The Raging Storm

Voices sounded over the rise ahead. Leafstar and the other warriors had stopped and were talking heatedly. Violetshine hurried up the slope to join them.

“The time for talking is over.” Leafstar paced in front of Bellaleaf and Sandynose, while Harrybrook and Sagenose watched. The warriors’ gazes were hard with indignation.

“Imagine sending his deputy to such an important meeting!” Sagenose growled.

Harrybrook’s hackles lifted. “He had no intention of trying to settle the dispute.”

Leafstar flexed her claws. “There’ll be no more talking. I want border patrols doubled, and if any ShadowClan cat crosses the border, we retaliate immediately.”

Tree stopped beside Violetshine and stared at the warriors. “Give me more time. I’m sure we can settle this without claws,” he meowed.

Leafstar met his gaze fiercely. “We don’t have time. Every ShadowClan patrol that crosses our border makes us look weaker.”

Tree’s ears flicked with frustration. “It was your idea to make me mediator for the Clans,” he reminded her sharply. “Why give me the role if you won’t let me mediate?”

“I overestimated the other Clans,” Leafstar growled. “They’re so used to fighting, they’ve forgotten how to talk. Tigerstar clearly wants a battle. When we first came to the lake, I thought that the other Clans just gossiped about ShadowClan out of spite. . . . But I see now that ShadowClan cats are fox-hearts. I can see why Rowanclaw gave up on them. And why some of their warriors chose to follow Darktail. They are natural troublemakers. Well, if they want war, they’ll get one.”

“Fighting isn’t the answer,” Tree insisted.

Leafstar shook her head. “Can’t you see that it is? Fighting is the way things are done around here, Tree. It’s not just ShadowClan—none of the lake Clans think like us. They train their warriors to fight, not to talk. If we want to keep our territory, we have to be like them. If we don’t fight for what we believe in, the other Clans won’t ever respect us, and it won’t just be ShadowClan pushing us around, don’t you see?”

Violetshine felt Tree slump with disappointment beside her. “What about the plan Tigerstar suggested at the Gathering?” she mewed quickly. “Where each Clan gives up a smaller part of their territory, instead of just ShadowClan.” She gazed hopefully at Leafstar.

Leafstar grunted. “Didn’t you notice how the other Clans responded to that idea? They couldn’t get off the island quickly enough.”

Sandynose blinked sympathetically at Violetshine. “We just have to accept that the other Clans don’t want to help us.”

Bellaleaf sat down heavily. “We’re on our own, just as we’ve always been.”

Tree flicked his tail angrily. “Then why am I wasting my time here?” Ears twitching, the yellow tom stalked away.

Violetshine could see how hurt he was. His pelt rippled spikily over his shoulders as he slumped down beside the roots of a pine with his back to the SkyClan cats. Is he wondering whether he made a mistake? Perhaps he’s wishing he’d never stayed with us. The thought sent alarm prickling through Violetshine’s pelt. Tree had given up his solitary life to offer help that wasn’t wanted. Tree wasn’t a proud cat, but the Clans’ rejection of his skills must sting even him. Would he decide to return to his life as a loner?

Leafstar beckoned to Violetshine with a flick of her tail. “Leave him.” The SkyClan leader must have noticed her watching the yellow tom. “He looks like he needs space. He’ll realize soon enough that we have no other choice.”

Violetshine blinked at the SkyClan leader, her heart aching for Tree. He wouldn’t give up on his beliefs so easily. And yet, even though she felt sorry for Tree, she understood Leafstar’s point of view. Tigerstar had offered nothing but insults to SkyClan, and the other Clans hadn’t defended them. It looked like SkyClan was as isolated here as it had been at the gorge, and that if they wanted to keep their territory beside the lake, they’d have to fight for it.

“Come on.” Leafstar headed downhill. “Let’s go home.”

Violetshine followed Harrybrook and Bellaleaf into camp. The sun had set, and twilight darkened the shadows beneath the camp walls. Their Clanmates were sharing tongues around the clearing. Suddenly she smelled the faint scent of ThunderClan. She pricked her ears, thinking instantly of Twigbranch. Had her sister found an excuse to visit?

Leafstar clearly caught the scent too. As Sagenose and Sandynose headed toward the fresh-kill pile, the SkyClan leader stopped and looked around the camp, her nose twitching.

Hawkwing padded from the fresh-kill pile to meet her. “How did it go?” His voice was low. Leafstar hadn’t told the whole Clan about the meeting.

Leafstar flicked her tail. “Tigerstar didn’t come.”

“He sent Juniperclaw.” Bellaleaf stopped beside the leader.

Harrybrook swished his tail. “He wasn’t interested in talking. He just wanted to repeat what Tigerstar had said at the Gathering.”