"They would have died if I'd left them in the flood!" Bramblestar growled, aware of Jessy bristling by his side.

"That's hardly your problem," Tawnypelt retorted. "Well, I guess I can't expect you to help us if you're too busy feeding kittypets."

Bramblestar forced himself not to get angry. She's not usually this short tempered. It's only because she and her Clan are in trouble. "Firestar showed me that compa.s.sion is a sign of strength," he responded calmly.

"Firestar would have put Clan cats first!" Tawnypelt snapped. She turned and stalked away, then paused to look back over her shoulder. "Forget I said anything, Bramblestar," she hissed. "Rowanstar will figure out a way to save us."

"Wow!" Minty exclaimed, watching Tawnypelt vanish into the bushes. "She's really fiery! I can see why you don't get along with ShadowClan."

"That's Bramblestar's sister, Tawnypelt," Dovewing informed her. "She's okay."

Bramblestar was torn between anger and worry for his sister. Things must be really bad in ShadowClan if she's coming here to ask for help. He knew how proud Tawnypelt was of her adopted Clan. I'm sure Rowanstar knows nothing about this.

"Is everything okay with Tawnypelt?" Dovewing asked him.

Bramblestar hesitated, not sure how much he wanted to give away. "Not really," he replied at last. "But she's no worse than the rest of us, struggling to survive the flood."

Bramblestar led his patrol back to the camp, pausing to pick up Jessy's thrush on the way. When they reached the tunnel, Frankie headed straight for Millie, who was helping Briarlight with her exercises near the entrance.

"Look what Dovewing and I caught," he meowed, laying the shrew proudly at Millie's paws.

"Very good!" Millie's eyes glowed as she gazed at the kittypet. "You see, it just takes a little while for you to settle in here."

"And Jessy caught a thrush all by herself," Minty added as some of the other cats gathered around to look. "She climbed up the tree and leaped through the branches just like a real forest cat!" Minty sounded as pleased as if she had caught the thrush herself.

"Good job," Squirrelflight mewed, giving the thrush a sniff. "We'll take you out with the apprentices next time."

"They're all doing well," Dovewing put in. Half joking, she added, "Maybe we should give them some fighting lessons next."

Jessy and Frankie exchanged a glance. "I'm up for it," Jessy declared. Frankie looked less certain, but nodded a heartbeat later.

Minty took a step back. "I'll stick with hunting, if that's okay."

Bramblestar went to look for Sandstorm, and found her inside the tunnel, fluffing up the bedding to help it dry out. He remembered she'd been ill; though she wasn't coughing now, he didn't like the sound of her rasping breath.

"Did you want something, Bramblestar?" she asked, turning toward him.

Bramblestar paced the tunnel restlessly as he told her about his meeting with Tawnypelt. "What do you think Firestar would have done?" he asked her.

Sandstorm had listened quietly, sitting with her tail wrapped around her paws. "I think you're asking the wrong question," she mewed. Her green gaze was fixed on him. "You should be asking yourself what you should do."

"I don't know," Bramblestar confessed. "That's why I'm asking for your opinion."

Sandstorm flicked her tail-tip back and forth for a couple of heartbeats, thinking. "You haven't welcomed Rowanstar formally as ShadowClan's leader yet," she pointed out at last. "And there'll be no more Gatherings until the water goes down. Why not visit him? If his Clan is obviously in trouble, it wouldn't be too difficult to ask if he wants help. Then he can make the decision whether to accept or not."

Bramblestar sagged with relief. "You're right," he meowed. "Why didn't I think of that? What kind of leader am I if I have to ask you what to do all the time?"

"You don't ask me all the time," Sandstorm mewed briskly. "You're doing fine. I'm glad Tawnypelt felt that she could come and ask you for help," she added. "Sometimes Clan boundaries cause more damage than they're worth."

The two hunting parties returned at sunhigh. Not that we can see the sun, Bramblestar thought. Sometimes I think we'll never feel its warmth again. When every cat had finished eating, Squirrelflight began to organize the afternoon patrols.

"I don't mind going out again," Jessy offered. "Hunting this morning was fun."

"I'll go too," Frankie mewed.

Bramblestar was glad that the two kittypets were adapting so well, but he could see that they were both tired after the morning's unaccustomed exercise. "No, you've already done your bit," he meowed. He had been watching the two medicine cats patiently trekking back and forth with mouthfuls of herbs, and now he suggested, "Why don't you help Jayfeather and Leafpool sort out their supplies?"

"That would be great." Leafpool padded over to them. "We're managing to build up a store again, but we lost everything so we had to start over."

Bramblestar spotted Dovewing talking to Brightheart, who had also been helping the medicine cats. "Do you think you could take Minty with you to look for herbs? It would help her get used to the forest."

"Sure," Brightheart responded.

Bramblestar gave Dovewing a grateful nod, impressed by her kindness and her good sense in guessing what would help Minty to feel better about her new surroundings.

Cherryfall and Mousewhisker puffed past him, dragging branches, with Brackenfur and Dustpelt to supervise.

"Careful as you go past the mudfall," Dustpelt warned. "We spent a lot of time getting it secure, and I don't want you to dislodge it."

"We're being careful," Cherryfall panted.

"It'll be fine," Brackenfur rea.s.sured Dustpelt. "Think how much more comfortable the nests will be when we install these windbreaks."

Bramblestar watched them as they disappeared into the tunnel. He couldn't help noticing how old Dustpelt and Brackenfur were looking, the fur around their muzzles fading to gray and their movements growing stiffer. I'm glad they have the younger cats to help them.

"No, Purdy, you don't need to go on patrol." Squirrelflight's voice interrupted Bramblestar's thoughts. "I need you to help look after the sick cats-Briarlight especially."

Bramblestar purred. I'd be lost without Squirrelflight to keep every cat in line! She has a knack for making them all feel useful and important, even Purdy.

When the st.u.r.dy tabby had gone b.u.mbling off into the tunnel, Squirrelflight noticed that Bramblestar was looking at her, and padded across to him. "Do you have any special tasks for today?"

"I'm thinking of going over to ShadowClan to have a word with Rowanstar," Bramblestar meowed. "Just to see how he's coping."

Squirrelflight blinked in surprise. "I don't think Rowanstar will appreciate another Clan muscling in," she told him.

"Blackstar was generous to me when I first became Clan leader," Bramblestar responded. "I'd like to return the favor." He didn't tell Squirrelflight about his encounter with Tawnypelt.

Squirrelflight still didn't look impressed, but she didn't argue any more. "Then I'll stay here and keep an eye on the camp," she mewed.

Bramblestar glanced around to see which cats were free to come with him, and beckoned Leafpool with a wave of his tail. "I'm going to visit ShadowClan," he informed her. "Now that Jayfeather has some help, I'd like you to come with me."

"Sure, Bramblestar."

"Spiderleg, Cinderheart!" Bramblestar called.

The long-legged black warrior came bounding over, while Cinderheart, who had been talking to Lionblaze under a nearby elder bush, followed more slowly, with Lionblaze still at her side.

"Can I come too?" Lionblaze asked when he heard where his Clan leader and the others were going.

Bramblestar shook his head. "I'm not expecting trouble," he meowed, "so I don't want to take too many warriors with me. Besides, Lionblaze, you have a habit of bringing trouble to ShadowClan all by yourself."

"Okay," Lionblaze agreed without protest. He touched noses with Cinderheart. "Take care," he mewed softly. "You don't know what you're going to find over there."

Cinderheart gave his ear a lick. "Don't worry. I'll be fine."

Watching their farewell, Leafpool leaned close to Bramblestar. "I wouldn't be surprised if we have some new kits in the Clan soon," she murmured.

Kits! Bramblestar thought happily. Then he let out a sigh. I hope they aren't born outside the hollow, in this cold, damp tunnel.

As Bramblestar's patrol was getting ready to leave, Jessy looked up from where she was sorting herbs with Jayfeather and came racing over to them. "Good luck, Bramblestar," she meowed. "You're being a good brother to do this."

Squirrelflight looked puzzled. "What does she mean, 'a good brother'?" she asked, her tail-tip twitching.

Bramblestar began to regret that he hadn't told Squirrelflight about his meeting with Tawnypelt. But it's too late now. "Oh . . . uh . . . I guess Jessy knows my sister is in ShadowClan, and that I'm worried about her."

Squirrelflight didn't look convinced by his reply, her green gaze flicking from Bramblestar to Jessy and back again. "Well, isn't Jessy learning quickly," she commented after a moment.

Realizing anything he said would just make things worse, Bramblestar led his patrol out of the camp and through the trees to the ShadowClan border. When they reached it and saw the extent of the flooding in their rivals' territory, Spiderleg and Leafpool halted, gazing in shock at the waste of water.

"I had no idea the lake had stretched so far!" Leafpool exclaimed.

"It's pretty bad." Cinderheart, who had seen this on her previous patrol, was calmer. "Life must be so hard for ShadowClan now."

"Life's hard for all of us," Spiderleg mewed unsympathetically.

Bramblestar had no idea how to find ShadowClan's temporary camp, so he led his patrol along the border, staying on the ThunderClan side, his ears p.r.i.c.ked for the sound of cats and his jaws parted to pick up their scent. Eventually a whiff of ShadowClan scent reached him and he heard the swish of long gra.s.s as cats brushed through it.

"Hey, ShadowClan!" he called out, stopping. "Over here!"

He waited, his Clanmates bunched around him, until Crowfrost appeared around a bramble thicket with Tigerheart and Scorchfur a pace or two behind. All three cats looked desperately thin, their ribs showing beneath their pelts.

"What do you want?" Crowfrost growled as he stopped in front of Bramblestar. "You have no business being here."

"We haven't crossed your border," Bramblestar pointed out mildly. "But we'd like to visit Rowanstar. I want to welcome him as your new leader."

"I think they just want to find out where we've made our new camp," Scorchfur put in, glaring over Crowfrost's shoulder.

"Well, we don't have to take them there," Crowfrost responded. "If that's really what you want," he added to Bramblestar, "then we'll bring Rowanstar to you here."

Bramblestar would have been prepared to settle for that, but Spiderleg broke in. "Look, we're all suffering from the floods," he snapped. "The last thing we want is to attack your camp. Just take us there!"

"That's enough!" Bramblestar warned him, raising his tail.

Before he could say anything to the ShadowClan cats, Crowfrost's shoulders sagged. "Okay, then, come on," he meowed, sounding too weary to argue anymore.

The ThunderClan patrol crossed out of their own territory and followed the ShadowClan cats, heading toward the top border. The ground began to rise steeply and a cold wind whipped their fur the wrong way and rattled the tops of the spindly trees. Crowfrost came to a halt in front of a dense bramble thicket. There was a strong reek of ShadowClan, and Bramblestar could hear sounds of movement and muted mews coming from deep within the brambles. It looks like they camped as high up as they could because they were afraid the water wouldn't stop rising.

"Wait here," Crowfrost ordered. "I'll bring Rowanstar out to you." Pressing himself to the ground, he wriggled his way inside. Scorchfur and Tigerheart remained outside on guard. Ready to spring if we put a paw wrong, Bramblestar thought.

Eventually there was movement among the brambles and Rowanstar appeared, followed by Crowfrost and two or three other ShadowClan cats.

"Greetings, Bramblestar," the ShadowClan leader mewed. "Crowfrost, thank you for bringing them to see me. Crowfrost is my new deputy," he added to the ThunderClan cats, who murmured congratulations.

"And of course we congratulate you on receiving your nine lives, Rowanstar," Bramblestar meowed. "We know you will be a strong leader for ShadowClan. I see that you've managed to find a good place to camp while the water is high."

Rowanstar gave a brief nod. "Yes, we've had to move, just as you have, no doubt. But the water will soon go down, and meanwhile we're surviving."

For all his brave words, Bramblestar could see the panic in the Clan leader's eyes. His tucked-up flanks suggested that he had been giving all the fresh-kill to his Clanmates. But Bramblestar knew there was no point in challenging him directly about the trouble he was in. There's no way he would ever admit it.

Leafpool stepped forward, dipping her head to Rowanstar. "May I speak to Littlecloud?"

"Yes, of course," Rowanstar replied, respect for the medicine cat showing in his eyes. "Dawnpelt, please go get him."

The cream-furred she-cat, her belly swollen with kits, turned and pushed her way back into the brambles. That's Tawnypelt's daughter, Bramblestar thought. My kin . . . and her kits will come soon. I must do something to help this Clan.

Littlecloud emerged from the thicket a moment later. Bramblestar was shocked to see how old and frail he looked; his eyes seemed to be fixed on some point in the distance, and his haunches quivered as he lowered himself to the ground.

Bramblestar's shock was reflected in Leafpool's eyes as she padded up to Littlecloud and touched noses with him. "How are you, Littlecloud?" she asked.

"Fine," the old tabby rasped. "The apprentices are finding herbs to replenish my stores, and all the cats are healthy."

"Would you like me to take a look at your supplies?" Leafpool offered. "I might have some spare herbs that you're missing."

A pleased glimmer appeared in Littlecloud's eyes. "Thank you, Leafpool. That would be very helpful."

Rowanstar's neck fur bristled slightly, but he didn't protest as his medicine cat led the way into the thicket and Leafpool followed.

The medicine cats had hardly disappeared when Pinenose and Pouncetail padded up from the direction of the lake, dragging dry bracken fronds behind them. Bramblestar exchanged a surprised glance with Cinderheart that warriors were fetching bedding; then he recalled that ShadowClan had so few apprentices that some of the everyday tasks would have to be carried out by warriors.

"Great, you found some!" Scorchfur exclaimed, looking pleased, as the two cats approached.

"We'll take this straight to the nursery," Pinenose mumbled around her mouthful of bracken. "s...o...b..rd and your kits will sleep warm tonight."

"Let me help you carry it in," Cinderheart suggested, stepping forward.

"I'll come, too," Spiderleg added.

The warriors who were struggling with the bracken looked willing to accept help, but Rowanstar lashed his tail. "ShadowClan can manage without ThunderClan's interference," he snapped.

"No cat doubts that," Bramblestar mewed, keeping his voice calm. "But equally it's not a sign of weakness to accept help sometimes."

Rowanstar's nostrils flared, while Pinenose and Pouncetail quickly started dragging the bracken into the camp before a full-blown argument developed. The ThunderClan warriors stayed where they were.

With a twitch of his ears Bramblestar beckoned Rowanstar a little way from the bramble thicket, so that they could talk privately. "Look," he began, deciding to get straight to the point, "I know about the kittypets who have been stopping you from hunting beyond the border. If you want, I could send some warriors to help you defeat them, just like we did when you first moved into the territory."

Rowanstar lashed his tail and his shoulder fur bristled up into spikes. "Who told you?" he demanded.

As if his words had summoned her, Tawnypelt appeared from the bushes, carrying a scrawny blackbird in her jaws. The rest of her hunting patrol followed with a few more puny sc.r.a.ps of prey. She halted at the sight of Bramblestar standing beside Rowanstar.