The Forgotten Warrior

Her confession was greeted with a horrified gasp from the cats. As if at a word of command, they shrank back, widening the circle. Lionblaze spotted Foxleap swiftly thrusting Cherrypaw behind him. Sorreltail, who had brought Lilykit and Seedkit into the clearing for the first time, gathered them close to her with a sweep of her tail.

Hollyleaf looked terrified, her glance darting around the clearing as if she expected some cat to leap on her and rip her throat out. Lionblaze suddenly wished that she had never come back, that she had gone away to the mountains if that would have kept her safe. Dovewing and Ivypool would have found their own way out of the tunnels, he thought, his belly shaking from the force of his fear and anger. She didn’t have to help them!

“I was there…” Hollyleaf’s faltering voice began again. “I saw Ashfur, beside the stream. He had threatened to kill me and my littermates. Most of you know how much Ashfur wanted Squirrelflight to be his mate. He hated us all because he thought we were Squirrelflight’s kits with Brambleclaw. Even when he knew he was wrong, he still hated us. So…”

Lionblaze stared at his sister in horror, wanting to hold back the words he knew she was about to speak. She can’t confess to killing Ashfur! She mustn’t!

But while Hollyleaf was gathering herself to go on, Brambleclaw pushed his way to the front of the crowd and stood beside her.

“I was there, too, that day, beside the stream,” he announced. He glanced at Hollyleaf as she opened her jaws to protest, and added, “You didn’t see me there, but I saw you, and Ashfur.” He paused for a moment, letting his glance rake across the Clan. “When Ashfur saw Hollyleaf alone by the stream,” he continued, “he sprang at her. He was determined to hurt one of the three cats Squirrelflight loved most, to punish her for not loving him. Hollyleaf fought bravely, but before I could help her, Ashfur slipped on the edge of the stream and fell in. He was still alive when he hit the water. There was nothing Hollyleaf could do to save him. She was only defending herself.”

The clearing exploded as the tabby warrior finished speaking.

“Why didn’t you tell us that at the time?” Thornclaw demanded.

“Yes, we spent moons suspecting one another,” Berrynose growled. “Firestar, they should both be punished for not telling the truth back then.”

“No!” Leafpool protested, her amber eyes full of pain.

Lionblaze stepped forward and glared at Berrynose. “You might want to know that it was Hollyleaf who saved your kits, not Sol,” he snarled. “Think about that before you start meowing about punishment.”

Berrynose stared at him in disbelief. “It was Hollyleaf?”

“Then we have to let her back into the Clan!” Poppyfrost mewed. “She risked her life for my kits!”

“Besides, Ashfur only got what he deserved,” Dustpelt declared. “He tried to kill four cats—his own Clanmates! If you ask me, Hollyleaf did us a favor.”

Firestar padded into the middle of the crowd, raising his tail for silence. His fur was bristling and his tail twitched. “What happened was a tragic accident,” the Clan leader began as soon as he could make himself heard. “I agree that Hollyleaf should have spoken up at the time.” His green gaze rested sternly on Hollyleaf. “She should have trusted us to believe her, and deal with her fairly. But she has been punished enough by living away from her Clan for so many moons.” Firestar transferred his gaze to his Clan. “She will not be punished again, and nor will Brambleclaw for not speaking out before. Their silence has been a burden for both of them, and that has eased now.” With a drawn-out sigh he added, “What’s done is done. Let Ashfur be judged by our ancestors.”

Lionblaze puffed out a breath of relief, but he could see that not all the cats were satisfied. And Hollyleaf still looked as if she wished the ground would open up and swallow her.

Firestar beckoned her with his tail. “You should have told the truth back then,” he meowed quietly; Lionblaze strained to overhear. “It’s going to be hard for you now, do you understand that?”

Hollyleaf nodded, her eyes bleak. “I shouldn’t have tried to come back—”

“Never say that,” Firestar interrupted. “You are back, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. The Clan will settle down now that the truth is out.” He paused, but Hollyleaf had nothing to add. “I won’t include you on any patrols today,” Firestar went on more briskly. “Go to the elders’ den and see what you can do for them.”

“They’ll know, won’t they?” Hollyleaf asked, glancing around at the rapidly dispersing Clan.

Firestar nodded. “News travels fast around here, you know it does. But you are strong enough to deal with this. Put it behind you, Hollyleaf. Your Clan still needs you.”

Hollyleaf bowed her head. “Thank you,” she whispered.