Crowfeather's Trial

“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