The Silent Thaw/Chapter 19

==Chapter description==
:At a Gathering, Rootpaw eagerly scans the island clearing. He spots Squirrelflight beside Crowfeather and Cloverfoot, making him wonder if she had warned the other deputies of ThunderClan's impostor. He feels some frustration at being unable to read the WindClan deputy's expression to see if he knew of Bramblestar's predicament, and realizes he may have to wait until the meeting to see if a challenge would arise. SkyClan cats make their way to join the other gathered Clans as Bramblestar's ghost lingers on the sidelines of the island, watching his body, much to Rootpaw's relief. Beside the yellow tom, Frecklewish whispers to him that they need to speak with Shadowsight. The pair nose their way through cats to find Shadowsight beside Tigerstar.
:Frecklewish makes idle chat with Alderheart as Rootpaw silently reminds her of their task. She turns to Shadowsight, asking to chat with him in private, sparing a glance at Tigerstar. Tigerstar reminds her that the Gathering is about to start, as the tom becomes protective over his son. The meeting starts before either cat can talk to the young medicine cat as Rootpaw leaves to join Tree. He notices the unease throughout the gathered cats as the impostor begins the Gathering. He calls for the other Clans' decision about the handling of the codebreakers and is met with yowls of exile and punishment. Rootpaw notices the satisfied gleam in the tom's eye as cats continue to call out about the codebreakers refusing to own up to their mistakes. Crowfeather defends himself, stating that he wouldn't act unless StarClan spoke. This angers the impostor, as he states he speaks for StarClan, which causes an argument between himself and Harestar. Mallownose and Scorchfur call for the codebreakers to atone or be exiled respectively, as their Clanmates echo their calls.
:Rootpaw shivers as the voices swell around him as he questions why cats would agree with Bramblestar. Tree answers his son that they are scared by StarClan's silence and that their desperation for them back would lead to them doing anything. Rootpaw scans the crowd spotting a few cats from the previous night's secret meeting. He asks Tree if he reckons they would speak out, to which Tree grimly asks him if he would, answering his son's question. Bramblestar speaks up once again, stating that he is glad that other cats agree StarClan won't return unless the codebreakers atone. Mistystar questions the ThunderClan leader's knowledge of StarClan as he had begun speaking for them before Shadowsight had revealed any of his visions. Bramblestar coldly reminds her that he had lost a life, that he had spoken with StarClan, and Shadowsight's vision confirmed it for them all.
:At that, Shadowsight speaks up that he isn't sure his vision had come from StarClan. Rootpaw watches Puddleshine stiffen and shoot the young tom a look, as though to say to keep quiet. Bramblestar questions the young ShadowClan cat's doubt, but Shadowsight remains firm as he speaks. He reminds the leader that his vision had cost him a life and has done nothing but turn Clanmates against one another when they are supposed to help instead. Rootpaw watches as Bramblestar eyes Shadowsight like prey and wonders if the leader is going to attack him. But, the leader smooths his fur as he calmly addresses Shadowsight, stating that he had been an apprentice when he received the vision and that the cats named had broken the code in some shape or form. Tigerstar cuts in, commenting that every cat had broken the warrior code at some point and that regardless of that, cats had remained loyal. As the three toms continue to argue, voices from below the Great Oak cry out once again, all in agreeance with Bramblestar's points.
:Rootpaw shrinks back as SkyClan cats join in stating that they must get StarClan back at any cost. He casts a glance to Bramblestar's ghost who had been watching in dismay and fear. Then, Scorchfur approaches the Great Oak and reveals to Bramblestar that Dovewing had been brought back from her atonement. Tigerstar defends his choice as Bramblestar berates him for his decision making as the cats below shout their outrage. Rootpaw feels in pain as cats continue on, as he believes the impostor was meant to be revealed instead of what is happening. He makes a quiet comment, wondering if StarClan would approve of a Clan turning on another. However, the crowd around him quiets down and Jayfeather calls for him to speak up. Nervously, Rootpaw repeats his train of thought, keeping the real Bramblestar's ghost in mind as he does. Bramblestar's impostor calls on him, identifying him as Tree's kit as he makes a comment about the older tom.
:Tree jumps to defend his son, starting another argument with the false leader. The yellow tom defends his family from Bramblestar's claims of them being codebreakers as Bramblestar tries to end the discussion, claiming Rootpaw is trying to stir trouble. However, Tree remains adamant with his points and it quickly turns to Leafstar jumping in to remind the ThunderClan leader she is the one to deal with SkyClan warriors, not him. Rootpaw looks on in worry, hoping that the cats from the secret meeting would, alongside his mother, defend Tree from the impostor. However, no cat does as Bramblestar calls for Tree to atone. As Violetshine defends her mate, she is called a codebreaker as Tree defends her as well. Bramblestar calls above the yowls to state that he must exile for three days, but Leafstar defends her warriors from the rival leader. Rootpaw is then called out for exchanging glances with Bristlefrost, as ThunderClan cats accuse him of trying to turn her against her Clan. Macgyver reminds all the Clans of Rootpaw's crush on the young ThunderClan warrior, who then voices her harsh words, declining his feelings for her.
:Bramblestar silences them all as the cats begin to bicker about the crush. He reminds the gathered cats that they are there to discuss getting StarClan back and that the only way to do so, is to punish those who break the code. At that, Rootpaw glances up at the impostor, wondering if the tabby thought Tree would try something. Tree nudges the younger tom away, drawing him out of his thoughts as they begin to leave the clearing. As SkyClan goes to leave, Frecklewish approaches Tree and asks him what he is going to do. Tree tells her that he is thinking of leaving the Clan with his family. At that, Bramblestar's ghost appears at Rootpaw's side, begging the apprentice to not let his father take him away. Rootpaw tries to convince his father to let them stay in order to save Bramblestar's ghost and return him to his body. Tree considers his son but is lost for words as Rootpaw watches the ghost disappear. He tells Bramblestar silently that he has tried and that is all he can do.
==Characters==
===Major===
===Minor===
===Mentioned===
==Notes and references==
Category:The Silent Thaw
Category:The Broken Code arc
Category:Chapter subpages