Lost Stars

Shadowpaw bowed his head, murmuring thanks for his Clanmates’ praise, but he felt more and more uncomfortable with each passing heartbeat. As soon as he could, he escaped back to his den.

Puddleshine followed him, gazing at him with mingled curiosity and confusion. “I’m beginning to doubt myself,” he told Shadowpaw. “I examined Bramblestar, and I didn’t think there was anything to be done for him. But you—my own apprentice—saw a way. Clearly you’re the one whose paws are guided by StarClan.” Shadowpaw wanted to protest, but his mentor went on. “Your connection with them isn’t like any I’ve seen before, but I won’t doubt you again.”

A rustling sounded at the entrance to the den, and Tigerstar stepped inside. “I’d like a word with my son in private,” he meowed with a nod to Puddleshine.

Once Puddleshine was gone, Tigerstar padded up to Shadowpaw and touched noses with him. “I always knew you were special,” he announced. “We don’t know yet what your destiny is among the five Clans, but what I do know is that you will change things.”

Shadowpaw listened uneasily. He wasn’t sure that he wanted to hear what his father was telling him. Why has StarClan chosen me? Why can’t I be an ordinary medicine cat, like Puddleshine?

Tigerstar’s expression became more serious, and he rested his tail on his son’s shoulder. “Still, you mustn’t tell the other Clans about the message you received about codebreakers. Not yet, anyway,” he added hastily. “Not until we’re sure what it means . . .”

Shadowpaw glimpsed apprehension in his father’s eyes; he realized that Tigerstar was worried. He and Dovewing had broken the code. What would happen to them if the message was revealed? “I won’t,” he promised, feeling that he had no choice but to obey his father.

Relief spread across Tigerstar’s face, and he gave Shadowpaw’s ear an approving lick. “Get some rest; you’ve had a tough time,” he advised before he padded out of the den.

Shadowpaw was thankful to be left alone, but he felt more uneasy than ever. If I am the Clans’ only connection to StarClan, how can I be loyal to all of them, and to my parents, at the same time?

Shadowpaw had expected an atmosphere of rejoicing at the emergency Gathering; every cat should be glad and relieved that Bramblestar had returned from the dead, proving that StarClan had not forsaken the living Clans. Instead, as soon as ShadowClan thrust their way through the bushes into the clearing, he was aware of suspicious glances, shoulder fur rising, with here and there a hiss of hostility.

Tigerstar ignored it all, holding his head high as he crossed the clearing and leaped into the branches of the Great Oak. The other Clan leaders were already there. Cloverfoot joined the rest of the deputies on the tree roots, while Shadowpaw, with Puddleshine beside him, padded over to sit with their fellow medicine cats. He kept his head lowered, not wanting to meet any other cat’s gaze.

Once every cat was settled, Bramblestar announced, “Let the Gathering begin.”

Risking a glance upward, Shadowpaw saw the ThunderClan leader standing strong and proud at the end of a thick branch that jutted out into the clearing. This time there was enough moonlight to see him clearly: his muscular body, his sleek tabby fur and gleaming amber eyes. Shadowpaw could hardly believe that this was the same cat who had lain, scrawny and unmoving, in the snow den. The ThunderClan leader was gazing around him, his expression filled with wonder, as if he too was finding it hard to believe that he was still alive.

“I’m pleased to see you all again,” Bramblestar continued. “I’ve called this Gathering to discuss what happened to me, and the messages Shadowpaw has received from StarClan. Would any of the Clan leaders like to begin?”

“I will,” Harestar responded at once, rising to his paws on a branch a little way above Bramblestar. He gazed down at Shadowpaw, his eyes warm and appreciative. “I’m impressed with what I’ve heard,” he meowed. “I know Tigerstar believes his son has a unique connection to StarClan, and after what he did for Bramblestar, I think he might have a point.”

Shadowpaw relaxed a little when he realized he had at least one supporter from another Clan, but his belly clenched with nervousness as Kestrelflight rose to speak from the group of medicine cats. There was a doubtful expression in his eyes as he looked at Shadowpaw, then turned to address all the assembled cats.

“Does any cat think it’s strange that only ShadowClan can communicate with StarClan now?” he asked. “After all, if you think back, a lot of our problems started with ShadowClan. They allowed Darktail in, and that caused their Clan to fall apart, so that for a while they had to merge with SkyClan.”