Эрин Хантер - The Silent Thaw

“Is it true?” Bramblestar glared at Lionblaze.

“True?” The golden warrior looked puzzled.

Bramblestar’s gaze flicked toward Spotfur. “Did you cross the border into WindClan territory?”

Spotfur and Lionblaze glanced past Bramblestar. Bristlefrost felt their gazes as sharp as thorns as they saw her. It was obvious that she’d told Bramblestar what they’d done. She shrank beneath her pelt, wishing Bramblestar hadn’t accused them so directly.

Around the clearing, the other ThunderClan warriors were gathering, their pelts prickling nervously. Stemleaf stared at Spotfur in dismay. Cinderheart and Fernsong moved closer, exchanging nervous glances.

Bramblestar curled his claws into the earth. “Well, did you?”

Lionblaze lifted his chin. “We did, but it was an accident and no cat saw us. WindClan won’t ever know.”

“Oh, really ?” Bramblestar curled his lip. “You’re sure of that, are you? Did you lick your scent off the grass?”

Lionblaze stared at him. “It was raining!”

Spotfur nodded. “If it hadn’t been, we’d have smelled the border. We probably would never have crossed it.”

“So what are you saying?” Bramblestar’s eyes flashed with rage. “That WindClan didn’t mark their border strongly enough?”

Lionblaze gave a frustrated huff. “That’s not what we—”

“If Harestar comes here,” Bramblestar hissed, cutting him off, “and accuses us of invading his land, is that what you’re going to tell him? That you wouldn’t have done it if he kept his borders better marked?”

Lionblaze’s pelt ruffled. “Harestar isn’t going to accuse us of anything,” he snapped. “Warriors have crossed borders by accident before. It happens. We all know that.” He glanced around at his Clanmates. They returned his gaze blankly, as though they didn’t want to take sides.

Bramblestar narrowed his eyes. “You know StarClan has been silent these past moons. We’re supposed to be following the warrior code so that they’ll come back. How do you think they’ll feel about warriors crossing borders without permission? Do you think they’ll come back if we can’t even obey such a simple rule?”

“StarClan isn’t going to abandon us just because I crossed the WindClan border.” Lionblaze growled.

“Did they tell you that?” Bramblestar mewed sarcastically. “Are you our new link with StarClan?”

“Of course not.” Exasperation glittered in Lionblaze’s eyes.

Bramblestar flattened his ears. “Then don’t tell me what StarClan is thinking. You broke the code even though I’ve told you it must be followed.”

Spotfur bristled. “Every cat here has broken the code at some point.” She glared angrily at Bramblestar. “Some of us worse than others.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Bramblestar flexed his claws.

“I mean that Squirrelflight once lied to every cat, pretending her sister’s kits—her sister the medicine cat’s kits—were hers. She lied on purpose and she lied for moons. If you can overlook that, then you can overlook us crossing a border without realizing.”

Bramblestar stared at the spotted tabby she-cat. His hackles lifted menacingly. Bristlefrost swallowed back fear. Was the ThunderClan leader going to attack one of his own warriors? As she held her breath, Bramblestar shifted his paws. His pelt smoothed as he seemed to regain control of his temper.

“Don’t concern yourself with Squirrelflight,” he meowed coldly. “As deputy, she’s served her Clan selflessly. I’m Clan leader and I decide who deserves punishment. Unless you think being granted nine lives by StarClan doesn’t mean anything?”

Spotfur dropped her gaze. She looked defeated. Lionblaze moved closer to her, as if to protect her from Bramblestar’s rage. Bristlefrost glanced at her Clanmates. Graystripe had padded from the elders’ den and was staring at Bramblestar as though he barely knew him. Thornclaw watched with interest, his gaze dark. As Bramblestar stared at Spotfur, the camp was so silent that Bristlefrost wondered if the birds had stopped singing. Then she realized that her heart was pounding so loudly in her ears that she could barely hear anything.

“For the next quarter moon,” Bramblestar began, “no cat is to talk to Spotfur.”

Spotfur lifted her head sharply and stared at the ThunderClan leader. Bristlefrost felt cold. Was this a normal way to punish Clanmates? She glanced at Graystripe. He’d know, surely. But the old warrior looked as surprised as she felt.

Bramblestar’s gaze moved to Lionblaze. “ You are banished from the camp for a quarter moon.”

Cinderheart stepped forward. “You can’t do that. . . .” She stared at Bramblestar. “He’s a ThunderClan warrior. We protect each other!”

Bramblestar looked coolly at Lionblaze’s mate. “He has broken the warrior code, and questioned me for trying to uphold it. I will not let any cat undermine me or my Clan like that.” He returned his gaze to Lionblaze, who was staring at him in amazement. “You’re a seasoned warrior. You should know better.”

Lionblaze’s gaze cleared. He blinked in disbelief but didn’t speak.

Bramblestar curled his lip. “Surely you can stand living like a rogue for a quarter moon?”

Lionblaze didn’t answer. Bristlefrost felt sick. She’d caused this. Would Lionblaze ever forgive her?

Bramblestar went on. “If your scent is caught on Clan land— any Clan land—you will be treated like an invader and you won’t ever be allowed to return.”

Lionblaze squared his shoulders. He looked around at his Clanmates, his gaze furious. Then he walked to the entrance and padded out of camp.

Bristlefrost’s paws trembled. I was only trying to help. Her belly was hard with dread. She backed toward the shelter of the Highledge. Oh, StarClan! What have I done?

Bristlefrost blinked open her eyes. The ground beneath her was damp. The sky had cleared, and stars glittered above her head. Night had swallowed the camp while she’d slept. She’d tried to escape her misery in sleep after Lionblaze had left. As she remembered with a jolt what had happened earlier that day, guilt seared her pelt once more. She lifted her head and gazed around the camp. Her Clanmates were sharing their evening meal, no more than shadows around the clearing, their mews hushed. Bramblestar was nowhere to be seen, and she guessed he was in his den with Squirrelflight.

She pricked her ears as two shapes shifted behind the nursery. Their pelts gleamed in the moonlight as they sat a mouse-length away from each other. She recognized them at once. Stemleaf and Spotfur. Bristlefrost stiffened and sat up slowly, keeping her head low. She didn’t want to be noticed. Stemleaf and Spotfur were clearly hiding from their Clanmates. Their mouths were moving. Were they talking to each other? Had Stemleaf forgotten that no cat was supposed to speak to Spotfur for a quarter moon? Her heart quickened. What if Bramblestar found out? Would he banish Spotfur as he’d banished Lionblaze? She pricked her ears, her heart sinking when she heard their hushed whispers. After getting to her paws, she moved softly through the shadows, skirting the edge of the camp.

“You can’t do this!” she breathed.

Stemleaf swing his muzzle toward her. “Haven’t you caused enough trouble?”

“Are you going to report us to Bramblestar?” Spotfur’s eyes flashed angrily.

“No!” Did they really think she wanted to see them in trouble? “But what if some other cat sees you or hears you?” Bristlefrost’s belly churned with anxiety. Did they think rules didn’t apply to them? No wonder StarClan had turned their tails on the living cats. “You’re not supposed to be talking.”