There was no time to argue. Violetshine headed after Sandynose, thankful for the thick covering of pine needles that silenced her paw steps, and the breeze still carrying their scent away from the camp and the intruders. Tree padded alongside her.

When they reached the rocky slope that led up to the ShadowClan camp, Sandynose raised his tail to halt the others. “From now on, absolute silence,” he whispered, with a hard look at Tree. “And Violetshine, if there is trouble, I want you to run back to camp and fetch help. You’re the fastest,” he added, as Violetshine opened her jaws to protest.

“Okay, Sandynose.”

Together the three cats crept up the slope until they reached the top and could look down into the shallow dip that had been the ShadowClan camp. The scent of cats was even stronger here, and Violetshine felt more than ever that she ought to recognize it.

As they watched, a golden-furred she-cat appeared at the far side of the hollow, a mouse dangling from her jaws. She bounded down into the camp and disappeared into the bramble thicket that had once been the nursery.

“Sleekwhisker!” Violetshine breathed out. “She was a ShadowClan cat, but she joined Darktail.” She suppressed a shudder as she remembered how viciously Sleekwhisker had supported the rogue leader. “She helped kill Needletail.”

“Not a cat we want around, then,” Sandynose responded. “Let’s go and deal with her.”

He led the way, paw step by careful paw step, down into the hollow and across to the bramble thicket. A narrow tunnel led inside; Sandynose plunged into it and Violetshine followed, with Tree bringing up the rear.

“Watch our backs,” Violetshine instructed him. “There might be more of them.”

Before she finished speaking, she heard a yowl of alarm from up ahead. Pressing forward, she emerged into the old nursery and halted in amazement at what she saw. Sleekwhisker was there, and so was Yarrowleaf, another former ShadowClan cat who had been part of Darktail’s Kin, stretched out in a nest of moss. Her rounded belly showed that she was close to having kits.

Sandynose stood over them. His claws were out and his tail lashing, but he was obviously reluctant to attack a cat so near to kitting. Sleekwhisker crouched between him and Yarrowleaf, her fur bristling and her lips drawn back as she hissed defiance.

“Violetpaw!” Yarrowleaf exclaimed, her yellow eyes wide and frightened. “What’s happening? Where is ShadowClan?”

“Are these both ShadowClan cats?” Sandynose asked Violetshine.

“Yes. This is Yarrowleaf.”

Uneasiness stirred in Violetshine’s belly. Sleekwhisker and Yarrowleaf were two of the cats who had been closest to Darktail. What do they want here? she asked herself.

Sandynose still didn’t sheathe his claws. “That’s all well and good,” he meowed, “but they’ve still crossed our borders without permission.”