He touched his nose to the chilly water, and his mind instantly filled with lush greenery as he entered StarClan’s hunting grounds. There was no hint of leaf-fall in the air here, only trees in full leaf and undergrowth burgeoning with life.

Cats moved through it, some talking, some chasing prey, others simply basking in the sunshine. An orange pelt shimmered beyond a swath of ferns. A tabby groomed a tortoiseshell, while a cat with a black-and-white pelt crept through the long grass, stalking prey. Jaypaw didn’t recognize anyone. Ancestors from the other Clans. Jaypaw was frustrated. He wanted to talk to someone he knew.

His hopes lifted as he recognized a pelt weaving through the long grass ahead of him. Then, with a sigh, he realized it was Littlecloud. He hadn’t meant to be here, in Littlecloud’s dream. He was about to turn away when he noticed a small gray-and-white tom padding toward the ShadowClan medicine cat. The tom’s pelt was flecked with grizzled strands of fur. He must be ancient!

Littlecloud dipped his head in greeting. “Runningnose.”

The tom blinked in reply, his nose glistening between sniffs.

I’m not surprised they don’t touch muzzles. Jaypaw slipped behind a tree and listened. He knew Runningnose had been a ShadowClan medicine cat many moons ago. What kind of medicine cat can’t cure his own cold?

“How are things?” Runningnose asked.

Littlecloud hesitated, and Jaypaw could sense that he was groping for an answer.

“Is the prey running well?” Runningnose pressed. His eyes narrowed as Littlecloud fidgeted in front of him, shifting his weight from one paw to another.

“Prey’s running fine,” Littlecloud answered.

“Are the Twolegs bothering you?”

Littlecloud shook his head.

“What about Tawnypelt’s kits? Are they healthy?” Runningnose sat down, clearly puzzled as Littlecloud’s gaze darted to his paws. “What’s wrong?” he demanded.

“It’s Blackstar!” Littlecloud blurted out his leader’s name with a guilty glance over his shoulder. He dropped his voice to a whisper so Jaypaw had to prick his ears to catch the rest. “He’s so…” Littlecloud was still searching for words. “So…distant.”

“Distant?” Runningnose echoed. “Do you mean he’s left the Clan?”

“No!” Irritation edged Littlecloud’s mew. “Distant, as in distracted. He lets Russetfur organize all the patrols, and he’s started to say things.” Littlecloud flicked his tail.

“What sort of things?”

“He says he wonders if StarClan meant to bring us to the lake at all!” Littlecloud burst out.

Runningnose’s gaze darkened. “Then you’re right to be worried.”

“I am?”

“Blackstar is losing his faith,” Runningnose meowed.

Littlecloud’s ears twitched. “How can that be? He’s always believed.”

“It doesn’t matter why or how.” Runningnose rubbed a paw across his muzzle. “You must help him to find his faith again.”

“But how?” Littlecloud sounded dismayed. “What can I do?”