Squirrelflight's Hope

“Just let me speak to you.” Squirrelflight gazed imploringly at Leafstar. Had she imagined the SkyClan leader’s moment of hesitation at the meeting? Perhaps Leafstar had never even considered moving SkyClan to new territory. Her breath caught in her throat. But she has to!

Leafstar flicked her tail. “Okay.” She jerked her muzzle toward her den. “But I can’t spare much time. I have a Clan to take care of.”

Squirrelflight hurried through the rain and waited at the den entrance for Leafstar to go in first.

“Join us, Hawkwing,” Leafstar ordered as she nosed her way inside.

Needlekit blinked at Squirrelflight. “Leafstar doesn’t like you much, does she?”

“Not at the moment,” Squirrelflight told her softly. “But I hope I can change her mind.”

She followed Leafstar inside, Hawkwing at her heels.

It was dry inside the den and stuffy from the morning’s heat. Squirrelflight wanted to shake the rain from her fur but didn’t dare. She’d soak Leafstar and Hawkwing. Instead she blinked the raindrops from her eyes, ignoring the dampness seeping deeper into her pelt. “I know I am asking a lot of you,” she began. “You have suffered more than most Clans, and you’ve been without a real home for too long. But Harestar was right about land being wasted. I think we undertook these new borders with the best of intentions, but even if we learn to hunt the moorland we were given, ShadowClan will never fish in their marshes, and RiverClan will have to watch prey that once belonged to them go uncaught. We simply can’t adapt to this new territory, and that makes the new borders unworkable.”

Hawkwing stood as still as rock. “How is that our problem?”

“It’ll be everyone’s problem eventually. The Clans are growing, and not every season is as kind as greenleaf. When Clans go hungry, battles start. The peace we have now won’t survive a prey-scarce leaf-bare if WindClan and RiverClan are forced to watch territory that was once theirs go to waste.” She saw a flicker of interest in Leafstar’s stony gaze. “It was the best solution we could come up with at the time. And it is not fair to ask you to move again,” Squirrelflight meowed earnestly. “I know that. Every cat knows that. But it might be the only way to keep a lasting peace.”

“You want us to leave the lake,” Leafstar growled.

“No!” Squirrelflight thrust her muzzle forward. “You must never leave the lake. You belong here. But the territory beyond the abandoned Twolegplace might be a great home for you. If it is, this quarrel over land will be ended before it starts.”

Leafstar didn’t move. “If it’s so important,” she meowed icily, “why are you here and not your leader?”

Squirrelflight felt the sting of her words but didn’t react. Leafstar was right to be angry. “Bramblestar doesn’t know I’m here,” she admitted. If she was going to win the SkyClan leader’s trust, she needed to be honest. “He thinks you shouldn’t move. But if he could see what a great piece of territory you’d be moving to, he’d have to admit that it’s the best plan we have.”

“You’re going behind his back?” Leafstar looked surprised.

“I’m trying to find a way to convince him.” Squirrelflight blinked at the SkyClan leader earnestly.

Hawkwing narrowed his eyes. “And you want us to help you?”

“It’ll help SkyClan too. It’ll help all the Clans.” Squirrelflight stared at the SkyClan deputy. Surely he could see that! “Why should five Clans try to live on four Clans’ land when there’s plenty to spare on our borders?”

“We don’t know it’s to spare,” Leafstar grunted. “It might be home to rogues or foxes, or Twolegs.”

“That’s why we need to go there.” She gazed at Leafstar. “You and me. We could take a look at it; then you can decide. If it’s not safe for SkyClan, no one will make you move.”

Hawkwing’s pelt ruffled along his spine. “You can’t explore unknown territory,” he told Leafstar. “It’s too dangerous. Let me send a warrior patrol—”

“No.” Leafstar cut him off. “The Clan mustn’t know that we’re even thinking about this until I know it’s a real possibility.”

Hope flashed in Squirrelflight’s heart. “So you’ll come with me to look at the territory?” She searched Leafstar’s gaze, relieved when she saw curiosity there.

“I don’t like that you’re deceiving Bramblestar,” Leafstar meowed. “But that’s your issue, not mine.” Squirrelflight ignored the worry sparking at the edge of her thoughts. She was too excited to hear Leafstar go on. “I’ll come with you and see this land for myself and, if it’s not suitable, SkyClan will not move and we’ll never speak of it again.”

“I understand.” Squirrelflight whisked her tail. “And I agree. SkyClan should only live where you can thrive.”

Leafstar nodded to Hawkwing. “Tell the Clan that I’m escorting Squirrelflight to the border. I’ll return as soon as I can.”

“You may not be back for a while,” Squirrelflight warned her. “It’s a long way, and we’ll need to investigate the territory thoroughly before you come to a decision.”

“If I’m not back tonight,” Leafstar told Hawkwing, “cover for me.”