Bluestar

As a two-leg nest comes into his line of sight, he hears a dog, but the scent is stale, and he reminds himself that the farm dogs who were left to run loose at night would be tied up again, so he is safe.

He goes around the two-leg nest, and then he smells rats, and he pauses, remembering how on his first journey to Highstones, Bluestar had lost a life in a battle with rats very close to where he is.

But he realizes he's downwind of the rat scent, so he can pass without letting the rats know he was here.

Soon, he comes across a barn.

Firestar almost gave way to her, but then he remembered why he had come.

If he left without an explanation, the terrified wailing would invade his dreams over and over again, and there would be no escape from visions of the fleeing cats.

"No, Bluestar," he answered steadily.

"I have to know the truth." "Very well." Bluestar sighed.