Violetshine blinked at her, happy as their old connection sparked anew. She began to cross the clearing, wondering what news her sister had to share. Were she and Finleap mates now? As she neared, the Clans grew still. A hush fell over the clearing. She glanced around. Tigerstar was heading toward the Great Oak. Bramblestar followed. Harestar, Mistystar, and Leafstar padded after him. As Tigerstar leaped onto the lowest branch, Tawnypelt, Hawkwing, Reedwhisker, Squirrelflight, and Crowfeather took their places on the arching roots below.
Violetshine looked at Twigbranch. Her sister dipped her head apologetically and turned back to her Clan. Disappointed, Violetshine returned to her own Clanmates and looked up at the Great Oak as Bramblestar cleared his throat.
“Newleaf has brought fresh prey to ThunderClan.” He gazed out over the Clans. “Our bellies are full, and the warmer weather has given us chance to strengthen our dens and begin to restock our herb store.” He turned to Tigerstar. “Alderheart is currently taking care of Puddleshine. ShadowClan’s medicine cat was injured by some Twoleg silverthorn and is being treated for infection in the ThunderClan camp.”
“I trust he will be ready to return home soon.” Tigerstar met Bramblestar’s gaze.
“Of course.” Bramblestar didn’t hesitate, but Violetshine saw Leafpool glance nervously at Jayfeather. Was there more to Puddleshine’s illness than either leader was giving away?
Tigerstar lifted his muzzle. “We have nearly finished restoring our camp. And we have new apprentices training under experienced ShadowClan warriors. They will be taking their warrior names soon.” He nodded toward a white-and-ginger tom, one of the cats Tigerstar had brought back with him from his journey beyond the territories. “Blazepaw”—the young tom puffed out his chest—“Cinnamonpaw, and Antpaw.” Cinnamonpaw. The name sounded strange to Violetshine. It must be a Twoleg word. She followed Tigerstar’s gaze as it flicked to the other cats with him. They looked too old to be apprentices, but pride shone in their eyes as their leader acknowledged them. “We have more news.” As Tigerstar spoke, Violetshine saw Juniperclaw slide from among his Clanmates and push his way to the front of the gathered cats. Tawnypelt hopped down from the roots of the Great Oak, and Juniperclaw took her place. Tigerstar blinked at the black tom approvingly before addressing the Clans once more. “Tawnypelt is stepping down as our deputy. Our new deputy will be Juniperclaw.”
Murmurs of surprise rippled through the watching cats.
“Didn’t Juniperclaw abandon ShadowClan to follow Darktail?” Brackenfur called from among the ThunderClan cats.
Macgyver stared up at Tigerstar. “Why would you trust a cat who once betrayed your Clan?”
“A deputy must be loyal!” Sandynose called.
“He might be your leader one day!” Brackenfur’s pelt bristled indignantly.
Tigerstar silenced the Clans with a sharp flick of his tail. “I choose my deputy, and my choice concerns no Clan but ShadowClan!”
Strikestone raised his voice in support of his leader. “ShadowClan makes its own decisions!”
Sparrowtail chimed in. “No one dictates to ShadowClan!”
Tigerstar’s gaze blazed across the gathered cats. “ShadowClan is born again. Past mistakes have been forgotten.”
The ShadowClan cats yowled in loud agreement.
Violetshine shrank beneath her pelt. How had ShadowClan grown so sure of itself in a single moon? She noticed Tree watching Tigerstar, interest sparking in his amber eyes.
“Prey is running well—”
“So well that sometimes they have to follow it onto SkyClan land!” Sandynose’s hackles lifted as he interrupted the ShadowClan leader.
Tigerstar returned the SkyClan warrior’s gaze coolly. “No borders have been crossed,” he meowed slowly. “My warriors have assured me of that.”
Leafstar’s tail twitched irritably. “If that’s true, then why have my warriors reported finding ShadowClan scents on SkyClan territory?”
“Perhaps they’re not sure where the borders lie.” Tigerstar met her gaze evenly.
“They are very sure,” Leafstar growled.
Tigerstar didn’t respond. Instead he turned away and addressed the Clans once more. “ShadowClan was weak when Rowanclaw gave up territory to SkyClan. My father had many noble qualities, but not every leader would have made the decisions he made. When he surrendered our land to SkyClan, he was protecting the Clan that we were then. He wasn’t thinking of the Clan we’d become.”
Bramblestar blinked in surprise. “It was your suggestion that ShadowClan give territory to SkyClan!”
Tigerstar ignored him. “ShadowClan is strong now. We need more territory to feed a growing Clan.” The ShadowClan leader’s tone was ominous. Violetshine looked anxiously at Hawkwing. She wanted reassurance. But her father’s eyes were dark with worry. Violetshine’s pelt prickled as Tigerstar went on. “We will let SkyClan keep the territory Rowanclaw gave them if they agree to let our warriors hunt on it.”
Harrybrook growled. Sagenose’s ears flattened. Plumwillow and Macgyver showed their teeth. On the Great Oak, Leafstar stared incredulously at Tigerstar. “Have you decided which part of our land you wish to hunt on?” she mewed sarcastically.
Tigerstar blinked at her. “All of it. It was once our land, after all.”
“And now it’s ours!” Leafstar bristled. “We won’t share it.”
“ShadowClan is strong now.”
Violetshine shuddered as Tigerstar repeated the phrase. It sounded like a threat.
“Strong!” Leafstar hissed. “Perhaps ShadowClan would never have been weak if you hadn’t abandoned them!”
“StarClan guided my paws,” Tigerstar meowed solemnly. “They led me to where I stand now.” He faced Leafstar, muscles twitching in his wide shoulders.
Dread hollowed Violetshine’s belly. Were the leaders going to fight at a Gathering? She glanced at the sky. Clouds drifted around the bright, round moon.
“There must be a way to solve this.”
Violetshine jerked in surprise as Tree called out from beside her. She grew hot as Tigerstar ignored him, his dark amber eyes glaring at Leafstar. “Do you reject the will of StarClan?”
“We don’t know this was StarClan,” Leafstar hissed back at him.
Harestar shifted on the branch. “This must be settled. Tigerstar’s claim should be heard. Rowanclaw surrendered the land when ShadowClan was too weak to patrol it. But ShadowClan has been restored since then.”
Leafstar glared at the WindClan leader. “Are you saying we should give our territory to ShadowClan?”
“No.” Harestar’s gaze flicked from Leafstar to Tigerstar. “There must be five Clans beside the lake, and a Clan needs territory. But this dispute must be settled.”
Tigerstar eyed Leafstar threateningly. “I’m happy to settle it right here.”
Bramblestar slid past Leafstar and stood between the leaders. “This is not an issue that can be decided quickly or easily.” The Clans watched him in silence, their eyes round. “StarClan did not lead SkyClan to the lake for fresh blood to be shed.”
Tigerstar let his fur smooth. His gaze suddenly softened. “It seems strange that StarClan would lead a Clan to the lake and yet ask only one of the Clans to sacrifice territory to keep them here. Surely StarClan meant for every Clan to give up land, not just ShadowClan. What is stopping us from shifting all the borders to accommodate SkyClan? Why should ShadowClan be alone in giving up prey to feed other cats?”