The cats wake up and continue on their journey. Hollyleaf is so thirsty she tries to lick some ice but her tongue gets stuck. The other cats are clearly amused by her situation and the more she thinks about it she finds it funny too. Brambleclaw helps her free herself, telling her that she us just like her mother and all Hollyleaf can think is Squirrelflight isn't really her mother. Dogs appear and chase them. Hollyleaf knows that Lionblaze will think of fighting them so she begs him to stay with her. While trying to run away they run down an alley and get trapped. Birchfall cries that he will never get to meet his kits with Whitewing and Hollyleaf watches as Lionblaze steps forward to meet the dogs.
Lionblaze can hear Hollyleaf yelling at him but he ignores her. He steps forward to face the dogs when suddenly a she cat appears to save them. She takes them through a hole and away from the dogs who are angry to lose their meal. She takes them to an abandoned Twoleg nest and introduces them to herself and the other cats. Her name is Jingo and another cat there, named Fritz, is the one they met the previous night. When Brambleclaw asks Fritz whi he thought they were he refuses to answer. Jingo tells him that they don't trust strangers anymore, not sense Sol. The cats tell them what happened when Sol lived with them, how persuasive he can be, how he convinced them to fight the dogs, and how cats died. Then Sol refused to accept any of the blame for his plan going wrong, telling them instead they chose to fight and he didn't make them. He then demanded someone bring him fresh kill. They kicked Sol out after that. Brambleclaw wants to move on but the cats invite them to spend the night. After Lionblaze eats he talks to a queen named Speckle. She tells him that whatever they think Sol did, they are wrong. She tells him Sol would never get his own paws dirty and would instead find someone else to do his dirty work. Lionblaze can tell Speckle is in love with Sol. She says that Sol didn't actually do anything wrong, but privately Lionblaze feels that Sol persuaded them to believe they had to do what he said.
Jayfeather wakes up to find Leafpool in a bad mood. He offers to go collect moss but instead goes to the elder's den to speak to Mousefur. He has been thinking back on his journey to the camp as a kit and removers a second being cat there. He cannot remember who it was so he wants to see what Mousefur remembers. While pretending to check her for fleas he asks her about the night he was born. Mousefur tells him how he and his siblings came early and how Squirrelflight was out in the woods when it happened. She says thankfully Leafpool was with Squirrelflight. She also tells him how Leafpool fussed over them and Squirrelflight so much one would think she was the first queen ever. She and Longtail also recall that Leafpool accidentally gave Mousefur the wrong herb once but she wouldn't tell what it was. Jayfeather wants to know what the herb is so he goes back to speak with Leafpool. He doesn't mention when this happened and he just speaks of it vaguely but Leafpool's response, despite an insistence of not remembering, shows she knows exactly what Jayfeather is talking about.
Hollyleaf and the other cats wake up. Jingo tells them they cannot travel over the ground because it isn't safe. She takes them safely on fences and rooftops across the town to the area where Purdy lives since it was last said Sol was there. They hunt for a minute and Hollyleaf catches prey for Purdy. They enter his nest and call out to him but find Sol in there instead.
As Sol and Brambleclaw talk, Sol correctly surmises that a cat has been murdered and they want him to return because they feel he is responsible. Brambleclaw tells him that Firestar just wants to ask him some questions. Purdy arrives with prey for him and Sol to share. Sol tells Purdy that he has to leave with the ThunderClan cats, which upsets Purdy. Hollyleaf realizes just how lonely Purdy must be. Brambleclaw decides they can leave in the morning. Sol promises not to run away, however Brambleclaw doesn't believe him and posts Brackenfur as guard while they hunt. The next morning the cats get ready to leave and Brambleclaw asks Purdy to come with them and live in the elder's den. Purdy says he will stay behind so Brackenfur asks as well. The two cats tell him how as an elder he will have a place of honor and get to share his wisdom with the clan. As Hollyleaf listens she gets upset, knowing that the other clans will object to Purdy joining their ranks. She also knows the two senior warriors are lying to Purdy about much they need his help. Purdy agrees to join them and the cats leave. Ad they travel Sol let's slip that he is under guard, causing Purdy to get upset. He feels Sol is a wonderful cat who hasn't done anything wrong. The other cats smooth things over. Eventually they settle down for the night and sleep. When Hollyleaf wakes up she realizes Sol is gone. She finds him quickly and as he talks to her she is surprised to find herself confessing her fears and worries to him. They head back and Brambleclaw is happy to see them. They continue on their journey and reach the horse place.
I feel like Hollyleaf's thoughts are all so dark. It is so sad. All she can think of is the betrayal and how she might not be a clan cat. I feel like she worries over nothing. Firestar would never send them away and while the clan might be furious with Squirrelflight for taking a rogue's kits (which she didn't because I am completely convinced they are Leafpool's) they would not take that out on Hollyleaf and her brothers. I was always more worried about Jayfeather with his consuming desire for power and Lionblaze with his nightly meetings with Tigerstar, but now I am far more worried for Hollyleaf - and I can't even really voice why. I feel like something is on the verge of breaking in her - and I blame her obsession with the warrior code for it.
Either way, I am glad their journey was pretty short. With half the book left and Sol now (almost) to the camp the mystery of Ashfur's murderer should be solved soon.
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