"A quarter moon ago," Onestar began. "I had a dream. In the dream were the five original clan leaders. Leopardstar was there with me." Onestar paused and Leopardstar stepped up on the branch next to Onestar. "We were in a clearing and an apprentice from each of our two clans was there too. Sky, the original leader of the SkyClan, the clan sent away when their territory was destroyed by twolegs, said that his clan was in trouble despite what Firestar did to help them many moons ago," said Leopardstar, turning towards Firestar and dipping her head to acknowledge Firestar's great feat. "The two apprentices have been asked to take up a mission to save the clan and bring them to the lake.
Silence filled the gathering area until at last, one ShadowClan cat said, "Where would they live?"Onestar replied, "They would live in the caves at the edge of the WindClan territory on the way to moon pool. If the SkyClan comes to the lake, they can be the fifth independent vote in the dispute between ThunderClan and ShadowClan. Let's vote now. Leopardstar, what is your vote?" Onestar stepped aside and let Leopardstar pad down to her clan. They discussed in low hisses and then Leopardstar clambered up the Great Oak and announced, "We are all for bringing SkyClan here." Onestar nodded and said, "Thank you Leopardstar. Firestar, what will your clan decide." Firestar climbed down to his clan and after a moment's discussion, climbed up the tree and announced, "We are also for bringing SkyClan to the lake." Onestar nodded and turned to Blackstar who in turn went to his clan. Blackstar said, "We have enough troubles with the territory as it is. We are against bringing SkyClan here." Onestar nodded and climbed down the tree to talk with WindClan. The clan agreed to bring the SkyClan to the lake. Onestar announced that the votes meant that at sunrise, Snowpaw and Swiftpaw of RiverClan and WindClan respectively would leave for the SkyClan territory. Firestar spoke up and said, "The apprentices don't know the location of SkyClan. A cat that has been there should go with them. I propose Sandstorm of ThunderClan goes to guide the way that is of course if it's alright with you, Sandstorm." Sandstorm said, "It would be an honor to help SkyClan once more."
"Wait a second..." complained Blackstar. "If you fur balls are all sending cats on this quest, then ShadowClan should have a cat go too. Frostclaw, will you go?" The young ShadowClan warrior swelled up with pride. "I will," she said." The ShadowClan cats yowled their approval.
"Very well," said Onestar. "The four cats on this quest should meet here at sunrise with traveling herbs." With that he padded down off of the Great Oak. Murmurs rose from cats of all four clans.
"That's so cool, Swiftpaw!" exclaimed Swellowpaw. "I wish I could go too! You're so lucky!"
Swiftpaw flicked her tail sympathetically. "I know, I wish you could go too." The clan leaders ended the meeting quickly after that. Onestar lead the clan back into their camp and quickly dismissed the cats from the gathering. He then called for the other cats to come and hear the news from the gathering. Swiftpaw strained her ears to hear what Onestar was saying about the prophecy. There were surprised yowls when the cats heard of her quest. Then the surprise turned to indignation from some and concern from others. "Why did she get picked and not a warrior?" asked Brightleaf, who in Swiftpaw's opinion was puffed up, mouse-brained idiot. More comments like this ensued until Onestar silenced them. "I do not know why StarClan chose an apprentice to go. It will not do any of us any good to complain about, question, or become irritated about this. You are dismissed." There was such authority in the last sentence he said that none of the WindClan cats, not even BrightLeaf, dared to disagree. A dark figure emerged from the warrior's den. It was Crowfeather. What is he doing? Wondered Swiftpaw. Onestar was thinking the same that Swiftpaw was. "What is it, Crowfeather?" Crowfeather said, "I am not really sure how best to say this. I believe that Swiftpaw is doing very well. She has gotten faster, more nimble and cleverer by the day. I am sure that the time will come very soon that she will be made a warrior. But I feel that this is too dangerous of a quest to be sending an apprentice on." Onestar sighed. "You and most of the clan think that. This is not a decision I can make. This has been decided by StarClan. As for it being too dangerous, did you and Squirrelflight not partake in the quest that brought us to this lake as apprentices?" He paused, allowing Crowfeather to think about that for a moment. "I guess you're right," Crowfeather said with a sigh. "I just don't want anything bad to happen to my apprentice. Goodnight, Onestar."
