Sunrise

“There’s no need to worry about Sol, you know,” Brambleclaw reassured her. “I’ll keep you safe.”

“I know.” Squirrelflight sighed.

Jayfeather’s pelt prickled. Squirrelflight had never needed another cat to keep her safe! Once she would have clawed the ears off any cat who suggested it. But now she sounded…broken; waves of guilt and longing were coming from her, so strongly that Jayfeather almost felt sorry for her.

He brushed past her and set the wrap of herbs down at Brambleclaw’s paws. “Here,” he announced. “Traveling herbs. Eat them all, and get plenty of rest before tomorrow.”

“Thanks, Jayfeather.”

“Hey, Brambleclaw!” Graystripe’s voice came from across the clearing; Jayfeather heard his paw steps as he bounded up. “Firestar wants me to act as deputy while you’re away. Can I have a word with you about border patrols?”

“Sure.” Brambleclaw gulped the herbs down quickly. “What do you want to know?”

“Well, I think a few cats are still worried about WindClan….”

The voices of the two toms faded as they padded across the clearing. Jayfeather had turned back toward his den when Squirrelflight intercepted him.

“Jayfeather, I want to talk to you.”

“There’s nothing left to say,” Jayfeather snapped. And I don’t want to hear anything you might have to tell me. He veered around the cat he had thought was his mother and headed toward his den. He felt hollow, as if a vast emptiness had opened up inside him. For so long he had depended on the prophecy to tell him who he was and what his destiny would be; without it, was he going to be just a medicine cat for the rest of his life? And where’s the cat who gave birth to us? What happened to her?

Jayfeather hated feeling that he wasn’t in control anymore. Unsettled, he blundered into the brambles that screened the medicine cats’ den. His paws tangled in a long tendril; thorns raked through his pelt and scratched his nose. He let out a startled yowl.

“Jayfeather!” Leafpool was instantly by his side. “Keep still. I’ll get you out.”

“I’m fine,” Jayfeather growled. He’d never made a mistake like that, not even when he was a kit! He tugged himself free of the brambles and felt a clump of fur tear out as he stumbled into the den.

“Are you all right?” Leafpool’s voice was anxious. “Your nose is bleeding. I’ll get some cobweb.”

“I said, I’m fine.” Jayfeather shrugged her away, giving one paw a swift lick and swiping it over his nose. The scratch stung, but he couldn’t stand being fussed over.

Why can’t she leave me alone? he thought angrily as he stalked toward the store to get more herbs. She doesn’t have to worry about me. We’re not even kin!

When he had delivered all the traveling herbs, Jayfeather found a few moments to snatch prey from the fresh-kill pile. As he gulped down his vole, he heard Berrynose’s raised voice a couple of tail-lengths away.

“Well, I don’t trust ShadowClan! After all that trouble with Sol, Blackstar would do anything to prove his Clan is still strong.”

Dustpelt’s annoyed hiss followed immediately. “Are you mouse-brained? Are you actually suggesting that a ShadowClan warrior trekked all the way across our territory to kill Ashfur?”

“It could happen,” Berrynose mumbled.

“And hedgehogs could fly,” Dustpelt retorted scathingly.

Swallowing the last of his prey and swiping his tongue around his jaws, Jayfeather headed back to the den. I’m sick of cats wondering who killed Ashfur!

But when he took tansy to Millie and Briarkit, who were recovering from greencough, he couldn’t help overhearing Cloudtail, Brightheart, and Daisy, sitting close to the nursery entrance.

“Don’t worry about a thing, Daisy,” Cloudtail assured the cream-colored she-cat. “Some of the warriors are leaving, but there are plenty of us left to protect you and the kits.”

“Graystripe said we can double the guard on the camp,” Brightheart added.

“I know you’ll all help.” Daisy still sounded worried. “But is it right to bring that murderous cat back here?”

Jayfeather didn’t want to listen to yet another discussion about Sol. Pushing his way through the brambles into the nursery, he found the kits swarming like ants whose nest has been disturbed.

“Now you be the killer!” Rosekit squealed, batting Blossomkit on the ear with one paw. “And we’ll all come and catch you!”

Blossomkit let out a screech of excitement; Jayfeather almost tripped over the other kits as they bundled on top of her in a writhing heap.

“Stop that right now!” Millie’s voice was shocked. “This isn’t fun. A brave ThunderClan warrior is dead.”

Ashfur was never this important when he was alive, Jayfeather thought.