Alderheart spotted several cats exchanging amused glances at the little tom’s enthusiastic boasting.

“But I’ve really missed my housefolk,” Fuzzball went on. “And they’ll be so happy to see me.” Blinking happily, he gazed around at the cats gathered around him. “Thanks for being such great friends. Especially you, Jayfeather.”

Alderheart gave Velvet a long look. I’m really going to miss her, he thought.

“That’s good news, that you can go home now,” Bramblestar meowed firmly. “But since it’s getting dark, you’re welcome to stay the night and leave in the morning.” His brisk tone made it quite clear that the two kittypets weren’t invited to think about staying any longer with the Clan.

“I’m not sure about this,” Ajax muttered as Velvet and Fuzzball led him over to the apprentices’ den. “It’s dark and crowded in there,” he added as he peered through the ferns, wrinkling his nose at the scent of Clan cats. “I don’t want to get fleas.”

“We offer him a bed for the night, and he fusses about fleas,” Sparkpelt murmured to Alderheart. “Does he think we’re rogues?”

Fuzzball had dashed over to the fresh-kill pile and returned with a large thrush. “Look,” he mewed to Ajax, “I’ve brought you some prey.”

Ajax stared at the bird, clearly struggling to stay polite. “It’s got feathers,” he choked out after a moment.

“Well, yes, it’s a bird,” Fuzzball responded. “Don’t you want it?”

“Er . . . no, I’ll pass, thanks,” Ajax told him. “I had a big meal earlier, so I’m not really hungry.”

“Your friend is a bit . . . strange,” Alderheart meowed to Velvet. He had fetched a vole to share with her, and they crouched side by side to eat in the gathering twilight.

“I know,” Velvet replied. “But he’s a good friend to come so far to find us. I know he doesn’t like to stray too far from his housefolk.”

“Do you want to get back to your housefolk?” Alderheart asked her.

For a moment Velvet hesitated, and Alderheart felt his heart lift in the hope that she would stay. I know that would be a really bad idea, but still . . .

“Yes,” Velvet finally responded with a sigh. “But there are some parts of Clan life that I’m going to miss.”

As she spoke, she gave Alderheart a shy, sideways glance, and he realized that she was talking about him. Not sure how to react to her, he concentrated on gulping down his share of the vole.