Sunrise

The sky was clear, but the sun hadn’t risen far enough to penetrate the hollow. Deep shadows hung over the dens and blanketed Spiderleg in near darkness where he crouched, on watch outside Sol’s nest. But even though it was so early, it looked as if most of ThunderClan was gathered in the clearing. Daisy, Millie, and Whitewing were sitting outside the nursery. Lionblaze saw that they had their tails curled protectively around the kits, who gazed out across the stone hollow with wide, scared eyes. Foxpaw and Icepaw bounded across to join the warriors, feeling the need to be close to the older, more experienced cats.

Hollyleaf was already up, standing with Hazeltail and Brackenfur. She didn’t glance at Lionblaze, and somehow his paws wouldn’t carry him over to her.

It’s as if part of us, part of what we used to be, died with Ashfur!

Firestar emerged from his den on the Highledge and ran lightly down the tumbled rocks to join Graystripe at the bottom. At the appearance of the Clan leader, the excitement in the clearing mounted.

“Here’s Firestar!”

“Now something’s bound to happen!”

Lionblaze flexed his muscles, trying to work the stiffness out of them. He heard a flurry of paw steps, and the dawn patrol raced back into the camp with Thornclaw at their head.

“What’s going on?” the golden brown warrior panted as he skidded to a standstill in the middle of the clearing. “Have we missed anything?”

Brambleclaw padded over to him. “What are you doing here so early?” he demanded. “You can’t have been all the way along the ShadowClan border.”

“Oh, everything’s quiet,” Berrynose mewed, peering over Thornclaw’s shoulder. “There’s nothing to worry about.”

Brambleclaw’s tail-tip twitched. “All right,” he growled. “But take longer over it next time.” He turned back to the cluster of warriors outside their den. “Hunting patrols,” he announced. “Sandstorm, will you lead one, please. And Brightheart, you can—” He broke off, his tail flicking with irritation when he realized that no cat was listening to him.

He glanced frustratedly at Firestar, who padded up to him with Graystripe at his side. “They won’t settle,” Brambleclaw meowed. “No cat even wants to eat.”

Graystripe nodded, and leaned over to murmur into Firestar’s ear. Lionblaze just caught the soft words: “You may as well get this done now.”

Firestar’s ears pricked. “You’re right. Brambleclaw, go and fetch Sol.”

Every cat’s gaze was fixed on the deputy as he padded across to the bush where Sol had slept. He exchanged a quick word with Spiderleg, then vanished under the branches. A few heartbeats later he emerged again with Sol behind him.

As the loner padded over to Firestar, the first rays of the sun slid over the rim of the hollow and shone on his fur. He looked as sleek as if he had spent the last moon grooming his pelt, instead of trekking through the Twolegplace and across open country to reach the camp. Lionblaze felt tired and scruffy in comparison.

As Brambleclaw escorted Sol to the center of the clearing, the ThunderClan cats drew back on either side, their eyes wide and their fur fluffed up.

What’s wrong with them? Lionblaze wondered with a flash of irritation. Sol’s just a cat! Why are they acting like a lot of cowardly rabbits?

“Sol! Wait for me!” Purdy’s yowl echoed around the hollow as he erupted from the elders’ den, with Mousefur and Longtail following. They halted just beyond the outer branches of the hazel bush, while Purdy lumbered farther into the clearing. His fur was sticking up on end, covered with scraps of moss, and his eyes blazed with anger.

Brackenfur intercepted him before he could reach Sol. “Take it easy, Purdy,” he mewed quietly. “No cat is harming Sol. Just keep back with the others.”

Purdy gaped in shock, but before he could reply, Hazeltail padded up to him and nudged him over to sit beside her and Birchfall.

Firestar stood face to face with Sol in the middle of the circle of cats. “Do you know why we’ve brought you here?” he asked.

Sol tilted his head to one side. “A cat has been murdered, and you think I’m responsible.” He confidently met Firestar’s gaze. His fur gleamed in the pale, cold sunlight.

“You killed Ashfur!” Thornclaw snarled at him.

“Yes,” Cloudtail growled. “You were seen on the WindClan border. Don’t try to deny it!”

“Why did you kill him?” Sorreltail demanded. “What had he ever done to you?”

Sol ignored the hostile yowling and kept his gaze fixed on Firestar as the Clan leader waved his tail for silence.

“One of our warriors was found in the WindClan border stream, with bitemarks in his throat,” Firestar meowed when the clamor had died down. “Do you deny it was you?”

Sol stared at him without blinking. “Think about what you are saying, Firestar. The truth will be known when it is time.”