A Dangerous Path Read Online Free

shock to reach the top of the ravine and gaze down at the devastation. All the covering of gorse and fern had been stripped away by the fire. The earth floor of the camp was left exposed, surrounded by the blackened remains of the wall of thornbushes that was shored up with branches where the Clan cats had begun to repair it.
    â€œWill it ever be the same?” Sandstorm meowed softly as she came to stand beside him.
    A wave of exhaustion flooded over Fireheart as he thought of how much time and work it would take before the camp was fully rebuilt. “One day,” he promised. “We’ve been through bad times before. We’ll survive.” He pressed his muzzle against Sandstorm’s flank, taking comfort from her reassuring purr, before he led the way down the ravine.
    The bush where the warriors slept was still there, but the thick canopy of twigs had been burned away. Only a few charred branches remained, the gaps between them interwoven withsticks. Brackenfur was crouched outside, while Longtail sat on watch near the entrance to the nursery, and Dustpelt paced back and forth in front of the elders’ den.
    Brackenfur sprang to his paws as Fireheart and the others appeared, only to relax a moment later. “It’s you,” he meowed, relief in his voice. “We’ve been expecting Tigerclaw all night.”
    â€œWell, you can stop worrying,” Fireheart meowed. “He’s too busy to worry about us. Tigerstar is the new leader of ShadowClan.”
    Brackenfur stared in astonishment. “Great StarClan!” he said with a gasp. “I don’t believe it!”
    â€œ What did you say?” Fireheart turned to see Longtail loping across the clearing. “Did I hear you right?”
    â€œYou did.” Fireheart could see the shock in the tabby warrior’s face. “Tigerstar has taken over ShadowClan.”
    â€œAnd they let him?” meowed Longtail. “Are they mad?”
    â€œNot mad at all,” Whitestorm replied, coming up to stand beside Fireheart. The elderly warrior scraped the bare earth with his paws and settled down on his haunches with a tired sigh. His thick white fur was stained with soot after the journey back through the forest. “The sickness almost destroyed the ShadowClan cats. They were desperate for a strong leader. Tigerstar must have seemed like a gift from StarClan.”
    â€œIt sounds like that’s just what he was,” Fireheart agreed heavily. “Apparently StarClan sent an omen to Runningnose to tell ShadowClan that a great leader would arise.”
    â€œBut Tigerstar is a traitor!” Brackenfur protested.
    â€œShadowClan don’t know that,” Fireheart pointed out.
    By this time other cats were appearing. Brightpaw and Swiftpaw ran over from the apprentices’ den; Dustpelt padded up with Darkstripe’s apprentice, Fernpaw; Speckletail peered curiously out from the nursery. As they pressed around Fireheart with their questions, he had to raise his voice to make himself heard.
    â€œListen, all of you,” he meowed. “There’s something you need to hear.” And I have to tell Bluestar , he added silently, bracing himself for the encounter. “Whitestorm will tell you what happened at the Gathering,” he went on, “and then I want a dawn patrol.” He hesitated, looking around at the assembled cats. All the warriors were tired; those who hadn’t been to the Gathering had stayed awake to guard the camp.
    Before Fireheart could decide who to send, Dustpelt spoke. “Ashpaw and I will go.”
    Fireheart dipped his head gratefully. The brown warrior had never been friendly toward him, but he was a loyal cat to ThunderClan, and he seemed to accept Fireheart’s authority as deputy.
    â€œI’ll go too,” Mousefur offered.
    â€œAnd me,” meowed Cloudpaw.
    Fireheart let out a purr of appreciation at his apprentice’s words. He was pleased