“I know.” Squirrelflight’s paws pricked with frustration. She stopped as they headed toward the border, watching them disappear among the brambles on the far side of the clearing. Her heart sank. She hated feeling so powerless. As she turned back to camp, paws thrummed the ground. A squirrel shot from the brambles beside her and cut across her path. It disappeared into the bracken on the other side. Excitement flashed beneath her pelt. As she turned to chase it, a cat exploded from the brambles. Ginger fur blazed past her.
“Squirrelflight!” Bramblestar’s mew made her jump. She turned as he scrambled to a halt beside her. His tail was bushed and his eyes shone. “What are you doing here?”
“Looking for you.”
“Why?” Bramblestar was out of breath.
Squirrelflight nodded toward the brambles where the medicine cats had disappeared. “Jayfeather and Alderheart are going to consult with Puddleshine about Larksong,” she explained quickly. “I want to go with them.”
“To question ShadowClan about the sickness?” Bramblestar narrowed his eyes.
“I wasn’t going to question them, but I want to see how they react when I tell them about Larksong. There are too many rumors in ThunderClan. I need to tell our Clanmates that I saw for myself that ShadowClan has nothing to do with this.”
“Are you afraid some of our warriors will take revenge?”
“I just think there’s enough tension on the border at the moment.” She searched Bramblestar’s gaze. Was he going to send her back to camp?
He whisked his tail. “I think it’s a good idea.”
“You do?” Surprise fizzed beneath her pelt. She could hardly remember the last time they’d agreed.
“There’s no harm in warning ShadowClan that there might be sickness or infected prey around.” Bramblestar looked toward the ShadowClan border. “And if you find any suggestion that ShadowClan might have been involved, at least we’ll know the worst and be able to prepare.”
She blinked at him. “So I can go?”
“I think you should hurry.” Bramblestar peered through the trees. “Jayfeather’s probably at the border by now.”
Squirrelflight lifted her tail. “Thanks, Bramblestar.” She broke into a run, racing along the route Jayfeather and Alderheart had taken. The scent of pines bathed her nose as she neared the border. She could see Jayfeather’s gray pelt, pale in the shadows. Alderheart paced beside him.
They looked around, blinking as she crashed through a patch of ferns and pulled up beside them.
“I found Bramblestar,” she puffed. “He thinks it’s a good idea if I come with you.”
Jayfeather flicked his tail and turned his muzzle back toward the border, tasting the air. “You made it just in time. Here comes a ShadowClan patrol.”
Squirrelflight pricked her ears, listening for the sound of paw steps.
Alderheart stretched his muzzle forward, scanning the pines. “Where?”
As he spoke, pelts showed in the shadows. Squirrelflight recognized Snowbird’s white pelt moving between the trees. Snaketooth and Cinnamontail were with her.
Snowbird’s eyes narrowed as she headed toward the border, her hostile gaze fixed on Jayfeather. “What do you want?” she asked sharply as she reached them.
“We need to speak with Puddleshine,” Jayfeather told her.
“There’s sickness in our camp,” Alderheart added. “We need his advice.”
“And to warn Tigerstar,” Squirrelflight mewed quickly.
“Warn him?” Snowbird narrowed her eyes. “About what?”
“I’ll tell that to
“Tigerstar’s out hunting,” Snaketooth grunted.
“I can speak to Cloverfoot,” Squirrelflight told him. Would ShadowClan’s deputy know as much as their leader?
Snowbird’s nose twitched warily. “How do we know you’re not bringing the sickness with you?”
“We’re fine,” Jayfeather promised. “A medicine cat would never knowingly spread illness.”
Snowbird eyed him, then nodded. “Okay.” She sniffed his pelt as he crossed the border. Alderheart followed. Squirrelflight glanced at Snaketooth and Cinnamontail, then padded after her Clanmates.
The ShadowClan warriors kept their distance as they escorted the ThunderClan patrol to the ShadowClan camp. Snaketooth and Snowbird exchanged glances but didn’t speak until the camp wall loomed between the trees.
“Go straight to Puddleshine’s den,” Snowbird told Jayfeather as she ducked through the entrance tunnel.
“Why would I want to go anyplace else?” Jayfeather padded after her.
Squirrelflight followed, Alderheart at her heels.
Acrid ShadowClan scent filled her nose as she emerged into the clearing. Sparrowtail and Whorlpelt were dragging old bedding from a den. Yarrowleaf and Berryheart sorted through the fresh-kill pile. Outside the elders’ den, Lightpaw and Pouncepaw were practicing battle moves in front of Oakfur and Ratscar. The apprentices paused as they saw the ThunderClan patrol, turning their heads to stare as Jayfeather and Alderheart crossed to Puddleshine’s den.
