MOUSETAIL SHIFTED HER paws uncomfortably in her nest. She hadn't been able to think about anything but Dovesong the last few sunrises. She barely had time to think about her kits, as much as she worried about them, too. Skystorm had been out of camp more than ever in an attempt to find Dovesong for Mousetail, but he had found nothing. He still tried, though, and Mousetail never felt more lonely. There were no other queens in the nursery, Skystorm wasn't available, Dovesong had been captured, and she wasn't able to go to the Gathering, which was in a quarter-moon.

Even doing something as simple as sleeping was hard. She couldn't shut off the whirlwind of worries about her sister, and it was weird not being able to snuggle up to Skystorm and go to sleep to his warmth and gentle snoring. She hoped that her kits would be here soon-but of course not too soon-so she wouldn't be alone, especially at night. Obviously, she could leave the nursery, but without Dovesong and Skystorm it seemed useless to leave the den. Every now and then she would have a conversation with her Clanmates, but she still couldn't shake off the lonely feeling she was getting.

But to her surprise, Mousetail heard a voice and the rise and fall of paw steps outside the nursery. "Hey, Mousetail." It was Whitefoot, her former mentor.

"Hi, Whitefoot," Mousetail responded. Her mew came out sadder than she intended. "Come in."

"Is everything alright?" Whitefoot came into the den and settled himself a whisker-length from Mousetail's nest.

"Yeah, fine. Just . . . lonely, I guess. I never thought I would feel like this, like, ever, but it's happening and it feels terrible," Mousetail meowed.

"Hm. Why is it lonely? You've got lots of Clanmates to hang out with," Whitefoot pointed out. "Or is it just because of Dovesong?"

"Well, yes, because of Dovesong, but Skystorm hasn't been available as much because he promised to find Dovesong for me, and I can't go to Gatherings to see my friends, and there's no other queens in the nursery," Mousetail explained. "I can't think of anything but Dovesong! I can't even stop to think about my kits!"

"What about Hollyfern and Gorseberry? They're two of the friendliest and most amusing cats I've ever known. Perhaps they can keep you some company," Whitefoot suggested.

"Perhaps. But I still have to think about my kits. Whenever they come around, they're like kits out of the nursery for the first time. What if my kits are harmed?" Mousetail fretted.

Whitefoot's ear twitched thoughtfully. "Okay. Good point. How about I come here to check in every day? Maybe that will take your mind off of Dovesong for a little while," he suggested.

Mousetail thought about it for a moment before nodding. "Alright. That's a deal. I guess it would help me take a moment to relax."

"Great. I'll be sure to come here for a little bit when I can," Whitefoot told her. "But I have to go. Owlheart will call the patrols soon. I hope you feel better soon." He turned and left the den.

Wow. I never knew that Whitefoot would still have time for me after being my mentor. Mousetail never thought of Whitefoot as a friend, but now that he made this offer, she felt a little bit closer to her old mentor. Maybe being the only queen with her mate and sister would be okay after all. She felt a thrill of excitement at the possibilities of the days ahead and hauled herself out of her nest and headed toward the fresh-kill pile. Ever since she moved to the nursery, she had been eating more to feed her growing kits. Badgertooth and Dovesong suggested it too, before she was captured.

"Hi, Mousetail. How are you doing?" Hollyfern came over to stand beside Mousetail.

"I'm fine. Just . . . a little bit down," Mousetail responded. "But fine. How about you?" She picked a mouse from the pile and carried it to a shady spot near the waterfall.

"I'm doing okay, thanks for asking. I just finished going on patrol with Skystorm, Gorseberry, Acornshade, and Flypaw. We still have no idea where Dovesong is, but I have a really good feeling we're getting closer!" she exclaimed.

Mousetail's spirits lifted. "Really? That's the best news I've heard all day. Does that mean that Skystorm is here? Or did he go back?" she asked hopefully.

"He's here," Hollyfern responded. "I think he's by the pool with Cloudsky."

Mousetail turned her head to the pool of water. She saw her mate and Cloudsky talking by the waterside. "I've been waiting for him all day. We can talk later, but I want to say hi." She looked at Hollyfern, who nodded, her eyes shining. She left and quickly padded to Skystorm and Cloudsky. "Hi, Skystorm. I've been waiting for you."

Skystorm turned around. His eyes lit up as he touched noses with Mousetail. "Hi. I'm guessing Hollyfern told you we didn't find her yet?"

"Yeah. But that's okay. She said you were getting closer to the location," Mousetail responded. She nuzzled Skystorm affectionately. "I'm so glad you're doing this. I know it might be scary."

"Thanks for being so sympathetic, but no, it's not scary at all. It's just like a normal border patrol," Skystorm purred, amusement in his voice.

"Oh, well, I figured it would be scary because I'm convinced it was MoonClan. And whatever killed those poor ThunderClan warriors is still out there, if it isn't MoonClan! I mean, it has to be MoonClan, but if it isn't, then we have to be extra careful," Mousetail reasoned quickly.

"Oh, of course." Skystorm gave his chest fur a couple of quick, embarrassed licks. "I didn't think about MoonClan."

Mousetail sighed in exasperation. "Have you checked the MoonClan camp at all?"

"We don't know where it is," Skystorm replied, looking bewildered.

"I know where it is," Mousetail replied. "Maybe I can find it again." She flicked her tail arrogantly.

"You can't! What about our kits? What would happen if they got hurt? What if you got hurt?" Skystorm fretted. "I won't risk it."

"Then how are we supposed to find Dovesong?" Mousetail asked, finding her voice to be more desperate than she intended.

"Mousetail, Sky-" Cloudsky tried to step in between the arguing cats, but Skystorm cut him off.

"Does anyone else know where it is?"

"Yes, but she's injured," Mousetail responded.

"Hello?" Frozenfang asked shyly from behind them. "I was raised with MoonClan. I know where the camp is."

"Right. Like you're supposed to help," Mousetail muttered. Frozenfang frowned.

Skystorm stepped in front of Mousetail. Mousetail glared at him. "Mousetail, you're just in a bad mood. You know that she'll help. Let her help. She might be our only hope for finding Dovesong," he explained.

Mousetail didn't want to admit it, but she was in a bad mood. She was worried for her sister, who could have been hurt in the MoonClan camp. "Fine. Okay. You'll just have to talk to Lynxstar," she added to Frozenfang.

Frozenfang's eyes lit up, as if she were thrilled to finally do something important for the Clan. "Sure! Thanks." She immediately turned around and left for Lynxstar's den behind the waterfall.

"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Cloudsky asked. "I mean, I trust her, but will everyone else?"

Skystorm scoffed. "How can you possibly say that after you say that you hope that you two will be mates one day?"

"What?" Mousetail looked at Cloudsky in disbelief. "Really?"

Cloudsky nodded, looking a little shy all of a sudden. "I just didn't want to admit it because not everyone in this Clan trusts her."

"That's great, Cloudsky! Does she think the same thing about you?"

"I don't know. But I think so. She kind of acts like it, but she hasn't said anything. She's that kind of cat that never admits something, she just drops clues for you to follow," Cloudsky responded. "You know what I mean?"

"Yeah. I'm glad you can understand that," Mousetail mewed. "I hope it turns out the way you want it to."

"Me too."

"Lynxstar says I can go." Frozenfang hurried toward them, her eyes shining with delight. "But she wants a warrior to go with me."

So she'll let a warrior go with a cat she doesn't trust, but she won't let a warrior go with a cat she does trust? Mousetail figured, remembering when she went to find Spottedsong and Lynxstar didn't allow anyone to go with her. "That's good. But I don't know who would come with you."

"I'll come," Cloudsky volunteered immediately, coming to Frozenfang's side.

"Alright." Skystorm sounded nervous. "Be safe."

"I promise I will," Cloudsky promised his littermate. "Have faith. Dovesong will be home in no time," he added to Mousetail.

Mousetail lifted her tail happily as she watched Cloudsky and Frozenfang leave the camp. I hope this is the last time that anyone has to leave camp in search of Dovesong. She felt Skystorm's fur against hers, and she looked to her side to see him pressing his flank against her affectionately. "Hopefully they bring her back."

"Hopefully. I know you've been fretting about it a lot recently. It would be great to see your concerns die down."

"Why?"

"You've seemed a bit distant lately ever since Dovesong went missing. I just wanted you to calm down and not be so tense. You're all I've been thinking about lately," Skystorm responded.

Mousetail smiled. "That's kind of you." Movement in the corner of her eye caught her attention. She looked toward the medicine den, where the movement was originally, but no one was there. Odd.

"What is it?" Skystorm asked, following her gaze. "I don't see anything."

"Me neither. It must have been my imagination." Mousetail narrowed her eyes at the medicine den again, and then realized that Spottedsong's nest was empty. Great StarClan, she sighed. "Spottedsong's gone. She probably went looking for Dovesong."

"Huh." Skystorm's eyes were narrowed, too. "They're all running after each other. What's next? Spottedsong goes missing, too?"

"I don't know. She probably overheard our conversation. But how could she over the crashing of the waterfall? And why would she go when Frozenfang and Cloudsky just left? She likes doing things alone. Why would she go when she could be caught by Frozenfang and Cloudsky?" Mousetail wondered aloud.

Skystorm just shrugged. "I would go searching, but I think I've done enough searching for one day."

"I won't make you go if you don't want to," Mousetail responded. "I just hope she comes back before moonhigh. Why would she be so mouse-brained to go out there when Dovesong was already captured?"

"Captured? She just went missing," Skystorm meowed, sounding confused.

"No, remember that mouse that I found? The one with poppy seeds in it? She ate that by accident. Only a cat that would want to kidnap another would do something as rogue-hearted as that," Mousetail explained. "Plus, Foxclaw's scent was mingled with hers. If the mouse wasn't there, she probably ran away. But she didn't. She was captured."

"True." Skystorm's eyes were wide with bewilderment. "Wow, you're smart."

"I know," Mousetail purred, flicking her tail over her ear playfully. But I hope I'm smart enough to get Dovesong back.