Hollypaw pushed one bundle under Squirrelflight’s shoulders, another under her haunches, then gently patted a swath around her belly. Her mother’s fur was stiff with dried blood and smelled of herbs. Daisy had brought feathers from the nursery, and, while Lionpaw bunched ferns around Squirrelflight, Hollypaw laid the feathers over her to keep her warm. When they’d finished, Jaypaw settled beside her again, resting his chin on her shoulder.

“Come and eat!” Brambleclaw called them over to the fresh-kill pile. Only a few morsels remained. There hadn’t been time for hunting today.

Lionpaw padded away, but Hollypaw stayed where she was. She was too tired to eat, her belly hard with grief. She wasn’t going to leave her mother’s side again. She curled up beside Squirrelflight’s head and, breathing softly against her mother’s cool ear, closed her eyes.

Please don’t let this battle take her away from me.

CHAPTER 18

Lionpaw swallowed his last mouthful. He had hardly tasted the mouse, but it had quieted his rumbling belly. He glanced up at the sun shining high in the clear blue sky. Would it disappear again?

What’s happening? Heatherpaw’s terrified mew echoed in his mind.

He could not trust her.

He could not trust the sun.

He could only trust himself and his Clan.

The clearing was slowly emptying as Firestar moved from cat to cat, sending them to their dens to rest.

Squirrelflight lay in her makeshift nest with Hollypaw and Jaypaw curled beside her. Leafpool was checking her again.

“You must rest,” Firestar urged the medicine cat.

Leafpool was swaying on her paws. “What about the other injuries?”

“Brightheart will see to them and fetch you if you’re needed.” Firestar looked at the one-eyed she-cat who was prowling from den to den, peering in to check on the cats inside.

“She’ll need rest too,” Leafpool argued.

“And she’ll get it, once you’ve had some sleep.”

Leafpool blinked, her whiskers trembling as she stifled a yawn. “Okay,” she agreed. “But wake me if there’s any problem.” She was looking at Squirrelflight.

Hollypaw nuzzled closer to her mother, pressing her nose against Squirrelflight’s ear as though she could make her better by wishing it so. Lionpaw’s shoulders tensed, and he dug his claws into the soft earth. If he could fight Squirrelflight’s battle for her, he knew he would win. Frustration stung his paws. This was a battle she must fight alone.

Firestar’s muzzle brushed his ear. “Shouldn’t you be resting too?”

“I’m not tired.” He stared into Firestar’s clear green gaze.

Firestar blinked first. “Come on, then. We need to decide what happens now.”

Lionpaw followed him to where Dustpelt, Ashfur, and Brambleclaw were sharing a rabbit with Cloudtail and Sandstorm.

Sandstorm looked up as they approached, and nudged a mouthful of the prey toward Firestar. “You must be hungry.”