “Will I be able to see Bramblestar?” She needed to know if he still believed she’d been willing to let Flurry kill him.

“You might,” Larksong told her. “It depends.”

“On what?” Leafpool followed, pricking her ears.

“I’m not sure. Sometimes the view is clouded.”

As they neared the pool, Larksong crouched at the edge and dipped a paw in.

Squirrelflight gazed down. As he swirled the water, she saw, beyond the dazzling surface, a shadowy forest. She began to make out a hollow among the trees. ThunderClan’s camp.She leaned closer. The scene seemed to open, cats and dens coming into focus, and she could see her Clanmates moving around the clearing. Bramblestar was pacing outside the medicine den, his pelt matted and unkempt, still stained with the blood of battle. She tried to see his face. Was he angry? Betrayed? But a moment later, the vision darkened and suddenly moved inside the medicine den. “Is that me?” Her paws pricked as she recognized flame-colored fur in a nest at the edge of the den.

“Yes.” Larksong nodded.

Her body lay limply on the bracken while Alderheart leaned over her, his forehead furrowed with worry. Leafpool lay in the next nest, unmoving, while Jayfeather sat beside her. Squirrelflight backed away from the water. Numbness seeped beneath her pelt. Was this real? She glanced at Leafpool.

Her sister was staring curiously into the pond. She lifted her face to Larksong. “Do you watch us from here?”

His eyes darkened. “I’ve been coming here to watch Sparkpelt and the kits.” He looked at Squirrelflight. “I miss her so much. If you go back, please tell her that I’ll never truly leave her.”

If. The word filled Squirrelflight with fresh dread. She pushed it away. “Of course I’ll go back. Alderheart won’t let me die.”

Larksong held her gaze. “Alderheart might not be able to keep you alive.”

“But Sparkpelt needs me!”

Larksong didn’t move. “She needed me too,” he growled.

Despite the sunshine, a chill ran through Squirrelflight’s fur.

Leafpool reached a paw toward the water. “Can I see anything I want to?” She touched the surface and the water shivered. The vision shattered and the pool once more reflected sunlight. Disappointment clouded Leafpool’s gaze.

“You still have paws in the waking world,” Larksong told her. “The view will be better when you are truly in StarClan.”

Leafpool gazed toward the rolling hills. “Where is everyone?”

Squirrelflight suddenly realized that the meadows and hills were deserted. “Do we have to wait until we’re dead to see the rest of our Clanmates?”

“No.” Larksong’s eyes brightened. “I came to welcome you. We didn’t want to overwhelm you.”

As he spoke, Squirrelflight saw figures on the crest of the hill, silhouetted against the sky. She narrowed her eyes, trying to make them out. Familiar scents touched her nose. Cinderpelt. Sorreltail. Ferncloud. Her heart leaped. Then her father’s warm scent touched her nose. It smelled just as it had when she’d been young. “Firestar!” She saw his flame-colored pelt, sparkling now with stars, and raced up the slope to meet him.

Firestar wove around her when she reached him, purring loudly. “I’ve missed you,” he meowed.

She blinked at him proudly. “Bramblestar made me deputy! Did you see?”

“Of course I saw.” His eyes sparkled. “And you’re a great deputy.”

As he spoke, Cinderpelt, Sorreltail, and Ferncloud paced eagerly around them. Squirrelflight turned to greet them, overwhelmed as she glimpsed Hollyleaf. Joy flooded her pelt. “Hollyleaf!”

The black she-cat slid between her Clanmates and touched her nose to Squirrelflight’s cheek. “Hey, Squirrelflight!” Hollyleaf’s fur sparkled in the sunlight.

“You look great.” Squirrelflight flicked her tail. For a moment, she hardly remembered the landslide and the battle.

“Hollyleaf!” Leafpool reached them, purring. Eyes bright, she pressed her muzzle deep into Hollyleaf’s neck fur. “It’s so good to see you.”

“And you.”

As Hollyleaf nuzzled her mother, Cinderpelt blinked at Squirrelflight. “We didn’t expect to see you so soon.”

Sorreltail’s eyes rounded with worry. “Firestar said you may not be with us for long.”

“Of course not.” Cinderpelt nudged her Clanmate sharply. “She needs to get back to ThunderClan. Bramblestar will be lost without her.”

Ferncloud wove between them. “While she’s here, I know two kits who’d love to see her.” She pushed her Clanmates aside, and Squirrelflight’s breath caught in her throat. Dandelionkit and Juniperkit were staring shyly at her, their small paws buried in the thick grass. Squirrelflight’s heart seemed to crack as she saw them. These were Alderheart and Sparkpelt’s littermates—the kits who’d died before she’d had the chance to raise them. She hurried to greet them, nuzzling them and running her tail along their spines.

“Are you coming to live with us?” Dandelionkit blinked at her eagerly.

“I don’t know.” Her eyes clouded. Why did she want to go back and help Sparkpelt’s kits when she had kits of her own here in StarClan?

“We can show you all the best places to hunt,” Juniperkit told her. “Longtail and Mousefur have been training us.”

Mousefur? Longtail? Squirrelflight’s heart skipped a beat. Longtail and Mousefur had been elders in ThunderClan for a very long time when Squirrelflight was younger. Her pelt prickled with happiness as she saw them padding toward her. She stared at them as Dandelionkit and Juniperkit, purring, wove around her legs. How many times had she cleaned out their bedding and helped pick fleas from their pelts? They looked like young warriors now, muscles rippling beneath their glossy fur. A tom-kit was hurrying after them. Squirrelflight froze as she recognized his orange-and-black pelt. It was Sparkpelt’s dead kit. As she stared at the tiny tom, Larksong bounded up the slope. He scooped the kit up and dropped him onto his own back, where the kit hung on, his eyes shining with excitement.

“I’ve named him Flickerkit,” Larksong meowed proudly.

Squirrelflight’s heart soared. “I can’t wait to tell Sparkpelt!” This might be just what Sparkpelt needed to lift her from her grief. She stiffened as gray fur moved at the edge of her vision. She recognized it at once. Ashfur. The gray tom had caused so much trouble for her and for Leafpool’s kits. And yet he was here. He dipped his head as she saw him, then glanced at Hollyleaf. Was Leafpool’s daughter okay with Ashfur being here? Hollyleaf blinked calmly at the gray tom. There was no sign of anger in her gaze. Had the two cats learned to live in peace here in StarClan?

Squirrelflight nodded curtly to Ashfur. She wasn’t sure she could be as forgiving as Hollyleaf. After all, Ashfur had threatened to destroy the happiness she’d found with Bramblestar, and almost succeeded. She lifted Dandelionkit and Juniperkit onto her back and padded past him to greet Longtail and Mousefur. “You look so well,” she told the elders.

“We are.” Mousefur looked far happier here than she had in her last moons in ThunderClan. “We were in the elders’ den far too long. It’s good to be able to hunt and explore again.”

“Mousefur is the best hunter in StarClan,” Dandelionkit squeaked.

“No she’s not.” Juniperkit plucked the fur between Squirrelflight’s shoulders with thorn-sharp claws. “Longtail’s the best!”

Squirrelflight could still see Ashfur out of the corner of her eye. She leaned closer to Hollyleaf. “It seems strange that he didn’t end up in the Dark Forest,” she whispered.

Hollyleaf shrugged. “I guess, but he’s apologized. I think he’s changed.”

Longtail narrowed his eyes. “I wouldn’t wish the Dark Forest on any cat.”

“What’s left of it,” Mousefur grunted.

Squirrelflight looked at her. “What do you mean?”

“Since the Great Battle, the Dark Forest has been nearly empty,” Mousefur told her. “Most of the cats who lived there were defeated and passed on. I think the forest is overgrown now and the trees are crumbling.”

Squirrelflight’s eyes widened. “Then what happens to bad cats when they die?” She thought of Darktail—surely he belonged in the Dark Forest, if any cat did.

Longtail shrugged. “Who knows? They don’t show up here.”

Dandelionkit scrambled down from her back. “What’s the Dark Forest?”

“That’s where the scary cats go.” Juniperkit leaped down after her.

“Let’s be scary cats!” Dandelionkit darted between Mousefur’s legs. Growling excitedly, Juniperkit chased after her. Flickerkit leaped down from Larksong’s back and joined in.

Leafpool tore her gaze from Hollyleaf and blinked at the kits happily. “I feel so at home here,” she purred.

Squirrelflight shivered. It was good to see so many old friends, but she wasn’t ready to stay. ThunderClan’s forest was home, not here. Her gaze flitted around her old Clanmates. They were glancing anxiously at Leafpool. Had her sister said something wrong?

Firestar’s tail twitched. “I’m glad you’re happy here,” he meowed. “But I’m not sure you can stay.”

Squirrelflight pricked her ears. “Does that mean we’re not going to die yet?” She looked at him eagerly.

Firestar’s gaze darkened. “We don’t know,” he mewed. “But even if you do, you may not be allowed to stay in StarClan.” His gaze flitted from Squirrelflight to Leafpool. “Either of you.”

Shock sparked in Squirrelflight’s belly. “What do you mean?”

Leafpool’s eyes widened. “Does StarClan think we’re bad?”

Squirrelflight stiffened. Had Bramblestar been right? Had she betrayed her Clan by supporting the Sisters? She was Clan deputy after all. Had StarClan seen her hesitate before defending Bramblestar against Flurry’s attack? I was about to save him.

Leafpool shifted beside her. “It’s because I lied about my kits, isn’t it?” She moved closer to Hollyleaf. “I had to. I had no choice. Giving up my medicine-cat duties would have been as much of a betrayal.”

“It’s not me but the whole of StarClan you have to convince.” Firestar stared at her gravely. “They believe that you broke the warrior code.” His gaze moved to Squirrelflight. “You both did. You lied to your Clan.”

Squirrelflight stared at him. “Every cat makes mistakes,” she blurted.

“Yes.” He shifted his paws uneasily. “But you must be held to account for yours before you’re allowed into StarClan.”

“How?” Leafpool’s question was barely more than a whisper.

“StarClan must review your lives.” He turned to Mousefur. “Take the kits away. They don’t need to watch this.”

“But we want to stay with Squirrelflight!” Dandelionkit’s eyes rounded with alarm.

Juniperkit stuck his fluffy tail in the air indignantly. “Please let us stay.”

“You’ll see them afterward,” Mousefur told him. She caught Firestar’s eye. “I hope.” Ignoring their complaints, the dusky brown she-cat nosed them away and swept Flickerkit after them with her tail.

Squirrelflight’s paws pricked with alarm. Where were they going?

“Follow me.” Firestar led her across the hillside while their Clanmates trailed behind and Leafpool padded at her side.

“What’s going to happen?” Squirrelflight whispered.

Leafpool glanced at her nervously. “I don’t know.”

Firestar followed the meadow to a forest that reached down into a valley. He led them between trees and brambles to a wide, grassy clearing. As he stopped in the middle, Squirrelflight glanced around. “Where are we?” The place reminded her of Fourtrees, where the Clans had gathered every moon before the Great Journey to the lake.

“This is where StarClan meets to decide the fate of every cat,” Firestar told her. As he spoke, starlight glittered between the trees. On every side, StarClan warriors padded from between the trees. Their pelts, sparkling with countless stars, lit the shadows as they gathered at the edge of the clearing.

Leafpool moved closer. “Where will we go if StarClan won’t take us?” Fear shimmered in her gaze.

Firestar’s gaze clouded. “I don’t know,” he mewed huskily.

Squirrelflight could hardly believe her ears. What if there wasn’t anywhere else? Did that mean she and Leafpool would just disappear? Would they become nothing but a fading memory for the living? Or would they end up wandering the forest forever? Perhaps Tree would be able to see them. Or the Sisters. “How will you decide?” she breathed.

Firestar shifted his paws. “I won’t decide,” he croaked. “I could never turn you away from StarClan. It is up to others.”

A black-and-white tom with a long, thin tail padded from between the trees. His pelt sparkled with starlight. Squirrelflight recognized him at once. Tallstar. As he stopped at the head of the clearing, a large, blue-gray she-cat took her place beside him. Firestar dipped his head to her. “Bluestar.” Squirrelflight felt Leafpool’s fur bristle against her flank as a large brown tom with a twisted mouth crossed the clearing. “That’s Crookedstar,” Leafpool whispered. More stars glittered in the tom’s glossy pelt.

A skinny, battle-scarred she-cat followed, with bright wide-set orange eyes. “Yellowfang.” Firestar greeted her as she stopped beside Tallstar, Crookedstar, and Bluestar, and then dipped his head to a snow-white she-cat who was padding across the clearing. “Moth Flight.” He blinked politely as a small brown tabby tom followed. “Littlecloud.” As they lined up beside the others, Firestar’s gaze flicked back to Squirrelflight. “These cats will decide if you deserve a place in StarClan.”

Squirrelflight tried to read their gazes. Would they be sympathetic?

Leafpool was staring at Firestar. “How will they decide?”

“They’ll hear what you have to say,” he told her. His tail twitched uneasily. “You’re lucky in a way. Most cats don’t have the chance to speak for themselves. Their fate is decided before they reach us.”

Squirrelflight stared at him, fear jabbing her belly. “Are we supposed to be grateful?” She and Leafpool had served their Clan since they’d been given their apprentice names. They shouldn’t have to plead for a place in StarClan.

Firestar eyed her nervously. “Please think before you speak, Squirrelflight,” he whispered.

She dipped her head apologetically and forced her pelt to smooth. “Okay.”

Moth Flight lifted her muzzle. “Leafpool. We’ll start with you.”

Leafpool’s eyes flashed with alarm.

Squirrelflight blinked at her reassuringly. “Just tell them the truth,” she murmured. “No cat could blame you for the choices you made.” She watched, her throat tightening as Leafpool padded in front of the snow-white she-cat.

Tallstar, Yellowfang, and Bluestar shifted their paws, their expressions giving nothing away. Crookedstar narrowed his eyes. Littlecloud flicked his tail as though he was impatient to begin.

“Leafpool.” Moth Flight frowned. “You had kits even though you were a medicine cat. I know how that feels. I was the Clans’ first medicine cat. I gave up my kits and it broke my heart. That’s why I made the rule that no future medicine cat should have kits. I wanted to save you all from such pain.”

“I fell in love,” Leafpool mewed simply.

Littlecloud’s pelt ruffled. “Do you think that is an excuse?”

“Every cat falls in love at least once,” Tallstar mewed. “You didn’t have to act on it.”

“You broke my rule.” Moth Flight’s gaze was still fixed on Leafpool.

“I had to.” Leafpool lifted her chin. “But being a medicine cat was too important to give up.”

“Was it worth lying for?” Moth Flight pressed.

“What else could I do?”

Moth Flight eyed her coldly. “You put your feelings before your Clan.”

That’s not true! Squirrelflight want to yowl out, but she could see Firestar’s pelt pricking. Think before you speak.

She blinked at Leafpool. Tell them how giving up your kits broke your heart too! Tell them it was the hardest decision you’ve ever made! Her sister was staring back at the StarClan cats, her eyes round. Wasn’t she going to defend herself?

Bluestar nodded to her. “Have you nothing to say?”

Leafpool met the old she-cat’s gaze, unblinking. “I’m waiting for you to say that the father of my kits was from another Clan.” Around the clearing, the gathered StarClan cats murmured softly to one another, their pelts shimmering beneath the shadow of the trees as Leafpool went on. “Why defend myself from one accusation only to face another?”

Squirrelflight stiffened. Leafpool sounded angry.

“All right.” Moth Flight’s tail twitched ominously. “You had kits with a cat from another Clan.”

“Have you no respect at all for the warrior code?” Littlecloud’s eyes flashed.

“I’m not a warrior,” Leafpool straightened. “I’m a medicine cat. And being a medicine cat means more to me than anything. I gave up Crowfeather. I gave up my kits. Yes, I broke the code, but I chose my Clan over myself.” She faced them, her pelt prickling defiantly. “If you want to keep me out of StarClan, it’s up to you.”

Bluestar’s pelt sparkled as she stepped forward. “Would you make the same choices again?”

Leafpool hesitated. “Of course I would! I can’t imagine my life without Lionblaze, Jayfeather, or Hollyleaf. I’d never choose a life without them.” She narrowed her eyes. “If they’d never been born, we might all have been lost to the Dark Forest.”

Bluestar frowned. “That has nothing to do with you breaking the code,” she snapped.

Yellowfang glanced at the ThunderClan leader. “Didn’t you have kits with a cat from another Clan, Bluestar?” she mewed softly.

“Bluestar wasn’t a medicine cat,” Moth Flight growled.

Yellowfang tipped her head to one side. “You had kits, Moth Flight, before you decided you were the first and last medicine cat who could. Is that fair?”

“It was for the good of the Clans.” Moth Flight glared at her.

“It seems to me”—Yellowfang’s ears twitched—“that Leafpool sacrificed everything she loved to be a loyal medicine cat to her Clan. Can we ask more than that?”

“Of course we can!” Littlecloud glared at his Clanmates. “What’s the point in having rules if cats can break them whenever they like?”

“Leafpool didn’t just have kits,” Crookedstar reminded them. “She had kits with a cat from another Clan and lied about it to every cat.”

Yellowfang flicked her tail crossly. “She gave them up to be a medicine cat, just as Bluestar gave up her own kits to be a leader. I did the same in my time, and I am still a member of StarClan.”

Bluestar held her gaze for a moment, then dipped her head. “Yellowfang has a point. We can’t condemn Leafpool for breaking rules we’ve broken ourselves.”

Crookedstar spoke for the first time. “Leafpool is right about her kits. They helped save the Clans from the Dark Forest.”

“Only because we chose them,” Moth Flight snapped. “We could have chosen any cat.”

Around the clearing, the StarClan warriors shifted uneasily. Squirrelflight’s pelt pricked. Moth Flight seemed determined to keep Leafpool out of StarClan. Was her word enough to overrule the others? She looked anxiously at Leafpool. Her sister’s pelt was smooth as she gazed calmly at the StarClan leaders.

“Don’t argue over me,” Leafpool mewed suddenly. “I don’t regret having my kits. Only that I lied about being their mother. I wish I’d had more courage, but I thought I was doing the best for everyone by choosing to remain a medicine cat. If you decide that I can’t join StarClan, then I must accept your decision. But please don’t turn Squirrelflight away.”

Squirrelflight’s heart leaped into her throat. Don’t sacrifice your place in StarClan for me!

Leafpool went on. “Everything she did was out of loyalty to me. I couldn’t wish to have a better sister. She wanted to protect my kits and me, and she was willing to sacrifice everything to keep us safe. If some cat must be punished for what we did, punish me, not her.”

Squirrelflight’s gaze clouded. Star-flecked pelts swam before her eyes. She could only focus on Leafpool, awaiting the judgment of StarClan. Squirrelflight pressed against Firestar. “She deserves to be here,” she whispered.

“So do you.” Firestar nudged her forward.

Squirrelflight’s pelt spiked. Bluestar was looking at her expectantly. Heart quickening, she padded toward the ThunderClan leader. Leafpool blinked encouragingly, but Squirrelflight could see fear in her sister’s gaze.

Crookedstar padded forward and glared at Squirrelflight. “You lied to your Clan,” he told her bluntly. “You lied to your mate. You told them that Hollyleaf, Lionblaze, and Jayfeather were yours. Why should such a deceitful cat have a place in StarClan?”

Squirrelflight looked at her paws. Her pelt burned. “That was my only lie,” she mumbled. “I have been loyal to my Clan in every other way.”

“Really?” Bluestar’s mew was sharp. “We have seen you choose the Sisters over your Clan time and time again in the last moon. They are strangers to the forest, and yet you put your own Clan at risk to protect them.”

“Some cat had to!” Squirrelflight raised her head.

“Why?” Bluestar’s eyes flashed.

“Moonlight was expecting kits.”

Crookedstar frowned. “Cats can have kits anywhere. If you’d let the Clans drive her off sooner, she could have had her kits far from Clan territory. No cat would have been hurt. Instead you put the kits in danger, as well as the Sisters and your Clanmates.”

“My Clanmates were never in danger,” Squirrelflight insisted.

Bluestar’s eyes widened. “Have you forgotten the landslide already? Doesn’t that count as danger?”

Guilt clawed at Squirrelflight’s heart. “I was just trying to protect every cat.” She stared helplessly at the StarClan cats. “That’s all I’ve ever wanted to do. I wanted to protect Leafpool when I lied for her. I wanted to protect Bramblestar when I lied to him. Does it matter if rules get broken if it’s to stop cats getting hurt?”

Crookedstar’s gaze darkened. “Without the warrior code, we are nothing but rogues.”

Bluestar glared at Squirrelflight. “Are you saying we should live without it?”

“No!” Panic flared in Squirrelflight’s belly. “This isn’t fair! I’m just trying to explain …” Her mew trailed away. Think before you speak. Firestar was watching her, his eyes glittering with worry. She blinked at Bluestar. “I’m sorry. I know that a warrior shouldn’t lie. And that they must put their Clan before everything. I have failed you. I’ve failed my Clan.”

Tallstar’s ears twitched. “Bluestar.” He blinked at the ThunderClan leader. “Why be so hard on her?”

“She broke the rules.”

“She told you why she did it,” Tallstar pressed.

Yellowfang narrowed her eyes thoughtfully. “Is it such a crime to protect those you care about?” She met Bluestar’s gaze. “Surely it matters more why she broke the warrior code than the fact that she did? If Squirrelflight broke rules, it was out of compassion. Is that so bad?”

Squirrelflight’s heart swelled with gratitude. “I know the warrior code is important,” she blurted. “I never would have broken it if I hadn’t felt I was doing the right thing. I hope that the mistakes I’ve made, I’ve made out of love.”

Crookedstar swapped glances with Bluestar, then nodded to Leafpool and Squirrelflight. “Thank you.” With a flick of his tail, he turned away and padded into the shadow of the forest. Bluestar, Tallstar, Moth Flight, and Littlecloud followed.

Squirrelflight stared after them, hardly able to breathe. Was that it? “Are we allowed into StarClan?”

Yellowfang glanced at her. “We’ll let you know once we’ve discussed it.” With a nod, she headed after the others.

Firestar hurried across the clearing. He stopped beside Squirrelflight and Leafpool, his pelt rippling nervously along his spine. “You spoke well, both of you.”

“I hope so.” Leafpool gazed anxiously at Squirrelflight. “If they stop you joining StarClan because of me, I’ll never forgive myself.”

Squirrelflight touched her nose to her sister’s cheek. Leafpool’s scent hadn’t changed since they were kits, and she breathed it in fondly. “Whatever they decide, you’re the best sister I could have asked for.”

“So are you.” Leafpool pressed against her, her breath warm on Squirrelflight’s neck.

Pulling away, Squirrelflight saw affection shining in her eyes. She purred. “Whatever happens, we’ll face it together.”

“Squirrelflight.” Firestar’s mew jerked her attention away. He was staring across the clearing. Bluestar, Crookedstar, and the others had returned from the shadows.

“We’ve made our decision.” Crookedstar beckoned Squirrelflight and Leafpool forward with a flick of his tail.

Squirrelflight’s chest tightened. She felt her breath quicken. Staying close to Leafpool, she crossed the clearing and stopped in front of him.

“We’ve decided that both of you did more good than harm. If this is truly the end of your lives, you may remain in StarClan.” The RiverClan leader’s eyes shone. “But remember that we are still watching. If your lives are not over, we’ll reconsider them when you return. You still have to earn your place in StarClan.”

Squirrelflight nodded. “Of course. Understood.”

“And thank you!” Leafpool pricked her ears. She turned to Squirrelflight. “If this is the end … we’ll always be together now.”

Squirrelflight blinked at her. This was what she wanted. Leafpool would always be safe now. StarClan would welcome her. She waited for happiness to spread beneath her pelt, but a chill gripped her. “I’m not ready to die,” she whispered. She turned to Firestar. “I have to go back to ThunderClan. I can’t leave things like this.”

Firestar’s eyes rounded sympathetically. “I know it’s hard to leave the living behind.” He touched his nose to her head. “But if your time has come to die, there’s nothing you can do.”

Leafpool pressed against her. “Alderheart and Jayfeather might save us.”

Squirrelflight closed her eyes. I hope so.

“In the meantime …” Firestar’s mew was suddenly brisk. He ran his tail along Squirrelflight’s spine. “You can explore our territory. One day this will be your home. There’s no harm in looking around.”