The Silent Thaw/Chapter 23

==Chapter description==
:Bristlefrost pretends to sleep as she watches Finleap and Twigbranch try to uproot a thornbush as punishment for forgetting to thank StarClan for their catch earlier in the day. Berrynose has been appointed ThunderClan's new deputy, and was the one who reported Twigbranch and Finleap to Bramblestar, who has become increasingly strict about the code since Squirrelflight's banishment. Bristlefrost feels uncomfortable as she wonders if she had been acting like Berrynose is now, and vows not to tell on her Clanmates anymore. Bramblestar oversees the warriors as they carry out their punishment, and Berrynose encourages them to hurry up, trying to please Bramblestar, but the leader ignores him. Berrynose kicks dirt back into the hole Twigbranch and Finleap are digging, angering the gray warrior, but Finleap tells her to let it go as they continue to work.
:Bramblestar summons Berrynose and demands to know why the patrols haven't yet returned. Berrynose apologizes, calling himself a mouse-brain and saying he'll send out the patrols earlier tomorrow. Bristlefrost is glad she no longer has to organize patrols for an imposter, but she dislikes Berrynose's attitude as deputy and thinks he only likes bossing other cats around. Bramblestar summons Bristlefrost to his den, and she worries he will find out she's a traitor and wonders if he already knows but is pretending not to as he decides on a punishment. She notices the den is ill-maintained as Bramblestar asks what she thinks of his new rules. She tells him she approves, and that StarClan will surely be happy with them. He praises her loyalty, dedication, and skills of observation, and says he wishes she wasn't so young so he could have made her deputy. Bristlefrost feels extremely uncomfortable as she thanks him, and he notes that he saw she wasn't in camp a few nights before the Gathering, but he doesn't doubt her loyalty, as she knows what happens to disloyal cats. Bristlefrost realizes he's threatening her, and wonders if he knows the whole truth, or is only suspicious. She thinks she has to warn Twigbranch, Finleap, Rootpaw, and the other rebels.
:Bramblestar tells her to find Squirrelflight and make sure she's left Clan territory. Bristlefrost agrees, and shoots a warning look at Finleap, who nudges Twigbranch, as she races out of camp. When she reaches the SkyClan border, she pauses, not wanting to intrude and go against the will of StarClan. She scents Rootpaw, and he soon emerges on a patrol along with Dewspring and Harrybrook. She says she wants to apologize to Rootpaw for embarassing him, and Harrybrook reminds her they're from different Clans. Rootpaw says he would like to hear a ThunderClan cat apologize to them for once, and Dewspring agrees, allowing Rootpaw and Bristlefrost to walk out of earshot to speak with each other. Bristlefrost warns him that Bramblestar is suspicious of her, and Rootpaw asks if anyone followed her. Bristlefrost doesn't think so, and she scans the forest behind her. She questions why the imposter seems worried about Squirrelflight, but Rootpaw tells her they don't have time to worry about that. He says Squirrelflight is safe in ShadowClan, and Shadowsight is planning to tell the other medicine cats about the imposter. Bristlefrost decides to go speak with Squirrelflight, and Rootpaw reassures her before she heads for the ShadowClan border.
:Yarrowleaf and Strikestone intercept her at the border, telling her to leave. She's frustrated, thinking that they won't trust her or admit to harboring Squirrelflight, but Shadowsight approaches, and she tells them he will vouch for her. Bristlefrost explains to the medicine cat that Rootpaw told her about Squirrelflight, Bramblestar's ghost, and Shadowsight's visions, and he tells her to follow him to camp. She quietly warns him that Bramblestar might know about the secret meetings, and that some ThunderClan cats have been acting as spies, and he tells her to be careful. Squirrelflight is in ShadowClan's camp, seeming thin and worried, and she asks why Bristlefrost is there and what is happening in ThunderClan. Squirrelflight tells Bristlefrost they have ShadowClan's support, and Shadowsight should be able to convince the medicine cats to stop their Clans from going to war over Bramblestar's actions. Bristlefrost questions if it's too late, but Squirrelflight tells her they still have a chance as long as Bramblestar doesn't know ShadowClan has been sheltering her. Bristlefrost promises not to tell him, but is unsure what she will say.
:Bristlefrost rolls in comfrey before returning to camp to mask her scent, and tells Bramblestar she found Squirrelflight in the Twolegplace. She says Squirrelflight is angry and isn't planning to ever return to the Clans. Bramblestar is very interested, and looks menacingly at Bristlefrost as he warns her that she better be telling the truth. Bristlefrost feels sick with worry as he stares intensely at her, wondering if some cat really had followed her and reported her, until Bramblestar finally walks away. She wonders if she is safe in ThunderClan anymore.
==Characters==
===Major===
===Minor===
==Notes and references==
Category:Chapter subpages
Category:The Silent Thaw
Category:The Broken Code arc