The Silent Thaw Read online

  Dedication

  Special thanks to Kate Cary

  Allegiances

  THUNDERCLAN

  LEADER BRAMBLESTAR—dark brown tabby tom with amber eyes

  DEPUTY SQUIRRELFLIGHT—dark ginger she-cat with green eyes and one white paw

  MEDICINE CATS JAYFEATHER—gray tabby tom with blind blue eyes

  ALDERHEART—dark ginger tom with amber eyes

  WARRIORS (toms and she-cats without kits)

  THORNCLAW—golden-brown tabby tom

  WHITEWING—white she-cat with green eyes

  BIRCHFALL—light brown tabby tom

  BERRYNOSE—cream-colored tom with a stump for a tail

  MOUSEWHISKER—gray-and-white tom

  APPRENTICE, BAYPAW (golden tabby tom)

  POPPYFROST—pale tortoiseshell-and-white she-cat

  LIONBLAZE—golden tabby tom with amber eyes

  ROSEPETAL—dark cream she-cat

  BRISTLEFROST—pale gray she-cat

  STEMLEAF—white-and-orange tom

  LILYHEART—small, dark tabby she-cat with white patches and blue eyes

  APPRENTICE, FLAMEPAW (black tom)

  BUMBLESTRIPE—very pale gray tom with black stripes

  CHERRYFALL—ginger she-cat

  MOLEWHISKER—brown-and-cream tom

  CINDERHEART—gray tabby she-cat

  APPRENTICE, FINCHPAW (tortoiseshell she-cat)

  BLOSSOMFALL—tortoiseshell-and-white she-cat with petal-shaped white patches

  IVYPOOL—silver-and-white tabby she-cat with dark blue eyes

  EAGLEWING—ginger she-cat

  APPRENTICE, MYRTLEPAW (pale brown she-cat)

  DEWNOSE—gray-and-white tom

  THRIFTEAR—dark gray she-cat

  STORMCLOUD—gray tabby tom

  HOLLYTUFT—black she-cat

  FLIPCLAW—tabby tom

  FERNSONG—yellow tabby tom

  HONEYFUR—white she-cat with yellow splotches

  SPARKPELT—orange tabby she-cat

  SORRELSTRIPE—dark brown she-cat

  TWIGBRANCH—gray she-cat with green eyes

  FINLEAP—brown tom

  SHELLFUR—tortoiseshell tom

  PLUMSTONE—black-and-ginger she-cat

  LEAFSHADE—tortoiseshell she-cat

  SPOTFUR—spotted tabby she-cat

  FLYWHISKER—striped gray tabby she-cat

  SNAPTOOTH—golden tabby tom

  QUEENS (she-cats expecting or nursing kits)

  DAISY—cream long-furred cat from the horseplace

  ELDERS (former warriors and queens, now retired)

  GRAYSTRIPE—long-haired gray tom

  CLOUDTAIL—long-haired white tom with blue eyes

  BRIGHTHEART—white she-cat with ginger patches

  BRACKENFUR—golden-brown tabby tom

  SHADOWCLAN

  LEADER TIGERSTAR—dark brown tabby tom

  DEPUTY CLOVERFOOT—gray tabby she-cat

  MEDICINE CAT PUDDLESHINE—brown tom with white splotches

  APPRENTICE, SHADOWPAW (gray tabby tom)

  WARRIORS TAWNYPELT—tortoiseshell she-cat with green eyes

  DOVEWING—pale gray she-cat with green eyes

  STRIKESTONE—brown tabby tom

  STONEWING—white tom

  SCORCHFUR—dark gray tom with slashed ears

  FLAXFOOT—brown tabby tom

  SPARROWTAIL—large brown tabby tom

  SNOWBIRD—pure white she-cat with green eyes

  YARROWLEAF—ginger she-cat with yellow eyes

  BERRYHEART—black-and-white she-cat

  GRASSHEART—pale brown tabby she-cat

  WHORLPELT—gray-and-white tom

  HOPWHISKER—calico she-cat

  ANTFUR—tom with a brown-and-black splotched pelt

  BLAZEFIRE—white-and-ginger tom

  CINNAMONTAIL—brown tabby she-cat with white paws

  FLOWERSTEM—silver she-cat

  SNAKETOOTH—honey-colored tabby she-cat

  SLATEFUR—sleek gray tom

  POUNCESTEP—gray tabby she-cat

  LIGHTLEAP—brown tabby she-cat

  CONEFOOT—white-and-gray tom

  FRONDWHISKER—gray tabby she-cat

  GULLSWOOP—white she-cat

  SPIRECLAW—black-and-white tom

  HOLLOWSPRING—black tom

  SUNBEAM—brown-and-white tabby she-cat

  ELDERS OAKFUR—small brown tom

  SKYCLAN

  LEADER LEAFSTAR—brown-and-cream tabby she-cat with amber eyes

  DEPUTY HAWKWING—dark gray tom with yellow eyes

  MEDICINE CATS FRECKLEWISH—mottled light brown tabby she-cat with spotted legs

  FIDGETFLAKE—black-and-white tom

  MEDIATOR TREE—yellow tom with amber eyes

  WARRIORS SPARROWPELT—dark brown tabby tom

  MACGYVER—black-and-white tom

  DEWSPRING—sturdy gray tom

  APPRENTICE, ROOTPAW (yellow tom)

  PLUMWILLOW—dark gray she-cat

  SAGENOSE—pale gray tom

  KITESCRATCH—reddish-brown tom

  HARRYBROOK—gray tom

  BLOSSOMHEART—ginger-and-white she-cat

  TURTLECRAWL—tortoiseshell she-cat

  SANDYNOSE—stocky light brown tom with ginger legs

  RABBITLEAP—brown tom

  APPRENTICE, WRENPAW (golden tabby she-cat)

  REEDCLAW—small pale tabby she-cat

  APPRENTICE, NEEDLEPAW (black-and-white she-cat)

  MINTFUR—gray tabby she-cat with blue eyes

  NETTLESPLASH—pale brown tom

  TINYCLOUD—small white she-cat

  PALESKY—black-and-white she-cat

  VIOLETSHINE—black-and-white she-cat with yellow eyes

  BELLALEAF—pale orange she-cat with green eyes

  NECTARSONG—brown she-cat

  QUAILFEATHER—white tom with crow-black ears

  PIGEONFOOT—gray-and-white she-cat

  FRINGEWHISKER—white she-cat with brown splotches

  GRAVELNOSE—tan tom

  SUNNYPELT—ginger she-cat

  ELDERS FALLOWFERN—pale brown she-cat who has lost her hearing

  WINDCLAN

  LEADER HARESTAR—brown-and-white tom

  DEPUTY CROWFEATHER—dark gray tom

  MEDICINE CAT KESTRELFLIGHT—mottled gray tom with white splotches like kestrel feathers

  WARRIORS NIGHTCLOUD—black she-cat

  BRINDLEWING—mottled brown she-cat

  APPRENTICE, APPLEPAW (yellow tabby she-cat)

  LEAFTAIL—dark tabby tom with amber eyes

  EMBERFOOT—gray tom with two dark paws

  SMOKEHAZE—gray she-cat

  APPRENTICE, WOODPAW (brown she-cat)

  BREEZEPELT—black tom with amber eyes

  HEATHERTAIL—light brown tabby she-cat with blue eyes

  CROUCHFOOT—ginger tom

  APPRENTICE, SONGPAW (tortoiseshell she-cat)

  LARKWING—pale brown tabby she-cat

  SEDGEWHISKER—light brown tabby she-cat

  APPRENTICE, FLUTTERPAW (brown-and-white tom)

  SLIGHTFOOT—black tom with white flash on his chest

  OATCLAW—pale brown tabby tom

  HOOTWHISKER—dark gray tom

  APPRENTICE, WHISTLEPAW (gray tabby she-cat)

  FERNSTRIPE—gray tabby she-cat

  FEATHERPELT—gray tabby she-cat

  ELDERS WHISKERNOSE—light brown tom

  GORSETAIL—very pale gray-and-white she-cat with blue eyes

  RIVERCLAN

  LEADER MISTYSTAR—gray she-cat with blue eyes

  DEPUTY REEDWHISKER—black tom

  MEDICINE CATS MOTHWING—dappled golden she-cat

  WILLOWSHINE—gray tabby sh
e-cat

  WARRIORS DUSKFUR—brown tabby she-cat

  MINNOWTAIL—dark gray-and-white she-cat

  MALLOWNOSE—light brown tabby tom

  PODLIGHT—gray-and-white tom

  SHIMMERPELT—silver she-cat

  LIZARDTAIL—light brown tom

  APPRENTICE, FOGPAW (gray-and-white she-cat)

  SNEEZECLOUD—gray-and-white tom

  BRACKENPELT—tortoiseshell she-cat

  JAYCLAW—gray tom

  OWLNOSE—brown tabby tom

  ICEWING—white she-cat with blue eyes

  SOFTPELT—gray she-cat

  APPRENTICE, SPLASHPAW (brown tabby tom)

  GORSECLAW—white tom with gray ears

  NIGHTSKY—dark gray she-cat with blue eyes

  HARELIGHT—white tom

  BREEZEHEART—brown-and-white she-cat

  DAPPLETUFT—gray-and-white tom

  HAVENPELT—black-and-white she-cat

  QUEENS CURLFEATHER—pale brown she-cat (mother to Frostkit, a she-kit; Mistkit, a she-kit; and Graykit, a tom)

  ELDERS MOSSPELT—tortoiseshell-and-white she-cat

  Maps

  Contents

  Cover

  Title Page

  Dedication

  Allegiances

  Maps

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  About the Author

  Books by Erin Hunter

  Back Ads

  Copyright

  About the Publisher

  Prologue

  Bramblestar shivered as wind whipped snow from the frozen moor and stung his muzzle. He was as cold as the air around him, but he hardly noticed. His gaze was fixed on the body lying in the shelter of a cave carved from the snow. That’s me. The thought seemed no more than a distant yowl. He was numb with shock. I died. The fever that had ravaged his body for days and days had finally claimed one of the nine lives he, as ThunderClan’s leader, had been granted by StarClan.

  Outside the cave, Jayfeather was glancing nervously at Puddleshine while Alderheart stared hollow-eyed at Bramblestar’s body. He saw me die. Bramblestar watched his son tremble and wished he could comfort him. Shadowpaw and Tigerstar shifted anxiously beside Dovewing. They’re waiting for me to wake up. Bramblestar glanced across the bleak, white moor, remembering vaguely that his Clanmates had brought him here while he’d still been alive in the hope that the bitter cold would cure his fever. How long would it take for him to begin his next life? He looked back expectantly at his body, then lifted his gaze to the sky, waiting for stars to pierce the snow-laden clouds. Will StarClan welcome me soon? Will I share with them before I return to my body?

  The wind hardened as the moments passed. Bramblestar’s tail twitched. Anxiety sparked in his fur. He’d never died before. What happened now?

  Dovewing padded closer, her ears twitching. “How long does it take?” Her mew faded in the roar of the wind as snow swirled around her. When it cleared, the cats had moved. Jayfeather crouched near Bramblestar’s body. Tigerstar stood beside Shadowpaw, eyeing the other cats. Bramblestar looked again at the sky. The clouds had shifted. How long had it been? Why hadn’t he woken up yet? Where’s StarClan? Was he supposed to face death alone? Had his ancestors deserted him?

  “Bramblestar is dead. For good.” Jayfeather’s mew cut through the storm. Bramblestar stared at him. No! I’m here! I’m ready to come back. He strained to speak, but no words came, and Jayfeather went on. “StarClan has forgotten us.”

  The snowstorm engulfed him. Bramblestar struggled as wind tore at his fur and snow blinded him. It filled his nose and stung his ears. The ground seemed to give way. He snatched at it with his claws, his heart lurching as the blizzard swept him away. Is this death?

  A moment later he was in the ThunderClan camp, staring at his body laid out for his vigil. The camp was dark. How much time had passed since he was on the moor? They’re going to bury me. Panic flared like fire through his flesh. I’m not dead! I’m here!

  Squirrelflight was speaking. Grief stole Bramblestar’s breath as sorrow choked her mew. Something was very wrong. How could he be watching his own vigil? Had StarClan taken away all his lives? Have I offended them? He padded around his body as his Clanmates watched Squirrelflight, their eyes hollow with grief. Would StarClan take him soon? Above the camp he could see stars between the branches, cold and distant.

  “May StarClan light your path, Bramblestar.” Jayfeather dipped his head to Bramblestar’s body. “May you find good hunting, swift running, and shelter when you sleep.” As he spoke, Bramblestar saw a ripple run through his own corpse. He pricked his ears, eagerly. He was going to have another life after all. He braced himself, preparing to be swept into his old, familiar pelt, his heart melting with relief. He saw the corpse’s legs twitch, then move. Then it opened its eyes.

  That’s not me. His body was moving without him. How could that be? He watched it roll onto its side, then push itself to its paws. It padded toward Squirrelflight and dipped its head. “Greetings,” it meowed. “It’s good to be with you again.”

  Bramblestar felt sick as Squirrelflight pressed herself against it.

  “He’s alive!” Bristlefrost’s mew rang out among the gasps of his Clanmates. “StarClan hasn’t forsaken us!”

  Bramblestar backed away, unable to believe his eyes as he watched his body moving among his Clanmates. Something had gone terribly wrong. That’s not me! He had to let some cat know. His mind raced. Tree can speak to the dead! The idea struck him like lightning. Perhaps he can speak to me. Pelt spiking with fear, Bramblestar fled into the forest. I have to fix this!

  Chapter 1

  Keep running! Rootpaw didn’t dare look over his shoulder.

  “Wait! You have to help me! Please!” Bramblestar’s plaintive wail echoed through the trees.

  “Leave me alone!” Heart lurching, Rootpaw pushed his paws harder against the frozen forest floor. Why was the ThunderClan leader chasing him? What was Bramblestar doing on SkyClan land? And why did he look so much like a ghost?

  Rootpaw’s thoughts spiraled as his paws thrummed over the earth. Bramblestar can’t be a ghost. He’s not dead! He’d lost a life to fever. But he was a Clan leader; he had come back. He was alive. Then why had Rootpaw been able to see the forest through Bramblestar’s shimmering pelt? Why hadn’t he smelled ThunderClan scent? Why had his paws made no sound on the hard earth?

  Something sinewy snagged Rootpaw’s leg. It jerked from under him and he rolled, snatching it free as he thumped onto his side. The shock of his fall jolted him from his panic. Lying still for a moment, Rootpaw let his breath steady before scrambling to his paws. Pain flashed through the paw the root had caught. He glanced back the way he’d run. Something moved in the distance. Bramblestar? He stiffened, his belly tightening, then relaxed as he realized it was just bracken trembling in the breeze. He lifted his snagged paw, moving it gingerly. The pain softened and faded and he put his weight on it, relieved to find that it was okay.

  He looked again for Bramblestar. The forest was deserted. He shook out his pelt. Did I imagine it? He’d been so sure he’d seen the ghostly ThunderClan leader. His breath caught in his throat. Perhaps Bramblestar had died again. Rootpaw shivered. Perhaps the fever that had killed him once had returned and killed him again. But why would I see his ghost? Dread crawled Rootpaw’s belly. Am I like Tree? His father had always been a
ble to see dead cats. Was it possible Rootpaw had inherited the skill?

  Rootpaw shuddered. He didn’t want to be strange like Tree. It was bad enough being Tree’s son and having his Clanmates treat him like the kit of a five-legged squirrel. He just wanted to be like his denmates—a normal warrior, with normal warrior kin. He lifted his chin, irritated. He would go back to the clearing. If it had been the real Bramblestar, he might still be there. He could explain why he’d come. And if it turned out Rootpaw had imagined seeing the ThunderClan leader, he’d see that there was nothing to be scared of. The wind might have made the shadows shiver so they seemed like a tabby pelt.

  Squaring his shoulders, Rootpaw marched back to the clearing. As he neared the tiny glade, he fluffed his fur against the cold, puffing out his chest as he padded down the slope and stopped in the middle. He looked around, pricking his ears, but saw no sign of Bramblestar, neither the warrior nor the ghost. There was no scent lingering in the air. Shadows rippled over the ground. Rootpaw shook his head. He had not seen Bramblestar’s ghost. He’d imagined the whole thing.

  He glanced at the sky, realizing that the sun had lifted high above the trees. His heart quickened. He was late. Dewspring would be expecting him for training. Rootpaw broke into a run and hared between the trees, heading back to camp.

  “I’m glad you decided to turn up.” Dewspring was waiting for him outside the fern entrance. He flicked his tail irritably as Rootpaw scrambled down the slope toward him.

  “Sorry!” Rootpaw puffed.

  “We’re supposed to be stalking prey.” Dewspring stared at him.

  “We still can,” Rootpaw mewed apologetically.

  Dewspring huffed. “A warrior arrives on time.”

  “I got distracted.” Rootpaw glanced at his paws. It was a lame excuse, but how could he tell his mentor that he thought he’d seen a ghost of a cat who wasn’t even dead? Besides, he didn’t want Dewspring to think he was as strange as Tree.

  Dewspring whisked his tail. “Don’t let it happen again,” he mewed. “You’ve still got a lot to learn. If you want to become a warrior before greenleaf, we don’t have time to waste.”

  As Rootpaw dipped his head, the frost-browned ferns rustled and Hawkwing pushed his way out of camp. Plumwillow and Nettlesplash followed at his heels.

  “Hi, Dewspring.” The SkyClan deputy paused beside the gray tom. He glanced at Rootpaw. “How’s your apprentice doing?”

  “Not bad.” Dewspring eyed Rootpaw sharply. Rootpaw tensed. Was his mentor going to tell Hawkwing that he’d been late for training? “He’s a good hunter, and his battle skills are coming along well.”