Chapter 2
The elder's declaration sent the camp into chaos, with cats running frantically to mutter with their friends and mates about the danger they were surely in and the evil they could all suddenly feel was approaching. Amberleaf, Yellowfang and the StarClan cats were the only ones unmoved, staring at each other with a mix of curiosity and wariness.
Hollyflower padded up to Amberleaf's side, breaking their bubble of stillness. "Well, this is surely going to be eventful," she joked, a futile attempt to lighten the mood. Amberleaf tore her gaze away from the newcomers to blink solemnly at her long-time companion.
"It most assuredly will be; we can only hope it isn't for the worst." The she-cats exchange a long glance, forest green meeting sea green in concern.
"Oh, well," Yellowfang interrupted gruffly. "At least now we can prepare. I really don't understand what all the fuss is about, myself. In my lifetime this happened practically every other moon, albeit a bit more privately," she glanced around at the chaos and muttered under her breath, "which was probably for the best, if this is what would have happened." She sighed but resolutely raised her voice to address the crowd. "But to be honest, you shouldn't be quite so worried. We're StarClan! Sure, we're not invincible, but we have gone through the trials of life and learnt from them, no matter how long we were in the world of the living." Yellowfang dipped her matted head to Mosspaw and his friends, who were standing restlessly at the edge of the gradually calming crowd; kits and apprentices that had died for some reason or other at an unfairly young age.
"So please, be calm. We medicine cats are quite used to receiving prophecies, from the days when were alive and still received them, so now we will just have to remember our old techniques to try and interpret the prophecy's meaning. We have created enough ourselves that it shouldn't be too hard!" Yellowfang had the entire camp's attention by then, and she got a tittering of laughter in response. "So, if all the leaders would go and find some fresh kill and then go and rest as soon as possible, we will meet in the leader's den at dawn tomorrow. Dismissed." With that curt conclusion, the old medicine cat turned abruptly back to the SkyClan cats to assign them temporary dens beside the medicine cats' den.
Amberleaf quietly observed how Yellowfang's speech had calmed the camp and brought back some semblance of order.
"I'm impressed," Amberleaf jumped as her voice was closely echoed by another's. Hollyflower purred with amusement and leant against her shoulder.
"They say great minds think alike; we must be the greatest of them all by now! But, in all seriousness, it is impressive. Yellowfang was never a leader of any of her clans in life, but she was still respected by all, even whilst she was exiled and hated by many. She might not be the most likable cat in the clans, but she is certainly a memorable one."
Amberleaf rubbed her head against the other she-cat's in agreement before the other cat reluctantly acknowledged the elephant in the room.
"So… Do you think whatever Micah and Skywatcher are here for has to do with the prophecy?"
Amberleaf sighed and suggested they get some freshkill like they had originally planned, then perhaps move to somewhere a bit quieter before they began that conversation. Hollyflower flicked her tail but quickly conceded.
The horizon was consuming the last of the sun's rays as the two she-cats settled on the shadowed branches of an oak, hungers sated and anxieties piqued. They leant against each other's warm flanks in silence for many minutes after they had climbed the tree, watching the darkness swallow SkyClan's diverse territories; moors sinking beneath shadows, the forests being blanketed in gloom, swampy marshland dissolving into a murky soup.
"So," Hollyflower started tentatively," Did you think on what I said?"
"…Yes."
"And?"
Amberleaf sighed heavily. "This isn't good."
Hollyflower snorted derisively. "No kidding, genius! That wasn't what I was asking though. I asked whether you think SkyClan is the enemy in the prophecy, or even connected to the prophecy in some other way that we don't yet understand!"
An uncharacteristic grunt from beside Hollyflower caused her to pause and examine her closest friend. Amberleaf had tucked her legs under her stomach and was nestled against Hollyflower, her only movement being the rise and fall of her flanks, her eyes staring impassively down at the branch beneath her paws. All in all, Hollyflower thought Amberleaf was acting very strangely. Her usual passion was just… not there anymore. It had vanished with the light of day.
"Amberleaf, sweetheart, are you… feeling alright?" Hollyflower gazed at her friend perturbed, all antagonistic energy drained from her body.
"Hmm?" Amberleaf glanced up vacantly. "Oh. Yeah. Sure."
Hollyflower knew her well enough to realise pushing for more now would only make things worse, even if she had no idea what things were. Instead, she let it go for the moment, curling around the cat at her side. Her mind was racing with unanswered questions, but she knew she must quiet her mind and live in the moment, just for a little while, to help Amberleaf get through whatever she was struggling with. She began to purr a queen's purr; the same purr she used to lull her kits to sleep on restless nights, the purr her mother had used for her, the purr that was synonymous with safety and comfort for queens and kits throughout the clans.
The two cats stayed on that branch the whole night, the swaying of the tree and the warmth of each other's presence enough to let them sleep peacefully until dawn broke. They woke to the sun's rays filtering tranquilly through the canopy, dappling the ground with light.
They stayed in their bubble of motionless serenity, breathing with each other, until Amberleaf's stomach began to grumble. She moved away from Hollyflower and stretched languidly, effectively destroying the atmosphere.
"Sadly, that succulent thrush I was talking about yesterday never came to be. However, I am feeling much improved, so I think we should hunt before we return to camp to observe what will hopefully be the conclusion of the meeting our leaders are having with the StarClan representatives. Do you agree?"
Hollyflower's tail twitched at her formality, but after a short moment of contemplation, agreed to her suggestion with enthusiasm. They leaped from branch to branch until they reached the forest floor, Hollyflower leading the way as they flew through the leaves.
"So, where do you want to hunt? By the stream, or just around here if you're still in the mood for a thrush, or we could go to the moors for a rabbit if you feel like a rabbit; in fact, just the other day Palebird and I were- "
"Let's go to the stream, I feel like a water vole today." Amberleaf cut Hollyflower off, effectively subduing her cheerfulness. Amberleaf set off without a backward glance, her companion following along behind her, tail trailing dejectedly along the forest floor.
"Hollyflower!" Amberleaf called harshly when she arrived at the stream without her companion. "Where have you gotten to now?" Her whiskers twitched when she saw Hollyflower walking up to stand next to her, her shoulders slumped and tail hanging lifelessly behind her. "Hollyflower…" she trailed off uneasily, her voice softer now.
"Yes?" Hollyflower's voice was hollow as she met Amberleaf's eyes for the first time that morning.
"I, um – I didn't – You're just – Urgh," Amberleaf faltered and looked away before taking a deep breath and breathing out," I'm sorry." She frowned at her paws before continuing. "I'm sorry for last night, I'm sorry for this morning, I should have just talked to you- ""No." Hollyflower cut her off forcefully. Amberleaf jerked her head back up to look at Hollyflower's face, trying to gauge what she did to gain such a reaction from her normally passive friend.
Hollyflower's mouth twitched but she kept her solemn expression. "I know you, sweetie, and I know that your way of dealing with things is not to talk about it with other cats, whether that be me, or one of your other friends, or even a medicine cat. That's just not you. So, I certainly don't want you talking with me about something you would prefer to keep private just because you feel guilty about how your anxieties were – or maybe even are – causing you to act. Of course, that doesn't mean I won't listen if you really want to tell me," Hollyflower let out a small purr and a grin, alleviating some of Amberleaf's worry, "But I certainly never want you to become soft or – StarClan forbid – compliant, not for anyone. Will you promise me, Amberleaf?"
Hollyflower's sudden mood swings were putting Amberleaf off a bit – that was her thing after all – so as Hollyflower scrutinized her with sincere sea green eyes, she did something unexpected: she laughed. A clear, heartfelt noise that filled both she-cats with relief and joy. Amberleaf purred with happiness and rubbed her cheek against her other half's, making the other cat purr as well.
"Thank you so much," Amberleaf's voice was so content, it was hard to think that only minutes ago she had been snapping and shutting out her best friend.
"How about that water vole now, huh?" Hollyflower teased good-naturedly, much more at ease now that her friend had cheered up considerably.
"Absolutely!" Amberleaf was practically bouncing on the spot now that they had reconciled with each other. "I'm dying of starvation over here!"
"You greedy rat, you ate last night!" Hollyflower exclaimed in mock horror. The friends grinned at each other.
"Race you!" Hollyflower tore off downstream with Amberleaf hot on her tail.
