diff --git a/src/Search.java b/src/Search.java
index cebb278..6977728 100644
--- a/src/Search.java
+++ b/src/Search.java
@@ -1,3 +1,8 @@
+import java.util.ArrayList;
+import java.util.LinkedList;
+import java.util.List;
+import java.util.Queue;
+
 public class Search {
      /**
      * Finds the location of the nearest reachable cheese from the rat's position.
@@ -29,6 +34,77 @@ public class Search {
      * @throws HungryRatException if there is no reachable cheese
      */
     public static int[] nearestCheese(char[][] maze) throws EscapedRatException, CrowdedMazeException, HungryRatException {
-        return null;
+        int[] start = ratLocation(maze);
+        int rows = maze.length;
+        int cols = maze[0].length;
+
+        boolean[][] visited = new boolean[rows][cols];
+        Queue<int[]> queue = new LinkedList<>();
+        queue.add(start);
+
+        while(!queue.isEmpty()) {
+            int[] current = queue.poll();
+            int r = current[0];
+            int c = current[1];
+
+            if(visited[r][c]) continue;
+
+            if(maze[r][c] == 'c') {
+                return current;
+            }
+
+            visited[r][c] = true;
+
+            List<int[]> nextMoves = possibleMoves(maze, current);
+            queue.addAll(nextMoves);
+        }
+        throw new HungryRatException();
+    }
+
+    public static List<int[]> possibleMoves(char[][] maze, int[] currentLoc) {
+        List<int[]> moves = new ArrayList<>();
+        int[][] directions = {
+            {-1,0},
+            {1, 0},
+            {0,-1},
+            {0, 1} 
+        };
+
+        int curR = currentLoc[0];
+        int curC = currentLoc[1];
+        
+        for(int[] dir : directions) {
+            int newR = curR + dir[0];
+            int newC = curC + dir[1];
+
+            if (newR >= 0 && newR < maze.length &&
+            newC >= 0 && newC < maze[0].length &&
+            maze[newR][newC] != 'w') {
+                moves.add(new int[]{newR, newC}); 
+            }
+        }
+        
+        return moves;
+    }
+
+    public static int[] ratLocation(char[][] maze) throws CrowdedMazeException, EscapedRatException {
+        int ratCount = 0;
+        int[] ratCoords = null;
+        for(int r = 0; r < maze.length; r++) {
+            for(int c = 0; c < maze[0].length; c++) {
+                if(maze[r][c] == 'R') {
+                    ratCoords = new int[]{r,c};
+                    ratCount++;
+                }
+            }
+        }
+
+        if(ratCount > 1) throw new CrowdedMazeException();
+        if(ratCount == 0) throw new EscapedRatException();
+        return ratCoords;
+    }
+
+    public static void main(String[] args) {
+
     }
 }
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