Tigerheart’s Shadow

“You stole a rabbit of ours.” Rowanstar cut straight to the point.

Juniperclaw snorted, and Stonewing raised his hackles aggressively.

Leafstar looked puzzled.

“I chased a rabbit over the scent line and killed it on ShadowClan land,” Plumwillow explained.

Leafstar’s gaze remained fixed on Rowanstar as Plumwillow went on.

“But Tigerheart said I could keep it, so I brought it back to camp.”

“Tigerheart was wrong.” Rowanstar glared at Leafstar. “SkyClan should know better than to take prey killed on another Clan’s land. Or perhaps you forgot the warrior code while you were in the gorge.”

Leafstar’s fur twitched irritably along her spine, but her eyes remained calm. “We know the warrior code. And so, I assume, does Tigerheart. He let Plumwillow take the rabbit. I guess he had his reasons.”

Tigerheart shifted uneasily. He still believed he’d made the right decision. SkyClan was worth keeping as an ally. But his Clanmates clearly disagreed. Scorchfur shot him a look of reproach. Tigerheart ignored it. This was Rowanstar’s moment. Perhaps this challenge to SkyClan would regain him the respect and loyalty of his Clan.

It might also make enemies when ShadowClan needed enemies least.

“Tigerheart was wrong,” Rowanstar growled again.

Leafstar whisked her tail lightly. “Even if he was, we can’t give back what we’ve already eaten.”

“Already?” Juniperclaw glared distrustfully at Leafstar.

“Do you think I’m lying?” Leafstar returned the warrior’s gaze unwaveringly.

“I think SkyClan should be taught some respect,” the black tom hissed. He glanced at Rowanstar, as though asking permission to attack.

Rowanstar glanced around his warriors, then flicked his tail. “Battle stances!” he ordered.

No! Tigerheart’s pelt bushed with alarm. As Juniperclaw, Scorchfur, Grassheart, and the others crouched, ready to leap, he shot between the two groups of warriors. “We can’t fight over a rabbit!” he yowled. He glared at his Clanmates, facing them with bared teeth.

They blinked at him, shock freezing them where they stood.

“We need SkyClan’s friendship more than we needed that rabbit!” Tigerheart stared imploringly at his father, willing him to understand that good neighbors meant strong borders.

Rowanstar’s fur pricked. His brow furrowed as he returned Tigerheart’s gaze. Before he could speak, Leafstar cut in.

“If it’s a rabbit you want, we will give ShadowClan the next rabbit we catch.”

Relief washed Tigerheart’s pelt. At least one leader was ready to be sensible. He looked hopefully at Rowanstar. “That sounds fair,” he meowed.

Rowanstar was still staring at him. Tigerheart saw anger in his father’s eyes. His Clanmates began to shift nervously, as though uncertain what to do. They glanced at Rowanstar, but the ShadowClan leader’s attention was fixed on Tigerheart.

“I guess having their next rabbit sounds reasonable,” Snowbird mewed grudgingly.

“I suppose it shows respect,” Stonewing conceded.

Tigerheart saw his Clanmates’ fur flatten as they eased out of their battle stances. He tore his gaze from Rowanstar and nodded at Leafstar. “That sounds like a fair settlement.” He hoped she could read the gratitude in his gaze.

“We’ll leave one at the border as soon as we catch it.” She paused, her gaze flicking meaningfully around the ShadowClan cats. “As a gesture of goodwill.” With a flick of her tail, Leafstar turned toward SkyClan’s camp and led her warriors through the bracken.

As they disappeared, Tigerheart looked nervously at his Clanmates.

“I suppose we do get a rabbit.” Strikestone began to head toward the border. “And no blood shed.”

“I still wish we could have left them with a scratch or two,” Juniperclaw grunted as he followed. Snowbird and Grassheart glanced accusingly at Rowanstar, and then headed away. Flowerpaw and Snakepaw hurried after them.

Tigerheart gazed at his father, his heart pounding in his ears. Rowanstar still hadn’t moved. “I solved the problem,” he offered, hoping his father would see that Leafstar had conceded defeat in offering to replace the rabbit, even though it hadn’t been taken without permission. That was surely a victory?

“How dare you undermine me?” Rowanstar’s mew was ice-cold.

Tigerheart’s paws felt suddenly heavy. Of course Rowanstar would misunderstand his intentions. He’d been trying to keep the peace because ShadowClan’s security was more important than its leader’s pride. “It would have been wrong to make enemies of SkyClan now.” Was he wasting his breath? “We’re not strong enough to protect our own borders. We need them to remain allies.”

Rowanstar shot him a look of disgust, then barged past him.