The Raging Storm

Tigerstar’s gaze stayed on Jayfeather. “You didn’t manage to save him, though, did you?”

Guilt flashed in Jayfeather’s blind blue gaze. “I had to let him go,” he whispered.

“And now you’re trying to let Puddleshine go too,” Tigerstar growled.

“No!” Anger flared in Alderheart’s chest as he faced the ShadowClan leader. “We’re not letting him go. We’re going to keep treating him until he’s well. StarClan showed me a vision of flowers returning to the land after a fire. They were telling me that deathberries could cure Puddleshine, that they could make him stronger. I’m only feeding him the flesh, not the seeds. It will cleanse the Twoleg poison from his body, I know it will!” Conviction surged beneath his pelt, stronger than it had since he began the potentially deadly treatment. He held Tigerstar’s gaze, his paws shaking as the ShadowClan leader glared back at him.

“Puddleshine agreed to the treatment,” Jayfeather whispered. “We all knew how dangerous it was, but nothing else worked, and Puddleshine was willing to try.”

Tigerstar turned his head. “Puddleshine agreed?”

Jayfeather nodded. “He knew we meant to give him deathberries and he understood why. He told Alderheart to go ahead.”

Tigerstar eyed Puddleshine’s limp body for a moment; then he narrowed his eyes. “Is the treatment working?”

“He hasn’t died,” Jayfeather growled.

“But he might?” Tigerstar gaze flashed with uncertainty.

“He might,” Jayfeather conceded.

Tigerstar paused. His tail swished slowly behind him. “Then I will take him home,” he meowed at last. “If he is to die, he should be among his Clanmates.”

“But he’s too sick to walk,” Jayfeather pointed out.

“Juniperclaw and Sparrowtail can carry him,” Tigerstar shot back.

Alderheart’s paws pricked with fear. “But who will look after him once he’s home?”

Tigerstar’s eyes rounded with mock innocence. “Surely you’ll want to come with us to care for your patient?”

Alderheart hesitated. What if Puddleshine died? I’d be alone, in a hostile camp. His belly churned with fear.

“Alderheart stays here.” Bramblestar lifted his muzzle defiantly.

“But Alderheart has already pointed out that Puddleshine will need treatment,” Tigerstar meowed smoothly.

“Then Puddleshine will have to stay too,” Bramblestar growled.

The leaders held each other’s gaze. Neither moved, but Alderheart could see their muscles hardening beneath their pelts. Bramblestar’s fur began to bristle. Were they going to fight? I chose to use the deathberries. Alderheart swallowed. My choice mustn’t cause a war. “I’ll go,” he murmured softy. Foreboding hollowed his chest.

“It’s good to see you have such faith in your treatment,” Tigerstar meowed. “If Puddleshine recovers, all will be well.”

Bramblestar’s ears twitched. “And if he doesn’t?”

Tigerstar met the ThunderClan leader’s gaze. “In that case, an argument could be made that Alderheart poisoned him. Surely a cat who kills another cat should be punished?”

“Don’t be rabbit-brained!” Jayfeather snapped. “Alderheart is trying to save him!”

“If that’s true, then he’ll be happy to travel to ShadowClan to see him through his recovery.” Tigerstar stared challengingly at Jayfeather.

“You want to hold him hostage,” Bramblestar growled.

“I don’t intend to discuss this further.” Tigerstar flicked his tail. “We’re taking Puddleshine home and Alderheart will join us. Unless, of course, you have no faith in your medicine cat. Perhaps you want to keep Alderheart here where you can protect him, because you know this treatment is a sham.”

Anger surged beneath Alderheart’s pelt. “It’s not a sham. Feeding him deathberries is the best hope he has. I’ll come with you and I’ll prove it.”

“Alderheart, are you sure?” Bramblestar stared at him, worry clouding his gaze.

“I’m sure.” Alderheart lifted his chin. “It was my decision to use the deathberries. I stand by it. No other cat is going to suffer because of it.”

Tigerstar moved to the entrance and called to his Clanmates. “Juniperclaw! Sparrowtail! Come here.” He nodded to Bramblestar. “If Puddleshine recovers, I’ll send Alderheart home, unharmed.”

Alderheart’s chest tightened. And if he doesn’t?

CHAPTER 8

“Keep your muzzle down.” Twigbranch tugged Flypaw closer to the earth, praying that the young cat would be quiet. A log hid them from a plump chaffinch, which was rummaging through leaf litter for bugs. “Birds are the hardest prey to catch,” she whispered. Her whiskers brushed the damp moss. “They are sensitive to any movement, and they’ll fly away at the slightest noise. You need to be fast.”

“If they’re so hard to catch, why don’t we just hunt mice and squirrels instead?” Flypaw whispered back.

Twigbranch blinked at her. “Because warriors need to be able to catch birds as well.”

“Why?”