the forgotten clan: a new beginning -...

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The Forgotten Clan: A New Beginning

The Forgotten

ClanA New Beginning

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By: Opalflower

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PrologueLight, leaf-fall breezes swept through the bramble entrance. Two shadowed

guards shivered as chills ran down their spines, but they never moved from their posts. Leaves swirled around in the middle of a clearing through the entrance and flew around camp before sweeping into a darkened den on top a high cliff. Colors of orange, yellow, red and brown landed around a black she-cat, patched gray, sleeping at the back of the den. She squirmed in her nest made of soft, green moss and dove feathers, and whimpered once. Her icy blue eyes flashed open, and she was sent into a dream.

She was stalking the forest home of her Clan, searching for prey. Never before had the forest felt so empty of prey in greenleaf. She stopped and shook her head; it was leaf-fall, not warm greenleaf, she realized. Then she knew she was in a dream.

Being leader of a recovering Clan had its advantages, such as receiving nine lives to serve her Clan to her fullest capabilities. Like everything else, there were its disadvantages as well: disturbing dreams sent from her ancestors. Her sister, the medicine cat of the Clan, received them as well, but not as many nightmarish signs like she.

The black she-cat roamed the forest, feeling uncomfortable in her own territory. There was a sharp call of a bird, and then she was cast into a dark shadow. With fear in her eyes, she lifted her muzzle towards a gray, cloudy sky, just like that of when the volcano had blown moons ago. Above her was a black raven, circling high above. She could see the feathers flow with the wind with each beat of the wings. She could hear the blood curling call as if it was in her ear.

I will take the Clan as my own. The voice sounded strange. With a hiss, the black she-cat whipped around, swiping her claws at nothing that was behind her. She stared off into the ravine where she thought she had heard a she-cat’s voice, one that she had heard long ago.

You can’t save them, Icestar. This time she caught sight of black fur, and then was tackled to the ground with thorn sharp claws from the raven. She was on the ground, batting at the bird with her claws as it drove its beak towards her neck. It gave a loud screech before lifting off, leaving small wounds on her side and stomach.

Icestar rolled onto her back and watched as the raven flew away. A single feather floated down from the sky and landed at her paws. She drove a claw through it and gave a growl as she brought it close to her face. When she looked back into the sky to search for the fleeing bird, she found that the clouds were gone and clear skies spotted with sparkling stars were in its place. The uncomfortable sensations were no longer there; only peace flowed through her veins.

“There’s a great darkness coming from the single call of the raven.” Icestar smiled as turned and faced a blue-black tom.

“Lunarblaze, you couldn’t possibly be serious?” she sighed, closing her eyes in anger. “I just got the Clan back to full health, and now you say there’s more danger?”

A gray-and-white she-cat padded forward, and Icestar almost thought it was her sister, Opalflower. She looked closer and saw that it was their mother, Snowmist, who had originally come from JungleClan with their father, Twisterclaw. He stood beside her with Icestar’s dead siblings, Teatherpelt and Whisperstorm.

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“The danger followed you home,” Snowmist said. “Through dark eyes, you will find the Raven,” she added. It sounded like another prophecy was about to unfold. Opalflower will be so pleased, Icestar thought sarcastically.

The spirits were already beginning to fade. “What do you mean?” Icestar growled, chasing after her fading ancestors. “Tell me more!”

Lunarblaze’s amber eyes were the only thing completely visible, but not for long. “A new beginning has begun, my love,” he mewed. “Through dark eyes, you will find the Raven. It seeks for death and power, and will bring a bloody shower. Fourteen will divide into two until the truth is conquered. Then, peace will come with a stormy sky.”

Chapter 1Through a narrow entrance a gray tail tip flicked happily as white paws sorted

through piles of herbs. The fluffy pelt of the cat shook as she sighed with relief as she placed the last herb with its similar look-a-likes. Lowering her head, she picked up each individual pile at her paws and padded into a smaller den where a brown-

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and-white tabby she-cat slept soundly, only recovering from whitecough. The white she-cat looked down on her apprentice and sniffed her closely, checking for any changes. She gave a sniff of contentment before taking each pile and pushing them each on to a ledge above the sleeping apprentice. When the floor of the dens were clear and clean of herbs, the white she-cat padded through the smaller den’s entrance and out into the sunlight.

Greenleaf warmth soaked into her white pelt as she examined the clearing around her. High walls of boulders stood for walls, moved into place with the help of her ancestors and some other friends. It had taken a few moons, but the camp was soon repaired.

A black she-cat, patched with gray, trotted forward. She gave the medicine cat a lick on the cheek in greeting. “I’m making my kits into warriors myself today,” she purred. “Copperstar did have the right idea of making them warriors of BlogClan, but I want them to be the first of RockClan.”

Icestar was the leader of RockClan, and the sister of Opalflower. The white she-cat loved her sister to death, and without her the Clan would have never survived. As long as Opalflower had her sister beside her as well, she would survive with the Clan. There had been so many times where the medicine cat thought she would have died if it hadn’t been for Icestar being at the right place at the right time. Nothing could break them apart; not even when the Clan had been destroyed and everything seemed hopeless.

“Sounds like a great idea,” Opalflower replied with a slight yawn. She was exhausted, even after a long night’s sleep, and her paws still hurt her after the few days travel from BlogClan back to RockClan, even though a whole moon had already passed since their return. It had come quite a surprise when the returning RockClan cats found the camp already being inhabited by others that had survived, unknown, after the last volcanic eruption. Opalflower’s sister, Nightwhisper had returned with her three kits, Shadowclaw, Lightningflash and Darkthorn, as well as her mate Zapstripe. What made everything better was that a few of Icestar’s old friends appeared almost two days after everyone else returned, and that had perked the leader up. Silvernight and Frostsoul were purring with delight, seeing that Icestar was alive and had the Clan going again. Opalflower was pleased with seeing her old denmates Wolfmoon and Goldendust walk through the camp entrance with fresh-kill already in their jaws. The Clan was growing again, and quickly.

As the days had gone on, more former Clan members started coming back to their home. Many were returning from other Clans where they had taken refuge until they each had received signs from CometClan that it was time to go home. Orangewhisker and Berryheart came in side by side with Lovefoot and Lionroar. They were happily greeted by Icestar and Opalflower while the rest of the Clan continued on; they hadn’t been the ones very worried. Creamfur, Fawnpelt, Witherstorm and Moonlight appeared around the same time when Opalflower was heading towards the Moonpond at the half-moon. They returned to RockClan’s camp with her that following dawn. That same morning, the dawn patrol came back to camp with no news about borders, but of Clanmates coming home; Twisterpelt and Lostsong had come home.

Opalflower thought of the new members RockClan had gained already as well. Upon leaving BlogClan, Cinnamonswirl joined them on their travels back to their home, but they had lost Vixenfrost and her kits Winterjewel and Smokeflame to BlogClan. She couldn’t forget her daughters Morningdapple and Jewelflare, as

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well as Jewelflare’s kits, Sunpaw and Willowpaw, who had become apprentices a half-moon ago. The warriors’ den would become full, while the apprentices’ den would empty when Icestar made her kits, Tinypaw, Lilypaw, Darkpaw, Emeraldpaw and Nightpaw into warriors of RockClan. Opalflower still felt deep sorrow for Nightpaw when he left Shiningheart to return home to RockClan. The young tom was always sulking around camp, and she remembered that very day when she had been doing the same.

That reminded the medicine cat of her daughter. Songbird had been very distraught upon leaving BlogClan when she realized they were leaving Cometstreak behind as well. Nobody knew where that tom had gotten himself, but Opalflower was sure it wasn’t in CometClan. Destinyfern wasn’t too pleased when she noticed that Omenstorm had decided to stay behind as well without saying good-bye to her and Zeekstorm. Spiritsoul felt the same way about his son, but he had the same feeling that Cometstreak did what he had to. Bravewish and Galaxyshard did their best to sympathize with their Clanmates, but when Galaxyshard was expecting Bravewish’s kits, the blue-white she-cat would sometimes lose her temper with Destinyfern’s short one.

Icestar bounded away from her sister and trotted up to Buzzfox. He had just come in from hunting with a new member: Redfox. He had been through a lot to get here in the Clan, but Opalflower could feel Clan blood flowing through him somehow. He was very brave from what she had seen when a fox had attacked the camp. The handsome tom had tackled the enemy on his own and chased it off just before a few other warriors came to help. Goldendust had a slight crush on him for his courage and the pride the tom had, completely ignoring how handsome the red-brown tabby really was.

“I need you both to find Tinypaw and Darkpaw,” Icestar ordered the two toms. “They mustn’t miss their warrior ceremonies.”

“Where might we find them?’ Redfox asked; his voice was silky smooth.Icestar thought for a moment. “I remember hearing that Darkpaw had gone

off into the forest, and I think Tinypaw might be down by the river.” Together the two toms left the camp, splitting apart at the top of the ravine.

Buzzfox dashed towards the river, mastering his balance on the ravine so he wouldn’t go tumbling down. Redfox headed deep into the forest where he found Darkpaw stalking down a crow. She clawed her way up the tree, her pelt blending in with the shadows of the forest. The crow pecked at a worm in a hole in the tree and had no clue that it was being hunted. Just before the crow saw Darkpaw’s ears come up over the branch, she pounced on the bird and nipped its neck.

“Well done,” Redfox purred. “Now come back with me to camp; there’s a ceremony waiting for you.” With a growl, Darkpaw jumped from the tree and landed beside the red-brown tabby, crow in jaws almost as big as her. Redfox sighed at her stubbornness to carry it on her own and led them back to camp.

Meanwhile, Buzzfox sat at the edge of the river watching Tinypaw swim in the slow moving current of the water. The ginger-and-white tom was pleased to see that all the ash that had darkened the water was all gone and the water was clear again. He could see fish swimming in the depths once again, and the reeds on the banks were green as before.

Tinyleg paddled to the shore and shook out his pelt before splashing towards Buzzfox. “Do you need me to do something?” he asked, looking up because of his short legs.

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“Yes,” the ginger-and-white warrior said simply. “You need to return to camp for your warrior ceremony.” He finished with a smile as the young tom widened his eyes in happiness.

Back in camp, Icestar had already called the Clan together. Lilypaw, Darkpaw, Emeraldpaw and sullen Nightpaw were already lined up. Behind them were Emberpaw, Dragonpaw and Flamepaw. Foxflare sighed when she remembered that Forestpaw wouldn’t be with them because he was killed by a rat attack on the return home. Buzzfox swept past his old apprentice and gave her some words of comfort as Tinypaw dashed to a place beside Lilypaw.

“This is a good day for RockClan,” Icestar started strongly. “By the end of today, we will have new warriors, apprentices, and my choice of deputy. Under the stars of Starpelt, I call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on these five cats before you. They have trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, as well as StarClan’s, and I commend them to you as warriors in turn.

“Lilypaw, Darkpaw, Emeraldpaw, Tinypaw and Nightpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code, to protect and defend this Clan, even at the cost of your lives?” she asked with a swish of her fluffy tail. Emeraldnight leaned in towards his kits to hear their promise.

“I do,” Lilypaw vowed, jumping up and down. Icestar had a feeling she would start streaking around camp like she always did.

“I do.” Emeraldpaw looked to his father with a smile. His mother knew that he would be a loyal warrior just like Emeraldnight turned out to be.

Tinypaw puffed out his chest and tried his best to stand taller, but his short legs limited him. “I do,” he promised.

Nightpaw raised his green eyes up to his mother standing on Highcliff. “I do,” he sighed.

Darkpaw glanced at each of her siblings with her dark blue eyes narrowed to thin slits. With fire burning in her eyes, she gazed up at her mother. “I do,” she growled.

Icestar flicked her eyes from her dark daughter and leaped to the ground in front of her kits. “Then by the powers of CometClan, I shall give you your warrior names,” she continued. “Lilypaw, you are quick thinking and a fighter to the heart. From this moment you shall be known as Lilystreak. Darkpaw you shall be known as Darkeyes from this moment on. You have dedicated yourself to become a great warrior, well skilled in fighting. Emeraldpaw, you have your father’s spirit and from this moment you shall be known as Emeraldsoul. Nightpaw, you have suffered from a great sadness, but you still put your Clan first. You shall be known as Nightclaw from this moment on. Tinypaw, you may be small, but you have a fiery determination to show that you can be a warrior. Tinyleg shall be your name from this moment, and take your name with pride.” After each apprentice was renamed, Icestar had gone and dipped her head and touched her nose to their heads. Each cat licked her shoulder in respect before taking their new names back to the front of the crowd beside Emeraldnight. Normally they would sit beside their mentors, but they were back in BlogClan.

“Remember new warriors to take silent vigil tonight in the middle of camp,” Icestar went on. Turning to four kits that stepped forward, three sticking beside their mother Foxflare, Icestar continued with the Clan meeting. “Forgottenkit is ready to become an apprentice and train to be a RockClan warrior, and Foxflare’s kits must be given new mentors. Emberpaw, you shall, until you have earned your warrior name, be mentored by Lostsong.” The black daughter of Nightwhisper

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padded forward and touched noses with her new apprentice before sitting down beside the new warriors of RockClan.

“Flamepaw, from this moment until you have earned your warrior name, your mentor shall be Lionroar. Just because this is his first apprentice does not make it easy to trick him. He is a strong, knowledgeable warrior and will not fall for nonsense,” Icestar mewed. The apprentice’s red streaked pelt quivered with excitement, and smiled slightly before touching noses with his golden mentor.

The last apprentice, a golden tom, stepped forward. Foxflare licked his cheek before he went the rest of the way to meet Icestar. He wished to have his brother, Forestkit, with him, but he had stayed back in BlogClan because he had been too sick to leave. “Dragonpaw, you have already started your training back in BlogClan,” Icestar told the young tom. “Until you have earned your warrior name, you shall be now mentored by Redfox.”

Opalflower watched as the reddish-brown tom walked up to the front. Getting his first apprentice was a surprise to the young tom, but he deserved it. Icestar never had mentioned to the tom that he was getting an apprentice, but Opalflower knew what her sister had in store next. “Forgottenkit, you shall be known as Forgottenpaw and shall be trained by me,” Icestar purred. Opalflower realized how long it was since her leader had trained an apprentice. She cast a glance at her daughter Songbird, Icestar’s very first apprentice that brought her to the position of deputy many moons ago.

When Forgottenpaw sat down beside the others, Icestar gazed out over her Clan. She met Opalflower’s eyes. Her sister gave her a nod to continue on, and Icestar returned it in agreement. Whipping around, she hauled herself up the stony slope up to Highcliff and then faced her Clanmates.

“The time has come to name a new deputy,” she announced. Her voice echoed off the walls of the camp. “I say these words before CometClan, so that they may hear and approve my choice: the new deputy of RockClan will be…” She let the pressure of her words sink into her warriors below. They wished to know and leaned towards the Highcliff with ears pricked with interest. “The new deputy of RockClan will be Redfox.”

Redfox stared off in silence as the Clan called out his name. Never had he thought that he would become deputy as well as a mentor. His new apprentice Dragonpaw was pushing at his haunches, trying to get him to move forward to say a few words, but his large paws were frozen to the ground. Finally, building up the courage inside him, Redfox padded forward and turned towards his silent Clanmates.

“It is a great honor to be given such a position in the Clan,” he mewed quietly. His voice rose as he continued. “As deputy of RockClan I will do my best to serve my Clan to the fullest and carry out any duties that I must. I wish to thank RockClan for accepting me into its ranks and I will not fail you.”

The Clan cheered once again, and then ended with calling out the names of the new warriors and apprentices. Icestar raised her tail for complete silence. When the Clan quieted enough, she said one more thing before closing the meeting.

“We are RockClan, and we will survive!”

Left behind with a choice, a ginger-gray-and-white she-cat curled up close to her fluffy, brown tabby mate. A gray tabby she-cat, who had stayed behind with her, slept in the very back with her own mate. A single brown-and-white dog slept close

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nearby, whimpering in his sleep. The she-cat sighed and prodded the dog with her paw, hoping to wake him from his nightmare.

He yipped quietly awake, his brown eyes wide with fear as he turned to the she-cat. “Vixenfrost, what was that for?” he grumbled with a snap of his short tail.

“You looked like you were having a bad dream,” she mewed. She still cared for the young male dog she had almost became mates with. There were days that she had wanted to clobber him with a limp mouse; that had all started when she had first chose Wolfheart as he mate when they had all been apprentices.

The dog breathed out a sigh. “It was more of a memory,” he corrected, sitting up and looking out the den entrance.

“It was about Belle again, wasn’t it, Snowfoot?” Vixenfrost asked carefully.Snowfoot sobbed and fell to the den floor in his mossy nest. “Yes,” he sniffed,

covering his eyes and muzzle with his big paws. “I can’t stop thinking about her.”She closed her eyes to think. She didn’t understand this feeling of loosing

someone; her mother did, but Opalflower was back in RockClan with her family. Vixenfrost took a breath and reached a paw over, placing it on Snowfoot’s head, her way of showing friendship and that she was there for him. She knew it was hard for Snowfoot to let go of the female terrier, Belle, which he mated with, and who had given birth to his pups Bellepup and Shortpup. It would take some time for this heart break to pass.

“She’ll always be with you,” she replied quietly. Snowfoot lifted his head, his nose gleaming wetly as always. Vixenfrost placed her paw on his chest. “In here; in your heart,” she finished.

He gave a slight grin before getting to his paws silently and leaving the den without another word. Vixenfrost wondered if she had said something wrong, but just rested her head on her paws once again and closed her eyes. Dawn wasn’t here yet; she still had time to sleep.

Moonlight gleamed on the white streaks on the chest and tail of a large golden tom. He stood among the waving grasses of the rouge territory bordered with BlogClan. He remembered the day he had left his old Clan, as well as the day that he watched from the savanna tree his family leave most likely to RockClan once more. He knew better than to reveal himself to any former Clanmate, hoping they believe he was dead and not a coward for running away from his mistakes.

As he got his paws, a cream-white she-cat watched closely, never taking her eyes of him as he bounded off into the night, the white on his fur moving like a comet in the night sky. She was left on guard of the Dusk Syndicate camp, as well as keeping an eye on the new comer that called himself Comet. She knew he wasn’t a loner like he told most of the cats that asked; she could smell the strong scent of BlogClan, as well as grief on top. Not many cats were brave enough to leave BlogClan and join the rouges, not since Shade’s rule became so similar to her father, Dark’s, former rule.

Comet ran from the camp, knowing that Shade had eyes watching him everywhere. It was nighttime so he figured he was safe near the border with BlogClan. He breathed in the familiar scent of his old Clan, his old home. He missed it greatly, but he could never go back. Cats hated him for the mistakes he had made, most of them believing he had been playing with the hearts of several she-cats. Finally, in the end, he had fallen in love with one she-cat, but he felt that she wasn’t completely happy with him. He ran from the Clan, disappearing one night without a trace, hoping someone would start a rumor that he was dead.

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The Clan must have believed it because Comet had been living in peace with the Dusk Syndicate for a few moons. He carefully watched from shadows and bushes when BlogClan cats patrolled the border regularly, watching to see his old love. He had heard from passing patrols that she had kits with another tom; one that Comet knew had felt heart broken when the she-cat chose him instead. Comet hoped they were happy together, having a trusting, unbreakable family.

There was only one day that Comet had almost been caught sighted at the border. He had been hunting, as usual, and hadn’t heard a small patrol coming his way at sunhigh. The only short notice warning was that of a familiar scent: his old mate. It was one thing he could never forget. It had only been too close when he dived for a bush as the she-cat said something about smelling a Dusk Syndicate cat and bursting over the rise where Comet could see her silver fur once more. She had grown since the last time four moons ago that he had seen her. There had been a slight smell of milk on her, and Comet knew then that it was true that she had had kits.

He sniffed around the border that kept him separated from his old home. It had been recently marked by his new Clanmates, if he could call them that. He was rouge now, not a Clank cat. The BlogClan border was on the other side of the river that stretched around the whole length of the Dusk Syndicate’s territory. A breeze blew the scents of the Clan over the river as it always did, and Comet felt sick after each time. He knew that he was home sick, but he would never go back. He left behind his friends and family, leaving them without a sign of his survival, just hoping he would be forgotten.

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Chapter 2Leader Icestar- black she-cat with gray patches and icy blue eyes

Apprentice- ForgottenpawDeputy Redfox- large long haired red-brown tabby tom with bright emerald green eyes

Apprentice- DragonpawHealer Opalflower- white she-cat with gray patches and crystal blue eyes

Apprentice- WinterpawWarriors (toms and she-cats without kits)Zapstripe- black, golden tabby, tom with gold eyesDestinyfern- golden-brown-and-gray she-cat with blue eyesNightwhisper- black she-cat with green eyes; Zapstripe’s mateApprentice- WillowpawBuzzfox- ginger-and-white tom with bright green eyes; Opalflower’s mateCreamfur- cream tom with blue-green eyesZeekstorm-small, gray, black tabby tom with blue eyes; once a kittypetLostsong- black she-cat with icy blue eyesApprentice- EmberpawLightningflash- black, golden striped, tom with green eyesDarkthorn- dark brown, almost black, she-cat with gold eyesShadowclaw- black, golden pawed, tom with green eyesSongbird- gray-and-white she-cat with icy blue eyesBravewish- gray-black-and-white tom with emerald green eyesSilvernight- black she-cat with silver eyesFrostsoul- white she-cat with icy blue eyes; Soulfrost’s sisterApprentice- SunpawWolfmoon- gray-and-brown tom with blue eyes; Goldendust’s brother; Cinnamonswirl’s mateGoldendust- golden-brown she-cat with gold eyes; Wolfmoon’s sisterMorningdapple- ginger she-cat with white back, paws and tail tip and green eyesFoxflare- red-brown she-cat with one green eye and one red blind eyeEmeraldnight- large brown tabby tom with emerald green eyes; Icestar’s mateEmeraldsoul- brown tabby tom with emerald green eyesBlacklight- black-and-white she-cat with green eyesTinyleg- short-legged, brown tabby tom with gold eyesDarkeyes- black she-cat with deep, icy blue eyesLilystreak- gray-and-white she-cat with amber eyesOrangewhisker- red-orange tom with white patchesLionroar- golden tom with amber eyesApprentice- Flamepaw

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Creamfur- cream tom with blue-green eyesFawnpelt- brown she-cat with white spotted back, cream belly and gold eyesBerryheart- pinkish she-cat with gray patches and icy blue eyesWitherstorm-gray tom with black paws Moonlight- pale gray she-cat with blue eyesTwisterpelt blue-gray-brown-and-white tom with gray patches and blue-green eyesLovefoot- white she-cat with pink paws and blue eyes; Orangewhisker’s motherFerretfrost- brown, white tabby she-cat with icy blue eyesCinnamonswirl- beautiful brown cat, with a white chest, paws, underbelly, and tail and brown eyesJewelflare- white she-cat with ginger paws and tail tip and blue eyesApprentices (kits more than six moons old; training to be warriors)Winterpaw- brown-and-white tabby she-cat with crystal blue eyesFlamepaw- golden she-cat with red streaks and blue eyesDragonpaw- golden tom bright green eyesEmberpaw- reddish-brown tabby with fiery red eyesForgottenpaw- dark gray she-cat with deep blue eyesWillowpaw- brown tabby she-cat with white patches and paws, and green eyes; Sunpaw’s sisterSunpaw- beautiful ginger-and-white she-cat with blue-green eyesQueens (she-cats expecting or nursing kits (cats’ less than six moons))Icewhisker- white she-cat with blue eyes; nursing SnowkitGalaxyshard- blue-white she-cat with deep blue eyes; expecting Bravewish’s kitsElders (retired toms and she-cats)Dappleflower- light gray she-cat with light green eyes and white dappled legsPinethorn- brown tabby tom with silver tipped fur and green eyes

Opalflower smiled as Redfox was already starting to organize patrols for the next day. She started when a small apprentice, a brown-and-white tabby she-cat, prodded her side with a paw. “Winterpaw, what are you doing out of your nest?” Opalflower asked in worry. This was her apprentice, only just joined the Clan after leaving her Twoleg home when she had heard stories of RockClan.

“I heard Icestar call a meeting and I wanted to see what was going on,” she rasped. Whitecough had thinned her features and her crystal blue eyes were crusty after being sick. Her nose was only just beginning to become wet and clear again after a half-moon of resting in her nest.

“I guess getting up now and then doesn’t hurt,” Opalflower sighed. She looked up when Icestar padded over. “You did a great job, sis.”

The black she-cat dipped her head with a purr. “Can I speak with you in my den?” she asked. Worry clouded her eyes, and Opalflower did not like that one bit. “Actually can you find Redfox as well? As deputy he has the right to hear this too.”

The white medicine cat nodded her head and watched as her sister sulked away. Something was definitely bothering her. She turned to Winterpaw, her words coming out in a rush. “Go back to the den and take some catmint; one leaf that’s all you should need. I’ll be back in a bit.” Without making sure the apprentice was going to do as she was told, Opalflower dashed across the camp and skidded to a halt beside Redfox.

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“Nightwhisper, I want you to take a sunhigh patrol over by the cliffs and then the StreamClan border tomorrow,” he ordered the black she-cat. “Take Zapstripe, Lostsong and Emberpaw with you, and everything should be good.”

She nodded and gave a smile to Opalflower. “Good day, sister,” she purred, trotting away to the warriors’ den where her mate lay.

Redfox turned to the RockClan medicine cat. “Is there something wrong?”Opalflower wondered how much she looked worry to make the tom think

something was wrong right away. “Icestar wishes to speak with us in her den right now,” she mewed simply.

Opalflower stormed away, her tail fanning out behind her as Redfox followed on swift paws. They climbed the stones to Highcliff, one behind the other. At the top, Opalflower called out a greeting at the den entrance of the leader’s den. She heard Icestar call from inside and ducked under the overhang of moss in front of the entrance. Redfox padded in after her, his tail staying level with the ground.

“Thank you for coming like I had asked,” Icestar mewed from her nest in the back of the den. Her icy blue eyes strayed away from her sister and deputy and flicked over to a shadowed gray tabby she-cat. “I’m sure you remember Halfwhisker, Opalflower.”

The whit she-cat narrowed her eyes and looked closer at the figure. She gasped as the shadowed cat turned her head and twitched a half set of whiskers. Her intense blue eyes seemed to go right through Opalflower as she stared at the medicine cat in laughter.

“You should see your face,” Halfwhisker chuckled.Opalflower shook her head and blinked her eyes in disbelief. “I just can’t

believe it… I mean Emeraldnight brought you back to BlogClan amp saying you peacefully died.”

The old she-cat spat angrily. “You thought you were rid of me, didn’t you?” she growled. “CometClan wanted me to stay with RockClan; share my knowledge with the newcomers.”

Redfox dipped his head to Halfwhisker. “We’re glad to have you,” he mewed.Icestar cleared her throat and caught their attention. “May we get back to

why you are here?” she asked impatiently. Redfox and Opalflower dipped their heads in respect while Halfwhisker snorted. “I have called you here because CometClan gave me a dream. The Clan, and possibly many others, are in danger.”

Opalflower shivered at the fear lacing her sister’s eyes. “What did they tell you?”

Icestar closed her eyes and let silence fill the cave. Opalflower caught sight of the spirit Foreverheart that filled Destinyfern’s body when she wished. Foreverheart nodded a greeting to both her and Redfox before waiting for Icestar to speak again.

“Through dark eyes you will find the Raven,” she started. Opening her eyes she added, “In the dream I was in our forest and a raven attacked me. I could hear a voice telling me that it was going to take the Clan for its own and that I couldn’t do anything to stop it.”

Foreverheart whisked down in front of Icestar. “Raven is an evil spirit living somewhere among us,” she growled.

“How can you be sure it is a spirit and not the bird?” Halfwhisker growled. Opalflower turned to the gray she-cat. “She’s half with CometClan you fool,”

she growled. Normally she was good hearted, but she didn’t to hear anyone talk that way about her ancestors. “I think she can easily interpret signs like these.”

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The spirit cat dipped her head in thanks. “Not only because I am part of CometClan do I know this,” she muttered, “but also because I have seen Raven myself. She was with us in BlogClan and is here now as well. She is conversing strongly with one of our cats; which one I cannot tell you.”

Icestar slapped a paw on the stone ground. “If you know, you must tell us!” she hissed.

Foreverheart was beginning to fade, disappearing back into Destinyfern, wherever the she-cat was. “Think about that first part of the prophecy very carefully: ‘Through dark eyes you will find Raven.’” With that last word, the spirit disappeared, leaving the air chilly with realization.

“Darkeyes,” Opalflower breathed. “Her name comes together in the prophecy. Raven is a spirit; maybe Darkeyes and Raven are like Destinyfern and Foreverheart!”

Fire burned in Icestar’s eyes. “Are you saying my daughter was born without a soul and is being taken over by an evil spirit?” the she-cat snarled at her sister. “I wouldn’t believe that if CometClan themselves told me.”

“But they have,” Halfwhisker growled, getting to her paws. “They have told you in the prophecy.”

“What other reason would Foreverheart show up at this moment,” Redfox pointed out. “She wanted us to connect her in the prophecy in a way to find who the danger could be.”

They all watched Icestar as she stared at the ground. “I won’t believe my daughter is evil,” she muttered half to herself. Lifting her head, icy blue eyes clouded in disbelief, she ordered, “I want you, Redfox and Opalflower, to warn the other Clans about this Raven. Not just the Clans below the cliff, StreamClan, WeatherClan, VolcanoClan and WoodClan; there’s a few others out there as well.”

“If you know where they are, and since you had the sign then why don’t you go yourself?” Opalflower hissed. “Why not make it even wait until the next Gathering?”

Icestar was taken aback by the harshness in her sister’s voice. “The Clan otherwise has no one to lead them. Also every Clan will feel more at peace with the medicine cat. It can’t wait until the full moon because this is a very serious issue.”

Redfox rested his tail tip on Opalflower’s shoulder. “Your leader has a point,” he mewed.

Opalflower sighed and asked, “Where are the other Clans?”“You must travel through VolcanoClan and NightClan territory in order to

reach LostClan,” Icestar explained. “You’ll know when you make it to their border when you see thick fog. I advise you to wait for daytime to go through their territory so you can see where you’re going.”

“And make sure you are in NightClan territory at night,” Halfwhisker added.Opalflower turned her head to look at the gray warrior. “Why is that?”“NightClan warriors only border and hunt at nighttime,” Icestar answered.

“Nightstar is very kind and will welcome you, but don’t stay too long. Loststar won’t be much different.”

“What about WoodClan and VolcanoClan?” Redfox asked with a twitch of his tail.

“And we can’t forget BlogClan,” Opalflower added.Icestar sighed. “Yes, yes, we’ll tell them as well, but first you must get to

LostClan. On the way you can tell VolcanoClan and NightClan if you see them,” she

15


decided. “I will send Destinyfern and Nightwhisper to WoodClan while you two are away. Actually, take Tinyleg with you as well.”

Opalflower was about to object that he was too new of a warrior to take with them, but Redfox just nodded and pushed Opalflower towards the den entrance. “Don’t argue your Clan leader, even if she’s your sister,” he growled quietly.

Waiting until Redfox was climbing down the stones back to the camp’s sandy ground, Opalflower whipped around and disappeared back into the den. Icestar and Halfwhisker were sharing quiet words before turning to Opalflower’s appearance.

“What is it, Opalflower?” Icestar asked calmly as any leader would address a warrior.

“Who’s going to watch over the medicine den and the sick or hurt cats if I’m gone?” she asked fearfully. “The Clan needs a medicine cat, and Winterpaw hasn’t trained long enough to hold that on her shoulders.”

“Foxflare can watch over the den and the Clan,” Icestar replied with a purr. “You know how she was born with that skill. She’ll be more than happy to take care of it.”

“Shall I speak with her myself?” Opalflower swallowed her fear of leaving the Clan in untrained paws, but she knew what Foxflare could do.

Icestar dipped her head. “It might be best,” she murmured.The white she-cat backed out of the den, the moss overhang sweeping over

her back. A light sprinkle was coming down and brought a chill to the air. Greenleaf was almost over was how Opalflower was depicting this change in weather. While she stood on Highcliff, she looked towards the forest. The few leaves at the very tops of the trees that had survived the volcano’s destruction were beginning to slowly change color day by day.

She leaped from stone to stone to the ground and then dashed to the nursery where Foxflare felt most comfortable. Opalflower understood that she wished to be away from the crowded warriors’ den until it was extended. The last extension had been burned away moons ago and the reconstruction of it was progressing very slowly when there were very few supplies that could be found in the forest.

Ducking under the low entrance way into the nursery, Opalflower made her way inside. It was dark and silent; the only sounds were that of the sleeping queens in the back. She smiled when she caught sight of Jewelflare, who had also decided to stay in the nursery. Icewhisker, the sister of Wolfmoon and Goldendust, could be seen by the rising and falling of her white pelt. Her son, Snowkit, slept soundly beside his mother, kicking lightly in his sleep. Finally her eyes settled on Foxflare in a lonely corner of the den.

Opalflower crawled towards the reddish she-cat with patchy fur and prodded the queen lightly with the tip of her paw. Foxflare snorted awake, but not before giving a warning hiss. “What is it?” she groaned, turning her head around so that her unblended green eye could bring Opalflower into view.

“Icestar is sending me on a journey with Redfox and Tinyleg and I need somebody to look after the medicine den and the Clan,” she started with a swish of her tail. “I was wondering if you could do that for me.”

Foxflare’s green eye sparkled with happiness. “I’d be more than happy to help,” she purred. “I’ll do my best to keep up Winterpaw’s training if you want me to.”

“I’d appreciate it,” Opalflower muttered. “Don’t let her out of camp though until all the signs of whitecough are gone.”

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“I won’t,” Foxflare promised, getting to her paws and giving the nervous medicine cat a lick on the cheek. “Don’t worry, everything will be fine. Lots of luck on your journey.”

As Opalflower dipped her head and backed out of the den, she added before leaving, “You can stay in my nest while I’m gone if you wish.”

Pulling out from the den, she caught a few last quiet words from Foxflare. “May CometClan bless your soul and bring you home safely.”

Chapter 3Volcanoclan

Leader Blazestar- ginger-and-brown tom with green eyesDeputy Ashflower- fluffy gray she-cat with amber eyesHealer Herbfox- ginger-and-cream she-cat with blue-green eyes; former Jungleclan healer

Apprentice- ShadefireWarriors (toms and she-cats without kits)Blacksky- black tom with white belly and green eyesFlameshore- ginger-and-golden tom with blue eyesCindercloud- gray-and-white she-cat with gold eyesApprentice- CloudpawRumblefoot- white tom with ginger paws and blue eyesLittlestone- small gray-and-brown she-cat with green eyesDustsnow- brown-and-white she-cat with amber eyesRedbomb- russet-brown tom with black paws and green eyesCraterfur- black tom with brown patches and amber eyesSandstone- sandy colored she-cat with green eyes

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Shalefur- dark gray, almost black, tom with blue eyes; Ashfall’s brotherApprentice- ShakepawGraniteshard- gray, black flecked, tom with brown patches and green eyesLimestone- light gray she-cat with light green eyes and white pawsChalkpelt- cream-white tom with blue eyes and white belly and muzzleMudripple- brown-and-blue-gray tom with gold eyesRipplemud- blue-gray-and-brown tom with green eyesCreviceplume- white-and-black tom with blue eyes; Ashsnow’s brotherSootcoal- blue-gray tom with dark gray paws and blue eyesApprentice- RupturepawSedgesplash- light brown she-cat with white patches and blue eyes; mother of Cragpaw and mate of RumblefootGritshower- gray-and-white she-cat with blue eyes and black muzzle and tail; Chalkpelt’s mateQuartzshine- light pink-and-white she-cat with blue eyesCragshock- light brown-and-white tom with green eyesRockrubble- brown-and-black tom with gold eyesBlazestorm- gray tom with amber eyesApprentice- PyropawStarclaw- light brown she-cat with white paws Cindershoal- dark gray she-cat with lighter gray belly and paws and blue eyesOpalfire- white she-cat with pale ginger patches and crystal blue eyes; Cindershoal’s sisterEmberlight- pale ginger she-cat with yellow eyesApprentice- EruptpawShardflame- white-and-ginger she-cat with blue eyes Apprentices (kits more than six moons old; training to be warriors)Shadefire- black-and-ginger she-cat with green eyes; medicine cat apprenticeRupturepaw- dark gray tom with cream belly and blue eyesPyropaw- bright ginger she-cat with blue eyesShakepaw- white-cream tom with gray patches and green eyesEruptpaw- black-and-ginger tom with amber eyesCloudpaw- light gray tom, patched with darker grays, with blue eyesQueens (she-cats expecting or nursing kits (cats’ less than six moons))Marbleflower- black tortoiseshell she-cat with bright amber eyes; Expecting Blazestar’s kitsDawnfire- cream-and-russet brown she-cat with amber eyes; Expecting Blacksky’s kitsElders (retired toms and she-cats)Lavathorn- gray-and-ginger she-cat with blue eyesMagmacoal- blue-gray-and-ginger tom with green eyes; former medicine catLavasoul- ginger-white-and-gray she-cat with blue eyes; former deputy

Icestar was waiting in the clearing of the camp beside Emeraldnight when Opalflower finally joined them. Redfox was exiting the warriors’ den with Tinyleg skipping excitedly behind. His short legs almost reminded Opalflower of Snowfoot when the young BlogClan dog had been just a pup.

“Remember that this will not be easy,” Icestar cautioned. “WeatherClan won’t be pleased to have you crossing their territory so be wary. The rest of the Clans are our allies as you go along.”

“We’ll be careful,” Redfox promised. “I’ll keep them both safe.”

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“Who says I need protecting?” Opalflower snorted. She had been a warrior much longer than Redfox, and before she became medicine cat. She knew moves that the young deputy had never seen only because she had learned them from BlogClan.

Icestar snapped her tail up for silence. “This is not a time to argue,” she growled, giving her sister a stern look. “I want you all to be on the lookout for a gorge in all the territories as well. I have found one running deep in our forest, and WoodClan says it runs through their territory as well. Mintstar told me that there’s a large clearing farther down the gorge on the other side of their territory, and we both agree it would be a great spot to have Gatherings with all the Clans. If there is any word or sight of any part of a gorge in the other territories, tell the leaders what I told you.”

“No problem,” Tinyleg purred to his mother. Icestar licked down a tuft of fur on her son’s brown tabby head. “Be safe of all

you and I pray that CometClan will watch over you.”

Leaving the camp behind was as hard as before for Opalflower. When they reached the top of the ravine, glancing over her shoulder and seeing her Clan safe and sound was the only comfort she could gather inside her before Redfox pushed her forward.

“You’re the only one that can get us to VolcanoClan,” the RockClan deputy reasoned.

Opalflower sighed and took the lead of the small group. She was surprised how well Tinyleg had mastered going down the steep slope of the ravine into the forest. His short legs had been proven stronger than what they appeared. Opalflower was also glad that Tinyleg was able to keep up with her and Redfox as she had them race down the clearing path toward the WeatherClan border. She only stopped once for them to catch their breath as she disappeared through the bushes to check on the Stream Pond. It was bubbling like normal again, but there was still a dangerous smell to it that made her whiskers curl with disgust.

“Remind me to tell Icestar to warn the Clan away from the Stream Pond,” she told both toms. “It still isn’t safe to be around just yet.”

The three RockClan cats continued on at a constant pace until Opalflower slowed them down as the border came into smelling distance. She peeked around a small mound of bushes that made the border line from the WoodClan fence border to the river. All was clear, and the scents told her that WeatherClan hadn’t been here since dawn.

Tinyleg scurried around on his short legs. He was filled with energy and was starting to get ahead of the others.

“Slow down!” Opalflower called. He turned and looked. "Oh...Sorry! I am just happy to be traveling so far for

something so important! I mean I thought with my legs I would be skipped over for a normal cat."

"Don't worry about your legs," she growled. "There have been blind cats in this world that others regret looking over. Your legs are an advantage for you, and a great asset to the Clan." Then Opalflower smiled in understanding. “Your mother sees you as normal as the rest of her Clan,” she pointed out. “She’s giving you a chance to prove to the Clan that you are just as normal as the rest of us.” Redfox nodded in agreement.

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Tinyleg’s eyes brightened, and he purred loudly, “Thank you both so much!” He turned to Redfox. “I hope I can be deputy just like you one day.”

The smell of prey wafted over her nose. “Until we get to VolcanoClan’s territory, there won’t be any more prey,” Opalflower told them. Her belly grumbled as she said this. “So if you’re hungry, hunt now. Remember to stay on this side of the border.”

Tinyleg and Redfox took off in different directions while Opalflower stayed on the clear path. The scent of mouse crossed the path and she began to follow it, disappearing into the bushes.

The bushes on the border, left unwatched, twitched and rustled as two cats brushed against them. They had been watching the RockClan cats, waiting to see if they would cross the border. Tropicstorm, a ginger-and-gray tom, a great enemy towards RockClan, had overheard Opalflower speaking of crossing WeatherClan territory.

He turned to a dark gray she-cat. “Darkice, whatever they try and pull, don’t let them cross,” he growled to the she-cat. The WeatherClan cat nodded her head and they waited at the border for the return of the RockClan cats.

Tinyleg and Opalflower returned back on the path, prey in their jaws. Redfox returned with a crow hanging stiffly from his teeth by the wing. The RockClan cats purred with delight, knowing that prey was finally returning to the territory once again.

The bushes rustled lightly and a dove flew from its depths. Opalflower pricked her ears. “Maybe we should cross closer to the river,” she mewed nervously.

“Why, when we’re already here?” Tinyleg mumbled with a full mouth.She took a bite of her prey and swallowed. “Something doesn’t feel right.”Redfox settled his tail tip on the medicine cat’s shoulder. “I know what you

mean,” he growled. “I think it’s because we have spies.” The reddish tom turned around and slashed at the bushes. A yowl followed and Tropicstorm and Darkice tumbled away, backwards onto their territory.

“I should’ve known,” Opalflower growled. She pulled back her lips in a snarl as she stared down at Tropicstorm through the bushes. She remembered this tom being one of many Clan cats to attack RockClan with PureClan among them. “What are you doing here?” she hissed.

“Making sure you don’t cross the border,” Tropicstorm snarled, leaping back to his paws and advancing the bushes once again. “RockClan shouldn’t even exist!”

“No thanks to you,” Opalflower spat. “What did we ever even do to WeatherClan to make you go to the rouges?”

The tom’s tail lashed out angrily. “That was my choice alone.”Darkice crouched low beside her Clanmate. “Stop wasting our time and go

back home!” she snarled, her blue eyes burning with fire.“We are on an important mission,” Redfox hissed. “You will let us pass.”“Isn’t that a lie?” Darkice snarled. “You’re here to launch an attack!”“How can three cats launch an attack?” Redfox hissed. “Let us pass!”Tinyleg was standing beside Opalflower, trying his best to keep his fur from

bristling. Tropicstorm looked over the small tom. “Look they brought a cowering apprentice with them,” he sneered.

Tinyleg looked down at his paws in embarrassment. Opalflower snarled and whirled on the tom, slashing her claws across his nose. Tropicstorm yowled and fell to the ground, paws holding his bleeding nose. “Don’t even think about speaking to my Clanmates that way again!” Opalflower spat hatefully.

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Tinyleg yowled, “Stop!!" When the cats looked at him, he calmly mewed, "We are not here to fight or cause trouble. We are on a mission that CometClan wanted us to do. We will honor your land and we will not take any prey. Just let us pass peacefully."

Darkice stared at him as she helped Tropicstorm to his paws. “What is going on here?” They all turned and looked to see a gray-and-white tom with blue eyes strutting forward. It was Weatherstar, the first and only leader of WeatherClan so far. His medicine cat Rainpetal padded up beside him with a stern look on her face. She nodded in greeting to Opalflower, and the white she-cat returned it.

“My Clanmates and I wish to cross the border to the Diamondstone,” Redfox growled to the leader. “Obviously your warriors forgot that medicine cats are allowed to cross peacefully for this travel.”

Weatherstar shook his head and sighed. “You may pass,” he mewed. Turning to his warriors, he added, “Never do I want to see you pull this again.” With a lash of his tail he snarled at Tropicstorm and Darkice to start heading back to camp with Rainpetal. “I’m sorry for the trouble they caused. Have a safe travel,” he said to Redfox before bounding away.

Opalflower breathed a sigh of relief; they had barely avoided battling WeatherClan. She took a tentative step over the border, keeping her eye on the tall ferns and bushes that surrounded the moorland cats’ camp. Redfox and Tinyleg followed along silently, never once complaining about the strong, chilly wind of the moorland; their adventure had finally begun.

Clouds began covering the sky as they traveled over the moorland. The wind calmed down to a slight breeze that ruffled the ears of the warriors, but nothing more. Opalflower found this unusual but didn’t complain.

Suddenly a brown tabby tom burst from the bushes in front of them, his green eyes wide. He skidded to a halt before Redfox while Opalflower sprang backwards with a hiss. The tom stared at the white she-cat as Tinyleg placed himself in front of the medicine cat; whatever happened he would protect one of the Clan’s most important cats.

The brown tabby gasped as Redfox and his stared at each other. Suddenly the toms sprang at each, but not in battle, but in a reunion. Opalflower walked over Tinyleg’s short body and padded up to them. “Redfox, who is this cat?” she hissed to the deputy.

The red-brown tom shook himself and stood up straight. “Opalflower and Tinyleg, this is my lost brother Rocktalon,” he explained. “I thought he was dead after the fire my parents were killed in. I believed he was with CometClan with them; but here he is.’”

Rocktalon bowed and turned to the unimpressed medicine cat. “Pleasure meeting you, love,” he purred. His voice was strange to her and Opalflower backed away with a hiss.

“I’m glad you found each other, but we really need to get going,” she growled. Tinyleg watched her, unsure of why she was suddenly angered. “Now, Rocktalon can either stay here, or come with us on the journey.”

Redfox looked to his brother, waiting for his answer. Rocktalon met the deputy’s eyes and shrugged. “Why not travel with you mates,” the tom mewed

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again in that strange voice. Opalflower snorted and lashed her tail for the others to follow.

Comet stalked down a mouse by the border, like he always did. There were no signs of BlogClan warriors on the other side, and the last time they had been at the border was at sunhigh. The scent line was marked at that time and their scent covered his own scent; the mouse wouldn’t know he was coming. He crouched down farther and slinked closer to the unsuspecting prey. With only a rabbit hop between him and his kill, he pounced and nipped the back of the neck of the mouse before lifting his head and looking over the border once more.

His eyes widened as a familiar silver pelt appeared over the rise. Her blue eyes spotted him as he started backing away, and soon she was at the border staring at Comet as if she had seen a ghost. “Cometstreak….” she breathed. “You’re alive!”

He started shaking my head and backing away. For so long Comet had done his best with keeping his life secret. All BlogClan warriors were meant to think he was dead, and now Moonflame had seen him. He knew it wouldn’t be long before the rest of BlogClan would know about his survival, about living with the Dusk Syndicate.

“Cometstreak where have you been?” she mewed. Her eyes were full of sadness and hurt. “Why did you leave?”

He opened his mouth to answer but nothing came out truthfully. “Life was getting too complicated for me to stay in BlogClan.”

Moonflame gaped at the golden tom with surprise. “I feel like it has nothing to do with the Clan… it was because of me wasn’t it? Why did you leave me?”

Comet felt terrible, seeing the pain and hurt in her eyes. He had caused this, and it felt like he was being torn apart from the inside out. “I felt like I was going to mess up again… that I would hurt you like before,” he breathed.

“You couldn’t have talked to me about it?” she hissed. He turned slightly as if he was about to leave and she caught sight of scars all over his pelt. A fresh one fell across his muzzle. She pulled back her lips in a snarl. “You’ve been going to the Dark Forest again, haven’t you? Why would you do that?”

Comet licked his shoulder that had recently healed. “I no longer follow StarClan now that I’m with the Syndicate.”

“Are you stupid?” she spat. She pressed forward, her toes at the very edge of the border. She flicked her eyes to where the scent line was and took a step back. “Just because you are no longer in BlogClan doesn’t mean you have to follow the Dark Forest.”

“I will do as I please, Moonflame,” he growled. “It seems like you’re just trying to get yourself killed.”Comet closed his eyes and turned his back on her. “I’m not there for myself,”

he mewed. “Your daughter, Mistypaw, she wishes to get out. I have promised to help her.”

Moonflame narrowed her eyes. She had known something was wrong with her daughter. “She is no concern of you,” she growled.

Comet sighed and cast a glanced over his shoulder. “Would you like to see her die there?”

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“No more than seeing you die there,” Moonflame sniffed. Before Comet could say anything, the silvery she-cat bounded away. The grass was torn where she had been, showing how upset she was.

Comet looked up to the sky, asking with his mind for guidance. Nothing but a gentle breeze answered him. His heart belonged to the Dark Forest, and his mind no longer believed in StarClan. With a heavy heart, the golden tom grabbed his fresh-kill and padded back to camp with his tail dragging on the ground.

Everything went peaceful as Opalflower led Redfox, Tinyleg, and Rocktalon past the sacred place of their ancestors. The Moonpond glistened in the sunlight and gently lapped at its edges. The Diamondstone, sitting on a sandy island in the middle of the shallow, clear water, never changed appearance, this only happening at night.

“When I found this place, it was a sight I never had seen before,” Opalflower told the toms.

Without stopping, they paced themselves carefully as the heat of the day began to climb. Through the trees that made the horizon of the sacred grounds of CometClan, Opalflower could smell the Thunderpath. Upon reaching it, all was quiet, but as soon as they came within a couple pawsteps of it, monsters roared past, shaking the ground, and blinding the cats with their light reflecting pelts. Tinyleg ran and hid behind the older warriors, his legs shaking in fear.

Opalflower looked up and down the Thunderpath. There was a brightly colored monster on its way. “We will move as one after this next monster,” the white she-cat told them. Redfox and Rocktalon nodded and Tinyleg met her eyes. He relaxed a little as the others got ready. As the monster sped past, Opalflower shouted, “Now!” They trampled over the hot, sticky path, making it safely to the middle as another monster sped past with swift speed behind them. Hearts beating wildly, the RockClan cats stepped on the grass on the other side.

“Take a rest on the other side of those rocks and bushes,” Opalflower panted, nodding her head to the shadowed area before them. The toms didn’t argue and leaped up the rocks and down on the other side of them where the VolcanoClan border would start. Opalflower waited until they were over before following after them. She skidded down into the long, cool grass and took a long relaxing breath.

Paws appeared in her sight as she looked at the ground and Tinyleg, Redfox and Rocktalon began growling in defense. Opalflower looked up and spotted Blazestorm of VolcanoClan. “We only wish to visit a short while and be on our way,” the medicine cat panted.

A fluffy gray she-cat, the deputy, pushed past Blazestorm. “You are welcome here anytime!” Ashflower purred. The toms relaxed and Opalflower purred. “Let’s get you all back to camp,” the deputy continued. “Blazestar will be so happy to see you all!”

They followed the same path Opalflower had found that trailed to the camp. It was pounded down with many paw prints now, showing that this was a main path that VolcanoClan seemed to use. Outside the camp, Pyropaw and Sootcoal stood on guard. Blazestorm nodded to his apprentice and pushed her behind Opalflower and took his apprentice’s spot on guard.

Pyropaw trotted beside the RockClan medicine cat. “It’s great to see you again!” the apprentice purred. Her head reached Opalflower’s chin now; she remembered when Pyropaw had been just up to her shoulders.

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“It’s great to see you too,” she chuckled. Ashflower halted them in the middle of the camp. Warriors stopped working to give greeting to the RockClan warriors and medicine cat.

Herbfox trotted from her den and touched noses with Opalflower. “Well met,” the VolcanoClan medicine cat purred. She had once been a JungleClan medicine cat, but her ginger-and-cream pelt always blended better with VolcanoClan. She had joined her new Clan when Flamestar started showing his true self and trained under the influence of Magmacoal, who was now a VolcanoClan elder.

A ginger-and-black she-cat joined her mentor. “Hello, Shadefire,” Opalflower greeted the medicine cat apprentice. The apprentice had been made into a full medicine cat before SpaceClan only the last half moon meeting of medicine cats. The apprentice only nodded as Blazestar pushed between the mentor and apprentice.

“Welcome, cats of RockClan,” Blazestar said. His eyes settle on Opalflower, the only familiar face he would recognize. “What brings you here?”

Opalflower looked to Redfox, hoping her eyes told him to let her handle this. The red-brown tabby nodded his head and the white medicine cat stood up. “We are on a long journey to NightClan and LostClan and only wish to spend the night her,” she explained. A black tortoiseshell she-cat, round with kits, smiled and pressed against the VolcanoClan leader. “Hello, Marbleflower,” she greeted the queen. This she-cat had been one of the very first Opalflower had met when she found VolcanoClan in the crater of the volcano many moons ago. She had traveled with Opalflower to this very place where the camp was. They had been occupanied by an apprentice that was killed in the very first eruption, and a warrior named Rockblast that now lived with PureClan.

Marbleflower dipped her head as Blazestar started speaking. She watched her mate proudly. “You are all welcome to stay here,” he decided. “Help yourselves to some prey, and whatever else. RockClan cats are always welcomed and looked up at.” With a dip of his head, he padded back to his den.

Redfox and Tinyleg both padded to the fresh-kill pile, their bellies rumbling. Marbleflower joined Herbfox, Shadefire and Opalflower where they had stood. Opalflower remembered being the first cat to step in this camp. The stone walls were pure gray, spotted with bushes and brambles growing out from ancient cracks in the stone. Caves lined the stone walls, the closest one to the entrance being Blazestar's. She spotted the nursery on in the farthest back corner of the camp between the medicine den and apprentices' den. That's where my kits were born, moons ago...

The sky rumbled quietly above, and they all knew that rain could be on the way. Dark clouds had been threatening all day to pour rain down on the cats, but all it ever gave were quiet rumbles of thunder.

“So when are your kits going to be born?” Opalflower asked Marbleflower.Herbfox sniffed the queen’s belly. “She’s got about a quarter moon to go,”

the ginger-and-cream she-cat answered. “Feels like two will be on the way.”“Congratulations,” Rocktalon mewed. Opalflower glanced in his direction, still

unsure about the tom that was Redfox’s brother. Redfox took that moment to appear beside Rocktalon, carrying three shrews. The deputy dropped one at his brother’s paws, and then placed one by Opalflower.

“Thank you.” Opalflower dipped her head and bit into the shrew. Tinyleg looked a little nervous with his pigeon he carried over to where his Clanmates ate. The medicine cat knew what was wrong. “VolcanoClan offered us a meal,” she told

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him. “Any Clan that is allied with visiting Clanmates does not expect them to turn that down.” The brown tom looked a little more relaxed as he tore into his fresh-kill.

Herbfox blinked and nodded in agreement. “When you are done with your meal, come to my den.” The ginger-and-cream medicine cat left across the camp’s clearing with a flick of her tail. Opalflower watched after her old friend; she knew there was something bothering the VolcanoClan medicine cat.

When Opalflower finished her shrew she let her Clanmates talk with the VolcanoClan cats. She padded across to the medicine den where Shadefire was sorting herbs. The apprentice dipped her head and moved sideways so Opalflower could enter the den. She followed the tunnel that led to the den of Herbfox, her paw steps echoing off the walls of the cave walls. Opalflower knew that the den was far below ground, and was much warmer than anywhere else; all the dens were, if they weren’t this just wouldn’t be VolcanoClan.

Upon reaching the den at the end of the tunnel, Opalflower could see the pacing shadow of Herbfox. She rounded the corner to see the VolcanoClan medicine cat pacing back and forth, mumbling to herself.

“What is bothering you?” Opalflower asked worriedly. Usually only bad signs and warnings from their ancestors bothered a medicine cat.

“SpaceClan is trying to warn me about something,” she growled, her voice coming out in short gasps. She was getting very worked up. “In my dreams I keep smelling blood, and then the smells of the jungle.”

“Could Flamestar have something to do with this?”Herbfox’s green eyes flicked over to Opalflower. “How could JungleClan be

involved when they live below the cliff border of your Clan?” The she-cat stopped in her tracks. “Keep watch on your borders, just in case.” Once again she started to pace, more rapidly.

“Did Gentlebreeze say anything at the last medicine Gathering?” Opalflower asked. The gray she-cat was the new JungleClan medicine cat since Herbfox had left. Gentlebreeze had much guidance from her ancestors, chosen thoughtfully by SpaceClan themselves. Herbfox liked the new medicine cat and even tried giving her some tips to healing, but never would she know the true Flamestar from when Herbfox had been JungleClan medicine cat.

Herbfox shook her shaggy head. “She said nothing,” she sighed. “Maybe it’s a warning for JungleClan…” Opalflower tried her best to calm

down her medicine cat friend. “Could it be possible that your old ancestors want your help?”

“But Gentlebreeze is their medicine cat now!”Opalflower rested her tail tip on Herbfox’s shoulders. “She’s not as

experienced either.”Being inside the medicine den Opalflower had this eerie feeling. “Well I’ll

leave you to relax,” she mumbled. With a wave of goodbye with their tails, Opalflower padded back out into the camp clearing. Redfox was speaking with Ashflower and Tinyleg had decided to take a nap in a patch of warm sunlight. Nothing seemed to be wrong, but Opalflower wasn’t about to take that chance.

The white medicine cat padded up to Redfox. “Can I talk with you outside the camp real quick?” she asked quietly. Ashflower looked around his shoulder but her twitching ears didn’t catch any words.

Redfox dipped his head before following Opalflower outside the camp. “What’s the matter?” He sat down with a huff before scratching behind his ear.

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Opalflower looked around to make sure no one was around. “I keep getting these bad feelings,” she mewed. “I feel like we should leave now and get to NightClan tonight.”

Redfox looked up in her eyes. “Are you sure we shouldn’t rest first?”Opalflower shook her head. “I follow my fears of something going wrong.”Together they agreed to leave and padded back into camp. Tinyleg was

having Pyropaw step a little ways back and was about to show the VolcanoClan apprentice one of his moves he created for his short legs. Tinyleg charged at Pyropaw, like he was aiming for her chest. At the last second he rolled to his side and slid under her. Quickly he got onto his back and battered at her belly while nipping each leg before sliding out from under her and standing a tail length behind her. Pyropaw was gasping for air as she got to her paws. When she turned to Tinyleg, she bounced with excitement.

“That was awesome!” she purred.Opalflower called from where she stood. “Blazestar, we’re leaving!” Tinyleg looked over to the medicine cat in confusion. “But we just got here!”

he complained. His paws hurt and he wanted to sleep for a while longer.The ginger tom poked his head out of his den before trotting over where

Tinyleg was joining Opalflower and Redfox. “That’s fine that you must leave,” he mewed, his deep voice rumbling. “May CometClan light your path.”

Pyropaw wriggled between Ashflower and Blazestar. She looked up at her leader. “May I go with them?” she pleaded, her green eyes large.

Blazestar purred and rested his tail tip on her head. “No young Pyropaw, you must finish your training here.” The small apprentice didn’t argue and sat down beside her leader and deputy.

Opalflower suppressed a smile and followed Redfox out of the camp. Tinyleg and Rocktalon brought up the rear. They were now on their way to NightClan, where they would find the actual stalkers of the night.

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Chapter 4Leader Nightstar- black tom with dark green eyesDeputy Galaxyeyes- blue-white tom with purple-blue eyesHealer Starrynight- black she-cat with light gray patches and light blue eyesWarriors (toms and she-cats without kits)Dustspace- brown-and-black tom with blue eyes; Shinewhisper’s mateApprentice- RainpawOwlscreech- fluffy gray tom with green eyesApprentice- GustpawFoxbark- ginger-and-brown tom with amber eyesCricketsong- cream-brown she-cat with blue eyesCoolbreeze- blue-white she-cat with gold eyesFrogcroak- dark gray tom with white paws and green eyesDarknight- black-and-gray she-cat with blue eyesBadgergrowl- white throated black tom with amber eyesBatscreech- jet black tom with gold eyesHawkwing- brown she-cat with white paws and amber eyesWindwhisper- gray-and-white she-cat with blue eyesApprentice- GrasspawShadowflight- brown-gray-and-black tom with gray eyesWolfhowl- gray-and-brown tom with gold eyesMossglow- silver she-cat with gold eyes

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Ravenshriek- pure black tom with amber eyesApprentice-ThunderpawSkunkhiss- black-and-white tom with blue eyesSnakewhisper- light brown tom with green eyes and twisted tailTreecreek- brown-and-gray tom with pale amber eyesApprentice- StarpawStreamripple- blue-white she-cat with amber eyesApprentices (kits more than six moons old; training to be warriors)Rainpaw- light gray she-cat with blue eyesGustpaw- dark gray she-cat with russet-brown patches and green eyesGrasspaw- light gray-and-black tom and green eyesThunderpaw- golden-brown tom with amber eyesStarpaw- white-and-gray she-cat with blue eyesQueens (she-cats expecting or nursing kits (cats’ less than six moons))Shinewhisper- white-gray she-cat with light blue eyes; nursing Dustspace’s kits: Galaxykit, Clusterkit and PlanetkitForgottennight- black she-cat; nursing Featherkit, Gingerkit and LittlekitElders (retired toms and she-cats)Whistlebreeze- silver she-cat with green eyes and darker pawsSnowsilence- cream-white she-cat with light blue eyesFrostgrass- blue-white she-cat with green eyes

The sky was growing dark as the RockClan warriors traveled west in VolcanoClan’s territory. Bird calls died down into the croaks of frogs and chirps of crickets as night fell upon the territories. Opalflower looked up and caught sight of the first star of Starpelt. A light breeze fluffed out her fur as the outlines of NightClan’s trees came into view.

Opalflower could smell the border up ahead; she couldn’t wait to get back home. “NightClan will most likely be out and about so if we cross the border we should run into them,” she mewed impatiently.

Redfox narrowed his eyes. “Shouldn’t we wait for a patrol to show up before crossing their border?”

The white she-cat sighed and then gave a slight chuckle. “After being medicine cat for so long, I forget that sometimes that rule does apply to us.” Redfox stopped at the border and gave a sniff. Opalflower caught his eyes and dipped her head. “We’ll wait,” she decided.

The wait was long. Tinyleg decided to curl up and take a nap and Redfox posted himself as a guard by the border. Opalflower looked up at the sky and looked for star patterns that her mentor in CometClan had taught her. Rocktalon stepped up beside her, his muzzle turned to the sky as well.

“I love sleeping under an open, starry sky,” he purred with a smile. He glanced at Opalflower with gold eyes.

“You aren’t alone,” she mewed. At this moment she didn’t seem to dislike the tom as much. A silver streak flew across the sky, and she opened her mouth in awe. It wasn’t often that she saw a falling star. She closed her eyes and made a small wish, wondering if the tales her mother once told her were true.

Rocktalon sighed. “That was a falling warrior,” he mewed. “My mother once said it always resembled a dying warrior forever finding peace.”

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Opalflower found a new respect inside for the loner. “Was your mother and father warriors?” she asked.

"Yes, my mother was a warrior of SnowClan while my father was a StreamClan warrior. Long story short they fell in love left their clans and had us then died...." Rocktalon said putting his head down along with Redfox.

"I'm sorry to hear that... what were their names?" she asked. She always wanted to know who cats were just in case she met them in her dreams. "What did they look like?"

There wasn’t a moment of thinking before Redfox answered. "Our mother was Redsnow, a pure white she cat with red ears and tail tip."

Rocktalon spoke up."Our father was Riverclaw, a brown tabby with a white chest."

Redfox spoke next."Our other brother and sister didn’t make it either."Opalflower held back a gasp. She knew what it felt like to lose most of her

family, but she didn’t have her siblings she wouldn’t be living herself. “I won’t even ask what happened…”

Redfox signed. "We were living in an abandoned Twoleg nest when it caught fire. I had got out but everyone else didn’t." Redfox spoke looking away. "That’s why the top part of my ear is gone. It got burned and after awhile I kind of scratched at it."

“I’m so sorry that had happened to you both,” Opalflower sighed. Tinyleg gave a small snore from where he slept.

"It’s alright. Things happen and you got to just keep moving forward," Rocktalon mewed.

Redfox nodded. "Just like dad would say."Opalflower smiled, remembering her parents. At least they didn't leave their

mother thinking they hated her.... Ever since Opalflower had found out the lie of her blood line, she had always ignored her mother. She never even said she had forgiven her when PureClan had killed both her parents.

Redfox turned away and looked across the border. Tinyleg woke up when his belly rumbled so loud that Opalflower had heard it. She knew that he hadn’t eaten the mouse she had seen him with. “It’s your own fault you didn’t eat,” she mewed sternly to the tom. “Stay on this side of the border and find something small while we wait.”

Tinyleg got to his tired paws and sniffed around a low lying shrub. Almost instantly he had pounced on a small shrew. He swiped his tongue over his whiskers and gobbled the fresh-kill down to the bone. He stifled a small burp when he finished, and then buried the remains.

They all sat beside the border silently waiting for some NightClan cat to show. Opalflower jumped to her paws when her ears picked up small movements in the dark woods. Suddenly amber eyes flashed and then disappeared from beside a bush. She narrowed her eyes, trying to depict any outline of a cat.

“Who are you and why are you here?” Opalflower almost toppled over when a black she-cat appeared in front of her face.

The white she-cat got back to her paws and faced the black cat. “My name is Opalflower, medicine cat of RockClan, and these are Redfox, Rocktalon and Tinyleg. We come in peace; I just wish to speak with you.”

The amber eyes appeared close to her. “I am Nightstar, leader of NightClan,” the black she-cat mewed. “You may cross the border.”

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Opalflower led the way across the border and joined Nightstar and the other couple cats that made up the border patrol. While the NightClan cats marked the border, Opalflower padded up to Nightstar.

“Has your medicine cat by any chance had any dreams of a raven recently?” she asked, only hoping that there had been no signs.

Nightstar bristled a bit. "Yes she has. Why do you ask?"Opalflower bristled in fear as well. “Only because RockClan and VolcanoClan

has had it as well.” The reason why she left in such a hurry from VolcanoClan was because she had heard Herbfox mumbling about a raven. It wasn’t just the jungle and blood she had smelled in her dreams, but the sight of a raven as well.

Nightstar looked worried. "Follow me to my camp then we shall talk more." Nightstar turned and led them through the territory to bushes surrounding a towering pine tree. Inside the cats would see nothing but fresh-kill and few cats, mainly queens and kits with elders. Opalflower tried her best to remain calm as they entered the camp, eyes following them as they went. None of the RockClan warriors with her had been in NightClan’s camp before, but neither had she.

Tinyleg glanced around, looking confused. Nightstar purred. "Do not worry; there is more to our camp than meets the eye.” She turned to Opalflower with her amber eyes growing very serious. “Now, about what you said at the border what do you have in mind?"

The white she-cat turned her blue eyes on Nightstar. “I keep wondering that if only certain Clans are having this dream of the raven,” she mewed. “If there are only a few, it means we are all in danger of what this dream means.”

Redfox padded forward. “So maybe we should all join forces, so to speak.”“It could be the only thing we can do,” Opalflower sighed. Fourteen will divide

into two. The thought kept running through her mind. There were fourteen Clans in all, and that meant that they all would divide into two separate groups and face each other.

Nightstar seemed ready for this possible allegiance. “I agree with you,” she mewed. “Now if you would like you may all stay the night and rest and fill your bellies.”

Opalflower and Redfox dipped their heads. “Thank you,” they purred. They turned to Rocktalon and Tinyleg; they both needed sleep more than anything.

Nightstar turned her back. “If you need anything, speak with Starrynight,” she replied with a swish of her black tail. “I will be out hunting for a bit.” The black she-cat bounded away and instantly her pelt blended with the black forest.

A silver-and-black she-cat with pale blue eyes and gray swirls padded up. She carried dock leaves in her jaws. "Good day, Opalflower," the she-cat purred.

The white medicine cat smiled. "Nicely met, Starrynight." The NightClan medicine cat dropped the dock leaves at her paws. "Brought

these in case you needed them for your sore paws."Opalflower dipped her head, and Tinyleg sighed from beside her. “Thank you,

Starrynight,” she purred. As the NightClan medicine cat stationed herself beside the fresh-kill pile, Opalflower chewed the dock leaves into a juicy pulp. She called the others to her. “Rub some of the dock pulp on your pads and let the juices soak in,” she explained. She rubbed some on her paw for a demonstration. “Your paws should feel really good after tonight that way.”

Redfox and Rocktalon took their time in applying a good amount on their pads. Tinyleg sat behind Opalflower, his head bowed and slowly drifting off into sleep. A purr startled him awake as Nightstar returned from her hunt. “You all are

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welcome to sleep in the warriors’ den,” she mewed from behind a squirrel. Her belly bulged out as she and her patrol placed more fresh-kill on the well stocked pile.

“Thank you, Nightstar,” Redfox and Opalflower purred together. “Also feel free to take some prey,” the black leader added before

disappearing in her den.Tinyleg instantly took that offer and pulled Nightstar’s squirrel off the top of

the pile. He started devouring it right away. I carefully took two voles from the pile and gave one to Starrynight. It was nice to eat with a friend from a different Clan.

"So, have you got an apprentice yet?' Starrynight asked Opalflower. The white she-cat looked up from her vole and nodded. "Just got Winterpaw

apprenticed to me a few days ago. She's eager to learn and she has that young spirit."

After they ate their meals, the RockClan cats began to doze off into sleep and Starrynight returned to the medicine den. Redfox sat up straight, watching the stars through the clearing in the trees. Tinyleg twitched now and then in his sleep. Opalflower’s mind wandered back to home while she tried to sleep. How was Foxflare faring with the medicine den? Thinking farther than home, she wondered if Vixenfrost had had her second litter of kits. She had been keeping in touch with Dawnmist, the medicine cat of BlogClan, now and then just checking up on the others that had been part of the RockClan group but had wished to stay behind.

Tinyleg jolted awake and looked around. Dead trees and bones surrounded the grounds at which Tinyleg stood upon. A large gorge where a river once flowed was dry of all water. He scurried through into the remains of a camp and was taken aback by the sight. His clanmates were either dead, starving, or cowering. A raven flew over head turning everything dark. All he saw were dark blue eyes. He jolted awake and looked around, breathing hard. He shook his head and stood on stiff legs. The sun was rising. He padded to Opalflower and nudged her "Its dawn."

Opalflower lifted her head with a large yawn. “Already?” she sniffed. Tinyleg nodded stiffly, looking uneasy. Opalflower narrowed her eyes at the

young warrior, but as she was about to ask what was wrong the brown tabby walked off. She shook her head and checked on Rocktalon and Redfox. The RockClan deputy was still up, his ear pricked high.

“You didn’t sleep, did you?” she sighed with a curl of her tail.The red tabby shook his head. “I was too awake to sleep,” he grumbled.

Rocktalon stirred behind him and sat up. “Are you all ready to go?” Redfox asked.Tinyleg nodded his head, paws working on the ground. Rocktalon answered

with a yawn. “We better get to LostClan today then,” Opalflower mewed. She turned towards the leaders’ den. “Nightstar, we’re leaving!?” she called out.

Starrynight exited her den with a wave of her tail. “I’ll see you at the next half-moon,” she purred.

Nightstar appeared behind her medicine cat. “Good luck my friends,” she mewed. “May CometClan watch over you.”

“Thank you and may they watch over you as well,” Opalflower replied as Tinyleg took the lead and started to head out of camp. As they left, Opalflower looked around the forest. “At least we aren’t walking around in the dark,” she sighed.

Leader : Winterstar- white she-cat with gray patches on her back and blue eyes Deputy : Grassclaw- gray tom with brown-and-white paws, brown chest and brown eyes

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Medicine Cat: Whitewhisper- gray she-cat with white patches and green eyes Warriors (toms and she-cats that protect and defend the Clan)Echostream- stone-gray she-cat with black-and-white fur with yellow eyes, bright white, quick paws, yellow eyes, and tabby markings and black stripe along her back Darkshadow- brown-and-gray tom with blue eyesDarkpool- light brown she-cat with dark gray eyesGemsoul- brown-and-white she-cat with bright amber eyes; Whitewhisper's sisterBriarclaw- handsome red-brown tom with green eyes; Darkpool’s mateMinkclaw- light brown tabby tom with cream belly and chestWinterpool- blue-white she-cat with icy blue eyesQueens (she-cats expecting or nursing kits)Diamondflake- black-and-white she-cat with blue eyes; nursing Spottedkit (white, brown spotted tom with green eyes) Petalfur- gray she-cat with sparkling blue-green eyes; nursing Grassclaw's kits: Snowkit (white she-cat and brown eyes), Rainkit (gray she-cat with two twisted paws and blue eyes), and Thornkit (ginger, brown striped, tom) Elders

Deep inside the warmth of a cave slept the queens of SnowClan. A small white she-kit hopped around inside, keeping the two queens inside awake. She was the only kit in the nursery at the time, but there were more on the way. Petalfur would be expecting any day now and Spottedkit was excited to get new playmates.

Diamondflake, the brown spotted kit’s mother, hissed in annoyance. “You better settle down.”

“Oh, leave her be,” Petalfur chuckled. She felt the kits in her stomach kick a little and then her belly rumbled. “I’ already awake so it’s not a big deal.” She got to her heavy paws and padded to the fresh-kill pile in the middle of the cave camp. Warriors slept soundly in their hollows on the west side of the den while the apprentices slept in hollows on the east side of the cave. She picked out her mate, the SnowClan deputy, sleeping in his hollow. She smiled and then pulled out a plump rabbit from the pile and carried it back to the nursery.

Back inside the nursery she ate her rabbit and then settled down with her full belly. Suddenly they kits started kicking again. She tensed as her whole body starting rippling with pain. “The kits are coming!!” she yowled.

A gray she-cat patched with white was already hauling in herbs before Diamondflake had time to fetch the medicine cat. “Don’t worry, I’m here to help,” Whitewhisper mewed. Diamondflake’s black-and-white pelt relaxed as the medicine cat started her work.

Petalfur looked at Whitewhisper and then yowled in pain. As she yowled the medicine cat shoved a stick in the queen’s mouth; Whitewhisper wasn’t the gentlest of medicine cats as queens came to find out. “That stick is meant to bite down on,” she growled as Petalfur was about to spit it out. The stick instantly cracked and splintered as a spasm rippled over the queen’s body. “Here comes the first kit,” Whitewhisper warned. Spottedkit looked over her mother’s stomach at what was happening.

Grassclaw had woken from his deep sleep when he heard his mate’s yowl and rushed into the nursery. He pushed past the medicine cat and licked Petalfur’s cheek. “You’ll be alright,” he murmured. Whitewhisper pulled him aside and waited for the first kit. Petalfur’s stick splintered more as she pushed the first kit out. It was

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a small pure white she-kit. Whitewhisper nipped the kitting sac and rubbed the kit’s fur the wrong way before setting her down at her mother’s stomach.

Grassclaw buried his nose under his paws; he couldn’t stand seeing his mate in so much pain. Petalfur strained to look at her little kit but was too tired already to lift her head very far. She yowled as another spasm hit her and a small gray she-kit slithered out on the moss. Whitewhisper didn’t take any notice at the two twisted paws she had and livened the kit up before putting her with her sister.

“One more,” the medicine cat mewed to Petalfur. Sure enough only one last spasm hit the queen and left her panting. Whitewhisper finished warming up the ginger, brown striped tom-kit and put him with the others. Afterwards she pulled some borage from her herb stack and had Petalfur swallow it. “The borage will help your milk come for them,” she explained.

Petalfur swallowed the herb and then looked at her kits. They were all small, but the gray she-kit was the smallest. She looked more closely and saw that one back paw and one front paw were twisted awkwardly. Whitewhisper watched the queen carefully.

“They’re all very healthy and strong,” the medicine cat told Petalfur. She smiled when the queen licked the gray kit’s head. She would love all her kits the same, whether they had twisted paws or not.

Grassclaw unburied his face and padded proudly to his mate. His face held pride as his eyes traveled over the kits until they rested on the gray kit. He frowned. “What’s wrong with her?” he growled. He tapped his paw on the kits petite head and already a small red spot formed. “She’ll obviously be a burden to the Clan.”

Petalfur stared at the deputy in surprise and hurt. Whitewhisper butted in. “She’s the smallest and will take some time for her to be just as strong as the others,” she growled to Grassclaw. Turning to the queen, she added, “Don’t let her prey rough with the others for now.” Leaving the parents and kits, she left the nursery with doubts.

Grassclaw glared hatefully at the kit. “You need to kill her,” he growled.Diamondflake leaped to her paws with a hiss. “Just because she isn’t perfect

for your taste doesn’t mean she has to die!” she snarled. Spottedkit rolled from her mother’s side in fear from her sudden anger.

Grassclaw snorted and snapped his muzzle forward and grabbed the little kit. She let out a squeak and flailed her paws at the air. Petalfur leaped up after shaking her other kits from her and weakly bit Grassclaw’s leg to make him let go of the kit. “Get out, you worthless piece of foxdung!” she hissed. “You’re not they’re father!”

Grassclaw snarled at Diamondflake. "She's worthless for SnowClan," he said simply. "She is not my daughter." He hissed to his mate, “Then you are not my mate." Petalfur sobbed. As Grassclaw turned to leave he kicked some pine needles and dust in the kit's eyes. The tiny she-kit sneezed and blinked and then buried her head in her mother's fur. Petalfur collapsed in her nest and pulled her kits close to her.

Diamondflake hissed and snarled, and then crouched down beside Petalfur. "Don't listen to him," she whispered. "You kits are wonderful and perfect."

She looked up with blue eyes filled with pain. "I know they are. That’s why I had to let him go. If he can't accept that, then I don’t need him." Petalfur watched the gray kit stumble over her paws while the other kits were walking perfectly. She let out a paw to help the kit to her paws, but it was useless.

Whitewhisper padded back in. “Her bones in her paws might straighten as she grows,” she mewed hopefully. She rolled some juniper berries to the queen.

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“You’ll need your strength,” she said simply. Petalfur licked up the two berries and relaxed in her nest.

“What will you name them?” Spottedkit asked with a bounce. She was still small even though she was two moons old already. Her mother believed that Spottedkit wouldn’t be much bigger than a four moon old kit when she became an apprentice, but only Diamondflake knew the real reason to that.

“Snowkit for the white she-kit, Thornkit for the tom, and Rainkit for the little gray she-kit,” Petalfur answered quietly.

Rainkit stumbled over to Spottedkit. “Hi,” she squeaked.Spottedkit dipped his head to the side, trying to see why she was walking

funny. “What’s wrong with you?” she asked. Diamondflake hissed at the rudeness of her kit and pulled Spottedkit away with a scold.

Grassclaw snarled away from the nursery and stomped to Winterstar’s den, the very back cave that held many divots of water. When SpaceClan spoke with Winterstar, each puddle would ripple and a cat would appear over each. Spiked rocks covered the ceiling and dotted the floor. In the center of the cave was a smaller one where Winterstar had her nest. Grassclaw ducked his head down as he entered the low entranced cave.

The white leader was relaxing peacefully in her nest in the center of the cave. "Winterstar!" Grassclaw hissed. "I need to speak with you." Grassclaw padded up to the leader. "Petalfur had a kit that is a runt," he started. "That she-kit needs to die."

Winterstar bristled in anger "You want to kill a kit because it is small? I will not have it! If anything befalls that kit you will regret it, deputy or not!" Winterstar snarled. "Now go be useful!"

"Fine," he hissed. "Have it your way. That kit will be dead by the end of this moon." He snarled and left.

Whitewhisper padded into the den. She had taken Rainkit to the medicine den and left her there sleeping on poppy seeds. "Winterstar, the kit has to go to a safer Clan, maybe a low profile one... Rainkit is not safe here."

“Are you sure about this?” Winterstar asked, her blue eyes filling up with sadness.

“SpaceClan just shared a sign with me that the kit would be killed if she isn’t hidden.” Whitewhisper’s fur bristled at the thought of seeing the kit dead in a vision under the paws of a Dark Forest cat Grassclaw knew.

Winterstar stood up quickly. "I must take her now. Tell the Clan I went to speak with Jewelstar." Winterstar rushed out of the den, and snuck into the medicine den. She found the kit sleeping soundly in Whitewhisper’s nest. She picked Rainkit up gently and looked to see if anyone was watching her. All the warriors were either hunting or patrol the borders. She took this silence a chance to escape before Petalfur would notice what was happening.

Whitewhisper watched her leader leave with Rainkit. “May SpaceClan light you path where ever you may go,” she breathed before heading back to her den. The medicine cave connects from the leader's cave and the nursery. At the center most point of the tunnel between the caves, another tunnel widened into another cave where hollows were set aside for sick and hurt cats. Another hole from there led to the sleeping quarters of the medicine cat. Though Whitewhisper had her own place to speak with SpaceClan, she still makes it to the medicine Gatherings on the half-moon at the Diamondstone.

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Petalfur burst into the den, anger buzzing from her pelt. “Where’s Rainkit?” she hissed. Already the queen knew something was up.

Whitewhisper shook her head and shrugged. "I went to find some herbs really quick outside the camp's entrance. She was sleeping when I left, but she was gone when I came back." She never once turned to look at the queen.

The queen padded nose-to-nose with the cat. "You’re lying," she hissed, "Winterstar stole her, didn't she?" She growled, "Don't bother lying, I know better than that." When Whitewhisper didn’t answer as she continued sorting through herbs, she snarled, “Where is Winterstar taking my daughter?”

"Petalfur, I promise you Winterstar has nothing to do with this," Whitewhisper mewed. "She was leaving camp as I came in, and she had no kit with her."

Petalfur bristled. “I saw her leave with my kit, how could you not?!” She hissed and her claws unsheathed. “Never before had I seen a medicine cat lie!”

“My lying is for the safety of Rainkit!” she snapped.“Winterstar is taking her to LostClan, isn’t she?” Petalfur growled. “Tell me!”Whitewhisper stretched on her paws and made herself look taller. “Petalfur, I

suggest you calm down instantly!” she hissed. “We are only doing what is best for Rainkit. You know what would have happened to her if she had stayed?” Petalfur didn’t answer. “She would have died! SpaceClan showed me what would have happened!”

“I don’t care what you’re trying to do, she’s my daughter and she would have been fine!” Petalfur paced with bristling fur. “Now where is she?”

Whitewhisper sighed. “Not even I know where Winterstar was taking her,” she replied truthfully. “Somewhere Rainkit would never be found by SnowClan.”

“I’m going to find my kit and stay live with her,” she hissed.Whitewhisper flashed past and blocked her way out. “You have nothing to do

with her future, Petalfur,” she mewed gently. “SpaceClan showed me that Rainkit will be happy and will never know about everything that has happened.”

“Don’t tell me what I can and cannot do!” she snapped, baring her teeth. “Now let me through!” She tried barreling past the medicine cat and then stopped when Grassclaw blocked the entrance behind Whitewhisper.

“Just let her go,” he growled. That weakling will die. If she goes, it’ll be better for the Clan, he thought.

Whitewhisper glared at Grassclaw and rounded on him. "You are the cause of all this!" she hissed. "If you had loved that kit like the others none of this would have happened!"

“I got what I wanted all along,” he snickered. Petalfur pushed past the arguing deputy and medicine cat and disappeared into the nursery. She grabbed her kits and then headed for the cave entrance.

The argument taking place in the medicine den could be heard all throughout the camp. “You are a horrible excuse for a deputy, father and a cat!” Whitewhisper mewed angrily.

He shrugged. "I'm over it." He watched his used-to-be mate leave and called, "Have a safe trip! Send me a leaf when Rainkit's dead!"

Whitewhisper knew this was against the code but she had it with this tom and pinned him under her. "I am having Winterstar take you off deputyship!"

"You do that little lady," he meowed; he kicked her off him, and pinned her down. "I've lost everything. You can't hurt me."

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Whitewhisper hissed in his face. "You lost everything because of who you are!" she spat. "It's all because of you..." She saw her sister Gemsoul and watched as she reared up above Grassclaw with a yowl.

Grassclaw hissed at Gemsoul. "Get off me you filthy dung!" He kicked her in the stomach as hard as he could.

Darkshadow bit the deputy's paw and threw him to the ground. "Stop this nonsense!" he hissed. "Grassclaw, as soon as Winterstar returns, you will be more or less banished." Gemsoul helped up her sister and hissed in the deputy’s face.

"She attacked me!" he hissed. "I defended myself.""You have made one of our cats leave because of your biased ways,

Grassclaw," Darkshadow growled. "All over a kit that is yours by blood." Darkshadow looked at Whitewhisper. "She had every right to attack you because of how you are."

The medicine cat sighed. "I did it because he was going to be the reason why the kit eventually died."

Running through the cave, the others could hear Diamondflake taking off for the entrance and calling after Petalfur. "Come back!" she cried.

Petalfur hissed in the queen’s face. "Leave me alone, you’re just like Winterstar." Thornkit and Snowkit hadn’t a clue to what was going on and watched in fear.

Diamondflake looked taken aback. “I had nothing to do with this!” she hissed. “Petalfur, you go out there you will be sending you and your kits to your deaths!”

“At least it’ll be better than having to deal with all of you!” she cried. Diamondflake watched her leave in hurt. Petalfur had been her best friend since they had moved into the nursery together. With her head down and her tail trailing over the ground, she headed back to the lonely nursery where Spottedkit waited for answers that her mother would never give her.

Chapter 5

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LostClanLeader Loststar- gray-and-black she-cat with white paws, tail, and ears, and blue eyesDeputy Opalsoul- white she-cat with clear blue eyesHealer Willowwhisker- gray-and-white she-cat with green eyesWarriors (toms and she-cats without kits)Silentbreeze- white-gray she-cat with blue eyes; Loststar’s daughterPeaceheart- pink-white she-cat with baby blue eyesApprentice-WhisperpawWhisppelt- black, white patched, she-cat with amber eyesMysticheart- brown-and-golden she-cat with green eyesLoneshadow- golden-and-black she-cat with blue eyesApprentice- SilencepawSpirtiheart- golden-and-white tom with blue eyesApprentice- FogpawFlightfang- gray tom with amber eyes and white muzzleApprentice- MistpawBlurrystreak- white-gray she-cat with light blue eyesAngelsoul- gray-and-golden she-cat with green eyesFlurrysnow- gray-and-white she-cat with gold eyes; Willowwhisker’s sisterWeatherclaw- brown-and-white tom with blue eyesShadeheart- black tom with white paws and amber eyesForgottenlove- blue-gray-and-white she-cat with green eyesFadingshore- gray-and-golden tom with amber eyesFallenears- white tom with folded ears and green eyesLarchhaven- cream she-cat with green eyes; Fearnight’s motherBrightstalk- ginger-and-white she-cat with gold eyesWirefur- dark cream-yellow tom with blue eyes and wiry furWanderingpath: dark grey and black tabby tom with yellow eyes Blackstorm: black and gray tom Screewhisker- dark gray tom with amber eyesApprentices (kits more than six moons old; training to be warriors)Mistpaw- gray-white she-catFogpaw- light gray tom; Mistpaw’s brotherSilencepaw- brown-and-white she-catWhisperpaw- black tom with gray paws and green eyesQueens (she-cats expecting or nursing kits (cats’ less than six moons))Snowywood- brown-and-white she-cat with green eyes; Expecting Spiritheart’s kitsLustheart- golden queen with blue eyes; Nursing Flightfang’s kit: Lovekit (Lovemist)Stonepetal- blue-gray she-cat with green eyes; Expecting Screewhisker’s kitsElders (retired toms and she-cats)Heavensoul- golden-and-white she-cat with blue eyesDestinyclaw- gray, black-and-white she-cat with green eyesOmentooth- bad tempered, gray she-cat with pink-white eyesJadeflower- brown-and-gray she-cat with green eyesTabbyclaw- brown tabby tom with green eyesHopewing- ginger, golden-and-white she-cat with purple eyes

A thick mist started to curl over the forest. The ground was beginning to get moist under paw and any sounds traveled around the trees in a long, continuous

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echo. It had a chilly, eerie feeling and many scents were being covered up by the mist.

Tinyleg lifted his nose to the air, water droplets forming on his pelt as they traveled farther into the mist. “What is that smell?” he asked.

“That is LostClan you smell,” Opalflower mewed. She knew that they had crossed the LostClan border as soon as the mist had started. She kept wondering if they would ever find LostClan’s camp in this fog.

“So we finally reach LostClan?” he purred questionably. “I believe so.” Opalflower tried taking in her surroundings. Everything looked

the same; dead trees and fog, leaves under paw and cloudy skies overhead.A loud mew sounded from the mist, echoing through the forest. "State your

names and business!" Out of the mist stepped a long legged gray-white she-cat with striking blue eyes.

Redfox stood in front of the group. "We wish to speak with LostClan. We are Redfox and Opalflower, the deputy and medicine cat of RockClan, and two warriors named Rocktalon and Tinyleg." Opalflower stepped up beside the deputy and beckoned for Tinyleg to come closer to her. The brown tabby didn’t argue and moved a little ways behind her.

The gray-white she-cat watched them closely. “I am Loststar, leader of LostClan,” she mewed more quietly. “You may come with me to my camp.” She turned and waited until they all started to follow before walking ahead of the group.

Opalflower trotted up to Loststar’s side. "Loststar, my name is Opalflower, and I was wondering... have any strange dreams been told of in your camp?”

“There has been one about a raven,” she mewed. “Why do you ask?”“That dream is the reason why we’re here,” Redfox growled from behind.Loststar looked at them, confused. Opalflower sighed and explained, “So far

many of the Clan have been having the dream about the raven and devastation to follow it. I am starting to believe that any Clan to have this dream are the ones in the most danger.”

Loststar’s pelt bristled. “And what can we do about it?”Opalflower side stepped from the leader slightly. “Icestar believes that if the

danger is going to be as great as everyone is starting to think, that maybe we could combine and help each other until this threat has passed. Many cats are going to die if we do not.”

Loststar nodded. "We shall join you. I would like you to stay in our camp for a few days; just to get to know you and see if any more information appears while you are here.”

“We’d be honored,” Redfox mewed. “Thank you, Loststar,” Opalflower added.They carried on walking for what felt like a moon until they arrived in the

middle of a clearing where a few cats were working on dens or brining in fresh-kill. They had made it to the LostClan camp at last. Mist still curled over the ground and around the paws of any cat.

“Does this mist ever go away?” Opalflower asked. Her legs were drenched and her pelt felt heavy as it continued collecting water droplets.

“No, it helps hide us,” Loststar purred. “We’re one of the hardest Clans to find because of this mist so we never worry about attacks.”

Opalflower glanced at her companions. Tinyleg and Rocktalon were looking around where they stood beside her. Redfox was swaying on his paws and his eyes

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were clouded over with sleep. She turned to Loststar. “He didn’t sleep last night… is there anywhere he could rest?” she asked gently.

“The elders’ den is completely empty, so all of you can stay there for your stay.” Loststar pointed her tail to a bramble thicket across the camp. Redfox smiled thanks and slowly made his way to the den.

“Thank you,” Opalflower mewed to the LostClan leader. A gray-and-white she-cat pressed close to Loststar. Her blue eyes took in the

RockClan cats. “Who are these cats, mother?” she asked quietly. Her eyes flicked to Tinyleg, who was watching her carefully.

“These are visitors from RockClan, Silentbreeze,” Loststar purred, licking her daughter’s cheek. “They’re our friends now.”

Rocktalon tilted his head. “I’m Rocktalon,” he mewed.Silentbreeze dipped her head in greeting. “I’m glad they’re friends… we

never have any,” she sighed. She glanced at Tinyleg once more. “And who are you?” she asked sweetly.

The brown tabby warrior puffed out his chest, and answered, “I’m Tinyleg.” Opalflower shook her head and couldn’t believe how short he was compared to Silentbreeze and her long legs.

“It’s nice to meet you.” Silentbreeze whisked past Tinyleg, trailing her soft tail down his back, causing him to shiver slightly. She padded up to Opalflower. “And you must be they’re medicine cat, Opalflower,” she added. The medicine cat smiled and nodded. “Our deputy Opalsoul resembles you very closely.”

She padded back over to Tinyleg, his paws working on the ground. He was itching to do something. She leaned to his ear from behind and whispered, “Want to go hunting?”

The tom turned his head and gazed into her blue eyes. “Sure,” he mewed slightly surprised.

“Then follow me,” she mewed, racing from camp. Tinyleg quickly followed on his short legs. When in the forest he was having a

hard time keeping his eyes on Silentbreeze’s blending pelt. “It’s hard to see out here,” he mumbled. Then he lost all sight of her to find her beside him, smiling.

“Your eyes tend to adjust to this after moons of being here,” she mewed, her fur brushing against his.

Tinyleg felt his pelt grow hot. “I bet,” he rumbled with a purr. He lifted his head breathed in the clean air around him. The mist covered most scents, but he caught one that was strong and close by, unmasked and fresh.

She straightened out her tail, an order for Tinyleg to lie low. “Stay here,” she mewed before disappearing into the mist. They were awfully close to the border and she hadn’t a clue what was sending off that strong of a smell…

“It’s a kit!” Tinyleg burst out. He had jumped up and was padding closer. Silentbreeze stopped where she was and looked down, her eyes seeing through the mist. Almost right at her paws was a little gray she-kit with two twisted paws. The scent she carried was foreign to her.

“The poor thing,” Silentbreeze cried. “Who would leave a kit this young?”Tinyleg dipped his head and sniffed the kit. He could smell nothing by poppy

seeds and frost. “Let’s get her back to your camp.” He grabbed the sleeping kit by the scruff and lifted her into the air. The kit gave a small squeak.

Silentbreeze took the lead and headed back to camp. Tinyleg stayed close behind, the kit swaying gently in his jaws. She had already drifted back into sleep.

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The kit needed warmth and milk, but how could LostClan help her when they didn’t have any nursing queens?

Back at camp, Silentbreeze found her mother talking with Opalflower and Rocktalon. Loststar glanced around the medicine cat and nodded at her daughter’s arrival. “Mother, we found a kit at the border,” she cried.

“What in CometClan’s name are you talking about?” she growled. Tinyleg moved into sight with the kit dangling from his jaws. “Oh… the poor thing,” she whispered. “It must’ve been a loner’s, but sadly we can’t keep her or she’ll die.”

“Why is that?” Opalflower asked worriedly.“Stonepetal is expecting kits but that won’t be for another moon,” Loststar

sighed. Redfox exited the elders’ den with a yawn. He seemed to had gathered

enough sleep. “What about VolcanoClan?” he offered. “Herbfox said in a couple days Marbleflower should be giving birth.”

Opalflower shook her head. “The kit wouldn’t survive unless someone ran her to VolcanoClan right now.”

Rocktalon got to his paws and mewed, “I’m a fast runner. I use to out run farm dogs and foxes all the time.”

Loststar frowned and thought. Silentbreeze watched her mother carefully and tried not to purr when she felt Tinyleg press against her as continued holding the kit. He never realized that he was leaning into Silentbreeze.

Tinyleg saw Silentbreeze smile and moved away a little as he set the kit down between his front paws. “What if ran her to NightClan? They have nursing queens and then we could check on her on the way home.”

“For now that may have to be who will be the only choice,” Loststar decided. “It’s too bad we can’t find her Clan,” Opalflower mewed, wrapping her tail

over her paws. Rocktalon nodded and padded up. “I’ll take her,” he offered. “That’s nice of you, but I’m taking her,” Opalflower butted in. “I have longer

legs and know the way. Plus I haven’t done anything like that for a long time.” Being a medicine cat didn’t include running long distances or fighting and being a warrior most of her life made her wish she could still do that.

Redfox shook his head. “What if something happens to you?” he growled.“I’m not incapable of handling some things,” she chuckled. She wasn’t use to

having other cats worry about losing her this much. “I was a warrior before I became a medicine cat so I know how to use my claws.”

Loststar stopped them as Redfox was about to say something. “Let Opalflower go,” she mewed. “A medicine cat is less likely to be stopped.” Redfox huffed in frustration.

Opalflower nodded and padded before the kit. “I will say this,” she mewed. “If I’m not back by sunhigh tomorrow, then there might be a need for a search and rescue patrol.” She hurriedly grabbed the kit and stormed from the camp.

Tinyleg watched after Opalflower worriedly. Silentbreeze turned to her mother with her own worried eyes. “Loststar, this may be a little late in telling you this but I caught a slight scent of Scar over our border earlier today.”

Redfox narrowed his eyes. “Scar?”Loststar rounded on her daughter. “Why didn’t you tell me?” she hissed.Silentbreeze crouched in fear. "I'm sorry," she mewed. "After we finished the

patrol this morning, I forgot to tell you. The smell crossed the border so I didn't think about it...." Then she realized what she had done. "Opalflower might be in trouble..."

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Redfox and Rocktalon were already racing from the camp. Loststar jumped to her paws. “Follow me!” she hissed. Silentbreeze and Tinyleg tore after the LostClan leader.

Opalflower was just crossing the border into NightClan’s territory. Their forest during the day made her feel like she was back in the Dark Forest. The kit dangled from Opalflower's jaws as she trotted through NightClan's forest. It was starting to get dark, and she felt uncomfortable when she couldn't see the stars through the trees. Everything will be alright, she said in her mind as she went. A twig snapped behind her, and she jumped, but nothing was there. She moved a little faster, hoping to reach NightClan's camp soon.

Moving into the undergrowth she felt a little safer; no one would be able to find her in here. Suddenly she stiffened as she heard someone behind her. “Scared little kitty?”

Opalflower whipped around with a hiss behind the kit’s scruff. “Scar!” she whispered. She heard her named called faintly through the trees and she wondered if she was dreaming. Then she caught sight of amber eyes and knew this was real. “What are you doing here?” she asked shakily.

"I could ask you the same question. Trying to save another worthless life?" He paced around, circling her. "Or are you going to let it die like the last ones? You know... your sister's first litter that you couldn't save?"

"That wasn't my fault," she hissed, swiping out a paw. "And this kit isn't worthless, you are!"

Rocktalon and Redfox burst from the bushes behind Scar. Redfox hissed and skidded to a halt in front of Opalflower. “Get back to camp!” the medicine cat hissed. “I can handle him!” Rocktalon dashed past and Opalflower handed the kit to him as he went. She knew that the kit’s safety was everything right now.

“Better me dead than you,” he growled, his eyes blazing as he faced Scar.Opalflower pulled Redfox down to the ground. “He’s from when I was an

apprentice,” she snarled. “I can handle him on my own!” Suddenly the big brawly tom disappeared. His voice entered her head like it was riding the wind. I will kill you one day, Opalflower.

Her eyes darted around the undergrowth and trees, searching for Scar, but he was gone. She turned her blue eyes on Redfox as he got back to his paws and shook out his pelt. “I’m sorry,” she whispered.

He jumped up into her face. “You can’t handle every battle on your own, Opalflower!” he snapped. “Sometimes you have to accept help.” He turned and ran after his brother through the dark forest.

Loststar trotted to a halt, sniffing the air. “Scar…” she snarled. “Are you alright?” she asked Opalflower.

“I’m fine,” she mumbled, facing the leader. I need to learn to fight my kithood nightmares… she thought to herself.

Silentbreeze bounded up with Tinyleg. “I’m sorry, this is all my fault,” she fretted.

Loststar turned to her daughter. “This isn’t your fault,” she mewed with a shake of her head. She sat down and decided to have them wait for Redfox and Rocktalon there. The toms returned about moonhigh without the kit.

“How did everything go?” the LostClan leader asked.“Forgottennight took the little kit right away,” Redfox purred. He didn’t look

at Opalflower; obviously he hadn’t forgotten about her stubbornness earlier. “The

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kit spoke and said that her name is Rainkit and that she wanted her mother. Who her mother is and where she came from is still unknown.”

“At least NightClan took her in,” Loststar mewed. “Well let’s head back to camp before we get any more excitement,” she growled.

Spottedkit suddenly raced from the nursery in a squeal of fear. Her mother had been sleeping soundly until she heard her daughter run from her side and into the main cave. Diamondflake padded off after her daughter hoping she only had a nightmare. The little kit looked over her shoulder, seeing a shadow chasing after her with scary amber eyes and big teeth. She then tripped over a paw of a warrior and went tumbling head over tail.

Echostream hissed awake and looked over to the little kit. Spottedkit ended up tumbling into Darkshadow, jolting the older she-cat awake. The dark colored warrior shoved the kit away with a hiss of annoyance.

Briarclaw woke from his nest from all of the commotion. “What is it? Are there intruders?”

Darkshadow rolled her eyes. “You know we never have any intruders, mouse brain,” she growled. “It was just Spottedkit trying to spook us.”

"Shhh," Echostream scolded. She turned her gray head toward the kit. "Spottedkit, why are you in here?" she questioned in a kind voice.

“There was a scary shadow chasing me,” she answered shakily.Diamondflake padded up. “She just had a nightmare,” Spottedkit’s mother

sighed. The white, brown spotted, kit shook her head, shrinking behind Echostream in

fear. “It was real!” she squeaked.Echostream glanced at the little kit. “I would speak with Whitewhisper and

see if it means anything,” she sighed."I already heard," Whitewhisper grumbled to the warriors. She was in the

shadows outside her den sorting through herbs. "Something is coming, and there is nothing our ancestors can do to stop it. A big battle is on its way, and every Clan will be in it."

Echostream’s black striped tail flicked. “Is that all they said?”“Peace will come with a stormy sky.” Winterstar stepped from her den. She

had returned that morning from finding Rainkit somewhere safe to live. “SpaceClan had told me that just moments ago,” she added. Turning her blue eyes on the medicine cat, she mewed, “I must speak with you in my den.” Whitewhisper got to her paws and followed her leader into the cave den.

Diamondflake turned to the warriors. “I’m sorry that she woke you,” she mumbled. Gathering up Spottedkit she pushed her kit ahead of her and ducked back into the nursery.

Suddenly a black-and-white she-cat collapsed through the camp entrance. Darkshadow and Gemsoul gasped and ran up to the she-cat, hauling her into the middle of camp. The she-cat was thin and frail, her paw pads were cracked and her nose was dry. Her thick fur was frozen at the tips.

Echostream ran into the clearing when she heard the commotion and looked down at the delicate body of the black and white she cat. Darkshadow looked to Echostream. "Take my place, I'll go and get Whitewhisper." The she-cat waited for Echostream to take his place as using his shoulders for the black-and-white she-cat's support.

Gemsoul dipped her head to the old cat. “What is your name?” she asked.The she-cat managed to lift her head and rasped, “Moonbeam.”

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Echostream leaned over the black and white she-cat. She watched as the female opened her icy blue eyes and stared straight up at her with a joyous smile on her face, "Echostream…" she muttered. Echostream's head tilted. "What?" she asked but no response came

Moonbeam's eyes glittered with happiness. "I'm so glad to have found one of you," she whispered.

Echostream took a step back, "What?" She demanded"You're one of my kits," she whispered. She wheezed a little before

continuing. "There were four of you."Echostream had a look of confusion on her face, "That's impossible, my

mother is dead," she said growling."Your stepmother is but your real mother is right before you," she sighed. She

wheezed quietly as Whitewhisper trotted out. "My name is Moonbeam from BlogClan... I left a long time ago and have been on my own for a very long time. I met a tom and fell in love but he was killed and I was on my own once again. When I found out that I was expecting you and three others I had nowhere to go. When you all were born there was a flood that took all of you away from me four days later and ended up finding that each of you were in a different Clan without any clue about their kithood. All they could remember was their mother's name... Moonbeam."

Briarclaw stepped up to join Echostream. "What's going on?" he asked, giving the strange she-cat a sideways glance.

Echostream sat down dumbfounded.Briarclaw stepped closer to her, snarling a little at Moonbeam. "How can we

be sure you're telling the truth?" Moonbeam stared up at the tom. "Echostream and her siblings know the

truth... I know they remember my name."Darkpool slipped into the camp and looked over at the scene. Her heart sank

as she saw Briarclaw and Echostream pressed close together, but she shook herself and padded away. She had no right to be jealous of his affections.

Chapter 6When the group got back to LostClan’s camp, everything was quiet. The other

warriors had gone to sleep already in their dens. Some peaceful snoring echoed around the camp; it was the only sound heard throughout the whole night really. The RockClan warriors took their peaceful sleep to the elders’ den; Redfox on the other hand stayed awake for the night once more.

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In the morning the mist in LostClan’s territory was thicker than the day before. Opalflower sat down by the fresh-kill pile, watching all the warriors do their work. She hadn’t seen the LostClan medicine once yet and wondered if this Clan even had one.

Silentbreeze entered the camp with fresh-kill in her jaws. She dropped three voles down on the pile and then looked at the RockClan medicine cat. “So how do you like your stay so far?” she asked.

Opalflower shrugged and her tail tip flicked. “It’s much different from any other territory, but it’s quiet and hidden. I even feel at peace. LostClan must come to Gatherings; we’ve never seen your Clan there once.”

“I’ll speak with my mother about it,” she purred, walking away.Redfox exited the elders’ den. He had decided to go to sleep in the middle of

the night. He lowered his head and pulled a vole from the fresh-kill pile and lay down with it.

Opalflower tapped her tail tip on his shoulder. He looked up as he swallowed a bite of vole. “Hey, I’m sorry about being so pushy yesterday,” she apologized.

The tom just shrugged and turned back to his vole. “It’s alright,” he mewed, but he didn’t sound very sure. He finished his vole and got to his paws. “I’m going hunting; I don’t feel very useful sitting around eating LostClan’s prey.” He turned from the center of camp and bounded through the entrance.

Opalflower sighed, missing home. She looked around the camp, taking in the different warriors. They were all pretty much darker colored, mostly to blend into their surroundings of the territory. She spotted a gray-and-white she-cat that looked very much like her and guessed that it was Opalsoul, the LostClan deputy. She disappeared into Loststar’s den as Opalflower watched.

Rocktalon gave a yawn as he joined Opalflower at the pile. “Morning mate,” he grumbled tiredly.

“Morning, Rocktalon,” she mewed. She still didn’t understand his way of speaking, but she was thinking that she was growing a little fond of the tom. At the start of their journey, she hadn’t wanted anything to do the Redfox’s brother.

Redfox returned back to camp when the sun had peaked over the horizon. He held a plump rabbit and a thrush in his jaws. Tinyleg stretched and the hopped from the elders’ den and joined the rest of his Clanmates at the pile. “Great catches,” he purred to the deputy. Redfox dipped his head and dropped his catches on the fresh-kill pile and then started grooming his pelt.

Tinyleg looked around, searching for Silentbreeze. Opalflower watched as the she-cat padded from the nursery and came up behind the tom. “Looking for me?” Silentbreeze asked, nudging the brown tabby.

“Maybe,” he purred. He got to his paws and lunged at her, wrapping his front paws around her neck and over her shoulders. He pulled them to the ground and rolled until he was on top.

Silentbreeze licked his nose in a friendly way, and pulled her legs under her, but Tinyleg's shorter height made it difficult. She smiled and twitched her whiskers.

Redfox watched the two young cats. He didn’t want to intervene, but he didn’t want to see them making a mistake. “Hey Silentbreeze, can you come here for a moment?” he called to the gray-and-white warrior.

She side glanced at the deputy for a moment before scurrying out from under Tinyleg. She trotted up to the red-brown tabby. “What is it, Redfox?”

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He sighed and tried not to look at his paws. ‘I’ve been noticing that you and Tinyleg are getting really close, and I just am trying to say you don’t want to go down that path,” he pointed out awkwardly.

Silentbreeze narrowed her eyes into confusion. “We’re just friends,” she reassured the tom. “Anyways, we’re allies now aren’t we? There’s nothing wrong with being friends right now.”

“No offense, but you both looked more than just friends and allies,” he growled.

She didn’t think that her and Tinyleg were showing that kind of affection to each other. "We can't be friends?" she growled. "I know the warrior code, and as long as we stick to it there's nothing wrong." She lashed her tail and trotted back over to Tinyleg.

"I didn’t say that....ugh, she cats,” he growled, whispering the last part. He whipped around and sat down beside Rocktalon at the fresh-kill pile. “You know what, I feel like hunting again,” he mewed to his brother. “Want to come?” Rocktalon nodded and the brothers raced from the camp.

Tinyleg turned to Silentbreeze as she approached him again. “Don’t let him get under your fur,” he mewed, pushing her playfully.

“I’m not going to,” she purred. “Want to go hunting?”Tinyleg looked up into her eyes with excitement. “Sure,” he mewed, bouncing

to his short paws. They left camp close together. Loststar padded from her den with Opalsoul and saw her daughter with the short legged tom. She knew what would come of this.

Opalflower sighed as she padded up to the leader. “You know what’s going to happen, don’t you?” she asked.

“I know because I made the same mistake once,” she answered, lowering her eyes.

“Shouldn’t you stop it then?”Loststar shook her head. “She has never shown feelings for any tom in this

Clan,” she mewed. “If I must let her go so she can be happy, then I will.”

Opalflower ran over examined Tinyleg. Quickly she ran to the medicine den and came back with cobwebs and marigold and poppy seeds. Moving fast she begins pressing cobwebs into the wounds and yowled "Someone get chewing the marigold now! And get him some water!"

Wanderingpath raced out of camp and ripped some moss off a tree. He soaked it in water, and dashed back to camp.

Tinyleg weakly lapped at it his eyes glazed. "Eat these." Opalflower ordered. He managed to lick up the poppy seeds.

Wanderingpath snarled, "Leave it to Pureclan..."Loststar stared at Tinyleg "He...he saved my daughter..."Wanderingpath's eyes moved toward Loststar. "That means that he must feel

something toward her," he concluded.Loststar looked at Wanderingpath and whispered, "I know…"He blinked and then looked back at Opalflower and Tinyleg with a worried

expression.Loststar woke in StarClan. She looked around and saw her mother,

Snowdawn. Snowdawn walked to the leader and mewed "You know what is happening to your daughter and you must let her go her own way, just as I let you go your own way. She does not belong in LostClan just as you did not belong in

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JungleClan. It will hurt at first but in the end you know it is what is right for her, just as I knew it was right for you. Let her follow her heart, give her your support, and always remember she will always be with you in your heart my child." Loststar went to speak but before she could Snowdawn faded away and Loststar woke back up in the camp.

She could hear her daughter clearly from her den and padded out. Silentbreeze sat close to Tinyleg. "Will he be okay?" she asked Opalflower.

The medicine cat nodded. "He just needs some rest and the wounds need to heal." She turned to Loststar. "Could I keep Tinyleg in the medicine den and sleep in there so I can treat him?"

Loststar nodded "Of course." She turned to Silentbreeze "I want to speak with you alone in my den for a moment" She turned and padded away

Silentbreeze slunk away. "I'm in trouble aren't I?" she asked her mother as she disappeared into her den.

Opalflower turned to whatever warriors were in camp. "Can somebody help me carry Tinyleg to the medicine den, please?"

Chapter 7Chapter 8Chapter 9Chapter 10Chapter 11Chapter 12Chapter 13Chapter 14Chapter 15Chapter 16

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Chapter 17Chapter 18Chapter 19

the forgotten clan: a new beginning -...

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