This is the shortened version of Find It, made to fit the challenge requirements.

Barkpaw watched a white tom approach. He narrowed, then widened, his eyes. It can't be!

It was. Snowspring, alive, fit, and healthy, was coming towards him. Then, Barkpaw noticed something. His tail drooped. Snowspring really was dead.

"Barkpaw," Snowspring meowed. "StarClan must tell you something."

"Is it how to cure the illness?" Barkpaw asked.

To his surprise, the white tom shrugged. "I don't know. They sent me here to greet you. I believe another is coming."

"I'm here," the deep mew of a tom rang through the trees. A faint ginger tom padded forward. His orange eyes sparkled, and Barkpaw saw the reflection of fire within them. Bright cream-furred streaks ran around him, looking like yellow. He seems like a fiery cat. Despite being almost invisible, his flame-colored pelt seemed to solidify his form.

"My name is Blazing Pelt," the tom introduced. "I was named me after the only herb which could cure a sickness, hoping I would spread peace and unity among the newly-formed clans. The herb that I was named after is what can help the sickness that is ailing ShadowClan, and all the other clans around the lake."

"You know the cure?" Barkpaw asked excitedly.

Blazing Pelt dipped his head. "I do. But, in order to get it, you must make another Great Journey, for it grows in the little wilderness left of the pine forest there."

His hopes fell. "So we can't get it?"

He shook his head. "No, you can. It just won't be easy."

"What's it called?"

"The Blazing Star," he murmured. He lifted his head. "There is something I must tell you. You could call it a prophecy."

"A prophecy?" Barkpaw echoed, his eagerness returned.

"As I said, you could think of it as one, but I consider it a message. It has none of the mystique that prophecies carry. Snowspring, would you do the honors?"

Barkpaw started. He had forgotten about the whire tom. Snowspring stepped forward, and Blazing Pelt slipped away.

"Barkpaw, this is not much, but it is important," he closed his eyes, and took a deep breath. "Find it. Find the Blazing Star, or die."

He blinked at him as the words sunk in. "Or die?" He repeated.

But StarClan and its white warrior was already fading away.

Another fight had broken out. And this time, it involved all the cats.

Barkpaw let out a hiss of annoyance. He was sitting back, watching the patrol squabble. Then he decided it got too far for him not to try anything. Claws broke out, and soon cats were limping and bloody. Barkpaw's temper finally broke.

"That's it!" He bellowed, louder than anything. Instantly, the cats stopped struggling and fell silent, staring at him. "We're supposed to be working together to find the herb, the Blazing Star," he reminded them. "Instead, we were squabbling like kits. How will this help the clans. How will this help your clan? If we are to succeed, then we must work together." His voice quieted. "Any ideas?" Silence followed.

"Who are you?"

"I'm Barkpaw." A murmur of surprise followed.

"I vote for Barkpaw to be leader of us!" A voice finally called.

"I'm no leader," Barkpaw protested immediately. "I'm not even a warrior!"

"But you have the qualities of a leader," another cat answered.

"I still think you, Barkpaw, should be our leader!" The first voice called.

"I can't," Barkpaw insisted, but he was drowned out.

"Who are you?"

"Stoneclaw," the warrior answered. "Of WindClan."

"Well, does anyone second Stoneclaw?" Barkpaw asked, sighing.

"Nobody does!" Palefoot called out, but she was drowned out by a chorus of agreement.

"I second that!"

"Me too!"

"Barkpaw should be our leader!"

Barkpaw looked down. I shouldn't be leader, he thought. I'll lead them to ruin. But they won't take no for an answer, so I guess I have no choice.

"If you are sure, then I will be your leader," Barkpaw finally meowed.

FOUR MOONS LATER

"Twitchstar!" Tumblekit and Starlingpaw burst into the camp. The situation had forced the leader to allow kits out of the camp alone, as long as they knew their way around.

"What is it, Tumblekit, Starlingpaw?" he meowed.

"The patrol is back!" Starlingpaw cried. "And they have the Blazing Star!"

Twitchstar was on his paws instantly. Most of the surrounding cats were in a daze. They looked curiously at their leader.

"They're back!" Twitchstar yowled gleefully. "The patrol is back and they have the cure!"

The patrol brought just enough of the Blazing Star back for all the clans. They had been in luck, as the spot where most of it grew was still intact. Twitchstar was elated at their success. The clans were surprised when they heard that a mere apprentice had taken charge of the patrol.

Twitchstar had given Barkpaw his warrior name, Barkblaze, in honor of the Blazing Star. Soon after, he conferred with the other warriors that had gone to bring back the herb, and they agreed with him that he was ready for an apprentice already. So they, to Barkblaze's surprise, gave him Rollingpaw as an apprentice.

Of course, there was a downside to the mission. Four cats had died, Darkfur to a monster, Silverpad falling in the mountains, Planteyes of disease, and Tunnelstorm to a fox. Tumblepaw and Rollingpaw missed their father, Darkfur, dearly.

Twitchstar watched Barkblaze train Rollingpaw, and recognized the leadership with him. And he knew, without doubt, that Barkblaze would be the next deputy.

Seasons later, Barkblaze, deputy of ShadowClan, sat and watched the sunset of his life.

Tumblestorm crouched beside him, desperately trying to stop his life from slipping away. But nothing could stop the night that was approaching. Darkness fell over Barkblaze, and he did not flee from it. He was done running. It was time for him to end the day.

Long version will be up soon!

—Foreststar