When the elders had disappeared through the thorn tunnel, Brambleclaw began organizing the day’s patrols. Hollyleaf spotted Sorreltail padding sorrowfully toward the warriors’ den, her head bowed and her tail trailing in the dust. She bounded after her, catching up to her beside the outer branches of the thornbush.

“I’m so sorry,” she meowed. “I’m really going to miss Honeyfern.”

“We’ll all miss her.” Sorreltail’s voice was choked with grief. “She was so gentle as a kit. And so quick to learn! She knew most of the hunting moves even before she was apprenticed.”

“She was always lots of fun to play with,” Hollyleaf told her, touching her nose to Sorreltail’s shoulder.

Sorreltail blinked. “She enjoyed being with you and your brothers. And she was always so worried that you wouldn’t get enough milk, because Squirrelflight couldn’t feed you.”

Hollyleaf began to bristle at the mention of the cat she had believed was her mother, and tried hard to make her fur lie flat again. She wouldn’t think about that betrayal when it was more important to comfort Sorreltail.

“It wasn’t Squirrelflight’s fault,” the tortoiseshell queen went on, obviously misunderstanding what was bothering Hollyleaf. “And you were well looked after. Ferncloud and Daisy fed you, and I don’t think Leafpool was ever out of the nursery, bringing them borage to make their milk come, and all the strengthening herbs she could find!”

“Leafpool did all that?” Hollyleaf asked.

“Oh, yes, she was always fussing over you! Maybe because you were her sister’s kits, or maybe because she was with you when you first came to the hollow.”

“I didn’t know that.” Hollyleaf felt a prickling in her fur. If Leafpool was with us, she must know who our real mother is!

Sorreltail nodded, then arched her back in a long stretch. “I’m going to see if I can get some sleep,” she murmured. “Maybe Honeyfern will walk in my dreams.”

As soon as Sorreltail had disappeared into the warriors’ den, Hollyleaf looked around for the medicine cat. She had vowed never to ask Squirrelflight anything more about her real parents; she didn’t want to speak to the cat who had lied to her ever again. But maybe Leafpool would tell her.

She spotted Leafpool talking to Firestar near the entrance to the thorn tunnel, and padded across to them, hovering a couple of tail-lengths away as she waited for a chance to get the medicine cat alone.

“You’ve been keeping vigil all night,” Firestar was meowing. “You’re exhausted. Why don’t you go out into the forest and get some air? Stretch your legs and maybe find a quiet spot to have a sleep, without any cat to interrupt you.”

“I shouldn’t leave the Clan…,” Leafpool protested.

“Jayfeather’s back from the Moonpool,” Firestar pointed out. “We can do without you for a little while.” He stretched forward and touched noses affectionately with Leafpool. “I could make that an order.”

Leafpool yawned. “All right, Firestar, but I’ll be back before sunhigh.”

“Take as long as you want.” Firestar dipped his head and padded away.