These last few chapters will be focusing on ShadowClan, with one or more ThunderClan chapter before the epilogue and the end of this part of the story.

I've got the rest of this story written and done! Now just to post it - not all at once, of course!

Chapter 19

Sol was nothing like what Hawkpaw had expected. Snaketail and the other elders had painted him as a sleek-furred, lazy excuse for a cat – but here he was, in all his glory, standing in the midst of the camp with very, very angry ShadowClan cats circling him. Hawkpaw did not see a single claw sheathed, and all eyes were narrowed at the dappled tom.

The tom was sleek-furred, yes – but significantly skinnier than when ShadowClan had last seen him. He stank of unfamiliar places and things, and Hawkpaw's whiskers curled at the thought of finally seeing the cat who had nearly destroyed the Clans in the flesh.

"We found him by the ThunderClan border," Owlclaw explained. "Just sitting there."

"I hope you roughed him up a bit," Tigerheart growled, his lip curled.

Owlclaw hesitated. "How could we?" he mewed, "He didn't try to hurt us – then, at least. He just asked to be taken back to our camp."

"You should have driven him off," Sparrowpaw spat. "That mange-ball has no right to step onto Clan territory!"

From the mutterings of the other ShadowClan cats, they all seemed to agree with him.

"Now Sparrowpaw," Tigerheart sighed, "I suppose we can let this pass once. Warriors don't harm unless there's a reason to harm – Sol didn't give any reason."

"It was Olivenose's idea to bring him back – let her explain it to you," Owlclaw complained. "I swear, the she-cats just turn into frog-brains the minute they lay eyes on him!" The pale tabby concluded his conversation with them by padding over to his own mate, Applefur, and their kits.

"I wonder what Rowanstar will say?" Hawkpaw wondered.

"If it's anything less than get out Rowanstar will have a riot on his paws," Tigerheart admitted.

Tigerheart left the two apprentices to go and join Dawnpelt and Starlingwing near the front of the crowd. Hawkpaw and Sparrowpaw padded up to the apprentices – this time, Mistpaw had joined them. Sparrowpaw touched noses gratefully with his sister – they hadn't seen each other in forever, it seemed.

"Leafpool said I should take a break," Mistpaw purred, her eyes glowing with tiredness.

"She's not out here?" Milkpaw wondered.

Mistpaw shook her head. "She said it would be better if ShadowClan's future medicine cat sat in on the meeting, not her," she replied.

"Well, she's right," Nightpaw decided. "We don't need a ThunderClan cat sticking their nose into our business."

Mistpaw bristled at the insult to her mentor, but she said nothing. Sparrowpaw twitched his whiskers – Hawkpaw sensed that he wanted to agree, but his sister's happiness meant more to him. So there is a way to shut him up! Hawkpaw thought triumphantly.

"Hawkpaw!" Softpaw called. She flicked her tail, beckoning.

Hawkpaw situated himself beside her, and couldn't help the tingling in his fur at her appreciative purr. He ignored the annoyed look from Nightpaw and faced the center of the clearing with Softpaw.

"So what's happening?" Hawkpaw asked.

"Rowanstar is still discussing things with Tawnypelt and the senior warriors," Softpaw reported. "We'll know soon."

"We'd better," Hawkpaw agreed, "or half the Clan will tear him apart!"

"Why shouldn't they?" agreed Sparrowpaw. "That cat's a menace!"

"Crow-food eating scum!" spat Nightpaw.

Hawkpaw looked at Sol. The dappled tom seemed immune to the insults being thrown at him – crow-food eater, mange-pelt, foxdung… none of it seemed to faze him. It was as if he were in his own little world. His head was held high and proud, and there was a glimmer of satisfaction in his amber eyes. Did he really want these dangerous cats to hate him so much?

On one paw, Hawkpaw hated Sol as much as the rest of the Clan – on the other, though, Hawkpaw couldn't help but admire his courage… however foolish and prideful it was. To have the ability to sit there so calmly, letting insults roll off of you like water on the stones of the lake… Hawkpaw wanted that.

All the Clan hushed as Rowanstar appeared, standing aggressively on the overhanging hazel branch. His eyes were narrowed, with his shoulder hunched and tail lashing. It was obvious he was furious.

"Well, well," he growled. "If it isn't Sol."

"Hello, Rowanclaw," Sol mewed. His voice was calm and confident. "Or is it Rowanstar now?"

"It is," Rowanstar growled in reply.

"Then my sincerest condolences for the death of Blackstar," Sol offered, his voice smooth as honey. "He was… a noble leader."

"His condolences are meaningless," growled Snowbird. The white she-cat had fluffed fur. "He dishonors Blackstar's memory by speaking of him!"

The Clan rumbled in agreement.

Rowanstar lashed his tail. "Enough," he decided. Glaring at Sol with silence falling, he asked, "Why are you here?"

"To warn you," Sol purred. "There is a great danger coming to your Clan – I only thought it polite to warn you before it reached you."

"Give us a reason to believe you," Owlclaw snappd.

"You believed me before," Sol countered, "when I warned of the disappearing sun…"

"That was one truth out of a multitude of lies, Sol – it alone does not wipe clean your credibility," Rowanstar growled. "Give us a good reason."

Sol's whiskers twitched. Hawkpaw was stunned – how could he be so calm, when an entire Clan of trained warriors was threatening to rip his throat out at a moment's notice?

"Why are we bothering to listen to this rubbish?" snapped Snaketail. "Get this snake-tongued fox out of this Clan, Rowanstar!"

"Kill him!" cried the Clan. "Drive him out of our territory!"

Sol looked around at the cats vying for his death. His eyes rested on each one, calm and burning like the setting sun. Then, finally, they rested on Hawkpaw. Hawkpaw, stunned, could do nothing but meet his amber gaze.

"Whether you believe me or not, this danger is coming," Sol mewed carefully. He turned his head away from Hawkpaw and focused his eyes back onto Rowanstar. "I may have done reprehensible things to you Clans in the past… but this danger is not something I would wish on any living thing."

Rowanstar narrowed his eyes. "We will consider your words – now leave our Clans. For good," he growled. There was a threat there, and it did not need to be said.

He nodded to Tawnypelt, and below him the tortoiseshell raised her tail. Sol was led out of the camp by a bristling guard of warriors just as quickly as he had appeared, and the Clan who remained in the camp watched him go with confusion in their eyes.

"You should have killed him!" cried Snaketail.

"His words are poison," spat Toadfoot. "They have caused nothing but agonizing pain. Don't tell us that you're considering what he said!"

Rowanstar flicked his tail. "He wasn't specific about the danger itself," he rumbled. "Sol could have just been trying to fool us again, or he has a bigger plan. I place a wager on the latter. When Tawnypelt returns we will have a meeting of senior warriors to discuss what has happened."

"Since Smokefoot and Ratscar are sick, there doesn't leave too many voices," Sparrowpaw grumbled. "Just Toadfoot, Snowbird, and Kinkfur."

Hawkpaw watched as the Clan split up into gossiping groups. Sol's warning stirred in his mind – a danger coming that threatened their Clan? What could it possibly be? He felt his spine tingle.

Could he really be telling the truth? Hawkpaw wondered. How could anyone believe someone who was known for so many terrible lies?