Jaypaw snorted softly. What was starry fur but a trick of the light? They were just a bunch of dead cats. He was alive. So were Lionpaw and Hollypaw. And Sol. Didn’t that make them stronger than StarClan already?

Yellowfang leaned forward, hissing as though she could tell what he was thinking. “You don’t know what’s best for your Clan, Jaypaw! Just remember that!”

CHAPTER 22

The sun woke Lionpaw. He blinked open his eyes, his pelt hot from the rays streaming through the den roof. Flinching from the brightness, he rolled over in his nest. His muscles were stiff. Ashfur had kept him out hunting all day, and when he’d finally reached camp, already weary from the battle and the hunt for Sol, he had sunk into his nest, too tired to do anything but close his eyes.

Hollypaw was still sleeping. She had been stumbling with exhaustion by the time they’d got back.

He checked his pelt for scratches. The only trace of the battle was the blood and fur still wedged in his claws.

“Hollypaw!”

Cinderpaw was calling into the den. Lionpaw scrambled from his nest and slid out of the entrance. “What is it?” he whispered.

“Brackenfur wants her to help me clean out the nursery,” Cinderpaw mewed.

“Let her sleep.” Lionpaw glanced at Hollypaw’s mentor sitting beside Ashfur, sharing a piece of the fresh-kill they’d caught last night. “I’ll talk to him.”

He padded across the clearing. “I’ll help Cinderpaw with the nursery,” he offered.

Brackenfur looked up, swallowing. “Is Hollypaw okay?”

“Just tired after the battle.” Lionpaw felt his pelt growing hot. No one knew that, after the battle, they’d trekked through half of ThunderClan territory, not to mention ShadowClan’s.

“Has Leafpool checked her injuries?” Brackenfur’s eyes darkened with worry.

“It’s just a few scratches.” Lionpaw groped for an excuse for Hollypaw’s tiredness. “But she didn’t sleep well because she was worried about Squirrelflight.”

Brackenfur nodded. “Well, let her sleep now. You can help Cinderpaw instead.”

Ashfur twitched his tail. “But don’t dawdle. We’re going on the next border patrol.”

“Okay.” Lionpaw hurried back to Cinderpaw. “You go and find fresh moss,” he mewed. “I’ll start clearing out the old bedding.” He glanced at her injured leg. “Can you manage by yourself?”

Cinderpaw rolled her eyes. “Of course.” She turned to the entrance, muttering under her breath. “I wish everyone would stop treating me like a three-legged cat.”

Foxpaw was outside the nursery showing Icepaw a battle move. He rolled onto his back and kicked out with his hind legs. “Then a RiverClan warrior tried to leap on top of me, but I rolled out of the way.” He jumped to his paws. “And I gave him a real nip on his hind leg. I bet he can still feel it.”

Icepaw looked impressed. “I wish I’d been in the battle.”