Chapter 2

The gathering was interesting just as they had said it would be. The other three clans were already there. Skystar jumped up onto the bolder in the middle of the clearing. "Duskcaln wishes to speak first." Her clear voice rang through the clearing. Cleverpaw and Rainpaw sat down next to each other looking at there leader with pride and anticipation. She began speaking again, "Starclan is uneasy." She began, " I think… that pray will be scarce this new-leaf, We should make a truce until Starclan sees we can work together as one." There was a burst of out rage at this suggestion. "Why should any clan make a truce with another!"

"Why would any cat make a truce?"

" Its uncatlike!"

" That's true." Cleverpaw whispered. Rainpaw shrugged, he was to busy thinking of what could cause Skystar to say such a thing.

Skystar waited for the clans to setle down and then continued. "Starclan visited, Fadedstripe, our medicine cat two days ago in a vision. It showed shore destruction unless we united as one for one leaf-bare and one new-leaf."

A cat behind Skystar stood up, " And why should we trust you?" He asked, "This could be a trap to take over our hunting grounds." It was Hanging star of Nightclan. Skystar stared at him, " What would Duskcaln gain from that? This land needs four clans not one large one."

Another cat behind her stood, it was Bleakstar from Dayclan. "That's only talk Skystar and you know it, we all want more space for hunting, I to can not beleve you. The last leader stood and walked over to Skystar. It was Ravenstar from Dawnclan. "We will agree to this truce with you Duskcaln, but will ask questions about your caln or another clan in our territory.

Skystars face seamed to brighten, "Thank you Ravenstar and we agree to your terms as we will do the same."

The two caln leaders bowed and Skystar sat down away from the rock having said all she needed. There deputy, Thundercloud came to sit by her and share tongs. Hanging star spoke next of how his clan needed time to recuperate after a recent flood.

"Idiot." Rainpaw muttered, "He says he needs time to recuperate after turning Skystar's request down."

Cleverpaw nodded slowly, "I can understand why he's worried though."

Rainpaw looked at her incredulously and she said quickly, "Its never happened before, there's bound to be misgiving."

The rest of the gathering happened without event and soon they were heading home.

Next day Cleverpaw and Rainpaw went out hunting with their mentors. Rainpaw cout a sparrow and a mouse wile Cleverpaw cout a vole and a mouse. It was a warm day and the forest was alive with pray. "What is the best way to catch a rabbit?" Leafttail asked.

"Sneaking quietly toward it…" Rainpaw began and Cleverpaw finished,

" Then a sudden jump!"

"Very good." Redclaw said, "Can you smell a rabbit anywhere near?"

The two friends sniffed the air. Cleverpaw answered first. "Behind the bush."

Rainpaw crept slowly toward it then jumped. He came back a few minutes later empty handed, "I was to noisy in the jump."

"Good try." Cleverpaw said supportively and Rainpaw shot her a thankful glance.

The two mentors smiled at each other and said. "Our new deputy wants us to evaluate you tomorrow on your hunting skills." Redclaw said, "You must go in separate directions hunting, You wont see us, but we'll see you."

The apprentices looked at each other excitedly, "Okay!"

That night it was hard for Rainpaw to sleep, he dreamed again, this time is showed his dead mother, Eveningflower. She spoke softly and said a strange frase, "Look for darkness in light, that is the key to surviving." He sat bolt upright then relaxed thinking. Why would mum say that? His mother had died giving birth to him and his two sisters. His sisters hadn't survived and he was left with only the memory of his mothers voice and feeling. He had never seen her before, seeing as she had died before he had even opened his eyes. Yet he knew her in an instant, but what could that message mean? Look for darkness in light that is the key to surviving. He slowly fell back to sleep until Redclaws cool voice woke him and Cleverpaw from sleep.

"You will hunt near Lone tree." Leaftail told Rainpaw, "And Cleverpaw will hunt near Moon River. The two friends nodded to their mentors then smiled encouragingly at one another before heading off in separate directions.

As Rainpaw headed for Lone Tree, a tree in the middle of a clearing with no friends near it, his mind realed, and wondered back to the dream he'd had of the small black she-cat. Was that the darkness he should look for? No, it couldn't be…could it. His sent glands picked up the sent of squirrel and he distinctively went into a crouch. He pawed quietly nearer then in a flash he had killed it and buried it to come back for later.

He had bagged another squirrel, two mice and a Sparrow when he returned to camp. He soon found that Cleverpaw had done well to. She had three mice, a vole and a squirrel clamped in her mouth. They dumped there ketches in the piles and each took a mouse settling down to eat. They could hear Orangepaw and Leappaw gloating that they had seen a fox wile out on patrol with their mentors, Tigereye and Bluetail.

"Yea and ran off squealing for their mummy." Cleverpaw said smilingly. They both laughed and, having finished eating, walked into the apprentice den hoping to sleep. They had been hunting all day and were feeling as if they could sleep for a moon.

Rainpaw started cleaning and said between licks said, "I had a really strange dream last night."

"Really?" Cleverpaw asked, "Me to. Your mom came up to me and said, 'Look in the shadows for the key to the forest.'"

Rainpaw looked at her, "That's similar to what she said to me, 'Look for darkness in light that is the key to surviving.'"

"That's strange." Cleverpaw said, "What do you suppose it means?"

Rainpaw shrugged, "No idea… I was hopping you could tell me."

Cleverpaw looked thoughtful then said, "Nope! Nothing."

Next day Rainpaw and Leaftail went out on patrol. Rainpaw sniffed the air and bristled. "Smell something?" Leaftail asked.

"Nightclan." Rainpaw said and Leaftail nodded.

"Go warn the clan…" He sniffed again and said, "Were under attack."

Rainpaw nodded and darted off toward camp. He practically ran into Skystar at the entrance. "Rainpaw? What?" She asked.

"Were under attack!"

"Warriors! To me!" she called just as the Nightclan appeared in the entrance.