“I told you to join this patrol,” Leafstar replied, flicking her tail toward Sandynose and Violetshine.

Tree looked uncertain. “But that sounds like a warrior task,” he protested, “and I’m not a warrior.”

Violetshine studied Leafstar anxiously, afraid that the Clan leader would lose patience with Tree. He had been living with SkyClan for more than a moon now, and he still hadn’t decided where he fit into the Clan, or even whether he wanted to stay.

“Even if you don’t think of yourself as a warrior,” Leafstar responded, her eyes and her voice calm, “you must contribute if you’re going to stay here. That rule applies to all cats.”

Her final words held a challenge, or even a taunt, making Violetshine uneasy for a completely different reason. Maybe Tree will just say, “No thanks,” and then leave. I really don’t want that to happen. She couldn’t imagine not seeing Tree anymore. But if he became a loner again, how could he fit into her life?

“Well . . . okay.” Tree was still looking unsure. “But won’t I slow down the patrol if I haven’t been on one before?”

“Every cat has to start somewhere,” Leafstar told him briskly. “Your instincts will probably serve you well. And you’ll be with Violetshine. It’ll be a good way for you to see what the warrior life is all about.”

“Yes, I’ll help,” Violetshine mewed eagerly. Then he might be convinced to stay for a little while. . . .

The sun, barely visible through a layer of cloud, was skimming the tops of the trees when Sandynose led his patrol out through the fern tunnel. By the time they reached the border, the previous day’s scent markings had started to fade.

Tree had already irritated Sandynose by wandering off, then stopping to yawn and groom himself. Violetshine heard Sandynose muttering to himself, “StarClan knows why Leafstar puts up with this cat!”

Violetshine had to admit that Tree’s behavior was annoying. He’ll cost himself a place in the Clan, if he’s not careful. Hoping to help him act more like a warrior, she showed Tree how to renew the markers, aware all the time of Sandynose keeping a watchful eye on them. She felt a little wary of the stocky brown tom: he had been Twigpaw’s mentor, and spent a lot of time grumbling about her defection to ThunderClan. Not only that, but he was Finpaw’s father. Violetshine knew how much he missed the energetic young tom since he had made the decision to go with Twigpaw.

And maybe Sandynose thinks it was my fault somehow, because Twigpaw’s my sister, Violetshine thought. But I miss Twigpaw too.

She tried not to dwell on how it felt to be abandoned by kin, but as she brushed her pelt against Tree’s, she felt a hollow ache in her chest.