A/N: Sorry I didn't update any of my stories on the weekend like I said I would try to. I don't think I wrote a thing all weekend! -shame- Sorry, people! And I'm also sorry that I rushed Fernclaw onto her journey on the last chapter. And I'm sorry for not updating A Chunk of Jagged Jade.
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Fernclaw's fur was, once again, buffeted by harsh, cold wind. She stared at the entrance/exit to the DreamClan camp, and she turned to her mother, who had come to stand beside her, pain flecked in her eyes.
"You're leaving, Whitewhisker says," Gingerstar mewed quietly.
"Yes. But I'll be back, don't worry, mom. StarClan lights my path," Fernclaw purred, nuzzling her mother.
"But what are you leaving for?" Gingerstar questioned.
Fernclaw dipped her head with respect for Gingerstar as a leader and as her mother. "It is my journey, and mine alone. StarClan have a prophecy that you and Herbspice know, but I do not. I know it has something to do with me. Probably 'Fern will save the Clan' or something," purred Fernclaw, amused.
"It's not a good prophecy, Fernclaw. StarClan refuse to tell you, and they don't want me or Herbspice to tell you. It's because it would probably deter you from going on this journey. It is the paws of fate and destiny at work, Fernclaw." Gingerstar dipped her head with respect for a Clanmate and a daughter.
"I will be back, mom. Leaf-bare and greencough will not take me," Fernclaw meowed. She touched noses with her mother, then waved in tail in farewell. "Until my journey ends."
Fernclaw padded out into the forest, and Gingerstar stood, watching. Proud and scared at the same time. Proud, because her daughter was still so young in her eyes, yet StarClan lay a path for her to walk. A path of courage and pain and suffering. She was proud Fernclaw was fulfilling the prophecy, even though she didn't know it. She was scared, because she knew Patchflame or Fernclaw would die, and there would be one from four…
OOO
Fernclaw padded through DreamClan's territory. Snow from leaf-bare was falling lightly right now, but soon, Fernclaw seemed to sense, it would get heavier.
Fernclaw's brown tabby pelt shown the white snowflakes that landed on her pelt, then swiftly and surely melted away.
Fernclaw's paws had the very beginnings of an ache as she came to the border of DreamClan. She stared at the abyss that was BoulderClan territory. She knew BoulderClan's medicine cat wouldn't object to coming with her; everyone in BoulderClan seemed to be relatively friendly, like their ThunderClan ancestors. Firestar and Bluestar popped into Fernclaw's mind as she set one forepaw over the border. She then set all four paws over the border and continued on.
She scented the stale scent of a BoulderClan patrol, and she dived into the trees at full force. She was like a swift bolt of lightning running through the trees.
Suddenly, her nose perked. She smelt a BoulderClan cat or two up ahead. She slowed her pace, and eventually started an easy trot until she came upon two BoulderClan cats. One was a blue-gray tom, and one was a tortoiseshell she-cat. They were laying close together, side by side, purring sweet nothings in each other's ears.
Fernclaw wanted a romance like that, and she felt bad to interrupt this sweet moment.
"Excuse me," Fernclaw meowed, raising her head proudly, tail brushing the snow on the ground.
"Who are you?" The she-cat instantly jumped up, fur bristling. The tom seemed calmer, and he brushed his tail over the tortoiseshell's spine, sending shivers down it, as Fernclaw could see. "Wait. Fernpaw?" The tortoiseshell squinted.
"Spottedcloud?" Fernclaw mewed.
The two friends nuzzled each other warmly.
"It's Spottedstar now," purred Spottedstar.
"It's Fernclaw now," Fernclaw purred back.
"This is my mate, and deputy, Skywing," mewed Spottedstar, flicking her tail towards the blue-gray tom. He waved his tail in greeting. "What brings you to BoulderClan's territory?" Spottedstar's pelt was flat now, and her tone was warm and welcoming.
"Hi, Skywing," meowed Fernclaw, waving her tail at Skywing. "I'm on a quest." Fernclaw launched into her explanation about getting the medicine cats to help her because of the greencough epidemic in DreamClan. She wasn't afraid of showing DreamClan's weakness, because Spottedstar was a dear friend to the Clan.
"That's terrible! I'm sure Heartbranch will come with you, Fernclaw. I can come with you, too, if you like. And I am so sorry for your losses," Spottedstar mewed quietly, nuzzling her friend.
"Thank you, Spottedstar. Can you take me to your camp?"
"Of course. Come, Skywing."
