Chapter Thirty-Four

Silverfire woke to hear Tawnyheather speak the summons Snowstar usually used. Curious as to why the dusty brown she-cat would call the meeting herself instead of using Snowstar, Silverfire joined the rest of her clanmates. Silverfire looked around and was surprised to find that she couldn't see Snowstar or Snaketail anywhere. Tawnyheather seemed to struggle with her words for several heartbeats before she finally addressed them.

"It has been decided that the cats we previously chose to lead were not the right cats for the position. Until a suitable leader is found for each clan, the supervisors will take that role. I will leave my name as it is but Brokenstar, Beechstar, and Morningstar must be referred to by those names from this point forward."

"What about the cats you did have as leaders?" Eaglewing called out. "Where's Snowstar?"

"Snowstar is gone." Tawnyheather answered emotionlessly. After a heartbeat, she continued. "The former leaders were deemed unfit and had to be gotten rid of so better cats could take their place."

"You killed her!" Kestrelpaw accused with a snarl.

"So what if she did?" Talltoad challenged her. "You going to try turning on us?"

"You looking for a fight there, frog-breath?" Kestrelpaw growled, stepping forward until her nose was less than a mouse-length from his.

"Back off, Kestrelpaw." Amberpaw warned, stepping up beside Talltoad.

"You're with them." Kestrelpaw scorned. "Figures."

Silverfire was about to go have words with the mostly white apprentice but Tigerpaw spoke first, his cold voice cutting through the din of the argument.

"And Snaketail? Was she 'deemed unfit' also, or was she just temporarily inconvenient?"

"Snaketail was never supposed to be at that Gathering." Tawnyheather stated. "But Snowstar insisted on taking her and it would have been impossible to bring Snaketail back without Snowstar. Now, Maggottail has already begun picking out cats to join those of us already down here to subdue the more rebellious clans. Submit to my rule and you needn't have more strangers join your clan. Smokesparrow will serve as clan deputy until a better choice presents itself. Our alliance with Fireclan and Windclan is hereby disbanded."

"If more cats do come, when can we expect them?" Amberpaw asked, seeming unbothered by Kestrelpaw's hostility. Tawnyheather looked at the golden-brown apprentice as she spoke but looked up into Silverfire's eyes as she answered.

"Next new moon. That's the only time cats from the Place of No Stars can come to the living world for longer than a single night." She waved her tail in dismissal before any more questions could be voiced.

"Fetch Moonleap and Eaglewing and meet me in the leader's den." Tawnyheather hissed quietly as she passed Silverfire. Silverfire considered ignoring Tawnyheather's order but did eventually seek out the two toms. When the three of them reached the den, Tawnyheather was pacing the small space nervously.

"What do you want, Tawnyheather?" Eaglewing growled as they entered.

"I'm not sure how exactly the three of you are doing it but I do know that you, and others in the clan, have been working with other cats to revolt."

"Why would you think that?" Moonleap asked. "I helped get you here."

"I won't explain how I know and I don't want you to explain how you're doing it. The less I know, the better. But I want the three of you to find your allies, wherever they are, and tell them that the leaders are hidden in a tunnel on the Island. Don't mention me, and if anyone asks, you're a hunting patrol." She instructed before standing to leave.

"Tawnyheather," Moonleap called. "Before you go, will you fight on our side when the battle comes."

She glanced back at him, but left without answering.

"That was weird." Eaglewing commented, staring after her. "So, are we going to Enigma?" The speckled brown tom looked to Silverfire as he asked.

"I guess so." Silverfire answered before leading them out of the den and away from camp. It took them longer than usual to reach the underground cave but when Silverfire considered the weather, she had to admit that they made good time.

"Where is everyone?" Eaglewing wondered aloud as they stood alone in the large cavern. A pile of snow had fallen through the hole at the top of the cave but it had been trampled and spread thin across the stone.

"We're in here, where it's warmer." Graystripe answered, poking his head out from one of the tunnels. "You just missed Fireclan. Come in and we'll tell you about it."

Moonleap, closest to the tunnel Graystripe was in, led Silverfire and Eaglewing after the former Thunderclanner. Even in the dim light inside, Silverfire could see Nightshade, Bumblestripe, Amaranthflight, and Swiftpaw at the back of the group. Graystripe had joined Purdy, Panther, and Briarlight just in front of them, and Badgerswipe and Dovewing were nursing two kits each nearest the light.

"Where is everyone?" Silverfire repeated, addressing the question to the cats of Enigma.

"Fireclan's gone and chased all them Dark Forest cats outta their land." Purdy answered. "But they were fearful o' retribution so they came and took ev'ryone ta help 'em keep fightin'"

"They chased them out?" Silverfire asked. "What happened?"

"We set up an ambush for them after the Gathering." Badgerswipe answered. "I had to stay out of it, for these two, but every able-bodied cat went out to fight. They came home not long after sunrise- well, most of them did. Calamintleaf died fighting. The original plan was for everyone to wait down here until we'd recovered enough to fight again but there wasn't enough room so Darkflame collected volunteers and left those of us who can't fight, or weren't willing to leave the tunnels, down here."

"But what brings you down here today?" Panther asked, standing up.

"We were told to let you know that the clan leaders the Dark Forest cats chose are in a tunnel on the Island." Silverfire answered.

"Yes, they found their way here. Snaketail was with them."

"So they're all okay?" Eaglewing asked. "None of them are hurt?"

"Every one of them joined Fireclan for the next fight."

"Then we should go hunt." Moonleap suggested to his clanmates. "We need everything we can get."

"Wait," Amaranthflight began. "Who told you the leaders had escaped the Gathering?"

Moonleap and Eaglewing glanced at Silverfire and she knew they were wondering whether they should obey Tawnyheather's order to not mention her.

"Tawnyheather did." Silverfire answered, feeling rebellious. "She didn't seem to know much more about Enigma than that it exists but she told us to tell our allies."

"And you didn't consider the fact that you might be followed?" The dark tortoiseshell spat. "That you might have led them right to us?"

"They can't get into the tunnels, Amaranthflight." Panther explained calmly. "For whatever reason, they can't seem to come underground. However, you three should go home; I doubt if anyone here trusts them and Tawnyheather may be planning some other mischief."

Silverfire was still bristling at Amaranthflight's attack but she spun around and brought her cats back to the surface.