He found Ambermoon and Sorrelstripe with Briarlight near the mouth of the biggest tunnel. Somewhere they had managed to find some dry bracken to make a nest.

“Is every cat okay?” he asked.

“We’re fine,” Ambermoon replied cheerfully. “Don’t worry about us.”

“It’s good to get out of camp for a while,” Briarlight added.

Alderheart gave Sorrelstripe a close look, but though she was quiet she didn’t seem ill, and he couldn’t scent sickness on her.

“I’ll come and tell you when it’s safe to return,” he meowed, and left them with a wave of his tail.

By this time it was almost dark. Alderheart had to watch where he was putting his paws as he made his way back down the slope. The grass was slippery from the rain, and more than once he almost lost his balance, digging in his claws to stop himself rolling down head over paws.

Before he had gone many fox-lengths, he jumped as he heard the loudest crack yet, and stood frozen while the hillside around him was bathed in a brilliant frosty light.

That’s the closest so far, he thought.

From where he was standing, way above the camp, he could see into the far distance. An orange glow lit up the sky in the direction of SkyClan territory.

Fire!

Alderheart tried to work out exactly where it was. Dread filled him like rain filling an upturned leaf as he realized that flames could be devouring the SkyClan camp.

Forgetting to be careful, Alderheart launched himself down the slope. He slipped and skidded on mud and wet grass, desperate to reach the camp. Once, his paws shot out from under him, and he rolled over and over until he slammed into a jutting rock, the breath driven out of him. He picked himself up, then pelted on until he bounded through the thorn tunnel and into the camp.

“Bramblestar!” he yowled. “Bramblestar!”

Bramblestar appeared on the Highledge, his pelt soaked and plastered to his sides, as if he had just been making the rounds of the camp. “What is it, Alderheart?” he called.

“Fire!” Alderheart replied, gesturing with his tail. “Over there, near SkyClan!”

Bramblestar leaped down the tumbled rocks. By now the fire had risen so high in the sky that the orange glow was visible from the stone hollow. The Clan leader took one look, then dived into the warriors’ den, reappearing a moment later with Stormcloud and Leafshade.

“Go and find out what’s happening,” Bramblestar ordered. “Don’t get too close—just find out if it’s near a camp, and if any other Clan needs our help.”

“We’re on it,” Leafshade meowed.

The two cats bounded past Alderheart, who heard Stormcloud mutter, “This is just like old times!”