Here we are, catching back up with our three ThunderClan cats! Oh, and what's this? A new POV? How interesting!
CHAPTER FOUR
Frankly, Grayfeather was glad Thorntail had sent them to Amberstar's den. She was growing very tired of her sister's games. They were warriors now, and they ought to start acting like it. What was worse was that Finchwing kept dragging Poolgaze into this. Grayfeather had always thought she could count on the younger she-cat to listen to her sensible wisdom, but the blue-furred warrior seemed glad to go along with Finchwing's antics.
It was only in the sake of keeping their friendship together that Grayfeather had agreed to go to the Twoleg nest during the day. She drew a line at waking up in the middle of the night, but if Finchwing wanted an adventure during the day...well, fine. Grayfeather would come along if her sister begged.
The three young she-cats walked into the leader's den and sat down in front of Amberstar. Their leader was young, only a few seasons older then they were, and very new at her job. With the counsel and guidance of the senior warriors, she was growing to be a thoughtful, well-informed leader, and someone that Grayfeather appreciated.
Amberstar flicked her golden-furred tail, her pale gray eyes meeting Finchwing's yellow. "Thank you for coming," she said with a smile.
"We're glad to," Grayfeather said graciously.
Amberstar nodded to her and Poolgaze. "Last night," she began, getting down to business, "I received a visit from a StarClan cat. Gingerstar."
"The Dark Forest War leader?" Poolgaze said, leaning forward, her blue eyes alight with interest.
Amberstar nodded. "Gingerstar led our Clan through one of our darkest hours, and though she is not famous throughout the Clans like her predecessor Firestar, she is still one of the most memorable leaders of ThunderClan." She coughed, then continued, "She told me that Dovewing wished to see me at the Moonpool—and that she wanted me to bring three of my brightest young warriors with me."
Grayfeather comprehended what Amberstar was implying immediately. "Oh, thank you, Amberstar!" she exclaimed with a smile. "I'm very flattered, I'm sure we all are—"
Finchwing flashed her an annoyed look, then interrupted her, saying, "Yes, thanks very much."
Poolgaze nodded, her eyes bright. "You really mean it?" she asked in excitement.
"Yes," Amberstar confirmed. "We'll go tonight. It's not too far, we'll be back by morning."
"Thank you, Amberstar!" Grayfeather repeated, smiling widely.
Their leader nodded her head and dismissed them. Nearly bursting with excitement, Grayfeather began to talk rapidly as soon as they left her den.
"Do you believe it?" she asked in elation. "We're going to the Moonpool! With Amberstar! How's that for an adventure, huh, Finchwing?"
Her sister rolled her eyes, but she was smiling. "It would be more fun if we were going by ourselves."
"I'm so excited!" Poolgaze beamed. "Why do you think she picked us to come?"
Finchwing grinned, showing her sharp, white teeth. "Because we're excellent warriors, of course. I'm bold and adventurous, and a fantastic fighter. You're smart and thoughtful and an excellent hunter. And Grayfeather's dutiful and full of flattery."
"Hey!" Grayfeather exclaimed, shoving her sister. "I'm good for more than that!"
Finchwing smiled and laughed. "I'm just kidding, Grayfeather."
She huffed and shoved her again. "Fine."
"So are we going to the Twoleg nest now?" Poolgaze asked hopefully.
Before Finchwing could agree, Grayfeather interjected and said quickly, "We need to be here when Amberstar leaves. Let's not today."
Finchwing scowled, but said reluctantly, "Yeah, Grayfeather's right. We'll go some other time, 'kay, Poolgaze?"
She nodded. "Yeah, I understand."
"Let's go get something to eat, then," Grayfeather suggested. Then she padded off toward the fresh-kill pile, ready to eat.
An hour or so later, Amberstar walked out of her den. With a flick of her tail, she summoned her deputy, Icefang, and murmured to him. He nodded in understanding, then leapt back down to the camp floor.
Amberstar walked down and greeted the three young she-cats. "It is time," she told them gravely.
"Let's go!" Finchwing exclaimed with a smile.
Amberstar led the three of them out of the camp, her head held high. A few cats called out greeting to their leader, which the gold-furred she-cat returned with a nod and a smile.
Poolgaze murmured to Finchwing in the back of their small party, leaving Grayfeather at the front with Amberstar.
"Why has Dovewing the Ancient called us to the Moonpool?" she asked ThunderClan's leader.
Amberstar shrugged. "I don't know. All Gingerstar said was that all would be revealed in time."
"Very vague," Grayfeather sniffed disapprovingly.
The older she-cat only smiled. "StarClan always is."
"That can be rather annoying," she observed.
"It is, at times," the golden-furred leader agreed. "But trust in StarClan. Our warrior ancestors know what they are doing."
They walked in silence for a while, listening to the sounds of the forest. Then Grayfeather, a little troubled, said uncertainly, "Amberstar? Do...do you really believe in the old stories, about the Three?"
Amberstar turned to her, blinking surprised gray eyes. "Well, of course I do!"
"See, I told you!" Poolgaze exclaimed victoriously.
Grayfeather frowned, confused and doubtful. "But...really? Even the parts about silly things like going back in time and reading minds and all?"
"Yes," Amberstar purred. "I do believe it. It's our history."
"Hmm," Grayfeather mused. She still wasn't so sure.
They reached the WindClan border and hopped the stream. Amberstar led them confidently upstream through WindClan's territory.
"Won't WindClan be upset that we're traveling in their territory?" Poolgaze asked in a nervous tone.
"Cats of every Clan are allowed to travel travel to the Moonpool without interference," Amberstar explained. "Not even Ironstar would violate that law."
Grayfeather nodded in agreement. While WindClan's leader Ironstar was a fierce old warrior and an inspiring leader to his cats, he despised ThunderClan. Even still, cats journeying to the Moonpool—even cats from other Clans—were protected by the warrior code.
After a short while, the sun set and the moon rose. Their twin colors mingled together in the twilight, staining the sky a deep and muddled purple. Soon the air darkened, and bright, twinkling stars lit up the night.
Gradually, the sounds of the giggling stream deepened into the gentle murmur of a splashing pond.
"We are almost there," Amberstar said gravely.
Grayfeather smiled, trying to contain her excitement. The stream turned a corner. The four cats followed it, and she gasped in awe.
Here the border stream had its start in a pond surrounded by pale gray stone. A small fall of water cascaded down a short rock face and into the clear pool, sparkling with the reflection of the starlight.
Sitting in front of the Moonpool, her head bowed, was a small gray-furred she-cat, her tail wrapped around her stationary body. A faint glow rose off her body, silver in the starlight.
She lifted her head, revealing pale green-blue eyes. "I have been waiting for you," she said in greeting, her voice soft.
Respectfully, Amberstar dipped her head. Hurriedly, Grayfeather followed suit, anxious to impress this wondrous stranger. She could sense Finchwing and Poolgaze behind her doing the same.
"Dovewing," their leader said reverently.
"Come, Amberstar," Dovewing instructed her. "StarClan wishes to speak to you and give you guidance. Drink from the Moonpool, and sleep."
Amberstar nodded and padded up to the water. She laid down beside it, then lapped up a few mouthfuls, before closing her eyes with a sigh and falling asleep.
Uncertainly, Grayfeather took a step forward.
"No," Dovewing warned. "Not you three." She stood up and walked closer to them. "Hmm," she murmured. "So, she chose you...I suppose you will work..."
"Excuse me?" Finchwing said, sounding both confused and slightly offended.
Dovewing nodded, meeting the golden tabby's amber eyes. "Forgive me. I am so alone here...I forget my manners. Please, sit."
Warily, the three young she-cats obeyed her gentle command.
"You have a long journey ahead of you," she said softly.
"What do you mean?" Poolgaze asked shyly.
"You will see," Dovewing said vaguely.
Finchwing scowled, and for once, Grayfeather had to agree. This mystery nonsense was growing very old, very quickly.
Poolgaze, however, seemed content with that answer. The Tagalong never did question orders, she reflected, even when they were orders worth questioning.
"There is evil afoot," Dovewing said sadly. "And only you can stop it."
"What?" Grayfeather said in alarm.
"Really?" Finchwing said eagerly, almost at the same time. The sisters glared at each other, then looked back to the ancient guardian of the Clans.
"Your task will be hard," Dovewing continued, "but it will save the Clans in more ways than you can imagine."
Finchwing grinned in excitement. Of course. This was just her thing—at last, a real adventure. Grayfeather wanted no part in this, but she couldn't bring herself to say no to such a mythical cat.
"Are you really alive?" she asked instead. "Like the stories say? Or are you just a StarClan cat?"
"I am alive," Dovewing answered her. "The guardian of the Clans. But I cannot do my work alone. Will you agree to this? Will you save the Clans?"
"Of course!" Finchwing exclaimed, her amber eyes shining with excitement.
"Yes," Poolgaze agreed.
Grayfeather hesitated, but the pleading look in her sister's eyes finally won her over. "Oh, alright," she grumbled.
"Then go to the pool, and drink," Dovewing instructed.
They approached the water and lapped it up. Grayfeather's tongue burned cold with fiery starlight, and she felt her vision grow fuzzy. A strange mist of pinkish-orange filled her view, and all she remembered before her world went dark was a terrible sense of betrayal, and a cry for her mother, back safe in the ThunderClan camp.