“Me too,” Hawkwing meowed fervently. Glancing at Violetshine with warmth in his eyes, he added, “You’re really finding your place in the Clan, aren’t you?”

“I think so,” Violetshine responded. “It’s great to—”

“And I think you’re finding your place with a certain other cat, too.”

Hot embarrassment flooded over Violetshine. “I don’t know what you mean,” she mumbled, all the while sure that she did know what her father meant.

“I’ve seen you and Tree spending time together,” Hawkwing continued, amusement in his voice. “I’m glad you’ve found each other. Tree is a bit weird, but I think he has a good heart. He would probably make a good father.”

Violetshine felt even more embarrassed and confused, though at the same time she was pleased that her father approved of Tree. But I don’t want to talk about having kits with him! It’s way too soon for that!

She sought desperately for some way to change the subject, but before she could decide what to say, Hawkwing halted and pointed with his tail. “Look!” he exclaimed. “We can see the fire now. It’s coming from RiverClan territory. Come on!” he urged, glancing back at the ShadowClan cats who followed him.

Hawkwing picked up the pace until the patrol was racing through the forest. Ahead of her Violetshine could see leaping flames, and as they drew closer, she could hear the crackling of fire and the screeches of panic-stricken cats.

“Faster!” Hawkwing yowled.

The sounds were dying away by the time the patrol broke out of the trees near the halfbridge and pelted across the little Thunderpath. Ahead, Violetshine saw a smoldering glow in the direction of the RiverClan camp, with clouds of smoke surging around it. A small group of cats was huddled together at the edge of the lake.

So few! Violetshine thought, fear gripping her with icy claws. Are we too late?

She halted, panting, on the lakeshore as the RiverClan deputy, Reedwhisker, staggered forward and dipped his head to Hawkwing.

“What happened?” Hawkwing asked. “Where’s Mistystar?”

“Lightning struck a tree,” Reedwhisker answered. His eyes were wild and his fur was bristling. “It caught fire and fell on our camp. And I don’t know where Mistystar is.”

Willowshine limped forward to stand at Reedwhisker’s shoulder. “I think she and some of the others escaped the other way, toward WindClan,” she replied. “Oh, StarClan, I hope so!”

“What can we do to help?” Hawkwing asked.

Reedwhisker and Willowshine exchanged a glance; both cats looked overwhelmed.

“We need shelter,” Reedwhisker responded at last.

“And help with healing,” Willowshine added. “The fire destroyed our store of herbs. Mothwing was badly hurt trying to save them.”

Glancing past her, Violetshine spotted the golden-pelted medicine cat lying stretched out on the ground, and her belly clenched with compassion. Mothwing was so limp and still that she almost looked like she was dead.