Cats of the Clan - Seven

It was already sun high and I knew that I had to tell Rainbreath about my little trip soon, or it would be too late.1

“Rainbreath?” I padded up to my mentor.2

“Oh, Flowerpaw! I was just going to go out on a hunting patrol with Redsky and Smokepaw, and I wanted you to come.” She seemed to be in a good mood today.3

“I’m sorry.” I bowed my head in an apology. “But I am going to the moon pool with Tanglepath and Pebblepaw.”4

“Why?” Rainbreath had a confused expression on her face.5

“StarClan sent me a dream saying to go to the moon pool with them tonight.” I felt bad lying to Rainbreath.6

“Oh, well is anything wrong?” Her expression went from confused to concerned.7

“Oh, um, no.” I lied again.8

“Okay then.” She smiled and out of the corner of my eye I saw Redsky and my brother walking up behind me.9

“So you ready to go?” Smokepaw asked me.10

“She has somewhere else to go.” Rainbreath covered for me.11

“Oh.” He gave me a look before the three padded out of camp.12

I walked to the medicine cat den and Tanglepath and Pebblepaw were talking quickly to each other, almost like they were arguing. I cleared my throat to announce my presence.13

“Oh hello Flowerpaw. We were just about to get going.” Tanglepath was arranging some of the herbs to make them look more organized.14

I nodded and sat down until she was done.15

A little while later we were walking out of camp and towards the lake. “See, we are going the long way, because I need to find a new place to find cat mint, and Swiftstar has asked me to make the borders as we go.” She sighed. “Last night has thrown everyone in camp into an uproar. I had to give Sandstalker poppy seeds so that he would calm down enough to get to sleep.” The young medicine cat looked way past her years thanks to the recent stress and lack of sleep. 16

We continued walking to the lake and searched around the marsh for cat mint and other herbs that could be useful. We then went to the border line and began marking it. By the time we got to wear we had to meet with the other cats the sun was almost over the horizon.17

“Hello Tanglepath, Pebblepaw, and Flowerpaw is it?” Cherrypelt and Lightstep came padding up to us. “I know that Waterwhisker and Grasspaw from RiverClan are almost here, I can smell them on the wind.”18

Sure enough a few moments later three cats came padding up towards where we were standing. Sure enough Icetalon was walking with them, and by now the medicine cats were picking up on all the extra cats.19

“So, while we’re waiting, how about you guys tell us why you ALL are here.” Waterwhisker commanded.20

“StarClan sent us the message.” Lightstep quickly spoke up.21

“Yes, we know that, but why?” Tanglepath questioned.22

“They said it was to help our clans.” Icetalon replied.23

“So you know nothing more than that?” Cherrypelt asked us.24

“No.” Once again I felt a pang of guilt for lying to them all.25

There was a moment of silence before the approach of the ShadowClan medicine cats could be heard.26

“Hello!” Cloudyeyes meowed in greeting. “What is this?” He was referring to the three extra cats tagging along.27

“StarClan send us.” Lightstep said while looking directly at Pantherpaw, who was looking at us extra cats with a scared expression.28

“Oh, well we better get on our way then.” The old gray tom seemed to be in a cheery mood as we made our way up the small stream.29

After a long moment of silence we finally reached the moon pool. We padded into the small cave and I gasped. This was the cave where the dream took place. I looked around to see the moon pool was where the shadows covered in the dream.30

“Just stick your noses into the water and you SHOULD be able to talk to StarClan.” Tanglepath said accusingly, as if she was now doubting why we came here. I looked at Lightstep and she nodded. 31

All ten cats crouched by the water’s edge and stuck their nose in. I didn’t feel a change at first, but then I noticed it, the medicine cats were gone, and only Pantherpaw, Icetalon, and Lightstep remained.32

“What are you guys doing here?” Pantherpaw was the first to break the silence.33

“We had to talk! Are clans are at war!” I exclaimed.34

Icetalon cocked his head in confusion. “What do you mean our clans are at war?” I shot Lightstep a look but she just shrugged her shoulders shamelessly.35

“Last night WindClan and ShadowClan got together and attacked ThunderClan.” Icetalon’s jaw dropped.36

“How could you let your clan attack after what was said in the dream?” He spat.37

Lightstep sighed and put her tail on Icetalon’s shoulders to calm him. “I had to make a choice! My clan needed me and I didn’t know whether or not the dream was real… but then I got my clan to stop the attack!” The small brown warrior defended herself.38

“Why was ThunderClan attacked anyways?” Icetalon asked the question that was nagging at the back of my mind.39

“It was Featherwings’ and Bramblefoot’s doing. They said that Swiftstar had grown week, and was no longer fit to lead your clan. They’re plan was to come in and kill him, and then appoint who they saw fit to be leader, and they would also take their fair share of your land of course.” Lightstep sighed. “But enough of that, we must figure out what we need to do!” It was then that our four ‘guardian’ cats appeared to help us.40

“Hello Flowerpaw.” Princess meowed in greeting. “Your paths have all changed.”41

“What?” We all said at once.42

“We did not see that tension among the clans ran so high.” Princess sighed. “And you all must go on a journey together.”43

“You will leave the day after the gathering, and you are to tell no one of your leaving.” Tallstar smiled at us. “You will journey to the place where your ancestor’s once lived.”44

“And there you will find the solution to your problem.” Mistyfoot put her tail around Icetalon’s shoulder. “This will not be an easy journey.”45

“But we know you can handle it.” Cedarheart continued. “You have all been chosen for special reasons, not only do you have the power of the sight, but you have many other great qualities as well.”46

“Flowerpaw, you are a great hunter, though you do not know it yet.” Princess put her tail around my shoulder.47

“Lightstep, you have a great show of command, and I know you will make a great leader one day.” She smiled at Tallstar’s praise.48

“Icetalon, you and fast and cunning, and the fastest in your clan. You’re speed and wits are the qualities that make you perfect for this.” The young warrior touched his muzzle to Mistyfoot’s.49

“And Pantherpaw. You know how to mend wounds and heal cats, you are a very important part of this.” The black apprentice nodded in recognition of her skills.50

“You must go back now.” Princess stepped away from me. “We will be around to help you out.”51

I woke up to see that the other cats were slowly stirring. After they had all woken up Tanglepath spoke. “What did StarClan have in store for you?”52

“They just said that we must keep our clans from fighting, and that if we don’t our lives as we know it will be over.” Lightstep quickly replied. 53

Cherrypelt snorted. “You’ll need all the luck of StarClan for that.”