Squirrelflight lay stretched out on her side underneath an arching clump of ferns. (Their Den) Sheraised her head as Leafpool, Brambleclaw and Berryheart raced across to her. "Oh, thank StarClan!" she gasped. "Iwas afraid no cat would hear me." Berryheart crouched down beside her, studying her intently. "Lie still," she murmured. "These kitswill be born soon.""It hurts so much!" Squirrelflight moaned. Still concentrating, Leafpool ran one paw down Squirrelflight's belly and felt her hips. "There's theproblem," she told her. "It's the stiffness I warned you about.""But I did my exercises—oh!" Squirrelflight's words ended in a gasp of pain as a powerful ripplepassed down her belly."Should she have poppy seed?" Brambleclaw suggested worringly."No!" Berryheart snapped. "She's already tired, and she needs all her energy to give birth. Go andfetch me some chervil root," she added after a moment's thought.
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"Oh, it hurts so much!" she wailed. "Is there something wrong?" Brambleclaw hissed to Berryheart. "Shouldn't the kits be here by now?" "Kits take their own time," Leafpool responded, though Dovewing thought that there was worry in her eyes. It was clear that Squirrelflight was growing weaker with every spasm. Spotting a stick in the middle of the clump of ferns, Dove-wing pulled it out and took it to Squirrelflight. "Bite down on this," she suggested. "It should help when the pain comes." "Thanks" Squirrelflight meowed, gripping the stick in her jaws. the stick in her jaws. Dovewing saw Berryheart giving her a nod of approval. At last I've done something right! Then Squirrelflight gave a massive heave. Her jaws clamped down on the stick until it began to splinter. In a rush, a small wet bundle slipped out from under her tail and lay motionless on the grass. "Well done!" Leafpool cried. "There's your first kit, Squirrelflight. It's a little she-cat." "She's wonderful!" Berryheart purred, nudging the tiny kit toward her mother. Squirrelflight turned her head to look and licked feebly at the small body, only to break off a moment later as her belly convulsed again and the second kit—a small Tom—was born. Dovewing couldn't share Leafpool and Brambleclaw's delight. Both the kits were very small, and looked weak; they were hardly moving, and Squirrelflight was too exhausted to give them the vigorous licking they needed. Leafpool was examining Squirrelflight, carefully patting her belly with one forepaw. "You're done," she announced.
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Ivypool heard movement from Sol and the WindClan cats. "They're coming to look for us! Wehave to go." But even as she spoke she was terrifiedat the thought of wandering blindly through the darktunnels. Will we ever find our way out? Before either of the she-cats could move, they heard paws padding toward them from the tunnel behind. Cat scent washed over Ivypool; she thought she ought to recognize it, but she was too scared tothink clearly. She slid out her claws, her heartthumping in panic at the thought of being trappedbetween two enemies. Then the newcomer spoke. "Come with me. Quick!""No way!" Ivypool hissed, bunching her muscles tospring. "You could be with them.""I'm not," the strange cat mewed."Prove it," Dovewing challenged her."I shouldn't have to," the newcomer repliedirritably. "For StarClan's sake, let's go."Ivypool's eyes widened in shock and sheexchanged a glance with her sister, picking up thegleam of Dovewing's eyes. "StarClan? Then you . . .""Do you want to get out of here or not?" thenewcomer interrupted."Yes, we do," Ivypool snapped back. "But how do we know you won't lead us farther in?" The strange cat let out a hiss of annoyance."Because I'm a ThunderClan cat like you," shereplied, a darker shadow in the darkness of thetunnel. "My name is Hollyleaf."Ivypool felt her mouth drop open. "Hollyleaf? But you . . . you're dead!""Obviously not," the newcomer replied, with anedge to her voice. "And we don't have time to standhere discussing ancient history. We have to leavenow." The paw steps of the WindClan cats were drawingcloser, speeding up as they sensed their quarry was near. Ivypool could picture them bounding along thetunnel toward them, jaws parted to take in their ThunderClan scent."Okay," Dovewing mewed. "Show us the way." Hollyleaf spun around and whisked down a narrowside tunnel. Ivypool and Dovewing followed her, just as the first of the WindClan cats raced past. Ivypool heard their flying paw steps halt suddenly, followedby a murmur of confused voices."Where did they go?""They were here, I know they were.""Fox dung! We've lost them!" Hollyleaf ignored the WindClan cats, headingdeeper into the tunnels. Ivypool pressed close upbehind her, terrified of losing her. She knew that sheand Dovewing would never find their way out alone.After a while Hollyleaf paused; in the pitch-blackness of the tunnels Ivypool almost barged into her."You can trust me, you know," Hollyleaf meowed. "Iled you out once before, remember?""Oh!" Ivypool gulped, realizing why Hollyleaf'sscent had seemed familiar. "That was you?" Hollyleaf padded on without saying more. SoonIvypool realized that a pale light was filtering into thetunnel; Hollyleaf's head and ears were outlinedagainst it. A moment later they emerged into ashallow dip of tumbled rocks and fern on the hillside;Ivypool drew in the fresh night air, loaded with thescents of ThunderClan. She turned to their rescuer, aslender, long-legged black she-cat with piercinggreen eyes. "Thank you!""We'd never have made it without you," Dovewingadded, following them out of the tunnel and givingher pelt a shake. Hollyleaf gave her a curt nod. "Listen," she meowed. "I've heard Sol plotting with the WindClancats for the last half-moon, and—""What?" Ivypool interrupted. "That's even before hecame to ThunderClan.""They're going to attack through the tunnels," Hollyleaf continued, as if Ivypool hadn't spoken."Then we have to warn the others," Dovewing mewed, her eyes wide with dismay. "Come on,Ivypool!""Wait." Hollyleaf raised her tail as Dovewing spunaround to head for the camp. "It's not going tohappen yet. Sol wants to win more support from your Clanmates first. The WindClan cats know that he's winning ThunderClan's friendship so he can betrayyou." A soft growl rumbled in her throat. "You shouldnever have let him come back!""It wasn't up to us," Ivypool pointed out. "And hedid save the apprentices from a fox.""Sol didn't save them," Hollyleaf hissed scornfully."That was me." Shock kept Ivypool silent for a moment. Beforeshe could recover, she saw Dovewing's ears flick up, and a heartbeat later she heard voices comingfrom the direction of the camp."Dovewing! Ivypool!""Mouse dung!" she muttered. "They're looking for us."Panic flared in Hollyleaf's green eyes. "Don't tell any cat you saw me," she begged."Why not?" Dovewing asked. "Why can't you comehome? You belong here!""You don't understand," Hollyleaf whispered, beginning to back away toward the tunnel opening. "I have to go!" But before she could plunge back into thedarkness, a shaft of moonlight broke through theclouds, fixing all three cats in a pool of silver light. Atthe same moment Lionblaze appeared on a rock atthe edge of the dip, and stood looking down at them."No!" His voice rang out in the night air. "Hollyleaf, I won't let you run away again."find it again." Jayfeather's anxiety was rising now, and hepadded closer to Firestar. Other cats were emerginginto the clearing from their dens: Cloudtail and Brightheart talking quietly to each other; Dustpelt sliding his claws in and out as he stalked around theclearing; Ferncloud popping her head outside thenursery to listen to the news, then disappearing backinside. Leafpool and Squirrelflight slid quietly out ofthe warriors' den and sat close together; Cinderheartjoined them after a few heartbeats. More movement from the barrier alertedJayfeather. This time Brambleclaw and Sandstormwere reporting back, and he could sense their failurebefore either of them spoke."They're not between here and ShadowClan," Brambleclaw told Firestar."That just leaves Lionblaze and the abandoned Twoleg nest," Firestar meowed. His voice was heavy with concern. "If they don't find them—" He broke off as more cats emerged from thetunnel. Lionblaze was in the lead."I found them," he announced. Jayfeather tensed at the sound of his brother'svoice. Lionblaze wasn't pleased or relieved; insteadhe sounded strained. Something's wrong."Are Dovewing and Ivypool okay?" he called out."We're fine," Dovewing replied, pushing throughthe thorns after Lionblaze.Ivypool followed her, and Whitewing boundedacross the clearing to meet them."Where have you been?" she demanded, herfurious words broken up with purrs of joy as shepressed herself against her daughters. "We've beenfrantic!" Jayfeather could sense the young she-cats' embarrassment."What's the big deal?" Ivypool muttered. "We only went for a walk." Firestar rose to his paws and padded over tothem. "You're safe, and that's the most importantthing," he meowed. His voice grew stern as he went on. "Tomorrow we'll have a talk about letting your Clanmates know where you are at all times, especially when we're being threatened by our neighbors.""Okay," Dovewing responded in a small voice."We're sorry," Ivypool mewed. The she-cats were heading for their den whenLionblaze spoke again. "Wait." His voice was still strained. "That's not all I found." Jayfeather heard another rustle from the entrance,followed by a gasp from his Clanmates. He strainedto detect a scent. The newcomer was a cat that smelled more of earth and stones and ferns than theother warriors, but underneath there was a faint layer of ThunderClan scent. Can it be . . . ?"Hollyleaf!" Cinderheart gasped. There was apatter of paw steps as she rushed past Jayfeather."You're alive!" Jayfeather felt as if the ground were unsteady beneath his paws, and he staggered. She's comeback! Even though he had suspected that his sister hadn't died in the tunnels ever since he andLionblaze had found no trace of her body, it was still a shock to have her walk into the camp. He stoodback as the other cats crowded around her, the quiet air buzzing with their comments and questions."It's really Hollyleaf!""Where have you been all this time?""How did you survive?"It was a few moments before Hollyleaf could get a word in. When she spoke at last, her voice was muted and a little hoarse, as if she weren't used tospeaking."I lived underground," she mewed, "and I hunted inthe woods on the other side of the hills, outside theterritory.""But the tunnel collapsed!" Poppyfrost protested."Not on top of me," Hollyleaf meowed. "I found a way out." Jayfeather thought that she sounded tired andtroubled, as if the very last thing she wanted to bedoing was standing in the center of the hollowanswering questions from her old Clanmates."Well?" Lionblaze spoke close to Jayfeather's ear."It looks like we were right.""Was it Hollyleaf who chased off the fox?" Jayfeather asked."It seems so," his brother replied. "And she found Dove-wing and Ivypool in the tunnels tonight, andbrought them out."So they didn't just go for a walk, Jayfeatherthought. Why am I not surprised? There would be time later to question the sisters about that. "Hollyleaf could have gone much farther if she didn't want to stay in the Clan. She must haveknown that we would find out she was thereeventually," he commented. Lionblaze let out a sigh. "Perhaps that was what she wanted. Perhaps she was tired of living alone.""She took a risk." Jayfeather twitched his whiskers. "What if the truth had been discoveredabout Ashfur's death?""It must have been a risk worth taking." Lionblaze'svoice was full of sympathy. Jayfeather realized he wasn't as ready as his brother to welcome Hollyleaf back. The Clanseemed to be treating her as a returning hero, andhe couldn't share that. All along he had suspected—hoped with every hair on his pelt—that his sister was alive. He had wanted her to come back because he missed her so much, but now that Hollyleaf was actually here, all he could think about was howcomplicated the future was going to be."She told all the Clans about Leafpool and Crowfeather," he reminded Lionblaze. "It's becauseof her that every cat knows we are half-Clan, and that Squirrelflight lied about being our mother.""That wasn't Hollyleaf's fault," Lionblaze pointedout."But she didn't stay here to deal with it afterward, did she?" Jayfeather hissed. "And how will the other Clans react to her? She caused a lot of trouble,there's no getting around that. Cats have long memories." He paused and then added, "What doyou think will happen now? Will she stay?""I don't know," Lionblaze mewed. "I guess we'll have to let her decide." There was a stir among the knot of cats in thecenter of the clearing as Leafpool pushed her waythrough to Hollyleaf's side. "Oh well look who decided to show up after being DEAD!" Her voice was cold and angry."We all thought you were DEAD! And now you've decided to waltz right back without any consequense." Jayfeather could tell from the tension in the air that Hollyleaf was shrinking away from Leafpool. He wasn't surprised that she didn't want the joyousreunion that most of the Clan seemed to beexpecting.Squirrelflight wriggled through the cats until shereached Hollyleaf. "Seems like you've payed for you're actions Hollyleaf," she mewed, her voice cold and steady. "You're lookingwell.""I . . ." Hollyleaf didn't seem to know howto respond."That's enough for now," Firestar broke in. "It'stime we all went back to our dens. Hollyleaf, Molepaw and Cherrypaw will make a nest for you.""Thanks," Hollyleaf repeated. She soundedconfused as she continued, "The hollow . . .something looks different.""A tree fell into it!" Molepaw meowed excitedly."Come with us, and we'll tell you all about it . . ." As the cats dispersed, their paw steps and their astonished comments dying into silence, Firestar padded up to Jayfeather and Lionblaze. "You too," he ordered. "Rest now. You can spend as much timeas you want with your sister tomorrow."I'm not sure I can face that, Jayfeather thought. I don't knowwhat to say to her. Before he could leave for his den, Ivypool and Dovewing padded up, their uneasiness as plain as ifthey had yowled it from the Highledge."Firestar, we've got some urgent news," Dovewingbegan. "When we found Hollyleaf—or when shefound us—we were listening to Sol plotting withsome WindClan cats to attack ThunderClan!""I knew we couldn't trust Sol," Jayfeather hissed."Where is he now?""Not here." Firestar sounded grave. Jayfeather snorted. "What a surprise!""Firestar, should we attack WindClan?" Ivypool asked."That's not a good idea," Firestar responded; Jayfeather could feel his anxiety rising. "Onestar is already looking for any sign of hostility, so we'll haveto wait for him to make the first move. But we'll beready," he added. "I'll order extra patrols, and everycat must be ready for battle at a moment's notice." Jayfeather heard Lionblaze working his claws intothe earth of the camp floor. "It's not that simple," he meowed. "WindClan will attack through the tunnels,like they did before. ThunderClan cats have noexperience in fighting underground, and that means we'll have to wait until the attackers are right in theheart of our territory.""We have the advantage in forests," Firestarreminded him. "Whatever the risk, we will have tobring the battle to us."For the rest of the night Jayfeather slept uneasily, shifting about in his nest, the darkness broken byflashing images of places he didn't recognize: arocky slope; a pool by the gnarled roots of an oak; a wide river glittering in starshine. The sound of a cat brushing past the bramble screen brought him backto full wakefulness. He recognized Hollyleaf's scent, carried on a damp dawn breeze."Hi." Briarlight greeted her confidently. "I'mBriarlight; I'm Jayfeather's assistant. I'll wake him for you." Jayfeather heard the sound of Briarlight draggingherself out of her nest, followed by a surprised meowfrom Hollyleaf. "Oh, you can't . . .""Walk?" Briarlight finished for her. "Not really. Butthat doesn't mean I can't be useful.""N-no, I guess not," Hollyleaf mewed. Jayfeather rose to his paws and padded into the middle of the den. But when he stood facing hissister, his mouth went dry. He had no idea what tosay to her."I'm back," Hollyleaf mewed after a long silence."Yes." Jayfeather had to force out the word."Can we go for a walk?" Hollyleaf suggested."Lionblaze, too? There's . . . there's a lot I need to tellyou." Clouds covered the sky as Jayfeather, Lionblaze, and Hollyleaf headed out into the forest. The air carried the scent of rain and a chilly breeze blew intotheir faces. But Jayfeather felt ruffled by more thanjust the wind. None of the three spoke until they emerged from the trees onto the grassy slope thatled down to the lake and sat in the shelter of an elder bush. Then Hollyleaf took a deep breath."Thank you," she mewed. "I guess you didn't tell Firestar what . . . what I did.""There was no point," Lionblaze replied. "It was much easier for every cat to think it was a rogue whokilled Ashfur." Jayfeather couldn't entirely agree, but he saidnothing, keeping his face turned toward the lappingof waves on the shore."Didn't any cat think it was odd?" Hollyleaf asked."The timing, Imean?""I don't think any cat stopped to wonder about it," Jayfeather grunted. "There was a lot of other stuff going on, if you remember.""Yes, of course." Hollyleaf's voice was meek."What about now? Will you tell Firestar the truth?""Why would we?" Lionblaze burst out. Jayfeather could imagine his brother's golden neck fur bristling."Because I got away," Hollyleaf pointed out."But you didn't really," Lionblaze meowed. "Youexiled yourself from the Clan; that's quite apunishment." Something about his brother's words madeJayfeather's pain well up and spill over like rainoverflowing the edges of a leaf. "No!" he hissed."You let us think that you were dead! How could youdo that?" For a few heartbeats Hollyleaf was silent. "I had nochoice," she murmured at last. "You were better off without me.""That wasn't your decision to make," Jayfeathertold her. "And you were wrong. You're our littermate. Nothing you could do will ever change that." Hollyleaf sighed. "But I'm not one of the prophecy, am I? Does that mean I've ruined everything? Thatthe prophecy won't come true?" Jayfeather felt Lionblaze look sharply at him. Hetook a deep breath. "There is a third cat. You met herlast night. She's Dovewing, Whitewing's daughter." Hollyleaf let out a puff of breath. "Well . . . maybe it wasn't a coincidence that Imet her in the tunnels last night. What . . . what can she do?""Her senses are very sharp," Lionblaze explained."Imean, really. She knows what's going on in theother territories . . . and even farther away. A fewseasons ago, when the lake dried up, she knew it was some animals called beavers who had built adam way upstream." Hollyleaf made a small noise that sounded as if she was impressed. But Jayfeather picked upfeelings of grief and envy, too . . . not a bitter jealousythat would make her Dovewing's enemy, but a deepregret that she was excluded from something that her littermates shared.If only Hollyleaf had been part of the prophecy, he thought. She would have taken her place in it soseriously . . . maybe it would have stopped her fromdoing what she did. The words of the latest prophecy came back toJayfeather's mind. Three will become four . . . He wondered if Hollyleaf could be the fourth cat, even if she hadn't been part of the original prophecy. But sensing the trouble in his sister's mind, he decidednot to say anything yet. I'll discuss it with Lionblazefirst."Are you going to stay?" Lionblaze asked Hollyleaf."I think so," she replied. "For a while, at least. After all, you've got a problem with Sol. If . . . if I can helpyou, then Iwill.""Isn't it great that Hollyleaf came back?" Briarlight purred as soon as Jayfeather pushed past thebramble screen into his den. "Why did she stay awayfor so long?""Maybe you should ask her," Jayfeather grunted."Meanwhile, you can sort out those borage leaves and take some to Sorreltail to help her milk come.""Okay." Briarlight didn't sound offended, just a bit mystified that Jayfeather didn't want to answer."And after that, do your exercises," Jayfeather went on. "I'll be away until tomorrow. I'm going to the Moonpool." Until he spoke, Jayfeather hadn't been aware that he had made the decision. But when he left thecamp, after a quick word with Brambleclaw to tell him where he was going, he felt a burden lifting fromhis shoulders. It was good to be alone with histhoughts. His fears about the Dark Forest hadreceded into the background. Sol was their biggestthreat. And Hollyleaf has come back. That couldchange everything. The air was growing cooler as Jayfeather slidthrough the bushes that ringed the Moonpool andpadded down the spiral path. Though he couldn't see, he knew that darkness was falling. His pawsslipped easily into the prints left by the ancient cats, and grief welled in his heart. Half Moon . . . Jayfeather pushed away the thought of the cat hehad loved, the cat who had been dead for seasons upon seasons. He crouched at the water's edge andtouched his nose to the surface of the pool. After a little while the splashing of the waterfallfaded and Jayfeather slept. He opened his eyes onsunlight, and rose to his paws to find himself in aclearing in StarClan territory. The grass was longand lush, and the trees that surrounded him were weighed down with damp green leaves. He let out asigh of relief when he realized that Yellowfang wasn't waiting for him. But there was no sign of the cat he wanted to see, either. Choosing a direction at random, Jayfeather set out. His ears were pricked and he glancedrapidly from side to side as he headed into the trees, passing through glades and leaping over small streams. The air was fresh and clear, loaded withprey-scent, and a warm breeze ruffled Jayfeather'sfur. But his errand was too urgent for him to stop andhunt, or bask in the sun. From time to time as he searched, Jayfeatherpassed other cats; some of them were old andfaded, the trees visible through their misty outlines, while others were young and bright against the greenferns. They didn't notice Jayfeather, or if they did,they didn't recognize him. Then Jayfeather spotted the cat he was lookingfor. He stood a little way off through the trees: a muscular gray warrior, his tail twitching as hescented the air for prey. Ashfur. Jayfeather crept closer, using the shadows of thetrees for cover, then jumped in surprise as Bluestarleaped down from a branch above his head andstood in front of him."I don't think that's a good idea," the former ThunderClan leader meowed."I just want to talk to him," Jayfeather retorteddefensively."Why?" Bluestar asked."Hollyleaf is back," Jayfeather replied, craning his neck to see if Ashfur was still there. "I . . . Iwant toknow if Ashfur thinks that's okay." When Bluestar didn't respond, he continued, "Imean, he's here, so StarClan must believe he was a good cat, and that means he shouldn't have died the way he did." Bluestar still stood in front of him, blocking his path, her intense blue gaze fixed on him. "But you'vekept Hollyleaf's secret, haven't you?" she prompted."You could have told Firestar or any cat the truthbefore now.""No, I couldn't have! She's my sister!" Jayfeather protested. Bluestar rested her tail on his shoulders, drawinghim away from the gray warrior. "You won't learnanything by talking to Ashfur," she mewed. "Heknows who killed him, and why. Perhaps he did a lotto bring it on himself, perhaps not. It is not StarClan's place to judge him." As Jayfeather opened his jawsto argue, she added more sternly, "If he found his way here, then he must deserve to be here. That is what we all have to believe." Jayfeather sighed and shook his head. "I don't understand . . .""There are some things that are beyondunderstanding," Bluestar told him, sounding moresympathetic. "How can we say that Hollyleaf deserved to be in StarClan and Ashfur didn't, or theother way around? Things are different here. Somecats even forget parts of their life that they don't wantto remember.""But . . . I don't know if Hollyleaf deserves to beback in ThunderClan," Jayfeather meowed."That's not your decision, either." Bluestar twitchedthe tip of her tail. "Hollyleaf has her own conscienceto answer to. Ashfur paid a high price for what he did wrong—and so did she. Perhaps justice has been served.""Why won't Hollyleaf tell us where she's been? And why did sheleave in the first place?"Lionblaze took a breath for an indignant protest, but left it unspoken. Perhaps these questions wouldhave to be answered before Hollyleaf could stay inthe Clan."Yes, why did you leave?" Thornclaw sounded much more belligerent than his Clanmates. Brightheart let her tail rest lightly on the tabby warrior's shoulder. "No need to ruffle your fur, Thornclaw," she mewed. To Hollyleaf she addedgently, "If you tell us, we'll understand, whatever it is. Did some cat do something to hurt you? We need toknow." Hollyleaf was still silent. Thornclaw shook off Brightheart's tail. "You left notlong after Ashfur was killed." He spoke slowly, as if he was thinking about every word. "Hollyleaf, did it have something to do with that?" Lionblaze thought that his heart had stoppedbeating. A thick silence hung in the clearing, asthough every cat had been turned to ice. Then Poppyfrost called out, "No, of course it doesn't! If Hollyleaf had seen who had killed Ashfur, she would have told us back then." Thornclaw blinked. "I'm not asking if she witnessed another cat killing him." This time Lionblaze thought that the silence wouldlast forever. Berrynose turned to Thornclaw. His whisper sounded throughout the clearing like theshriek of trapped prey. "You think Hollyleaf was thekiller?" Poppyfrost's eyes stretched wide. "She can't be!""I won't believe it," Cinderheart declared."Whatever" Leafpool mewed coldly. Birchfall's gaze was fixed on Hollyleaf. "I don't want to believe it," he rasped. "But it makes sense." More voices rose around Hollyleaf where shestood, hunched and small, in the middle of theclearing. Lionblaze stared desperately at his Clanmates, wondering what in the name of StarClanhe could say; he felt as if a piece of fresh-kill waslodged in his throat, choking him. He glanced at Firestar for help, but the Clan leader was standing insilence, his eyes slightly narrowed and his gaze fixedon Hollyleaf. There was nothing to tell Lionblaze what he was thinking."Hollyleaf, you have to speak for yourself," Graystripe called out."Yes, let's hear what happened," Thornclawdemanded, sliding out his claws with a menacinglook at Hollyleaf. Lionblaze stepped forward, putting himself between his sister and the tabby warrior. "Stop!" hesnarled. "This is ridiculous. There's no way that Hollyleaf knows anything about Ashfur's death." Hollyleaf took a pace toward Lionblaze until they were so close that their pelts brushed. Her greeneyes were full of misery, and she was gaunt from thehardship of her life as a loner, but Lionblaze couldread determination in every hair on her pelt."No, Lionblaze," she whispered. "I know you'reonly trying to help, but you must let me speak. I thinkit's time for the truth to come out." Lionblaze heard a whimper from somewhere atthe back of the crowd. Without turning to look, heknew that it had come from Squirrelflight. The rest ofthe Clan was silent, pressing around Hollyleaf in acircle, a barrier of eyes. Hollyleaf raised her head and spoke clearly to her Clan. "Thornclaw is right. Iwas there when Ashfur died. And his death was my fault." Her confession was greeted with a horrified gaspfrom the cats. As if at a word of command, theyshrank back, widening the circle. Lionblaze spotted Foxleap swiftly thrusting Cherrypaw behind him. Sorreltail, who had brought Lilykit and Seedkit intothe clearing for the first time, gathered them close toher with a sweep of her tail. Hollyleaf looked terrified, her glance dartingaround the clearing as if she expected some cat toleap on her and rip her throat out. Lionblazesuddenly wished that she had never come back, that she had gone away to the mountains if that wouldhave kept her safe. Dovewing and Ivypool wouldhave found their own way out of the tunnels, hethought, his belly shaking from the force of his fear and anger. She didn't have to help them!"I was there . . ." Hollyleaf's faltering voice beganagain. "I saw Ashfur, beside the stream. He hadthreatened to kill me and my littermates. Most of youknow how much Ashfur wanted Squirrelflight to behis mate. He hated us all because he thought we were Squirrelflight's kits with Brambleclaw. Even when he knew he was wrong, he still hated us. So . . ." Lionblaze stared at his sister in horror, wanting tohold back the words he knew she was about tospeak. She can't confess to killing Ashfur! She mustn't! But while Hollyleaf was gathering herself to go on, Brambleclaw pushed his way to the front of thecrowd and stood beside her."I was there, too, that day, beside the stream," heannounced. He glanced at Hollyleaf as she openedher jaws to protest, and added, "You didn't see methere, but I saw you, and Ashfur." He paused for a moment, letting his glance rake across the Clan."When Ashfur saw Hollyleaf alone by the stream," hecontinued, "he sprang at her. He was determined tohurt one of the three cats Squirrelflight loved most, topunish her for not loving him. Hollyleaf fought bravely, but before I could help her, Ashfur slipped on theedge of the stream and fell in. He was still alive whenhe hit the water. There was nothing Hollyleaf coulddo to save him. She was only defending herself." The clearing exploded as the tabby warriorfinished speaking."Why didn't you tell us that at the time?" Thornclawdemanded."Yes, we spent moons suspecting one another," Berrynose growled. "Firestar, they should both bepunished for not telling the truth back then."Lionblaze stepped forward and glared at Berrynose. "You might want to know that it was Hollyleaf who saved your kits, not Sol," he snarled."Think about that before you start meowing about punishment." Berrynose stared at him in disbelief. "It wasHollyleaf?""Then we have to let her back into the Clan!" Poppyfrost mewed. "She risked her life for my kits!""Besides, Ashfur only got what he deserved," Dustpelt declared. "He tried to kill four cats—his own Clanmates! If you ask me, Hollyleaf did us a favor." Firestar padded into the middle of the crowd,raising his tail for silence. His fur was bristling andhis tail twitched. "What happened was a tragic accident," the Clan leader began as soon as hecould make himself heard. "I agree that Hollyleaf should have spoken up at the time." His green gazerested sternly on Hollyleaf. "She should have trustedus to believe her, and deal with her fairly. But shehas been punished enough by living away from her Clan for so many moons." Firestar transferred his gaze to his Clan. "She will not be punished again, and nor will Brambleclaw for not speaking out before. Their silence has been a burden for both ofthem, and that has eased now." With a drawn-out sigh he added, "What's done is done. Let Ashfur bejudged by our ancestors." Lionblaze puffed out a breath of relief, but he couldsee that not all the cats were satisfied. And Hollyleaf still looked as if she wished the ground would openup and swallow her. Firestar beckoned her with his tail. "You shouldhave told the truth back then," he meowed quietly; Lionblaze strained to overhear. "It's going to be hardfor you now, do you understand that?" Hollyleaf nodded, her eyes bleak. "I shouldn't havetried to come back—""Never say that," Firestar interrupted. "You areback, and I wouldn't have it any other way. The Clan will settle down now that the truth is out." He paused, but Hollyleaf had nothing to add. "I won't include youon any patrols today," Firestar went on more briskly."Go to the elders' den and see what you can do forthem.""They'll know, won't they?" Hollyleaf asked, glancing around at the rapidly dispersing Clan. Firestar nodded. "News travels fast around here, you know it does. But you are strong enough to deal with this. Put it behind you, Hollyleaf. Your Clan still needs you." Hollyleaf bowed her head. "Thank you," she whispered. As Lionblaze watched his sister padding awaytoward the elders' den, he was aware of Cinderheart coming up beside him. "Poor Hollyleaf!" she murmured, her eyes wide with shock andexcitement. "Who would have expected that?" She doesn't know I knew, Lionblaze thought."I feel so sorry for her," Cinderheart went on. "She must have felt so terrible, all the time she was away. And I never realized Ashfur felt that way about Squirrelflight.""It happened before we were born," Lionblazereplied shortly. He didn't want to talk about any of it, and to his relief Cinderheart seemed to understandthat."Brambleclaw wants you to lead a hunting patrol," she meowed. "Foxleap and Rosepetal are coming, with their apprentices.""Good," Lionblaze grunted. It would feel good towork off some of his tension with his claws in prey. Turning toward the thorn tunnel, he saw that the rest of the patrol was already waiting. Cherrypaw and Molepaw were bouncing up and down in front of their mentors."How did it happen?" Molepaw was asking, his eyes wide with excitement. "What did you do whenyou found out that Ashfur was dead?""Hollyleaf's a killer!" Cherrypaw breathed out. Rosepetal stood over her with her lips drawn backin a snarl. "If I ever hear either of you say that again, you'll see nothing but Mousefur's hindquarters andticks for a moon! Firestar said that the past is to beleft behind. I don't want any gossiping from you, I don't want any more bouncing about, and I definitely don't want to hear any more accusations. Have I made myself clear?" Subdued, the two apprentices nodded. "Sorry, Rosepetal," Cherrypaw muttered. Lionblaze was grateful for Rosepetal's loyalty, but he could see how shocked the she-cat had been by Hollyleaf's confession."They'll calm down soon, you'll see," Cinderheart whispered into his ear. Lionblaze nodded, though he wasn't sure that Cinderheart was right. Will my Clanmates ever get used to Hollyleaf being back in the hollow?
YOU ARE READING
COLD ANGER- Squirrelflight & Leafpool AU
Non-FictionAfter Hollyleaf reveals the truth, both Squirrelflight and Leafpool become furious. They feel betrayed, they turn cold as they loose the light inside their hearts. Three must become four to battle the darkness that lasts forever. The battle between...
