Chapter 19

Shocked, angry howls rose from the crowd. Their fury was almost a physical force, a storm on the horizon that threatened to blow every ThunderClan cat from Fourtrees and into the sky. Tinyclaw unsheathed his claws and sank them into the moist earth, feeling the other cat's hostility growing all around him.

Sandstorm pressed against him, unsettled. Tinyclaw straightened his back at her touch – her warmth was comforting, but he feared he might not be able to hide his fear from her.

Upon the Great Rock, Tallstar whipped his head to glare at Tigerstar in disbelief. "Is this true?" he wondered, his voice breaking with shock.

Tigerstar sighed. He looked unhappy, but with dignity he stepped into the light of the moon and growled to Nightstar, "How do you know this?" Tigerstar's eyes were narrowed. "Have you spies in our territory, watching our very camp?"

Nightstar snarled, "That's none of your business."

"I think it is," Tigerstar growled back.

Tinyclaw froze – Tigerstar had a legitimate worry. How had Nightstar and ShadowClan found out about Brokentail if not by spying on their camp? As far as Tinyclaw knew, the entire Clan had kept it secret.

He craned his neck, looking for any telling faces in ThunderClan's party. Everyone was slowly clustering together as the hostility grew from those they had been talking to. Unfortunately, Tinyclaw had no idea who could have given away anything.

He couldn't have simply guessed, Tinyclaw thought, but with the floods there is no way he could have been on our territory. How did he know? Who could have said anything?

Nightstar growled, "Do you dare stand here before StarClan and tell me I am wrong?"

Tigerstar froze. Tinyclaw felt sympathy for his leader – much of his own Clan was unhappy with sheltering Brokentail. Now he had to defend his decision in front of all the Clans, most of whom were hurt by Brokentail's actions.

Tallstar's eyes were pleading. "Tigerstar," he breathed, "is this true?"

"Yes," Tigerstar said. His voice rang out clear and cold in the night air. "It is true."

Immediately Tallstar's spine bent and he spat, "Traitor! You know what Brokenstar did to us – to the whole forest!" He was furious, his skinny frame trembling with horror. "How dare you!"

"How dare I?" snarled Tigerstar. "My loyalty is not to your Clan, Tallstar. How dare you call me traitor!"

Tallstar stood his ground despite Tigerstar's imposing presence. Nightstar stood near like a shadow, whilst Crookedstar sat between them, eyes flashing this way and that. Tallstar snarled, "It is the warrior code you have betrayed, for giving shelter to that piece of fox-dung!"

Tigerstar curled his lip. All around in the crowd WindClan cats were whooping and hollering for Tigerstar's blood. Tinyclaw couldn't blame them – Brokentail had driven out their Clan and stole their territory. It must have felt like an infected wound to know ThunderClan, the Clan that had brought them home, were now sheltering their enemy.

And ShadowClan too, oh ShadowClan. Tinyclaw saw the ShadowClan cats converging on the ThunderClan cats, eyes narrowed and spines bristling. Brokentail had driven their Clan to starvation, killed kits and apprentices, and started fights that ended in ShadowClan deaths.

Tinyclaw and Sandstorm stood, both bristling. They joined the other ThunderClan cats, huddled in the center of the clearing. Very quickly they were surrounded by cats that they had been talking to not a moment before – the WindClan queens Willowpelt had been talking with had now turned on her, driving her towards her own Clan. Mousefur and Whitestorm were pushed away from a group of warriors. Tinyclaw huddled with Sandstorm and Graystripe, his claws out and ready to defend his Clanmates should a blow fall.

"Stop this!"

The cats froze, and all eyes turned to the Great Rock. Crookedstar had thrust his way between the other leaders, his gaze cold and still. When he had their attention he howled, "How can you all threaten to break the truce of peace tonight, before all of StarClan?"

As he spoke, the moonlight began to fade. The clearing darkened as a clod drifted lazily over the moon, a cloud Tinyclaw could have sworn hadn't been there before. The cats below hissed in the darkness until it consumed them all – the cloud settled in front of the moon, staying put.

Crookedstar swung his head to Tigerstar. "RiverClan has the least quarrel with Brokenstar. Tigerstar tell me – why have you done this?"

I suppose he's the best choice for a mediator, Tinyclaw thought. Brokenstar only encroached on RiverClan territory – he didn't kill them or steal their kits.

"Brokentail is blind," Tigerstar explained. "He is an old, defeated cat with no way to defend himself. Did you want us to cast him out into the forest, weak and unprepared?"

"Yes!" spat Nightstar, foam flecking on his lips. "No death is too cruel for him!" He whipped his head around and snapped to Tallstar, "Will you stand here and let them keep safe the cat who drove your Clan out and away?"

Tallstar was bristling, and Tinyclaw wondered why Nightstar wanted to drive Tallstar so hard. Nightstar was Clan leader, and his Clan was at peace – what did it matter? Why would he want to start such a fight, especially over Brokentail?

But Tallstar looked stunned at Nightstar's fury. Carefully, to Tigerstar, he meowed, "You know what this means to us, Tigerstar. You know what Brokenstar did to us – to all of us." His gaze was even. "We can never forgive him."

Tigerstar frowned. "Then you are wrong," he rumbled. "The warrior code tells us to show compassion. Where we could have left you alone in your isolation, I sent warriors to bring you home. Do you not recall what we -"

Tallstar howled, rage in his voice, "Do you claim to own us now?" He was bristling with fury. "Did you bring us back so that we could sit here silently and support every decision you make? So that we would revere you as our heroes? Do you think WindClan has no honor?"

Tigerstar sighed and snarled back, "Compassion, Tallstar. Listen to me! Compassion is what drove us to bring you back, and compassion is what drove us to shelter Brokentail. Try to recall what it felt like to be weak, homeless, with nowhere to go and no one to lean on – recall this, and think of Brokentail!"

"He showed no compassion!" Nightstar spat.

"But if we show none as well, we are no better than he!" Tigerstar roared back. "His lack of compassion turned him into a monster – but we will not become monsters simply to be rid of him – do not presume to tell me how to run my Clan!"

Nightstar was bristling with fury, every hair on end. He snarled, "I'll tell you this, Tigerstar – if ThunderClan keeps sheltering Brokenstar, there will be trouble. You can count on ShadowClan to defend the safety of the forest, even if you won't."

"WindClan as well," Tallstar growled. He stood side-by-side with Nightstar and snarled, "I will not let this monster live for what he has done to us. Justice!"

"Justice!" shouted ShadowClan and WindClan in one united voice.

Tinyclaw flinched. Cats who had once been enemies were now uniting underneath their hatred of Brokentail, and they were willing to destroy ThunderClan to get to him. Tigerstar's eyes were wide and wild, full of fury and shock.

"Enough of this," Crookedstar growled. He shouldered his way between them and said, "There is other business to discuss tonight, or had you all forgotten?"

The leaders shifted away uneasily. Tinyclaw admired Crookedstar's bravery, for standing between the opposing sides as he reported the spreading of the floods and the damage to his territory. No cat interrupted – all were too busy buzzing with anger at ThunderClan, who were huddled in the center of the clearing like a mouse in the open.

"I knew there would be trouble," Sandstorm whispered. "I just knew it."

"We all did, I think," Tinyclaw sighed. His claws were still out, and his paws were trembling. "But Tigerstar can't back down now, or the other Clans will think we're cowards."

Sandstorm sighed and leaned into him. Tinyclaw shivered. He tried to concentrate on the rest of the Gathering, but it was impossible – too much had happened so quickly, and time seemed to tick by so slowly. It took ages for the moon to set, and for the cats to begin separating for their journey home.

When Tigerstar hopped down from the Great Rock, ThunderClan surrounded him. Tinyclaw flicked his tail, knowing that every warrior was uncertain that the truce would hold. Knowing how many lives his leader had left, Tinyclaw knew they could not risk a fight.

As the Clans separated there was no shortage of glares from ShadowClan or WindClan. Only Onewhisker, the pale WindClan warrior, seemed apprehensive about the hostility. When he passed, he only gave Tinyclaw a quiet nod and sorrowful eyes, as if he hoped that this would not sever their friendship entirely.

"Wonderful," hissed Darkstripe. "Simply wonderful." He turned to Tigerstar and growled, "I hope you're happy – now two Clans are howling for our blood!"

Tigerstar whipped his head around and snarled, "Enough! This is not a discussion for now. When we get back to -"

"Get back?" mocked Nightstar. The black-pelted leader was sauntering by, ShadowClan streaming behind him. "And how do you intend to get back?"

"Certainly not through our territory!" Cinderfur sneered. "Step one paw on ShadowClan land and you won't have the paw to run away with!" ShadowClan continued their jeering as Nighstar and Cinderfur padded away, heading into the pines.

Tigerstar lashed his tail to hide his confusion. Tinyclaw frowned – there was no other way back to their camp, and now it was cut off. There's no way we can all swim back, he thought with a fright. Not all of us are as accustomed to water as Graystripe and I!

"Nightstar is wrong," called Crookedstar.

All of ThunderClan turned to see Crookedstar and his Clan heading towards them. Tigerstar padded forward to meet with the pale tabby leader. The two big cats stared at one another for a long moment.

"I have a way home for you," Crookedstar meowed. "The Twoleg bridge is still intact, and it is a short walk to the stepping-stones from there, where there is a fallen tree. You can use that to cross into your territory."

The ThunderClan party looked uneasy. Tigerstar meowed, "Why offer us this, after what has just happened?"

Crookedstar's eyes flowed over the ThunderClan patrol until they rested on Tinyclaw and Graystripe, who stood side-by-side with Sandstorm. Evenly, he rasped, "I have not forgotten what your warriors have done for my Clan. I will not turn on you for showing compassion."

Tigerstar eyed him evenly before saying, "Thank you. We accept."

Immediately RiverClan warriors surrounded the ThunderClan party. Crookedstar and Tigerstar took the lead as they clambered up the slope and towards RiverClan territory. Tinyclaw's tail twitched – they had come to the Gathering surrounded, and now they were leaving surrounded as well.

Beside him, Graystripe was fidgety. Tinyclaw saw him constantly glancing over at Silverstream, who looked heavy and tired. She was unapproachable, surrounded by RiverClan queens who were fussing and doting on her, Tawnypelt included. Silverstream herself looked utterly uncomfortable with the attention, and she kept stealing glances at Graystripe whenever she could.

The ThunderClan cats walked with RiverClan with unease – but Tigerstar seemed to not feel the tension. Tinyclaw saw the big tabby drop back into the crowd, letting Crookedstar lead the way. Tigerstar kept pace with Tawnypelt, who looked utterly shocked that he was beside her suddenly.

"I heard you had kits," Tigerstar rumbled.

"Y-Yes," Tawnypelt stammered, her eyes flashing. "Your warriors rescued them."

"I'm glad," Tigerstar said frankly. "You must have been… terrified."

She seems terrified now, Tinyclaw thought. With a prickle of shock Tinyclaw realized that this was a rare moment – Tigerstar seemed to have no tact!

"I was," Tawnypelt told him. "I was worried – the river is our friend as much as it can be our enemy."

Tigerstar nodded knowingly. "How old are they?" he asked. He added, "I-If I may?"

Tawnypelt replied, "Almost apprentices."

Tigerstar's eyes flashed. "They'll make fine warriors," he assured her.

Tinyclaw shivered. He watched the two walking, side by side, and realized just how easy it was to be friendly with the cats of the other Clans. Why did they constantly have to fight and hate one another, when it was so easy to simply stop and talk?

Two dawns had passed since the Gathering. Tinyclaw stuck his head into the warrior's den, looking for Graystripe – but he was not there. Only a pile of empty moss.

Figures, he thought. Of course Graystripe would want to see Silverstream, especially after he couldn't at the Gathering. She was having his kits, and she looked rather close – despite all that, though, Tinyclaw was not looking forward to covering for his absence.

Tinyclaw pulled out of the den and immediately spotted Cinderpaw. The gray apprentice was sitting outside the den, looking bored. Graystripe must have left before she'd caught sight of him.

"Want to hunt?" asked Tinyclaw, padding over to her.

"Do I?" Cinderpaw breathed. "Thanks!"

She was a pace ahead as they headed out of the tunnel and into the forest. The day was warm, and the floodwater was receding. Cinderpaw seemed to be full of energy, and Tinyclaw wished that Graystripe could see her this way. He let Cinderpaw lead the way up the ravine and towards the training hollow, then he stopped her.

"What do you smell?" he asked.

"Birds," Cinderpaw replied, her jaws open. "Blackbird, sparrow, and…" She closed her jaws, confused.

"Woodpecker," Tinyclaw offered.

Cinderpaw nodded. "That. There's also… fox!"

"It's old," Tinyclaw assured her. "How old?"

Cinderpaw took another sniff. "Two or… three days?" she answered.

Tinyclaw nodded. "Go and look for prey over there," he pointed with his tail. "I'll be here."

Cinderpaw nodded and charged off. Tinyclaw certainly hoped she'd slow down before she scared off any potential prey – but Cinderpaw was old enough to know the ins and outs of hunting by now. Any lost prey was her fault, not Tinyclaw's.

Tinyclaw scented the air himself and found a blackbird. It was strong around here, and Tinyclaw spotted the little bird hopping in the leaves. Immediately he dropped down into a crouch and began creeping towards it…

… and then the bird flew away as the undergrowth crashed and crinkled all around. Tinyclaw lifted his head, angry, to see Cinderpaw lolloping towards him. Her paws were a little muddy, and her eyes were wide with fear. Tinyclaw's anger faded.

"What is it?" he demanded. "What's wrong?"

Cinderpaw was gasping. "S-ShadowClan!" she gasped.

"What?"

"ShadowClan!" she repeated, her breath regained. "And WindClan! They're on our territory!"