Squirrelflight's Hope полностью

“Of course.” She dipped her head politely. “And you’ve come with a message from the Clans.”

“Not a message,” he told her. “I’ve come to persuade you to leave this territory.”

She held his gaze coolly. “Really.” She sounded unimpressed.

“You already know that SkyClan wants this land,” he began. “The land around the lake is not big enough to support five Clans. It was decided that SkyClan should move here. But they can’t while you’re here.”

“I’ve told Leafstar already that she can have the land when we move on,” Moonlight told him.

“You need to move on now. The Clans are already fighting over land. Every moment you stay here puts another warrior at risk.” Tree stared at her urgently. “For the sake of the Clans, you have to go.”

Moonlight tipped her head. “I thought the Clans enjoyed fighting. They attacked us for no good reason. They nearly killed Sunrise.”

“You were trespassing,” Tree reminded her. “And you maimed one of their warriors.”

“If they’d simply asked us to leave, no one would have been hurt.”

Tree’s fur ruffled along his spine. “That’s what they’re doing now,” he meowed. “Asking you to leave so that no one gets hurt.”

Moonlight narrowed her eyes. “Is that a threat?”

Squirrelflight’s heart quickened. Moonlight was being difficult. She shot Tree a warning glance.

He dipped his head. “I came here to reason with you, not to threaten.”

“Then reason with me.” Moonlight’s gaze suddenly hardened. “Don’t quote words given to you by someone else. You’re my son. I hope I taught you to have a mind of your own.”

“I was your son,” Tree answered. “I speak for the Clans now.”

“The Clans!” Moonlight snorted. “Do you think like a Clan cat too? Dividing land out like prey to be given to others.” She scowled at him. “Have you forgotten that as a tom, you are protector of the land? You should wander it, not own it!”

“You’ve never believed in borders!” Tree snapped back. “You’ve never believed in home. But some cats want to belong. They want a home that will always be a home.”

Squirrelflight stepped forward. “I realize this is an emotional time,” she meowed evenly. “Perhaps it wasn’t the best idea to ask your son to reason with you. But he’s not trying to threaten you. And if his words are someone else’s, it’s because he’s trying so hard not to. But the truth is, if you don’t move, you will face a battle with more cats than you have ever seen, every one of them trained in fighting.”

Leafstar shifted beside her. “You say you want to have your kits here, but they would be in danger here.”

Moonlight glared at her. “Is the land really worth that much to the Clans? Would they harm kits to get their paws on it?”

A chill ran along Squirrelflight’s spine.

Tree lashed his tail. “Why argue?” he growled. “You’re outnumbered. There’s no way you can defend this valley. You certainly couldn’t defend the hunting land around it. Why don’t you just accept that you have to leave?”

Moonlight lifted her chin. “The Sisters will not be bullied. We will not move. If the Clans wish to attack us, we will defend ourselves.”

Squirrelflight could hardly believe her ears. Was Moonlight crazy? ThunderClan would not hurt a queen and her kits, but ShadowClan might, or even WindClan. A battle could easily rage out of control. She stared urgently at Moonlight. “Please leave,” she whispered. “Don’t risk your kits’ lives.” And bring shame on the Clans. If the Sisters didn’t leave, the Clans might prove her worst fear—that they were capable of self-interest so ruthless, it wouldn’t matter which cats stood in their way.

Moonlight returned her gaze unwaveringly. “I’ve told you. We will not move.”

Tree flattened his ears. “You always put your beliefs before the needs of your kits.” Curling his lip, he pushed his way out of the den.

Tail drooping, Leafstar followed. Squirrelflight glanced at them as they left. Perhaps it hadn’t been such a good idea to ask Tree to mediate with his mother. She turned her gaze on Moonlight. The queen stared back at her coldly. “Please,” Squirrelflight mewed. They’d shared a camp, if only for a short while. They’d helped build this den together. She’d stood up for Sunrise when her Clanmates had wanted to send her away. They had a connection. Surely there was something she could say now to make Moonlight change her mind?

Moonlight stared at her, unblinking. “Leave.”

Dread settled in Squirrelflight’s belly. Trembling, she nosed her way outside. They’d failed. The Sisters were staying and the Clans would attack. Her thoughts whirled. Preying on the vulnerable was not part of the warrior code. If ThunderClan attacked the Sisters, could she fight alongside her Clanmates? She wanted to prove her loyalty to ThunderClan, but could she risk hurting an expectant queen?

CHAPTER 21