Beetlewhisker bristled. “My Clanmates are not feeble or mouse-brained! Mistystar is noble. If she sides with the weak, it’s because the weak need our protection!”
Tigerstar’s eyes flashed. “The weak should be left to fend for themselves.”
Beetlewhisker blinked. “But that’s the opposite of everything the warrior code teaches us!”
Brokenstar lowered his head and spoke quietly. “The warrior code teaches you how to be weak.”
“It teaches us how to be strong!” Beetlewhisker snapped. “I don’t know what you’re trying to do, but you’ll never make me despise the warrior code, or my Clan!” He took a step toward Brokenstar. “My Clan thinks it’s being targeted by rogues because of you. They’re frightened by our nighttime visits to their territory. I don’t want to be part of that.” His voice softened. “I appreciate everything you’ve taught me, I really do. You’ve made me a stronger warrior than I could have ever dreamed of being, but I can’t stay here. I must leave and protect my Clan. I won’t be coming here again.” He turned and padded away.
Ivypool’s paws trembled as she watched Beetlewhisker shoulder his way past Hawkfrost and Applefur.
Brokenstar’s ears flattened. “No cat leaves the Dark Forest unless I say so.” He unsheathed his claws. “Your loyalty is to us now.”
Run! Ivypool silently begged Beetlewhisker. Run and don’t look back!
Beetlewhisker paused and glanced over his shoulder. “My loyalty is to RiverClan, just as it has always been,” he meowed. “You promised me that coming here would make me stronger for my Clanmates. It has, and I’m grateful, but you must have known that I’d leave eventually.”
Brokenstar’s eyes glinted menacingly. “You really are dumb, aren’t you?”
Beetlewhisker lashed his tail. “Not as dumb as you hoped! I’m going, and you can’t stop me.”
In a flash, Brokenstar shot from the circle and blocked Beetlewhisker’s path. Ivypool started to move, but Thistleclaw’s tail whipped her backward.
“Stay out of this,” the dark tabby warned.
Applefur’s tail trembled. “Don’t go, Beetlewhisker. You’ve got friends here.” Her mew was straining to be cheerful but Ivypool could see fear darkening her gaze.
“Thanks, Applefur.” Beetlewhisker nodded to the ShadowClan she-cat. “But I have to go. This is the right time for me to leave.”
“Really?” Brokenstar’s growl started low and grew louder, sharpening into a screech. The Dark Forest warrior reared up until his shadow stretched right across the clearing. Then he dived toward Beetlewhisker with his forepaws stretched out and his teeth bared.
Beetlewhisker’s eyes widened in horror. He put up his paws to fend off the vicious tom, but Brokenstar knocked him backward with a fierce swipe. Beetlewhisker staggered to his paws, blood spurting from his nose. “StarClan help me!”
“You think StarClan listens to what happens here?” Brokenstar hissed. He lunged again and clamped his jaws around Beetlewhisker’s neck as though he were prey. Eyes shining, Brokenstar lifted his head, hauling Beetlewhisker by his throat until a crack split the air.
Ivypool felt sick as Beetlewhisker fell limp in Brokenstar’s jaws. His body thumped to the ground as the Dark Forest warrior opened his mouth and let it fall.
“Would anyone else like to leave? Applefur?” Brokenstar challenged the ShadowClan she-cat. “Do you want to return to your Clan?”
“N-no.” Applefur shifted her paws.
Ivypool could see her thoughts racing as she met Brokenstar’s gaze. Ivypool pressed against her reassuringly. Every Clan cat must understand now. This place was evil. They had to get out!
“Breezepelt?” Brokenstar turned to the WindClan warrior, who was peering at Beetlewhisker’s body through narrowed eyes.
“Did you hear me?” Brokenstar growled quietly.
“Why would I leave the strongest Clan?” Breezepelt lifted his head. “My Clan wastes too much time looking after the sick and old. If you led us, we’d never have to beg another Clan for help again.”
Ivypool’s chest tightened. How could he sympathize with these murderers?
Brokenstar stepped over Beetlewhisker’s body. Ivypool held her ground as he strode back into the circle, though every muscle begged her to run. “You will all stay here,” Brokenstar told them. “You will all be loyal to me. Or I will kill every one of you.” He thrust his muzzle into Applefur’s face. “Starting with you.”
Applefur swallowed.
“Say nothing to any cat,” Brokenstar ordered. “You will fight alongside us. And if I hear of any one of you spreading rumors and lies among your Dark Forest Clanmates, you will suffer beyond anything you have ever known.” He turned his back and pushed his way between Tigerstar and Hawkfrost. “Go,” he growled, disappearing into the shadow. “Train my warriors. The final battle is near.”
Ivypool felt Tigerstar’s questioning gaze pierce her through the gloom. Forcing herself to breathe steadily, she met his eyes. “My recruits will be ready when the battle comes,” she vowed. “We’re ready to kill every lake cat we meet.” She ignored Applefur’s wince of alarm beside her. I promise I’m not evil! I’m doing this to save all of us. Tigerstar watched her for a moment then turned away.
Hawkfrost nodded at Ivypool, his eyes glowing, before following his father. As he passed Beetlewhisker’s blood-streaked body, he kicked it viciously. “I never trusted him anyway.”
Chapter 15
Jayfeather wrinkled his nose as he swallowed a mouthful of herbs. The tansy tasted bitter and would sit like nettles in his belly till sunhigh, but he was determined not to catch any of the coughs and sneezes spreading through the Clan like fleas. He sniffed Briarlight. The tang of green leaves was fresh on her breath. “Have you eaten all of them?”
“Yes.” Her fur brushed the floor as she crossed the medicine den and Jayfeather heard her lapping from the pool. “Why do herbs have to taste so bitter?” she complained.
“It stops the rabbits and mice from eating them,” Jayfeather replied.
The days of rain since the Gathering—nearly a quarter moon ago—had brought with them the first real chill of leaf-fall. The Clan had been sheltering in their dens when they weren’t patrolling, and every sniffle had been passed from nest to nest. Nothing serious, but the sound of coughing and wheezing made Jayfeather edgy.
He had turned Millie away yesterday when she’d come to visit Briarlight. “No cat is allowed in the medicine den except me.”
Millie had tensed, her tail twitching with annoyance, but she hadn’t argued. Jayfeather sensed worry pricking beneath her pelt. Millie wanted to keep Briarlight safe from infection as much as he did. Although Briarlight’s forepaws were strong enough to haul herself onto the fallen beech now, Jayfeather couldn’t predict how well she would fight sickness. The daily ritual of swallowing herbs was the best way he could think of for keeping them both safe from infection.
He pawed through the leaves he’d lined up outside the store. The stock of tansy was lower than he’d hoped. He reached instead for mallow. It should work just as well on Purdy’s cough. He grabbed a wad of leaves between his jaws and headed for the entrance. “Stay in the den,” he ordered Briarlight through clenched teeth. “And no visitors.”
“What if Millie comes?” Briarlight asked hopefully.
“I’ve told her to stay away.” As Jayfeather nosed his way through the trailing brambles, drizzle washed his face. He flattened his ears against it and headed toward the honeysuckle bush. Murmuring sounded from the dens, muffled by leaves that had been pawed into the woven walls to keep out the wind. Jayfeather ducked into the elders’ den. The warm scents of Mousefur and Purdy filled his nose. Purdy was damp and the musky odor of fresh mouse hung in the air.