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"Wolfpaw." Sunfeather's voice sounded muffled and faint, as if she were standing far away. Wolfpaw didn't look up and continued to sort the herbs. His paws moved mechanically as his mind churned in thought. "Wolfpaw!" This time, he snapped back to the present and met his mentor's gaze.

"I've called you three times. I'm standing right beside you and you're acting like you can't hear me." Sunfeather's eyes glimmered with worry. "Are you alright? You've seemed very distracted ever since we came back from the Moonpool a quarter moon ago."

"No, I'm fine." Wolfpaw insisted, reluctant to explain the dream he'd had at the Moonpool.

"Wolfpaw," Sunfeather began softly, "you're ripping through the tansy leaves."

With a gasp, Wolfpaw looked down to find his claws extended out of his paws. Unconsciously, he had shredded a couple of the herbs. Little pieces stuck to his pads and wedged themselves between his claws. He looked back up at Sunfeather. Slowly, he began to put his explanation together. "At the Moonpool…a warrior named Leapfoot visited me. I think he gave me a prophecy…'Beware of the insect… the smallest insect can be the most dangerous if its rage is provoked'."

Wolfpaw had expected his mentor to scold him for not telling her earlier of the possible threat to the Clan. To his surprise, Sunfeather's eyes held a quiet thoughtfulness. "Did he show you anything else?" The medicine cat asked.

Wolfpaw was uncertain what to answer. "After he warned me, I had another vision. I don't know it if it has anything to do with the prophecy or if he even sent it, but I was drowning in a pool of blood. The blood was streaming from a dead she-cat that lay on the shore. Her scent was familiar…" Wolfpaw narrowed his eyes, trying once again to remember who the scent belonged to. He shook his head as he finished. "But I haven't been able to conclude who it was."

Sunfeather nodded slowly. "This sounds like a prophecy to me. I wonder if it's only a warning for WindClan, or if the other Clans are involved somehow."

Wolfpaw shifted his paws uneasily. He wanted to share something else with Sunfeather, but he wondered is he was right to speculate so wildly with so little evidence. "Sunfeather…I think I know who Leapfoot was warning me about."

The golden brown she-cat stared at him curiously. "Who?"

"The only cat I can think of is Butterflykit." Wolfpaw mewed slowly.

"Butterflykit?" Sunfeather exclaimed, taking a few steps back. "Wolfpaw, I know you don't get along very well with her and she isn't the kindest cat, but do you really think she'd do something that StarClan would consider important enough to warn us about?"

"I-I don't know."Wolfpaw admitted, looking away. He hadn't been sure of his theory himself, but now that Sunfeather asked him, he felt even more foolish for thinking something like that.

Sunfeather padded closed to him and touched her tail-tip to his ear. "I don't know if you're right, but if StarClan shares anything more with you, tell me. We may be able to figure it out."

Wolfpaw mumbled a reply before padding out of the den. A soft layer of powdery snow covered the ground. Sparkles were seen here and there where the sun cast its weak rays. Outside of the nursery, Stemkit and Lavenderkit were playing, leaving little pawprints wherever they went. Amberpaw and Lightningpaw were taking prey to the elders. Blackstone led his border patrol out of camp. Sootfoot and Blossompetal trekked after him.

"Wolfpaw!" An excited shriek caught Wolfpaw by surprise and he twisted around to see Butterflykit standing near the entrance to his den.

"What are you doing out of the nursery?" Wolfpaw tried to suppress the growl ebbing in his throat.

"I came to see you." Butterflykit purred. "Do you want to share some prey?"

"No, thank you." Wolfpaw answered, turning to pad away. Butterflykit scampered after him, trying to weave in between his paws.

"Why don't we play?" She asked.

"Go play with the other kits." Wolfpaw muttered, trying not to step on the brown she-cat. Butterflykit continued to dance around him, her eyes still shining.

"What are you going to do?" The kit asked.

"I'm going to check on the elders." Wolfpaw made up an answer on the spot.

"Can I help?" Butterflykit pressed on.

"No." Wolfpaw answered bluntly. Butterflykit whined, begging to go with him. Wolfpaw came to an abrupt halt. "'No' means no, Butterflykit."

The she-cat opened her mouth to protest again before Treewhisker padded over.

"I'm sorry, Wolfpaw." The kit's father apologized. "Is Butterflykit bothering you?"

"Only slightly." Wolfpaw answered, hoping his irritation was hidden from the warrior.

"Butterflykit, Wolfpaw has things to do and he doesn't need you sticking to his paws." Treewhisker leaned forward and picked up his kit by the scruff.

"Bye, Wolfpaw!" Butterflykit called as she was taken away. Wolfpaw flicked his tail in farewell, although the tip twitched crossly. Butterflykit believed herself to be the center of the world. Wolfpaw didn't know if she was oblivious to the frustration she caused him or if she just decided to ignore it.

"Butterflykit is attracted to you like bees to honey." Lightningpaw padded out of the elders' den and sat at his brother's side.

Wolfpaw's ears flattened to his head. "She's annoying." He had another reason for being weary about Butterflykit, but didn't think he should share it with his brother. Wolfpaw would trust his life to Lightningpaw, but their separate paths would always keep some things secret between them.

"She's snobby to every other cat, though." Lightningpaw commented. "When any of the other apprentices clean out the nursery, she complains that we were too slow, or too messy. I've never heard her say anything like that to you." With a chuckle, he continued. "In fact, she seems to rather fancy you."

Wolfpaw shot a death glare at his brother. "Instead of saying such nonsense, why don't you make yourself useful and do something around the camp?"

"I just brought food to the…" Lightningpaw's voice trailed off as he stared past Wolfpaw. He looked horror-stricken and when Wolfpaw turned around, he shared his brother's expression.

Shinepaw had just walked into the camp. She was several cat-lengths away, but even from far away, Wolfpaw could see the cuts all along her back and hind legs. He hadn't seen his sister for a while. She always seemed to be training or cleaning dens. He remembered how glossy her pelt had been as a kit, how her one good eye shone with happiness. Now, her pelt looked messy and it lay stretched over her bones. She was so thin that he could count every one of her ribs. Shinepaw licked her fur, smoothing it over her scratches to hide them. Then, she padded over to her brothers, a weak smile on her muzzle.

"Hey, you two." She greeted them.

"Shinepaw… what happened to you?" Lightningpaw asked in shock, leaning forward to touch his sister's ear with his nose.

Wolfpaw expected to hear that she had run into a border skirmish with ThunderClan or RiverClan. He even considered that rogues were roaming the territory. Shinepaw's answer took him by surprise.

"Pricklefur's started battle-training." She answered simply.

"Battle-training?" Wolfpaw exclaimed, outrage. "Was he showing you how to nearly kill your apprentice?"

Shinepaw shifted her paws. "It's not as bad as it looks, really."

"Of course it isn't." Lightningpaw obviously sided with his brother by the anger in his hiss. "Your mentor trying to end your life isn't bad at all."

Shinepaw's eye narrowed and she replied. "You're not the ones who have to take it so just don't worry about it."

Wolfpaw was taken aback by his sister's sharp tone. He pressed his cheek to Shinepaw's and his tone softened to a whisper. "Seeing you like this hurts us, too. If Pricklefur has just started battle training, I'm worried what he'll do when he goes into advanced techniques."

Lightningpaw added. "And you look so thin. It's leaf-bare, but prey hasn't been running that badly. You look like you've been starved."

Shinepaw murmured. "This is just Pricklefur's way of training his apprentices. Meadowstep, Whiteheart, and Hareleap endured it and so will I." Her eye shone with a cold determination. "I can tell he's going harder on me because of my connection with Comettail, but I won't give him the satisfaction of breaking me or seeing me run to Dawnstar for help." She locked gazes with her littermates and mewed. "I need your support, but please don't tell anyone else. Besides you two, only Cloverkit knows."

Wolfpaw exchanged a troubled gaze with Lightningpaw. He could see his own uneasiness and worry reflected in his brother's amber eyes. Lightningpaw nodded slowly. Wolfpaw turned back to face Shinepaw and nodded as well. "Fine, we won't tell any cat."

A faint smile lightened Shinepaw's face. "Thank you. I'll get through this. I promise I will." After a pause, she added. "I have to go clean the nursery. I'll see you two later." Without another word, she padded away, seeming in a rush to get to the den.

The two brothers stood in silence before Lightningpaw mewed. "I was scheduled to go on a hunting patrol now."

"Fine." Wolfpaw mewed. He waved his tail in farewell as the gray tom padded away to join Rabbitpelt and Snakefang.

Wolfpaw sat down, studying the camp. He didn't know what else to do. Now that leaf-bare had fallen over the forest, collecting herbs was next to impossible.

"Wolfpaw!" A cat called his name and the apprentice turned around to see Duskstar padding towards him. He gulped, suddenly nervous; had Sunfeather told Duskstar about his dream? Was the leader going to question him on his suspicions that Butterflykit had something to do with the prophecy?

"Yes, Duskstar?" Wolfpaw answered, trying to keep his voice steady and his eyes calm.

"Sunfeather has told you that you will be attending tonight's Gathering, yes?" The pale ginger leader asked.

Wolfpaw felt relief flow through his body and his tense muscles dropped, relaxed. "She didn't say anything about it, Duskstar."

"Well, you will be coming. Remind her for me, please." Duskstar turned around, sweeping her tail after her.

Wolfpaw breathed out the air he'd been holding in. The prophecy was still present in his mind, like a sharp thorn. Why was he so sure it was Butterflykit? The she-cat had lied about the fox all those moons ago, but could she really do something that would affect the whole Clan? Giving his head a clearing shake, he padded back to the medicine cat's den to pass Duskstar's message to his mentor.

*****
Wolfpaw finished sorting some tansy and marigold leaves, storing them into the crevices at the back of the den. Then, he padded over to the entrance, poking his head out to look at the full moon shining above. Its silver rays fell on the blanket of snow that covered the camp ground, making the soft powder sparkle. Cats were gathering around Duskstar, preparing to make the journey to the Gathering. Padding over, he saw his mentor was already there, sharing a small mouse with Snakefang. Whiteheart was kneeding the snow, anxious to get going. Nightsky pressed his flank to hers, murmuring a couple of words to his friend.

"Hey, Wolfpaw!" Lightningpaw padded over to him from the apprentices' den at a steady gait. "You're going to the Gathering?"

"Yeah." Wolfpaw nodded, puzzled; he'd assumed his littermates would be going as well.

As if he'd read his mind, Lightningpaw shook his head. "We weren't asked to go. It must be because you're the medicine cat apprentice and all."

Wolfpaw shifted his paws uncomfortably. The thought of being the only one from his litter attending the Gathering bothered him; he didn't want his siblings to think he was special and he certainly didn't want to face cats from other Clans alone.

"It's okay." Lightningpaw mewed, attempting to grin but managing only a weak smile. "Shinepaw and I will go next time." Glancing back at the den, he added. "The extra sleep will be good for her anyway." Turning back to his brother, he purred. "You'd better tell us all about the Gathering tomorrow morning."

Wolfpaw pawed at his sibling's ear playfully. "Of course." His ears swiveled as he heard Duskstar announce the departure. "Well, I'd better go now. See you tomorrow."

"Bye." Lightningpaw called. Wolfpaw waved his tail in farewell before falling in step beside Amberpaw and Cherrypaw. The two she-cats were chattering excitedly as if this was their first time attending a Gathering. However, Wolfpaw knew that they'd already been to one before. Then, he was called back by another voice.

"Wolfpaw! Wait!" The medicine cat apprentice turned around to see Comettail racing across the clearing towards him. The ginger tom skidded to a stop, his breath forming smoky clouds in the cold air. "Take...take care, Wolfpaw." Comettail mewed, nuzzling Wolfpaw's ear. "Have a good time, but do be careful."

Wolfpaw knew that almost all apprentices would edge back from their parent in this situation, begging for their mother or father to realize that they were no longer kits or jokingly asking if they had to be careful of hungry foxes or blood-thirsty badgers on the island. Wolfpaw, however, felt that he and his littermates appreciated their 'father' more because they knew what it was like not to have one. Instead of pulling back, he pressed up against Comettail. "I will."

Comettail blinked warmly before nudging Wolfpaw towards the group of cats. "You'd better go now or you'll find yourself trekking alone after them." He smiled his eyes on Wolfpaw as the younger cat made his way back to stand beside Amberpaw. Glancing over his shoulder, Wolfpaw saw Comettail sitting in the snow with his white tail curled around his paws.
                                                                ****

As the group of cats trudged through the snowy heather, a cold wind blew over the moor, chilling Wolfpaw to the bone.  Glancing up, he saw Pricklefur padding ahead, untroubled by the low temperature. For a moment, Wolfpaw wished he had the senior warrior's long, gray pelt. Instantly, he became disgusted with himself; after everything the grouchy, harsh tom had done to his sister, he wanted nothing of Pricklefur's.

The fresh tang of the lake reached his nose and as they neared the shore, the cold escalated. Wolfpaw flattened his ears, trying to keep them warm. If they froze, he wouldn't be able to hear anything at the Gathering.

Silkfur padded up to his side, her hazel eyes warm and kind. "Are you cold?" Wolfpaw gave her a sideways glance and nodded hastily. "Don't worry, we're almost there." She pressed her side to his, sharing the warmth of her tortoiseshell pelt. With Silkfur right next to him, he could see that she wasn't much bigger than him. Compared to the other warriors, she was a rather small she-cat, even for a WindClan cat. He wondered how she fared in battle and couldn't help but picture her matched up against a large ShadowClan warrior with bared teeth and thorn-sharp claws. With a shudder, he shook the thought away.

Once more, Wolfpaw inhaled the cold air, taking in RiverClan's fishy scent. The must have crossed into the other Clan's grounds. He'd heard that the Gathering island was off the shore of their territory. We're nearly there, he thought, a warm sensation rippling through his pelt. After walking for a while longer, Wolfpaw saw a fallen trunk bridging the shore and a shadowy, tree-filled island. Duskstar led the group to the tree and an air of satisfaction drifted through the WindClan patrol as they reached their destination. With surprising agility, Duskstar bounded over the trunk, followed by Snakefang, Sunfeather, Whiteheart and a couple of other warriors. Cherrypaw and Amberpaw followed more slowly; clearly, they weren't as comfortable crossing the weak-looking tree. When Wolfpaw's turn came, he placed one paw on the trunk and made the mistake of looking down. His belly gave a huge lurch and his eyes became so wide he thought they'd pop out of his head. Gulping, he tried to lift his other paw, but discovered, to his great shock, that his limb wasn't responding.

"Hurry up, already!" Hareleap grunted behind him.

Silkfur, who was still near Wolfpaw, turned around and gave her mate a sharp look. "It's his first time, Hareleap. I'm sure you were just as intimidated by the bridge at your first Gathering."

Hareleap mumbled crossly, but didn't argue with his mate. Wolfpaw's whiskers twitched; even in this situation, Silkfur's immunity to Hareleap's sharp tongue amused him. Taking a deep breath, he placed his other paws on the trunk and began to cross. There were a few times when he thought he was going to fall and expected to hit the freezing water at any moment, but it never happened. Reaching the other side, he leapt off, sending a silent prayer to StarClan.

Sunfeather had been waiting for him. When she saw her apprentice, she flicked her tail for him to follow her. They pushed through some bushes and made their way into a clearing where a tall tree stood proud. Wolfpaw had to tilt his head far back to see the highest branches of the majestic oak. When Wolfpaw let his other senses roam, the many scents overwhelmed him and the murmuring of the gathered cats made it impossible to identify a single voice. He kept close to Sunfeather, half-suspecting that if he lost sight of her, he could wander around for the whole Gathering searching for his mentor and never find her until the end.

The golden brown she-cat led him over to the group of medicine cats. He was glad he had met them before and didn't have to be introduced.

"Greetings, Sunfeather, Wolfpaw." Mewed Swiftstep. To Wolfpaw, it seemed that the gray tom was trying to talk calmly, but his wild, handsome grin ruined the attempt.

"Hello, Swiftstep." Sunfeather replied, dipping her head. Wolfpaw copied the gesture, greeting Pinetree and Frogpaw as well. Suddenly, he noticed that Blackbird was sitting in the outskirts of the medicine cat group. Her usually focused eyes were clouded with worry and grieve. The black she-cat portrayed a feeling of helplessness that was unnatural to her. He noticed that Splashedfur was nowhere to be seen and immediately wondered if something had happened to the cheerful medicine cat. That would explain Blackbird's mood.

Wolfpaw wanted to know if his speculations were correct, but he didn't want to be insensitive by bluntly asking if something had happened to Splashedfur. If Blackbird wanted to tell the others, she would do so. Sitting down beside Sunfeather, Wolfpaw curled his tail around his paws, somewhat listening to his mentor and Swiftstep discussing a cure for ear infections.

He watched cats from the four Clans talking and laughing, like old friends. The scents merged to the point where they could barely be distinguished from each other. Wolfpaw caught sight of Duskstar climbing up the trunk of the great tree to join the other leaders. She settled down in one of the lower branches, her tail hanging lazily. She tilted her head up to exchange greetings with the others. A large golden tabby tom was sitting in the fork between two tree branches. His amber eyes were kind and had a hint of playfulness in them. Below him, a black she-cat sat close to the tree trunk, her green gaze studying the gathered cats. Her expression was indifferent, but Wolfpaw could tell that she was considerably young. Finally, Wolfpaw's eyes fell on the fourth leader, a brown tabby she-cat with a glossy pelt and a white dash under her chin that slid down to her chest. Her cold amber eyes flickered with suspicion.

"The Gathering will now begin." The buzzing in the clearing died down as the black she-cat began her announcement. "I will go first." She exchanged glances with the other leaders, who dipped their heads in agreement. The she-cat turned to look at the cats below again. "Everything is well in ShadowClan. As expected, leaf-bare has brought a decrease in prey with it, but we aren't struggling severely to provide food for ourselves. A half-moon ago, one of our queens, Icywind, gave birth to one kit, Petalkit."

"Congratulations on the new addition to your Clan, Ravenstar." The golden tom mewed politely.

Ravenstar acknowledged him with a nod of her head before going on. "Also, we caught traces of a strange cat on our territory. He or she seems to have moved on, but I thought I should warn the rest of the Clans. That is all." She glanced up at the tom above her, suggesting for him to go next.

The large tom sat up, ruffling his golden pelt. The warm smile still laced his muzzle as he began to share his news. "Things are going well for ThunderClan. Two of our apprentices have been made warriors; I present to you Larkwing and Stonefang." A murmur passed through the gathered cats as the Clans chanted the new warriors' names. Wolfpaw's gaze scanned the crowd and it rested on two young warriors: the first, a tawny, brown she-cat, was smiling up at her leader and Wolfpaw guessed she was Larkwing. Beside her, a long-haired, broad shouldered gray tom stood with his chest puffed out and a triumphant shine glazing his eyes. He must be Stonefang. Looking back up at the ThunderClan leader, Wolfpaw was surprised at the warmth that flooded the golden tom's gaze as he looked at the two ThunderClan cats.

He felt a soft breath stir his ear fur as Sunfeather leaned closer to him. "Larkwing and Stonefang are Lionstar's kits. His mate died at their kitting, but instead of resenting them, he loved them more than anything in his life."

"He says that whenever he looks at them, he sees Robinstripe." Wolfpaw turned around to look at Swiftstep. To his surprise, the constant excitement in the tom's eyes had dimmed down greatly, replaced by a sorrowful glaze. "It was my fault. I…I couldn't do anything. I didn't notice the excessive bleeding until it was too late." He hung his head; it looked as if the energy that had once radiated from every hair on his pelt had been drained away by some invisible force.

"It wasn't your fault." Sunfeather mewed gently, resting her tail tip on Swiftstep's shoulder. "When StarClan calls a cat, there's nothing the best medicine cat can do about it. Robinstripe appreciates what you did for her and tonight, she's watching proudly as her kits are announced as warriors in front of the four Clans."

Swiftstep glanced up gratefully before turning to look back up at his leader. Wolfpaw didn't hear the rest of the ThunderClan tom's announcement; he could see the leader's lips moving, but Wolfpaw's eyes were fixed on Lionstar's, amazed at the pride that lingered there.

Wolfpaw thought of Comettail and hoped that when his littermates became warriors, he would be just as proud of them as Lionstar was for his kits. He could just imagine the kind warrior's green eyes alight with joy.

As Lionstar settled back down, Dawnstar took his place. The WindClan leader announced that Blossompetal, Juniperleaf, and Shadestripe had been made warriors. As their names were called out, the two young she-cats beamed, looking equally beautiful as the moonlight fell on their tortoiseshell backs. Wolfpaw squinted his eyes, searching the clearing for their brother. He found Shadestripe hunched alone at the edges of the WindClan group. He looked indifferent and uninterested; as if Dawnstar was announcing that the sun had risen that morning.

"It's just like him to sulk." Wolfpaw muttered under his breath. That was all the gray warrior ever seemed to do.
As the praise for the new WindClan warriors died down, Dawnstar announced the apprenticeships of Wolfpaw and his littermates. He felt several eyes turning to him as Dawnstar explained that he had chosen the path of a medicine cat. Some warriors smiled and offered polite nods; others frowned and murmured to their Clanmates. Wolfpaw flinched as if he'd been stung by a bee after hearing a particular comment.

"Is it wise to trust such a great task to a cat that isn't Clan-born?"

He didn't know who had whispered it, but it hurt nonetheless. He felt a tail tip resting on his shoulder and looked up at Sunfeather's sparkling blue eyes. You are a WindClan cat and you are meant to be a medicine cat, her gaze seemed to say. He nodded, confidence warming his fur.

Wolfpaw looked back up at the great tree. Dawnstar had retreated and Reedstar now stood poised to speak. The she-cat's gaze was heavily guarded, but Wolfpaw could sense weariness prickling her pelt. "Cats of all Clans," she began. Her mew was taunt and cautious, "RiverClan continues to thrive. The lake continues to provide us with food and we are doing well, even though leaf-bare has begun." Wolfpaw's eyes caught shifting paws and twitching tails in the crowd. Several RiverClan cats looked uneasy and it seemed like they refused to meet their leader's gaze. Wolfpaw glanced at Blackbird beside him, looking for some clue as to what was happening to RiverClan. His friend stood stone-still, her green eyes burning with fury and a low growl ebbing in her throat.

"However," Reedstar continued. Something in her voice changed and it reminded Wolfpaw of a kit who was forced to admit that she'd sneaked out of camp. "Yesterday, our medicine cat, Splashedfur, and one of our warriors, Mudstreak, were injured in an ambush by an unknown loner." She turned to Ravenstar, nodding her head curtly. "I believe he is the cat you scented on your territory." Turning back to the gathered cats, Reedstar slowly added. "Splashedfur's and Mudstreak's injuries are very minor and Blackbird has assured me that they will be fine." At that moment, Wolfpaw felt the RiverClan leader's glare boring into him. It was then he realized that she wasn't looking at him, but rather at the cat beside him. Blackbird. The medicine cat's own eyes were as sharp as daggers as she scowled back at her leader. The growl that had been bubbling inside her grew louder and the sharp points of her teeth poked out from her mouth.

Finally, Reedstar's challenging stare shifted away from Blackbird and she quickly wrapped up her announcement before stepping back. Blackbird was still tense, her fur fluffed out and her claws flicking from her paws. As the gathered cats split into separate groups, preparing to go home, Wolfpaw heard a defeated sigh from Blackbird. Swiftstep seemed to have sensed her mood as well; he touched his nose to Blackbird's ear, not speaking a word before pulling away and making his way to his Clan. Blackbird gazed after him, her shoulders sagging, looking as helpless as a starved kit.

"Blackbird…" Sunfeather murmured softly. "Reedstar wasn't telling the full truth, was she?"

Blackbird looked up at Sunfeather, a sad glaze dulling her eyes. "No. What she said wasn't even close to the truth. They were attacked by a vicious loner, but their injuries are nothing minor. I never said that they would be fine. I wanted to stay at camp with them, but Reedstar made me come. She said it would look weak if RiverClan didn't have at least one medicine cat present at the Gathering. She's trying to cover up the severity of the incident. Reedstar knows that Mudstreak is fighting for his life right now…and Splashedfur might have already lost the battle…" Her voice trailed off and it looked like she carried uncountable burdens upon her shoulders. Wolfpaw pitied his friend; the she-cat that had seemed so composed, so confident and strong, was now suffocating under the weight of her responsibility as a medicine cat. She didn't have her mentor to guide her in this.

"Can't we help you?" Wolfpaw offered. His small voice sounded pathetic to him.

Blackbird stared blankly at the ground as she processed his question. Then, her ears pricked up and she nodded slowly. "Sunfeather might know of something else that we can do to help Mudstreak and Splashedfur." She mewed, glancing up at the golden-brown she-cat. "I have plently of herbs in storage. I just don't know which to use for something this… serious. Maybe you will know what to do to help them…even just a little."

Blackbird and Sunfeather padded away to tell their respective leaders. Wolfpaw stood alone, feeling awkward and strange as cats walked by him on their way out of the clearing, eyeing his curiously. Finally, the two she-cats returned to his side.

"Reedstar refused at first," Blackbird mewed, "but her pride can rot for all I care. If there's any chance of saving Splashedfur and Mudstreak, there's nothing she can do to stop me from taking it." The she-cat looked as if she was ready to spring into battle, her green eyes gleaming impatiently, her tail lashing from side to side. "Did Duskstar agree?"

"Yes, she was fine with it." Sunfeather nodded. Turning to Wolfpaw, she murmured. "Snakefang will inform Comettail and your littermates of your whereabouts."

Wolfpaw shifted his paws, mewed a quick reply. Blackbird was already walking away. "Come on, there's no time to loose." She beckoned them hurriedly with her tail before melting into the crowd of RiverClan cats. Wolfpaw and Sunfeather followed her, pushing into the group.