“We moved her slowly,” Leafpool reassured him. “There was a little fresh bleeding, but I treated it once we’d got her settled.”

Ferns rustled around Squirrelflight. “Have you eaten, Jaypaw?”

“Not yet.” He was starving.

“Make sure you do.” Squirrelflight’s mew sounded a little stronger.

Leafpool’s tail brushed the ground. “I know how to take care of my apprentice.”

Jaypaw was surprised. There was a sharp edge to his mentor’s mew. She was never bad-tempered with her patients. But he was too tired and hungry to figure out what was bothering her. His mother sounded better, and that was all he cared about right now.

He padded to the fresh-kill pile and gulped down a dry sparrow, coughing as the feathers caught in his throat. Swallowing, he returned to the den. He padded to his mother’s nest and pressed his nose to her pelt. “See you later, Squirrelflight. I’ll be right here if you need anything.”

She stirred sleepily. “Okay, Jaypaw.”

Jaypaw crawled into his nest and closed his eyes.

“Jaypaw!”

A harsh mew woke him.

Branches crisscrossed overhead, glimmering silver in the starlight. StarClan’s hunting grounds. He got to his paws, feeling soft, moon-washed grass caress his pads.

“You’ve been looking for answers again, haven’t you?” Yellowfang was sitting beside him. Her eyes gleamed accusingly.

Jaypaw stretched and yawned. “I wouldn’t be much of a medicine cat if I didn’t.”

Her paw clouted his ear.

“Ow!”

“I’m still your elder!” Yellowfang glared at him. “And I’m trying to teach you something important.”

Jaypaw rubbed his ear, indignant. “What?”

“Be patient!” She shook out her disheveled fur. “Answers will come to you in time.”

“Why shouldn’t I know what’s going on?” Jaypaw dug his claws into the grass. “It’s not fair if I can’t even be curious!”

“Curiosity must be tempered with patience,” Yellowfang insisted. “Knowledge is wasted on those without the wisdom to know how to use it. And wisdom comes only with time.”

The same old excuses. Frustration welled in Jaypaw’s belly. You think you know everything, but one day I’ll be more powerful than you. He stared at the battered old she-cat, the words ready on his tongue. She stared back, her chin high, her gaze unflinching. Jaypaw let his fur lie flat. He couldn’t bring himself to tell her about the prophecy now.

Yellowfang leaned closer, and Jaypaw had to force himself not to duck away from her foul breath. “Serve your Clan,” she murmured. “Trust StarClan, and everything will be revealed in good time.”

Jaypaw looked up. The glade was crowded with cats, their fur sparkling with starlight.

“Listen to Yellowfang,” Bluestar urged him.

Whitestorm gazed down at him, his eyes glowing with warmth. “She’s telling you the truth.”

“All will be revealed in time.” Lionheart swished his thick tail.

“We are watching you,” Yellowfang reminded him.