“Clanmates.” Leafstar’s gaze flashed around the clearing. “Frecklewish has brought me news from the half-moon meeting.” She nodded to the mottled brown tabby cat who stepped forward and addressed the Clan.
“Shadowsight had a vision from StarClan,” Frecklewish began. Surprised murmurs rippled around the Clan. “They told him that the Clans have forgotten the warrior code, and they showed him the codebreakers. Because of them, they said the Clans would suffer.”
Harrybrook pricked his ears. “It’s just like Bramblestar said,” he mewed.
A low growl rumbled in the ghost’s throat. Rootpaw ignored it. He wanted to hear what else the medicine cat had to say. He blinked at Frecklewish expectantly.
Across the clearing, Plumwillow whisked her tail. “Why must
As the warriors exchanged anxious glances, Sparrowpelt looked at Frecklewish. “Who did StarClan say broke the code?” he demanded.
“They named Lionblaze.” Frecklewish began to list warriors. “Crowfeather, Squirrelflight, Jayfeather, Dovewing—”
Macgyver cut her off before she could finish her list. “No cat from SkyClan?”
“Does that mean we don’t have to suffer?” Harrybrook stared hopefully at the medicine cat.
“I don’t know.” Frecklewish shifted her paws. “But it’s true—none of the named cats were from SkyClan.”
Around the clearing, SkyClan seemed to relax. Their pelts smoothed and their tails softened. Rootpaw glanced at the ghost. Several of the named cats were in ThunderClan. The ghost’s tail was twitching angrily. “Why would StarClan agree with that impostor?” he growled. “Don’t they realize he’s just trying to cause trouble in the Clans?”
“Hush.” Rootpaw whispered under his breath. He stiffened as Macgyver glanced at him, and hurriedly turned his gaze back to Frecklewish.
The medicine cat’s eyes glittered uneasily. “StarClan didn’t say how we could fix this. Or how much we must suffer.”
Harrybrook looked at Leafstar. “If Bramblestar’s right, we have to make sure we respect the warrior code.”
Plumwillow glared at him. “But we do!”
Sparrowpelt nodded beside her. “That’s why we haven’t been named.”
“The codebreakers must apologize and make amends,” Harrybrook insisted. “So StarClan can come back.”
Bramblestar’s ghost bristled. “He sounds just like the impostor.” He stared at Rootpaw, his eyes glittering with alarm. “Why is every cat listening to that liar?”
Rootpaw ignored him.
Hawkwing narrowed his eyes. “What does StarClan want from us?” he mewed. “We can’t do more than we’re already doing.”
Leafstar shrugged. “I guess we have to wait and see what the other Clans do.”
Tree stepped forward. “What about Bramblestar?” he meowed grimly.
“He must deal with his codebreakers as he thinks fit,” Leafstar answered.
“But you’ve seen him at the Gatherings,” Tree pressed. “He’s been accusing any cat who speaks out against him of being a codebreaker. I don’t trust him. He’s using StarClan to turn the Clans against one another.”
The ghost pricked his ears. “Tree understands!” He blinked gratefully at the yellow tom. “The impostor is trying to divide the Clans by making them accuse one another. Why is he the only cat who can see that?”
Rootpaw tried to keep his fur from ruffling. Tree and the ghost were seeing problems that might never happen. The message from StarClan had made it clear that the codebreakers were the problem.
Leafstar blinked at Tree. “Bramblestar has been aggressive in calling out codebreakers,” she conceded. “But now that he knows which ones StarClan is concerned about, he might relax.”
“Does she really believe that?” The ghost stared in disbelief.
Leafstar gazed at her warriors. “This will be a difficult time for the other Clans,” she told them. “Our home is beside the lake now, and even if StarClan’s message doesn’t include us, we must support every Clan in whatever they decide.”
“Support them by standing up to that impostor!” The ghost’s pelt bristled as Leafstar followed Frecklewish and Fidgetflake to the medicine den and SkyClan’s warriors returned to their duties.
Rootpaw headed back to the warriors’ den, beckoning the ghost to follow with a flick of his tail. “Perhaps StarClan will let you go back to your body when the codebreakers have been dealt with,” he whispered as soon as they were clear of his Clanmates.
The ghost stared at him in amazement. “Do you think StarClan let an impostor take my place on
“Not exactly.” Rootpaw dropped his gaze. “But Squirrelflight was named as a codebreaker,” he pointed out. “Maybe StarClan thought it would be easier for some other cat to deal with them.”
The ghost flexed its claws. “No. The impostor is the one using StarClan. We have to stop him before it’s too late.”
“How can he use StarClan?” Rootpaw met his gaze, puzzled. “They’re more powerful than any cat.”
The ghost stared at him, his gaze shimmering with frustration. “Something is very wrong,” he murmured darkly. He turned away, his tail quivering.
