Post by 𝓣𝓲𝓷𝓾𝓿𝓲𝓮𝓵 on Sept 16, 2021 11:12:32 GMT -5
So, because I'm bored and also because I apparently hate myself enough to give myself a headache, I decided to make another series of polls, this time focused on arguments. This time however, I'll be pulling up quotes from the books (hence potential headaches) to provide both context and reference. You may debate and discuss, I only ask for everyone to please be civil and to look through these scenes thoroughly.
Argument #1: Just to get the most controversial one out of the way first, here's Bramblestar and Squirrelflight during SqH.
Result: More people agree with Squirrelflight
Argument #2: The Clans vs. the Sisters
While I'm still on SqH, do you think the Clans were right to ask the Sisters to leave while Moonlight was pregnant or not?
And as a sort of mini argument, here's a bonus: should the Clans have learned to adapt to their new territory or was it right to have SkyClan move again?
Results: More people sided with the Clans, but also think they should've learned to adapt.
Argument #3: Moving on from SqH at last, here's Dovewing and Bumblestripe
So, for a bit of context, we first get hints of Bumblestripe's affection for Dovewing after she saves Icecloud.
However, Dovewing doesn't seem very interested in him and only really becomes aware of his feelings after other cats talk to her about it. From Whitewing:
To Cinderheart:
And then we have cats teasing her about it, like Toadstep:
To Ivypool:
And speaking of Ivypool, she later tries to encourage the relationship much later on, long after the two have broken up:
Blossomfall also teases Dovewing about Bumblestripe's crush on her at one point, though it becomes clear later on that she doesn't seem to approve of the relationship all that much:
Dovewing is generally rather friendly towards Bumblestripe, but then later gets annoyed after he criticizes her during training.
Later, they argue while on their way to a Gathering.
They end up making amends both times and eventually become mates and it seems to work out at first, until Dovewing falls into depression due to losing her powers. Bumblestripe is shown trying to be comforting, but at some point, after ThunderClan is waiting out the storm and Dovewing helps him out with Seedpaw, Bumblestripe brings up that she'll make a great mother one day, making Dovewing feel uncomfortable.
Later, he tells Bramblestar that she's trying to hear again, but this only angers her further.
And then, of course, there's this infamous scene from long after they've broken up.
And as another mini, do you think the Clan was right to get involved in the relationship or not?
Results: More people agree with Dovewing and also think the Clan shouldn't have gotten involved.
Argument #4: Scorchfur
He actually wasn't the next one I had in mind, but because I already posted his scenes recently, why not? And because this one has only one constant, it's going to look a bit different from previous polls, though this can also apply to Rowanstar's opponents in general, Scorchfur is just the most outspoken of them if we don't include the apprentices, which I'm not going to in this case.
So, do you agree with Scorchfur (and by extension, Rowanstar's opponents in general) or... well, everyone else?
Result: More people agree with Scorchfur's opponents (especially Tawnypelt).
Argument #5: While we're still on ShadowClan, do you think Needletail and the others had a point (though not necessarily right) during the confrontation with Rowanstar? Keep in mind it wasn't just the apprentices who spoke out, but some of the adults as well.
So, did they have a point?
Result: More people think they didn't have a point
Argument #6: Tigerheart vs. Dovewing
After Dovewing reveals she's pregnant, she also tells Tigerheart that she's been having dreams telling her to leave the Clans and soon gives Tigerheart an ultimatum to go with her or not.
Later, it's implied that Dovewing was having the dream entirely because of Shadowkit.
And in RoF, the nursery gets damaged while Dovewing's away and even Alderheart agrees that it was a good thing she left when she did
So, do you think Tigerheart should've stayed or gone with Dovewing, do you think Dovewing should've confided in a ThunderClan cat (be it the medicine cats or even her sister or whoever besides Tigerheart) about her pregnancy, and do you think Dovewing should've moved to ShadowClan as soon as she realized she was pregnant or was she right to leave?
Argument #1: Just to get the most controversial one out of the way first, here's Bramblestar and Squirrelflight during SqH.
So, we open with Squirrelflight expressing a desire to spend more time with Bramblestar and have more kits, but he isn't interested.
During the meeting, there's a discussion on land being wasted and though Squirrelflight initially suggests being patient on adapting to the new territory, she eventually agrees.
She then suggests that SkyClan move again, but not everyone agrees.
After the meeting, Bramblestar and Squirrelflight argue over this as well as them having kits again.
The tension only gets worse once the Sisters come into play.
“Do you miss being young?”
He shrugged. “I miss being irresponsible. Back then, the only thing we had to worry about was our next hunt. That was before we became leader and deputy, and before we had kits to look after.”
Squirrelflight felt a pang of longing. Sparkpelt and Alderheart were grown, and she’d never had a chance to know their littermates, Juniperkit and Dandelionkit, who had died. She’d been hoping to have a new litter by now—tiny kits to nurture and love. But they’d had no luck. “Having kits didn’t make me feel old. I liked the responsibility. It’ll be good to feel that way again.” She glanced hopefully at Bramblestar. When he didn’t comment, she prompted him. “Don’t you think?”
“Of course.” He didn’t look at her.
Anxiety prickled beneath her pelt. She’d wanted him to sound more enthusiastic about kits. “Let’s pretend we’re young again now. It’s almost like we’re sneaking out of camp.” Squirrelflight kept her mew light. “Half the Clan are already in their nests, and the rest will be asleep by the time we get home.”
“I wish we could.” Was that a sigh in Bramblestar’s mew? “But we can’t be late for the meeting. And we have to go straight back to camp afterward; Birchfall and Lionblaze will be waiting to find out what happened.”
He was worrying about the Clan again. He was a good leader; he always put his Clan before his own needs. But she couldn’t help wishing he could put her first this time. Disappointment jabbed at her heart as their moment of closeness passed, but she ignored it and focused on the meeting.
He shrugged. “I miss being irresponsible. Back then, the only thing we had to worry about was our next hunt. That was before we became leader and deputy, and before we had kits to look after.”
Squirrelflight felt a pang of longing. Sparkpelt and Alderheart were grown, and she’d never had a chance to know their littermates, Juniperkit and Dandelionkit, who had died. She’d been hoping to have a new litter by now—tiny kits to nurture and love. But they’d had no luck. “Having kits didn’t make me feel old. I liked the responsibility. It’ll be good to feel that way again.” She glanced hopefully at Bramblestar. When he didn’t comment, she prompted him. “Don’t you think?”
“Of course.” He didn’t look at her.
Anxiety prickled beneath her pelt. She’d wanted him to sound more enthusiastic about kits. “Let’s pretend we’re young again now. It’s almost like we’re sneaking out of camp.” Squirrelflight kept her mew light. “Half the Clan are already in their nests, and the rest will be asleep by the time we get home.”
“I wish we could.” Was that a sigh in Bramblestar’s mew? “But we can’t be late for the meeting. And we have to go straight back to camp afterward; Birchfall and Lionblaze will be waiting to find out what happened.”
He was worrying about the Clan again. He was a good leader; he always put his Clan before his own needs. But she couldn’t help wishing he could put her first this time. Disappointment jabbed at her heart as their moment of closeness passed, but she ignored it and focused on the meeting.
During the meeting, there's a discussion on land being wasted and though Squirrelflight initially suggests being patient on adapting to the new territory, she eventually agrees.
Squirrelflight stared at the ground. Perhaps she’d been wrong to insist that ThunderClan adapt to its new territory. The Clans might work better hunting land that they were used to. “We don’t use the moorland as much as we should,” she admitted. “The border had barely been marked before today.”
Bramblestar swung his gaze toward her. “We’re not giving up territory. It would leave us with less than the other Clans.”
Bramblestar swung his gaze toward her. “We’re not giving up territory. It would leave us with less than the other Clans.”
She then suggests that SkyClan move again, but not everyone agrees.
Hawkwing flexed his claws. “Nothing’s changed here. You carve up territory as it suits you, without listening to what we want.”
“We didn’t carve up territory.” Tigerstar’s pelt ruffled. “We came up with the best plan we could.” He met Hawkwing’s gaze. “You’re one of us now. Surely you care about our problems as well as your own? We only want to please StarClan. Don’t you?”
Leafstar’s ears twitched. “Would moving us yet again please them?”
“If it brings lasting peace, perhaps it would,” Squirrelflight meowed quickly. “Let’s consult with our medicine cats. To make sure that StarClan approves.”
“And what if StarClan doesn’t send message?” Leafstar’s gaze darkened. “They’ve been silent since the storm.”
Mistystar whisked her tail. “That’s probably because there’s nothing to worry about. They’d warn us if we were doing something wrong.”
Bramblestar growled softly. “So we can move a Clan off their land as long as our ancestors don’t complain.” His pelt twitched. “Is that how the warrior code works now?”
“Our complaints matter too,” Tigerstar told him. “The warrior code tells us to respect the living as well as the dead.”
Harestar tipped his head thoughtfully. “Let’s at least think about Squirrelflight’s suggestion,” he meowed.
Mistystar nodded. “We don’t need to make a decision until everyone is happy. Perhaps if SkyClan has a chance to get used to the idea.” She glanced hopefully at Leafstar.
The SkyClan leader frowned. “Come on, Hawkwing. We’re wasting our breath here.”
“No, you’re not—” Squirrelflight began. But Leafstar and Hawkwing were already heading away.
“We didn’t carve up territory.” Tigerstar’s pelt ruffled. “We came up with the best plan we could.” He met Hawkwing’s gaze. “You’re one of us now. Surely you care about our problems as well as your own? We only want to please StarClan. Don’t you?”
Leafstar’s ears twitched. “Would moving us yet again please them?”
“If it brings lasting peace, perhaps it would,” Squirrelflight meowed quickly. “Let’s consult with our medicine cats. To make sure that StarClan approves.”
“And what if StarClan doesn’t send message?” Leafstar’s gaze darkened. “They’ve been silent since the storm.”
Mistystar whisked her tail. “That’s probably because there’s nothing to worry about. They’d warn us if we were doing something wrong.”
Bramblestar growled softly. “So we can move a Clan off their land as long as our ancestors don’t complain.” His pelt twitched. “Is that how the warrior code works now?”
“Our complaints matter too,” Tigerstar told him. “The warrior code tells us to respect the living as well as the dead.”
Harestar tipped his head thoughtfully. “Let’s at least think about Squirrelflight’s suggestion,” he meowed.
Mistystar nodded. “We don’t need to make a decision until everyone is happy. Perhaps if SkyClan has a chance to get used to the idea.” She glanced hopefully at Leafstar.
The SkyClan leader frowned. “Come on, Hawkwing. We’re wasting our breath here.”
“No, you’re not—” Squirrelflight began. But Leafstar and Hawkwing were already heading away.
After the meeting, Bramblestar and Squirrelflight argue over this as well as them having kits again.
At the edge of the clearing, she darted in front of Bramblestar. As he stopped, she blinked at him eagerly. She had kept the leaders from fighting. But her heart lurched as she met his gaze. He was glaring at her.
“What’s wrong?” she mewed.
“I don’t think SkyClan should move,” he growled.
“I know,” Squirrelflight mewed sympathetically. “But something needs to change. Tigerstar’s solution might have been the best one at the time. But the Clans are growing. We all need territory. This plan means that no one has to give up land.”
“No one except SkyClan,” he muttered darkly.
Squirrelflight blinked at him. “They’ll have new land. They’re used to moving, and this might be the last move they ever have to make. This land beyond the abandoned Twolegplace might be perfect for them.”
“Might be.” Bramblestar’s tail twitched angrily. “Or it might be overrun with snakes, or dogs, or foxes. Warriors might die thanks to your idea.”
Squirrelflight’s heart pounded. Why was Bramblestar so angry? “SkyClan is strong and resourceful. They have survived so much. They can survive this.”
“Why do they have to survive anything?”
“Land is being wasted!” Frustration burned beneath Squirrelflight’s pelt, but she kept her voice low, aware that the other leaders were watching them from across the clearing. “Bumblestripe and Plumstone didn’t even want to mark the WindClan border today. I don’t think Eaglewing had ever crossed the stream. And the same thing’s clearly happening in ShadowClan. Who ever heard of a ShadowClan cat getting their paws wet? They’re never going to hunt on that marshland.”
Bramblestar turned away and began to pad into the long grass. “They’ll get used to it, just like we’ll get used to the moorland beyond the stream.”
“But we’d all have bigger territories if SkyClan moved.” Squirrelflight hurried after him. “And you heard Harestar and Leafstar. The Clans are growing. There’ll be more kits by newleaf, more mouths to feed, more apprentices to train—”
“More kits!” Bramblestar lashed his tail. “Is that all you think about now?”
His words stung like claw marks. She watched him disappear into the grass, her chest tightening. “Don’t you think about it?” She pushed after him, but he was already hurrying ahead. He was on the tree-bridge by the time she caught up to him. She followed him over it and jumped onto the far shore.
She fell in beside Bramblestar, breathless as she tried to keep up. “Don’t you think about kits, Bramblestar?”
“I have kits,” he snapped.
“Alderheart and Sparkpelt? They’re grown up now!”
“I know!” Bramblestar didn’t look at her. “They’re old enough to look after themselves. Why are you so desperate to be responsible for new lives? Isn’t being deputy enough?”
“It should be, but it’s not.” Squirrelflight felt panic welling. “I’m getting older with each season. One day I won’t be able to have more kits. I just want another litter before it’s too late.”
“I know.” Bramblestar sounded weary. “And of course I want kits. Just not as much as you do.”
Squirrelflight stopped and stared after him. “Don’t you love me anymore?”
Bramblestar turned, his eyes sparking with exasperation. “Yes! But I am responsible for our Clan. And if the other Clans are planning to start up more trouble with SkyClan, I need to focus on that. I don’t have as much energy as I used to. I’m getting older too.”
“No, you’re not!” Anger flared in Squirrelflight’s chest. “You have more lives than me—” She broke off as a realization washed over her like ice water. Was that why he didn’t care about kits? He had plenty of time to have kits in the future, maybe even with another mate, when she was dead. The thought made her feel sick. Bramblestar’s next litter might have a mother who wasn’t her. She stared at him, unable to speak.
His gaze shimmered suddenly as though he saw her pain. “I’m sorry.” He hurried to her side and pressed his muzzle against her cheek. “I shouldn’t have said anything. I was angry. I felt you weren’t on my side at the meeting. I was trying to protect SkyClan.”
“So was I!” She pulled away indignantly. “I was trying to find a solution that would keep the peace.”
“Maybe you’re right. But that isn’t the point. You’re my deputy.” His tail twitched. “You’re supposed to back me up in front of the other Clans. We need to look united. You know how quickly Tigerstar smells weakness, and how he exploits it.”
“It’s not weak to have different opinions.” Squirrelflight’s pelt pricked.
“It looks a lot like weakness when a deputy disagrees with her leader in public.” Bramblestar shifted his paws. “You should know better! You should have discussed your idea with me in private and we could have taken it to the other Clans together.”
“It might have been too late by then.” Squirrelflight paused. She didn’t want to argue. And besides, the issue with SkyClan wasn’t what was worrying her now. “I’m sorry I spoke up without talking to you first. But is that really why you said you don’t want to have kits?”
Bramblestar gazed at her, his eyes round. “I’m sorry if I made it sound that way. I do want to have kits with you.”
“Really?” Her heart lifted.
“Yes. If that’s what you want.”
Squirrelflight stared at him. There was resignation in his eyes. Grief twisted her belly as he stared back at her blankly. She turned away. I want you to want it too.
“What’s wrong?” she mewed.
“I don’t think SkyClan should move,” he growled.
“I know,” Squirrelflight mewed sympathetically. “But something needs to change. Tigerstar’s solution might have been the best one at the time. But the Clans are growing. We all need territory. This plan means that no one has to give up land.”
“No one except SkyClan,” he muttered darkly.
Squirrelflight blinked at him. “They’ll have new land. They’re used to moving, and this might be the last move they ever have to make. This land beyond the abandoned Twolegplace might be perfect for them.”
“Might be.” Bramblestar’s tail twitched angrily. “Or it might be overrun with snakes, or dogs, or foxes. Warriors might die thanks to your idea.”
Squirrelflight’s heart pounded. Why was Bramblestar so angry? “SkyClan is strong and resourceful. They have survived so much. They can survive this.”
“Why do they have to survive anything?”
“Land is being wasted!” Frustration burned beneath Squirrelflight’s pelt, but she kept her voice low, aware that the other leaders were watching them from across the clearing. “Bumblestripe and Plumstone didn’t even want to mark the WindClan border today. I don’t think Eaglewing had ever crossed the stream. And the same thing’s clearly happening in ShadowClan. Who ever heard of a ShadowClan cat getting their paws wet? They’re never going to hunt on that marshland.”
Bramblestar turned away and began to pad into the long grass. “They’ll get used to it, just like we’ll get used to the moorland beyond the stream.”
“But we’d all have bigger territories if SkyClan moved.” Squirrelflight hurried after him. “And you heard Harestar and Leafstar. The Clans are growing. There’ll be more kits by newleaf, more mouths to feed, more apprentices to train—”
“More kits!” Bramblestar lashed his tail. “Is that all you think about now?”
His words stung like claw marks. She watched him disappear into the grass, her chest tightening. “Don’t you think about it?” She pushed after him, but he was already hurrying ahead. He was on the tree-bridge by the time she caught up to him. She followed him over it and jumped onto the far shore.
She fell in beside Bramblestar, breathless as she tried to keep up. “Don’t you think about kits, Bramblestar?”
“I have kits,” he snapped.
“Alderheart and Sparkpelt? They’re grown up now!”
“I know!” Bramblestar didn’t look at her. “They’re old enough to look after themselves. Why are you so desperate to be responsible for new lives? Isn’t being deputy enough?”
“It should be, but it’s not.” Squirrelflight felt panic welling. “I’m getting older with each season. One day I won’t be able to have more kits. I just want another litter before it’s too late.”
“I know.” Bramblestar sounded weary. “And of course I want kits. Just not as much as you do.”
Squirrelflight stopped and stared after him. “Don’t you love me anymore?”
Bramblestar turned, his eyes sparking with exasperation. “Yes! But I am responsible for our Clan. And if the other Clans are planning to start up more trouble with SkyClan, I need to focus on that. I don’t have as much energy as I used to. I’m getting older too.”
“No, you’re not!” Anger flared in Squirrelflight’s chest. “You have more lives than me—” She broke off as a realization washed over her like ice water. Was that why he didn’t care about kits? He had plenty of time to have kits in the future, maybe even with another mate, when she was dead. The thought made her feel sick. Bramblestar’s next litter might have a mother who wasn’t her. She stared at him, unable to speak.
His gaze shimmered suddenly as though he saw her pain. “I’m sorry.” He hurried to her side and pressed his muzzle against her cheek. “I shouldn’t have said anything. I was angry. I felt you weren’t on my side at the meeting. I was trying to protect SkyClan.”
“So was I!” She pulled away indignantly. “I was trying to find a solution that would keep the peace.”
“Maybe you’re right. But that isn’t the point. You’re my deputy.” His tail twitched. “You’re supposed to back me up in front of the other Clans. We need to look united. You know how quickly Tigerstar smells weakness, and how he exploits it.”
“It’s not weak to have different opinions.” Squirrelflight’s pelt pricked.
“It looks a lot like weakness when a deputy disagrees with her leader in public.” Bramblestar shifted his paws. “You should know better! You should have discussed your idea with me in private and we could have taken it to the other Clans together.”
“It might have been too late by then.” Squirrelflight paused. She didn’t want to argue. And besides, the issue with SkyClan wasn’t what was worrying her now. “I’m sorry I spoke up without talking to you first. But is that really why you said you don’t want to have kits?”
Bramblestar gazed at her, his eyes round. “I’m sorry if I made it sound that way. I do want to have kits with you.”
“Really?” Her heart lifted.
“Yes. If that’s what you want.”
Squirrelflight stared at him. There was resignation in his eyes. Grief twisted her belly as he stared back at her blankly. She turned away. I want you to want it too.
The tension only gets worse once the Sisters come into play.
Bramblestar moved beside him. “Tree is one of us now. If he wishes to know you better, that’s up to him, but he came here for the same reason we did. You are holding our Clanmates against their will. Let them go!” He flexed his claws. “You may be carrying kits, but that doesn’t mean we won’t fight to get our Clanmates back.”
As Moonlight hesitated, Squirrelflight saw Plumwillow and Berrynose drop into battle stances. Hawkwing and Thornclaw bared their teeth. Her breath caught in her throat. “They only want us to stay here until Moonlight’s kits are ready to travel,” she mewed quickly.
Bramblestar swung his gaze toward her. “Do you want to stay with them until then?” he growled.
“Of course not!” Squirrelflight blinked at him. “But they meant us no harm. If we wait, this territory will be free for SkyClan to take in a moon or two.”
Bramblestar stared at her coolly. “That is a decision for Leafstar and SkyClan to make.”
As Moonlight hesitated, Squirrelflight saw Plumwillow and Berrynose drop into battle stances. Hawkwing and Thornclaw bared their teeth. Her breath caught in her throat. “They only want us to stay here until Moonlight’s kits are ready to travel,” she mewed quickly.
Bramblestar swung his gaze toward her. “Do you want to stay with them until then?” he growled.
“Of course not!” Squirrelflight blinked at him. “But they meant us no harm. If we wait, this territory will be free for SkyClan to take in a moon or two.”
Bramblestar stared at her coolly. “That is a decision for Leafstar and SkyClan to make.”
“Are you coming?” Bramblestar stopped at the entrance and glared at Squirrelflight, his pelt prickling along his spine.
“I have to go.” Squirrelflight headed toward him, irritated at being called away like a kit.
Bramblestar waited for her to push through the ferns, then followed her out of camp. Her Clanmates wound their way out of the valley. She padded after them, relieved to be heading home.
“What in StarClan were you thinking?” Bramblestar fell in beside her.
She dipped her head, bracing herself for the argument she knew must be coming. “I’m sorry.”
“Going off like that on a hare-brained mission without telling me!”
She could feel his gaze burning through her pelt. “You’d have stopped me if you’d known,” she mewed.
“Of course I would have!” he snapped. “Now look what’s happened. You’ve found a whole new group of cats to fight with over territory. As if ShadowClan and WindClan weren’t enough!”
“But we don’t have to fight with them,” Squirrelflight objected.
“They’re happy for SkyClan to have the land when they’re finished with it.”
She stopped and looked at him. She’d made a mistake coming here as she had, but it was obvious she’d found the answer to the Clans’ problems. “Don’t you see? I’ve found SkyClan the land they need! Now the Clans won’t have to fight over territory ever again.”
“Don’t be naive.” Bramblestar stared at her. “New territory will probably mean new battles. Since when was any Clan satisfied with what they have?”
“When each Clan has enough, then the fighting will stop.” Why was he being so negative? “We haven’t gotten the borders right until now. But once SkyClan moves, every Clan will have plenty.” Bramblestar brushed past her and padded after his Clanmates.
Squirrelflight caught up to him, irritation spiking her fur. “I had a good idea and I followed it through,” she snapped. “Leafstar likes the new territory, and now SkyClan will have somewhere they can finally make a real home. You just don’t want to admit I was right!”
“Nonsense!” Bramblestar lashed his tail. “I’m Clan leader. I welcome ideas from any of my Clanmates, and if it’s a good idea, I’m happy to be proved wrong.”
“My idea is a good idea!” Squirrelflight swallowed back frustration.
“You’re only seeing it from your point of view,” Bramblestar growled. “Have you really thought about what it would be like for SkyClan to move again so soon? To build yet another camp? To learn about new territory? How do you know there aren’t Twolegs here? Or a family of foxes? Have you checked every tail-length of this land? What if one of their kits is killed by a snake here? Will you take responsibility?”
“Life is risky!” Squirrelflight ignored the doubt shimmering at the edge of her thoughts. “There will be risks wherever SkyClan lives!”
Bramblestar ignored her. “And how does it make SkyClan look—agreeing to live where the other Clans choose again? Do you think the other Clans will treat them as equals once they’ve finished pushing them around?”
“That’s not my problem!” Squirrelflight shot back. “It’s up to SkyClan! Leafstar wants to move. She knows what she’s doing.”
“I hope so.” Bramblestar paused and looked along the track as it steepened and disappeared among boulders. “Are you sure that, after a few seasons living among these hills, SkyClan won’t feel like they’ve been pushed outside the Clans again?”
“Why should they? This land is right next to ours, and ShadowClan’s. And they’ll have a strip of territory right down to the lakeshore. They’ll be as much a part of the Clans as we are.” Squirrelflight hurried after him, following the path as it snaked into a narrow gorge. Ahead, their Clanmates padded beneath overhanging rock. The star-specked sky showed in a narrow band above them. As the trail opened into another valley, Bramblestar spoke again. “I was worried about you, you know?” His mew was husky.
“I know.” Guilt rippled beneath her pelt. “I didn’t know I’d be away so long, and I told Sparkpelt where I’d gone, just in case.”
“Sparkpelt was worried too,” he told her. “More so because you asked her to keep your secret. She didn’t know whether telling me was betraying you, or remaining silent was betraying me. You should never have put her in that position.”
Squirrelflight shrank beneath her pelt. “I know,” she mewed softly. “I just wanted to make the Clans okay again. How was I to know we’d be taken prisoner?” As she spoke, resentment bubbled in her chest. Bramblestar wasn’t even trying to understand. Was he enjoying making her feel bad? “But we weren’t hurt, and it was good to see how other cats live. The Sisters have an interesting way of life.”
“And we don’t?”
“That’s not what I meant and you know it!” He was acting like a kit!
“They treated us well.”
“What about Leafstar’s wound?”
“She tried to escape.”
“And you didn’t?” He shot her a reproachful look. “Did you like the Sisters so much that you didn’t want to come home?”
“Don’t be mouse-brained!”
“‘Mouse-brained’!” He glared at her. “You force me to lead my Clanmates into hostile territory on a rescue mission and you call me mouse-brained. You’re Clan deputy, for StarClan’s sake! You’re supposed to be protecting your Clan, not putting them in danger. And you’re my mate. If there’s anyone I should be able to rely on in ThunderClan, it should be you!”
“You can rely on me!” The ground seemed to shift beneath Squirrelflight’s paws. Didn’t he trust her anymore?
“Not when you behave like a reckless apprentice.” Bramblestar glared at her. “From now on, I want you to run every decision by me. No more going off on your own ridiculous missions. No more arguing with me at Gatherings. If a deputy can’t support her own leader, perhaps she’s not fit to be deputy.” With that, Bramblestar pulled ahead, his shoulders stiff, and followed his Clanmates as the path wound into a wooded ravine.
Some of the ThunderClan warriors shot Squirrelflight sympathetic glances. It only made her feel more wretched. Did my own mate just threaten to replace me as deputy? She trailed behind. What was the point of talking to him? He seemed determined to twist her words, and he clearly didn’t want to admit that her mission might have helped the Clans. Suddenly she missed the amiable calm of the Sisters’ camp. In her days there, no cat had argued or worried about territory or fussed about whether their campmates were following the warrior code. They seemed to take life as it came, without judgment or complaint. As they neared the Clan border, Squirrelflight’s chest tightened as she felt the forest begin to close in on her. She could sense that Bramblestar wasn’t going to forgive her anytime soon.
“I have to go.” Squirrelflight headed toward him, irritated at being called away like a kit.
Bramblestar waited for her to push through the ferns, then followed her out of camp. Her Clanmates wound their way out of the valley. She padded after them, relieved to be heading home.
“What in StarClan were you thinking?” Bramblestar fell in beside her.
She dipped her head, bracing herself for the argument she knew must be coming. “I’m sorry.”
“Going off like that on a hare-brained mission without telling me!”
She could feel his gaze burning through her pelt. “You’d have stopped me if you’d known,” she mewed.
“Of course I would have!” he snapped. “Now look what’s happened. You’ve found a whole new group of cats to fight with over territory. As if ShadowClan and WindClan weren’t enough!”
“But we don’t have to fight with them,” Squirrelflight objected.
“They’re happy for SkyClan to have the land when they’re finished with it.”
She stopped and looked at him. She’d made a mistake coming here as she had, but it was obvious she’d found the answer to the Clans’ problems. “Don’t you see? I’ve found SkyClan the land they need! Now the Clans won’t have to fight over territory ever again.”
“Don’t be naive.” Bramblestar stared at her. “New territory will probably mean new battles. Since when was any Clan satisfied with what they have?”
“When each Clan has enough, then the fighting will stop.” Why was he being so negative? “We haven’t gotten the borders right until now. But once SkyClan moves, every Clan will have plenty.” Bramblestar brushed past her and padded after his Clanmates.
Squirrelflight caught up to him, irritation spiking her fur. “I had a good idea and I followed it through,” she snapped. “Leafstar likes the new territory, and now SkyClan will have somewhere they can finally make a real home. You just don’t want to admit I was right!”
“Nonsense!” Bramblestar lashed his tail. “I’m Clan leader. I welcome ideas from any of my Clanmates, and if it’s a good idea, I’m happy to be proved wrong.”
“My idea is a good idea!” Squirrelflight swallowed back frustration.
“You’re only seeing it from your point of view,” Bramblestar growled. “Have you really thought about what it would be like for SkyClan to move again so soon? To build yet another camp? To learn about new territory? How do you know there aren’t Twolegs here? Or a family of foxes? Have you checked every tail-length of this land? What if one of their kits is killed by a snake here? Will you take responsibility?”
“Life is risky!” Squirrelflight ignored the doubt shimmering at the edge of her thoughts. “There will be risks wherever SkyClan lives!”
Bramblestar ignored her. “And how does it make SkyClan look—agreeing to live where the other Clans choose again? Do you think the other Clans will treat them as equals once they’ve finished pushing them around?”
“That’s not my problem!” Squirrelflight shot back. “It’s up to SkyClan! Leafstar wants to move. She knows what she’s doing.”
“I hope so.” Bramblestar paused and looked along the track as it steepened and disappeared among boulders. “Are you sure that, after a few seasons living among these hills, SkyClan won’t feel like they’ve been pushed outside the Clans again?”
“Why should they? This land is right next to ours, and ShadowClan’s. And they’ll have a strip of territory right down to the lakeshore. They’ll be as much a part of the Clans as we are.” Squirrelflight hurried after him, following the path as it snaked into a narrow gorge. Ahead, their Clanmates padded beneath overhanging rock. The star-specked sky showed in a narrow band above them. As the trail opened into another valley, Bramblestar spoke again. “I was worried about you, you know?” His mew was husky.
“I know.” Guilt rippled beneath her pelt. “I didn’t know I’d be away so long, and I told Sparkpelt where I’d gone, just in case.”
“Sparkpelt was worried too,” he told her. “More so because you asked her to keep your secret. She didn’t know whether telling me was betraying you, or remaining silent was betraying me. You should never have put her in that position.”
Squirrelflight shrank beneath her pelt. “I know,” she mewed softly. “I just wanted to make the Clans okay again. How was I to know we’d be taken prisoner?” As she spoke, resentment bubbled in her chest. Bramblestar wasn’t even trying to understand. Was he enjoying making her feel bad? “But we weren’t hurt, and it was good to see how other cats live. The Sisters have an interesting way of life.”
“And we don’t?”
“That’s not what I meant and you know it!” He was acting like a kit!
“They treated us well.”
“What about Leafstar’s wound?”
“She tried to escape.”
“And you didn’t?” He shot her a reproachful look. “Did you like the Sisters so much that you didn’t want to come home?”
“Don’t be mouse-brained!”
“‘Mouse-brained’!” He glared at her. “You force me to lead my Clanmates into hostile territory on a rescue mission and you call me mouse-brained. You’re Clan deputy, for StarClan’s sake! You’re supposed to be protecting your Clan, not putting them in danger. And you’re my mate. If there’s anyone I should be able to rely on in ThunderClan, it should be you!”
“You can rely on me!” The ground seemed to shift beneath Squirrelflight’s paws. Didn’t he trust her anymore?
“Not when you behave like a reckless apprentice.” Bramblestar glared at her. “From now on, I want you to run every decision by me. No more going off on your own ridiculous missions. No more arguing with me at Gatherings. If a deputy can’t support her own leader, perhaps she’s not fit to be deputy.” With that, Bramblestar pulled ahead, his shoulders stiff, and followed his Clanmates as the path wound into a wooded ravine.
Some of the ThunderClan warriors shot Squirrelflight sympathetic glances. It only made her feel more wretched. Did my own mate just threaten to replace me as deputy? She trailed behind. What was the point of talking to him? He seemed determined to twist her words, and he clearly didn’t want to admit that her mission might have helped the Clans. Suddenly she missed the amiable calm of the Sisters’ camp. In her days there, no cat had argued or worried about territory or fussed about whether their campmates were following the warrior code. They seemed to take life as it came, without judgment or complaint. As they neared the Clan border, Squirrelflight’s chest tightened as she felt the forest begin to close in on her. She could sense that Bramblestar wasn’t going to forgive her anytime soon.
“Squirrelflight.” He padded toward her, his gaze cool.
She dipped her head. “Bramblestar.”
“Who do you plan to send on dawn patrol tomorrow?” He glanced around the Clan.
“I haven’t decided yet.”
Bramblestar frowned and padded softly into the shadow of the Highledge. He beckoned Squirrelflight closer with a twitch of his tail. “I thought I asked you to let me know in advance of any decisions you make as deputy,” he mewed, lowering his voice.
Anger flared in her belly. “I never decide who’s going on patrol until the morning,” she told him icily. “I like to see who’s awake. It’s no use waking one warrior when another warrior is already itching to get out into the forest.”
“That’s sloppy. A warrior should know if he’s going on patrol and be ready.” Bramblestar’s ears twitched. “From now on, I want to know who’s going out on dawn patrol the night before.”
Squirrelflight flexed her claws. “Is that how it’s going to be now? Are you going to make up mouse-brained rules just to prove you’re in charge?”
“You’re my deputy,” he told her. “I need to know that you can follow orders.”
“Or you’ll replace me. I know. I get the message.” Squirrelflight glared at him.
Bramblestar met her gaze evenly. “I need to know I can trust you.”
“Of course you can trust me! I love you and I love my Clan. I would never do anything to hurt you or them.” The Sisters’ life seemed suddenly appealing. The idea that Moonlight would invent pointless rules for Snow and the others to follow seemed ridiculous. Bramblestar was supposed to be her mate. Why couldn’t he talk to her instead of trying to make her feel small?
Bramblestar sniffed. “I’m just worried that your judgment is not as sound as it should be.”
“Not sound?” Squirrelflight stared at him in disbelief. “Because I came up with a plan and tried to follow it through?”
“Because your plan put SkyClan and ThunderClan in danger.” He stared at her accusingly.
“The Sisters aren’t a danger to any—” She stopped as she noticed Sparkpelt staring at them from the edge of the clearing.
She dipped her head. “Bramblestar.”
“Who do you plan to send on dawn patrol tomorrow?” He glanced around the Clan.
“I haven’t decided yet.”
Bramblestar frowned and padded softly into the shadow of the Highledge. He beckoned Squirrelflight closer with a twitch of his tail. “I thought I asked you to let me know in advance of any decisions you make as deputy,” he mewed, lowering his voice.
Anger flared in her belly. “I never decide who’s going on patrol until the morning,” she told him icily. “I like to see who’s awake. It’s no use waking one warrior when another warrior is already itching to get out into the forest.”
“That’s sloppy. A warrior should know if he’s going on patrol and be ready.” Bramblestar’s ears twitched. “From now on, I want to know who’s going out on dawn patrol the night before.”
Squirrelflight flexed her claws. “Is that how it’s going to be now? Are you going to make up mouse-brained rules just to prove you’re in charge?”
“You’re my deputy,” he told her. “I need to know that you can follow orders.”
“Or you’ll replace me. I know. I get the message.” Squirrelflight glared at him.
Bramblestar met her gaze evenly. “I need to know I can trust you.”
“Of course you can trust me! I love you and I love my Clan. I would never do anything to hurt you or them.” The Sisters’ life seemed suddenly appealing. The idea that Moonlight would invent pointless rules for Snow and the others to follow seemed ridiculous. Bramblestar was supposed to be her mate. Why couldn’t he talk to her instead of trying to make her feel small?
Bramblestar sniffed. “I’m just worried that your judgment is not as sound as it should be.”
“Not sound?” Squirrelflight stared at him in disbelief. “Because I came up with a plan and tried to follow it through?”
“Because your plan put SkyClan and ThunderClan in danger.” He stared at her accusingly.
“The Sisters aren’t a danger to any—” She stopped as she noticed Sparkpelt staring at them from the edge of the clearing.
Squirrelflight turned back to Bramblestar, her feelings hardening once more. Were there any more rules he wanted to tell her about?
He was gazing at her kindly. “I know that must have been difficult,” he murmured.
Squirrelflight stiffened guiltily, ashamed of the grief Sparkpelt’s news had triggered. It was worse that Bramblestar had seen it. “I’m happy for her. I’m happy for them both.”
“But I know how much you want more kits,” he meowed.
She narrowed her eyes, anger flaring. “And I know how much you don’t.” She turned her tail on him and marched away. With every paw step, her anger melted and guilt took its place. Why had she said that? He was only trying to be kind. Overwhelmed, she headed to the medicine den. She needed to share her feelings with some cat. She remembered how relieved Leafpool had been when she’d returned to camp—surely she would understand.
He was gazing at her kindly. “I know that must have been difficult,” he murmured.
Squirrelflight stiffened guiltily, ashamed of the grief Sparkpelt’s news had triggered. It was worse that Bramblestar had seen it. “I’m happy for her. I’m happy for them both.”
“But I know how much you want more kits,” he meowed.
She narrowed her eyes, anger flaring. “And I know how much you don’t.” She turned her tail on him and marched away. With every paw step, her anger melted and guilt took its place. Why had she said that? He was only trying to be kind. Overwhelmed, she headed to the medicine den. She needed to share her feelings with some cat. She remembered how relieved Leafpool had been when she’d returned to camp—surely she would understand.
“Sunrise is injured,” Squirrelflight told him. “She needs a medicine cat.”
Sparkpelt moved closer to her mother. “Squirrelflight was scared Sunrise might die.”
Bramblestar narrowed his gaze.
“I’ll fetch cobwebs.” Leafpool turned back toward the medicine den.
“Stop!” Bramblestar yowled with a flick of his tail.
Leafpool froze.
Squirrelflight stared at him. “Aren’t you going to help her?”
He thrust his muzzle closer. “Why are you putting me in this position?” he hissed, so low only she and Sparkpelt could hear. “I thought I told you to run decisions past me first.”
Sparkpelt moved closer to her mother. “Squirrelflight was scared Sunrise might die.”
Bramblestar narrowed his gaze.
“I’ll fetch cobwebs.” Leafpool turned back toward the medicine den.
“Stop!” Bramblestar yowled with a flick of his tail.
Leafpool froze.
Squirrelflight stared at him. “Aren’t you going to help her?”
He thrust his muzzle closer. “Why are you putting me in this position?” he hissed, so low only she and Sparkpelt could hear. “I thought I told you to run decisions past me first.”
Bramblestar looked around his Clan. Anger flared in Thornclaw’s eyes. Birchfall’s ears twitched menacingly. Twigbranch and Finleap stared at him. “StarClan must decide,” Bramblestar announced with a jerk of his muzzle toward Jayfeather. “Take Alderheart to the Moonpool and share with our ancestors. They will tell us what to do.”
Squirrelflight blinked at him in surprise. “What does StarClan have to do with this? Do we need them to tell us how to be honorable?”
Bramblestar gazed back at her coldly. “These cats have threatened you and attacked ShadowClan. They clearly don’t care who they harm or how. If we treat this cat, we show them we can be pushed around. And we might make an enemy of Tigerstar forever. StarClan has already told us that the Clans must stand together. For all we know, helping the Sisters might be no better than helping Darktail. We need StarClan’s guidance. Jayfeather and Alderheart will travel to the Moonpool.”
Squirrelflight blinked at him in surprise. “What does StarClan have to do with this? Do we need them to tell us how to be honorable?”
Bramblestar gazed back at her coldly. “These cats have threatened you and attacked ShadowClan. They clearly don’t care who they harm or how. If we treat this cat, we show them we can be pushed around. And we might make an enemy of Tigerstar forever. StarClan has already told us that the Clans must stand together. For all we know, helping the Sisters might be no better than helping Darktail. We need StarClan’s guidance. Jayfeather and Alderheart will travel to the Moonpool.”
Bramblestar grunted and flicked his gaze to Squirrelflight. “Why in StarClan did you bring them here?” Anger hardened his mew.
Squirrelflight bristled, pulling up short. “What did you want me to do? Leave Sunrise to die in the woods?”
“What would they have done if you hadn’t found them?” Bramblestarbdidn’t wait for her answer. “They would have taken their wounded home where they belong instead of making their problem our problem.”
“But I did find them.” Squirrelflight defended herself. She was not going to let him make her feel bad for trying to save a cat’s life. “I couldn’t turn my back on them.”
Sparkpelt blinked at Bramblestar. “You couldn’t have expected us to walk away.”
“You could have taken them to the border and let their campmates take care of them.” Bramblestar’s fur spiked along his spine. “Did you know they’d attacked a ShadowClan patrol when you brought them here?”
“Snow told me on the way to camp,” Squirrelflight told him.
“ShadowClan had been on their land. They were only trying to find out why. They didn’t go looking for a fight.”
“Do you think that’s how Tigerstar will see it?” Bramblestar’s gaze darkened. “How will he react when he finds out we’re protecting them?”
Squirrelflight could hardly believe her ears. “Since when do you care what Tigerstar thinks?”
“Since StarClan told us there must be unity among the Clans!”
“So you’d let a cat die because Tigerstar might be upset?”
“I thought you wanted to keep the peace. Do you think this will help?”
Squirrelflight lifted her chin. “The Clans will understand when they find out what happened. We all follow the same code, and that code says nothing about letting cats die.”
“It does say something about protecting your Clan,” Bramblestar spat back. “How can you think that bringing a bunch of rogues into our camp is protecting ThunderClan?”
“They’re not rogues!”
“They’re not loners or warriors.” Bramblestar curled his claws into the sandy floor of the cave. “What were you thinking when you decided to bring them into our camp?”
Frustration surged in Squirrelflight’s chest. “I was trying to save a cat’s life. And they’re not rogues! They’re the Sisters! There are more ways to live than being a warrior or a rogue!”
Bramblestar lashed his tail. “You spend two days in another camp and suddenly you’re questioning our beliefs?”
“I’m not questioning our beliefs. I’m just pointing out that there are other ways to live.”
“And how does that solve the problem that we are sheltering ShadowClan’s attackers? How does that bring unity to the Clans?”
“Not everything is about the Clans!” Anger burned beneath Squirrelflight’s pelt. There seemed so much more at stake here than whether the Clans were united. “What about the warrior code? What about honor and integrity? What about doing the right thing?”
“So you’re the only cat who knows what’s right?”
Squirrelflight bristled, pulling up short. “What did you want me to do? Leave Sunrise to die in the woods?”
“What would they have done if you hadn’t found them?” Bramblestarbdidn’t wait for her answer. “They would have taken their wounded home where they belong instead of making their problem our problem.”
“But I did find them.” Squirrelflight defended herself. She was not going to let him make her feel bad for trying to save a cat’s life. “I couldn’t turn my back on them.”
Sparkpelt blinked at Bramblestar. “You couldn’t have expected us to walk away.”
“You could have taken them to the border and let their campmates take care of them.” Bramblestar’s fur spiked along his spine. “Did you know they’d attacked a ShadowClan patrol when you brought them here?”
“Snow told me on the way to camp,” Squirrelflight told him.
“ShadowClan had been on their land. They were only trying to find out why. They didn’t go looking for a fight.”
“Do you think that’s how Tigerstar will see it?” Bramblestar’s gaze darkened. “How will he react when he finds out we’re protecting them?”
Squirrelflight could hardly believe her ears. “Since when do you care what Tigerstar thinks?”
“Since StarClan told us there must be unity among the Clans!”
“So you’d let a cat die because Tigerstar might be upset?”
“I thought you wanted to keep the peace. Do you think this will help?”
Squirrelflight lifted her chin. “The Clans will understand when they find out what happened. We all follow the same code, and that code says nothing about letting cats die.”
“It does say something about protecting your Clan,” Bramblestar spat back. “How can you think that bringing a bunch of rogues into our camp is protecting ThunderClan?”
“They’re not rogues!”
“They’re not loners or warriors.” Bramblestar curled his claws into the sandy floor of the cave. “What were you thinking when you decided to bring them into our camp?”
Frustration surged in Squirrelflight’s chest. “I was trying to save a cat’s life. And they’re not rogues! They’re the Sisters! There are more ways to live than being a warrior or a rogue!”
Bramblestar lashed his tail. “You spend two days in another camp and suddenly you’re questioning our beliefs?”
“I’m not questioning our beliefs. I’m just pointing out that there are other ways to live.”
“And how does that solve the problem that we are sheltering ShadowClan’s attackers? How does that bring unity to the Clans?”
“Not everything is about the Clans!” Anger burned beneath Squirrelflight’s pelt. There seemed so much more at stake here than whether the Clans were united. “What about the warrior code? What about honor and integrity? What about doing the right thing?”
“So you’re the only cat who knows what’s right?”
Thornclaw grunted. “‘Clouds from the mountains …’” He stared at the Sisters. “I think the message is clear. These cats bring trouble. We must send them away.”
“No!” Squirrelflight hurried forward. “The message doesn’t say they are the enemy, only that clouds will make it hard to tell who the enemy is.”
Bramblestar frowned. “But they say the Clans must stay united. If we treat this cat, Tigerstar will see it as betrayal.”
“You don’t know that!” Squirrelflight flicked her tail angrily. “Sunrise needs herbs. Her wound is infected. StarClan would not ask us to let her die. And if they did, perhaps we shouldn’t be listening to them.” Silence gripped the Clan, and a chill ran beneath her pelt.
Bramblestar looked at her in disbelief. “If we turn our tails on StarClan, then we might as well turn our tails on the whole warrior code.” His gaze hardened. “We might as well live like them.” He flicked his muzzle toward Tempest, Hawk, and Snow. “Or would you prefer that?”
“Of course I wouldn’t prefer that, but I can’t stand by and let you decide to let a cat die. It’s wrong!”
“No!” Squirrelflight hurried forward. “The message doesn’t say they are the enemy, only that clouds will make it hard to tell who the enemy is.”
Bramblestar frowned. “But they say the Clans must stay united. If we treat this cat, Tigerstar will see it as betrayal.”
“You don’t know that!” Squirrelflight flicked her tail angrily. “Sunrise needs herbs. Her wound is infected. StarClan would not ask us to let her die. And if they did, perhaps we shouldn’t be listening to them.” Silence gripped the Clan, and a chill ran beneath her pelt.
Bramblestar looked at her in disbelief. “If we turn our tails on StarClan, then we might as well turn our tails on the whole warrior code.” His gaze hardened. “We might as well live like them.” He flicked his muzzle toward Tempest, Hawk, and Snow. “Or would you prefer that?”
“Of course I wouldn’t prefer that, but I can’t stand by and let you decide to let a cat die. It’s wrong!”
Bramblestar stared at her miserably. “We can’t keep doing this,” he whispered only loud enough for her to hear. Desperation edged his mew. “If you keep undermining my authority, you could destroy the whole Clan.”
Squirrelflight held her ground. “I have to do what I think is right.”
“Even if it costs you your Clan?”
“ThunderClan is stronger than that,” Squirrelflight spat. “At least I hope it is. If our future depends on letting a cat die, then it’s not the Clan I thought it was.”
Bramblestar stared at her. Uncertainty glittered in his gaze. “Why are you doing this to me?” His words pierced her heart. “You’re my deputy. You’re my mate. You’re supposed to support me.”
“Being a good deputy doesn’t mean blindly following orders.” Squirrelflight didn’t move. “It means standing up for what I believe, and this time, I believe I’m right.” The camp seemed to swim around her. She knew she was hurting him. But she had to convince him. As the Clan watched her silently, their eyes round in the moonlight, Bramblestar backed away.
His gaze flicked to Leafpool. “If you insist on treating Sunrise, go ahead. But take her to the medicine den. If she’s out of sight, perhaps the Clan will feel less angry.” He nodded toward the Sisters. “They can stay in the elders’ den. Berrynose and Bumblestripe will stand guard tonight. Move Millie, Brightheart, Cloudtail, and Graystripe to the nursery.” Around him, the Clan got to their paws. Mousewhisker and Twigbranch helped Tempest and Hawk lift Sunrise. Leafpool nosed her way into the medicine den. Bramblestar narrowed his eyes, his face like stone. Squirrelflight tried to drag her gaze from his, her heart cracking as he curled his lip. “StarClan wanted unity among the Clans,” he snarled. “Thanks to you, there’s not even unity in ThunderClan anymore.”
Squirrelflight held her ground. “I have to do what I think is right.”
“Even if it costs you your Clan?”
“ThunderClan is stronger than that,” Squirrelflight spat. “At least I hope it is. If our future depends on letting a cat die, then it’s not the Clan I thought it was.”
Bramblestar stared at her. Uncertainty glittered in his gaze. “Why are you doing this to me?” His words pierced her heart. “You’re my deputy. You’re my mate. You’re supposed to support me.”
“Being a good deputy doesn’t mean blindly following orders.” Squirrelflight didn’t move. “It means standing up for what I believe, and this time, I believe I’m right.” The camp seemed to swim around her. She knew she was hurting him. But she had to convince him. As the Clan watched her silently, their eyes round in the moonlight, Bramblestar backed away.
His gaze flicked to Leafpool. “If you insist on treating Sunrise, go ahead. But take her to the medicine den. If she’s out of sight, perhaps the Clan will feel less angry.” He nodded toward the Sisters. “They can stay in the elders’ den. Berrynose and Bumblestripe will stand guard tonight. Move Millie, Brightheart, Cloudtail, and Graystripe to the nursery.” Around him, the Clan got to their paws. Mousewhisker and Twigbranch helped Tempest and Hawk lift Sunrise. Leafpool nosed her way into the medicine den. Bramblestar narrowed his eyes, his face like stone. Squirrelflight tried to drag her gaze from his, her heart cracking as he curled his lip. “StarClan wanted unity among the Clans,” he snarled. “Thanks to you, there’s not even unity in ThunderClan anymore.”
Fur brushed Squirrelflight’s flank. Bramblestar was beside her, staring after their Clanmates. His ears twitched uneasily. “I’ve made liars out of my whole Clan,” he murmured. He looked accusingly at Squirrelflight. “Are the Sisters worth sacrificing our honor and our pride for?”
Guilt wormed beneath Squirrelflight’s pelt. She knew that asking his Clanmates to lie must have wounded Bramblestar deeply. “We couldn’t have told the truth.” She blinked at him. “Who knows what Tigerstar would have done?”
“I warned you he’d react badly.”
“We can’t live in fear of what Tigerstar might do.”
“But what Tigerstar does matters, whether you like it or not.”
Squirrelflight shifted her paws uneasily. “He seems determined to drive the Sisters off their land.”
“Would it be such a bad thing if he did?” Bramblestar stared at her darkly.
Squirrelflight blinked back at him, shocked. “Moonlight’s expecting kits,” she gasped. “We have to protect them.”
Exasperation seemed to flash in his gaze. Was he irritated that she was still worrying about kits? “And who will protect Sparkpelt’s kits if Tigerstar finds out we’re sheltering his sworn enemy?”
Squirrelflight’s heart lurched. “He won’t find out!”
“We won’t give him the chance.” Bramblestar watched their Clanmates disappear into the long grass. “Sunrise and her campmates must leave our territory tonight.”
Guilt wormed beneath Squirrelflight’s pelt. She knew that asking his Clanmates to lie must have wounded Bramblestar deeply. “We couldn’t have told the truth.” She blinked at him. “Who knows what Tigerstar would have done?”
“I warned you he’d react badly.”
“We can’t live in fear of what Tigerstar might do.”
“But what Tigerstar does matters, whether you like it or not.”
Squirrelflight shifted her paws uneasily. “He seems determined to drive the Sisters off their land.”
“Would it be such a bad thing if he did?” Bramblestar stared at her darkly.
Squirrelflight blinked back at him, shocked. “Moonlight’s expecting kits,” she gasped. “We have to protect them.”
Exasperation seemed to flash in his gaze. Was he irritated that she was still worrying about kits? “And who will protect Sparkpelt’s kits if Tigerstar finds out we’re sheltering his sworn enemy?”
Squirrelflight’s heart lurched. “He won’t find out!”
“We won’t give him the chance.” Bramblestar watched their Clanmates disappear into the long grass. “Sunrise and her campmates must leave our territory tonight.”
“I’m going to escort them,” Squirrelflight told him. “I can make sure they stay away from Clan borders.”
Bramblestar looked at her suspiciously. “I’m sure they can manage by themselves.”
“They’ll manage better with a guide.” Squirrelflight returned his gaze evenly. She wanted to check on Moonlight. Was the Sisters’ leader close to kitting? “ShadowClan mustn’t know they’ve passed through our territory.”
Bramblestar frowned. “If you must go, I’m sending Bumblestripe with you.”
“Let him sleep,” Squirrelflight mewed quickly. “It’s late.” She tipped her head to one side. “Or don’t you trust me to do this alone?”
Bramblestar stared back at her, then shook out his pelt. “Go with them if you must,” he growled. He nodded quickly to the Sisters and nosed his way out of the den.
Bramblestar looked at her suspiciously. “I’m sure they can manage by themselves.”
“They’ll manage better with a guide.” Squirrelflight returned his gaze evenly. She wanted to check on Moonlight. Was the Sisters’ leader close to kitting? “ShadowClan mustn’t know they’ve passed through our territory.”
Bramblestar frowned. “If you must go, I’m sending Bumblestripe with you.”
“Let him sleep,” Squirrelflight mewed quickly. “It’s late.” She tipped her head to one side. “Or don’t you trust me to do this alone?”
Bramblestar stared back at her, then shook out his pelt. “Go with them if you must,” he growled. He nodded quickly to the Sisters and nosed his way out of the den.
Squirrelflight’s ears twitched. What if Leafstar made the decision tomorrow, or in a quarter moon, before Moonlight’s kits were born? She tried to push the thought away. Surely Leafstar wouldn’t knowingly endanger Moonlight or her kits. But what if she did? She glanced at Bramblestar. “Would you drive the Sisters away before they’re ready to leave?”
“I’ll try to keep the peace as long as I can, but the Clans’ interests must come first.”
Squirrelflight’s pelt sparked with anger. Did Bramblestar really believe that the impatience of warriors was more important than the Sisters’ needs? “Why?”
“Do you think we should put the comfort of rogues before ourselves?”
Squirrelflight bristled. “The Sisters aren’t rogues!”
He looked at her, puzzled. “How are they different?” He didn’t wait for an answer. “I can’t let my Clan go hungry so that the Sisters can eat.”
“No cat is going without food!” Squirrelflight stared at him.
Bramblestar was twisting the argument. “We don’t have the right to take land just because we want it.”
“We need it,” Bramblestar insisted. “And the Sisters have proved that they pose a threat to the Clans.”
“What threat?” Squirrelflight’s hackles lifted.
“They’re willing to attack Clan cats and hold them hostage. I call that a threat.”
“They were just defending themselves,” Squirrelflight argued.
“And we’re just defending ourselves.”
“So why are you holding Tigerstar back?” Squirrelflight’s paws pricked with frustration. “Why not just let him start his war against the Sisters now?” She didn’t want an answer. “You told him that we had to wait for word from StarClan. But we’ve had word from StarClan. Tigerstar could easily twist what Hollyleaf told Jayfeather into an excuse for war. Why not tell him what StarClan said and let him attack the Sisters?” She fixed his gaze, her heart aching. She wanted him to say that it was because he knew it was wrong to steal land, that he had pity for Moonlight and her unborn kits.
Bramblestar looked at her coldly. “There’s no need for war with the Sisters until we know for sure that SkyClan wants their land.”
“I’ll try to keep the peace as long as I can, but the Clans’ interests must come first.”
Squirrelflight’s pelt sparked with anger. Did Bramblestar really believe that the impatience of warriors was more important than the Sisters’ needs? “Why?”
“Do you think we should put the comfort of rogues before ourselves?”
Squirrelflight bristled. “The Sisters aren’t rogues!”
He looked at her, puzzled. “How are they different?” He didn’t wait for an answer. “I can’t let my Clan go hungry so that the Sisters can eat.”
“No cat is going without food!” Squirrelflight stared at him.
Bramblestar was twisting the argument. “We don’t have the right to take land just because we want it.”
“We need it,” Bramblestar insisted. “And the Sisters have proved that they pose a threat to the Clans.”
“What threat?” Squirrelflight’s hackles lifted.
“They’re willing to attack Clan cats and hold them hostage. I call that a threat.”
“They were just defending themselves,” Squirrelflight argued.
“And we’re just defending ourselves.”
“So why are you holding Tigerstar back?” Squirrelflight’s paws pricked with frustration. “Why not just let him start his war against the Sisters now?” She didn’t want an answer. “You told him that we had to wait for word from StarClan. But we’ve had word from StarClan. Tigerstar could easily twist what Hollyleaf told Jayfeather into an excuse for war. Why not tell him what StarClan said and let him attack the Sisters?” She fixed his gaze, her heart aching. She wanted him to say that it was because he knew it was wrong to steal land, that he had pity for Moonlight and her unborn kits.
Bramblestar looked at her coldly. “There’s no need for war with the Sisters until we know for sure that SkyClan wants their land.”
“I’m not fond of them,” she shot back. “I just happen to respect their way of life.”
Bramblestar shifted his paws. “You used to respect our way of life,” he grunted.
She looked at him, surprised. She’d thought they’d settled their differences. Was he still angry with her? “I still do!”
“Then why do you keep talking about the Sisters?” Bramblestar held her gaze.
“Mousewhisker and Berrynose started it!” Squirrelflight defended herself.
Bramblestar shifted his paws. “You used to respect our way of life,” he grunted.
She looked at him, surprised. She’d thought they’d settled their differences. Was he still angry with her? “I still do!”
“Then why do you keep talking about the Sisters?” Bramblestar held her gaze.
“Mousewhisker and Berrynose started it!” Squirrelflight defended herself.
“They’re clearly determined to hang on to this land for as long as they can.” Bramblestar glanced at Squirrelflight.
She blinked at him. “Moonlight only wants to wait until she’s had her kits. Is that so unreasonable?”
“It is when the peace of the Clans is at stake,” Bramblestar answered.
Anger burned beneath Squirrelflight’s pelt. “There’s no need for the Clans to fight one another!”
She blinked at him. “Moonlight only wants to wait until she’s had her kits. Is that so unreasonable?”
“It is when the peace of the Clans is at stake,” Bramblestar answered.
Anger burned beneath Squirrelflight’s pelt. “There’s no need for the Clans to fight one another!”
Bramblestar met Squirrelflight’s gaze. “Do you see? There can be no peace until the border disputes are settled once and for all. We have to make the Sisters leave.”
“And they’re clearly not going to leave until we drive them away,”
Harestar growled.
“Even if it harms unborn kits?” Squirrelflight dug her claws into the earth. How could she be the only cat here who didn’t see how unfair the Clans were being?
[...]
Bramblestar looked at Squirrelflight. “You must agree that’s reasonable,” he meowed. “No one would be harmed, and SkyClan would get their land now.”
Squirrelflight’s paws pricked with anger. “You don’t know Moonlight,” she shot back. “If you show up in her camp, she won’t just back down. She’s more likely to fight.”
“And they’re clearly not going to leave until we drive them away,”
Harestar growled.
“Even if it harms unborn kits?” Squirrelflight dug her claws into the earth. How could she be the only cat here who didn’t see how unfair the Clans were being?
[...]
Bramblestar looked at Squirrelflight. “You must agree that’s reasonable,” he meowed. “No one would be harmed, and SkyClan would get their land now.”
Squirrelflight’s paws pricked with anger. “You don’t know Moonlight,” she shot back. “If you show up in her camp, she won’t just back down. She’s more likely to fight.”
“Can I count on your support tomorrow?” There was hostility in his mew. “You are my deputy, after all.”
“And your mate.” Her pelt pricked uneasily. What did he expect her to say? “But that doesn’t mean I have to support you in everything. I can’t support you when I don’t agree with you.”
“You’re my deputy. I expect you to support me no matter what,” he snapped. “How can the Clan trust my decisions when you constantly challenge me?”
“You’re their leader. They’ll support you,” she mewed. “No matter how wrong you are.”
Bramblestar bristled. “So you doubt your Clan too?”
“That’s not what I said.”
“It’s what you meant.”
“You haven’t understood what I’ve meant for a moon!” Squirrelflight flattened her ears. “If you did, we wouldn’t be arguing now, and you wouldn’t be leading a battle patrol against an expectant queen!”
“Is that all that matters to you?” Bramblestar’s eyes blazed with frustration. “Some rogue and her kits? There’s more to life than kits!”
“And there’s more to life than fighting!”
“Of course there is!” Bramblestar held her gaze. “Do you think I don’t know that?”
“You’re acting as if borders and battles are the only thing you care about,” Squirrelflight spat.
“And you’re acting like the Sisters are the only cats you care about!” Hurt edged his mew.
“You think I don’t care about ThunderClan?” Thorns seemed to pierce Squirrelflight’s heart. “Of course I care! I care about them, and I care about you! More than anything! But you don’t seem to respect me anymore—notas your mate, not as your deputy—and I don’t know why.”
“Of course I respect you.” Bramblestar’s mew softened. “But you don’t seem to agree with anything I say or do. I have a Clan to lead. How can I lead them when the cat I care most about thinks I’m doing everything wrong?”
Squirrelflight gazed at him through the darkness. “Do you really believe you’re doing the right thing by attacking the Sisters?”
“I’m not attacking them! I’m just making sure they leave.”
“But you must know there’ll be a battle if you show up.”
Bramblestar’s eyes flashed. “I don’t know anything of the kind, and I’m not responsible for how Moonlight might react. I know that you’re worried, but I’m not going there to fight. I don’t want the Sisters to be hurt. I will do everything in my power to make sure we move her without bloodshed.” He looked suddenly helpless. “I promise I’m only trying to do what’s best, Squirrelflight. I can’t let the Clans fight among themselves. StarClan has told us there must be peace. This is the only way we can ensure that peace.”
Pity swelled in Squirrelflight’s chest. She suddenly saw how torn he must feel. SkyClan’s arrival beside the lake had sent shock waves through the Clans that they were still struggling to cope with. She understood why Bramblestar wanted to protect the Clans’ fragile harmony. But if everyone could just take a breath and wait, she felt sure that a battle with Moonlight and the Sisters could be avoided. “Don’t you see that I can’t agree with you?” she murmured. “The Clans are threatening unborn kits because they can’t wait one moon for extra land. It’s greedy and heartless.”
“But more land for each Clan will mean a lasting peace.” Bramblestar stared at her desperately. “Don’t you see that?”
“Is peace in the Clans so important?” There hadn’t been peace among the Clans while she was growing up, and the sky hadn’t fallen in.
“And your mate.” Her pelt pricked uneasily. What did he expect her to say? “But that doesn’t mean I have to support you in everything. I can’t support you when I don’t agree with you.”
“You’re my deputy. I expect you to support me no matter what,” he snapped. “How can the Clan trust my decisions when you constantly challenge me?”
“You’re their leader. They’ll support you,” she mewed. “No matter how wrong you are.”
Bramblestar bristled. “So you doubt your Clan too?”
“That’s not what I said.”
“It’s what you meant.”
“You haven’t understood what I’ve meant for a moon!” Squirrelflight flattened her ears. “If you did, we wouldn’t be arguing now, and you wouldn’t be leading a battle patrol against an expectant queen!”
“Is that all that matters to you?” Bramblestar’s eyes blazed with frustration. “Some rogue and her kits? There’s more to life than kits!”
“And there’s more to life than fighting!”
“Of course there is!” Bramblestar held her gaze. “Do you think I don’t know that?”
“You’re acting as if borders and battles are the only thing you care about,” Squirrelflight spat.
“And you’re acting like the Sisters are the only cats you care about!” Hurt edged his mew.
“You think I don’t care about ThunderClan?” Thorns seemed to pierce Squirrelflight’s heart. “Of course I care! I care about them, and I care about you! More than anything! But you don’t seem to respect me anymore—notas your mate, not as your deputy—and I don’t know why.”
“Of course I respect you.” Bramblestar’s mew softened. “But you don’t seem to agree with anything I say or do. I have a Clan to lead. How can I lead them when the cat I care most about thinks I’m doing everything wrong?”
Squirrelflight gazed at him through the darkness. “Do you really believe you’re doing the right thing by attacking the Sisters?”
“I’m not attacking them! I’m just making sure they leave.”
“But you must know there’ll be a battle if you show up.”
Bramblestar’s eyes flashed. “I don’t know anything of the kind, and I’m not responsible for how Moonlight might react. I know that you’re worried, but I’m not going there to fight. I don’t want the Sisters to be hurt. I will do everything in my power to make sure we move her without bloodshed.” He looked suddenly helpless. “I promise I’m only trying to do what’s best, Squirrelflight. I can’t let the Clans fight among themselves. StarClan has told us there must be peace. This is the only way we can ensure that peace.”
Pity swelled in Squirrelflight’s chest. She suddenly saw how torn he must feel. SkyClan’s arrival beside the lake had sent shock waves through the Clans that they were still struggling to cope with. She understood why Bramblestar wanted to protect the Clans’ fragile harmony. But if everyone could just take a breath and wait, she felt sure that a battle with Moonlight and the Sisters could be avoided. “Don’t you see that I can’t agree with you?” she murmured. “The Clans are threatening unborn kits because they can’t wait one moon for extra land. It’s greedy and heartless.”
“But more land for each Clan will mean a lasting peace.” Bramblestar stared at her desperately. “Don’t you see that?”
“Is peace in the Clans so important?” There hadn’t been peace among the Clans while she was growing up, and the sky hadn’t fallen in.
“You care more about the Sisters than your Clanmates.”
Bramblestar’s mew took her by surprise. Squirrelflight turned. He was staring at her.
She met his gaze. “I care about any injured cat,” she mewed.
“Even an enemy?”
“A life is a life.” She got to her paws and faced him.
Bramblestar’s mew took her by surprise. Squirrelflight turned. He was staring at her.
She met his gaze. “I care about any injured cat,” she mewed.
“Even an enemy?”
“A life is a life.” She got to her paws and faced him.
Result: More people agree with Squirrelflight
Argument #2: The Clans vs. the Sisters
While I'm still on SqH, do you think the Clans were right to ask the Sisters to leave while Moonlight was pregnant or not?
Again, the book kicks off because the Clans agree that land is being wasted and everyone but Bramblestar and Leafstar herself thinks SkyClan should move again. As we know, the land is being occupied by the Sisters, who promise to leave after Moonlight's unborn kits are ready to travel. Leafstar also agrees to these terms.
The other leaders however wish for the Sisters to move as soon as possible.
Later, Tigerstar and Mistystar speak to Bramblestar after he reestablishes the old border with WindClan.
This tension continues during a Gathering.
Soon, the leaders discuss the Sisters again.
However, Moonlight refuses to leave even after speaking to Tree.
This angers the others and they then come up with a plan to drive the Sisters out for good.
Even StarClan believes the Sisters should've moved sooner.
And after SkyClan finally moves, Leafstar practically blames the other Clans for Moonlight's death.
Moonlight followed the SkyClan leader’s gaze. “We’ll stay until my kits are ready to travel.”
Leafstar glanced at her belly. “Will you ever return?”
“It’s a good place for birthing,” Moonlight told her. “But if it’s occupied when we come back this way, we’ll find someplace else.” She sounded unconcerned.
Hope flashed beneath Squirrelflight’s pelt. The Sisters didn’t want this land, and Leafstar sounded interested in making it SkyClan’s home. “Will you move SkyClan here?” she asked Leafstar.
“It’s good land,” Leafstar told her. “Once Moonlight and her friends have moved on, I will send patrols to explore more and discuss a future here with my warriors.”
Leafstar glanced at her belly. “Will you ever return?”
“It’s a good place for birthing,” Moonlight told her. “But if it’s occupied when we come back this way, we’ll find someplace else.” She sounded unconcerned.
Hope flashed beneath Squirrelflight’s pelt. The Sisters didn’t want this land, and Leafstar sounded interested in making it SkyClan’s home. “Will you move SkyClan here?” she asked Leafstar.
“It’s good land,” Leafstar told her. “Once Moonlight and her friends have moved on, I will send patrols to explore more and discuss a future here with my warriors.”
Leafstar whisked her tail. “This is good land. I think SkyClan would be happy here.” Relief washed Squirrelflight’s pelt. Leafstar was backing her up. She looked gratefully at her as the SkyClan leader went on. “I’m willing to give the Sisters a moon to move on. Two if they need it.” She switched her gaze to Moonlight. “But they must let us return to our Clans. I’m not staying here another day.”
The other leaders however wish for the Sisters to move as soon as possible.
Leafstar fluffed out her fur. “I’m not sure you need to declare war on them. They treated us kindly while we were with them.”
Squirrelflight nodded eagerly, relieved that Leafstar was defending the Sisters. “They fed us and treated Leafstar’s wound.”
Tigerstar huffed. “They caused Leafstar’s wound!”
A breeze ruffled Harestar’s pelt. “WindClan agrees with ShadowClan,” he yowled. “StarClan has decreed that the Clans be united. So we stand with ShadowClan to honor our ancestors and strengthen our alliance.”
Mistystar nodded slowly. “We stand with ShadowClan too. Leafstar has agreed to move to new territory—”
Leafstar bristled. “That decision isn’t final!”
“And yet it would solve all the Clans’ problems,” Mistystar countered. “We need the fishing land we gave to ShadowClan. WindClan needs their moorland back.” She blinked at the SkyClan leader. “The sooner we move the Sisters from your new territory, the sooner the Clans can reestablish their rightful borders.”
Squirrelflight nodded eagerly, relieved that Leafstar was defending the Sisters. “They fed us and treated Leafstar’s wound.”
Tigerstar huffed. “They caused Leafstar’s wound!”
A breeze ruffled Harestar’s pelt. “WindClan agrees with ShadowClan,” he yowled. “StarClan has decreed that the Clans be united. So we stand with ShadowClan to honor our ancestors and strengthen our alliance.”
Mistystar nodded slowly. “We stand with ShadowClan too. Leafstar has agreed to move to new territory—”
Leafstar bristled. “That decision isn’t final!”
“And yet it would solve all the Clans’ problems,” Mistystar countered. “We need the fishing land we gave to ShadowClan. WindClan needs their moorland back.” She blinked at the SkyClan leader. “The sooner we move the Sisters from your new territory, the sooner the Clans can reestablish their rightful borders.”
Later, Tigerstar and Mistystar speak to Bramblestar after he reestablishes the old border with WindClan.
Tigerstar flexed his claws. “You’ve reestablished your old border with WindClan.”
“The new border still remains,” Bramblestar told him calmly. “We mark it every day.”
“But you let WindClan hunt on your stretch of moorland,” Tigerstar accused.
Mistystar lifted her chin. “Which is the same as having no border at all.”
Squirrelflight moved closer to Bramblestar. “Our agreement with WindClan is ThunderClan business.”
“We’ve discussed this.” Tigerstar glared at her. “It becomes my business when Mistystar demands that we return RiverClan’s marshland.”
“We don’t control what RiverClan does,” Bramblestar replied stiffly. “WindClan and ThunderClan came to a peaceful agreement. There’s no reason why you and RiverClan can’t sort this out yourselves.”
“Is that all you have to say?” Tigerstar’s ears twitched angrily. “ThunderClan cats usually can’t stop themselves telling other Clans what to do.”
Bramblestar held his gaze. “Do you want me to tell RiverClan you won’t give their land back?”
“No!” Tigerstar lashed his tail. “ShadowClan can fight its own battles.”
“Then why are you here, disturbing our peace?” Bramblestar’s ears twitched.
Squirrelflight looked at him. If he was going to refuse to get involved, she’d follow his lead. “What can we do?”
“Defend your border with WindClan so we can defend ours.” Tigerstar growled. “We need the marshland.”
Mistystar snorted. “ShadowClan was never going to do more with that land than catch a few frogs and butterflies. We can fish there,” she snapped. “The borders are better this way.”
“They might be better for you!” Tigerstar met her gaze, his hackles lifting. “RiverClan didn’t give half its land to SkyClan.”
“ThunderClan gave land to SkyClan too,” she shot back. “They don’t seem to mind.”
Tigerstar swung his muzzle toward Bramblestar. “ThunderClan enjoys stirring up trouble in other Clans. I’m asking you to put an end to it now.”
“The situation is difficult,” Bramblestar conceded. “But StarClan wants unity. I’m not going to fight over borders. Not with you, or with WindClan. They can keep the hunting rights to our stretch of moorland.”
Tigerstar narrowed his eyes. “Then perhaps we should take our land back from SkyClan.”
Squirrelflight’s chest tightened. “You can’t! They need territory, too.”
Tigerstar swished his tail slowly. “Or you could help us drive the Sisters off their land so that SkyClan can move and we’ll all have enough land. ShadowClan has to eat.”
Alarm sparked through Squirrelflight’s pelt. She glanced helplessly at Bramblestar. He mustn’t let Tigerstar push him into war against the Sisters.
Bramblestar hesitated, his pelt ruffling along his spine. His gaze flitted from Tigerstar to Mistystar. “The border between RiverClan and ShadowClan has nothing to do with us. I suggest you settle your dispute yourselves.” His gaze fixed on Tigerstar. “I’d think twice about threatening SkyClan. Leafstar is still deciding whether she wants to move. Intimidation may make her dig her claws in. And ThunderClan will stand with her. SkyClan has been chased away too many times before. This time we won’t sit by and watch. ShadowClan may find itself in a war it cannot win.”
Tigerstar narrowed his eyes. “Is that a threat?”
Mistystar peered curiously at Bramblestar. “Have you been making secret alliances with SkyClan as well as WindClan?”
“ThunderClan hasn’t made alliances with any Clan,” Bramblestar growled.
Tigerstar’s ears twitched. “And yet WindClan hunts on your land.” He nodded to Scorchfur and Berryheart. “Come on,” he told them. “We’re wasting our time here.” He turned away, flicking his tail across Mistystar’s muzzle.
She ducked, snarling. “Let’s go,” she told Owlnose and Havenpelt. “Bramblestar clearly doesn’t care about any cat’s borders except his own.”
“The new border still remains,” Bramblestar told him calmly. “We mark it every day.”
“But you let WindClan hunt on your stretch of moorland,” Tigerstar accused.
Mistystar lifted her chin. “Which is the same as having no border at all.”
Squirrelflight moved closer to Bramblestar. “Our agreement with WindClan is ThunderClan business.”
“We’ve discussed this.” Tigerstar glared at her. “It becomes my business when Mistystar demands that we return RiverClan’s marshland.”
“We don’t control what RiverClan does,” Bramblestar replied stiffly. “WindClan and ThunderClan came to a peaceful agreement. There’s no reason why you and RiverClan can’t sort this out yourselves.”
“Is that all you have to say?” Tigerstar’s ears twitched angrily. “ThunderClan cats usually can’t stop themselves telling other Clans what to do.”
Bramblestar held his gaze. “Do you want me to tell RiverClan you won’t give their land back?”
“No!” Tigerstar lashed his tail. “ShadowClan can fight its own battles.”
“Then why are you here, disturbing our peace?” Bramblestar’s ears twitched.
Squirrelflight looked at him. If he was going to refuse to get involved, she’d follow his lead. “What can we do?”
“Defend your border with WindClan so we can defend ours.” Tigerstar growled. “We need the marshland.”
Mistystar snorted. “ShadowClan was never going to do more with that land than catch a few frogs and butterflies. We can fish there,” she snapped. “The borders are better this way.”
“They might be better for you!” Tigerstar met her gaze, his hackles lifting. “RiverClan didn’t give half its land to SkyClan.”
“ThunderClan gave land to SkyClan too,” she shot back. “They don’t seem to mind.”
Tigerstar swung his muzzle toward Bramblestar. “ThunderClan enjoys stirring up trouble in other Clans. I’m asking you to put an end to it now.”
“The situation is difficult,” Bramblestar conceded. “But StarClan wants unity. I’m not going to fight over borders. Not with you, or with WindClan. They can keep the hunting rights to our stretch of moorland.”
Tigerstar narrowed his eyes. “Then perhaps we should take our land back from SkyClan.”
Squirrelflight’s chest tightened. “You can’t! They need territory, too.”
Tigerstar swished his tail slowly. “Or you could help us drive the Sisters off their land so that SkyClan can move and we’ll all have enough land. ShadowClan has to eat.”
Alarm sparked through Squirrelflight’s pelt. She glanced helplessly at Bramblestar. He mustn’t let Tigerstar push him into war against the Sisters.
Bramblestar hesitated, his pelt ruffling along his spine. His gaze flitted from Tigerstar to Mistystar. “The border between RiverClan and ShadowClan has nothing to do with us. I suggest you settle your dispute yourselves.” His gaze fixed on Tigerstar. “I’d think twice about threatening SkyClan. Leafstar is still deciding whether she wants to move. Intimidation may make her dig her claws in. And ThunderClan will stand with her. SkyClan has been chased away too many times before. This time we won’t sit by and watch. ShadowClan may find itself in a war it cannot win.”
Tigerstar narrowed his eyes. “Is that a threat?”
Mistystar peered curiously at Bramblestar. “Have you been making secret alliances with SkyClan as well as WindClan?”
“ThunderClan hasn’t made alliances with any Clan,” Bramblestar growled.
Tigerstar’s ears twitched. “And yet WindClan hunts on your land.” He nodded to Scorchfur and Berryheart. “Come on,” he told them. “We’re wasting our time here.” He turned away, flicking his tail across Mistystar’s muzzle.
She ducked, snarling. “Let’s go,” she told Owlnose and Havenpelt. “Bramblestar clearly doesn’t care about any cat’s borders except his own.”
This tension continues during a Gathering.
Night folded itself around the lake, swathing the valley in darkness. After the long walk from camp, Squirrelflight sensed tension as soon as she slid from the long grass. ShadowClan, WindClan, and RiverClan hung back at the edges of the island clearing, their gazes glittering with hostility as they eyed one another. Scorchfur tugged Flaxpaw back by his scruff as the ShadowClan apprentice began to head toward RiverClan. “Not tonight,” he growled.
“I was only going to talk to the other apprentices.” Flaxpaw looked at his mentor hopefully.
“You might as well talk to foxes,” Scorchfur hissed.
Lightpaw, Pouncepaw, and Shadowpaw stood close to Dovewing while Tigerstar wove around them protectively. Only SkyClan seemed relaxed. They watched the other Clans, tipping their heads as though puzzled by the unfriendliness. Leafstar hurried to meet Bramblestar as soon as he crossed the clearing.
“What’s wrong with every cat?” The SkyClan leader blinked at him. “I didn’t realize things had gotten worse. Stonewing lashed out at Mallownose before you arrived.” She glanced nervously at the star-specked sky, where wisps of clouds trailed above the forest. If the truce was broken, clouds would hide the moon and the Clans would have to go home, their grievances unresolved.
“I was only going to talk to the other apprentices.” Flaxpaw looked at his mentor hopefully.
“You might as well talk to foxes,” Scorchfur hissed.
Lightpaw, Pouncepaw, and Shadowpaw stood close to Dovewing while Tigerstar wove around them protectively. Only SkyClan seemed relaxed. They watched the other Clans, tipping their heads as though puzzled by the unfriendliness. Leafstar hurried to meet Bramblestar as soon as he crossed the clearing.
“What’s wrong with every cat?” The SkyClan leader blinked at him. “I didn’t realize things had gotten worse. Stonewing lashed out at Mallownose before you arrived.” She glanced nervously at the star-specked sky, where wisps of clouds trailed above the forest. If the truce was broken, clouds would hide the moon and the Clans would have to go home, their grievances unresolved.
Soon, the leaders discuss the Sisters again.
As the crowd settled in front of her, pelts shifting in the moonlight, Tigerstar stepped forward. “ThunderClan has given WindClan its land back. RiverClan wants to move our border, and ShadowClan cannot accept that. The only way to avoid war now is to drive the Sisters from their camp.”
Scorchfur whisked his tail eagerly. “That’s right. Why fight one another when they’ve got our land?”
Dread wormed beneath Squirrelflight’s pelt as yowls of agreement rose among the Clans.
“We must wait!” Bramblestar’s growl silenced them. He eyed Tigerstar sharply. “Has StarClan sent word yet? Did any medicine cat get an answer from them at their half-moon meeting?”
“Not yet,” Tigerstar snorted. “But silence could mean anything. You’re just playing for time. Why are you so loyal to these rogues?”
Bramblestar bristled. “I’m not loyal to them.”
“Then why are you determined to defend them?”
Bramblestar narrowed his eyes. “I don’t think we should take the Sisters’ land until SkyClan has agreed to move there.”
“SkyClan would be mouse-brained to turn down that land.” Tigerstar lashed his tail. “It’s good land, and we won’t let them stay on our territory forever.”
“You gave them that territory!” Bramblestar glared at the ShadowClan leader.
Tigerstar curled his lip. “And we can take it back, just like WindClan took its territory back.”
“I gave it to them,” Bramblestar retorted. “I was trying to keep the peace,”
Tigerstar rounded his eyes innocently. “That’s all I want,” he meowed. “To keep the peace.”
“By starting a war against the Sisters?” Bramblestar stared at him indignantly.
Squirrelflight realized she was holding her breath. Bramblestar was defending the Sisters. Hope flashed beneath her pelt.
Tigerstar’s tail flicked ominously. “I will fight the Sisters if it means peace among the Clans. Isn’t that what StarClan wants?”
Bramblestar held his ground. “You’re trying to force SkyClan to move again! Look what happened last time you drove them out. A storm nearly killed us all.”
“This time SkyClan wants to move!” The ShadowClan leader swung his muzzle toward Leafstar. “You want SkyClan to have the new territory, right?”
Leafstar hesitated.
“Right?” Tigerstar glared at her.
“I don’t want the land if it means hurting the Sisters,” Leafstar told him, her gaze clouding with uncertainty.
A snarl rang from the back of the clearing as Emberfoot jeered at the SkyClan leader. “You’d rather see war in the Clans than chase a few rogues from land they don’t even want?”
Yowls of agreement exploded around him and rippled through the crowd.
Squirrelflight froze. She pictured the Sisters going about their duties, unaware of the storm building here, ready to sweep them away. Her paws pricked with fear.
Leafstar stared desperately at Tigerstar. “Why can’t we wait until the Sisters leave?”
Harestar flattened his ears. “Why should we?”
“The Sisters don’t need that land!” Mistystar snapped.
Tigerstar held Leafstar’s gaze. “Is SkyClan willing to move?”
“Not yet,” Leafstar answered shakily.
“But would you move once the Sisters are gone?” Tigerstar pressed.
Leafstar stared at him, then nodded. “Yes.”
Tigerstar rounded on Bramblestar. “SkyClan has made its decision. They want to move. Now ThunderClan must support us. The Sisters have to leave.”
Squirrelflight’s heart pressed in her throat as Bramblestar hesitated. Why don’t you object? She lifted her muzzle. “None of us want—”
“Silence!” Bramblestar cut her off with a look. It glittered with rage. “My deputy does not speak for me.” As he dragged his gaze back to Tigerstar, Squirrelflight felt numb. She stared at him. Was Bramblestar going to declare war on the Sisters? Five Clans against a small band of she-cats, and possibly a squealing litter of newborn kits. Shame washed Squirrelflight’s pelt. Was there no honor left in the Clans?
Bramblestar squared his shoulders. “ThunderClan won’t join a war,” he growled.
Tigerstar’s gaze flashed. “But you won’t stop us?”
Bramblestar looked away. “No.” Squirrelflight stared at him, unable to believe her ears as he went on. “I don’t care what happens to the Sisters. They’ve made it clear that they’re no better than rogues. But Leafstar must be heard. Her opinion must be respected.”
“She’s been heard.” Harestar flattened his ears. “She wants their land.”
“Only after they’ve left.” Bramblestar lashed his tail. “And she doesn’t want them hurt.”
Scorchfur whisked his tail eagerly. “That’s right. Why fight one another when they’ve got our land?”
Dread wormed beneath Squirrelflight’s pelt as yowls of agreement rose among the Clans.
“We must wait!” Bramblestar’s growl silenced them. He eyed Tigerstar sharply. “Has StarClan sent word yet? Did any medicine cat get an answer from them at their half-moon meeting?”
“Not yet,” Tigerstar snorted. “But silence could mean anything. You’re just playing for time. Why are you so loyal to these rogues?”
Bramblestar bristled. “I’m not loyal to them.”
“Then why are you determined to defend them?”
Bramblestar narrowed his eyes. “I don’t think we should take the Sisters’ land until SkyClan has agreed to move there.”
“SkyClan would be mouse-brained to turn down that land.” Tigerstar lashed his tail. “It’s good land, and we won’t let them stay on our territory forever.”
“You gave them that territory!” Bramblestar glared at the ShadowClan leader.
Tigerstar curled his lip. “And we can take it back, just like WindClan took its territory back.”
“I gave it to them,” Bramblestar retorted. “I was trying to keep the peace,”
Tigerstar rounded his eyes innocently. “That’s all I want,” he meowed. “To keep the peace.”
“By starting a war against the Sisters?” Bramblestar stared at him indignantly.
Squirrelflight realized she was holding her breath. Bramblestar was defending the Sisters. Hope flashed beneath her pelt.
Tigerstar’s tail flicked ominously. “I will fight the Sisters if it means peace among the Clans. Isn’t that what StarClan wants?”
Bramblestar held his ground. “You’re trying to force SkyClan to move again! Look what happened last time you drove them out. A storm nearly killed us all.”
“This time SkyClan wants to move!” The ShadowClan leader swung his muzzle toward Leafstar. “You want SkyClan to have the new territory, right?”
Leafstar hesitated.
“Right?” Tigerstar glared at her.
“I don’t want the land if it means hurting the Sisters,” Leafstar told him, her gaze clouding with uncertainty.
A snarl rang from the back of the clearing as Emberfoot jeered at the SkyClan leader. “You’d rather see war in the Clans than chase a few rogues from land they don’t even want?”
Yowls of agreement exploded around him and rippled through the crowd.
Squirrelflight froze. She pictured the Sisters going about their duties, unaware of the storm building here, ready to sweep them away. Her paws pricked with fear.
Leafstar stared desperately at Tigerstar. “Why can’t we wait until the Sisters leave?”
Harestar flattened his ears. “Why should we?”
“The Sisters don’t need that land!” Mistystar snapped.
Tigerstar held Leafstar’s gaze. “Is SkyClan willing to move?”
“Not yet,” Leafstar answered shakily.
“But would you move once the Sisters are gone?” Tigerstar pressed.
Leafstar stared at him, then nodded. “Yes.”
Tigerstar rounded on Bramblestar. “SkyClan has made its decision. They want to move. Now ThunderClan must support us. The Sisters have to leave.”
Squirrelflight’s heart pressed in her throat as Bramblestar hesitated. Why don’t you object? She lifted her muzzle. “None of us want—”
“Silence!” Bramblestar cut her off with a look. It glittered with rage. “My deputy does not speak for me.” As he dragged his gaze back to Tigerstar, Squirrelflight felt numb. She stared at him. Was Bramblestar going to declare war on the Sisters? Five Clans against a small band of she-cats, and possibly a squealing litter of newborn kits. Shame washed Squirrelflight’s pelt. Was there no honor left in the Clans?
Bramblestar squared his shoulders. “ThunderClan won’t join a war,” he growled.
Tigerstar’s gaze flashed. “But you won’t stop us?”
Bramblestar looked away. “No.” Squirrelflight stared at him, unable to believe her ears as he went on. “I don’t care what happens to the Sisters. They’ve made it clear that they’re no better than rogues. But Leafstar must be heard. Her opinion must be respected.”
“She’s been heard.” Harestar flattened his ears. “She wants their land.”
“Only after they’ve left.” Bramblestar lashed his tail. “And she doesn’t want them hurt.”
However, Moonlight refuses to leave even after speaking to Tree.
“You need to move on now. The Clans are already fighting over land. Every moment you stay here puts another warrior at risk.” Tree stared at her urgently. “For the sake of the Clans, you have to go.”
Moonlight tipped her head. “I thought the Clans enjoyed fighting. They attacked us for no good reason. They nearly killed Sunrise.”
“You were trespassing,” Tree reminded her. “And you maimed one of their warriors.”
“If they’d simply asked us to leave, no one would have been hurt.”
Tree’s fur ruffled along his spine. “That’s what they’re doing now,” he meowed. “Asking you to leave so that no one gets hurt.”
Moonlight narrowed her eyes. “Is that a threat?”
Squirrelflight’s heart quickened. Moonlight was being difficult. She shot Tree a warning glance.
He dipped his head. “I came here to reason with you, not to threaten.”
“Then reason with me.” Moonlight’s gaze suddenly hardened. “Don’t quote words given to you by someone else. You’re my son. I hope I taught you to have a mind of your own.”
“I was your son,” Tree answered. “I speak for the Clans now.”
“The Clans!” Moonlight snorted. “Do you think like a Clan cat too? Dividing land out like prey to be given to others.” She scowled at him. “Have you forgotten that as a tom, you are protector of the land? You should wander it, not own it!”
“You’ve never believed in borders!” Tree snapped back. “You’ve never believed in home. But some cats want to belong. They want a home that will always be a home.”
Squirrelflight stepped forward. “I realize this is an emotional time,” she meowed evenly. “Perhaps it wasn’t the best idea to ask your son to reason with you. But he’s not trying to threaten you. And if his words are someone else’s, it’s because he’s trying so hard not to. But the truth is, if you don’t move, you will face a battle with more cats than you have ever seen, every one of them trained in fighting.”
Leafstar shifted beside her. “You say you want to have your kits here, but they would be in danger here.”
Moonlight glared at her. “Is the land really worth that much to the Clans? Would they harm kits to get their paws on it?”
A chill ran along Squirrelflight’s spine.
Tree lashed his tail. “Why argue?” he growled. “You’re outnumbered. There’s no way you can defend this valley. You certainly couldn’t defend the hunting land around it. Why don’t you just accept that you have to leave?”
Moonlight lifted her chin. “The Sisters will not be bullied. We will not move. If the Clans wish to attack us, we will defend ourselves.”
Squirrelflight could hardly believe her ears. Was Moonlight crazy? ThunderClan would not hurt a queen and her kits, but ShadowClan might, or even WindClan. A battle could easily rage out of control. She stared urgently at Moonlight. “Please leave,” she whispered. “Don’t risk your kits’ lives.” And bring shame on the Clans. If the Sisters didn’t leave, the Clans might prove her worst fear—that they were capable of self-interest so ruthless, it wouldn’t matter which cats stood in their way.
Moonlight returned her gaze unwaveringly. “I’ve told you. We will not move.”
Moonlight tipped her head. “I thought the Clans enjoyed fighting. They attacked us for no good reason. They nearly killed Sunrise.”
“You were trespassing,” Tree reminded her. “And you maimed one of their warriors.”
“If they’d simply asked us to leave, no one would have been hurt.”
Tree’s fur ruffled along his spine. “That’s what they’re doing now,” he meowed. “Asking you to leave so that no one gets hurt.”
Moonlight narrowed her eyes. “Is that a threat?”
Squirrelflight’s heart quickened. Moonlight was being difficult. She shot Tree a warning glance.
He dipped his head. “I came here to reason with you, not to threaten.”
“Then reason with me.” Moonlight’s gaze suddenly hardened. “Don’t quote words given to you by someone else. You’re my son. I hope I taught you to have a mind of your own.”
“I was your son,” Tree answered. “I speak for the Clans now.”
“The Clans!” Moonlight snorted. “Do you think like a Clan cat too? Dividing land out like prey to be given to others.” She scowled at him. “Have you forgotten that as a tom, you are protector of the land? You should wander it, not own it!”
“You’ve never believed in borders!” Tree snapped back. “You’ve never believed in home. But some cats want to belong. They want a home that will always be a home.”
Squirrelflight stepped forward. “I realize this is an emotional time,” she meowed evenly. “Perhaps it wasn’t the best idea to ask your son to reason with you. But he’s not trying to threaten you. And if his words are someone else’s, it’s because he’s trying so hard not to. But the truth is, if you don’t move, you will face a battle with more cats than you have ever seen, every one of them trained in fighting.”
Leafstar shifted beside her. “You say you want to have your kits here, but they would be in danger here.”
Moonlight glared at her. “Is the land really worth that much to the Clans? Would they harm kits to get their paws on it?”
A chill ran along Squirrelflight’s spine.
Tree lashed his tail. “Why argue?” he growled. “You’re outnumbered. There’s no way you can defend this valley. You certainly couldn’t defend the hunting land around it. Why don’t you just accept that you have to leave?”
Moonlight lifted her chin. “The Sisters will not be bullied. We will not move. If the Clans wish to attack us, we will defend ourselves.”
Squirrelflight could hardly believe her ears. Was Moonlight crazy? ThunderClan would not hurt a queen and her kits, but ShadowClan might, or even WindClan. A battle could easily rage out of control. She stared urgently at Moonlight. “Please leave,” she whispered. “Don’t risk your kits’ lives.” And bring shame on the Clans. If the Sisters didn’t leave, the Clans might prove her worst fear—that they were capable of self-interest so ruthless, it wouldn’t matter which cats stood in their way.
Moonlight returned her gaze unwaveringly. “I’ve told you. We will not move.”
This angers the others and they then come up with a plan to drive the Sisters out for good.
“They won’t move?” Outrage sparked in Tigerstar’s eyes.
Mistystar’s pelt prickled indignantly. “This is an insult. Don’t they know who they’re dealing with?”
“We could destroy them in a single battle!” Harestar flexed his claws.
Squirrelflight swallowed back desperation. She could still save the Sisters. She didn’t care whether Bramblestar wanted her to keep quiet. The Clans mustn’t attack them. “But why should they move? Moonlight is expecting kits!”
“Why should they move?” Tigerstar repeated Squirrelflight’s question as though he couldn’t believe his ears.
Squirrelflight stared at him. “If we just leave them alone, they’ll be gone in a moon.”
Harestar flicked his tail. “I don’t think they’ll ever move,” he snarled. “They know we want that land, and they’re determined to keep it for themselves.”
Mistystar nodded. “This is a matter of honor. How dare these rogues defy us!”
Bramblestar shifted his paws. “I’m not sure honor has much to do with it,” he meowed evenly. “But it does seem that we are going to have to chase these cats away sooner or later.”
“And it might as well be sooner,” Harestar snapped.
“We should have done it already,” Tigerstar grunted.
“They’re clearly determined to hang on to this land for as long as they can.” Bramblestar glanced at Squirrelflight.
She blinked at him. “Moonlight only wants to wait until she’s had her kits. Is that so unreasonable?”
“It is when the peace of the Clans is at stake,” Bramblestar answered.
Anger burned beneath Squirrelflight’s pelt. “There’s no need for the Clans to fight one another!”
Tigerstar growled. “Not every Clan is willing to give their land away as easily as ThunderClan.” His gaze moved pointedly from Bramblestar to Harestar. “We want to keep our borders until SkyClan has moved.”
“We want our marshland back!” Mistystar snapped.
Bramblestar met Squirrelflight’s gaze. “Do you see? There can be no peace until the border disputes are settled once and for all. We have to make the Sisters leave.”
“And they’re clearly not going to leave until we drive them away,” Harestar growled.
“Even if it harms unborn kits?” Squirrelflight dug her claws into the earth. How could she be the only cat here who didn’t see how unfair the Clans were being?
“A cat can have kits anywhere,” Mistystar pointed out. “Especially a rogue.”
“The Sisters aren’t rogues!” Squirrelflight looked helplessly at Leafstar. Why hadn’t she spoken up?
Leafstar eyes glittered in the dying sunlight. Was that an apology in her gaze? “I think Moonlight is being unreasonable. She could move if she wanted to. She must know that she’s putting her kits in danger, and yet she insists on staying.”
Squirrelflight stared at her. Leafstar had been her only ally, and now she was siding with the others. Her heart lurched. “Do you think we should drive them out too?”
“Not drive them out, exactly,” Leafstar murmured. “But if the Clans sent a patrol big enough to show Moonlight what the Sisters are up against, she might change her mind.”
“That’s right!” Tigerstar’s eyes lit up. “If we show up in force, Moonlight will see that it’s pointless trying to stand against us.”
“We wouldn’t have to unsheathe a claw,” Harestar agreed.
Bramblestar looked at Squirrelflight. “You must agree that’s reasonable,” he meowed. “No one would be harmed, and SkyClan would get their land now.”
Squirrelflight’s paws pricked with anger. “You don’t know Moonlight,” she shot back. “If you show up in her camp, she won’t just back down. She’s more likely to fight.”
“Even if she’s outnumbered?” Mistystar blinked at her.
“Especially if she’s outnumbered,” Squirrelflight insisted.
Tigerstar narrowed his eyes. “If she wants to fight, then we’d fight. But it would be Moonlight’s choice.”
Squirrelflight looked helplessly at Bramblestar. “You can’t let this happen,” she breathed. “Sending a patrol to scare the Sisters away is the same thing as attacking them.”
Bramblestar stared back at her, his gaze determined. “Trying to guess how Moonlight will react is not my problem. I have to do what’s best for the Clans.”
“Then it’s settled?” Harestar looked at him hopefully.
“I’ll bring a patrol,” Bramblestar told him.
“We should leave at dawn,” Tigerstar meowed. “Each Clan should bring its strongest warriors.”
“Where do we meet?” Mistystar asked.
“You can meet on our territory,” Leafstar offered. “Where our border meets ThunderClan’s. You can cross into the mountain territory easily there.” She glanced nervously at Tigerstar. “But SkyClan won’t be sending a patrol.”
“It was your suggestion!” Harestar blinked at the SkyClan leader.
Leafstar ignored him and pressed on. “We won’t risk a war on unborn kits. But if you want to chase the Sisters out, we won’t stand in your way.”
Mistystar’s pelt prickled indignantly. “This is an insult. Don’t they know who they’re dealing with?”
“We could destroy them in a single battle!” Harestar flexed his claws.
Squirrelflight swallowed back desperation. She could still save the Sisters. She didn’t care whether Bramblestar wanted her to keep quiet. The Clans mustn’t attack them. “But why should they move? Moonlight is expecting kits!”
“Why should they move?” Tigerstar repeated Squirrelflight’s question as though he couldn’t believe his ears.
Squirrelflight stared at him. “If we just leave them alone, they’ll be gone in a moon.”
Harestar flicked his tail. “I don’t think they’ll ever move,” he snarled. “They know we want that land, and they’re determined to keep it for themselves.”
Mistystar nodded. “This is a matter of honor. How dare these rogues defy us!”
Bramblestar shifted his paws. “I’m not sure honor has much to do with it,” he meowed evenly. “But it does seem that we are going to have to chase these cats away sooner or later.”
“And it might as well be sooner,” Harestar snapped.
“We should have done it already,” Tigerstar grunted.
“They’re clearly determined to hang on to this land for as long as they can.” Bramblestar glanced at Squirrelflight.
She blinked at him. “Moonlight only wants to wait until she’s had her kits. Is that so unreasonable?”
“It is when the peace of the Clans is at stake,” Bramblestar answered.
Anger burned beneath Squirrelflight’s pelt. “There’s no need for the Clans to fight one another!”
Tigerstar growled. “Not every Clan is willing to give their land away as easily as ThunderClan.” His gaze moved pointedly from Bramblestar to Harestar. “We want to keep our borders until SkyClan has moved.”
“We want our marshland back!” Mistystar snapped.
Bramblestar met Squirrelflight’s gaze. “Do you see? There can be no peace until the border disputes are settled once and for all. We have to make the Sisters leave.”
“And they’re clearly not going to leave until we drive them away,” Harestar growled.
“Even if it harms unborn kits?” Squirrelflight dug her claws into the earth. How could she be the only cat here who didn’t see how unfair the Clans were being?
“A cat can have kits anywhere,” Mistystar pointed out. “Especially a rogue.”
“The Sisters aren’t rogues!” Squirrelflight looked helplessly at Leafstar. Why hadn’t she spoken up?
Leafstar eyes glittered in the dying sunlight. Was that an apology in her gaze? “I think Moonlight is being unreasonable. She could move if she wanted to. She must know that she’s putting her kits in danger, and yet she insists on staying.”
Squirrelflight stared at her. Leafstar had been her only ally, and now she was siding with the others. Her heart lurched. “Do you think we should drive them out too?”
“Not drive them out, exactly,” Leafstar murmured. “But if the Clans sent a patrol big enough to show Moonlight what the Sisters are up against, she might change her mind.”
“That’s right!” Tigerstar’s eyes lit up. “If we show up in force, Moonlight will see that it’s pointless trying to stand against us.”
“We wouldn’t have to unsheathe a claw,” Harestar agreed.
Bramblestar looked at Squirrelflight. “You must agree that’s reasonable,” he meowed. “No one would be harmed, and SkyClan would get their land now.”
Squirrelflight’s paws pricked with anger. “You don’t know Moonlight,” she shot back. “If you show up in her camp, she won’t just back down. She’s more likely to fight.”
“Even if she’s outnumbered?” Mistystar blinked at her.
“Especially if she’s outnumbered,” Squirrelflight insisted.
Tigerstar narrowed his eyes. “If she wants to fight, then we’d fight. But it would be Moonlight’s choice.”
Squirrelflight looked helplessly at Bramblestar. “You can’t let this happen,” she breathed. “Sending a patrol to scare the Sisters away is the same thing as attacking them.”
Bramblestar stared back at her, his gaze determined. “Trying to guess how Moonlight will react is not my problem. I have to do what’s best for the Clans.”
“Then it’s settled?” Harestar looked at him hopefully.
“I’ll bring a patrol,” Bramblestar told him.
“We should leave at dawn,” Tigerstar meowed. “Each Clan should bring its strongest warriors.”
“Where do we meet?” Mistystar asked.
“You can meet on our territory,” Leafstar offered. “Where our border meets ThunderClan’s. You can cross into the mountain territory easily there.” She glanced nervously at Tigerstar. “But SkyClan won’t be sending a patrol.”
“It was your suggestion!” Harestar blinked at the SkyClan leader.
Leafstar ignored him and pressed on. “We won’t risk a war on unborn kits. But if you want to chase the Sisters out, we won’t stand in your way.”
Even StarClan believes the Sisters should've moved sooner.
“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.
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?”
“Some cat had to!” Squirrelflight raised her head.
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?”
And after SkyClan finally moves, Leafstar practically blames the other Clans for Moonlight's death.
“What about the Sisters?” Scorchfur called from among the ShadowClan cats. “Have they left yet?”
Leafstar glared at the ShadowClan warrior. “How can they leave when you killed the mother of their newborn kits? Some cat must nurse them! We owe them that much after murdering their mother.”
“It wasn’t murder!” Strikestone bristled. “It was a battle.”
“A battle for land we could have had in a moon if we’d simply waited.” Leafstar’s hackles lifted.
Leafstar glared at the ShadowClan warrior. “How can they leave when you killed the mother of their newborn kits? Some cat must nurse them! We owe them that much after murdering their mother.”
“It wasn’t murder!” Strikestone bristled. “It was a battle.”
“A battle for land we could have had in a moon if we’d simply waited.” Leafstar’s hackles lifted.
And as a sort of mini argument, here's a bonus: should the Clans have learned to adapt to their new territory or was it right to have SkyClan move again?
Results: More people sided with the Clans, but also think they should've learned to adapt.
Argument #3: Moving on from SqH at last, here's Dovewing and Bumblestripe
So, for a bit of context, we first get hints of Bumblestripe's affection for Dovewing after she saves Icecloud.
“I heard Icecloud fell into an underground river!” Bumblestripe meowed, interrupting Dovepaw’s story. “And you fell in after her.”
“No,” Whitewing argued. “Birchfall told me it was just a hole.”
“Dovepaw didn’t fall in.” Lionblaze was determined to defend his apprentice. “She climbed in to help Icecloud.”
“Wow, that was brave!” Bumblestripe gave Dovepaw an admiring glance.
“No,” Whitewing argued. “Birchfall told me it was just a hole.”
“Dovepaw didn’t fall in.” Lionblaze was determined to defend his apprentice. “She climbed in to help Icecloud.”
“Wow, that was brave!” Bumblestripe gave Dovepaw an admiring glance.
However, Dovewing doesn't seem very interested in him and only really becomes aware of his feelings after other cats talk to her about it. From Whitewing:
For a few heartbeats Dovewing and Whitewing worked side by side, clawing more moss off the oak roots. Laying a particularly thick clump on the pile, Whitewing paused. “I was talking to
Bumblestripe earlier,” she remarked. “He’s a nice young warrior—so polite! He likes you a lot, you know.”
Dovewing began to feel hot and uncomfortable in her pelt. “I know,” she muttered, squirming with embarrassment.
“You’ll need to find a mate one day, to keep the Clan going,” Whitewing pointed out.
Bumblestripe earlier,” she remarked. “He’s a nice young warrior—so polite! He likes you a lot, you know.”
Dovewing began to feel hot and uncomfortable in her pelt. “I know,” she muttered, squirming with embarrassment.
“You’ll need to find a mate one day, to keep the Clan going,” Whitewing pointed out.
To Cinderheart:
“Hi, Dovewing,” he meowed. “I feel like going for a walk in the forest. Do you want to come with me?”
“Not right now,” Dovewing replied.
“I’ll probably go to my den soon.” Bumblestripe blinked, a hurt expression in his eyes. “Oh, okay.” He turned away and vanished down the thorn tunnel.
“That wasn’t very kind,” Cinderheart murmured. “Don’t go trampling on Bumblestripe’s heart. He really likes you.”
Dovewing wriggled, feeling her pelt grow hot with embarrassment. “No, he doesn’t. . . .” she began.
“Of course he does.” Cinderheart sounded convinced. “You know,” she added more seriously, “if there are no obstacles to getting to know a cat better, then you should take the opportunity.”
“Not right now,” Dovewing replied.
“I’ll probably go to my den soon.” Bumblestripe blinked, a hurt expression in his eyes. “Oh, okay.” He turned away and vanished down the thorn tunnel.
“That wasn’t very kind,” Cinderheart murmured. “Don’t go trampling on Bumblestripe’s heart. He really likes you.”
Dovewing wriggled, feeling her pelt grow hot with embarrassment. “No, he doesn’t. . . .” she began.
“Of course he does.” Cinderheart sounded convinced. “You know,” she added more seriously, “if there are no obstacles to getting to know a cat better, then you should take the opportunity.”
And then we have cats teasing her about it, like Toadstep:
Dovewing padded on; a moment later Toadstep bounded up to join her.
“What’s going on between you and Bumblestripe?” he asked with a little mrrow of amusement.
“What’s going on between you and Bumblestripe?” he asked with a little mrrow of amusement.
To Ivypool:
Dovewing didn’t want to talk about her evening with Bumblestripe, but she knew that her sister would be upset if she refused. “Nothing,” she replied. “I went down to the lake with Bumblestripe, that’s all.”
Ivypool’s eyes widened with surprise. “Oh, that’s terrific!” she exclaimed. “He’s really nice. Are you two going to be mates?”
“That’s the last thing on my mind!” Dovewing twitched her tail irritably. “It was just a walk. It was fun, but no big deal.”
Her sister gave her a poke in the side. “The two of you would have the cutest kits together!”
Ivypool’s eyes widened with surprise. “Oh, that’s terrific!” she exclaimed. “He’s really nice. Are you two going to be mates?”
“That’s the last thing on my mind!” Dovewing twitched her tail irritably. “It was just a walk. It was fun, but no big deal.”
Her sister gave her a poke in the side. “The two of you would have the cutest kits together!”
And speaking of Ivypool, she later tries to encourage the relationship much later on, long after the two have broken up:
Ivypol angled her ears toward him "You should be able to find everything you want in ThunderClan," she muttered, then rose to her paws and slipped on into the camp, her silver tabby pelt brushing the branches at the entrance to the den.
Dovewing stormed off in the other diction, across the den. She was still frustrated that she couldn't do anything help Twigpaw—and Ivypool's parting words had just made her more angry.
Ivypool knows Bumblestripe and I aren't mates anymore. Why does she have to keep meowing on about him?
Dovewing stormed off in the other diction, across the den. She was still frustrated that she couldn't do anything help Twigpaw—and Ivypool's parting words had just made her more angry.
Ivypool knows Bumblestripe and I aren't mates anymore. Why does she have to keep meowing on about him?
Blossomfall also teases Dovewing about Bumblestripe's crush on her at one point, though it becomes clear later on that she doesn't seem to approve of the relationship all that much:
“You know, you’ve stolen my brother’s heart,” the young tortoiseshell warrior murmured. Her tone was teasing, but the gaze she turned on Dovewing was serious.
Dovewing is generally rather friendly towards Bumblestripe, but then later gets annoyed after he criticizes her during training.
“No, not like that!” Bumblestripe yowled.
Dovewing spun around to face him, gripping hard on the branch to stop herself from falling out of the tree. “You told me to climb, I’m climbing!” she snapped. Can’t I do anything right?
“Not the trunk.” Bumblestripe padded along the thick oak branch toward her. “In a battle, if every cat climbed the trunk, it’d be chaos.” He tipped his nose up and focused on the branch two tail lengths above his head. Crouching, he sprang and gripped it with his forepaws, then hauled himself up. “Your turn.” He peered at her through the browning leaves.
Dovewing scowled. Hunkering down, she bunched her muscles, then leaped and dug her claws into the branch above. Flicking her tail, she landed nimbly beside Bumblestripe. “Is that better?” she sniffed.
Bumblestripe glanced at the leaves she’d sent fluttering to the ground. “You really need to aim for a bare bit of branch,” he suggested. “The enemy’s going to know you’re here if you shower him with leaves every time you move.”
Dovewing clamped her jaws together to stop herself from snarling at the arrogant furball. I can’t believe I ever thought we might be more than just friends! Seeing Tigerheart again made her realize what a dumb choice that would have been. I only ever liked you because you’re a ThunderClan cat. Tigerheart wouldn’t bother about whether she climbed the trunk or rustled too many leaves. He was a warrior, not a worrier!
They’d been practicing tree-battle all morning and Dovewing was hot and tired. “Why are we doing this?” she grumbled at Brambleclaw. “What cat is going to climb a tree to fight? There is no SquirrelClan!”
Bumblestripe flashed her a warning look. “Shut up!” he hissed.
But Brambleclaw was already bounding along the narrow rowan branch. It bounced under his weight, making Toadstep cling on with his fur spiked up. Brambleclaw jumped and cleared the space between the trees easily. The sturdy oak hardly trembled as he landed. “I know some cats don’t like tree training,” he meowed as he padded along the branch toward them. “But it gives us a strong advantage over the other Clans. If we can move through our territory and attack from above them, it’s a great surprise.”
Dovewing rolled her eyes. “I know. But Bumblestripe’s acting like I’ve never been up a tree before. Every time I do something wrong he points it out like I hadn’t already noticed.”
Bumblestripe stared at his paws. “I was just trying to help.”
Brambleclaw flicked his tail. “It’s good of Bumblestripe to be so patient with you, Dovewing.”
“Patient?” Dovewing retorted. He’d criticized every move. “Can’t we just move on to drop attacks and go hunting?”
“Is she ready for drop attacks?” Brambleclaw asked Bumblestripe.
“I guess.” Bumblestripe’s ear twitched. “Having seen her tree skills, I think she’d better practice falling out of them.”
Dovewing spun around to face him, gripping hard on the branch to stop herself from falling out of the tree. “You told me to climb, I’m climbing!” she snapped. Can’t I do anything right?
“Not the trunk.” Bumblestripe padded along the thick oak branch toward her. “In a battle, if every cat climbed the trunk, it’d be chaos.” He tipped his nose up and focused on the branch two tail lengths above his head. Crouching, he sprang and gripped it with his forepaws, then hauled himself up. “Your turn.” He peered at her through the browning leaves.
Dovewing scowled. Hunkering down, she bunched her muscles, then leaped and dug her claws into the branch above. Flicking her tail, she landed nimbly beside Bumblestripe. “Is that better?” she sniffed.
Bumblestripe glanced at the leaves she’d sent fluttering to the ground. “You really need to aim for a bare bit of branch,” he suggested. “The enemy’s going to know you’re here if you shower him with leaves every time you move.”
Dovewing clamped her jaws together to stop herself from snarling at the arrogant furball. I can’t believe I ever thought we might be more than just friends! Seeing Tigerheart again made her realize what a dumb choice that would have been. I only ever liked you because you’re a ThunderClan cat. Tigerheart wouldn’t bother about whether she climbed the trunk or rustled too many leaves. He was a warrior, not a worrier!
They’d been practicing tree-battle all morning and Dovewing was hot and tired. “Why are we doing this?” she grumbled at Brambleclaw. “What cat is going to climb a tree to fight? There is no SquirrelClan!”
Bumblestripe flashed her a warning look. “Shut up!” he hissed.
But Brambleclaw was already bounding along the narrow rowan branch. It bounced under his weight, making Toadstep cling on with his fur spiked up. Brambleclaw jumped and cleared the space between the trees easily. The sturdy oak hardly trembled as he landed. “I know some cats don’t like tree training,” he meowed as he padded along the branch toward them. “But it gives us a strong advantage over the other Clans. If we can move through our territory and attack from above them, it’s a great surprise.”
Dovewing rolled her eyes. “I know. But Bumblestripe’s acting like I’ve never been up a tree before. Every time I do something wrong he points it out like I hadn’t already noticed.”
Bumblestripe stared at his paws. “I was just trying to help.”
Brambleclaw flicked his tail. “It’s good of Bumblestripe to be so patient with you, Dovewing.”
“Patient?” Dovewing retorted. He’d criticized every move. “Can’t we just move on to drop attacks and go hunting?”
“Is she ready for drop attacks?” Brambleclaw asked Bumblestripe.
“I guess.” Bumblestripe’s ear twitched. “Having seen her tree skills, I think she’d better practice falling out of them.”
Later, they argue while on their way to a Gathering.
Bumblestripe scrambled to a halt beside Dovewing and Rosepetal. “You nearly ran me into a tree!”
“You should watch where you’re going,” Dovewing growled. “I nearly tripped over you.”
Muttering under her breath, she ran down the slope. “Clumsy mouse-brain.”
“Why do you have to be so mean to him?” Rosepetal’s whisper took Dovewing by surprise. “It’s not a crime, you know!”
“What isn’t?”
Rosepetal’s gaze darkened meaningfully as Bumblestripe raced past them.
“What?” Dovewing repeated. Why did Rosepetal look so angry?
“It’s obvious he likes you!” Rosepetal snapped. “You don’t have to keep biting his head off. He’s your Clanmate, not prey!”
Dovewing flattened her ears. Why should she feel bad? “Why do I have to tiptoe around him just because he likes me? It’s not my fault.”
Rosepetal looked sideways at her. “Do you enjoy hurting his feelings?”
“Of course not!” Guilt flashed under Dovewing’s pelt.
“Then apologize.”
Dovewing winced. Rosepetal was right. If Bumblestripe had feelings for her, it wasn’t fair to punish him for his attention. “Okay!” She pulled ahead, following Bumblestripe’s tracks through the grass. She bounded down the short slope onto the shore, landing on the pebbles a moment after Bumblestripe. He glanced over his shoulder and kept running.
“Wait!” Dovewing panted, pebbles spraying out behind.
Bumblestripe eased his pace enough for her to catch up. “What?” he growled.
“Look.” Dovewing tried to catch her breath but Bumblestripe was still running hard. “I’m sorry I snapped.”
Bumblestripe turned his head to look at her, his gaze hard as ice. “I’m tired of being used as your scratching post,” he hissed. “From now on sharpen your claws on someone else.”
Dovewing’s pelt pricked. “It’s not my fault!”
“I get it, okay?” He didn’t even look at her. He just kept running. “You don’t like me the same way I like you. I’ll get over it. I’m just disappointed you’re not the cat I thought you were.”
“You should watch where you’re going,” Dovewing growled. “I nearly tripped over you.”
Muttering under her breath, she ran down the slope. “Clumsy mouse-brain.”
“Why do you have to be so mean to him?” Rosepetal’s whisper took Dovewing by surprise. “It’s not a crime, you know!”
“What isn’t?”
Rosepetal’s gaze darkened meaningfully as Bumblestripe raced past them.
“What?” Dovewing repeated. Why did Rosepetal look so angry?
“It’s obvious he likes you!” Rosepetal snapped. “You don’t have to keep biting his head off. He’s your Clanmate, not prey!”
Dovewing flattened her ears. Why should she feel bad? “Why do I have to tiptoe around him just because he likes me? It’s not my fault.”
Rosepetal looked sideways at her. “Do you enjoy hurting his feelings?”
“Of course not!” Guilt flashed under Dovewing’s pelt.
“Then apologize.”
Dovewing winced. Rosepetal was right. If Bumblestripe had feelings for her, it wasn’t fair to punish him for his attention. “Okay!” She pulled ahead, following Bumblestripe’s tracks through the grass. She bounded down the short slope onto the shore, landing on the pebbles a moment after Bumblestripe. He glanced over his shoulder and kept running.
“Wait!” Dovewing panted, pebbles spraying out behind.
Bumblestripe eased his pace enough for her to catch up. “What?” he growled.
“Look.” Dovewing tried to catch her breath but Bumblestripe was still running hard. “I’m sorry I snapped.”
Bumblestripe turned his head to look at her, his gaze hard as ice. “I’m tired of being used as your scratching post,” he hissed. “From now on sharpen your claws on someone else.”
Dovewing’s pelt pricked. “It’s not my fault!”
“I get it, okay?” He didn’t even look at her. He just kept running. “You don’t like me the same way I like you. I’ll get over it. I’m just disappointed you’re not the cat I thought you were.”
They end up making amends both times and eventually become mates and it seems to work out at first, until Dovewing falls into depression due to losing her powers. Bumblestripe is shown trying to be comforting, but at some point, after ThunderClan is waiting out the storm and Dovewing helps him out with Seedpaw, Bumblestripe brings up that she'll make a great mother one day, making Dovewing feel uncomfortable.
As the patrol moved off again, Bumblestripe padded alongside Dovewing. “That was kind,” he murmured, brushing his muzzle against the she-cat’s shoulder. “Thanks, Dovewing.”
“I like working with the apprentices,” Dovewing purred.
“I can’t wait for us to have our own kits,” Bumblestripe went on. “I know you’ll be a great mother.”
To Bramblestar’s surprise, Dovewing stepped away from her mate. “There’s plenty of time for that,” she mewed. “We need to deal with the flood first.”
Bumblestripe flattened his ears. “Right, okay,” he murmured, but Bramblestar wondered if Dovewing had seen the hurt look in his eyes. Were things all right between them?
“I like working with the apprentices,” Dovewing purred.
“I can’t wait for us to have our own kits,” Bumblestripe went on. “I know you’ll be a great mother.”
To Bramblestar’s surprise, Dovewing stepped away from her mate. “There’s plenty of time for that,” she mewed. “We need to deal with the flood first.”
Bumblestripe flattened his ears. “Right, okay,” he murmured, but Bramblestar wondered if Dovewing had seen the hurt look in his eyes. Were things all right between them?
Later, he tells Bramblestar that she's trying to hear again, but this only angers her further.
“Bumblestripe told me what you’re trying to do,” Bramblestar began.
“It’s none of his business!” Dovewing’s tone was indignant.
“Of course it is,” Bramblestar meowed. “He’s your mate, and he cares for you.”
Dovewing let out a long, frustrated sigh. “It’s awful, not being able to hear anymore,” she told Bramblestar. “I feel as if I’ve let my Clanmates down.”
“Of course you haven’t!” Bramblestar assured her. “It’s not your fault.”
Dovewing’s eyes were pools of sadness in the dim light. “In spite of the powers the three of us had, the Clans were still devastated by the Great Battle,” she mewed.
“But without you, we would have suffered much more.” Bramblestar wasn’t sure what he could say to comfort Dovewing, and he paused for a moment, hoping that StarClan would give him the right words. But no words came.
Maybe StarClan can’t see me under all this rock, he thought. I’ll have to figure this out on my own.
“StarClan gave you those powers for a good reason,” he went on at last. “You knew where the Dark Forest warriors were attacking. Lionblaze fought like a whole Clan of warriors without shedding a drop of blood, and Jayfeather united StarClan.”
Dovewing shook her head. “So why have we lost our powers, if we needed them so badly?”
“Perhaps because StarClan knows you don’t need them now,” Bramblestar suggested. “We will still face challenges, like the flood, but we can survive them using our Clanborn knowledge. You and Lionblaze can still hunt and fight as well as any cat. Jayfeather still heals us.”
“Maybe you’re right. . . .”
Bumblestripe stepped forward out of the shadows. “Dovewing, you’re not angry with me, are you, that I told Bramblestar?”
“No.” But Dovewing brushed past him quickly and headed toward the camp without looking back.
“It’s none of his business!” Dovewing’s tone was indignant.
“Of course it is,” Bramblestar meowed. “He’s your mate, and he cares for you.”
Dovewing let out a long, frustrated sigh. “It’s awful, not being able to hear anymore,” she told Bramblestar. “I feel as if I’ve let my Clanmates down.”
“Of course you haven’t!” Bramblestar assured her. “It’s not your fault.”
Dovewing’s eyes were pools of sadness in the dim light. “In spite of the powers the three of us had, the Clans were still devastated by the Great Battle,” she mewed.
“But without you, we would have suffered much more.” Bramblestar wasn’t sure what he could say to comfort Dovewing, and he paused for a moment, hoping that StarClan would give him the right words. But no words came.
Maybe StarClan can’t see me under all this rock, he thought. I’ll have to figure this out on my own.
“StarClan gave you those powers for a good reason,” he went on at last. “You knew where the Dark Forest warriors were attacking. Lionblaze fought like a whole Clan of warriors without shedding a drop of blood, and Jayfeather united StarClan.”
Dovewing shook her head. “So why have we lost our powers, if we needed them so badly?”
“Perhaps because StarClan knows you don’t need them now,” Bramblestar suggested. “We will still face challenges, like the flood, but we can survive them using our Clanborn knowledge. You and Lionblaze can still hunt and fight as well as any cat. Jayfeather still heals us.”
“Maybe you’re right. . . .”
Bumblestripe stepped forward out of the shadows. “Dovewing, you’re not angry with me, are you, that I told Bramblestar?”
“No.” But Dovewing brushed past him quickly and headed toward the camp without looking back.
And then, of course, there's this infamous scene from long after they've broken up.
"Dovewing, do you remember after the Great Storm, how you boosted Seedpaw's confidence in that hunting patrol?"
Dovewing stared at him, puzzled, and fought down another pang of grief as she thought of the young apprentice, who had drowned in the floodwater before she had a chance to become a warrior.
"Yes... why?" she asked cautiously.
"I told you then what a great mother you would be," Bumblestripe replied. "I couldn't wait for us to have kits of our own—and then everything went wrong between us, and I still don't understand why. Dovewing, couldn't we try again? Losing Purdy like this... it's made me realize that life is short. What are we waiting for? You're the only cat I want, and... and a Clan is always given new life when it welcomes new kits. Wouldn't you agree?"
Bumblestripe fell silent, his gaze fixed on Dovewing with a desperate hope as he waited for her reply.
Why does he have to bring this up now? Dovewing wondered, struggling to stop her shoulder fur from bristling with anger. We're all grieving for Purdy, and even that before I wasn't sure... Oh, StarClan, I'm so confused!
"Have you forgotten that Darktail is still out there?" she asked Bumblestripe, a growl in her throat even though she tried to speak calmly. "He's still looming over the Clans like we're all a bunch of mice he and his Kin can pick off when they feel like it. Every Clan needs its warriors to be strong and healthy; able to fight—and I won't be able to do much fighting with a helpful of kits, will I?"
"But Dovewing—" Bumblestripe began to protest.
"You don't know what you're meowing about!" Dovewing ignored the interruption. "Bringing new kits into a Clan right now is not giving it new life. All it will do is bring us more death and heartbreak. I will not go through a kitting just so Darktail can have more fresh, helpless victims!"
By the time she had finished speaking, Dovewing had given up trying to stay calm. Her voice was a low hiss of fury, and her voice; and her pelt bushed up like she was facing an enemy.
Bumblestripe took a pace back, his eyes filled with hurt. For a few heartbeats he did not respond, as if giving Dovewing the chance to settle down again.
"ThunderClan will be stronger with new kits," he meowed at last. "It will give us more cats who can fight in the future, as well as giving our warriors something to fight for today." As Dovewing realized he hadn't understood a word she had said, he added, "I really, really want you to think about this."
Dovewing stared at him, puzzled, and fought down another pang of grief as she thought of the young apprentice, who had drowned in the floodwater before she had a chance to become a warrior.
"Yes... why?" she asked cautiously.
"I told you then what a great mother you would be," Bumblestripe replied. "I couldn't wait for us to have kits of our own—and then everything went wrong between us, and I still don't understand why. Dovewing, couldn't we try again? Losing Purdy like this... it's made me realize that life is short. What are we waiting for? You're the only cat I want, and... and a Clan is always given new life when it welcomes new kits. Wouldn't you agree?"
Bumblestripe fell silent, his gaze fixed on Dovewing with a desperate hope as he waited for her reply.
Why does he have to bring this up now? Dovewing wondered, struggling to stop her shoulder fur from bristling with anger. We're all grieving for Purdy, and even that before I wasn't sure... Oh, StarClan, I'm so confused!
"Have you forgotten that Darktail is still out there?" she asked Bumblestripe, a growl in her throat even though she tried to speak calmly. "He's still looming over the Clans like we're all a bunch of mice he and his Kin can pick off when they feel like it. Every Clan needs its warriors to be strong and healthy; able to fight—and I won't be able to do much fighting with a helpful of kits, will I?"
"But Dovewing—" Bumblestripe began to protest.
"You don't know what you're meowing about!" Dovewing ignored the interruption. "Bringing new kits into a Clan right now is not giving it new life. All it will do is bring us more death and heartbreak. I will not go through a kitting just so Darktail can have more fresh, helpless victims!"
By the time she had finished speaking, Dovewing had given up trying to stay calm. Her voice was a low hiss of fury, and her voice; and her pelt bushed up like she was facing an enemy.
Bumblestripe took a pace back, his eyes filled with hurt. For a few heartbeats he did not respond, as if giving Dovewing the chance to settle down again.
"ThunderClan will be stronger with new kits," he meowed at last. "It will give us more cats who can fight in the future, as well as giving our warriors something to fight for today." As Dovewing realized he hadn't understood a word she had said, he added, "I really, really want you to think about this."
And as another mini, do you think the Clan was right to get involved in the relationship or not?
Results: More people agree with Dovewing and also think the Clan shouldn't have gotten involved.
Argument #4: Scorchfur
He actually wasn't the next one I had in mind, but because I already posted his scenes recently, why not? And because this one has only one constant, it's going to look a bit different from previous polls, though this can also apply to Rowanstar's opponents in general, Scorchfur is just the most outspoken of them if we don't include the apprentices, which I'm not going to in this case.
So, context: ShadowClan was suffering from a plague that only WindClan had the cure to. Onestar refused to give it to them, so Scorchfur later suggests that they keep Twigpaw hostage after she sneaks onto their territory to speak to Violetpaw.
Crowfrost later lets her go, angering ShadowClan.
The first time we actually see Scorchfur question Rowanstar is after his daughter Yarrowleaf gets sick.
Most of ShadowClan later rallies behind Darktail is favor of Rowanstar after refusing to go to the Gathering.
During Darktail's reign, Scorchfur is shown to disapprove of it.
And after the Kin are defeated, Scorchfur apologizes to Rowanstar on behalf of most of ShadowClan.
However, when Rowanstar gives some land to SkyClan, Scorchfur is outraged.
He later gets into an argument with Rowanstar, which soon escalates into a fight with Tawnypelt.
Just as a side note here, but it was actually implied previously that fighting in ShadowClan seemed to be a regular thing. It seems like attacking the eye is what's seen as dishonorable.
Moving on, after the fight, Scorchfur and Juniperclaw try to go join SkyClan.
Even later, after Rowanclaw dissolves ShadowClan, Scorchfur is one of the cats to disapprove.
When Sleekwhisker and Yarrowleaf return, he's one of the cats to get upset when Leafstar tries sending them away.
As a result, he becomes uncooperative when he's given an order.
Later on, it's revealed he was one of the cats who tried helping Sleekwhisker and Yarrowleaf out.
After Tigerstar becomes leader of ShadowClan and names Tawnypelt his deputy, no one is really willing to listen to the latter, Scorchfur included.
After ShadowClan gets into conflict with SkyClan, he's one of the cats to help destroy SkyClan's dens.
Much later, ShadowClan has fallen into misfortune yet again after Ashfur takes control of Bramblestar. He's adamant that Dovewing has to atone to the point of telling "Bramblestar" that Tigerstar brought Dovewing home early.
“Wait!” Scorchfur’s growl made Violetpaw jump.
Scorchfur padded across the clearing and stopped beside Crowfrost. “We have sick cats in our Clan,” he meowed. His gaze was sly.
Crowfrost narrowed his eyes. “Yes?”
“And we need WindClan to let us have the herb.”
Violetpaw’s paws prickled nervously as Scorchfur went on. What was the old fleabag up to?
“But WindClan won’t help us.” Scorchfur looked around his Clanmates meaningfully. “None of the Clans will help us. But perhaps we could use this opportunity to persuade them to help us.”
Dawnpelt looked confused. “How?”
Crowfrost’s gaze sharpened. “You mean we could persuade ThunderClan to help us.” He glanced pointedly at Twigpaw.
Violetpaw stepped forward, anxiety rippling thorough her fur. “What are you talking about?” Was Twigpaw in danger?
Crowfrost must have seen her panic. “Don’t worry. No one is going to hurt your sister. But she’s going to stay with us a while so that we can reason with Bramblestar.”
“A hostage?” Violetpaw gasped. “You’re going to use her as a hostage?”
Tawnypelt shifted her paws. “It makes sense, Violetpaw. ThunderClan and WindClan have always had a special relationship. ThunderClan has saved WindClan more than once. If we can’t persuade WindClan to give us the herb, perhaps ThunderClan can.”
“Given the right incentive.” Scorchfur’s eyes lit with malice as he looked at Twigpaw.
Scorchfur padded across the clearing and stopped beside Crowfrost. “We have sick cats in our Clan,” he meowed. His gaze was sly.
Crowfrost narrowed his eyes. “Yes?”
“And we need WindClan to let us have the herb.”
Violetpaw’s paws prickled nervously as Scorchfur went on. What was the old fleabag up to?
“But WindClan won’t help us.” Scorchfur looked around his Clanmates meaningfully. “None of the Clans will help us. But perhaps we could use this opportunity to persuade them to help us.”
Dawnpelt looked confused. “How?”
Crowfrost’s gaze sharpened. “You mean we could persuade ThunderClan to help us.” He glanced pointedly at Twigpaw.
Violetpaw stepped forward, anxiety rippling thorough her fur. “What are you talking about?” Was Twigpaw in danger?
Crowfrost must have seen her panic. “Don’t worry. No one is going to hurt your sister. But she’s going to stay with us a while so that we can reason with Bramblestar.”
“A hostage?” Violetpaw gasped. “You’re going to use her as a hostage?”
Tawnypelt shifted her paws. “It makes sense, Violetpaw. ThunderClan and WindClan have always had a special relationship. ThunderClan has saved WindClan more than once. If we can’t persuade WindClan to give us the herb, perhaps ThunderClan can.”
“Given the right incentive.” Scorchfur’s eyes lit with malice as he looked at Twigpaw.
Crowfrost later lets her go, angering ShadowClan.
Scorchfur stared at the ShadowClan deputy, his pelt spiking. “What are you doing?”
“We’ve held ThunderClan’s apprentice long enough,” Crowfrost growled. “It seemed like a good plan at the start, but now it feels wrong. There is sickness here. We should return her before she gets ill, too. Why should Twigpaw suffer for us?”
“She wasn’t suffering!” Violetpaw cried out desperately.
Scorchfur ignored her. He snarled at Crowfrost. “How else are we going
to get the lungwort?”
Spikefur stood beside his denmate. “Our Clanmates are dying!”
“ThunderClan knows that,” Crowfrost told the dark brown tom.
“WindClan knows that too. If they want to let innocent cats die, then it is for StarClan to judge them, not us. ShadowClan cats are true warriors.” He turned his accusing gaze on Bramblestar.
“We’ve held ThunderClan’s apprentice long enough,” Crowfrost growled. “It seemed like a good plan at the start, but now it feels wrong. There is sickness here. We should return her before she gets ill, too. Why should Twigpaw suffer for us?”
“She wasn’t suffering!” Violetpaw cried out desperately.
Scorchfur ignored her. He snarled at Crowfrost. “How else are we going
to get the lungwort?”
Spikefur stood beside his denmate. “Our Clanmates are dying!”
“ThunderClan knows that,” Crowfrost told the dark brown tom.
“WindClan knows that too. If they want to let innocent cats die, then it is for StarClan to judge them, not us. ShadowClan cats are true warriors.” He turned his accusing gaze on Bramblestar.
“We should have fought to keep her!” Scorchfur faced him, ears flat.
“A battle wouldn’t have stopped them.” Crowfrost sounded weary. “And even if we’d managed to keep Twigpaw, do you really think ThunderClan could make Onestar change his mind?”
Spikefur curled his lip. “You’re a coward!” he snarled.
Scorchfur puffed out his chest. “Rowanstar would never have let her
go.”
“Rowanstar may not live through the sickness,” Crowfrost reminded him gravely.
“He has nine lives,” Scorchfur retorted.
“And he’s losing them one by one.”
“A battle wouldn’t have stopped them.” Crowfrost sounded weary. “And even if we’d managed to keep Twigpaw, do you really think ThunderClan could make Onestar change his mind?”
Spikefur curled his lip. “You’re a coward!” he snarled.
Scorchfur puffed out his chest. “Rowanstar would never have let her
go.”
“Rowanstar may not live through the sickness,” Crowfrost reminded him gravely.
“He has nine lives,” Scorchfur retorted.
“And he’s losing them one by one.”
The first time we actually see Scorchfur question Rowanstar is after his daughter Yarrowleaf gets sick.
“How are they?” Scorchfur’s urgent question made Violetpaw jump. She turned and saw the dark gray tom swagger into the den, a frown in his eyes. He must have come to check on Snowbird and Yarrowleaf.
Puddleshine turned to face the tom. “Snowbird’s breathing is much better,” he reported. “And Yarrowleaf is well enough to leave her nest when she feels rested.”
Yarrowleaf opened her eyes. “Hi, Scorchfur.” She greeted her father weakly.
Scorchfur glowered at Puddleshine. “She doesn’t seem much better.”
“She’s just tired. A long sleep will—”
Scorchfur didn’t let the medicine cat finish his sentence. “She wouldn’t have gotten sick at all if Rowanstar had acted sooner. And she’d have had the lungwort quicker if Crowfrost hadn’t given away our hostage.”
Puddleshine blinked at the tom. “That’s not true. Bramblestar said that Onestar refused to cooperate even when he knew we had Twigpaw.”
“And why would Bramblestar tell us the truth? It was his apprentice we held.” Scorchfur scowled at him.
Snowbird swallowed another morsel of sparrow. “Go easy on him, Scorchfur. Puddleshine has been a lifesaver. More would have died without him.”
Scorchfur grunted. “And no cat would have died if we’d had stronger leaders.”
Puddleshine turned to face the tom. “Snowbird’s breathing is much better,” he reported. “And Yarrowleaf is well enough to leave her nest when she feels rested.”
Yarrowleaf opened her eyes. “Hi, Scorchfur.” She greeted her father weakly.
Scorchfur glowered at Puddleshine. “She doesn’t seem much better.”
“She’s just tired. A long sleep will—”
Scorchfur didn’t let the medicine cat finish his sentence. “She wouldn’t have gotten sick at all if Rowanstar had acted sooner. And she’d have had the lungwort quicker if Crowfrost hadn’t given away our hostage.”
Puddleshine blinked at the tom. “That’s not true. Bramblestar said that Onestar refused to cooperate even when he knew we had Twigpaw.”
“And why would Bramblestar tell us the truth? It was his apprentice we held.” Scorchfur scowled at him.
Snowbird swallowed another morsel of sparrow. “Go easy on him, Scorchfur. Puddleshine has been a lifesaver. More would have died without him.”
Scorchfur grunted. “And no cat would have died if we’d had stronger leaders.”
Most of ShadowClan later rallies behind Darktail is favor of Rowanstar after refusing to go to the Gathering.
Scorchfur lashed his tail. “Why should we meet with the Clans who refused to help us?”
Spikefur hissed. “They were prepared to let us die!”
Rowanstar pushed between Tawnypelt and Tigerheart, stopping short of the rebellious warriors. “I am the leader of ShadowClan, and I say we’re going.”
Scorchfur huffed. “Where were you when Crowfrost handed our hostage over to ThunderClan without a fight?”
“Holding an apprentice hostage wasn’t going to change anything,”
Rowanstar retorted. Tawnypelt had told the ShadowClan leader what had happened while he was ill. “Sickness is no excuse for a Clan to act like rogues.”
“And how do rogues act?” Spikefur stepped forward. “Do they withhold herbs while innocent cats die? Or is that just Clan cats?”
Mistcloud’s ears twitched. “Onestar behaved badly and the other Clans let him. We are not like them. We don’t want to be like them.”
Rowanstar’s eyes rounded sympathetically. “If you want to air your grievances, come to the Gathering. Speak with the other Clans. Perhaps we can make them see that they’ve treated us badly.”
“Words didn’t work before,” Scorchfur snarled. “Why should they work now?”
“I’ll speak to them for you.” Rowanstar’s tone was conciliatory. “You can stay here and I will report back what they said.”
Scorchfur narrowed his eyes to threatening slits. “If you go to the Gathering, don’t bother coming back,” he hissed. “ShadowClan doesn’t need a leader as weak as you.”
Spikefur hissed. “They were prepared to let us die!”
Rowanstar pushed between Tawnypelt and Tigerheart, stopping short of the rebellious warriors. “I am the leader of ShadowClan, and I say we’re going.”
Scorchfur huffed. “Where were you when Crowfrost handed our hostage over to ThunderClan without a fight?”
“Holding an apprentice hostage wasn’t going to change anything,”
Rowanstar retorted. Tawnypelt had told the ShadowClan leader what had happened while he was ill. “Sickness is no excuse for a Clan to act like rogues.”
“And how do rogues act?” Spikefur stepped forward. “Do they withhold herbs while innocent cats die? Or is that just Clan cats?”
Mistcloud’s ears twitched. “Onestar behaved badly and the other Clans let him. We are not like them. We don’t want to be like them.”
Rowanstar’s eyes rounded sympathetically. “If you want to air your grievances, come to the Gathering. Speak with the other Clans. Perhaps we can make them see that they’ve treated us badly.”
“Words didn’t work before,” Scorchfur snarled. “Why should they work now?”
“I’ll speak to them for you.” Rowanstar’s tone was conciliatory. “You can stay here and I will report back what they said.”
Scorchfur narrowed his eyes to threatening slits. “If you go to the Gathering, don’t bother coming back,” he hissed. “ShadowClan doesn’t need a leader as weak as you.”
During Darktail's reign, Scorchfur is shown to disapprove of it.
“Wow, I’ve never seen a pigeon disappear so fast,” Darktail meowed, looking up at Violetpaw from the rabbit he was eating. His eyes gleamed teasingly. “Maybe you’d like some of this rabbit as well.”
Scorchfur, one of the last remaining ShadowClan warriors, pricked up his ears and frowned, as if he couldn’t believe Darktail’s good-humored tone. But he didn’t speak, instead running to carry a squirrel to his mate, Snowbird, who was in the nursery with her kits.
Violetpaw had to choke down her mouthful; she trusted Darktail even less when he was being friendly. “No thanks, Darktail. I’m not even sure I can finish this.”
“Well, tell me if you change your mind,” Darktail responded. “We can’t have you starving, can we?”
As he spoke, Scorchfur came back, hesitated for a moment, and then meowed, “Maybe we should give the leftover prey to the RiverClan prisoners—and to Needletail. They’re beginning to look really skinny. After all,” he added with a glance toward the center of the camp, where the prisoners were kept, “if we’re going to keep them prisoner, isn’t it our responsibility to see that they’re healthy?”
Violetpaw spotted Darktail narrowing his eyes, his muzzle tensing in anger, then an instant later relaxing. His voice was calm as he replied to Scorchfur.
“Of course I’m feeding the prisoners well. Do you have any reason to think otherwise?”
Scorchfur glared at Darktail, hatred shining visibly in his eyes. Looking from one cat to the other, Violetpaw felt her neck fur prickle with fear. Don’t say it, she pleaded silently. Snowbird is still nursing your kits—don’t make her struggle for prey while you’re punished by Darktail.
Slowly, Darktail rose to his paws and padded over to Scorchfur, thrusting his face within a mouse-length of the dark gray warrior’s.
“Scorchfur,” he meowed softly, “do you doubt my ability to lead my Kin? Perhaps you’re not truly my Kin. Not every cat is. Perhaps you would be happier somewhere else?”
Scorchfur was silent for a few more heartbeats. “No, Darktail,” he blurted out at last. “Of course I don’t doubt you. Of course you know what’s best.”
For a long moment, Darktail did not move, staring into Scorchfur’s eyes. At last, when Violetpaw thought she could not bear the tension any longer, he gave a curt nod and padded back to where he had left his rabbit, close beside Sleekwhisker.
Scorchfur choked down the rest of his vole, then rose and stumbled away, followed by the other ShadowClan warriors who had been eating with them.
“Don’t go far,” Darktail called after him. “The prisoners’ den needs to be cleaned out soon.”
Scorchfur, one of the last remaining ShadowClan warriors, pricked up his ears and frowned, as if he couldn’t believe Darktail’s good-humored tone. But he didn’t speak, instead running to carry a squirrel to his mate, Snowbird, who was in the nursery with her kits.
Violetpaw had to choke down her mouthful; she trusted Darktail even less when he was being friendly. “No thanks, Darktail. I’m not even sure I can finish this.”
“Well, tell me if you change your mind,” Darktail responded. “We can’t have you starving, can we?”
As he spoke, Scorchfur came back, hesitated for a moment, and then meowed, “Maybe we should give the leftover prey to the RiverClan prisoners—and to Needletail. They’re beginning to look really skinny. After all,” he added with a glance toward the center of the camp, where the prisoners were kept, “if we’re going to keep them prisoner, isn’t it our responsibility to see that they’re healthy?”
Violetpaw spotted Darktail narrowing his eyes, his muzzle tensing in anger, then an instant later relaxing. His voice was calm as he replied to Scorchfur.
“Of course I’m feeding the prisoners well. Do you have any reason to think otherwise?”
Scorchfur glared at Darktail, hatred shining visibly in his eyes. Looking from one cat to the other, Violetpaw felt her neck fur prickle with fear. Don’t say it, she pleaded silently. Snowbird is still nursing your kits—don’t make her struggle for prey while you’re punished by Darktail.
Slowly, Darktail rose to his paws and padded over to Scorchfur, thrusting his face within a mouse-length of the dark gray warrior’s.
“Scorchfur,” he meowed softly, “do you doubt my ability to lead my Kin? Perhaps you’re not truly my Kin. Not every cat is. Perhaps you would be happier somewhere else?”
Scorchfur was silent for a few more heartbeats. “No, Darktail,” he blurted out at last. “Of course I don’t doubt you. Of course you know what’s best.”
For a long moment, Darktail did not move, staring into Scorchfur’s eyes. At last, when Violetpaw thought she could not bear the tension any longer, he gave a curt nod and padded back to where he had left his rabbit, close beside Sleekwhisker.
Scorchfur choked down the rest of his vole, then rose and stumbled away, followed by the other ShadowClan warriors who had been eating with them.
“Don’t go far,” Darktail called after him. “The prisoners’ den needs to be cleaned out soon.”
And after the Kin are defeated, Scorchfur apologizes to Rowanstar on behalf of most of ShadowClan.
“We’ll clear them out soon,” Bramblestar asserted confidently. “After all, you’ve got most of your warriors back now.”
“That’s if I let them come back.” Rowanstar turned to stare balefully at the former ShadowClan warriors, who were clustered together a couple of tail-lengths away, gazing uncertainly at their Clan leader.
“We’re sorry, Rowanstar,” Scorchfur meowed. “Most of us have wanted to come back for a long time, but Darktail wouldn’t let us leave.”
“Mouse-hearts!” Rowanstar snorted.
“Oh, come on!” Tawnypelt padded up to her mate and nudged him with her shoulder. “We all know what Darktail and his Kin were like. And none of us realized how much of a threat he was at first—even you.”
Rowanstar glared at his mate for a moment longer, then shrugged. “Very well, they can come back,” he meowed. “But if they put one paw out of line
. . .”
A relieved chorus of sighs came from the ShadowClan cats.
“We won’t!”
“Thank you, Rowanstar!”
“That’s if I let them come back.” Rowanstar turned to stare balefully at the former ShadowClan warriors, who were clustered together a couple of tail-lengths away, gazing uncertainly at their Clan leader.
“We’re sorry, Rowanstar,” Scorchfur meowed. “Most of us have wanted to come back for a long time, but Darktail wouldn’t let us leave.”
“Mouse-hearts!” Rowanstar snorted.
“Oh, come on!” Tawnypelt padded up to her mate and nudged him with her shoulder. “We all know what Darktail and his Kin were like. And none of us realized how much of a threat he was at first—even you.”
Rowanstar glared at his mate for a moment longer, then shrugged. “Very well, they can come back,” he meowed. “But if they put one paw out of line
. . .”
A relieved chorus of sighs came from the ShadowClan cats.
“We won’t!”
“Thank you, Rowanstar!”
However, when Rowanstar gives some land to SkyClan, Scorchfur is outraged.
Rowanstar shifted his paws nervously. “You could have some of the land beside ThunderClan, with a narrow piece that opens onto the lake.”
“Our land?” Scorchfur looked outraged.
“Our land?” Scorchfur looked outraged.
He later gets into an argument with Rowanstar, which soon escalates into a fight with Tawnypelt.
Alderheart prickled with frustration. “SkyClan is not your enemy. They are your allies. Wasn’t that what Leafstar said when you gave her the land?” He looked at Tigerheart, hoping the ShadowClan deputy would speak up. He wanted support. If there really was a six-toed cat, it must be found.
But Tigerheart only watched as Rowanstar shifted his paws.
“Leafstar did promise us friendship,” the ShadowClan leader conceded.
Scorchfur glared at him. “And you believed her!” he mocked.
“It was Tigerheart’s idea,” Rowanstar reminded him.
“‘It was Tigerheart’s idea.’” Scorchfur mimicked his leader as though teasing a kit. “When was the last time you had an idea of your own?”
Alderheart’s belly tightened.
“I’d like to see you try to lead a Clan!” Rowanstar snapped. “Perhaps you could use the skills you learned from Darktail.”
“At least he knew how to lead!”
Tawnypelt glared at Scorchfur. “You betrayed your Clan. Now you insult your leader? Show him some respect!”
“He’s done nothing to earn it,” Scorchfur spat back. “If he’d chased Darktail off in the first place, none of us would have followed those rogues. Instead he let them hunt on our land, while our apprentices grew arrogant and reckless. He couldn’t manage to stop any of it.”
“Whatever his mistakes, he still has the blessing of StarClan!” Tawnypelt hissed.
Grassheart and Stonewing exchanged glances. Whorlpaw and Flowerpaw stared at the ground uncomfortably. Alderheart felt his belly churning as the air seemed to sour around him.
Ratscar padded forward. “We must stay united,” he rasped. “I know we have had our differences, but Alderheart is right. We must look forward, not back. There are so few of us left. If we are to remain a Clan, we must work together.”
Grassheart whisked her tail. “Let’s send out a search party and find this six-toed cat. Then we won’t have to face any more storms.”
“ThunderClan can send out search parties!” Juniperclaw called.
“Or WindClan,” Stonewing chimed. “They’ve got nothing better to do.”
Scorchfur glared challengingly at Rowanstar. “So?” he snarled. “What should we do?”
Alderheart saw hesitation in the ShadowClan leader’s gaze. He’s not sure. The thought shocked him. Bramblestar always knew what to do, even if it meant doing nothing. “I must do what’s right for the Clan,” Rowanstar meowed at last.
“Isn’t it a bit late for that?” Scorchfur curled his lip.
Tawnypelt darted forward, facing the dark gray tom. “Rowanstar has always done what’s best for this Clan!”
Scorchfur scanned the half-empty camp, contempt in his eyes. “So we have Rowanstar to thank for the state we’re in?”
“Do you think you could have done any better?” Tawnypelt hissed. “You blame Rowanstar. But it was his Clanmates’ disloyalty that killed them. If our apprentices grew arrogant, blame their mentors, not him. He cared about ShadowClan when none of you did. Rowanstar still wakes in the night, haunted by nightmares about the Clanmates he’s lost.”
Scorchfur flattened his ears. “He’s lucky. He has nine lives to dream about lost Clanmates. They only had one.”
“That’s not fair!” Puddleshine blinked anxiously at Rowanstar. “You can’t let him say that. StarClan gave you those lives because they believed in you.”
Scorchfur’s eyes narrowed to slits. “They believed in him once. Perhaps Rowanstar is the dark sky they’re trying to warn us about.”
Tawnypelt’s green eyes glittered. “If anyone’s the dark sky, it’s you!” Her gaze flicked angrily around her Clanmates. “You let the rogues take over the Clan. You let them drive Rowanstar away. Don’t blame him for your treachery.”
“And why do you think we chose a rogue over Rowanstar?” Scorchfur lashed his tail. “He was a weak leader then, and he’s a weak leader now.”
Tawnypelt’s fur bristled. Spitting with fury, she lashed out at Scorchfur, slicing her claws across his muzzle.
Alderheart backed away, his pelt bushing. What was happening here? Clanmates shouldn’t fight.
Scorchfur reared and slammed his paws onto Tawnypelt’s shoulders. Hooking his claws in, he pulled her to the ground. She flipped over and, tucking up her hind legs, clawed viciously at his belly.
He struggled free and turned on her. Face to face, they snarled at each other. With a hiss, Scorchfur lashed out, raking Tawnypelt’s eye with his claws.
Alderheart froze as she lurched away. ShadowClan gasped around him. What was Scorchfur doing? No warrior should ever attack another warrior’s eyes! Tawnypelt shook her head, blinking. With a rush of relief, Alderheart saw that Scorchfur’s claws had only sliced her cheek. Her eyes shone, unharmed. She’d been lucky.
She showed her teeth, hatred twisting her face, as she advanced on Scorchfur. “You’re no better than a rogue.”
But Tigerheart only watched as Rowanstar shifted his paws.
“Leafstar did promise us friendship,” the ShadowClan leader conceded.
Scorchfur glared at him. “And you believed her!” he mocked.
“It was Tigerheart’s idea,” Rowanstar reminded him.
“‘It was Tigerheart’s idea.’” Scorchfur mimicked his leader as though teasing a kit. “When was the last time you had an idea of your own?”
Alderheart’s belly tightened.
“I’d like to see you try to lead a Clan!” Rowanstar snapped. “Perhaps you could use the skills you learned from Darktail.”
“At least he knew how to lead!”
Tawnypelt glared at Scorchfur. “You betrayed your Clan. Now you insult your leader? Show him some respect!”
“He’s done nothing to earn it,” Scorchfur spat back. “If he’d chased Darktail off in the first place, none of us would have followed those rogues. Instead he let them hunt on our land, while our apprentices grew arrogant and reckless. He couldn’t manage to stop any of it.”
“Whatever his mistakes, he still has the blessing of StarClan!” Tawnypelt hissed.
Grassheart and Stonewing exchanged glances. Whorlpaw and Flowerpaw stared at the ground uncomfortably. Alderheart felt his belly churning as the air seemed to sour around him.
Ratscar padded forward. “We must stay united,” he rasped. “I know we have had our differences, but Alderheart is right. We must look forward, not back. There are so few of us left. If we are to remain a Clan, we must work together.”
Grassheart whisked her tail. “Let’s send out a search party and find this six-toed cat. Then we won’t have to face any more storms.”
“ThunderClan can send out search parties!” Juniperclaw called.
“Or WindClan,” Stonewing chimed. “They’ve got nothing better to do.”
Scorchfur glared challengingly at Rowanstar. “So?” he snarled. “What should we do?”
Alderheart saw hesitation in the ShadowClan leader’s gaze. He’s not sure. The thought shocked him. Bramblestar always knew what to do, even if it meant doing nothing. “I must do what’s right for the Clan,” Rowanstar meowed at last.
“Isn’t it a bit late for that?” Scorchfur curled his lip.
Tawnypelt darted forward, facing the dark gray tom. “Rowanstar has always done what’s best for this Clan!”
Scorchfur scanned the half-empty camp, contempt in his eyes. “So we have Rowanstar to thank for the state we’re in?”
“Do you think you could have done any better?” Tawnypelt hissed. “You blame Rowanstar. But it was his Clanmates’ disloyalty that killed them. If our apprentices grew arrogant, blame their mentors, not him. He cared about ShadowClan when none of you did. Rowanstar still wakes in the night, haunted by nightmares about the Clanmates he’s lost.”
Scorchfur flattened his ears. “He’s lucky. He has nine lives to dream about lost Clanmates. They only had one.”
“That’s not fair!” Puddleshine blinked anxiously at Rowanstar. “You can’t let him say that. StarClan gave you those lives because they believed in you.”
Scorchfur’s eyes narrowed to slits. “They believed in him once. Perhaps Rowanstar is the dark sky they’re trying to warn us about.”
Tawnypelt’s green eyes glittered. “If anyone’s the dark sky, it’s you!” Her gaze flicked angrily around her Clanmates. “You let the rogues take over the Clan. You let them drive Rowanstar away. Don’t blame him for your treachery.”
“And why do you think we chose a rogue over Rowanstar?” Scorchfur lashed his tail. “He was a weak leader then, and he’s a weak leader now.”
Tawnypelt’s fur bristled. Spitting with fury, she lashed out at Scorchfur, slicing her claws across his muzzle.
Alderheart backed away, his pelt bushing. What was happening here? Clanmates shouldn’t fight.
Scorchfur reared and slammed his paws onto Tawnypelt’s shoulders. Hooking his claws in, he pulled her to the ground. She flipped over and, tucking up her hind legs, clawed viciously at his belly.
He struggled free and turned on her. Face to face, they snarled at each other. With a hiss, Scorchfur lashed out, raking Tawnypelt’s eye with his claws.
Alderheart froze as she lurched away. ShadowClan gasped around him. What was Scorchfur doing? No warrior should ever attack another warrior’s eyes! Tawnypelt shook her head, blinking. With a rush of relief, Alderheart saw that Scorchfur’s claws had only sliced her cheek. Her eyes shone, unharmed. She’d been lucky.
She showed her teeth, hatred twisting her face, as she advanced on Scorchfur. “You’re no better than a rogue.”
Just as a side note here, but it was actually implied previously that fighting in ShadowClan seemed to be a regular thing. It seems like attacking the eye is what's seen as dishonorable.
A yelp cut her short. At the fresh-kill pile, Birchpaw and Lionpaw were tugging the thrush between them, snarling at each other, their jaws tightly clamped into the bird’s flesh.
Tawnypelt growled at them. “Can’t you just share it?”
Birchpaw threw her a look of disdain and yanked the thrush from his denmate.
Lionpaw glared at him as he carried the bird away.
Twigpaw leaned closer to her sister. “In ThunderClan, apprentices aren’t allowed to eat until they’ve caught prey for their Clan.”
Violetpaw shrugged. “It’s just leftovers from last night.”
Twigpaw’s pelt pricked with surprise. She knew ShadowClan wasn’t ThunderClan, but she’d assumed they all followed the same warrior code.
As Twigpaw wondered how two Clans could be so different, Lionpaw hissed at her brother. With a growl she raced after him and leaped onto his back. Knocking the thrush from his paws, she began pummeling him with her hind legs.
“Her claws are unsheathed!” Twigpaw stared in shock as she saw Birchpaw’s fur fly. He struggled to free himself, yowling in pain. Twigpaw turned to the older cats, waiting for one to race across the clearing and separate the fighting cats.
Mistcloud sat down and began washing her belly.
Tawnypelt went on with her orders as though nothing was happening. “Tigerheart.” She nodded to the dark tabby tom. “Hunt around the ditches. There are bound to be mouse nests around there.”
Twigpaw couldn’t stay quiet. “Aren’t you going to stop them?”
Birchpaw had twisted free and turned on his sister.
Slamming his paws onto her shoulders, he held her chin to the earth while he raked his claws along her flank. She wailed with pain.
Scorchfur met Twigpaw’s gaze coolly. “They started it,” he meowed. “Let them finish it.”
“But they might hurt each other!” Twigpaw gasped.
Mistcloud looked up. “If they do, it’s their own fault.”
Tawnypelt growled at them. “Can’t you just share it?”
Birchpaw threw her a look of disdain and yanked the thrush from his denmate.
Lionpaw glared at him as he carried the bird away.
Twigpaw leaned closer to her sister. “In ThunderClan, apprentices aren’t allowed to eat until they’ve caught prey for their Clan.”
Violetpaw shrugged. “It’s just leftovers from last night.”
Twigpaw’s pelt pricked with surprise. She knew ShadowClan wasn’t ThunderClan, but she’d assumed they all followed the same warrior code.
As Twigpaw wondered how two Clans could be so different, Lionpaw hissed at her brother. With a growl she raced after him and leaped onto his back. Knocking the thrush from his paws, she began pummeling him with her hind legs.
“Her claws are unsheathed!” Twigpaw stared in shock as she saw Birchpaw’s fur fly. He struggled to free himself, yowling in pain. Twigpaw turned to the older cats, waiting for one to race across the clearing and separate the fighting cats.
Mistcloud sat down and began washing her belly.
Tawnypelt went on with her orders as though nothing was happening. “Tigerheart.” She nodded to the dark tabby tom. “Hunt around the ditches. There are bound to be mouse nests around there.”
Twigpaw couldn’t stay quiet. “Aren’t you going to stop them?”
Birchpaw had twisted free and turned on his sister.
Slamming his paws onto her shoulders, he held her chin to the earth while he raked his claws along her flank. She wailed with pain.
Scorchfur met Twigpaw’s gaze coolly. “They started it,” he meowed. “Let them finish it.”
“But they might hurt each other!” Twigpaw gasped.
Mistcloud looked up. “If they do, it’s their own fault.”
Moving on, after the fight, Scorchfur and Juniperclaw try to go join SkyClan.
“Please don’t go.” He stopped in front of them, panting.
Scorchfur narrowed his eyes. “Why not?”
“You’re ShadowClan!” Tigerheart stared at him imploringly. “You can’t just forget that. It’s where you were born and raised. You think like ShadowClan cats; you hunt like ShadowClan cats; you fight like ShadowClan cats. You don’t even know what SkyClan is like! You’ll never feel you really belong there.”
Juniperclaw glanced nervously at Scorchfur. “Maybe he’s right.”
Scorchfur frowned. “ShadowClan isn’t the Clan it used to be. SkyClan might be better. We can teach them some useful skills.”
“‘Teach them some useful skills’?” Tigerheart fought to keep his claws sheathed. “If SkyClan learns how we fight and hunt, think how easy it would be for them to defeat us.” He turned his gaze on Juniperclaw desperately. “They might take over the whole forest. You don’t want that, do you?”
Juniperclaw’s eyes widened with alarm. “I hadn’t thought of that.” He looked anxiously at Scorchfur.
Scorchfur snorted. “I thought you said SkyClan cats were our friends.”
“Friends can have a falling-out.” Tigerheart leaned closer. “What if there was a border skirmish with ShadowClan? Could you fight against us for SkyClan?”
Scorchfur’s pelt prickled uneasily. “ShadowClan won’t be fighting any battles for a while. We’re hardly a Clan anymore.”
We won’t be if you leave. Tigerheart scrabbled for another reason for the warriors to stay. “If you join SkyClan, you’ll probably have to retrain. Like Twigpaw did. She’d already passed her ThunderClan warrior assessment when she joined, and she’s still training to be a SkyClan warrior.”
Juniperclaw pricked his ears. “You don’t think they’d make me a ’paw, do you?”
Tigerheart shrugged, trying to appear calm even as he felt each moment slip away like escaping prey. Time was passing. He had to get to Dovewing. “They might, once they found out that rogues gave you your warrior name.” He was bluffing, but he could sense Juniperclaw wavering.
“You’re just trying to scare us,” Scorchfur grunted.
“Even if they don’t make you ’paws, do you think they’re going to treat you with respect?” Tigerheart countered.
Scorchfur met his gaze challengingly. “After I fought with Tawnypelt, why would ShadowClan treat me with respect?” He sounded angry, but the anger was clearly directed at himself. “I wish I’d never gone for her eye. It was a fox-hearted move. But I was so mad.”
“I should have intervened earlier,” Tigerheart admitted.
“Rowanstar should have intervened earlier,” Juniperclaw remarked pointedly.
“And he would, if it happened again,” Tigerheart promised. “It just took him by surprise. It took us all by surprise.” He tried to think of something more to say. He could feel they were relenting. Just a few words more. Perhaps it was best just to admit the truth. “We need you. ShadowClan is in trouble, and without you we may not survive. You’re both great warriors, and I know we can all put our differences aside and work together as a Clan again. We survived Darktail. We survived the Dark Forest. We can survive this. We just have to try.” He didn’t hide the desperation pulsing in his chest. If he was going to leave, he had to make them stay.
Scorchfur’s ears twitched. “Okay.” He glanced toward the border. “I’ll stay.”
“Me too.” Juniperclaw sounded relieved.
Scorchfur narrowed his eyes. “Why not?”
“You’re ShadowClan!” Tigerheart stared at him imploringly. “You can’t just forget that. It’s where you were born and raised. You think like ShadowClan cats; you hunt like ShadowClan cats; you fight like ShadowClan cats. You don’t even know what SkyClan is like! You’ll never feel you really belong there.”
Juniperclaw glanced nervously at Scorchfur. “Maybe he’s right.”
Scorchfur frowned. “ShadowClan isn’t the Clan it used to be. SkyClan might be better. We can teach them some useful skills.”
“‘Teach them some useful skills’?” Tigerheart fought to keep his claws sheathed. “If SkyClan learns how we fight and hunt, think how easy it would be for them to defeat us.” He turned his gaze on Juniperclaw desperately. “They might take over the whole forest. You don’t want that, do you?”
Juniperclaw’s eyes widened with alarm. “I hadn’t thought of that.” He looked anxiously at Scorchfur.
Scorchfur snorted. “I thought you said SkyClan cats were our friends.”
“Friends can have a falling-out.” Tigerheart leaned closer. “What if there was a border skirmish with ShadowClan? Could you fight against us for SkyClan?”
Scorchfur’s pelt prickled uneasily. “ShadowClan won’t be fighting any battles for a while. We’re hardly a Clan anymore.”
We won’t be if you leave. Tigerheart scrabbled for another reason for the warriors to stay. “If you join SkyClan, you’ll probably have to retrain. Like Twigpaw did. She’d already passed her ThunderClan warrior assessment when she joined, and she’s still training to be a SkyClan warrior.”
Juniperclaw pricked his ears. “You don’t think they’d make me a ’paw, do you?”
Tigerheart shrugged, trying to appear calm even as he felt each moment slip away like escaping prey. Time was passing. He had to get to Dovewing. “They might, once they found out that rogues gave you your warrior name.” He was bluffing, but he could sense Juniperclaw wavering.
“You’re just trying to scare us,” Scorchfur grunted.
“Even if they don’t make you ’paws, do you think they’re going to treat you with respect?” Tigerheart countered.
Scorchfur met his gaze challengingly. “After I fought with Tawnypelt, why would ShadowClan treat me with respect?” He sounded angry, but the anger was clearly directed at himself. “I wish I’d never gone for her eye. It was a fox-hearted move. But I was so mad.”
“I should have intervened earlier,” Tigerheart admitted.
“Rowanstar should have intervened earlier,” Juniperclaw remarked pointedly.
“And he would, if it happened again,” Tigerheart promised. “It just took him by surprise. It took us all by surprise.” He tried to think of something more to say. He could feel they were relenting. Just a few words more. Perhaps it was best just to admit the truth. “We need you. ShadowClan is in trouble, and without you we may not survive. You’re both great warriors, and I know we can all put our differences aside and work together as a Clan again. We survived Darktail. We survived the Dark Forest. We can survive this. We just have to try.” He didn’t hide the desperation pulsing in his chest. If he was going to leave, he had to make them stay.
Scorchfur’s ears twitched. “Okay.” He glanced toward the border. “I’ll stay.”
“Me too.” Juniperclaw sounded relieved.
Even later, after Rowanclaw dissolves ShadowClan, Scorchfur is one of the cats to disapprove.
“I can no longer lead ShadowClan,” Rowanstar meowed.
Alderheart’s breath caught in his throat. WindClan, ThunderClan, and SkyClan watched silently as ShadowClan shifted, exchanging glances. Had they known Rowanstar would do this?
Scorchfur stared at Rowanstar, his gaze unreadable. Juniperclaw leaned close to Strikestone and whispered in his ear. Only Whorlpaw, Flowerpaw, and Snakepaw looked alarmed.
Rowanstar went on. “Leafstar.” He dipped his head. “I give our territory to you in exchange for a home. Let me, and whatever Clanmates I have left, join SkyClan.”
Scorchfur lashed his tail. “You can’t give our land away!”
Grassheart turned on the dark gray tom. “He wouldn’t have to if your sharp tongue hadn’t cut the Clan into shreds.”
“Don’t blame me!” Scorchfur looked outraged.
“Scorchfur wasn’t alone in wanting a stronger leader than Rowanstar,” Juniperclaw snarled.
Tawnypelt’s fur bristled. “No leader could have been strong enough to deal with so much treachery!”
Whorlpaw, Flowerpaw, and Snakepaw backed away from their Clanmates, their eyes wide with fear. As Stonewing and Grassheart bunched around their kits, Puddleshine pushed his way through the crowd.
The ShadowClan medicine cat blinked up at Leafstar. “Rowanstar is making the wisest decision. Without Tigerheart, we are no more than a bickering mob of starlings. We need the security of a Clan and the safety of Clanmates who hold the warrior code close to their hearts.”
Scorchfur narrowed his eyes. “I’ve always stayed true to the warrior code.”
“Then obey it now and support your leader in his decision.” Puddleshine glared at him.
“He wants to give up our territory!” Juniperclaw spat.
“He wants his Clan to be safe.” Puddleshine lifted his chin.
Alderheart’s breath caught in his throat. WindClan, ThunderClan, and SkyClan watched silently as ShadowClan shifted, exchanging glances. Had they known Rowanstar would do this?
Scorchfur stared at Rowanstar, his gaze unreadable. Juniperclaw leaned close to Strikestone and whispered in his ear. Only Whorlpaw, Flowerpaw, and Snakepaw looked alarmed.
Rowanstar went on. “Leafstar.” He dipped his head. “I give our territory to you in exchange for a home. Let me, and whatever Clanmates I have left, join SkyClan.”
Scorchfur lashed his tail. “You can’t give our land away!”
Grassheart turned on the dark gray tom. “He wouldn’t have to if your sharp tongue hadn’t cut the Clan into shreds.”
“Don’t blame me!” Scorchfur looked outraged.
“Scorchfur wasn’t alone in wanting a stronger leader than Rowanstar,” Juniperclaw snarled.
Tawnypelt’s fur bristled. “No leader could have been strong enough to deal with so much treachery!”
Whorlpaw, Flowerpaw, and Snakepaw backed away from their Clanmates, their eyes wide with fear. As Stonewing and Grassheart bunched around their kits, Puddleshine pushed his way through the crowd.
The ShadowClan medicine cat blinked up at Leafstar. “Rowanstar is making the wisest decision. Without Tigerheart, we are no more than a bickering mob of starlings. We need the security of a Clan and the safety of Clanmates who hold the warrior code close to their hearts.”
Scorchfur narrowed his eyes. “I’ve always stayed true to the warrior code.”
“Then obey it now and support your leader in his decision.” Puddleshine glared at him.
“He wants to give up our territory!” Juniperclaw spat.
“He wants his Clan to be safe.” Puddleshine lifted his chin.
When Sleekwhisker and Yarrowleaf return, he's one of the cats to get upset when Leafstar tries sending them away.
Juniperclaw faced Leafstar at Snowbird’s side. “There are cats in SkyClan right now who followed Darktail,” he pointed out, his whiskers quivering with fury. “I’m one of them. Will you drive us out too, one day? Don’t you believe that a cat can change?”
“Obviously she doesn’t,” Scorchfur sneered. “I wanted to believe that this combination of Clans would work, but this has just made it clear that Leafstar has no business making decisions for ShadowClan cats. She didn’t grow up with us. She doesn’t understand our bonds!”
“Obviously she doesn’t,” Scorchfur sneered. “I wanted to believe that this combination of Clans would work, but this has just made it clear that Leafstar has no business making decisions for ShadowClan cats. She didn’t grow up with us. She doesn’t understand our bonds!”
As a result, he becomes uncooperative when he's given an order.
As Violetshine led the way across the camp to the fern tunnel, she spotted the group of former ShadowClan cats, all of them glaring after Leafstar as she returned to her den. Scorchfur muttered something to Snowbird with a hostile lash of his tail.
Violetshine suppressed a sigh, reflecting how much tension there had been in the Clan since Leafstar had turned Yarrowleaf and Sleekwhisker
away. Juniperclaw, Scorchfur, and Snowbird had been all but ignoring orders from the leader and deputy, or being as slow and uncooperative as they could. Every one of them had been criticizing Leafstar, loudly and openly where the whole Clan could hear them. Only rebukes from Rowanclaw and Tawnypelt had kept them from outright defiance; they were listening to Rowanclaw as if he were their leader still.
Violetshine suppressed a sigh, reflecting how much tension there had been in the Clan since Leafstar had turned Yarrowleaf and Sleekwhisker
away. Juniperclaw, Scorchfur, and Snowbird had been all but ignoring orders from the leader and deputy, or being as slow and uncooperative as they could. Every one of them had been criticizing Leafstar, loudly and openly where the whole Clan could hear them. Only rebukes from Rowanclaw and Tawnypelt had kept them from outright defiance; they were listening to Rowanclaw as if he were their leader still.
Later on, it's revealed he was one of the cats who tried helping Sleekwhisker and Yarrowleaf out.
“We found these two cats in the old ShadowClan camp,” Tree explained. “They want to stay.”
“And I’ve already told them they can’t,” Leafstar retorted. Whirling around, her glance raked across her Clan. “How many of you are involved
in this?”
“I am,” Juniperclaw admitted, stepping forward from where he stood behind Tree.
“So are we,” Snowbird added, with a glance at her mate, Scorchfur.
“And me.” Whorlpaw, Juniperclaw’s apprentice, came to stand beside his mentor. His legs were trembling, and Juniperclaw rested his tail on the
young tom’s shoulder.
“I knew about it,” Strikestone confessed reluctantly.
“All of you went against my orders?” Leafstar snarled. “How can I trust you now? How can we be one united Clan when you only obey me when you agree?”
“And I’ve already told them they can’t,” Leafstar retorted. Whirling around, her glance raked across her Clan. “How many of you are involved
in this?”
“I am,” Juniperclaw admitted, stepping forward from where he stood behind Tree.
“So are we,” Snowbird added, with a glance at her mate, Scorchfur.
“And me.” Whorlpaw, Juniperclaw’s apprentice, came to stand beside his mentor. His legs were trembling, and Juniperclaw rested his tail on the
young tom’s shoulder.
“I knew about it,” Strikestone confessed reluctantly.
“All of you went against my orders?” Leafstar snarled. “How can I trust you now? How can we be one united Clan when you only obey me when you agree?”
After Tigerstar becomes leader of ShadowClan and names Tawnypelt his deputy, no one is really willing to listen to the latter, Scorchfur included.
Scorchfur shoved a wad of moss into a hole in the side of the den, then hissed with annoyance as it immediately fell out again.
“When you put the moss in, hold it there and wait for Stonewing to weave twigs through it to fix it into place,” Tawnypelt recommended.
Ignoring her, Scorchfur picked up the moss with his teeth and jammed it back into the hole. Irritation pricked up Tawnypelt’s spine. “Stonewing, bring those twigs over here,” she snapped.
The white tom glanced at her, then away, shifting uneasily from one paw to another. “I’m working on this side,” he said.
Digging her claws into the sandy floor of the den, Tawnypelt tried to keep herself from ripping the two toms’ pelts off. “I told you—” she began.
“How’s it going in here?” Tigerstar stuck his head through the den’s entrance. Peering at the walls, he crouched and came all the way in. “You’ll make quicker progress if you work in pairs,” he suggested. “Stonewing, bring those twigs over here. Scorchfur can hold the moss in place and you can weave the twigs through it. It’ll make for a warmer den.”
Scorchfur and Stonewing looked at each other. “Okay,” Stonewing said, and bent to pick up the twigs at his paws.
“When you put the moss in, hold it there and wait for Stonewing to weave twigs through it to fix it into place,” Tawnypelt recommended.
Ignoring her, Scorchfur picked up the moss with his teeth and jammed it back into the hole. Irritation pricked up Tawnypelt’s spine. “Stonewing, bring those twigs over here,” she snapped.
The white tom glanced at her, then away, shifting uneasily from one paw to another. “I’m working on this side,” he said.
Digging her claws into the sandy floor of the den, Tawnypelt tried to keep herself from ripping the two toms’ pelts off. “I told you—” she began.
“How’s it going in here?” Tigerstar stuck his head through the den’s entrance. Peering at the walls, he crouched and came all the way in. “You’ll make quicker progress if you work in pairs,” he suggested. “Stonewing, bring those twigs over here. Scorchfur can hold the moss in place and you can weave the twigs through it. It’ll make for a warmer den.”
Scorchfur and Stonewing looked at each other. “Okay,” Stonewing said, and bent to pick up the twigs at his paws.
“Was there something you wanted to say, Tawnypelt?” Tigerstar looked at her, sounding annoyed.
“Yes!” Tawnypelt replied. “It’s clear that Shadowkit is dreaming of the Tribe. Why won’t any cat in this Clan listen to me? I’m the deputy, and I’ve been part of ShadowClan longer than almost any of you!”
Scorchfur huffed, a small, sarcastic sound.
“What?” Tawnypelt asked, whirling to face him.
“You were more loyal to Rowanclaw than to ShadowClan,” Scorchfur said, just as fiercely. “Always. You stuck by his decisions when the Clan was torn between him and Darktail. Everything fell apart then, and you didn’t raise a paw to stop it. Maybe that’s why some of the cats here don’t want to listen to you. The ShadowClan you tried to hold on to didn’t work! We need to forget it!”
Tawnypelt gasped, feeling as breathless as if Scorchfur had just kicked her in the stomach. “I—I did everything I could for ShadowClan,” she gasped. “And so did Rowanclaw.”
All around the clearing, cats leaped to their feet, hissing and growling.
“It was the Clan who turned on Rowanclaw, not the other way around,” Oakfur, one of the elders, hissed at Scorchfur.
“We lost ShadowClan because Rowanclaw wasn’t strong enough to stand up to the rogues,” Strikestone snarled. “Things have to be different now if we’re going to survive.”
“Yes!” Tawnypelt replied. “It’s clear that Shadowkit is dreaming of the Tribe. Why won’t any cat in this Clan listen to me? I’m the deputy, and I’ve been part of ShadowClan longer than almost any of you!”
Scorchfur huffed, a small, sarcastic sound.
“What?” Tawnypelt asked, whirling to face him.
“You were more loyal to Rowanclaw than to ShadowClan,” Scorchfur said, just as fiercely. “Always. You stuck by his decisions when the Clan was torn between him and Darktail. Everything fell apart then, and you didn’t raise a paw to stop it. Maybe that’s why some of the cats here don’t want to listen to you. The ShadowClan you tried to hold on to didn’t work! We need to forget it!”
Tawnypelt gasped, feeling as breathless as if Scorchfur had just kicked her in the stomach. “I—I did everything I could for ShadowClan,” she gasped. “And so did Rowanclaw.”
All around the clearing, cats leaped to their feet, hissing and growling.
“It was the Clan who turned on Rowanclaw, not the other way around,” Oakfur, one of the elders, hissed at Scorchfur.
“We lost ShadowClan because Rowanclaw wasn’t strong enough to stand up to the rogues,” Strikestone snarled. “Things have to be different now if we’re going to survive.”
After ShadowClan gets into conflict with SkyClan, he's one of the cats to help destroy SkyClan's dens.
ShadowClan stench bathed her tongue as she broke into moonlight. The dens were shredded, and SkyClan cats swarmed in the clearing. Two ShadowClan warriors were streaking across the camp. She recognized Snowbird’s brilliant white pelt. Sandynose and Nettlesplash dived at her, but Snowbird dodged them skillfully and pelted for the entrance. Scorchfur barged between Cherrytail and Mintfur as they tried to catch his pelt, ducking under Macgyver’s belly and flicking his tail clear as Hawkwing dived at him.
They were fleeing, their damage done. The walls of the dens were tattered; stems scattered the earth.
They were fleeing, their damage done. The walls of the dens were tattered; stems scattered the earth.
Much later, ShadowClan has fallen into misfortune yet again after Ashfur takes control of Bramblestar. He's adamant that Dovewing has to atone to the point of telling "Bramblestar" that Tigerstar brought Dovewing home early.
Scorchfur padded to the foot of the oak and looked up at Bramblestar.
“Dovewing left ShadowClan to atone, but Tigerstar brought her back before she finished.” His gaze flicked accusingly to his leader. “Hasn’t ShadowClan suffered enough?” he asked Tigerstar.
Tigerstar puffed out his fur. “I couldn’t let Dovewing risk her safety.”
“Instead you risk the safety of the whole Clan!” Scorchfur held his gaze.
“Dovewing left ShadowClan to atone, but Tigerstar brought her back before she finished.” His gaze flicked accusingly to his leader. “Hasn’t ShadowClan suffered enough?” he asked Tigerstar.
Tigerstar puffed out his fur. “I couldn’t let Dovewing risk her safety.”
“Instead you risk the safety of the whole Clan!” Scorchfur held his gaze.
So, do you agree with Scorchfur (and by extension, Rowanstar's opponents in general) or... well, everyone else?
Result: More people agree with Scorchfur's opponents (especially Tawnypelt).
Argument #5: While we're still on ShadowClan, do you think Needletail and the others had a point (though not necessarily right) during the confrontation with Rowanstar? Keep in mind it wasn't just the apprentices who spoke out, but some of the adults as well.
Rowanstar’s hackles lifted as though he was surprised to hear her talk back. “Kits do not leave camp,” he repeated.
Needlepaw glanced calmly at Beepaw beside the fresh-kill pile. “It’s a dumb rule.”
Beepaw leaned closer, her eyes sparking with interest.
Violetkit stared at Needlepaw, shock fizzing through her fur. Had she really said that? And why had she shot a sly glance at Beepaw? Had they been planning to challenge Rowanstar like this?
Crowfrost stood up. His tail twitched angrily as Needlepaw went on.
“Like I told Tawnypelt, Violetkit was bored in camp.” She flicked her muzzle dismissively toward the clearing. “There’s nothing to learn here except how to grow old.”
Sleekpaw, Juniperpaw, Yarrowpaw, and Strikepaw were padding closer, their eyes flashing with interest. Birchpaw and Lionpaw hung back, eyeing each other nervously, but Beepaw pricked her ears excitedly, as though willing Needlepaw to say more.
Rowanstar’s gaze flicked toward them, then back to Needlepaw. It was blazing with anger. “There is plenty to learn in camp,” he hissed. “The warrior code, for a start. Too many rules are being ignored.”
“It’s impossible to remember all your rules.” Needlepaw flicked her tail irritably. “Perhaps if we had fewer rules, we’d obey more of them.”
Crowfrost flattened his ears. “Perhaps if we had smarter apprentices, they wouldn’t have such a hard time remembering.”
Sleekpaw and Strikepaw, Crowfrost’s kits, hissed at the ShadowClan deputy. “Are you calling us dumb?”
Strikepaw glared at his father. “If you treated us better, we might try harder,” he snarled. “Don’t forget there are nearly as many of us as there are of you. You’d be wise to give us a little more respect.”
Was that a threat? Violetkit stared at him, her mouth open. She shifted her paws uneasily. The apprentices were edging nearer to Needlepaw, as though gaining confidence with every complaint. Had they planned this rebellion, or had Needlepaw’s boldness sparked resentments that had been simmering for moons?
Yarrowpaw and Juniperpaw flicked their tails irritably. Beepaw padded from the fresh-kill pile to join them.
“Respect!” Rowanstar narrowed his eyes. “Respect has to be earned.” His growl was hard.
Beepaw tipped her head. “I don’t see the older cats earning any respect. All they do is hunt and sleep.”
Snowbird padded forward quickly, her pelt ruffled. “Beepaw!” She blinked at her daughter anxiously. “You mustn’t speak about your elders like that.”
“Why not?” Beepaw moved closer to Yarrowpaw. “You taught us that ShadowClan cats can say what they like.”
Alarm sparked in Snowbird’s gaze as her kits stared at her petulantly. “Where has all this come from?”
Beepaw stared at her mother. “If you ever listened instead of just talking, you’d know.”
Crowfrost fluffed out his fur, his nervous gaze on his own kits. Sleekpaw, Juniperpaw, and Strikepaw were bunched close, staring questioningly at Rowanstar.
Sleekpaw lashed her tail. “The elders used to tell stories about how ShadowClan was feared by the other Clans,” she meowed. “Now we only try to make peace.”
Strikepaw snorted. “We hide behind our borders like kittypets.”
“It’s true!” Juniperpaw agreed. “Not even WindClan respects us anymore. At the last Gathering, Fernpaw called us a bunch of frog-eaters. In the old days, apprentices from other Clans didn’t even dare speak to us. Ratscar told us that ThunderClan used to tell nursery stories about how terrifying we were. I bet their nursery stories aren’t so scary now.”
Rowanstar shifted his paws. “Peace brings prey,” he meowed. “Why fight over borders when we have enough prey to feed every cat?”
Ratscar got to his paws. The brown tom’s eyes were narrow. “The apprentices have a point. ShadowClan used to rule the forest. Now we live like a bunch of ThunderClan cats. All we want is peace and food. We’re hardly better than kittypets.”
Kinkfur growled. “What nonsense! ShadowClan will always be feared and respected by the other Clans.”
“Even if we’re not feared and respected by our own kits,” Ratscar rasped dryly.
Oakfur crossed the clearing and faced Rowanstar. “Why can’t the
mentors keep their apprentices under control? In my day, we did what we were told.”
Stonewing shouldered his way through the gathered cats and glared at Juniperpaw. “How could you embarrass me like this? Haven’t I been a good mentor to you? I’ve taught you everything you know.”
Juniperpaw curled his lip. “Cats are born knowing how to hunt and fight. Why do I need you telling me what I already know?”
Stonewing swung his muzzle accusingly toward Rowanstar. “I warned you the apprentices were getting too big for their pelts.”
Rowanstar glared back at him, pelt spiking. “I shouldn’t have to control your apprentice for you.”
Dawnpelt hurried forward and gazed imploringly at Sleekpaw and her denmates. “I don’t understand why you’re so angry. When I was your age, I was proud to be an apprentice,” she mewed. “We all were. We wanted to learn the warrior code.”
“Only because you wanted to be like ThunderClan,” Needlepaw
scoffed.
Dawnpelt bristled. “That’s not true!”
Tawnypelt hissed at Needlepaw. “Respect your elders!”
“Not until they respect us!” Sleekpaw butted in.
Angry yowls echoed around the camp. Violetkit shrank against
Needlepaw’s flank as the Clan argued around her. Perhaps the warrior code was too restrictive. She’d heard Needlepaw complain about it often enough. But was it worth fighting about? Surely warriors had a code for a reason. Otherwise they’d be nothing but rogues or loners.
Needlepaw glanced calmly at Beepaw beside the fresh-kill pile. “It’s a dumb rule.”
Beepaw leaned closer, her eyes sparking with interest.
Violetkit stared at Needlepaw, shock fizzing through her fur. Had she really said that? And why had she shot a sly glance at Beepaw? Had they been planning to challenge Rowanstar like this?
Crowfrost stood up. His tail twitched angrily as Needlepaw went on.
“Like I told Tawnypelt, Violetkit was bored in camp.” She flicked her muzzle dismissively toward the clearing. “There’s nothing to learn here except how to grow old.”
Sleekpaw, Juniperpaw, Yarrowpaw, and Strikepaw were padding closer, their eyes flashing with interest. Birchpaw and Lionpaw hung back, eyeing each other nervously, but Beepaw pricked her ears excitedly, as though willing Needlepaw to say more.
Rowanstar’s gaze flicked toward them, then back to Needlepaw. It was blazing with anger. “There is plenty to learn in camp,” he hissed. “The warrior code, for a start. Too many rules are being ignored.”
“It’s impossible to remember all your rules.” Needlepaw flicked her tail irritably. “Perhaps if we had fewer rules, we’d obey more of them.”
Crowfrost flattened his ears. “Perhaps if we had smarter apprentices, they wouldn’t have such a hard time remembering.”
Sleekpaw and Strikepaw, Crowfrost’s kits, hissed at the ShadowClan deputy. “Are you calling us dumb?”
Strikepaw glared at his father. “If you treated us better, we might try harder,” he snarled. “Don’t forget there are nearly as many of us as there are of you. You’d be wise to give us a little more respect.”
Was that a threat? Violetkit stared at him, her mouth open. She shifted her paws uneasily. The apprentices were edging nearer to Needlepaw, as though gaining confidence with every complaint. Had they planned this rebellion, or had Needlepaw’s boldness sparked resentments that had been simmering for moons?
Yarrowpaw and Juniperpaw flicked their tails irritably. Beepaw padded from the fresh-kill pile to join them.
“Respect!” Rowanstar narrowed his eyes. “Respect has to be earned.” His growl was hard.
Beepaw tipped her head. “I don’t see the older cats earning any respect. All they do is hunt and sleep.”
Snowbird padded forward quickly, her pelt ruffled. “Beepaw!” She blinked at her daughter anxiously. “You mustn’t speak about your elders like that.”
“Why not?” Beepaw moved closer to Yarrowpaw. “You taught us that ShadowClan cats can say what they like.”
Alarm sparked in Snowbird’s gaze as her kits stared at her petulantly. “Where has all this come from?”
Beepaw stared at her mother. “If you ever listened instead of just talking, you’d know.”
Crowfrost fluffed out his fur, his nervous gaze on his own kits. Sleekpaw, Juniperpaw, and Strikepaw were bunched close, staring questioningly at Rowanstar.
Sleekpaw lashed her tail. “The elders used to tell stories about how ShadowClan was feared by the other Clans,” she meowed. “Now we only try to make peace.”
Strikepaw snorted. “We hide behind our borders like kittypets.”
“It’s true!” Juniperpaw agreed. “Not even WindClan respects us anymore. At the last Gathering, Fernpaw called us a bunch of frog-eaters. In the old days, apprentices from other Clans didn’t even dare speak to us. Ratscar told us that ThunderClan used to tell nursery stories about how terrifying we were. I bet their nursery stories aren’t so scary now.”
Rowanstar shifted his paws. “Peace brings prey,” he meowed. “Why fight over borders when we have enough prey to feed every cat?”
Ratscar got to his paws. The brown tom’s eyes were narrow. “The apprentices have a point. ShadowClan used to rule the forest. Now we live like a bunch of ThunderClan cats. All we want is peace and food. We’re hardly better than kittypets.”
Kinkfur growled. “What nonsense! ShadowClan will always be feared and respected by the other Clans.”
“Even if we’re not feared and respected by our own kits,” Ratscar rasped dryly.
Oakfur crossed the clearing and faced Rowanstar. “Why can’t the
mentors keep their apprentices under control? In my day, we did what we were told.”
Stonewing shouldered his way through the gathered cats and glared at Juniperpaw. “How could you embarrass me like this? Haven’t I been a good mentor to you? I’ve taught you everything you know.”
Juniperpaw curled his lip. “Cats are born knowing how to hunt and fight. Why do I need you telling me what I already know?”
Stonewing swung his muzzle accusingly toward Rowanstar. “I warned you the apprentices were getting too big for their pelts.”
Rowanstar glared back at him, pelt spiking. “I shouldn’t have to control your apprentice for you.”
Dawnpelt hurried forward and gazed imploringly at Sleekpaw and her denmates. “I don’t understand why you’re so angry. When I was your age, I was proud to be an apprentice,” she mewed. “We all were. We wanted to learn the warrior code.”
“Only because you wanted to be like ThunderClan,” Needlepaw
scoffed.
Dawnpelt bristled. “That’s not true!”
Tawnypelt hissed at Needlepaw. “Respect your elders!”
“Not until they respect us!” Sleekpaw butted in.
Angry yowls echoed around the camp. Violetkit shrank against
Needlepaw’s flank as the Clan argued around her. Perhaps the warrior code was too restrictive. She’d heard Needlepaw complain about it often enough. But was it worth fighting about? Surely warriors had a code for a reason. Otherwise they’d be nothing but rogues or loners.
“Where in our territory did you find such good prey?” Curiosity softened Rowanstar’s mew.
“We are lucky when it comes to hunting,” Rain told him. “Perhaps we can bring some of that luck to your Clan.”
“No.” Crowfrost stepped forward, his black-and-white pelt bristling. “Take your prey and leave!” He glared at Rowanstar. “We can’t accept prey from cats who attacked another Clan!”
“Why not?” Needlepaw demanded.
Violetkit stiffened as her friend padded forward.
“Is WindClan our friend now?” Needlepaw looked around her Clanmates. “I thought ShadowClan stood alone. The only truce we recognize is the truce of the Gathering. Why deny ourselves prey on WindClan’s behalf?”
Sleekpaw and Strikepaw were nodding.
So was Berryheart. The young black-and-white she-cat lashed her tail. “Would WindClan do the same for us?”
Sleekpaw joined Needlepaw. “WindClan has never brought us prey. Nor has ThunderClan or RiverClan. But we’re supposed to feel loyal to them. Why?”
Violetkit frowned. If the Clans weren’t meant to stick together, did that make Twigkit her enemy? Anxiety prickled in her fur.
“Why?” Rowanstar repeated Sleekpaw’s question, his eyes widening with surprise. “Because they are Clanborn like us. They follow the warrior code.”
“These are rogues!” Crowfrost puffed out his chest. “They have no code.”
“We could learn,” Rain mewed softly.
Rowanstar stared at him. “Why should we believe you?”
Rain glanced around the camp. “We see how you live,” he meowed. “How you thrive. We want to be like you.”
Tigerheart marched forward, his eyes glittering with outrage. “Then go and start your own Clan, on your own land!”
Rowanstar drew himself up. “I’ve had you escorted from our land before. Today you will be escorted again.” He nodded sharply to Tigerheart, Spikefur, and Tawnypelt. “Next time we find you on ShadowClan territory, you will feel the sharpness of our claws.”
The rogues glanced at one another. Violetkit searched their gaze for some sign of fear, but they showed only calm acceptance.
Rain blinked at Rowanstar. “We will respect your wishes.”
Rowanstar stiffened. “You have no choice.”
Rain flashed him an amused look before turning away and letting Tawnypelt lead the way out of camp.
Violetkit swallowed. She realized that her heart was beating hard. Needlepaw had taken a risk speaking out for the rogues. Why had she done it? Wasn’t her Clan more important than her new rogue friends?
As the patrol disappeared through the bramble tunnel, Needlepaw crossed the clearing.
Violetkit’s breath caught in her throat as Needlepaw stopped in front of Rowanstar.
She kicked the prey toward him. “What are you going to do with this?” she snarled. “Throw it out with the rogues?”
Rowanstar’s eyes widened with shock. “ShadowClan catches its own prey.”
“We’d catch more if we had Clanmates like them.” Needlepaw flicked her tail toward the entrance. “Why didn’t you let them join?”
Dawnpelt padded from the edge of the clearing. “They’re not Clanborn.”
“Neither is Violetkit,” Needlepaw retorted. “But you let her join. And what did she offer the Clan but another mouth to feed?”
Violetkit’s heart lurched. Was that truly what Needlepaw believed? I thought you were my friend!
Tigerheart looked at the silver apprentice. “You’re the one who brought her back from Alderpaw’s quest,” he pointed out. “You made such a big deal about her being part of the prophecy that Rowanstar had to take her.”
Dawnpelt flicked her tail. “She is part of the prophecy. One day Violetkit may clear the skies.”
“You don’t even know what that means!” Needlepaw’s pelt bristled along her spine. “You turned away three strong hunters. Why?”
Tawnypelt padded forward, her stern gaze raking Needlepaw. “That’s enough!” she snapped.
“It’s not enough!” Strikepaw marched forward and stopped beside Needlepaw. “We have a chance to make ShadowClan powerful again.”
Yarrowpaw whisked her tail. “Aren’t you tired of agreeing with everything ThunderClan suggests? Don’t you wish we could hunt where we please instead of where the other Clans tell us we can hunt?”
Rowanstar flexed his claws. “Do you want war with the other Clans?”
Strikepaw flattened his ears. “We want to choose our own path, not follow the path of other Clans.”
“What you want doesn’t matter!” Rowanstar hissed. “I am ShadowClan’s leader. I decide what’s best. Taking in strange cats who have proved they are dangerous is not good for any Clan.”
“Not for weak Clans like WindClan or RiverClan,” Strikepaw snarled. “But we are ShadowClan. With cats like those, we could rule the whole lake!”
“You are young and foolish.” Rowanstar struggled to calm his mew. “You don’t understand the pain and loss that battle brings. I have been too soft with you.” His gaze flicked around the other apprentices. “With all of you. I’ve let small rules be broken.” He caught Juniperpaw’s eye. “Don’t think I don’t smell the prey blood on your breath when you return from hunting. What you catch is for the fresh-kill pile, not your own belly.” He lifted his chin, yowling across the camp. “From now on, the warrior code will be followed. StarClan is watching us. Respect for our ancestors will guide our paws.”
Violetkit watched Needlepaw, wishing she’d drop her gaze and back away.
Instead the silver she-cat glared at the ShadowClan leader. “You want us to obey a bunch of dead cats!” She nodded toward the pines looming over the camp. “Look at the living world. It has everything we need. We can push our territory as far as we like and take whatever we want. Who cares what StarClan thinks? Their lives are over. It’s our turn to live.”
Behind her, Beepaw, Juniperpaw, and Sleekpaw yowled in agreement.
Dawnpelt and Crowfrost stared at them in horror, as though they couldn’t believe that their own kits would turn on their Clan.
Rowanstar met Needlepaw’s gaze coolly. “You can live according to our rules.”
“Never.” Needlepaw lashed her tail. “I’m sick of living in a Clan that only cares about peace. The rogues would have made us strong. But, if you don’t want them to join us, I’m going to join them!”
“We are lucky when it comes to hunting,” Rain told him. “Perhaps we can bring some of that luck to your Clan.”
“No.” Crowfrost stepped forward, his black-and-white pelt bristling. “Take your prey and leave!” He glared at Rowanstar. “We can’t accept prey from cats who attacked another Clan!”
“Why not?” Needlepaw demanded.
Violetkit stiffened as her friend padded forward.
“Is WindClan our friend now?” Needlepaw looked around her Clanmates. “I thought ShadowClan stood alone. The only truce we recognize is the truce of the Gathering. Why deny ourselves prey on WindClan’s behalf?”
Sleekpaw and Strikepaw were nodding.
So was Berryheart. The young black-and-white she-cat lashed her tail. “Would WindClan do the same for us?”
Sleekpaw joined Needlepaw. “WindClan has never brought us prey. Nor has ThunderClan or RiverClan. But we’re supposed to feel loyal to them. Why?”
Violetkit frowned. If the Clans weren’t meant to stick together, did that make Twigkit her enemy? Anxiety prickled in her fur.
“Why?” Rowanstar repeated Sleekpaw’s question, his eyes widening with surprise. “Because they are Clanborn like us. They follow the warrior code.”
“These are rogues!” Crowfrost puffed out his chest. “They have no code.”
“We could learn,” Rain mewed softly.
Rowanstar stared at him. “Why should we believe you?”
Rain glanced around the camp. “We see how you live,” he meowed. “How you thrive. We want to be like you.”
Tigerheart marched forward, his eyes glittering with outrage. “Then go and start your own Clan, on your own land!”
Rowanstar drew himself up. “I’ve had you escorted from our land before. Today you will be escorted again.” He nodded sharply to Tigerheart, Spikefur, and Tawnypelt. “Next time we find you on ShadowClan territory, you will feel the sharpness of our claws.”
The rogues glanced at one another. Violetkit searched their gaze for some sign of fear, but they showed only calm acceptance.
Rain blinked at Rowanstar. “We will respect your wishes.”
Rowanstar stiffened. “You have no choice.”
Rain flashed him an amused look before turning away and letting Tawnypelt lead the way out of camp.
Violetkit swallowed. She realized that her heart was beating hard. Needlepaw had taken a risk speaking out for the rogues. Why had she done it? Wasn’t her Clan more important than her new rogue friends?
As the patrol disappeared through the bramble tunnel, Needlepaw crossed the clearing.
Violetkit’s breath caught in her throat as Needlepaw stopped in front of Rowanstar.
She kicked the prey toward him. “What are you going to do with this?” she snarled. “Throw it out with the rogues?”
Rowanstar’s eyes widened with shock. “ShadowClan catches its own prey.”
“We’d catch more if we had Clanmates like them.” Needlepaw flicked her tail toward the entrance. “Why didn’t you let them join?”
Dawnpelt padded from the edge of the clearing. “They’re not Clanborn.”
“Neither is Violetkit,” Needlepaw retorted. “But you let her join. And what did she offer the Clan but another mouth to feed?”
Violetkit’s heart lurched. Was that truly what Needlepaw believed? I thought you were my friend!
Tigerheart looked at the silver apprentice. “You’re the one who brought her back from Alderpaw’s quest,” he pointed out. “You made such a big deal about her being part of the prophecy that Rowanstar had to take her.”
Dawnpelt flicked her tail. “She is part of the prophecy. One day Violetkit may clear the skies.”
“You don’t even know what that means!” Needlepaw’s pelt bristled along her spine. “You turned away three strong hunters. Why?”
Tawnypelt padded forward, her stern gaze raking Needlepaw. “That’s enough!” she snapped.
“It’s not enough!” Strikepaw marched forward and stopped beside Needlepaw. “We have a chance to make ShadowClan powerful again.”
Yarrowpaw whisked her tail. “Aren’t you tired of agreeing with everything ThunderClan suggests? Don’t you wish we could hunt where we please instead of where the other Clans tell us we can hunt?”
Rowanstar flexed his claws. “Do you want war with the other Clans?”
Strikepaw flattened his ears. “We want to choose our own path, not follow the path of other Clans.”
“What you want doesn’t matter!” Rowanstar hissed. “I am ShadowClan’s leader. I decide what’s best. Taking in strange cats who have proved they are dangerous is not good for any Clan.”
“Not for weak Clans like WindClan or RiverClan,” Strikepaw snarled. “But we are ShadowClan. With cats like those, we could rule the whole lake!”
“You are young and foolish.” Rowanstar struggled to calm his mew. “You don’t understand the pain and loss that battle brings. I have been too soft with you.” His gaze flicked around the other apprentices. “With all of you. I’ve let small rules be broken.” He caught Juniperpaw’s eye. “Don’t think I don’t smell the prey blood on your breath when you return from hunting. What you catch is for the fresh-kill pile, not your own belly.” He lifted his chin, yowling across the camp. “From now on, the warrior code will be followed. StarClan is watching us. Respect for our ancestors will guide our paws.”
Violetkit watched Needlepaw, wishing she’d drop her gaze and back away.
Instead the silver she-cat glared at the ShadowClan leader. “You want us to obey a bunch of dead cats!” She nodded toward the pines looming over the camp. “Look at the living world. It has everything we need. We can push our territory as far as we like and take whatever we want. Who cares what StarClan thinks? Their lives are over. It’s our turn to live.”
Behind her, Beepaw, Juniperpaw, and Sleekpaw yowled in agreement.
Dawnpelt and Crowfrost stared at them in horror, as though they couldn’t believe that their own kits would turn on their Clan.
Rowanstar met Needlepaw’s gaze coolly. “You can live according to our rules.”
“Never.” Needlepaw lashed her tail. “I’m sick of living in a Clan that only cares about peace. The rogues would have made us strong. But, if you don’t want them to join us, I’m going to join them!”
So, did they have a point?
Result: More people think they didn't have a point
Argument #6: Tigerheart vs. Dovewing
After Dovewing reveals she's pregnant, she also tells Tigerheart that she's been having dreams telling her to leave the Clans and soon gives Tigerheart an ultimatum to go with her or not.
“I dream of the ThunderClan nursery. I’m alone in the camp, and I’m watching the nursery from the clearing. Something feels wrong, so I go to look inside.” The fur along her spine lifted as she remembered. “It’s empty. The nests are old and tattered, and shadows are creeping from the corners. They swallow the floor and the nests. I run outside, but the shadows follow. They reach through the entrance like dark flames and lick the walls, growing darker and stronger until the whole nursery is lost in blackness.”
As she spoke, Tigerheart felt like he could see everything she described, so clearly. He had to shake his head to chase the images out of his head. “It’s just a dream,” he told her, not sure if he believed it himself.
Dovewing drew away. “But it’s not!” Her mew was taut with fear. “I have it again and again, and every time I do, I wake up filled with dread because I know it’s a sign.”
Tigerheart blinked at her. The fear in her eyes was real, but he tried to tell himself it was just because she’d been worrying about this by herself for so long. She could share the worry with him now. “Have you asked Jayfeather or Alderheart about it?”
“How could I?” Dovewing lashed her tail. “They might guess.” She glared down at her swelling flanks. “I’ve been expecting for a moon and it’s starting to show. They may have already guessed I’m expecting kits. Telling them I’m having dreams about the nursery will just confirm it!”
Tigerheart tried to make his voice sound bright. “If a medicine cat believes that nursery dreams are normal, perhaps they are.”
“Not like this!” Dovewing hissed.
“Well, you could ask them if they’ve had any signs from StarClan.” Tigerheart was starting to feel exasperated. Why was Dovewing so sure her dreams were special? “Maybe they’ve had a sign that will explain your dream. They’re medicine cats, after all. You aren’t.”
“I don’t need a medicine cat to explain my dream!” Dovewing’s eyes flashed with frustration. “I know what it means. It means our kits mustn’t be born in ThunderClan!”
Tigerheart fluffed out his pelt eagerly. “So… maybe you’re meant to join ShadowClan! That’s great. I know you’ll be happy with us. Don’t worry about any cat’s reaction, either. No cat has time right now to get mad at having a ThunderClan cat in camp. And if we bring new kits, new life, to ShadowClan, then every cat will be happy, because we’ll be making ShadowClan stronger.”
“No.” Dovewing glowered at him. “I’m not raising our kits in ShadowClan. Believe me, I’ve thought about that, and I know it’s what you want, but… That’s not what’s right for us either.” Tigerheart forced his pelt to smooth. Neither ThunderClan nor ShadowClan? What, then, was she thinking about?
Dovewing’s mew was firm. “We have to leave the Clans.”
Stunned, Tigerheart stared at her wordlessly. Leave the Clans?
“We have to.” Dovewing dug her paws into the earth. “I’ve dreamed where we should go. A huge Twolegplace with nests that reach into the sky. I saw a roof there with sharp points that stick up into the sky like gorse spines. We must find that den. Our kits will be safe there.”
Tigerheart’s pelt bristled with anger. “This is nonsense!” He met her gaze. “Why would our kits be safer in a strange Twolegplace? How can we raise them away from their Clans? Our Clans are what keep us all safe!”
Dovewing narrowed her eyes. “The Clans are a mess! So many cats have died fighting for territory lately, who’s to say there will even be Clans a few moons from now?”
“So you want us to run away?” Tigerheart could hardly believe this was happening. “You want to abandon your Clanmates? You want to bring up our kits so they never know their kin or the warrior code?”
“No!” Desperation sharpened Dovewing’s mew. “I don’t want any of this! I just know we must go. The dreams come every night. I don’t just see them; I feel them. If I ignore what they tell me, I fear that something terrible will happen to our kits!”
Tigerheart turned in an anxious circle, his thoughts fighting one another.
“This isn’t a choice for me.” Dovewing’s mew hardened. “It’s what I must do.”
Tigerheart felt sick. “I can’t just leave.”
Dovewing’s eyes were stricken with panic. Tigerheart looked away. His forepaws twitched, as if ready to walk with her as far away from here as she wanted to go. But his hindquarters felt heavy, like they wanted to pin him to the ground so that he could never leave ShadowClan. He yearned to be with her, but he was afraid to abandon his father when things were so terrible. It made him feel like his body might be torn in two.
“Tigerheart!” She sounded anxious.
He felt her breath on his cheek and forced himself to look at her.
“I don’t want to do this without you, Tigerheart!” Her mew was shaky. “I need you.”
“ShadowClan needs me,” Tigerheart mewed desperately. “Rowanstar can’t lead without my help. You’re right—ShadowClan’s a mess. If I leave, it may not survive.”
“Then stay!” Dovewing’s green eyes flashed with rage. “If your Clan is more important to you than your kits, stay with them. I’m going.” She backed away from him, grief twisting her face. “My Clan can look after itself. I’m protecting my kits.”
“Dovewing!” Desperation spiked Tigerheart’s pelt. “We’ll be better able to protect our kits if we stay with our Clans.”
She held his gaze. “I’m leaving in three days. If you want to leave with me, meet me here. If not, I…” Her tail bushed, and she looked at the ground briefly. Whatever she had to tell him next seemed hard for her to say. “I will go without you.”
As she spoke, Tigerheart felt like he could see everything she described, so clearly. He had to shake his head to chase the images out of his head. “It’s just a dream,” he told her, not sure if he believed it himself.
Dovewing drew away. “But it’s not!” Her mew was taut with fear. “I have it again and again, and every time I do, I wake up filled with dread because I know it’s a sign.”
Tigerheart blinked at her. The fear in her eyes was real, but he tried to tell himself it was just because she’d been worrying about this by herself for so long. She could share the worry with him now. “Have you asked Jayfeather or Alderheart about it?”
“How could I?” Dovewing lashed her tail. “They might guess.” She glared down at her swelling flanks. “I’ve been expecting for a moon and it’s starting to show. They may have already guessed I’m expecting kits. Telling them I’m having dreams about the nursery will just confirm it!”
Tigerheart tried to make his voice sound bright. “If a medicine cat believes that nursery dreams are normal, perhaps they are.”
“Not like this!” Dovewing hissed.
“Well, you could ask them if they’ve had any signs from StarClan.” Tigerheart was starting to feel exasperated. Why was Dovewing so sure her dreams were special? “Maybe they’ve had a sign that will explain your dream. They’re medicine cats, after all. You aren’t.”
“I don’t need a medicine cat to explain my dream!” Dovewing’s eyes flashed with frustration. “I know what it means. It means our kits mustn’t be born in ThunderClan!”
Tigerheart fluffed out his pelt eagerly. “So… maybe you’re meant to join ShadowClan! That’s great. I know you’ll be happy with us. Don’t worry about any cat’s reaction, either. No cat has time right now to get mad at having a ThunderClan cat in camp. And if we bring new kits, new life, to ShadowClan, then every cat will be happy, because we’ll be making ShadowClan stronger.”
“No.” Dovewing glowered at him. “I’m not raising our kits in ShadowClan. Believe me, I’ve thought about that, and I know it’s what you want, but… That’s not what’s right for us either.” Tigerheart forced his pelt to smooth. Neither ThunderClan nor ShadowClan? What, then, was she thinking about?
Dovewing’s mew was firm. “We have to leave the Clans.”
Stunned, Tigerheart stared at her wordlessly. Leave the Clans?
“We have to.” Dovewing dug her paws into the earth. “I’ve dreamed where we should go. A huge Twolegplace with nests that reach into the sky. I saw a roof there with sharp points that stick up into the sky like gorse spines. We must find that den. Our kits will be safe there.”
Tigerheart’s pelt bristled with anger. “This is nonsense!” He met her gaze. “Why would our kits be safer in a strange Twolegplace? How can we raise them away from their Clans? Our Clans are what keep us all safe!”
Dovewing narrowed her eyes. “The Clans are a mess! So many cats have died fighting for territory lately, who’s to say there will even be Clans a few moons from now?”
“So you want us to run away?” Tigerheart could hardly believe this was happening. “You want to abandon your Clanmates? You want to bring up our kits so they never know their kin or the warrior code?”
“No!” Desperation sharpened Dovewing’s mew. “I don’t want any of this! I just know we must go. The dreams come every night. I don’t just see them; I feel them. If I ignore what they tell me, I fear that something terrible will happen to our kits!”
Tigerheart turned in an anxious circle, his thoughts fighting one another.
“This isn’t a choice for me.” Dovewing’s mew hardened. “It’s what I must do.”
Tigerheart felt sick. “I can’t just leave.”
Dovewing’s eyes were stricken with panic. Tigerheart looked away. His forepaws twitched, as if ready to walk with her as far away from here as she wanted to go. But his hindquarters felt heavy, like they wanted to pin him to the ground so that he could never leave ShadowClan. He yearned to be with her, but he was afraid to abandon his father when things were so terrible. It made him feel like his body might be torn in two.
“Tigerheart!” She sounded anxious.
He felt her breath on his cheek and forced himself to look at her.
“I don’t want to do this without you, Tigerheart!” Her mew was shaky. “I need you.”
“ShadowClan needs me,” Tigerheart mewed desperately. “Rowanstar can’t lead without my help. You’re right—ShadowClan’s a mess. If I leave, it may not survive.”
“Then stay!” Dovewing’s green eyes flashed with rage. “If your Clan is more important to you than your kits, stay with them. I’m going.” She backed away from him, grief twisting her face. “My Clan can look after itself. I’m protecting my kits.”
“Dovewing!” Desperation spiked Tigerheart’s pelt. “We’ll be better able to protect our kits if we stay with our Clans.”
She held his gaze. “I’m leaving in three days. If you want to leave with me, meet me here. If not, I…” Her tail bushed, and she looked at the ground briefly. Whatever she had to tell him next seemed hard for her to say. “I will go without you.”
Later, it's implied that Dovewing was having the dream entirely because of Shadowkit.
“You saw him,” Dovewing mewed. “How sincere he was. He believes his dream is true, and so do I. Perhaps he is connected to StarClan. Perhaps I dreamed I should travel to the city because I was carrying him in my belly.”
And in RoF, the nursery gets damaged while Dovewing's away and even Alderheart agrees that it was a good thing she left when she did
Alderheart wasn’t so sure that they had just been the weird dreams of a queen expecting kits. He remembered that the nursery had been damaged in the storm, though Cinderheart’s and. Blossomfall’s kits had been safely bedded down with the elders. But who knows what might have happened to Dovewing’s kits, if they’d been here?
So, do you think Tigerheart should've stayed or gone with Dovewing, do you think Dovewing should've confided in a ThunderClan cat (be it the medicine cats or even her sister or whoever besides Tigerheart) about her pregnancy, and do you think Dovewing should've moved to ShadowClan as soon as she realized she was pregnant or was she right to leave?