The Raging Storm

“When the ShadowClan cats were in our camp last night, Violetshine saw Juniperclaw near the fresh-kill pile. She chased him off, but when Sparrowpelt ate a vole from the pile, it made him sick.”

“Perhaps it was an old vole,” Willowshine mewed hopefully.

“Really sick,” Frecklewish growled. “He was in agony. I gave him yarrow to get rid of whatever was hurting him, and he vomited seeds.” She turned her icy gaze on Alderheart. “Deathberry seeds.”

Alderheart felt the chill of the night pierce his fur as the other medicine cats turned to stare at him.

“You took deathberries to ShadowClan to treat Puddleshine, didn’t you?” Frecklewish mewed accusingly.

Alderheart’s thoughts raced. It was true. He’d kept a store of deathberries. But they were hidden. No one knew about them, surely. And yet it seemed strange that Sparrowpelt would get sick so soon after a ShadowClan raid. Had poisoning SkyClan prey been part of a deadly ShadowClan plan?

Jayfeather bristled. “Are you saying Alderheart is behind the poisoning?”

“I’m saying that ShadowClan had access to deathberries because of him.”

“That’s not true!” Alderheart fluffed out his fur indignantly. “I kept the berries hidden. Even Tigerstar didn’t know they were there.” He hoped it was true.

“Did anyone see you give deathberries to Puddleshine?” Leafpool asked.

Alderheart paused. Had Cloverfoot or Scorchfur seen him when they’d been guarding the entrance to the medicine den? “I don’t know! But I know how many berries were wrapped in the leaf, and none are missing.” He was sure he hadn’t noticed any berries missing when he’d given Puddleshine his last dose that morning. “None are missing,” he repeated, meeting Frecklewish’s gaze. “If Juniperclaw did poison your fresh-kill pile with deathberries, they didn’t come from me.”

Leafpool whisked her tail impatiently. “Who cares where the berries came from? Every cat knows about deathberries. We’re all taught as ’paws to stay away from them. What’s important is that the dispute between ShadowClan and SkyClan is growing worse. We have to stop it before Leafstar decides SkyClan must leave the lake.”

Jayfeather nodded. “We saw the vision. If SkyClan leaves, we will all be destroyed.”

“We must tell our leaders,” Kestrelflight agreed.

“They must hold an emergency Gathering,” Willowshine mewed.

Alderheart’s shifted anxiously. “The last Gathering didn’t help solve this problem. Another Gathering might make the situation worse.”

Leafpool stared at him. “If Bramblestar knows what’s at stake, he will do whatever it takes to make SkyClan stay beside the lake.”

“Harestar will follow the wishes of StarClan, and StarClan clearly wants SkyClan to stay,” Kestrelflight guessed.

“What about Mistystar?” Alderheart looked anxiously at Willowshine.

The gray tabby hesitated. “Her faith in StarClan’s wisdom is still shaken since Darktail nearly destroyed us. But I will do my best to persuade her that we must stand together to keep SkyClan from leaving.”

Alderheart saw worry flash in Willowshine’s eyes. Did she doubt Mistystar’s commitment to the Clans? It had not been long since she closed RiverClan’s borders, even to medicine cats, refusing to engage with the other Clans. She might see sense in SkyClan doing the same.

“What about Tigerstar?” Jayfeather was staring at Alderheart, his milky gaze more piercing than any sighted cat’s. “You’ve been living in their camp. Do you think Tigerstar can be persuaded to cooperate?”

“I d-don’t know.” What could he say? Tigerstar hadn’t spoken to him about the dispute with SkyClan, but with one of his warriors lying injured in the medicine den, he doubted the ShadowClan leader would feel much compassion for his neighbors. Besides, Tigerstar had started the dispute with his claim to SkyClan territory. And he’d actively encouraged his warriors to cross the border time and time again. The ShadowClan leader would never give up his claim, even if StarClan wanted SkyClan to stay beside the lake.

Jayfeather got to his paws. “We will just have to persuade him.” He nodded to the others. “Tell your leaders they must meet. The Clans must make peace and stand together.” A chilly wind spiraled around the hollow as he went on. “Or the coming storm will tear us all away.”

CHAPTER 14

Stones jabbed into Twigbranch’s pads as she followed Sparkpelt and Larksong along the shore. Bramblestar and Squirrelflight headed the patrol. Flypaw, Snappaw, and Eaglepaw chattered excitedly at the back. It felt strange to be traveling to the island when the moon was barely more than half-full, but after Jayfeather and Leafpool had returned from the Moonpool, Bramblestar had sent word to the other Clans that there would be a special Gathering.

Finleap’s fur brushed Twigbranch’s flank and she glanced at him, wanting reassurance. “Do you think SkyClan will really leave the lake?”

“I don’t know.” Finleap wouldn’t meet her gaze.