As the patrol passed the sentries who guarded the camp entrance, the rest of ThunderClan came running to welcome their warriors home.
Queens, kits, and elders crowded on either side, peering curiously at Yellowfang as she was led into camp. Some of the elders recognized the old she-cat, and word spread quickly through the Clan that this was ShadowClan's medicine cat. A steady, jeering hum rose up around them.
Yellowfang seemed deaf to the taunts. Firepaw couldn't help admiring the way she limped with dignity through the corridor of stares and insults. He knew she was in a great deal of pain, and probably hungrier now that she smelled all the prey. He placed his catch on the pile and was greeted by Sandpaw.
"Since when do we let ShadowClan cats in our camp?" She demanded.
"Since one crashed into me looking like a rat chewed it up and didn't like the taste."
"Only you, Firepaw."
"Bluestar thought I fed her."
"Did you?" She asked, eyes blazing.
"Of course not!" He snapped.
"Good." She insisted. "I'll see you tonight."
Firepaw no longer needed Sandpaw prompting him to eat, but they shared meals more often than not. He dared to say that they were friends.
He glanced around to see what was going on, and noticed Spottedleaf approaching the old, grizzled she-cat.
"I know how to treat my own wounds, thank you." Yellowfang grumbled. "Some herbs would be nice, but doubt I have anything that needs extra paws."
Spottedleaf nodded and went back to her den. Firepaw strained to hear what Bluestar and the senior warriors were discussing.
Tigerclaw's yowl sounded impatient.
"It's just too dangerous to bring an enemy warrior into the heart of ThunderClan! Now that she knows the camp, even the youngest ShadowClan kit will hear of it. We'll have to move."
"Calm down, Tigerclaw," Bluestar purred. "Why should we move? Yellowfang made her distaste for Brokenstar quite clear."
"Do you really believe that? What on earth was that foolish kittypet thinking of?" Tigerclaw spat.
"Use your head for a moment, you mouse-brain." The grey she-cat snorted airily. "Why would the ShadowClan medicine cat choose to leave her Clan? You seem to be afraid that Yellowfang will share our Clan secrets with ShadowClan, but have you thought about what ShadowClan secrets she might share with us?"
Firepaw could see by the way Tigerclaw's fur began to flatten that Bluestar's words made sense. The warrior nodded briefly, and then stalked off to take his share of the fresh-kill.
Bluestar remained where she was. She looked out across the clearing, where some of the younger kits were fighting and tumbling playfully in the dust. Then she stood up and began to walk toward Firepaw. He stiffened. Would she rebuke him even though he managed to prove himself?
But Bluestar walked straight past him, not even sparing him a glance. Her eyes were clouded with unknown distant thoughts.
"Frostfur!" She called out as she headed for the nursery.
The pure white she-cat was the only queen he hadn't heard mention of, but he remembered her well enough. She'd never spoken to him again after Brightheart came back savaged by the dogs. She slipped out of the bramble and inside, the mewling grew.
"Hush, kits," Frostfur purred reassuringly. "I won't be long."
She turned to her leader.
"Is something wrong?"
"Two of our apprentices have seen a fox in the area. Warn the other queens to guard the nursery carefully. And make sure all kits less than six moons stay visible within the camp until our warriors have driven it away."
Frostfur nodded.
"I'll pass on the warning, Bluestar." She nodded disappeared into the nursery to quiet the crying kits.
Bluestar didn't really need to call the Clan together for what she was about to say. Everyone was curious.
"I'm sure you have all heard about the prisoner we brought back with us today," Bluestar began. "But there is more still." She glanced down at the grizzled she-cat who lay beside the Highrock. "Can you hear me from there?" she asked.
"I may be old, but I'm not deaf yet!" Yellowfang spat in reply.
Bluestar nodded, pleased despite (or maybe because of) the hostile tone and continued.
"Today I traveled with a patrol into WindClan territory. The air was filled with the scent of ShadowClan. Almost every tree had been sprayed by ShadowClan warriors, and we met no WindClan cats even though we journeyed deep into their territory."
Her words were met with silence. Firepaw saw confusion in the faces of the Clan cats.
"Do you mean ShadowClan has chased them out?" called Smallear hesitantly.
"We can't be sure," Bluestar meowed. "Certainly the scent of ShadowClan was everywhere. We found blood, too, and fur. There must have been a battle, though we found no bodies from either Clan."
A shocked yowl rose from the crowd in a single voice. Firepaw felt the cats around him stiffen with fury. Never before had one Clan driven another from its hunting grounds.
"How can WindClan have been driven out?" One-eye croaked hoarsely. "ShadowClan is fierce, but WindClan is many. They have lived in the uplands for generations. Why have they been chased out now?" She shook her head anxiously, whiskers trembling.
"I don't know the answers to any of your questions," meowed Bluestar. "It is well known that ShadowClan has recently appointed a new leader, following the death of Raggedstar. Their new leader, Brokenstar, gave no hint of any threat when we met him at the last Gathering."
Right… Firepaw scoffed. Brokenstar was dangerous, alright. And Sandpaw had probably been onto something when she said the warriors at the Gathering looked like kits.
"Perhaps Yellowfang has answers?" snarled Darkstripe. "After all, she is of ShadowClan!"
Oh for StarClan's sake…
"I may have left Brokenstar's ShadowClan behind, but I am no traitor! Nothing would make me share any secrets with a brute like you!" growled Yellowfang, glaring at Darkstripe. The ThunderClan warrior moved forward, ears flat, eyes closed to slits and ready for a fight. Because clearly that would solve everything.
"Stop!" yowled Bluestar.
Darkstripe immediately halted in his tracks, even though Yellowfang goaded him on with blazing eyes and a ferocious hiss.
"That's enough!" Bluestar growled. "This situation is too serious for us to be fighting among ourselves. ThunderClan must be prepared. From this moonrise onward, warriors will travel in larger groups. Everyone else must remain close to the camp. Patrols will travel the boundary edges more frequently, and all the kits will stay in the nursery."
The cats below her nodded in agreement.
"As for our newcomer, Yellowfang will be
allowed to stay here until she has recovered her strength. We are warriors, not savages. Furthermore, she is a medicine cat, and a fine one. She will be respected."
"But the Clan cannot support Yellowfang," Darkstripe protested. "We have too many mouths to feed already." He snapped, glaring at Firepaw.
"Yeah!" Greypaw whispered. "And some of them are bigger than others!"
"I don't need anyone to care for me!" spat Yellowfang.
"And I'll split open whoever bothers to try!"
"Friendly, isn't she?" Greypaw murmured.
Firepaw flicked the tip of his tail in silent agreement.
There were muffled meows from the other warriors as they grudgingly recognized the enemy warrior's fighting spirit.
Bluestar ignored the murmuring.
"Firepaw, since it was your idea to bring her into the camp, it will be your responsibility to care for Yellowfang. You will hunt for her and tend her wounds. You will fetch fresh bedding and clear away her dirt. Your fellow apprentices are more than welcome to help you if they are willing."
"Yes, Bluestar," mewed Firepaw, dipping his head.
"The meeting is over. I would like to speak to my senior warriors alone now."
With that, she jumped down from the Highrock and marched toward her den.
Lionheart followed her. The other Clan cats began to move away from the Highrock. One or two wished him luck looking after Yellowfang. Firepaw felt so dazed by Bluestar's announcement that he just nodded blankly. Longtail padded up to him. The vee-shaped nick that Firepaw had cut into the tip of his ear still showed.
The young warrior drew back his whiskers into an ugly snarl.
"Well, I hope you'll think twice about bringing strays back into the camp next time," he sneered. "Like I said earlier, outsiders always bring trouble."
"If you're so concerned about Yellowfang causing trouble, perhaps you should be aiding Firepaw to look after her." Whitestorm came out of absolutely nowhere, and Longtail jolted. Firepaw dipped his head.
"Thank you, but I'll be fine with Yellowfang. She knows so much about herbs that she might give Longtail a stomach ache for speaking out of turn."
Whitestorm chuckled lightly and nodded.
"May StarClan walk in your pawsteps." He purred as he disappeared into Bluestar's den.