More than ever, Violetshine was afraid that the argument would grow into a full-scale fight. She glanced around for Hawkwing, knowing that her father would help, but there was no sign of him; clearly the SkyClan deputy wasn’t in camp.

Then, to Violetshine’s amazement, Tawnypelt turned on her Clanmates, standing at Leafstar’s side.

“Be quiet, all of you!” she snarled at them. “Like it or not, Leafstar is our leader now. She was chosen by StarClan. Do you want to go against StarClan?”

“Leafstar was chosen by StarClan to lead SkyClan,” Juniperclaw muttered. “Not us.”

Tawnypelt merely glared at him, and after a moment Juniperclaw turned his head away.

“Leafstar made the right decision,” Tawnypelt went on. “Those cats are traitors. If any of the rest of you want to be traitors, the way out of camp is right there.”

Violetshine half expected that some of the cats would leave. Snowbird took a hesitant step or two toward the tunnel, but Scorchfur shook his head, laying his tail comfortingly on her shoulder. Gradually, the tension subsided.

“Well, why are you standing around here?” Leafstar asked, fighting to take back control. Violetshine thought she sounded shaken, perhaps more by Tawnypelt’s unexpected defense than by the hostility of the other cats. “There’s work to be done.”

Gradually the group broke up, most of them heading for their dens. Frecklewish called to her apprentice, Fidgetpaw, and led him out of camp to collect herbs. Rowanclaw gathered a patrol and left camp to hunt.

Violetshine stood still, gazing at the fern tunnel where Sleekwhisker and Yarrowleaf had vanished, not sure what she should do. Did I mess up by bringing them here? she asked herself. What will happen to them now?

Then she felt a tail stroke gently along her flank, and turned to see Tree. He stood close to her, nuzzling her shoulder. “Are you okay?” he asked.

“I’m not sure how I feel,” Violetshine murmured. “I don’t really trust Yarrowleaf and Sleekwhisker. It was so terrible when Darktail was in control of ShadowClan, and it was Sleekwhisker who helped him kill Needletail.”

Tree rasped his tongue over her ear. “I know she meant a lot to you.”

“She was my best friend—my only friend. Sleekwhisker and Darktail tried to drown her in the lake, while Roach and Raven held me back so I couldn’t help her.” Violetshine shivered. “I still dream about it.”

“You never told me that before,” Tree mewed. “It must have been terrible. I can see I’ll have to stay and keep an eye on you.”

Oh, yes! Violetshine thought, warmed by his promise. “Tree,” she asked after a moment, “did you . . . did you see any ghost cats walking with Yarrowleaf and Sleekwhisker?”

“Yes,” Tree replied. “I saw a dark brown tom with a tuft of fur on his head.”

“That must be Spikefur. They said he had died.”