Very cautiously, Graystripe approached and sniffed along the cliff, peering into every crack. “No sign of it,” he reported, returning to Lionblaze. “But it could be anywhere. Some of these cracks are very deep. There’s plenty of room for it to hide.”

Hollyleaf’s paws tingled with fear. How could they go on living in the stone hollow, when death might come sliding silently out of the cliff at any moment and strike down another cat?

“Millie’s right,” she meowed. “We have to do something.”

Before Graystripe could reply, there was a flash of flame-colored fur at the entrance to the tunnel, and Firestar raced back into the camp. Graystripe bounded over to meet him. Hollyleaf watched as her leader’s expression changed from anxiety to horror, and he padded over to Honeyfern’s body, where he crouched down beside her grieving kin.

Hollyleaf was just close enough to hear what he said. “I’m so sorry.” Firestar’s voice was shaking. “Honeyfern should have been safe here. I promise you I’ll never let anything like this happen again.”

But how can you stop it? Hollyleaf wondered. It’s not your fault. You couldn’t have known there was a snake hiding under the cliff.

Mousewhisker had followed Firestar into the camp, along with Dustpelt and Birchfall, the rest of Firestar’s patrol. They were soon joined by Brightheart and Jayfeather, each carrying a bunch of catmint. Their dazed expressions told Hollyleaf that Mousewhisker must have met them, too, and passed on the terrible news. Last of all, Brambleclaw’s patrol returned from checking the WindClan border; their cries of shock and anguish echoed around the hollow. Hollyleaf longed to go back to her nest in the warriors’ den and bury herself in the moss and bracken with her eyes shut tight. Perhaps Honeyfern’s death would turn out to be just a terrible dream.

Before her paws could carry her there, she saw Firestar bounding up the rocks to stand on the Highledge. “Cats of ThunderClan!” He raised his voice to carry to every part of the stone hollow. “A dreadful thing has happened, but we must stay calm. Honeyfern died a warrior’s death, protecting a kit of her Clan. We will mourn her, not just tonight, but for all the moons to come. And we must make sure that the snake doesn’t come back to hurt any other cats.”

“Tell us what to do, and we’ll do it,” Brambleclaw called out.

Firestar dipped his head to his deputy. “To begin with, we’ll make a barrier of brambles across that part of the cliff. Dustpelt, will you take charge of that?” The brown tabby warrior gave a curt nod. “No cat must go near it. Millie and Daisy, make sure that your kits understand. And it’s best we don’t use the basking rocks anymore. Snakes usually sleep during leaf-bare, but I think this one must have been disturbed by cats sunning themselves on the stones.”

Hollyleaf saw Purdy and Mousefur exchanging a shocked glance. “That might have been us!” Purdy exclaimed.