Эрин Хантер - Veil Of Shadows

“You shouldn’t ask what became of Bramblestar,” he responded in a husky voice. “Not unless you want the same thing to happen to you. That cat won’t ruin my plans again . . . and neither will you.”

Shadowsight couldn’t tear his gaze away from that blue, malignant stare. He summoned all his courage, desperate not to let the stranger, whoever he might be, intimidate him. “You can’t just take over his life,” he insisted. “There’s only one Bramblestar!”

The spirit cat nodded slowly. “You’re right,” he mewed. “And it’s me. If Bramblestar wants his body back, he’ll have to fight me for it.”

The stranger let out a loud hiss, raising himself onto his hind paws. Shadowsight braced himself, expecting that the false Bramblestar would pounce on him. Instead he dropped back to the ground, arched his glowing back, and gave his pelt a shake. His breathing slowed, and a heartbeat later he spoke again.

“I knew you weren’t faithful enough as a medicine cat to pass on the codebreaker vision properly. You are a codebreaker, just like the rest!”

With a shock as if he had just plunged into an icy pool, Shadowsight realized where he had heard this cat’s voice before. The memory overwhelmed him. “It was you!” he yowled. “You’re the voice I heard at the Moonpool, telling me about the codebreakers! It was never StarClan that spoke to me—it was you. And you’ve been possessing Bramblestar ever since the night he died on that hill.”

The strange cat nodded, looking almost pleased to have his clever deception recognized.

“You stole Bramblestar’s body,” Shadowsight accused him. “You deceived me and tried to kill me. Is there no end to your evil?”

For response, the stranger merely licked one forepaw and drew it over his ear.

“How did you do all this?” Shadowsight continued. “If you’re a spirit—like me—and you know the Clans . . . then you should be in StarClan. Or the Dark Forest.”

Light glinted from the impostor’s bared teeth. “There are ways to move between those worlds, if one is clever enough,” he replied.

With a fresh flood of horror, Shadowsight understood that without knowing it, he had been this cat’s accomplice. If he hadn’t followed the orders he had believed came from StarClan, Bramblestar might have survived instead of being left to die on the snow-swept hill. He shuddered, overwhelmed by racking guilt. I was right to doubt my visions. They were all a lie.

Summoning every scrap of his courage, Shadowsight took a pace forward to confront the impostor. “What’s happened to the real Bramblestar’s spirit?” he demanded. “Have you destroyed it altogether?”

The glowing cat let out a mrrow of amusement. He’s enjoying this, thought Shadowsight. But as he waited for the impostor’s response, he felt a tug in his gut, stronger and more insistent than before, pulling him back to SkyClan.

My body . . . How long have I been gone? He realized that he had no idea, except that it was too long. He wanted to finish this encounter with the false Bramblestar, but if he didn’t leave right away, he might be lost forever.

“This isn’t over,” he told the intruder, then raced out of the den into the night, focusing all his thoughts on the body he had abandoned.

A heartbeat later, Shadowsight found himself back in the SkyClan medicine cats’ den, where his mother was curled up asleep beside his unconscious form.

Spiresight stood beside them, shaking his head as he saw Shadowsight. “You’re cutting it close,” he mewed. “Where have you been? Who were you with?”

Shadowsight realized that he had no idea how to answer that question.

Chapter 14

Gusts of wind swept across the SkyClan camp, carrying a spatter of rain and ruffling Rootpaw’s pelt. He ignored the chilly drops as he stood with his head held high, staring at the group of SkyClan cats around him. His parents, Violetshine and Tree, were standing nearby; he felt warmed as he met their proud gaze. Dewspring was there, too, and Rootpaw’s sister, Needleclaw, had pattered up, so close that their pelts were brushing.

A little farther away, Frecklewish and several of the SkyClan warriors were joining the circle. Even Tigerstar had appeared, peering out of the medicine cats’ den where he and Dovewing were visiting Shadowsight. He was shifting from paw to paw, showing Rootpaw how anxious he was to get back inside, where his son still lay unconscious. It would be dangerous to move Shadowsight, Rootpaw knew, so he would remain in the SkyClan den until he woke, or until . . .

No, Rootpaw told himself firmly. I won’t think about that.

Tigerstar was present now out of respect, but his mind was clearly elsewhere, his head turning as if he was compelled to look back toward his son. Rootpaw couldn’t blame him. No cat seems to be fully present. . . . How could they be?

Leafstar, who had been sitting on the Tallstump as her Clan assembled, leaped lightly down and padded into the center of the circle. “We are here for one of the most important moments in the life of a Clan,” she announced. “The making of a new warrior.”

“This is weird,” Rootpaw whispered to Needleclaw. “I haven’t even had my warrior assessment.”

“You’ve done better than that,” his sister whispered back. “Now shut up and listen.”

“Rootpaw saved Shadowsight,” Leafstar continued, “the young medicine cat who had been missing for some time. And in doing that, he created a strong bond between SkyClan and ShadowClan. While we’ve had conflicts in the past, Rootpaw has given us a way to heal those divisions. He demonstrated bravery, strength, and clearheadedness in a time of great peril. Not only that, he showed wisdom in seeking help when he needed it. Because of this, I don’t think it’s necessary to give him a formal assessment. His actions speak for themselves. Does any cat object?”

Flooded with embarrassment at his leader’s praise, Rootpaw was staring at his paws. Now his pelt prickled with apprehension as he wondered if any of his Clanmates would protest.

But the only cat who spoke was his mentor, Dewspring. “Just get on with it, Leafstar,” he said, amused.

Rootpaw looked up to see Leafstar beckoning to him with her tail. He padded out into the circle to stand in front of her. His heart was pounding as he waited for the words that would make him a warrior.

“I, Leafstar, leader of SkyClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice,” the Clan leader began. “He has trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend him to you as a warrior in his turn.” Bending her head to gaze at Rootpaw, she continued, “Rootpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend this Clan, even at the cost of your life?”

Rootpaw knew what a heavy commitment he was making—even heavier, in this confused time of accusations of codebreaking. “I do,” he responded firmly.

“Then by the powers of StarClan,” Leafstar announced, “I give you your warrior name. Rootpaw, from this moment you will be known as Rootspring. StarClan honors your strength and resilience, and we welcome you as a full warrior of SkyClan.”

Leafstar stepped forward and bent to rest her muzzle on the top of Rootspring’s head. In response Rootspring licked her shoulder, then stepped back.

“Rootspring! Rootspring!” the cats of SkyClan acclaimed him.

Warm pride swept through Rootspring as he listened to his Clanmates’ congratulations, and his chest swelled even more as he caught a nod of approval from the deputy, Hawkwing, and several of the senior warriors.

As he waited for the clamor to die down, Rootspring tried out his new name in his mind. He was a warrior at last. For so long, he had worried that his ability to see ghosts would separate him from his Clan. He’d been embarrassed by his difference from other warriors. But that difference had let him save Shadowsight, and had made him a warrior.