As his gaze flashed from Sparkpelt to Squirrelflight, claws seemed to pierce Squirrelflight’s heart. Bramblestar’s tail swept the ground. “I’m trying to lead a Clan! How can I expect my warriors to follow me if my own kin challenge me at every turn?” Growling, he pushed his way out of the den.
Daisy shifted her paws. “It’s been a difficult day for everyone.” She gazed sympathetically at Squirrelflight. “Why don’t you get some air, and I’ll make sure Sparkpelt rests.”
Sparkpelt was staring after her father, her eyes hollow with grief. “I’m sorry.” She dragged her gaze to Squirrelflight.
“It’s okay,” Squirrelflight murmured. “I know you’re upset.” She felt suddenly weary. “You’ll feel better in the morning. And I’m sure Leafpool will have found a way to help Larksong by then.” She touched her nose to Sparkpelt’s head, then headed out of the den, relieved to leave her daughter in Daisy’s care for a while. She crossed to the medicine den. Had Leafpool, Jayfeather, and Alderheart come up with a cure? She ducked inside, disappointment dropping like a stone in her belly as she saw Leafpool and Jayfeather murmuring, heads close together at the back of the cave. They looked as worried as ever, and Alderheart was wiping another drop of bile from Larksong’s lips.
Lilyheart, Larksong’s mother, sat beside the nest, her eyes round with worry. She blinked at Squirrelflight when she saw her. “What could have caused this?”
Squirrelflight shook her head. “We don’t know.”
“Could it be deathberry poisoning?” Lilyheart fretted.
“There are
“ShadowClan might have brought some. We know Puddleshine uses them.”
Leafpool looked up. “This isn’t deathberry poisoning. We don’t recognize these symptoms.”
Lilyheart’s pelt bristled. “They might have found another poison!”
Squirrelflight fixed Lilyheart’s gaze with her own. “ShadowClan had nothing to do with this.” She mustn’t let rumors about ShadowClan’s involvement in Larksong’s illness take hold. There was enough tension among the Clans already. “Larksong’s illness is a shock and a tragedy. He’s always been a strong, healthy warrior, and it’s frightening to see him get so sick so quickly. But we’re going to find out what caused it.” She eyed Leafpool desperately. “And we’re going to find out how to cure it.” Fear wormed in her belly as Leafpool’s gaze darkened. She was making Lilyheart promises they might not be able to keep, but she had to give the small, dark tabby hope. This sickness had come from nowhere. It could have been caused by anything. Larksong might be only the first cat to be struck down by a sickness the Clans had never experienced before. And if it spread, hope might be all that ThunderClan had.
CHAPTER 15
Jayfeather narrowed his eyes. “This is between medicine cats.”
Alderheart shifted beside the blind tom. “We’re going to talk to Puddleshine, to see if he has seen anything like Larksong’s sickness in ShadowClan.”
“I have to put the Clan’s minds at rest,” Squirrelflight insisted. Through the night, rumors that ShadowClan had been the cause of Larksong’s sickness had spread like fleas through the Clan. By morning, as the rain clouds cleared from above the camp, her Clanmates had barely listened to her orders for the day’s patrols.
Lionblaze had paced the clearing with ruffled fur. “We should send a patrol to ShadowClan.”
“They can’t get away with poisoning a second Clan,” Cinderheart had agreed.
Around them, Poppyfrost, Cherryfall, and Molewhisker had nodded, murmuring their agreement.
Bramblestar had scrambled down from the Highledge and stood beside Squirrelflight. “We don’t have any proof that ShadowClan caused this. And there’s so much tension among the Clans that an accusation like this might lead to war.”
The warriors had backed down and, grumbling, gone on patrol. But Squirrelflight was convinced that the rumors would rumble on unless some cat investigated the claims of poisoning.
Now she blinked hopefully at Alderheart and Jayfeather as they prepared to leave for the ShadowClan camp. “I’ll tell ShadowClan I’m escorting you. I’ll tell them that we’re worried about the threat from the Sisters.” Guilt pricked at her belly. The Sisters weren’t a threat to any cat. But she had to get into the ShadowClan camp and find proof that ShadowClan was innocent.
Jayfeather’s tail twitched impatiently. “You ought to ask Bramblestar’s permission,” he grunted. “We can’t accuse ShadowClan without proof.”
“I’m not going to accuse anyone,” Squirrelflight told him. “I just want to see how ShadowClan acts when I tell them about Larksong. I’ll be able to tell if they’re guilty.”
Jayfeather snorted. “ShadowClan is always guilty of something.”
Squirrelflight held her ground. “I have to come with you.”
