“I’ve seen him in action,” Hawkwing added from his place among the deputies. “He’s good at working out problems. He sees solutions Clan cats might not.”

“That’s true!” Tawnypelt called out, surprising Twigpaw by her defense of Tree.

“I have an idea,” Bramblestar announced, coming to stand beside Leafstar. “Suppose we give Tree a trial period, a bit like an apprenticeship? Tree can try to resolve disputes as they come up, and when we see how he copes, the Clan leaders can decide if we want him to continue.”

Tree looked up at the ThunderClan leader, flexing his muscular shoulders. “No pressure, then,” he commented.

Silence fell over the Gathering. Every cat’s gaze was trained on Tree, and Twigpaw wondered whether or not he had said the right thing.

Then Cloudtail let out a mrrow of laughter, and the tension in the clearing suddenly faded. Cats curled their tails up in amusement. Twigpaw breathed a sigh of relief as she saw that there was a chance Tree could become very popular. I suppose we could use a cat like Tree around.

“That makes sense to me,” Leafstar meowed in response to Bramblestar’s suggestion. “I’m happy for Tree to become a SkyClan cat under those conditions. Tree, I can’t make you a warrior, but I welcome you to our Clan. Would you like a warrior name?”

“No, I’ll stick with Tree, thanks,” the yellow tom replied. “It’s nice and simple, like me.”

“Tree! Tree!”

Not every cat in the clearing was acclaiming Tree and his new position, but enough of them joined in to make it clear he would be accepted among the Clans. Twigpaw spotted Violetshine jumping up and down, waving her tail as she yowled, her eyes alight with enthusiasm.

Alderheart rose to his paws and padded over to stand beside Tree as the noise died down. “I agree with what Tree said,” he began. “Remember, the prophecy says there should be five Clans. Letting RiverClan back in would at least make us four again.”

Twigpaw noticed some cats shooting annoyed glances at Rowanclaw as Alderheart spoke, as if they were blaming him for the loss of the fifth Clan. But Rowanclaw and the rest of the former ShadowClan cats ignored them.

“So, RiverClan comes back,” Tree declared briskly. “Now, Mistystar, what do you need from the other Clans?”

“We need help in clearing the burned debris out of our camp,” Mistystar replied. “We’ve made a start, but it’s hard with so many of us injured.”

“I’ll send a patrol tomorrow,” Bramblestar promised. “Harestar, can you send cats the day after, and Leafstar the day after that?”

Mistystar blinked gratefully as both leaders agreed. “Mothwing is still badly hurt from trying to save our herb stores,” she continued, “and Willowshine is overwhelmed, trying to care for all the injured cats. Could one of your medicine cats—”