Tigerheart’s Shadow

Tigerstar hesitated, expecting to feel pain. But his body felt stronger than ever. He scrambled to his paws and stared at the medicine cat. “How did I get here?”

Puddleshine nodded toward the lip of the hollow. “Rippletail, Cloverfoot, and the others carried you home. They’re waiting for you now.”

Tigerstar’s belly tightened. “Are Dovewing and the kits with them?” Had she taken them to ThunderClan as he’d told her?

“Every cat is waiting for you.” Puddleshine blinked at him, moonlight shimmering in his eyes.

The medicine cat led him along a smooth path that spiraled away from the Moonpool, up to the stone ledge, where the encircling cliffs opened to the glittering night sky. Tigerstar blinked at the stars as he padded over stone dimpled by the paw steps of cats over countless moons. Was StarClan watching his first moments as leader of ShadowClan? Rowanclaw! Spiresight! He paused, gazing at the sky. Are you there?

“Hurry!” Puddleshine was already waiting at the top of the hollow. “They’re anxious to see you.” He looked over the edge as Tigerstar reached him.

Tigerstar followed his gaze. A steep jumble of rocks plunged toward a stream below. At the edge of the starlit water, which wound away between moor and forest like a glittering snail track, cats were crowding, their faces lifted toward the hollow.

Their wide eyes glittered with wonder as they saw him.

Tigerstar spotted Ant and Cinnamon at the front. Blaze, Rippletail, and Cloverfoot clustered beside them with Berryheart, Sparrowtail and their kits, while the rest of ShadowClan gathered behind. His chest seemed to burst with joy at the sight of so many familiar faces. Scrambling past Puddleshine, he half leaped, half slithered down the rocks and landed lightly on the rough grass beside Ant.

He scanned the crowd, his breath catching in his throat. There was one face he wanted to see above all. “Dovewing!”

She pushed between Rippletail and Cloverfoot. “You’re alive!” Her words were little more than a gasp, as though she hardly believed them.

Tigerstar wanted to press his cheek against hers and feel the warmth of her fur, but Cloverfoot wove excitedly between them. “It was Puddleshine’s idea to bring you to the Moonpool and let your nose touch the water so you could share dreams with StarClan.”

“But I was dead.” Tigerstar stared at them, gratitude swelling in his chest. He could feel the eyes of his Clanmates on him. Was he supposed to address them? What should he say? As he blinked at them, overwhelmed, Shadowkit padded from behind Dovewing. Pouncekit and Lightkit followed, their eyes as wide as moons.

Tigerstar rushed to meet them, pressing his nose to each one in turn, purring loudly. As Pouncekit and Lightkit crowded around him, Shadowkit touched his nose. “Spiresight says this is right.”

Tigerstar lapped the tom-kit fiercely between the ears. “I saw him,” he mewed. “He’s with StarClan.”

Shadowkit broke into a purr.

Tigerstar felt fur brush his side. Dovewing’s scent billowed around him. Joy flared in his heart. He pressed his cheek against hers. “You’ve been so brave and strong.”

“No more than you,” she murmured.

A leader’s loyalty belongs only to his Clan. Raggedstar’s words suddenly rang in his mind. I must choose my Clan over Dovewing and the kits. He pulled away and stared at her, grief stabbing his heart. “Will you go to ThunderClan now?”

Dovewing gazed at him wonderingly. “Why?”

“Your head told you to raise our kits among your Clan, remember?”

“But my heart told me to stay with you.” Her gaze clouded with love. “How could I leave, after all we’ve been through?” She glanced at the kits, who were weaving happily around them. “And how could I deprive our kits of such a wonderful father?” Purring, she thrust her muzzle against his.

Tigerstar closed his eyes and relished her warmth. Paws scuffed the grass around him. He pulled away and saw his Clanmates staring. There was uncertainty in their gazes.

Tawnypelt stepped forward. She flicked her tail toward Cinnamon, Ant, and Blaze. “You’ve brought back new warriors as well as old.”

Tigerstar tried to read her gaze. Was she angry with him?

Tawnypelt looked at Dovewing and the kits. “And it seems we’re getting ThunderClan cats too.”

He hesitated, conscious of the unease rippling through the pelts of his Clanmates. Then he remembered his leadership ceremony. Strength, courage, compassion, hope, forgiveness, persistence, acceptance, loyalty, and love. These were gifts he carried with him now. He lifted his chin and swung his gaze around the watching cats. Stonewing, Strikestone, and Juniperclaw eyed him warily. “I left you,” he meowed evenly. “But now I’ve returned. I bring with me cats who will make our Clan strong again. Accept them as I accept you. Give them your loyalty as I give you mine. I am ready to lead you.”

Silence gripped the hollow. Tigerstar held his breath as he watched his Clanmates.