The Raging Storm

Tigerstar didn’t respond. Instead he turned away and addressed the Clans once more. “ShadowClan was weak when Rowanclaw gave up territory to SkyClan. My father had many noble qualities, but not every leader would have made the decisions he made. When he surrendered our land to SkyClan, he was protecting the Clan that we were then. He wasn’t thinking of the Clan we’d become.”

Bramblestar blinked in surprise. “It was your suggestion that ShadowClan give territory to SkyClan!”

Tigerstar ignored him. “ShadowClan is strong now. We need more territory to feed a growing Clan.” The ShadowClan leader’s tone was ominous. Violetshine looked anxiously at Hawkwing. She wanted reassurance. But her father’s eyes were dark with worry. Violetshine’s pelt prickled as Tigerstar went on. “We will let SkyClan keep the territory Rowanclaw gave them if they agree to let our warriors hunt on it.”

Harrybrook growled. Sagenose’s ears flattened. Plumwillow and Macgyver showed their teeth. On the Great Oak, Leafstar stared incredulously at Tigerstar. “Have you decided which part of our land you wish to hunt on?” she mewed sarcastically.

Tigerstar blinked at her. “All of it. It was once our land, after all.”

“And now it’s ours!” Leafstar bristled. “We won’t share it.”

“ShadowClan is strong now.”

Violetshine shuddered as Tigerstar repeated the phrase. It sounded like a threat.

“Strong!” Leafstar hissed. “Perhaps ShadowClan would never have been weak if you hadn’t abandoned them!”

“StarClan guided my paws,” Tigerstar meowed solemnly. “They led me to where I stand now.” He faced Leafstar, muscles twitching in his wide shoulders.

Dread hollowed Violetshine’s belly. Were the leaders going to fight at a Gathering? She glanced at the sky. Clouds drifted around the bright, round moon.

“There must be a way to solve this.”

Violetshine jerked in surprise as Tree called out from beside her. She grew hot as Tigerstar ignored him, his dark amber eyes glaring at Leafstar. “Do you reject the will of StarClan?”

“We don’t know this was StarClan,” Leafstar hissed back at him.

Harestar shifted on the branch. “This must be settled. Tigerstar’s claim should be heard. Rowanclaw surrendered the land when ShadowClan was too weak to patrol it. But ShadowClan has been restored since then.”

Leafstar glared at the WindClan leader. “Are you saying we should give our territory to ShadowClan?”

“No.” Harestar’s gaze flicked from Leafstar to Tigerstar. “There must be five Clans beside the lake, and a Clan needs territory. But this dispute must be settled.”

Tigerstar eyed Leafstar threateningly. “I’m happy to settle it right here.”

Bramblestar slid past Leafstar and stood between the leaders. “This is not an issue that can be decided quickly or easily.” The Clans watched him in silence, their eyes round. “StarClan did not lead SkyClan to the lake for fresh blood to be shed.”

Tigerstar let his fur smooth. His gaze suddenly softened. “It seems strange that StarClan would lead a Clan to the lake and yet ask only one of the Clans to sacrifice territory to keep them here. Surely StarClan meant for every Clan to give up land, not just ShadowClan. What is stopping us from shifting all the borders to accommodate SkyClan? Why should ShadowClan be alone in giving up prey to feed other cats?”

The gathered cats murmured to one another. Violetshine watched them. Did they agree with Tigerstar? After all, the ShadowClan leader’s argument sounded reasonable.

“What use would RiverClan territory be to SkyClan? Or to any of you?” Mistystar’s mew took Violetshine by surprise. “Who could make use of the marsh or the river but us? No other Clan likes getting their paws wet.”

“And no other Clan knows how to hunt the moor,” Harestar chimed in. “Would SkyClan want to endure the snow and ice up there come leaf-bare?”

“They could learn,” Tigerstar argued. “They’ve learned to live in a gorge and in a pine forest. Why not learn to live in a marsh or on a moor?”

Leafstar bristled. “You talk about us as if we’re a bunch of loners with no rightful home!” Her gaze flashed over the other leaders. “We’re meant to be here. StarClan brought us. Why should we have to move our home every time one of you thinks you need more territory?”

Mistystar shook out her fur. “It’s ShadowClan’s problem, not ours. They want their territory back, let them fight over it.”

“Let ShadowClan and SkyClan settle this between themselves,” Harestar meowed.

Violetshine felt a pang of sadness. The Clans weren’t even going to consider giving up land. Her heart sank as Bramblestar nodded in agreement.

“We shouldn’t let this dispute lead to conflict among all the Clans.” The ThunderClan leader looked at Tree. “We agreed under StarClan that you would be mediator, the cat who seeks compromise when none can be found. Perhaps you could meet with Tigerstar and Leafstar and come up with a solution before we all get dragged into a battle over territory. I’m sure there must be a solution that suits both SkyClan and ShadowClan.”