Darkest Night

Leafpool glanced at Alderheart. “My son seems to have forgotten that I’ve been running the medicine den since before he was born.”

Alderheart hardly heard her. He glanced anxiously at Sparkpelt. If she didn’t believe SkyClan belonged beside the lake, who did?

Alderheart rushed to catch up to his littermate. “I hope Twigpaw’s assessment goes well tomorrow,” he said, falling into step beside her as she followed her Clanmates along the shore. “I think she’s nervous.” It was true—Twigpaw had seemed distracted in the days since Ivypool had told her she was going to be assessed. But Alderheart wondered if by bringing up Twigpaw, who had brought SkyClan back to the lake, he might get at Sparkpelt’s feelings on the new Clan.

“She’ll be fine,” Sparkpelt purred. “This time tomorrow, she’ll have her warrior name.”

The moon, huge and yellow, hung in the crow-black sky. A crisp wind gusted from the lake, lifting Alderheart’s fur. The Gathering would start soon. Bramblestar and Squirrelflight led the way to the island. Leafpool followed with Ivypool, while Cherryfall and Molewhisker trailed behind. Thornclaw and Birchfall padded farther up the shore, shadowing the party beside Lilyheart, Honeyfur, and Twigpaw. SkyClan trailed behind, no more than shadows on the shore.

Alderheart wanted to ask Sparkpelt what she thought about SkyClan. Jayfeather had kept him busy gathering herbs all afternoon. This was the first chance he’d had to talk to her alone. Now he was struggling to find the words. Would he offend her by asking if she thought SkyClan didn’t belong here? And what if she said it was true?

“What do you think the Clans will decide?” Pebbles crunched beneath his paws.

“About what?” Sparkpelt glanced at him.

“About SkyClan.”

Sparkpelt turned her gaze back to Bramblestar. “Let’s hope they decide to do the right thing.”

“What is the right thing?” Alderheart tried to sound casual.

“The right thing is for the real Clans to carry on living the way they’ve always lived.”

“The real Clans?”

“You know. Us and ShadowClan and RiverClan and WindClan. The Clans that have always lived beside the lake.”

“Not SkyClan?” Alderheart fur prickled with alarm.

“This isn’t their home. It never has been.” Sparkpelt sounded matter-of-fact.

Alderheart swallowed. “Then what do you think should happen to them?” He was scared of her answer.

She glanced at him, her eyes sharp. “They should go back where they came from.”

Alderheart could hardly believe his ears.

“Darktail has left the gorge now,” she went on. “They can go back to their proper home.”

“But what about StarClan?” Alderheart spluttered. “My visions? Don’t they mean anything to you?”

“StarClan wanted us to find SkyClan and we did.” The trees on the island were looming larger, casting moon shadows on the shore ahead. “Did they say anything about SkyClan moving onto our territory?”

Alderheart remembered the messages from StarClan, wishing again that his ancestors weren’t so vague. They had urged him to find SkyClan, but Sparkpelt was right; they’d never clearly said what they must do once they had. “Not exactly. But I’m sure StarClan wants us to keep SkyClan close.”

Sparkpelt glanced at him doubtfully. “And how will that help? You’ve seen what happens when strange cats move into our territory.”

“SkyClan isn’t strange cats!” Was she really comparing SkyClan to Darktail’s rogues? “They’re warriors. Just like us. They follow the same code. They share dreams with their ancestors.”

“So which Clan is going to give up territory for them?” Sparkpelt challenged. “Do you really want more borders around the lake? Are you sure that will bring peace?”

She didn’t give him a chance to answer, but quickened her pace and caught up with Cherryfall and Molewhisker. Alderheart stared after her, his mouth dry. Had everything he’d worked for meant nothing? Were the Clans going to force SkyClan to leave?

Tiny waves slapped the shore. He could hear the wind in the trees on the island. Please, StarClan. Don’t let the others feel the same way as Sparkpelt.

At the tree-bridge, which spanned the water between the shore and the island, he waited for his Clanmates to cross. Only Leafpool paused beside him. “Are you okay?”

He blinked at her despondently. “You were right. Sparkpelt wants SkyClan to leave.”

Leafpool touched her nose to his ear. Her warm breath bathed him as she spoke. “Sparkpelt doesn’t speak for every cat,” she murmured. “But if the Clans do decide that SkyClan can’t stay, you must accept it.”

Alderheart bristled. “I could never do that!”

“We have no choice.” Leafpool leaped onto the fallen tree and crossed the water. “Whatever happens, we must trust StarClan to guide the leaders’ paws.”