The Silent Thaw/Chapter 14

==Chapter description==
:Bristlefrost and Flamepaw are repairing the elders' den while their Clanmates sort herbs, repair dens, and clean up the camp. Bristlefrost notes that the ThunderClan warriors are almost always working now, and she hopes StarClan will be pleased. When Bramblestar leaves through the dirtplace tunnel, Squirrelflight hurries over to speak with Bristlefrost. She seems nervous as she pulls Bristlefrost away from her Clanmates and reminds her of Rootpaw's message that Bramblestar is an imposter. Squirrelflight says she can tell something is wrong with Bramblestar, and she thinks Rootpaw is right, but Bristlefrost disagrees. Squirrelflight hurries back to the Highledge as Bramblestar returns to camp and summons Bristlefrost, wanting a word with her. Bramblestar praises Bristlefrost's work in ensuring her Clanmates work hard and follow the warrior code. Bristlefrost feels proud, but the leader then questions if every cat is pulling their weight to fill the fresh-kill pile. The warrior assures him that they are, but Bramblestar questions if she's sure, and Bristlefrost begins to have doubts. She remembers how Sparkpelt went off hunting alone near the edge of their territory the previous day, but didn't bring back much prey. Bramblestar seems suspicious, but Bristlefrost says Sparkpelt must have just had an unlucky day.
:Bramblestar angrily summons Sparkpelt, and Bristlefrost worries that she shouldn't have said anything. Bramblestar and Sparkpelt argue as the leader questions her, demanding to know where she was the day before. As a clan leader, Bramblestar claims to know the will of StarClan better than any other cat while they are silent. He says that in order to please StarClan, cats should stick together and be careful with their actions. Flamepaw watches the argument, and Bristlefrost feels guilty for getting his mother into trouble. Sparkpelt admits that she went looking for Lionblaze, and he reprimands her with a snarl. Sparkpelt defends herself, reminding Bramblestar that Lionblaze's exile ended two days ago, but he still hasn't returned. Squirrelflight defends Sparkpelt's actions, and Bramblestar snaps at her as well, telling her not to interfere with the punishment of one of his warriors. Sparkpelt looks at Bramblestar fearfully and apologizes, and he appears less enraged as he stops intimidating Squirrelflight and turns back to her. Sparkpelt begs him not to banish her, as her kits need her. Bristlefrost momentarily wonders if Bramblestar is enjoying making Sparkpelt so afraid, and regrets telling him about Sparkpelt's hunting.
:To the confusion of Bristlefrost and Sparkpelt, Bramblestar calls to Alderheart, asking if they have enough catmint. Alderheart says they are running a bit low, but don't need the herb at the moment. Bramblestar orders Sparkpelt to go to the abandoned Twoleg nest to fetch more, although Alderheart suggests it won't be growing well for another moon. He looks threateningly at Flamepaw as he tells Sparkpelt that she ought to set a good example for her kits and prove her loyalty to her Clanmates. As Sparkpelt leaves, Squirrelflight shoots Bristlefrost a look which suggests these actions prove Bramblestar is an imposter, but Bristlefrost still isn't sure.
:Later that afternoon, Bristlefrost prepares to eat as she wonders why Sparkpelt hasn't yet returned. Lionblaze walks into camp, appearing skinny and disheveled, and goes directly to speak with Bramblestar. Bramblestar questions why Lionblaze took several extra days to return to the Clan, and he explains that he ventured beyond Clan territory in order to avoid hunting Clan prey, but was chased by Twoleg kits and became lost. Bramblestar laughs, and Bristlefrost wonders if he is relieved to see Lionblaze is safe. Thriftear remarks to her sister that Lionblaze looks thin, and Bristlefrost says he's safe now, though she privately wonders if he will be punished again now that he has been named as a codebreaker. Bramblestar explains Shadowsight's vision to Lionblaze, and says that the Codebreakers must atone to stop the Clans from suffering. Lionblaze points out that no one seems to be suffering, but Bramblestar tells him the suffering has not yet begun. Lionblaze insists he hasn't broken the Code, and he has already atoned for crossing the WindClan border. Squirrelflight tells Lionblaze that she and Jayfeather were also named as Codebreakers. Lionblaze is shocked to hear his brother listed, and Squirrelflight suggests they are probably being punished for her and Leafpool's actions in hiding their true parentage. Lionblaze finds this ridiculous, but Bramblestar says it is pointless to question the will of StarClan.
:The leader decides that the Codebreakers must atone by swearing an oath. Bristlefrost, Thriftear, Twigbranch, and other ThunderClan cats visibly relax at the announcement of this mild punishment. Lionblaze and Twigbranch agree to swear it immediately, and Bramblestar calls for Jayfeather, who emerges from the medicine den and questions if Sparkpelt has returned yet. He is delighted to find that Lionblaze has returned, and sniffs him over anxiously, insisting that the golden warrior allow him to give him a proper check-up in the medicine den. Bramblestar tells Jayfeather they must swear an oath first, and Jayfeather protests, stating he hasn't broken the code. Lionblaze encourages him to get it over with, but remarks testily that his parents' identity was not his fault. Bramblestar looks enraged, but Squirrelflight interrupts him, asking if she needs to take the oath as well. Her mate decides it won't be necessary, as she has recently returned from StarClan after being judged along with Leafpool. Bristlefrost thinks this proves Bramblestar is still fair, and she hopes StarClan are listening as Bramblestar speaks the oath and the Codebreakers reluctantly repeat it.
:She wonders again why Sparkpelt hasn't returned yet, and is shocked to hear Bramblestar state the Codebreakers will be exiled if they are found guilty of another transgression. Thornclaw begins to protest to this, but he is interrupted when Sparkpelt stumbles into camp, covered in blood. Squirrelflight and Jayfeather rush to her side, and the medicine cat calls for Alderheart to bring cobwebs. Sparkpelt says she was attacked by dogs at the twoleg nest, and Bristlefrost is shocked as she sees how calm and calculated Bramblestar looks. He begins to groom himself, and she questions if he really doesn't care his daughter was just attacked. She rushes out of camp to investigate if the dogs have nested on their territory, wanting to ensure no one else is put in danger. When she reaches the Twoleg den, she scents Sparkpelt as well as stale dog scent. She also finds prey blood and smells fresh-kill, as though it had been gathered in a pile there. She doesn't believe it was done by a rogue, as they never gathered their prey in piles. With shock, she realizes some cat must have lured the dogs there on purpose with the prey, and accepts that Rootpaw was right - Bramblestar is an imposter, and he may have tried to murder Sparkpelt.
==Characters==
===Major===
===Minor===
===Mentioned===
==Notes and references==
Category:The Silent Thaw
Category:Chapter subpages
Category:The Broken Code arc