Chapter Four

Lionblaze had never seen anything like Highstones. Tall and silhouetted against the dawns light, they were brilliant. Not nearly as tall as the mountains back home, but still . . .

"We can get there by Sunhigh," he mewed thoughtfully.

"And then what?" Ivypool asked. "We can't contact Starclan until Moonhigh, right? Are we supposed to just hang around in the heat?"

"No," Jayfeather mewed softly. Lionblaze looked at him. "I need to see the land. . ."

Lionblaze almost reminded his brother he couldn't see anything, but didn't argue. As they reached the top of Highstones, Lionblaze gasped. Twoleg nests . . . everywhere.

"Keep close to me," Lionblaze commanded Dovewing and Ivypool, and he placed his tail over Jayfeathers shoulder. Lionblaze walked down the alley, not wanting to disturb any kittypets, but stopped when one confronted him.

"We're just around," Lionblaze told the cat.

"We're looking for a cat named Princess," Jayfeather explained, and, though Lionblaze knew he couldn't see it, he glared at him. Mouse-brain . . .

"Princess?" The kittypet asked, licking a paw. "Just over there, she is. You'll have to watch yourself. Cranky if you bother her during a nap."

"Thank you," Lionblaze responded, and the cats in turn ducked under a hole in the fence that the kittypet had gestured to. An old, tabby she-cat lay under a bush, licking her paw. She looked up when she heard the cats. She squinted at Lionblaze.

"Firestar?" she croaked.

Lionblaze looked at his friends, then back at her. "Ah, no. My name is Lionblaze . . ."

Princess stared for a moment before chuckling softly. "Of course. Your pelt . . ." She looked him up and down. "Are you a Thunderclan cat?"

"I am," Lionblaze nodded. "Firestar is my grandfather."

"You're Squirrelpaws kits?"

"Um, yes." It would take too long and be too difficult to explain.

"And I'm Dovewing!" The bright young she-cat mewed. "And this is my sister Ivypool."

"Cloudtail is our grandfather," Ivypool mewed coolly.

Princess looked up sharply. "Cloudtail, you say? How is he? Is he alright?"

"He's great, Princess."

She nodded, satisfied. "What can I do for you cats? You've traveled a long ways."

"I needed to be near you," Jayfeather mewed suddenly. "I've heard . . . this place . . ."

Princess narrowed her eyes. "You can't see, can you?"

"No. My name is Jayfeather. I'm Lionblaze's brother. Thunderclan's medicine cat."

"A blind medicine cat." The old she-cat chuckled. "Now I've heard it all." She stood. "You must all know that I'm thoroughly proud of all of you." She licked them all affectionately on the heads, then turned. "It was wonderful to meet you, but I need to get back to my kitchen."

Lionblaze shook his head, amazed any cat could live here.

"Hello! Hello, there!" Dovewing looked up, twitching her tail. A black cat smiled down at them from a barn, and he leaped down onto some hay. "Can we help you folks?"

"We're just passing through," Lionblaze replied. "We're on our way to Highstones."

The black cat perked up. "Highstones, you say? For what?"

"We need to get to the Moonstone," Jayfeather replied.

"Moonstone! I haven't heard talk like that in moons!" The cat jumped down in front of them. "Hey, Barley! Come check this out!"

A white and black tom trotted over from the inside of the barn. He looked at the beaming black cat expectantly.

"I must assume you're Ravenpaw," Lionblaze meowed, amused.

Ravenpaw brightened even more. "Yeah! They still talk about me in Thunderclan?"

"How did you know we're from Thunderclan?" Asked Ivypool suspiciously.

"I'd never forget the scent that I was born too," Ravenpaw declared. "No matter where you live! Tell me, though, how is Firestar? Is he still . . .?"

"He's very well," Lionblaze mewed. "The only leader left that made the Journey."

"Who took the others places?"

"Russetstar of Shadowclan, Onestar of Windclan, and Mistystar of Riverclan," Lionblaze recited.

Ravenpaw nodded, as though satisfied, then looked at Lionblaze. "Are you Firestars kin?"

"We all are," Dovewing put in. "Ivypool and I are Whitewings kits!"

"Cloudtails daughter?" Dovewing nodded.

Ravenpaw looked at Lionblaze, amused. "Squirrelpaw and Brambleclaw are your parents no doubt."

"Leafpool and Crowfeather," Jayfeather meowed suddenly.

Ravenpaw looked shocked. "But, Leafpool is a medicine cat! And Crowfeather, isn't he of Windclan?"

"Indeed," Jayfeather mewed dryly.

Ravenpaw shook his head. "What have I missed . . .?"

"We need to go," Lionblaze said, looking at the sky. "We need to be there at Moonhigh."

"May Starclan be with you," Ravenpaw told them.

"And you," Lionblaze replied. The four cats set off again towards Highstones.