CHAPTER 7

Jayfeather stood in the clearing after the Sol patrol had left, sniffing the tang of snow on the dawn wind. He could hear rustling as several cats pushed their way through the branches of the warriors’ den. There was a strange sense of tension among his Clanmates.

“Dawn patrol.” Graystripe’s voice came from close by Jayfeather. “Sandstorm, you can lead. Take Foxpaw and Squirrelflight with you. And take care along the WindClan border.”

“Do I have to go with them?” Jayfeather heard the dismayed voice of Foxpaw. “I don’t like WindClan.”

“Shh.” Ferncloud sounded shocked. “You know there’s nothing to be frightened of anymore.”

Jayfeather winced; it sounded as if most of the Clan believed that Sol was the murderer, and there was nothing more to worry about. But they’re wrong! They’re completely wrong!

“Foxpaw, you’re my apprentice,” Squirrelflight meowed with an edge of annoyance in her voice. “Of course you come with me. Or if you’d rather, you can go and search the elders for ticks.”

“Uh…no, I guess I’ll come.”

“You’ll be fine,” Firestar assured the apprentice; Jayfeather hadn’t heard him come down from the Highledge. “Who have we got for hunting patrols, Graystripe?”

“I thought I’d lead one,” the gray warrior meowed. “I’ll take Sorreltail and Mousewhisker.” In a lower voice he added to Firestar, “If you or I do the border patrols, every cat will think there’s something to be scared of.”

“Good thinking,” Firestar agreed.

“Dustpelt, will you lead another hunting patrol,” Graystripe went on more loudly. “Cloudtail and Brightheart can go with you. Try the ShadowClan border, but remember what Brambleclaw said about being careful not to cross it.”

“I wasn’t born yesterday, thanks,” Dustpelt snapped, irritation sparking from him.

“Should we take Icepaw?” Brightheart asked. “She doesn’t get out much, now that Whitewing is in the nursery.”

“Sure,” Graystripe meowed. “Icepaw! Stop batting that bark around and come over here.”

Jayfeather heard the scampering of paws and excited mews as the other apprentice bounded up. “You’re going hunting with Dustpelt, Cloudtail, and Brightheart,” Graystripe told them. “We’re counting on you to bring back a lot of fresh-kill.”

“I’m sure you will,” Firestar assured her. “You’re doing so well.”

Jayfeather could feel the apprentice’s happy pride as she padded over to join the senior warriors.

“It won’t be long before we’ll be holding another warrior ceremony,” Firestar remarked to Graystripe.

Although his words sounded cheerful, Jayfeather picked up the doubt buzzing beneath them. He knew that his Clan leader’s thoughts were with the patrol of Clanmates who were heading off to find Sol.

Did Sol really kill Ashfur? Was I right to send so many warriors to look for him? Will my Clan be vulnerable without them? Jayfeather could hear his leader’s thoughts as clearly as if Firestar had spoken them aloud. To his surprise, he realized that Firestar still felt weak after the attack of greencough that had taken one of his nine lives. Lurking in his mind was the fear that the sickness would return.