“I don’t think they know anything about Larksong’s sickness.” Alderheart’s mew jerked her from her thoughts. “Puddleshine had no idea what could have caused it. He was scared his Clanmates would catch it.”
Relief washed Squirrelflight’s pelt. The sickness had nothing to do with ShadowClan. At least now it wouldn’t mean war. “Cloverfoot was surprised, and I didn’t notice any of her Clanmates looking guilty.” She glanced at Jayfeather. “What do you think?”
“I can’t read thoughts anymore,” Jayfeather grunted. “But Tigerstar wasn’t hiding anything. I could hear it in his mew. ShadowClan had nothing to do with Larksong’s illness. He must have picked up the infection in the forest.”
As he spoke, a pile of leaves shivered in front of them. Squirrelflight pricked her ears. Prey was rustling beneath it. She stopped, signaling with a flick of her tail for Jayfeather and Alderheart to wait. They paused beside her as she opened her mouth. Mouse-scent touched her tongue. “This was where Larksong was hunting before he got sick.” Her pelt prickled. She glanced at the medicine cats. “Would you be able to tell if a mouse was tainted by examining it?”
Alderheart blinked at her. “I don’t know.”
“We could try,” Jayfeather mewed. “But you’d have to catch one first.”
“Okay.” Squirrelflight dropped into a hunting crouch and crept forward, her belly brushing the earth. The leaves rustled again. She pictured the mouse underneath the pile, fixing with her gaze the place where it moved. Tensing, she bunched the muscles in her hind legs and leaped. She slammed her paws into the pile. Leaves exploded around her, fluttering to the ground as she jabbed her paws deep, feeling for soft flesh with outstretched claws. She hooked something warm. It wriggled in her grasp and squealed.
Jayfeather ran his paw slowly over the mouse. “It feels okay. How does it look?” He turned his blind gaze on Alderheart.
“Its eyes are clear.” Alderheart told him. “Its pelt is clean and smooth. I can’t see any blisters or scabs. It looks healthy.”
“It might
“I don’t know if finding a poisonous mouse is lucky.” Alderheart wrinkled his nose.
“Let’s check inside.” Jayfeather curled his claws into the carcass and tore it open. He sniffed at its innards. “It smells good.”
Alderheart peered closer. “Everything looks pink and healthy.”
Jayfeather sat back on his haunches. “Either we’ve killed a healthy mouse, or this sickness is impossible to detect.”
Squirrelflight frowned, worry worming beneath her pelt. “Or Larksong’s sickness wasn’t caused by a mouse.” She felt suddenly exhausted and sat down. Her head swam.
Alderheart looked at her sharply. “Are you okay?”
“I don’t know.” She gazed at him blearily. Tightness gripped her chest. She stiffened, alarmed. Did she have the same sickness as Larksong?
“Let’s rest here for a while.” Jayfeather padded toward her. He sniffed her muzzle. “Have you eaten today?”
“Not yet,” she told him, dropping onto her belly. Weariness dragged at her bones. “I felt queasy this morning.”
Jayfeather padded around her, sniffing her pelt. “You smell healthy. Are you expecting kits?”
She stiffened. Could it be true? Hope flashed beneath her pelt. Had she been arguing with Bramblestar all this time unaware that she was carrying his kits? She frowned, doubtful. Her last litter hadn’t made her feel like this. She’d felt stronger than ever when she’d been carrying Alderheart and Sparkpelt. And yet perhaps this time was different. If she was expecting kits, she wasn’t ready for Jayfeather and Alderheart to know.
“Are you?” Jayfeather repeated, his blind blue gaze fixed on her.
“No,” she mewed quickly. “I’m probably just hungry.” The dizziness was wearing off and she could breathe deeply again. “I’m starting to feel better.”
“You should eat when we get back,” Jayfeather advised.
Alderheart padded closer, anxiety glittering in his gaze. “Perhaps you’re just tired,” he meowed hopefully.
