Shattered Sky

“Violetpaw—come here! The ShadowClan cats are leaving,” Twigpaw continued, as Violetpaw bounded over to her. “You should say good-bye.”

The ShadowClan cats were gathered together near the entrance to the thorn tunnel, with Bramblestar, Squirrelflight, and some of the ThunderClan, RiverClan, and SkyClan warriors beside them.

“We need to get the stink of Darktail out of our camp,” Rowanstar was meowing as Violetpaw and her sister padded up. “And make sure that the rest of his mange-ridden rogues are off our territory.”

His tone was friendlier than Violetpaw had ever heard it when he was talking to a ThunderClan cat.

“I hope that everything works out,” Bramblestar responded with a dip of his head. “But there’s always help in ThunderClan, if you ever need it.”

“I think we can manage.” Rowanstar had a glint in his eyes. “We’ll see you at the next Gathering.”

He was turning away, with a sweep of his tail to summon the rest of his Clan, when he spotted Violetpaw. “You’re welcome to stay here a little while longer,” he meowed, “if you want to spend time with your kin.”

“I’d really like that,” Hawkwing put in, padding forward to touch his nose to Violetpaw’s ear. “Thank you, Rowanstar.”

What he really means is, he wants me to stay with him in SkyClan, Violetpaw thought, detecting the longing in her father’s voice. She didn’t want to say that out loud, but she did put words to her next thought. “Where will SkyClan go now?”

It was Bramblestar who replied. “They’ll share our territory for the time being. But soon they will have to work out where they can put their own camp.”

Hawkwing’s eyes shone as he gazed at Violetpaw and Twigpaw. “I quite like the idea of exploring and discovering new territory.”

Bramblestar drew himself up, pride clear in the way he lifted his head and held his tail erect. “I can’t believe SkyClan is back where they belong!” he meowed. “We should hold some kind of ceremony to celebrate. Maybe the medicine cats can ask StarClan if there’s something we should do.”

Squirrelflight gave him a hard nudge. “Don’t you dare interrupt Harespring’s nine lives ceremony!” she teased him.

Bramblestar gave his chest fur a couple of embarrassed licks. “I can’t believe I forgot about that!”

Once again, Rowanstar glanced around at his Clan, gathering them together to leave. Violetpaw noticed that Tigerheart was still sitting a few tail-lengths away; Dovewing was close beside him, and the two cats were talking together. Violetpaw couldn’t hear what they were saying, but she could pick up the deep seriousness in their eyes and their voices.

Rowanstar had noticed them too, and watched them for a moment with an odd expression. Then he gave his tail a decisive flick. “Tigerheart!” he snapped. “Get your tail over here! We’re going back to camp.”

Tigerheart scrambled to his paws and bounded over to the rest of his Clan with a final word to Dovewing. “Sorry,” he muttered as he joined his Clan leader.

What was all that about? Violetpaw wondered.

As Rowanstar led the ShadowClan cats out through the thorn tunnel, Hawkwing beckoned his daughters aside, out of hearing of the ThunderClan cats. “When SkyClan establishes its new territory,” he told them, “I want you both to come and live with me. You were born in SkyClan, to SkyClan cats. That’s where you belong.”

Violetpaw exchanged a glance with her sister. This is all so unexpected, she thought. It wasn’t that long ago that we thought we had no kin except each other, but now we have a father, and we each have two Clans we could call our own.

As if he could read Violetpaw’s thoughts, Hawkwing leaned forward and gave each of them an affectionate nuzzle. “You don’t have to decide right now,” he mewed. “All you need to know is that you’re growing up to be fine warriors—and there will always be a place for you in SkyClan, if you want it.”

Violetpaw stared at Twigpaw, who was looking as confused as she felt. Then she glanced at the last of the ShadowClan cats who were just disappearing down the tunnel.

Can I really go back to ShadowClan and follow Rowanstar, after all that’s happened? she asked herself. Now that Needletail is gone, is ShadowClan really my home?

The tingle of joy she’d felt at reuniting with her father was replaced by a twinge of dread in her belly. But would Rowanstar let me go so easily? ShadowClan has been so diminished, they might need every cat they can get.