“You three should be resting too,” Brightheart advised. “I’ll watch Squirrelflight until Leafpool wakes up.”

Jaypaw’s fur tingled. This could be their chance to go look for Sol. “Thanks, Brightheart.” He forced his voice to sound tired. “Come on,” he called to Lionpaw and Hollypaw. “Let’s go get some sleep.”

He paused as soon as he was sure they were out of earshot of Brightheart.

“What is it?” Hollypaw stopped beside him. “You’re all jumpy.”

“We have to find Sol!”

“What?”

Lionpaw sighed. “Jaypaw’s got it into his head that this stranger knows why the sun vanished.”

“How?” Hollypaw’s breath stirred Jaypaw’s whiskers.

“Because he warned us it was going to happen!” Jaypaw didn’t wait for another of Hollypaw’s dumb questions. “We’ve got to go now, while the Clan thinks we’re sleeping.”

Lionpaw padded around his sister. “We have to go with him,” he warned. “He’ll only go by himself if we don’t.” He stopped and looked at her. “Are you fit enough?”

“Yes.” Hollypaw nodded. “My rest did me good. But wait.” She hurried away and returned a few moments later with a stale shrew.

Jaypaw wrinkled his nose. “You’re not going to eat that?”

“I’m starving. Aren’t you?”

“No.” Jaypaw was too anxious to bother with food. He could eat later. “Just hurry up.”

Hollypaw began to gulp down her meal.

“Is Brightheart watching us?” Jaypaw asked Lionpaw.

“She’s watching Squirrelflight,” Lionpaw told him. “She’s got her back to us.”

“Who else is in the clearing?”

“No one else,” Lionpaw told him. “They’re all in their dens.” He paused. “Firestar’s on Highledge.”

“But he’s sleeping.”

Surprise bristled from Lionpaw’s pelt. “How did you know?”

“I can hear his breathing.” Jaypaw sniffed the air. Graystripe was guarding the camp entrance. “We’ll have to sneak out through the dirtplace tunnel.”

“Not again!” Lionpaw sighed. “Are you sure we really need to find this Sol?”

Jaypaw clawed the ground. “He could hold the answer to everything!”

Lionpaw leaned closer. “You mean the prophecy, don’t you?”

And StarClan. And the Tribe of Endless Hunting. Who else might share the secret? “I’m just guessing,” Jaypaw admitted. “But I’ve got to find out.”

Lionpaw nudged Hollypaw. “Are you finished?”

“Yes!” Hollypaw answered, still chewing. She belched loudly as Jaypaw led them along the thorn barrier toward the dirtplace tunnel.

Jaypaw flicked her nose with his tail. “Hush!”

“Sorry.”

“Wait!” Lionpaw warned. He pressed Jaypaw down behind a clump of grass. “Brightheart’s looking around.”

“Has she seen us?” Jaypaw whispered, heart thumping.

Lionpaw held his breath. “No,” he mewed at last. “She’s watching Squirrelflight again. It’s safe to go.” He straightened and began to pad forward.

“Wait!” Jaypaw hissed, and dragged him back by his tail. There were more cats coming.

Lionpaw ducked down beside him. “What is it now?”