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.
“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.”
