Twigbranch padded from the shadows at the edge of the clearing. She stopped beside Lilyheart. “Larksong was lucky to have a mother like you,” she mewed. “As a kit, I lost my own mother. I moved from one camp to another, lost and gained a sister and a father. Throughout it all, you were there for me, and Larksong was like a littermate.” She dropped her gaze shyly. “I will miss him like a brother.”
Lilyheart blinked gratefully at the young warrior as Twigbranch took her place beside Honeyfur and Leafshade.
Finleap hurried forward. “Larksong was a great mentor.” He glanced around at his Clanmates. “It’s not fair he died of sickness and not in battle. But I promise to become the best warrior I can be in honor of his memory.” He backed away, pelt prickling self-consciously, and took his place again beside Plumstone and Eaglewing.
Bramblestar padded forward, stopping in a pool of moonlight. “ThunderClan has lost two brave warriors, for I know Larksong’s kit would have followed in his father’s paw steps. Larksong was always kind to his Clanmates and loyal to his Clan. May StarClan welcome him with open hearts. He can never be a father to his kits here, but his memory will live on in them and in the hearts of the cats he’s left behind.” Squirrelflight’s heart flooded with grief as Bramblestar blinked affectionately at Sparkpelt. “We will miss him and the kit we never had the chance to know.”
Squirrelflight fluffed her fur out against the wind. There was a chill in the air, and the heavy dew brought by the dawn hadn’t yet lifted. She sat near the fresh-kill pile, eyeing the medicine den anxiously. Sparkpelt had returned there to sleep after her long night’s vigil beside Larksong’s body. She still hadn’t been to the nursery to see her kits. As Squirrelflight wondered whether to wake her, the thorn tunnel shivered and Berrynose padded into camp. Plumstone, Mousewhisker, and Lionblaze trailed after him.
The patrol was clearly in the middle of a heated conversation. Mousewhisker stopped at the edge of the clearing, his gaze dark. “I’m just saying that all this trouble started when the Sisters showed up.”
“It’s a coincidence.” Lionblaze sat down and began to wash the mud from his paws.
“It’s no coincidence that they’re taking up land meant for SkyClan,” Plumstone pointed out.
“And it’s strange that a poisonous plant we’ve never heard of shows up in the forest at the same time as the Sisters.” Berrynose lay down outside the warriors’ den.
Squirrelflight glared at him. “The Sisters didn’t cause the sickness. They’re the ones who told us what it was, and how to cure it.”
“They didn’t tell us what this meadow saffron looks like. There are plenty of different plants with purple flowers,” Berrynose answered. “How are we meant to find it and dig it up if we don’t know what it looks like?”
“I didn’t give them the chance to tell us.” Squirrelflight felt like she was always defending the Sisters. “I wanted to get back so Leafpool could treat Larksong and Sparkpelt.” She looked up at the Highledge, where Bramblestar was pulling apart a thrush.
Bramblestar stopped eating when she caught his eye. He got to his paws and slithered down the rock tumble. Squirrelflight felt a prick of guilt. She shouldn’t draw him into this. He looked tired. He’d sat vigil with Sparkpelt all night and been the first to help dig the hole where Larksong and his kit would be buried. He swiped his tongue around his mouth, wiping it clean. “It would be helpful to know what plants we need to dig up.”
“I could visit them again and find out,” Squirrelflight offered.
Berrynose grunted. “What you need to find out is when they’re leaving.”
“Why?” Squirrelflight flicked her tail irritably. “SkyClan hasn’t even decided whether to move yet.”
Mousewhisker sat down. “Perhaps Leafstar doesn’t want to make a decision that might mean the Sisters have to move. She might be as fond of them as you are.” He gazed accusingly at Squirrelflight.
“I’m not fond of them,” she shot back. “I just happen to respect their way of life.”
Bramblestar shifted his paws. “You used to respect
She looked at him, surprised. She’d thought they’d settled their differences. Was he still angry with her? “I still do!”
“Then why do you keep talking about the Sisters?” Bramblestar held her gaze.
“Mousewhisker and Berrynose started it!” Squirrelflight defended herself.
Berrynose sat up. “I just think it will be better when they’re gone. As long as they’re living on our border, Tigerstar will be bristling for a fight, Leafstar will be dithering over whether SkyClan should move, and you two will be bickering.” His gaze flashed toward Bramblestar.
