Lionpaw didn’t, but he wasn’t going to admit that. “What can we do about it?”

“We have to find Sol.”

Lionpaw leaned back in surprise. “Don’t be silly! He left yesterday. He could be anywhere by now. And Firestar’s not going to let us wander off to look for him. There’s been a battle. Half the warriors are injured, and who knows when there’ll be another invasion.”

Jaypaw flattened his ears. “Remember the prophecy!” he snapped. “We have the power of the stars in our paws! That makes us more powerful than Firestar, more powerful than StarClan! If Sol knows why the sun vanished, we have to find him!”

CHAPTER 19

Jaypaw wanted to claw his brother’s ears to make him listen. Please understand! “We have to find Sol!”

Squirrelflight stirred beside him. “Who?” she breathed.

She’s awake!

Jaypaw leaned down and pressed his nose to his mother’s pelt. She felt warmer. Not hot, though. No infection. He laid his pad on her flank. Her breathing was steadier, not too fast. She was recovering from the shock of her injury.

“How’s Lionpaw?” Squirrelflight asked faintly.

“I’m right here.” Lionpaw brushed her ear with his nose.

“What about Hollypaw? Was she wounded?”

“Hollypaw’s fine too,” Jaypaw reassured her. “We’re all fine.”

The ferns rustled as Squirrelflight lifted her head. “Has the sun vanished again?”

“Look!” Jaypaw encouraged her to open her eyes. “It’s still shining.”

Squirrelflight rested her head down. “StarClan must be angry with us.”

“Not us,” Lionpaw mewed. “It’s WindClan they’re angry with.”

It’s got nothing to do with StarClan. Jaypaw patted the ferns around his mother’s head. It was like taking care of an anxious kit.

Hollypaw stirred. “Is she awake?” She jumped to her paws. “Squirrelflight?”

“Is that you, Hollypaw?”

Hollypaw buried her nose in her mother’s fur. “I was so scared you were going to die!”

Squirrelflight managed a soft purr. “I’ll never leave you, little one,” she promised.

Paw steps scuffed toward them, and Jaypaw scented Brightheart.

“I saw her move!” The one-eyed warrior’s mew was filled with hope.

“She’s awake,” Jaypaw told her. “No sign of fever, and her breathing’s strong.”

“Shall I fetch Leafpool?” Brightheart offered.

Jaypaw shook his head. “She’s sleeping. I think we should wake her only if the bleeding starts again or Squirrelflight starts to get restless.”

“How did these feathers get here?” Squirrelflight was sniffing at the soft blanket covering her. She pawed weakly at her bedding. “And the ferns?”

“We built a nest around you,” Hollypaw told her.

“Thank you.” Pride warmed Squirrelflight’s mew. “I have such brave, kind kits.”

“You should rest, Squirrelflight,” Brightheart warned. “You lost a lot of blood.”

“Yes,” Squirrelflight breathed, the ferns rustling around her.

“She’s closing her eyes,” Hollypaw whispered. “We should leave her to sleep.”