They followed Frecklefang's scent trail straight to the Moonpool.
"This is useless," Downtail said. "She obviously came here. Her scent doesn't head back toward FireClan. If the Ageless Ones want to speak to her, that's their business."
Yellowstar nosed around the Moonpool for a while. What did she expect to gain coming here? Yellowstar guessed it didn't matter. Frecklefang's scent continued past the Moonpool—away from Clan territory.
"Goldenstripe, Greenpod, Runninghare. Thank you for allowing us on your territory."
"This never happened," Greenpod hissed.
"Of course." Yellowstar dipped her head. "We will take the Moonpool path back to our Clan."
Yellowstar led her Downtail and her mate through the moors. "Downtail." The WindClan cats were out of earshot—and the howling wind across the moors would drown out her voice, anyway. "Don't you think that was odd?"
"They did seem skittish," the tom said. "And what was that about 'if we could find him?'" He looked at Fallensnow, his tetchy air fading as he spoke. "What do you think?"
"I think…" Fallensnow's tailtip twitched. "Well, it's odd that Swiftstar hasn't come to speak to you, Fl—er, Yellowstar."
Downtail's ears flattened against his head.
"What I mean," Fallensnow said hurriedly, "is that Weaselclaw was going to ask TallClan for help, right? And CrookedClan, probably. TallClan would have at least passed us a message, right?"
"TallClan is notoriously tight-lipped," Downtail said. "Maybe they're embarrassed for refusing to help a suckling queen."
"Perhaps," said Yellowstar thoughtfully. "The fact is, they're on edge, scared BlackClan will hurt them or drive them out. And yet Scratchface is missing?" Yellowstar shook her head. "Something is fishy, Downtail. I know everyone is stretched thin. I know we've lost a lot of good cats." She sighed. "But it's time to act."
Downtail was quiet and respectful for the walk back to camp. Fallensnow was pensive.
"You two," she said as they pushed through the thorn barrier, "rest for the afternoon. Don't tell anyone about what happened today—not yet." She shook her head. The prey pile was down to just a few mice and a robin. "I need to think."
She went into Thunder forest alone, starting at the BlackClan border.
To her surprise, it was freshly-marked. She padded alongside the border a ways, ears perked. When no cat appeared from the creepy, musky pines, she headed deeper into Thunder forest to hunt. Yellowstar crept through the undergrowth, careful not to let the sun hit her fur, mouth open for prey-scents. A flock of starlings called from the maple tree ahead of her. She slunk to the ground. The wind blew towards her, but birds had a notoriously poor sense of smell. She waited for several minutes. Finally, two of the birds hopped down to a low branch. She crept forward, holding her breath… And pounced.
She leapt, snagged both birds in her paws, and twisted in the air to bring them down. She snapped their necks, thanked StarClan for her prey, buried them, and continued on. She killed a fat, lazy dove pecking in a clearing, an unlucky sparrow, and a thrush. On her way back to camp, she found a mouse den under the roots of an oak tree, killed the mother, and scooped up the five naked pups in her jaws. Perfect for Redpoppy.
She carried her prey to camp. The Clan was subdued; Redpoppy just smiled and nodded when she dropped off the pinkie mice.
She retreated into her den to find a plump vole waiting for her. It smelled like Fallensnow. She purred and tore into the vole, thinking.
We're not ready for a full fledged ambush. But we have to do something. She licked blood from between her claws. She perked up suddenly: Wrencatcher. He was perfect. No doubt he'd want to prove his loyalty to the Clan after everything that happened. And he had always been a great hunter. He knew how to be stealthy. I won't even have to ask him.
Later, when the sun mellowed on the horizon, Yellowstar leapt onto Highledge. "Let all cats old enough to be called paw join below Highledge!"
The Clan gathered below her. She had to suppress a yowl when she saw how few of them there were. The elders, Rabbitleap, Birchnose, Oaktree, and Beechwhisker, lined up in front of their den. Redpoppy and Thrushflight peeked out from the nursery. Acorntail sat by himself—with Wrencatcher on the opposite side of camp. Jaggedclaw and Dapplecreek stood side-by-side. Downtail and Fallensnow sat with Skypaw and Stormypaw. And Freezepaw and Cloudstep padded up to sit closest to Highledge.
And that was it.
Oh, StarClan. Ageless Ones. Can't you speak to me? Can't you give me some guidance?
The skies were, as always, silent.
"Cats of FireClan," she yowled. "May the Ageless Ones bless you."
"May StarClan guide you," they murmured.
"As you know, BlackClan has been oddly quiet since their last attack. Perhaps they're planning their next move against us. Perhaps they're busy terrorizing TallClan. I'm not willing to risk an ambush—yet. Not until I have more information. I fear we cannot wait until the Gathering." She cast her gaze around the hollow. Her eyes passed over Dapplecreek; Jaggedclaw; the elders; Cloudstep. She paused on Wrencatcher, then on to the kits in the nursery peeking out from between Thrushflight and Redpoppy. "I am asking for one of you to undertake a dangerous journey," she said. "You must be quick and stealthy. You must not be seen." She paused. "You must spy on BlackClan."
The Clan hissed, then quieted, as if holding its collective breath.
"It would only be fair," Yellowstar meowed, "if a cat volunteered. I won't force you."
For a moment she was sure Jaggedclaw was going to jump up and volunteer. She was afraid it hadn't worked. But then Wrencatcher looked up, a glimmer of hope in his gold-flecked eyes, and padded slowly, tail dragging behind him, to the base of Highledge.
"Let me, Yellowstar. I know how to be stealthy. My pelt will blend in well against the pine needles." He raised his chin to look at her. "I won't let you down."
I know you won't, she thought grimly. Because you have nothing left to lose.
Yellowstar, Paletuft, Jaggedclaw, and Wrencatcher padded into the dark forest. Evening had brought clouds, and now the sky was completely black aside from a tiny sliver of moonlight.
"StarClan be with you," Yellowstar whispered. "Remember, any sign of trouble and you run. Don't be a hero."
"It can't be too hard to sneak into BlackClan's camp," Wrencatcher whispered back, "right? Mapledawn did it."
"Just because she did it doesn't mean you can," Jaggedclaw snarled. "She is a great warrior. You are a petulant kit."
"Enough," Yellowstar whispered. "There's no need for that." Jaggedclaw always hated her—what changed? "Wrencatcher, you are not to sneak into their camp. It's too dangerous. Just scout what you can and come back." She bent down to his ear. "Tell me if you see Scratchface or Weaselclaw."
Wrencatcher nodded solemnly.
"You need to find something stinky to roll in," Paletuft said. "Dung, mud, whatever you can. And remember, if you're caught—"
"I'll say I was looking for Frecklefang." He nodded.
"If you're not back by sunrise, I'll send a party for you. Be careful, Wrencatcher-of-Rabbitleap."
Yellowstar, Paletuft, and Jaggedclaw watched the young warrior disappeared over the BlackClan border. Ageless Ones keep you, Yellowstar thought, and let BlackClan be foolish enough to believe your story if they catch you.
"Good riddance," mumbled Jaggedclaw crossly. "That cat has been nothing but trouble."
"He's made some mistakes," Yellowstar said, "but there's still a good cat in there." She stared evenly down at Jaggedclaw. "No one knows how to react when they find out a Clanmate has a former life as an evil cat."
"I'm still not sure I believe it," said Paletuft, "but I suppose we have to trust in StarClan."
"It explains everything," Jaggedclaw hissed. "And it means StarClan is still looking our for us. They sent the strongest, fiercest cat back to life in our Clan. What does that tell you?"
Nothing good so far, Yellowstar thought to herself. She flicked her tail and led her cats back to camp.
"Get some rest," she said. "We cannot know what tomorrow will bring."
Acorntail greeted them silently at the camp entrance. He and Dapplecreek were their camp guards for the night. Yellowstar hoped that their rotating shifts would leave them both rested enough in case of trouble. She needed every able-bodied warrior she could get.
Fallensnow yawned and blinked up at her in the leader's den. "How'd it go?" she murmured.
"No trouble. We can only hope he succeeds."
"You did what you had to." Fallensnow stretched out, motioning for Yellowstar to lay beside her.
"I know." Yellowstar groomed Fallensnow's long, soft fur until the steady movement made her drowsy. "I just can't help but think I'm sending him to his death." Not to mention bending the warrior code… Troubled and weary, Yellowstar fell asleep covered in her mate's warm, sweet scent.