Squirrelflight looked at her. “What do you mean?”
“Since the Great Battle, the Dark Forest has been nearly empty,” Mousefur told her. “Most of the cats who lived there were defeated and passed on. I think the forest is overgrown now and the trees are crumbling.”
Squirrelflight’s eyes widened. “Then what happens to bad cats when they die?” She thought of Darktail—surely he
Longtail shrugged. “Who knows? They don’t show up here.”
Dandelionkit scrambled down from her back. “What’s the Dark Forest?”
“That’s where the scary cats go.” Juniperkit leaped down after her.
“Let’s be scary cats!” Dandelionkit darted between Mousefur’s legs. Growling excitedly, Juniperkit chased after her. Flickerkit leaped down from Larksong’s back and joined in.
Leafpool tore her gaze from Hollyleaf and blinked at the kits happily. “I feel so at home here,” she purred.
Squirrelflight shivered. It was good to see so many old friends, but she wasn’t ready to stay. ThunderClan’s forest was home, not here. Her gaze flitted around her old Clanmates. They were glancing anxiously at Leafpool. Had her sister said something wrong?
Firestar’s tail twitched. “I’m glad you’re happy here,” he meowed. “But I’m not sure you can stay.”
Squirrelflight pricked her ears. “Does that mean we’re not going to die yet?” She looked at him eagerly.
Firestar’s gaze darkened. “We don’t know,” he mewed. “But even if you do, you may not be allowed to stay in StarClan.” His gaze flitted from Squirrelflight to Leafpool. “Either of you.”
Shock sparked in Squirrelflight’s belly. “What do you mean?”
Leafpool’s eyes widened. “Does StarClan think we’re bad?”
Squirrelflight stiffened. Had Bramblestar been right? Had she betrayed her Clan by supporting the Sisters? She was Clan deputy after all. Had StarClan seen her hesitate before defending Bramblestar against Flurry’s attack?
Leafpool shifted beside her. “It’s because I lied about my kits, isn’t it?” She moved closer to Hollyleaf. “I had to. I had no choice. Giving up my medicine-cat duties would have been as much of a betrayal.”
“It’s not me but the whole of StarClan you have to convince.” Firestar stared at her gravely. “They believe that you broke the warrior code.” His gaze moved to Squirrelflight. “You both did. You lied to your Clan.”
Squirrelflight stared at him. “Every cat makes mistakes,” she blurted.
“Yes.” He shifted his paws uneasily. “But you must be held to account for yours before you’re allowed into StarClan.”
“How?” Leafpool’s question was barely more than a whisper.
“StarClan must review your lives.” He turned to Mousefur. “Take the kits away. They don’t need to watch this.”
“But we want to stay with Squirrelflight!” Dandelionkit’s eyes rounded with alarm.
Juniperkit stuck his fluffy tail in the air indignantly. “Please let us stay.”
“You’ll see them afterward,” Mousefur told him. She caught Firestar’s eye. “I hope.” Ignoring their complaints, the dusky brown she-cat nosed them away and swept Flickerkit after them with her tail.
Squirrelflight’s paws pricked with alarm. Where were they going?
“Follow me.” Firestar led her across the hillside while their Clanmates trailed behind and Leafpool padded at her side.
“What’s going to happen?” Squirrelflight whispered.
Leafpool glanced at her nervously. “I don’t know.”
Firestar followed the meadow to a forest that reached down into a valley. He led them between trees and brambles to a wide, grassy clearing. As he stopped in the middle, Squirrelflight glanced around. “Where are we?” The place reminded her of Fourtrees, where the Clans had gathered every moon before the Great Journey to the lake.
“This is where StarClan meets to decide the fate of every cat,” Firestar told her. As he spoke, starlight glittered between the trees. On every side, StarClan warriors padded from between the trees. Their pelts, sparkling with countless stars, lit the shadows as they gathered at the edge of the clearing.
Leafpool moved closer. “Where will we go if StarClan won’t take us?” Fear shimmered in her gaze.
Firestar’s gaze clouded. “I don’t know,” he mewed huskily.
Squirrelflight could hardly believe her ears. What if there wasn’t anywhere else? Did that mean she and Leafpool would just disappear? Would they become nothing but a fading memory for the living? Or would they end up wandering the forest forever? Perhaps Tree would be able to see them. Or the Sisters. “How will you decide?” she breathed.
Firestar shifted his paws. “
