Dovewing's Silence (4 page)

Squirrelflight moved closer to Bramblestar. She spoke close to his ear, the flicking of her tail-tip betraying her discomfort. Dovewing leaned toward them, straining to hear what the deputy was saying.

“I don't think that's a conversation for your ears,” meowed a voice behind her.

Dovewing jumped and looked around to see her mother watching her with concern in her pale blue eyes. “You . . . you said you can hear things,” Whitewing went on. “Even when you're not close enough to listen like other cats.”

Dovewing nodded. To her surprise, Whitewing sighed and stroked Dovewing's shoulder with her tail. “That must feel very strange,” she murmured. “Do you ever get any peace? I wish you had told me sooner. I might have been able to help.”

“It was part of a prophecy,” Dovewing mewed, feeling very uncomfortable. “I was given this power to help the Clans against the Dark Forest. It's okay, I promise.”

Her mother straightened up, still looking troubled. “If you ever want to talk to me about it, I'm always here.” She nodded toward Bramblestar and Squirrelflight. “And I still think that even if you
can
hear something, it doesn't mean that you
should
.”

Dovewing glanced down at her paws. “It's okay,” she mewed. “I can't make out what they're saying anyway. My ears haven't
stopped buzzing from the battle yet, and my head hurts.”

“Why don't you go and see if Jayfeather can give you something for that?” Whitewing prompted. “All the injuries have been treated now. There's no need for you to be in pain.”

Dovewing padded to the entrance to the medicine den and peered through the screen of brambles. “Jayfeather? May I come in?”

The medicine cat's head appeared through the fronds. His fur stood on end and his face was taut with tension. “Is it urgent?” he snapped. “Leafpool's asleep and I'm in the middle of changing Foxleap's dressings.”

“How is he?” Dovewing asked, her belly tightening.

Jayfeather looked over his shoulder at the warrior, who was a faint hunched shape inside the den. Briarlight was propped on her forelegs beside him, licking his ears. “Not good,” Jayfeather replied. “Now, what do you want?”

“It's okay, it can wait,” Dovewing meowed. She started to back away. “I'll come back tomorrow if I need to.”

Jayfeather vanished back into the den, leaving Dovewing staring at the quivering brambles. She was used to Jayfeather's short temper and brisk manner, but this was different. He seemed . . . frightened. But what could be more terrifying than the attack from the Dark Forest? The battle had been won. Surely there was nothing left to be scared of?

“Ouch! Mind my eyes!”

“Sorry!” Dovewing dropped her end of the bramble and backed off to let Bumblestripe scramble clear. They were working on the collapsed wall of the warriors' den. Dustpelt was supposed to be supervising but he had vanished; Dovewing guessed he was visiting Ferncloud's burial place. It had only been two sunrises since they buried the cats who fell in the battle, and neither Dustpelt nor Brackenfur seemed willing to leave their mates alone in their cold earthen nests. None of their Clanmates had challenged them on it; there was nothing but compassion for their unspeakable grief.

The cats who had fought briefly on the side of the Dark Forest, however, were still being treated as if they had greencough. They had taken to sleeping separately in a space behind the elders' den. Last night Ivypool had joined them, and Dovewing wondered if her sister felt guilty because she seemed to be treated more favorably by the cats who had seen her take on Hawkfrost. Dovewing's pelt pricked at the injustice of the situation, and she waited for Bramblestar to say something but he was busy with Squirrelflight, organizing
patrols to hunt for food and repair the dens.

Bumblestripe nudged Dovewing. “It's all right, I think I escaped with my sight,” he joked. “Come on, help me untangle this ivy.” They started to unravel the knot of dark green leaves. All the cats were trying to salvage as much of the dens as they could to save having to find fresh leafy branches so late in the season.

Suddenly Cinderheart, who was working on the other side of the wall, let out a soft mew. “Blackstar's here!”

Dovewing peered around the den and saw the ShadowClan leader hobble into the clearing with his deputy Rowanclaw close beside him—so close, in fact, that their shoulders were touching, as if Rowanclaw was holding his leader upright.

Bumblestripe put down the ivy and came to stand beside Dovewing. “I wonder what he wants?”

There was no suspicion in his tone; in fact, none of the ThunderClan cats who had stopped working to watch the new arrivals were bristling with hostility.
The Dark Forest has changed everything
, Dovewing mused, recalling a time not so long ago when these visitors would have been treated with distrust. Now they hadn't even been challenged as they slowly entered the hollow.

“Blackstar! Come and sit down.” Bramblestar bounded down the rocks from Highledge and showed the ShadowClan leader a space on the grass where he could rest his trembling legs.

“Great StarClan, Blackstar looks so old he's barely alive!” Cinderheart commented under her breath beside Dovewing.

Squirrelflight joined them from the nursery, where she had been helping Daisy amuse all the kits while Brightheart was out on a hunting patrol. “Is everything well in ShadowClan?” Squirrelflight asked, exchanging nods with Rowanclaw.

“We are fine,” Blackstar rasped, so faintly that Dovewing barely heard.
It's been two days since the battle; why can't I hear anything yet?
she thought in frustration.

Blackstar seemed to be having trouble speaking due to the wheezing in his chest, so Rowanclaw took over. “We have to come to talk to you about the Dark Forest cats who still walk among us,” he announced.

Dovewing flinched. What Dark Forest cats? She looked around and saw her Clanmates bristling.

“As you know,” Rowanclaw went on, “the Dark Forest attack was helped in part by warriors from the living Clans.” He paused and glanced around the clearing as if he wanted to name those cats right now. “Some of them survived the battle. We need to decide what should be done to them.”

Bramblestar shifted his paws. “I agree this is something to think about, but I assumed each Clan leader would decide alone. It involves our own Clanmates, after all.”

Blackstar struggled to his paws and lashed his tail. “We are still bound by our alliance during the Great Battle!” he hissed. “This is a problem faced by all the Clans, and therefore we should deal with it together. There cannot be any inequity between us.”

“Whoa!” Bumblestripe breathed in Dovewing's ear. “He does know the battle is over, right? We're not allied with ShadowClan now!”

Bramblestar let his gaze travel around the hollow, ending up on the four cats who were apart from the rest, clearing trampled brambles from one side of the entrance. “Very well, Blackstar,” he meowed. “Perhaps it's right that we should agree on a course of action together. Shall we meet on the island tomorrow night?”

Blackstar nodded. “I'll send word to RiverClan and WindClan, if you'll permit my warriors to travel along your lakeshore.”

“Of course,” mewed Bramblestar. He stood up and padded beside the ancient white cat as he started to leave. “Thank you for coming, Blackstar. Get some rest before we meet on the island.”

Blackstar just grunted. Rowanclaw dipped his head to Bramblestar and guided his leader through the remains of the barrier, then ushered him into the trees.

Dovewing's fur had risen along her spine, and Bumblestripe smoothed it down with his muzzle. “Calm down,” he mewed. “You're not in trouble!”

“But Ivypool could be!” Dovewing snapped. “And my father! These cats can't be punished for believing the lies that the Dark Forest warriors told them!”

Bumblestripe started to unravel the ivy knot once more. “We can't forget what happened, Dovewing. Perhaps they need some sort of punishment just to make sure they understand that what they did was wrong.”

“Blossomfall is your sister,” Dovewing mewed softly. “Do you really think she'd do anything to betray her Clan?”

The gray tom didn't look up from the strand of ivy. “Training in the Dark Forest was never part of the warrior code,” he muttered.

“Nor was dead cats coming back to life to attack us!” Dovewing reached out with one front paw and rested it on Bumblestripe's shoulder. “Our Clanmates made a terrible decision, but when it mattered, they were loyal to us, and us alone.”

Bumblestripe finally looked at her, his eyes troubled. “You really believe that.”

Dovewing nodded. “Ivypool is my littermate, just as Blossomfall is yours. I would trust my sister with my life. Don't you feel the same way?

There was a pause, then Bumblestripe nodded. “Thanks, Dovewing,” he whispered.

Before Dovewing could say anything else, Bramblestar spoke just behind her.

“Dovewing, may I speak with you?”

Dovewing nearly jumped into the air. How had she missed him walking up to her?

“I'd like you to come with me to meet the other leaders,” Bramblestar meowed. “Jayfeather will be with me, of course, and the cats who were trained by the Dark Forest, but I think you and Lionblaze should be present as well. You both know more about what the Dark Forest planned than many of us.” He blinked. “Because of the prophecy, right?”

Dovewing nodded mutely.

“Good.” Bramblestar turned away. “We'll leave at dusk
tomorrow. Make sure you get some rest during the day.”

Dovewing didn't go back to helping Bumblestripe at once. Instead she stood very still, listening to the whispers around her. The rest of ThunderClan seemed excited at the prospect of choosing a punishment for the traitors among them. Dovewing felt a wave of impatience at their stupidity.
Can't you see that these are loyal warriors who made one mistake? Are you all so perfect yourselves?

Then she tilted her head and tried to pick up what was being said in ShadowClan. Were those cats equally thrilled? But all she heard was the rustle of branches as Bumblestripe and Cinderheart worked beside her, and a burst of squealing from the elders' den as one of the kits stepped on a thorn. When she tried to picture the neighboring camp, her mind was clouded and fuzzy, as if it were filled with mist. Dovewing felt a cold trickle of fear seep into her fur.
Why can't I hear and see like I used to? Has something happened to me?

She looked at Ivypool, who was salvaging clean moss from a bundle that had been dragged out of the nursery. Her sister had more than enough to worry about without Dovewing adding her concerns about her senses. Jayfeather was too busy with Foxleap and the other wounded cats, and Lionblaze was constantly out on patrol. Dovewing recalled his broken claw during the burial, and winced. She could no longer hear, and Lionblaze was able to suffer injuries.

Has something happened to all our powers?

A faint three-quarter moon showed over
the tops of the pine trees as the cats filed across the tree-bridge to the island. Dovewing stayed close to Ivypool, trying to comfort her sister without saying anything. Ivypool walked with her head high and her tail kinked confidently over her back, but Dovewing knew she was scared of what might be said at this meeting. Bramblestar and Jayfeather led the ThunderClan patrol, and Birchfall, Thornclaw, Mousewhisker, and Blossomfall brought up the rear. The four cats radiated tension and the fur bristled along their spines; Dovewing wished they would relax and not look as if they had something to be ashamed of.

Blackstar was already seated at the foot of the oak tree, flanked by his medicine cat, Littlecloud. Both cats looked frail and thin against the sturdy trunk. Their Clanmates Tigerheart and Ratscar sat a tail-length off, ears twitching. Bramblestar stopped halfway across the clearing and gestured with his tail to his Clanmates, inviting them to sit down. “We'll stay here,” he mewed quietly. Dovewing felt a stab of relief that he was staying with them rather than leaving to sit with Blackstar.

Onestar arrived before the ThunderClan cats had finished settling. He was accompanied by his medicine cat, Kestrelflight, and Breezepelt. The black warrior's eyes flashed defiantly.
He clearly doesn't think he's done anything wrong
, Dovewing thought.

The three Clans waited in silence, listening to the rustle of ferns as the last cats approached. Mistystar emerged first from the bracken followed closely by Mothwing and Icewing. Dovewing blinked. ThunderClan had brought by far the most cats! What did that say about their loyalty to the warrior code?

Bramblestar seemed to guess what his Clanmates were thinking. “The other Clans lost cats who fought with the Dark Forest,” he murmured. “All of you survived, which is why there are more of us here.”

It didn't make Dovewing feel much better. She felt warmth on her pelt, and turned to see Tigerheart gazing at her. She looked away quickly. That was one complication she didn't need.

Onestar spoke first. “Why are Lionblaze and Dovewing here?” he asked. “They weren't part of the Dark Forest, were they?”

“No,” Bramblestar replied. “But they know as much about the involvement of our Clanmates in the Dark Forest as I do.” He stepped into the space between the four Clans and looked around at the other leaders. “We must pay attention to the truth of what happened and why these cats behaved as they did. The battle is over; they are no longer our enemies.”

His fur was ruffled and Dovewing knew that in spite of
what he'd said, he was troubled by the presence of so many ThunderClan cats. Whatever penalty was chosen, ThunderClan would be the most affected. The atmosphere in the clearing crackled with tension. It felt strange to have the leaders standing among the other cats, and the warriors who had been associated with the Dark Forest bristled as if they were ready to defend themselves with tooth and claw.

Mistystar raised her head. “As you know, Beetlewhisker and Hollowflight were killed in the battle, so they cannot answer for anything they have done. Icewing knows her loyalty was tested by the Dark Forest, and that she failed. But she has learned from this and I do not doubt her now. She has always been a good warrior. I would like to give her the chance to be one again.”

“The same goes for Breezepelt,” Onestar declared. “We suffered great losses during the battle. Why should I want to punish one of my few remaining warriors? We need Breezepelt on patrol, not wasted because of something that has finished.”

“But they broke the warrior code!” Blackstar protested. He looked at Tigerheart and Ratscar, and his eyes were full of sorrow. “They betrayed the Clan, their leader, and themselves. How can this go unpunished?”

Onestar let his gaze rest on the ThunderClan cats. “I suppose we have to face the fact that some of our Clanmates were recruited by the Dark Forest, for whatever reason. Some Clans more than others,” he added meaningfully.

Dovewing felt her pelt burn with indignation. Bramblestar
opened his mouth to speak but Mistystar interrupted him. “There must be a way to move forward without further weakening our Clans,” she meowed. “None of us can spare more warriors, so exile is not an option.”

Dovewing blinked.
Exile!
She hadn't even thought that would be a possibility. She shifted closer to Ivypool. “You have to tell them what happened,” she whispered in her sister's ear. “How Hawkfrost recruited you. You weren't being disloyal to your Clan! They have to understand that!”

Bramblestar overheard and nodded. “Go on, Ivypool. Please.”

The gray-and-white warrior looked daunted as she moved into the center of the clearing, but when she spoke her voice was steady. “I think it would help to understand why some of us joined the Dark Forest,” she began. Onestar and Blackstar bristled but Ivypool kept talking. “It wasn't because we hated our Clanmates, or didn't believe in the warrior code. We thought we were learning more skills that would help the Clans. Cats from the Dark Forest sought us out in our dreams and . . . and used our most personal reasons for offering a different way to train.” She glanced at Dovewing, who blinked.
Was I one of those reasons?
she wondered in alarm. Around her, Birchfall and the others were nodding.

“Hawkfrost approached me,” Ivypool went on. “He made me believe that the best thing I could do for ThunderClan would be to train with Dark Forest warriors. I would be braver, better at fighting, more loyal to my Clanmates. He made me feel . . . important.” She paused for a moment, then
continued. “I overheard Hawkfrost and Tigerstar planning to attack the Clans. I told my Clanmates, and became a spy, reporting everything I learned about the Dark Forest. I knew other cats from the Clans were being trained, but to avoid suspicion I didn't say anything to them.” She looked over her shoulder at her father. “Only when the battle began did I tell them the truth, and they instantly followed me back to our Clanmates to fight alongside them. They never intended to be disloyal. Like me, they thought they were being given a chance to be better warriors.”

Breezepelt was looking smug and Dovewing felt an urge to rake his ears. She was sure he hadn't wanted to be a better WindClan warrior. He had wanted power and strength, that was all. Birchfall leaned toward Dovewing as if he could read her thoughts. “If one of us is to be forgiven, all must be forgiven,” he mewed.

Blackstar heaved himself to his paws. “You have spoken well,” he rasped. “It's Ivypool, isn't it?” He peered at her, his eyes cloudy. “But I saw my own Clanmates attack each other. How was that being loyal, or a better warrior?”

“We were promised a different way to serve our Clan,” Ivypool insisted.

“I believe you,” Mistystar meowed. “Thank you, Ivypool.”

Onestar traced his forepaw in the dust. “I don't need to know why Breezepelt made his choices. I only need to trust him from now on. Which I do.”

Blackstar shook his great white head. “I don't know if I can agree with this.” He avoided looking at Tigerheart and
Ratscar, who were staring at him in dismay. Dovewing felt a pang of alarm. What would happen to Tigerheart? She knew he was loyal to ShadowClan.

“It seems we all feel differently about these cats,” Blackstar went on. He sounded confused, as if he couldn't understand why the alliance between the four Clans had melted away.

“With good reason,” Bramblestar meowed. He looked at Breezepelt. “There is at least one warrior here who attacked ThunderClan cats alongside the Dark Forest warriors. I cannot see that as anything but a betrayal of the warrior code.”

“Breezepelt never turned against his own Clanmates,” Onestar mewed. “That is the essence of the warrior code, surely? And he is my warrior, so it is up to me what happens to him.”

Mistystar nodded. “I agree that we should each be responsible for our own Clanmates. We know our warriors best, after all.”

Blackstar flattened his ears. “But we must follow a single course of action! Otherwise how will it be fair?”

“ShadowClan does not get to decide anything on behalf of WindClan!” Onestar spat.

“The Clans got along better when we were united against the Dark Forest,” murmured Thornclaw. “Peace has brought out the old quarrels.”

Mothwing walked out from behind Mistystar and stood in the center of the cats with starlight gleaming on her pelt. “I suggest that each of these cats swears a new oath of loyalty to the warrior code,” she meowed. “They walked a different path
for a while, but now they must return to the way things were. They do not need to be punished—none of our Clans should suffer more pain—but we deserve to have some clear sign that we can trust them again.”

Dovewing breathed out in relief. It seemed the obvious solution, and from the nods of the Clan leaders, it looked as if they agreed. Ratscar flicked his patchy brown tail. “This oath . . . do we have to swear it now? In front of cats who have nothing to do with us?”

“No,” Bramblestar meowed. “I think this is a matter for each Clan to deal with on its own. What do you think, Blackstar?” he added.

The old cat waited for a moment before replying. “I will see that it is done as soon as we return to our camp,” he mewed.

Onestar dipped his head. “As will I.”

Dovewing felt another flash of anger toward Breezepelt. She had seen his furious attacks on her Clanmates. There was nothing noble about him! He didn't deserve forgiveness from anyone.
At least my father and Ivypool will be accepted back into ThunderClan now,
she thought.
We have too much to do repairing the camp and building up our strength before leaf-bare to worry about what went on before the Great Battle.

The cats began to file out of the clearing. Tigerheart drew level with Dovewing and caught her eye, a swarm of questions in his gaze. Dovewing turned her head away. He was part of the past, just like the battle with the Dark Forest.