Veil Of Shadows

“The code says you will obey your leader!” Bramblestar hissed. “But since you’ve made it clear you can’t do that, you can leave too. ThunderClan has no use for a faithless medicine cat!”

Alderheart faced the Clan leader without flinching. His ears were flattened and his tail-tip flicked to and fro. He was clearly at the end of his patience. “What about a faithless leader?” he retorted.

For answer, Bramblestar drew his lips back in a snarl. “Get out!”

A rumble of protest came from the assembled cats, their concern clear in their wide, anxious eyes and bristling fur. This can’t be happening! Bristlefrost thought, every hair on her pelt tingling with apprehension. But it looks like Alderheart has taken all he can.

It was her mother, Ivypool, who voiced what every cat was thinking. “If Alderheart leaves,” she pointed out, “then ThunderClan will have no medicine cat. Surely that can’t be what you want, Bramblestar?”

The Clan leader angled his ears toward Flipclaw, who was standing at the front of the crowd, gaping with horror as he realized where this was leading.

“We do have an apprentice,” Bramblestar meowed. “Flipclaw had that prophetic dream, and he has been studying herbs with Alderheart long enough to know what to do. What more does a Clan need?”

Every cat’s gaze shifted to Flipclaw, doubt and worry in their eyes, and Flipclaw bowed his head miserably, staring at his own paws.

“I’m sorry, Flipclaw.” Alderheart cast a sympathetic glance at the younger cat. “You don’t deserve to be put in this position. But I can’t stay to watch ThunderClan become a mockery of itself.”

With a sweep of his tail he signaled to Finleap and a stunned Twigbranch, and led the way out of the camp. Bristlefrost watched as they disappeared into the thorn tunnel, wondering if somehow this could all be a hideous dream. She bit her lip, and the pain assured her that it was really happening.

At least Twigbranch knows about the exiles’ camp on ShadowClan territory, she reflected. And Alderheart can be reunited with his mother. . . .

With the departure of the three exiles, the meeting was at an end, and the crowd of cats split up into small groups, their heads together as they whispered their disbelief. Bristlefrost exchanged a glance with her mother, Ivypool, and wondered whether she should tell her the truth—about the rebel cats, about everything.

Maybe Bramblestar is beyond control now, she thought despairingly. Maybe it’s time I took my family and escaped to the exiles’ camp. . . .

Bristlefrost took a hesitant step toward her mother, only to be intercepted by Bramblestar, who came bounding up to her. “I want to talk to you, Bristlefrost,” he announced. “You’re the only one I can trust. Follow me.”

He headed for the thorn tunnel, and Bristlefrost had no choice but to obey him, warily treading in his paw steps as they entered the forest. Bramblestar seemed on edge, casting nervous glances in all directions and sometimes whipping around as if he was facing some imaginary threat.

“I’ve heard rumors some cats are working against me,” he told Bristlefrost, leading her into the shelter of a hazel thicket. “I want to know what you think, Bristlefrost.”

A chill crept through Bristlefrost from ears to tail-tip. Does he know the truth, she asked herself, that I’m one of those cats? These days Bramblestar seemed so erratic that she wouldn’t be surprised if he suspected every cat, whether he had evidence or not.

Her chill deepened as she realized that she had followed him into a dark part of the forest. If he wanted to make her disappear, like Shadowsight, this would be a good place.

“I have my doubts about Berrynose,” Bramblestar went on. “Surely all that loyalty must be an act—don’t you think so?”

At his words, Bristlefrost became a little reassured. She realized that Bramblestar truly had no idea what was going on, and was genuinely anxious for her opinion.

“Well,” she began, “I don’t really know—”

She broke off with a gasp of horror as a group of cats slipped out of the undergrowth, creeping toward Bramblestar as quietly as if they were stalking a mouse. Death glinted in their eyes and on their outstretched claws.

Stemleaf and Spotfur . . . oh, and Conefoot, Kitescratch, and Dappletuft! What are they doing? They promised Tigerstar they wouldn’t kill Bramblestar!