Sky (book)/Chapter 16

==Chapter description==
:Sunbeam lies beside Flaxfoot and Pouncestep as they try to entertain her with a game of throwing and catching prey, but she gives her squirrel to Pouncestep. Berryheart, Whorlpelt, Yarrowleaf, and Fringewhisker enter camp with prey, and Berryheart angrily asks to speak with Tigerstar. Fringewhisker looks confused while the others are upset, and Berryheart states that Fringewhisker gave SkyClan prey. Sunbeam feels something off: the three cats almost look happy at the accusation. They question Fringewhisker's loyalty, asking how they can fight beside a cat who cannot choose a Clan. Cloverfoot tells her that she must be fully devoted to ShadowClan, but the warrior says nothing. Sunbeam thinks that Fringewhisker would not risk her place in ShadowClan and says that they should let her explain. She admits to giving SkyClan prey, but the squirrel ran over the border, and Tigerstar states that it was on ShadowClan land. She apologizes, and Berryheart questions the decision to welcome the former SkyClan warrior, as Dovewing has proven her loyalty while Fringewhisker only had to pass an easy test and will never be truly loyal. Sunbeam notices how satisfied her mother looks, and wonders if they had set the whole situation up. Tigerstar growls that he expected more of her, and although she will not be thrown out, she will still be punished. Berryheart is disappointed at the verdict.
:Flaxfoot and Pouncestep tell Sunbeam to eat and say that they will play with the kits afterward. However, she makes the excuse that she is thirsty, and instead goes to Fringewhisker. The white-and-brown she-cat is angry and hurt, and growls that Berryheart, Yarrowleaf, and Whorlpelt made her give SkyClan the prey. Sunbeam is shocked, and she continues that she dismissed the rather strange request, and they told everyone that she betrayed the Clan once they returned. Fringewhisker did not tell Tigerstar, as she did not want to risk her place in the Clan or make Berryheart hate her more. Sunbeam comforts the warrior and makes sure that her mother will not get away with it.
:Back in the camp, Sunbeam asks to talk to Berryheart in private. She angrily asks her mother how she could do such a thing, and the black-and white she-cat unapologetically admits to it but says that Fringewhisker gave it away. Sunbeam retorts that the warrior trusted Berryheart as a Clanmate, but the other she-cat refuses to consider Fringewhisker a Clanmate. Sunbeam wonders what happened to the kind and loving mother Berryheart was to her, and the older cat says that she is too young to understand. Sunbeam exclaims that everyone understands bullying, and Berryheart states that outsiders are dangerous, as Darktail also came to ShadowClan and gained trust but eventually tried drowning her in the lake and killed many others. Sunbeam hesitates, but still thinks that it is an unfair comparison. Berryheart states that they cannot trust Fringewhisker because she was not born in ShadowClan, and Sunbeam will one day see that she is right. Sunbeam realizes that she will never make Berryheart change her mind and tells her mother that she will never agree with her opinion on changing Clans.
==Characters==
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===Mentioned===
==Quotes==
==Notes and references==
Category:Sky (book)
Category:A Starless Clan arc
Category:Chapter subpages