“Yes.” Tigerstar met his mate’s gaze. “She will be treated like a Clanmate for as long as she’s with us. In the meantime, we need to come up with a plan to get rid of this impostor.”
“Kill him!” Whorlpelt flexed his claws. “If he’s not a leader, he won’t have nine lives. It’ll be easy.”
The ghost bristled beside Rootpaw. “If you kill him,” Rootpaw mewed, stepping forward quickly. “the real Bramblestar’s ghost won’t have a body to return to.”
Tree tipped his head. “We have to bide our time,” he mewed. “We need to get the support of every Clan. We can’t let this turn into war.”
Squirrelflight nodded. “The impostor mustn’t realize that we know he’s not Bramblestar.” She looked at Tree. “You have to carry on with your atonement.”
“Do I tell the other Clans what I’ve told you?” Tree blinked at her.
“Not until we’re sure they’re ready to hear,” mewed Squirrelflight.
Puddleshine looked thoughtful. “I can share what we know with the other medicine cats,” he suggested. “They might be able to influence their Clans without directly challenging the cats who support the impostor.”
Tawnypelt frowned. “But surely no cat would support him if they knew he was an impostor?”
Squirrelflight shifted her paws. “It’s not an easy story to believe,” she mewed. “I wasn’t ready to believe it at first, and I shared a den with him.” She shuddered. “Puddleshine’s right. We should try to persuade the other Clans through their medicine cats.”
“I’ll tell the others at the next half-moon meeting,” Puddleshine mewed.
Dovewing blinked at Tigerstar. “I’ll have to go back into exile,” she told him. “So that the impostor thinks we agree with him.”
Tigerstar looked alarmed. “It’s too dangerous.”
“I won’t go far,” Dovewing promised him. “If I’m free to roam where I like, I might be able to keep an eye on ThunderClan.”
“Be careful.” Tigerstar’s pelt lifted along his spine.
Dovewing met his gaze. “I’ll be very careful,” she promised.
Rootpaw glanced at the ghost. Hope was glistening in its eyes. He’d done what it had asked. And he’d made it visible to the others. He couldn’t help feeling a glimmer of pride. Perhaps being like Tree wasn’t so bad after all—as long as no cat found out. He looked around at the ShadowClan cats. They were willing to stand up to the impostor. Despite the fear swirling beneath his pelt, Rootpaw felt hopeful. And yet ShadowClan was only one Clan. What if they failed? What if the other Clans continued to support the impostor? Would following the warrior code lead them to their own destruction?
Chapter 23
Bristlefrost’s pelt prickled uncomfortably.
In the days since he’d driven Squirrelflight from the camp, Bramblestar had been insisting his warriors pay closer and closer attention to the code, but he was continually announcing new interpretations of rules, to the point where no cat knew what was codebreaking and what wasn’t.
The ThunderClan leader was watching Finleap and Twigbranch from the Highledge. He lay there alone, his chin hanging over the edge of the stone while Finleap and Twigbranch dug deeper between the roots of the thorn tree. Their pelts were ruffled and specked with soil, and their paws were filthy as they tried once more to dislodge the stubborn bush.
Berrynose padded toward the exhausted warriors. “Get a move on,” he growled. “Bramblestar wants it dug up by dusk. What’s taking you so long?”
Bristlefrost saw the cream-colored tom glance up at Bramblestar. Was he hoping the ThunderClan leader would be impressed? Bramblestar stared straight through his new deputy, and Bristlefrost felt a shiver of satisfaction. The more Berrynose tried to please Bramblestar, the more Bramblestar seemed to despise him.
A fresh wave of dislike for the new ThunderClan deputy washed over Bristlefrost as Berrynose kicked loose earth back into the hole Finleap and Twigbranch had dug around the roots of the bush.
Finleap glared at him. “What did you do that for?”
“It was an accident,” Berrynose sniffed.
