Once Leafpool had gone, Jayfeather tidied away the yarrow and slipped out a daisy leaf and a sliver of burdock root. If it’s either of these, I’m a mouse! Making sure that Leafpool was over by the nursery with Millie, he hurried back to the elders’ den.

“You again!” Mousefur muttered. “What is it this time?”

She sniffed briefly at each of the herbs Jayfeather put in front of her, and tasted the daisy leaf. “No,” she mewed. “It wasn’t them.”

Longtail came over for a sniff, but he didn’t recognize the herbs either.

Jayfeather sighed. “Okay, we’ll keep trying.”

“I think you’ve got bees in your brain,” Mousefur meowed as she settled down for a nap.

Jayfeather was eating a vole near the fresh-kill pile when he heard Firestar padding past him, on his way to the medicine cats’ den. Gulping down the last couple of mouthfuls, he followed, standing just outside the bramble screen so that he could hear what the Clan leader had to say.

“Leafpool, I wanted to ask you…” Firestar sounded almost embarrassed.

“Yes?” Leafpool prompted, an edge to her tone.

“I just wondered whether you’ve had a chance to speak with StarClan yet.” Jayfeather could tell that the Clan leader wanted to sound casual, as if the question didn’t really matter, but he was failing miserably.

Jayfeather’s belly clenched as he wondered what Leafpool’s answer would be; then he made himself relax. The whole Clan would know about it if Leafpool had spoken to Ashfur!

“No!” Leafpool snapped. “If I do, you’ll be the first to know.”

“Oh, okay…thanks.” Firestar edged out of the den, paused, and then bounded off, not even noticing Jayfeather.

Why doesn’t Leafpool want to talk to StarClan? Jayfeather wondered. What is she so afraid of?

His paws itched to get out of the camp, maybe go down to the lake, find the stick, and see if Rock would talk to him again. But Rock had told him to look for answers here, among his own Clan. StarClan, why aren’t you helping me? Jayfeather demanded silently. Isn’t that your job, to guide the Clans?

As if in answer to his unspoken plea, Sandstorm padded across the clearing and halted beside him. “Do you want to go for a walk in the forest with me?”

Jayfeather twitched his ears in surprise. “What for?”

Sandstorm let out a faint purr of amusement. “Can’t I just want your company? No, you’re right,” she added. “I do need to talk to you, somewhere we won’t be interrupted.”

“Okay,” Jayfeather agreed. “But I’ll have to ask Leafpool first. She’s…well, she’s a bit touchy just now.”

“I know,” Sandstorm told him. “Wait there.” She brushed past the bramble screen, and Jayfeather heard her meow, “Leafpool, I’m borrowing Jayfeather for a bit. We’re going into the forest.”

“All right,” Leafpool replied, though she sounded grudging as she gave permission. “Tell him to fetch some tansy back with him.”

Jayfeather’s paws tingled as he followed Sandstorm through the gorse tunnel and along the trail that led toward the WindClan border. He had always respected the ginger she-cat, and even though he now knew that she wasn’t his kin, he still trusted her.