Эрин Хантер - Veil Of Shadows

“Enough!” Bramblestar snapped at Alderheart. “These are the codebreakers who StarClan chose to show Shadowsight in his vision. I’m aware— very aware—that others in the Clan have broken the code, but first we must expel the cats StarClan has pointed out. As for you, Alderheart, make sure you don’t show disloyalty to your leader or try to get in the way of StarClan’s wishes.”

Or you’ll be next. Bristlefrost supplied the words Bramblestar had not spoken. She was sure that every other cat in the Clan could fill them in, too.

“Leave now,” Bramblestar continued, gazing down at Lionblaze and Jayfeather. “And don’t look back. The rest of you, turn away from them.”

Mews of dismay came from some of the Clan, but Bristlefrost forced down her protest. She longed to disobey the order, but it was vital for her to convince the false Bramblestar that she was loyal, so that she could go on passing information to the cats who were working against him. She sprang to her paws at once and made sure she was the first to comply.

She could hear the paws of the exiled cats splashing through the mud, then pausing as Jayfeather spoke. “You may think all of ThunderClan is taken in by your performance,” he spat. “But it’s not true, and you’ll find that out very soon.”

Bristlefrost froze. So Jayfeather does know. Rootpaw and Tree must have succeeded after all. But how would the false Bramblestar react to being very nearly exposed?

She glanced at the leader, but couldn’t read anything in his gaze beyond his usual annoyance with the blind medicine cat. Bramblestar let out a growl from deep within his chest. “Hurry up and leave,” he ordered.

He didn’t pick up on it, she thought with relief.

“Come on, Jayfeather,” Lionblaze meowed. “There’s nothing we can do here.”

Bristlefrost longed to speak to the exiled cats before they left the stone hollow, but she didn’t dare, only standing with her back to them and listening as their paw steps faded away. She could feel the tension in the camp gripping every cat like a set of massive claws.

When Lionblaze and Jayfeather were gone, Bramblestar bounded down the tumbled rocks to the floor of the camp. To Bristlefrost’s consternation, he stalked straight toward her.

“Make sure Twigbranch begins her atonement at once,” he instructed, jerking his head to where the young she-cat still stood beside Finleap. She looked small and miserable, her gray fur plastered to her body by the pouring rain.

Why me? Bristlefrost wondered, though she had enough sense not to protest. “Of course, Bramblestar,” she murmured, dipping her head.

She felt as though every cat in the Clan was staring at her as she padded over to Twigbranch. “It’s time for you to go now,” she meowed awkwardly. “Twenty pieces of prey is a lot for any cat . . . you’d better get started, I think.”

“You don’t have to be so unkind about it!” Finleap began hotly.

Bristlefrost wanted to murmur reassurance, but she knew that she couldn’t let any cat see how she really felt. She hardened her expression, even though her heart was throbbing with pain.

Twigbranch stretched out her tail and rested the tip on Finleap’s shoulder. “Don’t,” she murmured. “If this is truly what will bring StarClan back, then . . .” She broke off, her voice shaking, and leaned closer to Finleap to give his ear a farewell lick. Turning to leave, she added, “I’ll see you in half a moon.”

Her head held high, Twigbranch strode toward the thorn tunnel. A few cats called good-bye to her, but she didn’t look back. Bristlefrost watched her go until she disappeared into the forest.

Turning, Bristlefrost found herself face to face with Finleap.

“I hope you’re satisfied!” the brown tom hissed, fixing Bristlefrost with a hostile glare.

Startled by the force of his anger, Bristlefrost could find no response. She could only stand in stony silence as he whipped around and stalked away from her.

Though by now the rain was easing, most of the Clan headed for their dens as the meeting broke up. Glancing around, Bristlefrost realized that no cat was paying any attention to her. Swiftly she bounded across the camp and dived into the thorn tunnel.

If any cat asks, I’ll tell them I’m going hunting.

In spite of the rain, Lionblaze’s and Jayfeather’s scents still lingered strongly in the grass. Bristlefrost followed them easily; they were heading for the edge of the territory, in the direction of SkyClan. The scents grew stronger still as she brushed through the wet undergrowth, and soon Bristlefrost realized that she had caught up to them; they were only just ahead of her, on the other side of a bramble thicket.

Why are they still here? she wondered. There’ll be trouble if Bramblestar sends out a patrol.

Then she heard their voices rising above the brambles, and she understood. Lionblaze and Jayfeather were in the middle of an argument.

“. . . about as useless as a day-old kit!” Jayfeather was snarling as Bristlefrost came into earshot. “You gave in to Bramblestar far too easily!”

Lionblaze’s voice in reply was far calmer, but Bristlefrost could discern the anger beneath his level tone. “Maybe you didn’t realize we were heavily outnumbered. What were we supposed to do, attack our father?”

“Bramblestar isn’t our father,” Jayfeather scoffed. “And what’s more, that’s not Bramblestar !”

Bristlefrost took in a deep breath. I was right—he knows . And if our medicine cat knows the truth, then maybe there is hope.

She swiftly skirted the bramble thicket and joined her two Clanmates. “Greetings,” she meowed.

Startled, both cats turned toward her. Bristlefrost forced herself not to flinch at the deep distrust in Lionblaze’s eyes.

“What are you doing here?” he growled. “Has our glorious leader changed his mind, or has he sent my own kin to drive us out of the territory?”

“I know about Bramblestar,” Bristlefrost explained quickly. “I know our leader isn’t really himself. I’m here to help you, if I can.”

Lionblaze let out a sigh, half irritated and half confused. “Jayfeather has just been trying to explain that, but if you ask me, it’s all a load of mouse droppings. How can that not be Bramblestar?”

“I know Bramblestar when I hear him,” Jayfeather snapped. “Besides, last night that weird little SkyClan apprentice showed me and Alderheart and all the medicine cats that Bramblestar is currently a spirit, haunting the forest, and not the cat who’s leading ThunderClan at all.”

“I’m glad you and Alderheart know the truth,” Bristlefrost mewed, massively relieved. “Tigerstar knows the truth, too. Squirrelflight is living with ShadowClan. If you follow me, I’ll take you to her.”

“Really?” Lionblaze’s amber eyes reflected Bristlefrost’s own relief. “Then lead on!”

The three cats headed through the forest and crossed the border into SkyClan territory, listening warily for SkyClan patrols as they padded through the trees. Rustling in a clump of ferns alerted Bristlefrost; she spun around to face the sound and spotted Twigbranch’s face peering out nervously between two arching fronds.

“Come this way!” she called softly, beckoning with her tail.

“What are you doing here?” Twigbranch asked Bristlefrost as she emerged into the open and bounded over to the others. “Did Bramblestar exile you, too?”

“No,” Bristlefrost replied. “And I have something to tell you, but we’d better keep going. SkyClan might not welcome us here.”

Lionblaze took the lead, and Bristlefrost padded beside Twigbranch as she told her everything she knew about the false Bramblestar. Twigbranch’s eyes widened as she listened.