“Leafstar, I’m sorry,” Rowanclaw began, stepping up to face the Clan leader and dipping his head respectfully. “I say that on behalf of all my Clanmates.”

“Yes, we’re sorry,” the others muttered. Juniperclaw’s fur still bristled angrily, and Scorchfur dropped his eyes rather than meet Leafstar’s gaze, but they joined in with the others’ meows.

Snowbird took a pace forward that brought her to Rowanclaw’s side. “Leafstar, I promise to be loyal to you in future,” she meowed. “Nothing like this will happen again.”

One by one, the others came up and made the same pledge of loyalty. Leafstar didn’t look appeased, but in the end she nodded curtly. “Very well. Make sure you act on the words you’ve spoken today.”

“Leafstar, we still have to decide what to do about Yarrowleaf and Sleekwhisker,” Tree reminded the Clan leader with a respectful dip of his head. “If you’ll allow me, I’d like to offer you an idea.”

Leafstar regarded him warily. “Go on,” she mewed eventually.

“It does seem sensible to allow Yarrowleaf to stay here,” Tree began. “At least until her kits are born.”

Violetshine cringed inwardly as Tree spoke, but Leafstar did not react at all, but merely waited for Tree to go on.

“Other cats who are here now did follow Darktail,” the yellow tom reminded her. “But they’ve changed. They’re loyal to you. The time it will take Yarrowleaf to have her kits and wean them will be a chance to test Yarrowleaf and Sleekwhisker—a time for them both to prove their loyalty to SkyClan. When the kits are weaned, they can be invited to join the Clan, or sent on their way with no hard feelings.”

Leafstar flexed her claws, looking torn; Violetshine could see that she would really have preferred to send the two intruders on their way right now. Then she relaxed a little, as if she could see the wisdom of Tree’s words.

While she still hesitated, Frecklewish stepped forward to Leafstar’s side. “Remember what Puddleshine and I told you,” she meowed.

Leafstar faced her medicine cat; unspoken words seemed to flow between them. “I remember,” Leafstar murmured after a moment.

“Oh, please,” Yarrowleaf begged, as if she sensed a softening in the Clan leader’s attitude. “I’ll do anything you ask to prove my loyalty. I just want to be part of a Clan again!”

“So do I,” Sleekwhisker added. “I promise we won’t let you down.”

Leafstar heaved a deep sigh. “Very well. But remember this, Tree,” she went on, swinging around to face the yellow tom. “They’re your responsibility. If they put a paw out of line, guess whose ears I’ll be clawing off.”

Violetshine gasped, then saw that there was a glimmer of amusement in Leafstar’s amber eyes.

“Then claw away, Leafstar,” Tree mewed easily. “But I’m sure it won’t be necessary.”