Hollytuft’s eyes widened. “What’s going on?” She looked at Sunrise.
“This cat has been hurt,” Bramblestar told her. “Leafpool is taking care of her until we get word from StarClan.”
“Word?” Hollytuft looked confused. “About what?”
Thornclaw crossed the clearing and stopped beside Bramblestar. “About whether we should treat her wounds.”
Dewnose tipped his head. “Why do you need StarClan to decide?”
“These cats attacked a ShadowClan patrol,” Blossomfall grunted.
Flippaw frowned. “I thought the Sisters never strayed onto Clan land.”
Thriftpaw’s hackles lifted. “Perhaps they think they can go where they like now.”
“Rest,” Leafpool breathed, touching her nose to Sunrise’s cheek. She looked at Bramblestar again. “Can I get her poppy seeds?” she meowed. “She’s in pain. Let me help—”
Thornclaw cut her off. “Why should we share our herbs?”
“I can’t watch her suffer.” Leafpool blinked at him.
As Thornclaw held her sister’s gaze, Squirrelflight felt sick. Why had she brought the Sisters here? She’d trusted her Clanmates to take care of them. How could she have been so wrong?
“Poppy seeds can wait.” Bramblestar flicked his tail briskly. “Flippaw and Thriftpaw,” he meowed. “Go and help Finleap and Twigbranch find ferns.” He nodded to Blossomfall. “Take Hollytuft and Mousewhisker hunting. We have extra mouths to feed. Rosepetal and Bristlepaw can help Birchfall strengthen the walls of the nursery.” His gaze swept the Clan. “We can’t ignore our duties just because we have visitors.”
Thornclaw narrowed his eyes. “Are we sharing our fresh-kill with them?” He eyed Hawk and Tempest resentfully.
Tempest lifted her chin. “We can catch our own prey,” she meowed.
Birchfall bristled. “Do you think we’d let you hunt on our land?”
Bramblestar looked suddenly weary. “They must eat, and since they can’t hunt here, they must share our prey.”
Squirrelflight couldn’t help feeling a jab of pity for him. Every Clanmate seemed to want something different. How could he please them all? Guilt pricked momentarily beneath her pelt. Was she judging him too harshly?
Rosepetal and Bristlepaw headed toward the nursery, Birchfall at their heels, while Blossomfall led Hollytuft and Mousewhisker out of camp.
“Go with the hunting patrol,” Bramblestar ordered, nodding to Larksong.
Larksong hesitated. “I’d rather stay with Sparkpelt.”
Bramblestar stiffened. “Your patrol needs you.”
“Can Sparkpelt come with me?” Larksong asked. “Squirrelflight let us join the same patrols. Now that she’s expecting kits, I don’t like to be away from—”
Squirrelflight flinched as Bramblestar swung his muzzle toward the black tom.
“I don’t care what Squirrelflight did,” he hissed. “Sparkpelt will be safe here with her Clan. Go join your patrol, as I ordered.”
Sparkpelt blinked reassuringly at Larksong. “I’ll be okay,” she promised.
As Larksong dipped his head and hurried away, Squirrelflight glared at Bramblestar. How long was he going to keep trying to prove that
He stared back. “I want to speak with you in my den. You need to explain why your patrol brought the Sisters here.”
Squirrelflight’s paws pricked. Did he want another argument, even while a cat lay dying in the clearing? As he leaped up the rock tumble, she looked at Leafpool. “Will you be okay here?”
“Yes.” Leafpool was watching Sunrise. “I’ll do what I can.”
Squirrelflight straightened and headed for the rock tumble.
“I’m coming too.” Sparkpelt’s mew surprised her. “I was part of the patrol.”
“No.” Squirrelflight felt a surge of affection for her daughter. “The decision was my responsibility.”
Sparkpelt stuck out her chin. “I said I’m coming with you.”
Squirrelflight dipped her head. She didn’t want to argue with Sparkpelt too. She scrambled up the rock tumble, stones crunching beneath her paws. Sparkpelt followed and ducked after her into Bramblestar’s den.
Bramblestar sat in the shadowy cave, his gaze icy. His ears twitched as he saw Sparkpelt. “I didn’t ask to speak with you.”
Sparkpelt met his gaze. “You said you wanted an explanation,” she mewed evenly. “I was on the patrol. I can help.”
Bramblestar grunted and flicked his gaze to Squirrelflight. “Why in StarClan did you bring them here?” Anger hardened his mew.
Squirrelflight bristled, pulling up short. “What did you want me to do? Leave Sunrise to die in the woods?”
“What would they have done if you hadn’t found them?” Bramblestar didn’t wait for her answer. “They would have taken their wounded home where they belong instead of making their problem our problem.”
“But I did find them.” Squirrelflight defended herself. She was not going to let him make her feel bad for trying to save a cat’s life. “I couldn’t turn my back on them.”
Sparkpelt blinked at Bramblestar. “You couldn’t have expected us to walk away.”
“You could have taken them to the border and let their campmates take care of them.” Bramblestar’s fur spiked along his spine. “Did you know they’d attacked a ShadowClan patrol when you brought them here?”
