Sunrise

“I think Leafpool’s tired from dealing with the greencough,” he mewed, knowing he would have to say something to explain his mentor’s strange mood. “And I know she’s worried about Whitewing’s kits being born in such a cold season. Besides, every cat is still grieving for Ashfur.” Well, maybe not every cat… Jayfeather curled up his claws as the lie slipped out.

“You could be right,” Sandstorm sighed. “Firestar and I are both worried about her. After all she’s not just our medicine cat, she’s our daughter, too. Brambleclaw and Squirrelflight would feel just the same about you if you were in trouble.”

Or not…Jayfeather found it hard to nod seriously, hoping that his expression showed none of the turmoil he felt.

“You’ll tell me if you find out anything else?” Sandstorm mewed.

“Of course.” Of course not! As he followed the ginger she-cat back to the camp, Jayfeather wondered which cat would be the next to probe his secrets, and how long the terrible things he knew could stay hidden.

“Into the nursery now, kits,” Daisy mewed gently. “It’s time you were asleep.”

“But WindClan are attacking us!” Rosekit protested. “And I’m going to be Clan leader and fight them off!”

“You can be Clan leader tomorrow,” Daisy promised.

Jayfeather listened as the kits tumbled into the nursery, their high-pitched voices fading. A chill night breeze ruffled his fur; stretching, he padded off toward his den.

Two sunrises had passed since his conversation with Sandstorm. Leafpool was still touchy, and Jayfeather still didn’t know why. His mentor was afraid of something, that much he was sure of, but he didn’t dare ask for an explanation.

He had just reached the bramble screen when he heard a yowl from Cloudtail, who was on guard duty at the end of the thorn tunnel. “Brambleclaw! Brackenfur! Hey, they’re back!”

Rustling came from the warriors’ den as cats bounded out into the open. Several of them raced past Jayfeather to greet the returning patrol. Jayfeather followed, but hung back, trying to make sense of the mingled scents as the cats slipped through the thorn tunnel and into the camp. Brambleclaw was in the lead, followed by Brackenfur. A shiver passed through Jayfeather’s pelt as he recognized the scent of Sol. The loner stepped calmly out of the tunnel and paused at the entrance before padding forward into the camp. Confidence radiated from him; this was no prisoner dragged back to answer for his crimes.

A flurry of excited speculation broke out among the Clan cats.

“That’s Sol!”

“They found him!”

“He looks so calm,” Brightheart mewed, sounding confused. “Surely he wouldn’t look like that if he had killed Ashfur?”

“I wouldn’t put anything past that cat,” Dustpelt growled. “Look what he did to ShadowClan.”

“What’s Firestar going to do with him?” That was Foxpaw’s voice, quivering with excitement. “I think he should rip his pelt off and leave him for the crows.”

“No.” Graystripe’s voice rose strongly above the babble. “That isn’t how Firestar does things. He’ll talk to Sol and find out the truth.”

I hope not, Jayfeather thought.

Another cat followed Sol into the clearing, with a scent Jayfeather couldn’t place, though he knew he should remember it. Hazeltail followed, and last of all came Hollyleaf and Lionblaze. Jayfeather relaxed as he realized that his littermates had made it home unhurt.

The Clan cats fell silent as Firestar padded past Jayfeather, their pelts almost brushing. “Greetings, Sol,” he meowed. His tone was cool but polite. “Thank you for coming.”

“Anything I can do to help,” Sol replied, with equal politeness.

“I’ll let you rest for tonight,” Firestar went on. “You must be tired after your journey. Berrynose, Honeyfern!”

“Yes, Firestar?” The two young warriors bounded up.

“Make a nest for Sol, would you? That bush between the medicine cats’ den and the warriors’ den would be a good place. It’s nicely sheltered, tucked under the cliff.”

And there’s a narrow entrance, so it’s easily guarded, Jayfeather added silently.

“Well done, Brambleclaw, and all of you,” Firestar continued, when Honeyfern and Berrynose had hurried off. “I know how difficult this must have been.”

“More than we expected,” Brambleclaw admitted. “We found Sol in a Twolegplace, with—”

“Wi’ me!” An angry voice interrupted Brambleclaw, and Jayfeather suddenly remembered who the cat was whose scent he hadn’t been able to identify. Purdy! What’s he doing here?

“An’ I’d like to know why you’ve dragged Sol all this way!” the old cat went on. “I hope you’re not accusin’ him of somethin’ he hasn’t done!”

An astonished murmur broke out among the listening cats. Jayfeather wasn’t sure whether Purdy’s mere presence or his fierce defense of Sol had provoked it.

“Brambleclaw, who’s this?” Firestar asked, surprise in his voice.