Briarlight’s eyes widened with excitement.

“I can’t promise things will change overnight,” Cinderheart warned, “but I’ll speak to Firestar, and to Jayfeather when he gets back, and they’ll figure out everything that you can do.”

“But no more leaving the camp without any cat knowing,” Lionblaze added.

The young she-cat nodded. “I promise.”

“For now,” Cinderheart mewed, “we’ll just say that you went out a little way. And we won’t mention any scary meetings with dogs! If Millie hears about that, she’ll never let you out of your nest again.”

“Okay,” Briarlight agreed.

“I’ll remind Rosepetal and Toadstep not to say too much,” Lionblaze put in.

“I’m really sorry for taking her out in the first place,” Bumblestripe meowed, giving his sister an affectionate lick on her ear.

“No, you did a good thing,” Lionblaze told him. “You listened to what your sister wanted, when the rest of the Clan tried to decide for her.”

Bumblestripe crouched down beside his littermate and she wrapped her forepaws around his neck. “We’ll get you home now,” he murmured, beginning to drag her in the direction of the hollow.

Lionblaze’s heart ached for the injured she-cat as he watched their slow progress. “That was exactly the right thing to say,” he meowed to Cinderheart. “You’ve given her hope.”

“So did you,” Cinderheart responded. “And I’m glad I didn’t have to see you fight that dog!”

“Thank StarClan it didn’t come to that!” For a heartbeat Lionblaze imagined he could hear the dog barking again, and feel its breath hot on his pelt. “I don’t fight for the fun of it, you know.”

“I’m so glad you don’t,” Cinderheart murmured.

“Well,” Lionblaze meowed awkwardly, “I’d better see if Brambleclaw wants me on patrol.”

“Me too,” Cinderheart agreed.

The gray she-cat stayed near him as they pushed their way through the thorns. Lionblaze stumbled, anxious that their pelts shouldn’t brush against each other. Cinderheart seemed to be squeezing herself into the thorns, as if she was embarrassed, too. Inside the camp, Lionblaze spotted Bumblestripe setting Briarlight down gently just outside the medicine cat’s den, while Millie burst from the warriors’ den and bounded across to her.

“Where have you been?” she demanded, crouching beside Briarlight and covering her with anxious licks.

“I just wanted to go out for a bit,” Briarlight replied. “Honestly, I’m fine.”

Lionblaze exchanged a glance with Cinderheart.

“She’ll be okay,” the gray she-cat mewed.

“Are you sure?”

“I’ll make sure.” Cinderheart’s voice was determined. “She’s my Clanmate. Oh, and Lionblaze,” she added as he headed for the warriors’ den in search of Brambleclaw. “You got something wrong, what you said to Toadstep. To many cats, you are a hero.”

CHAPTER 13

Dark shapes flitted around Jayfeather, and from far away he could hear the wailing of unseen cats. Who are you? What do you want from me?

But there was no answer, and the mournful sound went on and on. Gradually the roar of the waterfall replaced the distant cries, and Jayfeather became aware of soft whispering, much closer to him. The shadowy shapes faded into blackness as he woke from troubled sleep.