Chapter 13

CHAPTER 13 The squall was soon over. Firestar led his cats home through a forest where every twig and fern dripped water under a clearing sky. Silverpelt glittered brightly, and Firestar raised his eyes to utter a silent prayer: Great StarClan, show me what to do. He began to worry about whether Tigerstar had sent warriors to attack the camp while Firestar and the others were away. It would be one way to weaken ThunderClan so that Firestar had no choice but to ally his surviving cats with TigerClan. Relief flooded over him as he emerged from the gorse tunnel to see that everything was peaceful. Whitestorm got up from sentry duty outside the warriors' den and padded over. "You're back early. I wondered if those stormclouds would cover the moon." "Yes, but it was worse than that," Firestar replied. "Worse?" Whitestorm's eyes widened in astonishment as Firestar told him what had happened at the Gathering just before thunder

and lightning prevented his revealing words. More cats joined them, and Firestar was aware of shocked mews as his Clan learned what Tigerstar was planning. "When the storm broke," Firestar finished, "Tigerstar said it was a sign from StarClan that he had their favor. He and Leopardstar left, so the Gathering broke up." "It might well have been a sign," mewed Whitestorm thoughtfully. "But one that shows StarClan are angry with Tigerstar." "Cinderpelt, what do you think?" Firestar asked the medicine cat, who had listened to the story with deep foreboding in her blue eyes. "I don't know," she admitted. "If it was a sign, it would mean StarClan stopped you from telling the truth about Tigerstar, and I find that hard to believe." She shrugged. "There are times when a storm is just a storm." "It was an unlucky one for ThunderClan, then," muttered Longtail. "I wish I'd been there," Cloudtail growled. "I'd have torn Tigerstar's throat out. No more problem."

"In that case, it's a good thing you weren't there," Firestar retorted. "Attacking a Clan leader at a Gathering? That would have made StarClan angry." Cloudtail narrowed his eyes at Firestar, the challenge clear in his blue gaze. "Why don't StarClan do something to help us, then, if they're so powerful?" "Maybe they will," Brightheart suggested gently. "So what are we going to do?" asked Mousefur. She was shifting from paw to paw as if she wanted to race out of camp and confront her enemies right away. "You're not thinking of joining this… TigerClan, are you?" "Never," Firestar assured her. "But we need time to think, and rest." He yawned and stretched. "For now, we'll need extra patrols. Any volunteers to go out at dawn?" "I will," Mousefur offered instantly. "Thanks," meowed Firestar. "Keep a lookout along the border with ShadowClan. And if you come across any of Tigerstar's warriors, you know what to do."

"Oh, yes." Cloudtail lashed his tail eagerly. "I'll come with you, Mousefur. I could do with some ShadowClan fur to line my nest." Firestar didn't try to check the young warrior's hostility. No cat could doubt Cloudtail's loyalty to ThunderClan, however scornful he was about StarClan and the warrior code. Whitestorm named Brackenfur and Thornclaw to join the patrol as well, and all four cats padded off to get some rest before dawn. One by one, the other Clan cats headed for their dens. Firestar was aware of their shock, and the fear they did not quite succeed in hiding. Eventually he was left alone with only Cinderpelt by his side. He let out a long sigh. "Will there ever be any end to this?" he murmured. Cinderpelt pressed her muzzle comfortingly against his. "I don't know. It's in the paws of StarClan." She narrowed her eyes. "But sometimes I don't believe there'll be any peace in the forest until Tigerstar is dead." "Right," Firestar meowed. "Attack me."

A few foxlengths away, Bramblepaw crouched on the floor of the hollow. Firestar waited as the apprentice began to creep toward him, his amber eyes darting from side to side as if he was choosing the best place to strike. A heartbeat later Bramblepaw launched himself into the air. But Firestar was ready for him. Slipping rapidly to one side, he butted Bramblepaw in the flank as he came down, and the young cat lost his balance and rolled over, his paws scuffing up dust. "You'll have to be quicker than that," Firestar told him. "Don't give your enemy time to think." Bramblepaw scrambled up, spitting out sand, and immediately sprang again. His outstretched paws caught Firestar on the side of the head, thrusting the older cat sideways so that his paws slid out from under him. Bramblepaw held him down, his nose almost touching Firestar's. "Like that?" he asked. Firestar pushed him off. "Let me up, you great lump!" Shaking sand out of his pelt, he added, "Yes, just like that. You're shaping up well, Bramblepaw."

The apprentice's eyes glowed and Firestar suddenly felt as if he were looking at a young Tigerstar—but this was Tigerstar as he should have been: strong, skillful, brave and, yes, ambitious, but in Bramblepaw all the ambition seemed to be focused on becoming the best warrior that he could be in the service of his Clan. Firestar couldn't resist letting out a purr of satisfaction. Amid all the troubles that beset ThunderClan, it was a relief to escape for a short time for a training session with his apprentice. But Bramblepaw's next words reminded him of his weightier responsibilities. "Firestar, I wanted to ask you…why does every cat think it would be so bad to be part of TigerClan?" "What?" Firestar felt a surge of anger; he could hardly believe his apprentice had asked the question. Bramblepaw flinched, but he went on, steadily meeting his mentor's eyes. "Ashpaw told me what Tigerstar said. It's true that times are hard. Every cat's always complaining about the shortage of prey, and how there are more Twolegs in the forest than ever before. Besides, TigerClan will be