Phantom of the Clans

Chapter 9

Firepaw and Phantompaw both burst into the camp at about the same time. They looked at her for a moment with wide eyes before Phantompaw quickly changed his form back to Spiritpaw. They crept around the edge of the clearing towards Yellowfang's nest.

"Yellowfang," Firepaw hissed urgently. "Yellowfang! Wake up; it's important!"

Two orange eyes opened and glinted in the moonlight. "I wasn't sleeping." meowed Yellowfang quietly. She sounded calm and alert. "You came straight from the Gathering to me? That must mean you've heard." She blinked slowly and looked away. "So Brokenstar kept his promise."

"What promise?" Spiritpaw felt very confused. Yellowfang seemed to know more than they did about what was going on.

"ShadowClan's noble leader promised to drive me from every Clan territory, " Yellowfang replied dryly. "What did he say about me?"

"He warned us that our kits were in danger as long as we sheltered the ShadowClan rogue. He didn't say your name, but ThunderClan guessed who he was talking about. You must leave before the others get back. You are in danger!" Firepaw pressed.

"You mean they believed Brokenstar?" Yellowfang flattened her ears and swished her tail angrily.

"Yes!" Firepaw meowed urgently. "Darkstripe says you're dangerous. The other cats are scared of what you might do, Tigerclaw is planning to come back and...I don't know...I think you should go before they get here!"

In this distance they could hear the yowls of angry cats. Yellowfang struggled stiffly to her paws. Firepaw gave her a nudge to help her up. "What did Brokenstar mean when he warned us to keep a close eye on our kits?" he couldn't stop himself from asking. "Would you really do something like that?"

"Would I what?"

"Would you harm our kits?"

Yellowfang flared her nostril and looked steadily at him."Do you think so?"

Firepaw met her gaze. "No. I don't believe you would ever harm a kit. But why would Brokenstar say such a thing?"

Spiritpaw was about to say something before the noise of the cats came nearer, and with it, the scents of aggression and anger. Yellowfang looked wildly from side to side.

"Go!" Firepaw urged. Her safety was more important than his curiosity.

But Yellowfang remained where she was and stared at him. A calm look suddenly came into her wide eyes. "Firepaw, Spiritpaw, you both believe I'm innocent, and I'm grateful for that. If you believe me, then others might. And I know Bluestar will give me a fair hearing. I can't run forever. I'm too old. I shall stay here and face whatever your Clan decides for me." She sighed and sank down onto her bony haunches.

"But what about Tigerclaw? What if he-"

"He is headstrong, and he knows the power he has over the other Clan cats-they are in awe of him. But even he will obey Bluestar."

Rustling in the undergrowth beyond the camp boundary told them that the cats were almost at the entrance.

"Go away, you two," hissed Yellowfang, baring her blackened teeth at them. "Don't make trouble for yourselves by being seen with me now. There is nothing you can do for me. Have faith in your leader, and let her decide what happens to me."

They realized Yellowfang had made up her mind. Firepaw touched his nose to her patchy fur, then crept silently away into the shadows to watch. Spiritpaw crept over beside him. He touched his tail to his brother's flank and made them both invisible. Firepaw blinked and looked in his direction with wide eyes.