Leafstar curled her tail around her paws. “SkyClan has not been accused of codebreaking. What the other Clans do about
Bramblestar dipped his head. “Very well. Then all we have to do now is decide on a fitting punishment.” He turned back to the gathered cats. “Does any cat have a suggestion?”
Rootpaw felt queasy as Bramblestar’s gaze raked the Clans.
The ghost paced around Rootpaw. “Why doesn’t some cat challenge him?”
Rootpaw held his tongue, aware of the silence that had fallen over the Clans.
“You have to do something!”
“What can I do?” Rootpaw hissed, one eye on the crowd beside him. The cats were staring at Bramblestar as though hypnotized.
“Speak up! Say something! You can’t let this happen!” The ghost lashed its tail. “Whoever’s in my body up there, this is just the start.”
Rootpaw tried to ignore him, moving closer to the crowd. It would be useless to speak out now. He’d only get in trouble again.
The ghost thrust its muzzle closer. “He’s going to destroy the Clans!” it yowled. “He’ll turn the Clans against one another, and then he’ll turn each Clan against itself.”
Frustration welled in Rootpaw’s chest.
It darted after him and stood close, its nose a whisker from Rootpaw’s face. “Some cat has to speak out!”
“Shut up!” The words burst from Rootpaw before he could stop himself.
He saw countless faces turn toward him, eyes flashing in the moonlight. His pelt burned as the living Bramblestar stared at him from the Great Oak.
“What did you say?” the ThunderClan leader growled slowly.
Rootpaw stared back at him, his mouth dry. He wanted to run away, but he felt as though his paws had sunk deep into the ground. “I’m sorry,” he mumbled. “I was thinking about something else. I didn’t mean to speak. I was distracted.”
Bramblestar eyed Rootpaw for a moment, then turned his gaze back to the crowd. “So?” He dismissed Rootpaw’s interruption with a flick of his tail. “Has any cat come up with a suggestion?”
As Bramblestar waited for an answer, Rootpaw noticed that Stemleaf and Spotfur were still staring at him. They stood at the edge of their Clan, almost separate from the other warriors. Spotfur still looked a little timid and chastened after being singled out by Bramblestar—but her eyes, like Stemleaf’s, were bright with interest as they regarded Rootpaw. He dropped his gaze, self-conscious.
In the crowd, Scorchfur lifted his muzzle uncertainly. “We should think before we act.”
Agreement rippled through the crowd.
“It’s an important decision,” Hootwhisker agreed. “We should discuss it first.”
Mistystar padded to Bramblestar’s side. “They’re right,” she mewed. “Let’s return to our camps and talk about the best way forward. This Gathering is at an end.”
As she spoke, the crowd shifted and began to break up. The taut knot of gathered cats unraveled as they turned away from the Great Oak and began to head toward the long grass. Tigerstar jumped from the branch and hurried toward Dovewing, pressing against her protectively when he reached her. Leafstar slithered down the trunk and padded quickly toward her Clanmates.
In the oak, Bramblestar was still glaring at Mistystar. “Am I the only cat trying to do as StarClan wishes?” Indignation shone in his eyes.
“We all want to do as StarClan wishes,” she answered evenly.
Harestar padded to the RiverClan leader’s side. “You can’t just bully every cat into agreeing with you.”
“I was the last one of us to see StarClan,” Bramblestar snapped. “I lost a life, don’t forget. I speak for StarClan more than any cat here.”
Rootpaw saw orange fur slipping through the crowd. His heart quickened. Squirrelflight was hurrying toward him. He tensed as she stopped in front of him. “Quick,” she hissed, glancing back at Bramblestar. “I don’t have long. Were you telling the truth about Bramblestar’s message?”
As Rootpaw stared at her, the ghost fluffed out its fur excitedly at the edge of his vision.
“Tell me!” She looked scared.
“Y-yes,” he blurted.
“Why should I believe you?” She searched his gaze desperately.
Bramblestar’s ghost whisked its tail. “Tell her that after the battle with the Sisters, we sat here in this clearing, looking up at the stars, wondering which one was Leafpool. She said it didn’t matter, because Leafpool would always be watching over ThunderClan.”
Rootpaw glanced at him, then at the impostor still in the Great Oak. Was this going to get him into more trouble?
“Don’t just stare into space!” Anger hardened Squirrelflight’s mew. “Tell me why I should believe you!”
“After the battle you . . .” He paused, trying to remember the words. “You were here with Bramblestar and you were looking at the stars, wondering which one was Leafpool, but it didn’t matter because she would always be watching over you.” He spoke so fast he nearly tripped over the words.
Squirrelflight stared at him, amazed. “He’s really a ghost?”
“He’s here now,” Rootpaw told her quickly.
