Chapter Five

Silver met blue. The two toms locked gazes and for a heartbeat Shadowheart wondered if he had been mistaken. Before panic could set in, Blackflame let out a loud purr and thrust his muzzle into Shadowheart's.

"I knew at least one of you had to be here!" Blackflame purred joyously.

"What in the name of StarClan is going on here?" Foxstar exclaimed, her fur bristled.

Shadowheart froze, brought back to the present. The Clan stared at him with wide eyes, while Blackflame seemed utterly oblivious to the growing tension. He remembered then that his Clanmates still believed he was the son of Hawk. That's right, I only told Firelight. Of course they think I'm crazy!

Pinefrost's eyes were wide as she stared at him. "Shadowheart, what are you talking about? Hawk and Lily are your parents…aren't they?"

Foxstar narrowed her amber eyes. "Well? Explain yourself. Silversky had not mentioned any other surviving kits."

The LeafClan cats were silent, staring at Shadowheart with utter confusion. Firelight watched calmly from beside Pinefrost, her eyes encouraging him to speak out. Staring into her eyes for a moment he took a deep breath. Facing Foxstar, he opened his mouth to speak.

"When I left the rogues to return here with Firelight and Pinefrost, I was told by Lily—the cat who I thought was my mother—that I was not really her son. She said Cinder and I had been brought to her as young kits by Hawk, and that she had no idea where we came from. Hawk is not my father, and he never has been."

Sagepelt stepped forward, raising his head. "I think Shadowheart may be one of Silversky's kits as well. He shares great similarities to Stonetail, who would be his father."

My father...that's right. Stonetail would be my father. Blinking gratefully at his old mentor, Shadowheart turned to look at Blackflame. The tabby's eyes glowed with warmth; clearly pleased to have found his kin. Foxstar was silent, her eyes full of questions and disbelief. Pity pierced his heart. None of this could be easy for the LeafClan leader.

"Silversky, just what have you brought to me?" Foxstar muttered under her breath. She had an uncertain look in her eyes as she faced the Clan. "This meeting is over. I will speak to both Blackflame and Shadowheart alone."

The Clan disbanded at once, casting glances at the two toms as they settled into groups. Foxstar climbed down from the Highoak to approach them. Blackflame dipped his head respectfully. Shadowheart glanced at his brother. Did none of this faze him? How could he be so confident?

Foxstar walked past them, jerking her head to the side. "Come."

The dark ginger she-cat slipped into her den. The two brothers followed after her, settling along the smooth stone walls as Foxstar sat in her nest. Shadowheart tried to read her gaze, by Foxstar's amber eyes gave away nothing.

"Shadowheart," Jumping at hearing his name, he lowered his head. "Why did you hide this from me? Did Echostar know the truth? That you were not Hawk's son?"

Her tone wasn't accusing, but Shadowheart could hear a thin edge to her voice. Blackflame laid his tail across Shadowheart's back. "I'm sure Shadowheart had his reasons," the black tabby defended.

Foxstar flashed him a warning gaze. "I didn't ask you. This is for Shadowheart to answer. Keep quiet."

Avoiding his leader's eyes, Shadowheart kneaded his paws nervously. "I-I wasn't sure how to tell you," he began. "Echostar never knew. The only cat who knew was Firelight."

"Firelight, of course." Foxstar had a knowing look in her eyes that made Shadowheart uncomfortable. "Do you really believe that Silversky was your mother?"

Shadowheart nodded, his heart pounding. "When Blackflame told his story, it seemed to add up. If I'm not her son, than who is my real mother?"

Listening, the LeafClan leader's eyes seemed thoughtful. Hearing that her sister's kits not only survived, but that two of them sat before her very eyes, Shadowheart had to wonder just what was going through her mind.

"From what that silver warrior said, Shadowheart looks like our father." Blackflame added carefully.

Recalling the ReedClan deputy, Shadowheart had to wonder. His brief encounter with him as an apprentice had not necessarily been pleasant, but Shadowheart found it hard to believe the tom would reject his own kin. After losing Silversky, it only made sense that the gray tabby would overjoyed to know his kits had survived. Even if one happens to be with Hawk, Shadowheart gloomily added.

Foxstar studied Shadowheart closely. "Sagepelt was right when he said you resembled Stonetail. You even have the same bright blue eyes as him."

Blackflame stood, curling up his tail. "Can Shadowheart and I go see him? I always wanted to know my father, since my mother is gone."

The dark look in Foxstar's gaze caused Shadowheart to stiffen. He looked at his brother in dismay. Mouse-brain! He has no idea how bad our relationship with ReedClan is! Blackflame seemed oblivious, eagerly awaiting Foxstar's answer.

Reluctantly, Foxstar dropped her gaze. "If you go, it must only be you two," she shot a look towards Shadowheart. He bristled indignantly. Like he would invite Firelight into enemy territory! "I also don't need the other cats knowing where you're going either. Too much gossip is already spreading, thanks to my sister's lack of obeying the code."

The hint of resentment in her voice made Shadowheart flinch. It was obvious Foxstar was still upset with Silversky's forbidden relationship that left her not only dead, but her three kits separated. If Blackflame picked up on Foxstar's tone, he ignored it. Instead, he looked as if he was ready to dash across the river to ReedClan any second.

Shadowheart stood up. "We'll make sure we don't attract any attention."

Foxstar let out a heavy sigh, and laid in her nest. "Good. Now go, before any cat realizes you are missing."

Eyes glowing with excitement, Blackflame hurried out of the den. Shadowheart followed his brother much nervously, looking around the camp to make sure no cat was watching. When he didn't see any cat paying attention to them, he cautiously led Blackflame out of camp. More confidently, Blackflame strode after him with his tail straight up. Shadowheart crept through the forest, heading straight for the ReedClan border.

"What's ReedClan like?" Blackflame asked suddenly, startling him.

Shadowheart glanced at him. "They swim in the river. And they eat fish mostly instead of forest prey."

"Really?" Blackflame's eyes were stretched in awe. "Mole only told me about the Clans in the forest, and the one on the moor. He never told me about cats who lived on the river."

Briefly Shadowheart wondered who Mole was, until he remembered that Blackflame had mentioned him before as the cat who raised him. "He probably didn't know," Shadowheart flicked his ears as a squirrel dashed up a nearby tree. "It's unusual for cats to live near the water like they do."

The sound of the river could be heard up ahead, and Blackflame ran forward to see it. Hissing with slight annoyance at how careless his brother was being, Shadowheart hurried after him. Blackflame was pacing the shore, splashing in the water with a loud purr. Flinching as droplets of water sprayed from under Blackflame's paws, Shadowheart flattened his ears. We may be half ReedClan, but I will never enjoy getting my fur wet!

"This is great!" Blackflame purred enthusiastically. "I've never seen water this clear, or even this vast! Back in the twolegplace, the only water you really see are puddles or ponds in the gardens."

Ponds? Gardens? These words were new to Shadowheart. Keeping far from the river's edge, Shadowheart scanned the reeds on the other side. If they were lucky, Stonetail might come to them. A splash in the river nearby caused his ears to swivel towards the side. Blackflame didn't seem to notice, too busy splashing around the river's edge. Tensing, Shadowheart shifted towards his brother.

"Blackflame, we need to go," he whispered to him loudly.

Blackflame stopped, tilting his head at him. "Huh? Why?"

A dark shape emerged from the river then, just behind Blackflame. Before Shadowheart could warn him, the tabby was pinned under the weight of a sodden ReedClan warrior. Behind them, two more ReedClan warriors emerged from the river, glaring at them.

"What are you doing this close to ReedClan territory?" growled a black-and-white tom Shadowheart recognized as Pikeskip.

The other ReedClan warrior, a brown tabby she-cat, flattened her ears. "They're probably hoping to steal a fish or two from the river."

Blackflame stared up at his attacker, a dark gray mottled tom cat. "Fish? No, we aren't here for that."

Shadowheart stepped forward, forcing his fur to lay flat. "We aren't here to fight, or steal any fish."

"Well what do you want?" the tom that held Blackflame snarled.

Pikeskip looked around the forest warily. "How do we know you aren't planning an ambush?"

Shoving his attacker off him with an enormous burst of strength, Blackflame rolled to his paws to come stand beside Shadowheart. The mottled tom tumbled back into the river with a yowl of surprise.

"Frogsplash, for StarClan's sake get it together!" Pikeskip snarled at his Clanmate.

Blackflame stepped forward, not even flinching when the tabby she-cat hissed at him threateningly. "We only want to speak with Stonetail."

Pikeskip narrowed his amber eyes. "Why? What do you want with ReedClan's deputy?"

"Take us to him and you'll find out," retorted Blackflame, his gaze level.

Growling, Pikeskip turned to his Clanmate. "Lakefrost, go and warn Icestar that we're bringing these two to our camp."

Taking off in a great bout of speed, Lakefrost dove into the river before vanishing into the reeds beyond. Frogsplash came up beside Pikeskip, glaring icily at them.

"Follow us," Pikeskip growled. "But one wrong move and we'll throw you in the river."

Shuddering at the thought, Shadowheart dipped his head gratefully. "Thank you."

Frogsplash snorted with contempt, flanking Blackflame as Pikeskip led them a bit further downstream. Smooth, flat, stones came out of the river in a straight line. Shadowheart realized with relief that they didn't have to swim across the river to get to ReedClan. Pikeskip crossed first, nimbly leaping from stone to stone before he was on the other side. Blackflame went after him, carefully moving across each stone. He stood on the other side, his eyes glowing with support.

"It's easy!" he called out to Shadowheart.

Do you never fear anything? He bit back a prick of resentment at his brother's overwhelming confidence.

Frogsplash shoved him behind. "Get a move on!"

Hissing at the impatient ReedClan cat, Shadowheart slowly jumped onto the first stone. The water rushed just below him, its dark depths threatening to suck him in if he were to fall. Gathering his courage, Shadowheart leaped to the next stone. As he reached the third stone, his back paw slipped and fear surged through him as he fell. To his relief, only his back paw landed in the water and he quickly scrabbled to his paws.

As he crossed the last stone, he let out a heavy sigh of relief at the feeling of solid ground under him. Frogsplash finished crossing, and the cats set off towards ReedClan camp. The ground underpaw was soggy, and Shadowheart let out a grunt of discontent. At this rate, his paws would grow webs! How did ReedClan cats live in such an unforgiving place?

To his dismay, that trouble hadn't ended at the river. The cats came to a stop near a more shallow stream, just deep enough to create a natural barrier around the ReedClan camp. He looked around in hopes that another set of stepping stones would be just downstream, but saw none.

"The stepping stones here are under water right now," Pikeskip grunted. "You'll have to cross through the river if you want to reach our camp."

Is that a taunt in his mew? Shadowheart bristled with annoyance. Excuse me if I'm a normal cat who hates getting his fur wet!

Blackflame stepped forward, gazing at the water with a hint of disapproval. "It's not as clear as the river."

Frogsplash snorted. "Why would it be? It's near the marsh."

Gazing into the water, Shadowheart realized his brother was right. This water was much murkier, and it was impossible to see the bottom. If there is a bottom, he added grudgingly.

"Let's get a move on," Pikeskip growled. He gazed at the LeafClan cats. "Don't worry. We won't let you drown...at least not enough to kill you anyways."

Gulping nervously, Shadowheart followed his brother into the narrow stream. Hissing as the ice cold water soaked into his fur, he waded slowly. Blackflame was already paddling across the water, his tail straight up as he swam. Taking a deep breath, Shadowheart followed. He let out a yowl of surprise as the ground vanished under his paws, thrashing in the water. Frogsplash was right beside him then, grabbing his scruff roughly in his teeth.

"Stop thrashing!" he spat through a mouthful of fur. "For StarClan's sake just swim!"

Ears burning with both embarrassment and anger, Shadowheart began to paddle in the murky water. Frogsplash had let go of his scruff, and fell in behind him. Once he felt solid ground, Shadowheart pulled himself out the water shivering. Shaking his pelt with a hiss, he tried to fluff out his fur for warmth. Blackflame pressed up beside him, blinking at him encouragingly.

"Now that we're across, the camp is just outside these reeds." Pikeskip told them.

Blackflame gazed into Shadowheart's eyes. "And so is Stonetail."

Our father, Shadowheart silently added.