Violetshine relaxed with a sigh, though she swept the surrounding forest with a glance before she replied. “No, you’re right, it wasn’t.” Seeming relieved to be telling some cat, she went on, “It was really awkward. Leafstar turned them away at first, and then some of the ShadowClan cats—their kin—snuck them into their old camp. Tree and I found them there, and we had to tell Leafstar.”

Twigpaw blinked in astonishment. “I don’t suppose she was pleased.”

“She was furious! She wanted to drive them out all over again. It was Tree who convinced her to let them stay.”

Twigpaw felt even more astonished to hear that. “Wow—he must be a good talker!”

“He is,” Violetshine admitted. “A bit like you. Except he follows through.”

Twigpaw gasped, stung by her sister’s words. “Look,” she meowed, “I’m sorry about leaving SkyClan, but I just didn’t belong there, as much as I wanted to.” When there was no response from Violetshine, she asked, “Haven’t you ever felt that way?”

“More times than I would have liked,” Violetshine sighed.

Twigpaw was encouraged to feel that her sister was warming to her a little. “All right,” she began, “so hear me out about the prophecy. StarClan wants there to be five Clans. And I have to tell you something I’ve told no cat before. . . .” Twigpaw hesitated, swallowing nervously. She had no idea how Violetshine would react, and after she had spoken there could be no going back. “At the medicine cats’ half-moon meeting, I went to the Moonpool.”

Violetshine’s eyes stretched wide with shock. “You went? What did the medicine cats think about that?”

“They never knew,” Twigpaw explained. “I hid in the bushes until they left. But after that, I saw a vision . . . a dreadful vision of fire and a ruined camp. StarClan showed it to me! And now I’m afraid terrible things will happen unless we can find a fifth Clan.”

Before Violetshine could reply, the ferns near the border parted, and a muscular yellow tom stepped into the open. Twigpaw recognized Tree. He padded up to the border, sat down beside Violetshine, and lifted one hind leg to scratch his ear.

“You Clan cats are so afraid of StarClan,” he meowed, not bothering with a greeting. “If StarClan wants you to do stuff, why can’t they be clearer about it?”

“Any medicine cat would ask the same question,” Violetshine commented wryly.

Twigpaw turned to Tree. “What are you doing here?” she demanded.

“Oh, I was bored,” Tree replied. “I just thought I would follow Violetshine. I’ve been missing you, too.”

Twigpaw could see a glimmer of amusement in Tree’s eyes, but she couldn’t see what the joke was. I never could see why some cats think Tree’s so funny.