Breezepelt glared defiantly back, but no cat was paying attention to him now, as the meeting continued.

“Leafstar,” Bramblestar continued, gazing up at the SkyClan leader, “could these cats be the ‘approaching shadows’ mentioned in the medicine cats’ vision?”

Seeming flustered by the question, Leafstar gave her chest fur a couple of quick licks before replying, “I suppose they could.”

“The medicine cats had a vision from StarClan,” Bramblestar announced to the cats gathered in the clearing. “They were told that shadows were approaching and must not be dispelled. These ShadowClan cats must be the approaching shadows!”

Murmurs of surprise came from the cats around the Great Oak, their former hostility fading. Some of them broke up into smaller clusters, speaking excitedly together.

“Yes . . .” Leafstar looked a little uncomfortable. “Puddleshine did make me aware of that, but I’m not sure these are the shadows. In any case,” she went on quickly, forestalling an objection from Bramblestar, “they will stay with SkyClan until Yarrowleaf’s kits are weaned.”

Alderheart wasn’t really listening as Leafstar gave the rest of her news and Harestar stood up to speak. He spotted Sleekwhisker among the SkyClan warriors, seeing that she was watching the leaders intently.

Leafstar clearly trusts her if she let her come to the Gathering . . . but should she? Should Yarrowleaf?

Guilt pricked Alderheart’s pelt, because he had assumed that the “approaching shadows” would be a clearer sign that ShadowClan might revive. Such as Tigerheart coming home . . . He wasn’t sure that the return of two cats who had followed Darktail was a signal that ShadowClan would rise again.

And that means the storm could be moving closer. . . .

Chapter 10

CHAPTER 10

Twigpaw bounded across the camp toward the medicine-cat den, impatient to speak to Alderheart. A few fox-lengths away she made herself slow down. The sick cats won’t want an apprentice charging in on them, she told herself.

She brushed past the bramble screen at the entrance to the den and found Alderheart at the back, where the herbs were stored. She padded toward him, careful not to disturb Leafpool and Whitewing, who were curled up in their nests.

“Hi, Alderheart,” Twigpaw mewed. “I have a little time before I have to hunt with Sparkpelt. Is there anything I can do to help you?”

“There certainly is,” Alderheart replied with a welcoming twitch of his whiskers. “I’m just sorting herbs for the sick cats in the apprentices’ den. You can take them over there for me if you like.”

“Sure,” Twigpaw responded.

Although she was happy to help, that wasn’t the only reason Twigpaw was visiting Alderheart. A couple of sunrises had passed since the Gathering, and this was her first opportunity to ask him about the prophecy. The sight of only three leaders at the Gathering had felt so wrong, so strange and frightening.