Bramblestar lashed his tail. “No cat takes territory from SkyClan. We all fought too hard for this settlement. If we destroy it now, we’ll be back where we started.”
“But is it fair to give SkyClan prey-rich land in exchange for marsh we can’t use?” Tigerstar blinked at him.
“You should have thought of that before you suggested it!” Bramblestar snapped.
Tigerstar glared at the ThunderClan leader. “How could I know that WindClan would have to watch your warriors waste their prey?”
Bramblestar bared his teeth. “My warriors don’t waste prey!”
Squirrelflight’s tail bushed. She couldn’t let them fight. “Perhaps there’s another solution,” she mewed quickly. “One that means no land will be wasted, but SkyClan will still have equal territory.” Her thoughts whirled as she reached for a plan offered many moons ago before the Clans had come to their final arrangement. At the time, the leaders had been wary of a plan that would place SkyClan far from the others. But now it seemed like the most sensible solution. “What about the land beyond the abandoned Twolegplace?”
“Where’s that, again?” Leafstar narrowed her eyes.
“At the far edge of ThunderClan and ShadowClan’s forest.” Squirrelflight looked at her eagerly, hoping the SkyClan leader would like the idea.
But Leafstar looked unconvinced. “If that’s such good hunting territory, why hasn’t ThunderClan or ShadowClan claimed it already?”
Squirrelflight blinked. “When there were just four Clans, no cat needed it.”
“We’d have no access to the lake,” Hawkwing meowed.
Tigerstar pricked his ears. “Why do you need the lake? You don’t catch fish.”
“You’d be nearer the Moonpool,” Harestar meowed encouragingly.
“What about herbs?” Leafstar countered. “There are some plants that only grow on the lakeshore.”
“They could keep a narrow strip of forest,” Squirrelflight meowed quickly. SkyClan shouldn’t be cut off completely. “Enough to let them get to the lakeshore. And there might be herbs on the new land. We don’t know what lies up there, except forest. It might be richer territory than this, for all we know. It must be worth exploring.”
Leafstar narrowed her eyes. “We’ve only just built our new camp and marked our borders. Why should we have to build another new home?”
“You’re right,” Tigerstar agreed. “That wouldn’t be fair. But if it’s better for all the Clans, then it’s the right thing to do. And this time we will help you.” The ShadowClan leader looked at the others. “I’m sure all the Clans will help.”
Hawkwing stared at the ShadowClan leader, clearly unconvinced. “When was the last time any cat visited this land?”
Squirrelflight tensed as the cats glanced doubtfully at each other.
“I’m not sure any cat’s ever fully explored it,” Mistystar admitted.
“Then why should we?” Hawkwing snapped. “It might be infested with foxes or Twolegs.”
Squirrelflight leaned forward. “But it’s worth looking at, isn’t it? What if it’s perfect Clan territory? We’d all have enough land to hunt on, and nothing would be wasted.”
Leafstar flicked her tail irritably. “You want to exile us again.”
“It wouldn’t be exile,” Squirrelflight objected. “You’d be living right beside us.”
Leafstar looked unimpressed. “Beside you, not among you. You’d always see us as outsiders.”
Tigerstar narrowed his eyes. “That would be up to you.”
Squirrelflight ignored the ShadowClan leader. “We’d see you at Gatherings. And you’d still share borders with ThunderClan and ShadowClan.”
Harestar nodded. “SkyClan wouldn’t be left out. We are one beneath StarClan now. We share ancestors.”
Leafstar looked thoughtful for a moment, as though she were seriously considering the idea. Then she seemed to blink the thought away and squared her shoulders defensively. “Moving into unknown territory would be dangerous and difficult. Who knows what’s hiding in that forest?”
“SkyClan is no stranger to dangerous situations,” Mistystar meowed. “I’m sure whatever challenges await you, you will face them with courage and skill.”
Leafstar snorted. “Try telling that to my elders and queens.”
Squirrelflight felt Bramblestar shift beside her. He was watching the others, his eyes dark with rage. She blinked at him hopefully. “We’d help SkyClan with the move, wouldn’t we?”
Before he could answer, Harestar spoke. “New land for a new Clan! This could be the best solution.” He sounded delighted.
Hawkwing flexed his claws. “Nothing’s changed here. You carve up territory as it suits you, without listening to what we want.”
“We didn’t carve up territory.” Tigerstar’s pelt ruffled. “We came up with the best plan we could.” He met Hawkwing’s gaze. “You’re one of us now. Surely you care about our problems as well as your own? We only want to please StarClan. Don’t you?”
Leafstar’s ears twitched. “Would moving us yet again please them?”
“If it brings lasting peace, perhaps it would,” Squirrelflight meowed quickly. “Let’s consult with our medicine cats. To make sure that StarClan approves.”
“And what if StarClan doesn’t send a message?” Leafstar’s gaze darkened. “They’ve been silent since the storm.”
Mistystar whisked her tail. “That’s probably because there’s nothing to worry about. They’d warn us if we were doing something wrong.”
Bramblestar growled softly. “So we can move a Clan off their land as long as our ancestors don’t complain.” His pelt twitched. “Is that how the warrior code works now?”
“Our complaints matter too,” Tigerstar told him. “The warrior code tells us to respect the living as well as the dead.”
Harestar tipped his head thoughtfully. “Let’s at least think about Squirrelflight’s suggestion,” he meowed.
Mistystar nodded. “We don’t need to make a decision until everyone is happy. Perhaps if SkyClan has a chance to get used to the idea.” She glanced hopefully at Leafstar.
The SkyClan leader frowned. “Come on, Hawkwing. We’re wasting our breath here.”
“No, you’re not—” Squirrelflight began. But Leafstar and Hawkwing were already heading away.
“I hope they’ll come around.” Tigerstar looked uncertainly at the other leaders.
“It would solve all our problems,” Harestar agreed.
“Leafstar is a sensible cat.” Mistystar glanced after the SkyClan leader.
Bramblestar grunted. “Let’s go.” He beckoned to Squirrelflight with a sharp flick of his tail.
Mistystar dipped her head as he marched away. “It was a good plan, Squirrelflight.”
“Thanks.” Squirrelflight turned to follow him.
At the edge of the clearing, she darted in front of Bramblestar. As he stopped, she blinked at him eagerly. She had kept the leaders from fighting. But her heart lurched as she met his gaze. He was glaring at her.
“What’s wrong?” she mewed.
“I don’t think SkyClan should move,” he growled.
“I know,” Squirrelflight mewed sympathetically. “But something needs to change. Tigerstar’s solution might have been the best one at the time. But the Clans are growing. We all need territory. This plan means that no one has to give up land.”
“No one except SkyClan,” he muttered darkly.
Squirrelflight blinked at him. “They’ll have new land. They’re used to moving, and this might be the last move they ever have to make. This land beyond the abandoned Twolegplace might be perfect for them.”
“Might be.” Bramblestar’s tail twitched angrily. “Or it might be overrun with snakes, or dogs, or foxes. Warriors might die thanks to your idea.”
Squirrelflight’s heart pounded. Why was Bramblestar so angry? “SkyClan is strong and resourceful. They have survived so much. They can survive this.”