The Silent Thaw полностью

The chill of the hollow cut through Shadowsight’s pelt. He had a second confession to make. He braced himself. He’d known from the start the next one would be harder: he was going to have to tell Tigerstar that he’d broken his promise and told the other medicine cats. He tried not to picture his father’s anger, but he knew he was going to have to face it eventually. Fear fluttered in his chest, and yet he still felt relieved. He’d shared his vision at last. Now the Clans could take action and his Clanmates’ suffering could end.

He watched Jayfeather settle beside the Moonpool. The blind medicine cat touched his nose to the water. Did he still hope that StarClan would share with him tonight? As Jayfeather closed his eyes, the ThunderClan medicine cat’s words rang in Shadowsight’s ears. Can you imagine what Bramblestar will do when he knows who to blame? Shadowsight stifled a shudder. Would his vision end his Clanmates’ suffering, or make it worse?

Shadowsight waited until dawn. He’d given up trying to sleep and was watching anxiously from his nest. At last, as pale light began to loosen the shadows, he heard the paw steps of the dawn patrol gathering in the clearing. Heart quickening, he crept from his nest and waited until Snaketooth, Yarrowleaf, Conefoot, and Gullswoop headed out of camp, then ducked outside and crossed to his father’s den.

“Tigerstar,” he whispered into the darkness, his heart pounding so hard that he felt his body pulse with its beat. Puddleshine had offered to come with him to tell Tigerstar about last night’s meeting, but this was something Shadowsight wanted to do alone. He was the one who had betrayed his father’s trust.

Bracken rustled inside, and Shadowsight stepped back as he heard paw steps cross the den.

His father emerged, blinking, into the clearing. “Is something wrong?” His eyes rounded with worry as he scanned the sleeping camp.

“The Clan is safe,” Shadowsight reassured him.

Dovewing slid past Tigerstar and looked anxiously at Shadowsight. “It’s early,” she mewed. “Is everything okay?”

“I have something to tell you.” Shadowsight glanced over his shoulder to make sure no cat was listening. “About the half-moon meeting.”

Tigerstar’s gaze darkened. Had he guessed?

Dovewing tipped her head seriously. “It sounds serious.”

“It is.” Shadowsight held his father’s gaze, his breath shallow. “I told the other medicine cats about my vision.”

Anger flashed in Tigerstar’s eyes.

Dovewing looked puzzled. “What vision?”

“The one StarClan sent me.” Shadowsight dragged his gaze to his mother. “It told me that there are codebreakers in the Clans, and that the Clans must suffer because of them.”

Dovewing’s ears pricked. “Codebreakers?”

“They named cats who have broken the warrior code.” His throat tightened. He had to force himself not to look away. “You were one of them.”

Dovewing seemed to flinch. She looked anxiously at Tigerstar. “And your father?”

“They didn’t name him.”

“Who else?” Fear sharpened Dovewing’s mew.

“Crowfeather and Squirrelflight.” Shadowsight didn’t dare look at Tigerstar. From the corner of his eye, he could see his father’s breath billowing in the cold morning air. He wanted to ask for forgiveness for what he’d done. Instead he pressed on. “Jayfeather, Twigbranch, Lionblaze, and Mothwing.”

“Is that all?” His mother stared at him.

“That’s all they showed me.”

“We can’t be the only warriors who have broken the code.” Dovewing swung her muzzle toward Tigerstar. “You broke it too. Why aren’t you named?”

Tigerstar was staring at Shadowsight. “You shouldn’t have told them,” he growled. His tail flicked ominously.

“I had to.” Shadowsight held his ground. “Bad things kept happening to our Clanmates. Antfur died. It was a sign from StarClan, don’t you see? They warned me that cats would have to pay a price, that they would have to suffer. . . . I had to tell the others so terrible things would stop happening.”

Tigerstar flattened his ears. “What if knowing who the codebreakers are causes more suffering?”

“I had to do something,” Shadowsight insisted. “I couldn’t sit by and let anything else happen to my Clanmates.”

Tigerstar narrowed his eyes. “So Jayfeather and Alderheart are going to tell Bramblestar?”

“Yes.” Shadowsight swallowed. “They have to.”

“Why aren’t you named?” Dovewing asked Tigerstar again.

Tigerstar looked at her grimly. “StarClan might accuse more cats. If they don’t, I’m sure Bramblestar will.”

Shadowsight’s heart lurched. Was this just the beginning? Would the Clans tear themselves apart with accusations? The ground seemed to tremble beneath his paws as he realized what he’d started. “I’m sorry,” he blurted. “I wanted to protect our Clan. I had to tell them about my vision.”

Tigerstar scowled at him. “No matter who it hurt?” Rage hardened his mew.