Graystripe nodded.

“I’ll lead one patrol. Brambleclaw, you lead the second, and Dustpelt will lead the third.”

By now the whole Clan was gathered around their leader. Leafpool and Jaypaw listened from outside the medicine den. Firestar scanned the anxious faces. “ThunderClan will defend its territory,” he promised. “Ashfur, Lionpaw, Berrynose, Spiderleg, Poppyfrost, you’ll follow me.” He turned to Brambleclaw and Dustpelt. “Pick your own warriors. Leafpool and Jaypaw will stay in camp with the queens and elders. Brightheart and Whitewing, you stay with them. Cinderpaw, Ferncloud, and Icepaw, you stay too.”

Cinderpaw looked ready to argue, but held her tongue.

Icepaw wasn’t so wise. “But I—” she began to complain.

Firestar glared at her. “Do you think kits and elders aren’t worth defending?”

“Of c-course!” Icepaw backed away.

Dustpelt and Brambleclaw began to gather their patrols, choosing cats with a flick of their tail. The Clan divided like water around rocks, pooling behind the two warriors.

“Are we ready?” Firestar asked.

Brambleclaw beckoned Mousewhisker and Hazeltail, then nodded.

“What about me?” Foxpaw mewed.

“You’ll be with us, of course,” Squirrelflight called from beside Dustpelt.

The apprentice hurried to his mentor.

“I’ll head into the woods near the border,” Firestar declared.

Lionpaw pricked his ears. Would he have a chance to check out the fox hole? He might even be able to seal it up.

“Brambleclaw,” Firestar went on, “you go to the ShadowClan border. Check the abandoned Twoleg nest. And Dustpelt…”

The tabby warrior leaned forward.

“…you head for the lake.”

Lionpaw darted to Hollypaw’s side. “You’ll be careful?”

“I’ll do what I have to,” she answered.

Jaypaw’s gray pelt shimmered in the moonlight as he hurried from the medicine den. “You must both come back,” he told them. His blind blue gaze sparked with fear.

The prophecy! Was that all he cared about? Their territory was at stake.

“Of course we’ll come back,” Hollypaw promised, her voice catching in her throat. She brushed her cheek against Jaypaw’s.

Lionpaw felt a prickle of guilt. Perhaps he was just worried about them.

At the entrance to the nursery, Millie pressed her muzzle into Graystripe’s pelt. She looked weary, but as she stepped back Lionpaw could see her eyes glittering with determination. She would die to save her kits.

Daisy squeezed out behind her and called across the clearing, “Take care, Spiderleg!” But the warrior was talking to Berrynose and didn’t turn. Had he heard?

Ferncloud weaved around Dustpelt, then nodded a brisk farewell to her mate before turning to Foxpaw. “Be strong and brave, and do exactly as you’re ordered.”

“Of course.” Foxpaw nodded.

Ferncloud opened her mouth to say more but turned away, her eyes clouding for an instant. She had watched her mate, Dustpelt, leave for battle many times, but it was harder to say good-bye to one of her kits.