Jaypaw felt a surge of triumph. He’d been right. Sol had been seeking out ShadowClan. But fear also stirred in his belly. What if Sol’s trail veered down into ShadowClan territory? Would Lionpaw and Hollypaw agree to cross the border with him? How would he find his way without them? He padded on, acutely aware of the ShadowClan scent line as it followed their path through the forest.

The trail drew them onward, a twig here, a leaf there, each lightly brushed by Sol’s pelt. Jaypaw felt excitement growing with each discovery until, suddenly, the scent ended. He spun around, tasting the air.

Nothing!

Lionpaw pushed on, sniffing the undergrowth. “No sign here!” he called back.

No!

Jaypaw darted forward, desperate to find another clue. He tripped on a rock sticking out of the ground. Pain seared his paw, and he licked at it furiously.

“Are you okay?” Hollypaw was beside him.

“Fine,” he replied through clenched teeth. The pain was easing. No damage.

“I guess we’ve lost him.” Hollypaw sighed.

Panic fluttered in Jaypaw’s belly. “Let’s try another direction.”

“He might have headed across the ShadowClan border,” Lionpaw mewed grimly.

“Let’s look!” Jaypaw urged.

Lionpaw stiffened. “No.”

“Wait!” Hollypaw darted away.

“Where are you going?”

She was back at his side by the time Jaypaw had finished his question.

“I’ve found a piece of fur,” she mewed. “It’s long, with a mixture of tortoiseshell and white hairs. It must be Sol’s.”

Jaypaw sniffed at the hairs she’d dropped on the ground beside him. It was Sol’s! “Where did you find it?” he demanded.

“In the grass over there,” Hollypaw mewed. “You can even see where he’s walked. The grass is crushed.”

“But the path leads away from ShadowClan’s border,” Lionpaw pointed out. “I thought you said he’d be heading for their camp.”

“I must have been wrong.” Jaypaw shrugged. He didn’t care where Sol was going. He just wanted to find him. He plunged into the grass, sniffing as he went, following the scent trail of pawprints. He let his mind reach out into the forest, hoping to pick up some sense of the stranger. But he found nothing but unknown smells and unfamiliar territory.

A thorn scratched his cheek. Jaypaw leaped back. Brambles were trailing across the path.

“Careful.” Lionpaw slid past him, pressing back the tendrils to let Jaypaw pass.

Hollypaw tugged his tail gently with her teeth. “Let me go in front,” she suggested. “There are brambles everywhere.”

Jaypaw let her pass without arguing. His pelt was tingling. They must be near Sol now! The scent from the trail had grown stronger ever since they left the ShadowClan border. At last he was going to find out why the sun vanished. Was it connected to the prophecy?

“Ow!” Hollypaw yelped, and jumped backward, crashing into Jaypaw.

Lionpaw stumbled behind them. “Watch where you’re going!”