I splash around in a stream for a bit to get rid of any smell of smoke that might give me away. Then I hunt, just like Tigerclaw ordered. With two frogs dangling from my jaws, I feel safe headin' back.

The camp is in an uproar when I slip in, hopin' to be unnoticed. Turns out I could've run in yowlin' my head off and no cat would've blinked. Runningnose be squinting at somethin' below Clanrock, meowing somethin' 'bout a sign. Other cats be yowlin' to the point I can't make out the words.

"What's up?" I ask Tangleburr, slidin' in beside her and Stumpytail. My friends look delighted.

"Runningnose found a broken claw near Clanrock. He says it's a sign from StarClan that Tigerclaw's supposed to be our next leader," Tangleburr says breathlessly.

"Tigerclaw's held this clan together for a moon. StarClan would be frog-brained to choose another cat," Stumpytail meows.

Most of the clan seems to agree. "He'll be a strong leader!" Flintfang yowls.

"He came to us when we needed him," Ratscar says.

"You've shown us how to be strong again!" Boulder cries.

"We don't care that you were born in ThunderClan. There wouldn't be a ShadowClan if not for you, Tigerclaw," Newtspeck meows.

Tigerclaw dips his head and says solemnly, "I am stunned by the decision of our ancestors. I came late to ShadowClan, though I hope no cat will question my loyalty to every one of you. I never looked for this, but I have found my true home here. If you're sure, and if StarClan has spoken, I will become your leader."

The wave of joy sweepin' the camp is contagious. When Blackfoot yells, "Tigerstar! Tigerstar!", I jump to my paws and join the rest of the clan. Beside the nursery, Lightningkit and her foster family are celebrating, all chanting our leader's name until Lightningkit, who can't control her excitement, pounces on Rowankit.

Tigerclaw (apparently he won't really be Tigerstar until he goes off someplace to dream with StarClan) glides through the crowd of cheering cats toward some shaded bushes near the edge of camp. I'm close enough to hear him murmur, "You took a big risk that it would work."

Icy claws grip my heart when Jaggedtooth growls, "It paid off. You can thank me later." What has my best friend done for our new leader?

As soon as the huge dark tabby pads off to confer with Blackfoot, I bust my way up in them bushes. Nightwhisper's there with Jaggedtooth, and they got their heads together, smirkin'. Don't take me long to find out what's so funny. Jaggedtooth's right forepaw is still bleedin' from where one of his claws done broke off.

"Did Tigerclaw tell you to do this?" I ask, all my earlier happiness gone like mist in the sun.

"No," Jaggedtooth meows defensively. "We got to thinkin' how StarClan wasn't in no hurry to name a leader, and ShadowClan needs one yesterday. Tigerclaw's basically acting as leader anyway. If these frog-brains need a sign, why not give it to 'em and get it done?"

I scrape my claws against the earth. "You manipulated our clanmates, our friends. Don't that bother you at all?"

"Why should it?" Nightwhisper defends our friend. "He did it so ShadowClan would be strong. That's worth any price, let alone a stupid sign from dead cats that don't exist."

Last night's dream makes me more certain than ever that Jaggedtooth and Nightwhisper are wrong to scorn our clanmates' belief in StarClan. Mama and Coal still exist in some afterworld; I know it wasn't a regular dream like my brother said.

I ain't goin' into the dream with Jaggedtooth, so I say, "I just feel like I don't know y'all as well as I used to. Y'all never did stuff like this in town, trickin' cats."

"We were weak in town," Jaggedtooth spits. "Your hatred and fear of BloodClan made us weak."

I step back, shocked. "My... what? You know what they're like."

"Strong enough to survive and rule most of the cats in the city. Thanks to Tigerstar, we'll do the same with the forest," Nightwhisper says.

My jaw drops. "You want to rule the forest? How much dog shit did y'all have to eat to get your brains that full of the stuff? There are three other clans in the forest, and they ain't gonna just let us take over. You wanna be at war all the time?" I look at Jaggedtooth and ask, "If we have kits one day, you want 'em growin' up in a war?"

"Ain't like you showin' much interest in havin' kits, always paddin' after Boulder like you are," Jaggedtooth says, anger burning in his amber eyes now.

"We're warriors," Nightwhisper says, like he's explaining something to a daft kit. "War makes us stronger."

"War kills cats and makes us weak," I argue. "Ain't no need to fight unless some cat comes at us or we're desperate for resources."

"It's only a matter of time before ThunderClan attacks. Fireheart ain't never gonna let Tigerstar live in peace," Jaggedtooth says. An image of the ThunderClan warrior Tigerclaw killed by the road fills my head. If they attack, I can't lie to myself that it would be totally unjustified.

"Could be we'll need to fight the other clans," I say, "but whatever goes down, Jaggedtooth, he ain't gonna make you deputy, if that's what you hopin' for. We're too junior, and you haven't got an apprentice. It'll be Blackfoot, like as not."

"I never said... I don't expect..." Jaggedtooth stalks away, growling in irritation with his tabby fur fluffed up.

Givin' me one last resentful look, Nightwhisper walks off to join Ratscar and Tallpoppy by the fresh-kill pile. As Jaggedtooth passes Boulder, he deliberately bumps into the silver-gray tom and mutters an insincere, "Sorry."

I'm still tryin' to sort out my dream and Jaggedtooth's broken claw when a voice meows from behind me, "Lovers' quarrel?" Tangleburr is there, whiskers twitching.

No way I can tell her what's really up, so I say, "Why tomcats gotta be so frog-brained all the time?"

Tangleburr purrs. "They do seem to be great at it. I didn't talk to Stumpytail for nearly a moon once. I can barely remember what the fight was about."

"Whatever it was, I'm sure you were right," I tease.

We join Boulder and Russetfur in a patch of early afternoon sunlight. Boulder brightens when he sees me, his eyes warm with affection that makes my heart jump like a playful kit. "I'm so glad Tigerclaw brought you to ShadowClan. We'll be able to hold our heads up in front of the other clans again," he purrs.

"I can't wait for my first Gathering. You still up for showing me your favorite hunting spot?"

"Absolutely," Boulder says.

"The first time our mentors took us there, you fell in a bog," Russetfur mrrows with laughter. "You were covered in mud up to your ears."

Boulder nudges his sister. "Okay, Nettlethorn doesn't need to know all my embarrassing apprentice stories."

"You bet your tail I do," I purr.

The whole clan falls silent a few moments later when Tigerclaw and Runningnose walk out of the leader's den. The medicine cat's nose is moist like always, but his eyes gleam with excitement. Tigerclaw walks out of camp with slow, measured steps, but his head and tail are high with victory. Will he really have nine lives when he comes back from Highstones tomorrow? If so, will he be the strongest cat in the forest?