In the days that followed, ThunderClan settled into an uneasy routine of feeding Sol, watching him stretch his legs when he was allowed out into the clearing, and escorting him to make dirt. Sol never lost his air of calm, and he treated every cat with the same friendliness.

Lionblaze waited frustratedly for the chance to talk to him alone. He was desperate to discuss the prophecy. He couldn’t forget the sense of power and control he had felt when facing the dogs, which convinced him still that he was one of the Three. But Sol was never left alone, and only the senior warriors were assigned to guard him.

The weather stayed sunny and dry, even though each morning the trees were rimmed with frost. Sometimes it was even warm enough by sunhigh to bask on a couple of flattish rocks at the base of the cliff. Mousefur especially liked to stretch out there, soaking up the sunlight.

“The elders should be allowed to bask here whenever we want,” she had announced. “Our old bones need it.” She sighed, twitching her ears. “Back in the old forest, we had Sunningrocks. All the Clan’s cats could bask there together, if they wanted.”

Since Purdy’s arrival, she had taken to lying on the rocks with him. Lionblaze was surprised at their friendship, but he figured that they talked about things like how rude young cats were these days and how much tastier prey used to be.

Around sunhigh, several days after the patrol’s return, Lionblaze was strolling back to the camp with Honeyfern and Berrynose. They had spent the morning training with Squirrelflight and Brackenfur and the two apprentices; Brackenfur had taken over as Icepaw’s mentor since Whitewing was so close to having her kits.

“They’re doing so well,” Honeyfern purred. “Did you see how high Icepaw can leap?”

“And Foxpaw can dodge really quickly,” Lionblaze agreed. “Squirrelflight made them practice that move over and over again, and they’ve both got it now.”

Berrynose paused to stretch his jaws wide in a yawn. “I feel like lying in the sun for a bit to catch my breath. I wonder if Mousefur will let us have a turn on the basking rocks.”

“Good idea,” mewed Lionblaze.

Pushing his way through the thorn tunnel, he saw that Mousefur, Purdy, and Longtail were all snoozing on the flat-topped rocks. Berrynose bounded over to them eagerly; Lionblaze followed with Honeyfern.

But Purdy wasn’t dozing after all. “So my Upwalker,” he was meowing as they approached, “he says to me, ‘Purdy,’ he says, ‘there’s only you can get rid of this mouse, and—’” He broke off, blinking as he spotted the younger cats.

Lionblaze noticed that Mousefur and Longtail, to whom Purdy was telling his story, were both fast asleep.

“Hi, Purdy,” he greeted the old tabby. “We were wondering if we could bask here with you for a bit. We’ve been training all morning, and we’re tired.”

“Young cats today—no stamina,” Purdy grumbled, but he rose to his paws, stretched, then prodded Mousefur and Longtail awake.