No, how could I? Crowfeather reflected bitterly. I thought I was the only one who worried about them. That’s why I went to ThunderClan in the first place.
“We have to get rid of the stoats before they cause ThunderClan to meddle even more,” his Clan leader went on. “That might be what Kestrelflight’s vision meant. After all, the dark water emerged from our end of the tunnels, which meant it could have come from ThunderClan, right? What if the vision was warning us to be suspicious of our closest neighbors? Maybe their new leader, Bramblestar, is the biggest threat to us. Maybe the engulfing water means that ThunderClan will take over our territory and drive us out.”
And maybe our Clan leader can’t see beyond the end of his own whiskers, Crowfeather thought sourly. I know ThunderClan is annoying, but would they really attack us now, so soon after the Great Battle? Sure, they might — and hedgehogs might fly!
Once again, Crowfeather felt himself being tugged apart. As a loyal warrior, should he follow his leader unquestioningly, or speak his mind if he thought the leader was wrong? Mindful that he wasn’t Onestar’s favorite cat right now, he struggled to listen in silence as Onestar continued.
“This is our plan: We’re going to block up the tunnel entrances with twigs, rocks, and brush — anything we can find.”
Crowfeather cringed. That wouldn’t even make sense if the stoats were our only problem.
“It’ll be a tough project, and we’ll need every warrior to help,” Onestar added with a hard glare at Crowfeather and Breezepelt, “but it’s the best way to deal with the stoats—and it will stop ThunderClan using the tunnels to spy on us.”
“That’s the most mouse-brained plan I’ve ever heard!” some cat exclaimed, and Crowfeather realized with horror that it had been him. His disgust at what he had just heard must have driven out all thoughts of being tactful, or of not getting deeper into trouble with Onestar. Well, it’s too late to take it back now. He took in a breath and went on, “Haven’t you thought it through at all?”
“Thought it through?” Onestar repeated, his voice dangerously quiet. “Maybe I haven’t. Give us the benefit of your wisdom, Crowfeather.”
Crowfeather flicked his ear, uncomfortable. It seemed clear that calling Onestar’s plan mouse-brained hadn’t been exactly… sensible. Breezepelt was staring at him, wide-eyed with shock, and one or two other cats were drifting toward them, drawn by the sudden tension and the way Onestar’s fur was lifting all along his spine.
But I can’t stop now. I have to tell him what I think!
“Blocking the entrances probably won’t stop the stoats,” Crowfeather continued. “They’ll just push the blockages away from the inside. Or, if they don’t, they’ll be driven out to hunt on ThunderClan’s side — and how do you think Bramblestar will react to that?”
Onestar swiped his tongue over his jaws as if he had just swallowed a succulent bit of prey. “That’s the best part of the plan,” he purred. “I’m just in the mood to send Bramblestar a little present. Let’s see how he likes stoats marauding all over his territory.”
“Then you’re even more mouse-brained than I thought,” Crowfeather meowed roughly. “And if no other cat is prepared to tell you that, I will. Trouble with ThunderClan is the last thing we want right now. I don’t think StarClan wants any of the Clans to treat each other as enemies.”
“So you’re a medicine cat all of a sudden?” Onestar asked, his voice still deceptively calm, contrasted with his bristling fur and glaring eyes. “How lucky I am to have you to advise me!”
“I don’t need to be a medicine cat to know that you’re leading our Clan into danger,” Crowfeather snapped. “Bramblestar came to offer ThunderClan’s help — and StarClan knows we need it — but instead you turned him down and insulted him, and now you’re looking for ways to antagonize them. We should be making ThunderClan our ally!”
Onestar drew his lips back into a snarl. Faced with his fury, it was all Crowfeather could do not to take a step backward.
“Very well, Crowfeather,” he growled. “I’ve warned you, over and over, and I’m not warning you again. If you like ThunderClan so much, you can go and look for Nightcloud on their territory. In fact, go wherever you want — just not here. I don’t want to see you in WindClan!”
“What?” For a moment Crowfeather felt unsteady on his paws, as if some creature had hurled a rock at him. “Am I…” He couldn’t bring himself to complete the question out loud. Am I being banished?
“Do I have to repeat myself?” Onestar hissed. “I think you need some time alone to think about what makes a loyal warrior, Crowfeather. And until you do, I don’t want you in our camp and on our territory. For the next quarter moon… you are not a WindClan cat! Take some time and think about your actions. When you think you’ve figured out where you went wrong, you may request my permission to return.”
So I am being banished? Crowfeather swallowed hard, barely able to believe this was happening. But not really banished. Only for a few days… He looked around and found himself in the middle of a crowd of bewildered, staring cats. But to come back, I’ll have to grovel, he realized. Onestar wants to make me swallow my pride.
He noticed that Breezepelt, at the front of the group, looked shocked out of his fur, his eyes wide and his pelt bristling.
Some cat speak up for me, Crowfeather begged silently. You know I’m loyal… I’m WindClan through and through! I’ve given up so much for this Clan! Tell him! Tell him he’s being unreasonable!
But no cat spoke. It seemed that no cat was willing to risk Onestar’s ire… not for Crowfeather.
Not even Breezepelt, Crowfeather thought ruefully. And just as I thought we might be getting closer. He’s probably glad to get a break from me.
As his shock faded, anger settled over Crowfeather. Well, nice try, Onestar! If this is a battle of wills, I’m sure mine is stronger. I’m not going to apologize when I’m right…
He braced himself, meeting Onestar’s furious gaze with his head held high.
“Permission to return!” he snapped. “Ha! If WindClan doesn’t need me, then I don’t need WindClan.”
He turned, thrust his way through the crowd, and stalked up the slope toward the edge of the camp.
No cat called him back.
Chapter 19
Walking without thinking, Crowfeather headed across the moor toward the border stream that divided WindClan territory from ThunderClan. The early morning sun had vanished; clouds were massing above the hills, gray and heavy, and so low they almost seemed to skim the top of the pile of memorial stones.
As he drew closer to the stream, Crowfeather tried to recover from his shock and think this through. Where should I go? He stopped. Where does a cat with no Clan go? If I ever wanted to try my luck with another Clan, I suppose this would be my chance…
For a moment he imagined himself crossing into ThunderClan territory, heading for their camp, and offering himself to Bramblestar as a ThunderClan warrior.
Leafpool will be there…