AN: So, I'm going to put this at the beginning because I think this chapter needs a warning. Not a trigger warning or anything, just a boredom warning. You see, there is a lot of exposition in this chapter, put into dialogue form, which I think is very boring, but it had to be done.

Secondly, most of the background/story Micah is telling is canon, but this is obviously not a canon fanfiction and is following my own storyline, so you will find that the AU part of my story is beginning to kick in around about now. Please don't come to me saying 'This never happened, what are you blabbering about,' etc, etc, because it did happen in my universe. Also, as I'm building the characters you might notice that their personalities aren't the same as they are in the books. This is because they are now my characters, and I follow my own rules.

Lastly, I have put up a little poll on my profile that is for this story. If you want, quickly go check it out and vote on it, as it relates to how much explaining you want to me to do once I've finished the story, in case I completely lose you somewhere along the way.

But apart from that, thanks for reading my story! I really appreciate any reviews that you guys give me, and I will try to reply to them privately.

-Amber

Chapter 6

"What!" Amberleaf's incredulous exclamation was echoed back to her by the trees on either side of the river. "Why would we do that?"

"Because," Micah explained solemnly, glancing between the two cats, "we need warriors who have the intelligence and strength to help us, and we need as many of them as we can get. I thought you two had no mates, therefore no ties that could obstruct you from coming with me, but if you are each other's mates, that will work well, so long as you both agree to accompany me."

For a long time, there was silence between the cats as they comprehended the decision they were facing. Eventually, Hollyflower broke the silence.

"Who else have you asked, and who has agreed to accompany you?"

Micah hesitated before revealing, "I have been exploring whilst I've been here, and on one of my adventures I have come across the first clan cats."

Amberleaf jerked her head up in astonishment. "The first clan cats? Who are they? Did you know them?"

The tom smiled. "Of course, I knew them. They were the ones who made me a SkyClan cat. Before I met them, I was a rogue living on a farm not far from the clans' first territory."

Hollyflower became curious when Micah hummed, deep in memories. She gently drew him out of his thoughts, asking, "How did you find the clans?"

He shook his head, looking at them in turn before answering pensively. "Perhaps you should sit yourselves down for this conversation. We will no doubt be here for a while."

Amberleaf and Hollyflower exchanged an intrigued glance but shrugged and pawed the dusty ground, finding themselves acceptable spots to settle into whilst Micah unfolded his tale.

"You see, when I was a kit, I used to have dreams. Dreams of cats I had never seen before, living on the open moor. For so long, I agonised over these dreams, for they felt so real, like I was there with them, but the cats who shared my barn would always dismiss them, saying all cats have dreams and that I mustn't brood over them.

"It wasn't until I saved a cat from being eaten by a dog, I realised that I had been right all along, for she was one of the cats I had seen in my dreams. I talked to her, and she told me she had dreams too – dreams of moths and spirit-cats – different from me, yet the same. Mothflight – for that was her name – felt that she had to go on a quest regarding her visions, so I persuaded her to let me accompany her, as I would not be left in the dark once again about the purpose of my dreams.

"Together we followed the moth that she had dreamt about. We travelled to a place called Highstones, and there she found the most wonderful thing… Moonstone. In her dream, she spoke to cats of the clans who had died – a group which she named StarClan – and there she received instructions as to who would be the first medicine cat for each clan. I was lucky enough to be chosen to be SkyClan's medicine cat, although at the time I wasn't even a clan cat.

"I agreed to my position, and SkyClan's leader at the time – the first leader – Clear Sky, also agreed, but was always wary of me. From there, I met all the other medicine cats and their clans, and we learnt all we could from each other, discovering new things as time went on.

"But all good things must come to an end, and so did this. After only a few moons, I took Mothflight to get sap from a tree in SkyClan's territory to treat one of her sick clanmates, but alas, Clear Sky could not trust me. He was bitter and guarded, and so there was a fight. I was in the tree at the time, but StarClan was not smiling upon me, and I stood upon a rotten branch too weak to hold my weight. I crashed to the ground, the branch landing on me and crushing my spine.

"I died soon after, but you see, I know all those cats, and despite their flaws, they are brave and honourable, and they have created a noble race of cats who respect the warrior code and are thriving for it. I have requested for them to accompany me to fight the threat to SkyClan's ancestors, and a large amount of them have agreed, for they wish to atone for their descendants' despicable actions – failing SkyClan in our greatest time of need, and then hiding it from the future generations."

The she-cats sat through the story, enraptured by the ancient world Micah was creating in their minds. Hollyflower murmured, "What happened to SkyClan, really? Firestar and many others have shared with us the visions they had whilst they were alive, but I cannot believe that a whole clan could have been ousted from the forest by Twolegs when the other clans were still living happily, just as before."

Micah sighed unhappily, recalling events unknown to the majority of cats in StarClan, especially the youngsters. "You are infuriatingly perceptive, you know. Most cats would simply listen to my story, or others' stories, or anything really, and simply accept it as fact. You, obviously, don't. Whilst I find talking with a cat who isn't a fur-brain refreshing, it is rather inconvenient for me."

The pale tom rambled on, vexing Amberleaf until she finally forced out, "Perhaps you could answer Hollyflower's question?" in a rather tight manner. Micah narrowed his eyes at the ginger cat for a moment, and Hollyflower braced herself for her mate to receive a tongue lashing, but the tom simply dipped his head in acknowledgement with a twitch of his whiskers.

"Very well," Micah drawled. "The truth is, Twolegs were only the last straw. Before they arrived with their ground-eating monsters, SkyClan was attacked."

"By what?" Hollyflower queried, intrigued once more.

Frowning, Micah gave a terse answer. "Cats."

"One of the other Clans? Or rogues perhaps?" Amberleaf said, thinking out loud. "No way it was kittypets."

"No." Micah shook his head, his eyes grave and dark. "It was both a Clan, rogues, and more. It was the likes of which we had never seen before."

Amberleaf growled under her breath, still put on edge by the strange tom. "Do say what you mean, for StarClan's sake. We haven't got forever." Hollyflower placed her tail upon her mate's flank in a soothing gesture, but nevertheless murmured an agreement after a quick glance at the sky.

"I apologise for Amberleaf's rudeness, but I must say, she isn't wrong. It is past moonhigh already."

Micah raised a brow at her statement. "I'm afraid I did warn you before I started that this would be a lengthy conversation. Would you like to continue, or shall we postpone it for the night, so we might all get some rest?"

Hollyflower hesitated. "If we were to accompany you, when would you be planning to set out?"

"To go home?" Micah licked his paw and ran it over a pale ear, contemplating. "I should say not before the sunrise after this one."

Hollyflower thought about his answer for a heartbeat before exchanging a nod with Amberleaf. "In that case, I should say that we should sleep. I know Amberleaf and I are still burning with questions, but to have a clear mind, we must rest." She nodded to the tom as she rose with her mate beside her.

"Goodnight to you, Micah. We will meet with you here at sunup, if you are agreeable."

A quick nod from the tom and the cats exchanged their farewells before retiring to their nests.

As the she-cats settled into their nests, Hollyflower touched her tail tip to her mate's shoulder, gaining her attention.

"We must think hard about whether we should go with them to SkyClan. They are no doubt in need of help, but we too just received a prophecy that could mean trouble is stalking our hunting grounds. Should we risk it?"

Amberleaf gazed at her mate with soft eyes. "I don't know, but I can tell that you want to help them." Hollyflower attempted to argue but was silenced by a tail swept across her muzzle.

"It is just who you are, and I love you for it, but we must think this through once we have the entire story from Micah. I say we go and listen at sunup, then make our decision. Do you agree?"

"You're a real pain in the tail, you know that?" Hollyflower grumbled as she curled up against Amberleaf's warm flank. "StarClan knows why I put up with you."

Amberleaf's ear twitched, but her eyes were bright with amusement and endearment when she glanced at her mate.

"I love you too, Hollyflower. Sleep well."