Эрин Хантер - Veil Of Shadows

Dread tingled through Bristlefrost from ears to tail-tip. Everything seemed to slow down around her as Bramblestar took a pace toward the ShadowClan leader.

“It will be your defeat that brings an end to this time of treachery and shame,” the impostor growled. “Once you’re deposed, everything will be put right.”

The two leaders advanced on each other, paw step by paw step. Now what am I supposed to do? Bristlefrost wondered helplessly. I promised Squirrelflight that I would keep Bramblestar’s body safe. Am I supposed to fight Tigerstar to protect the impostor?

But before the two Clan leaders could reach each other, more cats leaped between them in a blur of fur and claws.

“The exiles!” Bristlefrost gasped.

Lionblaze and Squirrelflight joined the battle, Twigbranch and Finleap just behind them. Bristlefrost caught a glimpse of Crowfeather with more cats swarming after him, cutting off her view of the Clan leaders. She spotted Berrynose, too, fighting his way through the crowd to the spot where Bramblestar had disappeared.

Before he could reach his Clan leader, he came face to face with Tawnypelt. The ShadowClan she-cat hesitated for a heartbeat, perhaps unsure which side Berrynose was on. When he swiped at her with outstretched claws, she ducked under the blow and raked her claws across his throat and belly. Berrynose let out a shriek and collapsed, writhing.

Horrified, Bristlefrost leaped down the slope to help him, while Tawnypelt whipped around and hurled herself into a fight between Molewhisker and Hawkwing. But the press of fighting warriors cut Bristlefrost off; she found herself swaying to and fro in the crowd, unable to make any progress.

Then a space cleared; Bristlefrost drew breath, only to be forced backward as Lionblaze and Harestar rolled over and over, their legs wrapped around each other, their claws sunk deep into each other’s fur. They broke apart right in front of Bristlefrost, scrambling to their paws and spitting furiously.

For a moment the two cats seemed evenly matched. But Lionblaze was strong and rested, while Harestar was already tired from fighting. He lashed out at Lionblaze, but the blow missed the golden tabby warrior by a mouse-length. Lionblaze slid deftly aside and sprang up onto Harestar’s back. Instantly Harestar reared up on his hind legs, but he couldn’t dislodge Lionblaze. The ThunderClan warrior curled a paw around Harestar’s neck, claws aiming for his throat.

“No! Stop!” Bristlefrost yowled.

Even if Lionblaze had heard her, it was too late. His claws sliced through Harestar’s fur to the flesh of his throat, and blood gushed out. The WindClan leader let out a choking gasp and slumped to the ground. His body twitched a few times, his eyes glazed over, and he lay still.

Lionblaze had leaped away as Harestar fell. Now he stood staring at the body, blood soaking the paw that had struck the killing blow. Bristlefrost thought he looked shocked that he had killed a Clan leader.

Silence was spreading around Harestar’s body, like ripples from a stone thrown into a pool, as cat after cat realized what had happened. The fighting gradually died down as warriors who moments before had been tearing and clawing at each other drew closer to the dead WindClan leader and stood shoulder to shoulder in mingled horror and grief.

“Stop!” Bristlefrost heard Crowfeather call. “Harestar is dead.” The cats around sheathed their claws and turned to fix their gazes on the WindClan leader’s body.

“A Clan leader has lost a life,” Hawkwing murmured. “Is he gone forever?”

Bristlefrost wished some cat could answer that question. Now that they knew that the real Bramblestar hadn’t returned to his body, they all realized that no leader had lost a life and returned since StarClan had disappeared. If StarClan had truly abandoned them, Harestar wouldn’t return.

What will happen to WindClan now?

There was a disturbance in the crowd as Nightcloud shouldered her way through and stood beside her dead leader, throwing her head back and letting out a yowl of grief. More WindClan warriors followed her, thrusting Lionblaze aside and forming a circle around Harestar. Lionblaze looked sick with guilt and horror.

“Please,” Bristlefrost heard Hootwhisker whispering. “Please come back!”

A heavy silence followed. Bristlefrost watched, full of mounting dread, until she saw a ripple pass through Harestar’s body and he raised his head, letting out a panicked gasp. All the cats, from all five Clans, let out murmurs of shock and relief.

Harestar scrambled to his paws, his wide eyes flashing fearfully. “What . . . what happened?” His gaze rested on Crowfeather, and he pressed himself against his deputy, as though there had never been harsh words and the threat of exile between them.

“Is it really you?” Harestar asked.

“Yes, it’s me. You’re on Clan territory.” Crowfeather assured him. “You’re not in StarClan anymore.”

Bristlefrost watched as Harestar gazed around, seeing the eager expressions on the faces of the assembled warriors, clearly waiting for him to confirm that he had been in StarClan. Shakily he raised a paw to his throat to feel that Lionblaze’s wound had already closed up. He shook his head, his whole body shivering.

“I was in StarClan’s hunting grounds,” he rasped. “But I heard only distorted voices, and saw only the haziest figures, no more than a blur. Our warrior ancestors were still there, but it was like they were fading into nothing. . . .”

Bristlefrost turned to look for Bramblestar; every other warrior was doing the same. Soon she spotted him, standing to one side in the shadow of a thornbush. His gaze was fixed on Harestar, his amber eyes full of anger and disbelief, the revived leader apparently the last thing he’d wanted to see.

“That’s not what you said when you returned from StarClan,” Crowfeather challenged Bramblestar. “You said you spoke to them.”

Bramblestar gave his pelt a shake and thrust out his chest, recovering his usual arrogance. “No cat should question me like this,” he hissed, stalking forward until he stood nose to nose with Crowfeather. “You weren’t there! I did speak with StarClan. The only reason they’re fading now is because of all of you. You insist on not listening to me, so of course the situation is getting worse. What did you expect? StarClan probably rejected Harestar because he’s just another codebreaker.”

Back to his full strength now, Harestar padded up to Bramblestar, gesturing with his tail for Crowfeather to move back a pace. “I am no codebreaker, and I am no liar,” he growled.

“The only liar here is you. You’re not Bramblestar. You’ve taken his body, but the real Bramblestar never would have done the things you have.”

Bramblestar turned at the sound of Tigerstar’s voice. Bristlefrost noticed that cats were gathering around the ShadowClan leader: not just his own Clan, but SkyClan and some RiverClan cats as well. Even some WindClan warriors were moving toward him, convinced by Harestar’s revival.

The impostor noticed that, too. “I don’t believe what I’m seeing!” he exclaimed, his voice outraged. “Are Clan cats really siding with a leader who harbors codebreakers? Don’t you want to see StarClan again?”

No cat answered. Bristlefrost shivered to see the accusing glares they fixed on him.

“Well, you’re ruining your chances!” the false Bramblestar blustered. “When I do succeed in bringing StarClan back, you’ll all be punished—even worse than you are now!”

Tigerstar took a pace forward. “Whether they’re fading or not, I’m going to send you to StarClan right now!” he snarled.

Without more warning he hurled himself at the impostor, and the two leaders fell to the ground in one rolling, spitting ball of fur. Bristlefrost stood, appalled, on the edge of the fight. Tigerstar will kill him! I’m supposed to protect him, but I’d just be ripped to shreds!