The Clan deputy hesitated for a heartbeat. “Okay,” he mewed. “But let’s make it quick. And don’t leave this bit of territory.”

The patrol scattered among the bushes. Hollyleaf soon pinpointed a mouse scurrying through dead leaves, and killed it with a swift blow. “Thanks, StarClan,” she mumbled through the first delicious mouthful. It felt as if she hadn’t eaten for a moon. She had just finished gulping down her fresh-kill when she heard Brambleclaw calling the patrol together. As she slipped through the bushes, another mouse practically ran across her paws. She held it down and bit its throat, then carried the limp body back to her Clanmates.

The others were waiting for her. Lionblaze was swallowing the last of his prey while Birchfall swiped his tongue around his jaws with a satisfied expression.

“Everyone fed?” Brambleclaw asked. “Hollyleaf, are you going to eat that?”

Hollyleaf shook her head. “I already ate,” she explained around the mouse. “I thought we could give this to Purdy.”

Brambleclaw nodded approvingly. “Good idea. Let’s go, then.”

Cautiously, stopping every few paw steps to listen and to taste the air, he led the way up to the Twoleg nest and through the dark, gaping entrance hole. Hollyleaf shivered as she stepped inside. It was even colder here than outside: a raw cold that struck upward from the damp stone floor. Brambles grew through the gaps in the walls, as if the territory outside was invading the nest. There was a musty smell made up of stale prey, rotting leaves, and mold. But there was a smell of cats, too, stronger and fresher than the other scents.

“Purdy?” Brambleclaw called.

There was no reply. The deputy padded forward, with the patrol clustered tightly together behind him. Every hair on Hollyleaf’s pelt prickled. There was something strange about this place, something chilly and unwelcoming.

Then a new voice spoke behind them. “Are you looking for me?”

CHAPTER 14

Hollyleaf whirled around. Behind her, in an arched opening, a tall, well-muscled cat was outlined against the dusk. The white patches on his pelt shone very brightly.

“Sol!” Hazeltail’s gasp was amazed and terrified all at once.

She really thinks Sol is the killer! Hollyleaf thought.

She was aware of bristling pelts and stiff limbs around her. But as soon as she looked into Sol’s glowing amber eyes, Hollyleaf felt herself relaxing. How could she have forgotten how wise he was, how calm and certain he was about the future? Nothing troubled him, because he already knew what to expect.

“Greetings, Sol.” Brambleclaw stepped forward. “Yes, we’re looking for you. You need to come back to ThunderClan.”

Sol looked into the eyes of each cat in turn. “Something has happened.”

Hollyleaf felt a jolt in her belly, as if a stone had struck her. What does he know about Ashfur?

“We just need you to come with us,” Brambleclaw meowed. “Firestar wants to talk to you.”

Sol’s eyes narrowed. “Something has happened that you think concerns me. Something bad. You wouldn’t come all this way to thank me.” He paused thoughtfully. “A cat has died….”