“I give you the name Twigbranch in memory of the way you came to our Clan as a small, fragile kit, and have grown into a strong warrior, just as a twig grows into a branch. We welcome you as a warrior of ThunderClan.”

Twigbranch shivered with happiness as Bramblestar rested his muzzle on her head. She gave his shoulder a respectful lick, then withdrew to stand again beside her kin and Finpaw.

“Twigbranch! Twigbranch!”

As the rest of her Clan acclaimed her, Twigbranch looked around at their shining eyes and waving tails and knew that, at last, she belonged.

She watched as Finpaw had his warrior ceremony, nodding in agreement as Bramblestar praised his courage and his dedication to his new Clan, and joined in joyfully to chant his warrior name, Finleap.

The clamor was still continuing when a sharp cry rang out over the camp from Brightheart, who was standing guard at the mouth of the thorn tunnel.

“Bramblestar!”

Every cat whirled to face the camp entrance. A jolt of alarm ran through Twigpaw as she recognized Grassheart and Strikestone, who had burst into the camp and were racing across to the crowd of ThunderClan warriors. Their eyes were wild and their fur bristling.

Brightheart bounded after them. “I couldn’t stop them!” she gasped.

Bramblestar thrust himself to the front of the crowd, sliding out his claws and letting his shoulder fur bristle up. “What does this mean?” he demanded with a lash of his tail. “What are you doing here?”

Grassheart and Strikestone skidded to a halt in front of him. “I’m sorry, Bramblestar,” Grassheart panted. “We haven’t come to attack you. But the missing ShadowClan cats are back—along with Tigerheart. We need Hawkwing.”

Shocked caterwauls rose up from the assembled ThunderClan cats.

“Tigerheart!”

“Where has he been?”

“Is Dovewing with him?” That was Ivypool, pushing her way through the crowd to face the two intruders with anxiety in her blue eyes.

The intruders didn’t seem to be listening to the questions of the cats who were pressing around them.

“Hawkwing, you have to come now,” Strikestone meowed urgently. “Tigerheart is dead!”

Chapter 20

CHAPTER 20

Violetshine whisked out of the thorn tunnel behind her father and the two ShadowClan warriors. Alderheart brought up the rear; after Strikestone’s shattering news that Tigerheart was dead, he had insisted on coming with them—with Bramblestar’s permission—to see if he could help.

I can’t believe Tigerheart is dead, Violetshine thought, especially so soon after Rowanclaw died. Tigerheart had always been so strong, so full of life, and so kind to her when she was a kit, bewildered in her new Clan, and missing her sister.

Violetshine knew it wasn’t the same for Hawkwing and Alderheart, who hadn’t known Tigerheart that well, but she could see her own shock and horror reflected in the faces of the ShadowClan cats.