AN: Sorry for the long delay, my site was down so I couldn't update anything for the longest time. But now that it's been fixed I'm capable of updating my stories! So here's the next chapter :D


Chapter 6

Darkness fell over Eden by the time Ravenflight reached her newest den. It was inside a ravine, surrounded by tall trees that gave her some kind of protection. Roots snaked around the sandy ground while leaves littered the ground below.

Ravenflight let out a sigh of relief as she settled in. For now this little hollow would do as a nest. She needed to keep on the move though. Someone probably already lay claim to this territory. If they found her they would kill her, or worse.

A shudder coursed down her spine at the thought.

She wondered what was happening in the Clans right now. Her life had always consisted of training and patrolling the borders. Now that she was living on her own she knew how the rogues.

It's better not to think about them, she told herself. I chose to leave and now I am part of Eden.

Her eyes slowly closed, and sleep quickly took over. She didn't realize how exhausted she was until she curled up in a makeshift nest. And for the first time in nights she was left without any dreams or nightmares.

. . .

Morning sunlight woke Ravenflight from a fitful sleep. Her eyes slowly opened to find that the forest remained unchanged. No cats or predators had wandered through during the night. She stood up and shook out scraps of moss from her fur before deciding she should get a better look at this new territory.

She climbed to the top of the ravine to see that the forest was widespread. Her eyes widened in amazement when she realized that this territory was similar to the Clan's territory. In the distance she could make out a river winding it's way through a gorge. Large pine trees were surrounded by oaks and birch trees.

This place was perfect as far as Ravenflight could tell. And from what she had seen the territory wasn't claimed by another cat. Her ears pricked forward as she wondered just how far back the territory went. Perhaps if she explored deep enough she could avoid being detected by any intruders.

With that thought in mind she started padding forward, placing each paw carefully in front of her. The ground underpaw felt spongy, and it was covered in moss and ferns.

She traveled along the edge of the ravine until it thinned out to open ground. Small rocks and boulders were placed here and there, making travel a bit more difficult than Ravenflight had expected. She wondered if this was what ThunderClan's territory was like.

It's covered in undergrowth and surrounded by large trees, she thought.

It took her a few heartbeats to realize that there was a stream nearby, running swiftly through the parting trees. Ravenflight bounded forward and reached the bank of the stream.

"This is just like RiverClan's territory," she decided out loud. She peered into the stream and saw tiny minnows swimming through the water.

The temptation to hunt suddenly coursed through her, and she crouched beside the stream to wait for the perfect opportunity. A minnow swam close to the bank, and in a heartbeat her paw flashed into the stream. Water sprayed against her muzzle when she flung the minnow onto land.

Hunger clawed at Ravenflight's belly when she gave the struggling minnow a killing bite. She didn't realize how long it had been since she last hunted until she started eating. A few heartbeats later she had finished the minnow and buried the bones near the stream's edge.

"I think this territory will do nicely," she told herself.

Ravenflight was about to continue moving forward when she saw something moving in the undergrowth. Her eyes narrowed into tiny slits when she realized that it was a barn owl. A very familiar looking barn owl.

"What are you doing here?" she demanded when the barn owl flew to the branch closest to her.

"The Council seeks your assistance," the barn owl replied. "There is no turning your back on this."

"Why should I agree to help them?" Her hackles rose as she remembered their first meeting.

If Coal hadn't stepped in to help, she would have been killed.

"Ravenflight, is it?" The barn owl's feathers were ruffled by her response. "The Great Tree is dying. And your friend has already agreed to help."

"He is not my friend!" Ravenflight snapped.

But her heart clenched with fear as she thought of what might happen to Coal. As much as she hated to admit it, he held a special place in her heart.

"Fine, take me to the tree," she muttered after giving her chest fur a few thoughtful licks.

The barn owl simply nodded in response and took off into the air. Ravenflight cast one last glance over her shoulder. This territory was the perfect place to live. When she was finished with this... task that she was assigned with, she would return. And she would return alone.

. . .

Silverleaf's tail brushed against the sandy ground as she waited for Hawkstar to announce who his deputy would be. He had returned a few heartbeats earlier, announcing that he had received his nine lives.

The whole Clan was on edge after what had happened to Mistystar. Stormstar had murdered her. True Mistystar was foolish to think her threat would be taken lightly. But it was still wrong to think that the great RiverClan leader was gone.

"Let all cats old enough gather around the Sandpile for a Clan meeting!" Hawkstar's yowl echoed around the clearing.

Silverleaf looked up in surprise when she realized that he had emerged from his den. Cats were watching him expectantly as he looked down at them.

"I say these words before the spirit of Mistystar so that she may hear and approve my choice... Beechfur will be my deputy." Hawkstar's words sent thrills of worry down Silverleaf's spine.

She looked back at the light brown tabby tom who had been called out. He blinked in surprise before standing up as cats discussed Hawkstar's decision.

"I-I don't know what to say," he stammered. "But I promise that I won't let you or the Clan down."

Why would Hawkstar choose such a young cat? she wondered as the Clan began cheering. She glanced at Stormfur and Feathertail and thought they would make better choices.

But than she remembered that Stormfur and Feathertail were HalfClan cats. And Hawkstar couldn't choose Frogpelt or Mothpool since they were his kin. Beechfur was the only young cat who had mentored an apprentice, so he made an obvious choice.

"Can you believe it?" Badgerclaw snorted when he joined her side. He refused to show the side of his face that was badly scarred thanks to Ravenflight. Silverleaf rolled her eyes at her brother before standing up. "I'd make a better deputy than that mousebrain."

"You only just became a warrior, be thankful for that," she muttered crossly.

Badgerclaw gave her a look of disbelief before standing up and leaving her. She was tired of him always going on about being the better warrior. He made life as a warrior very annoying.

No wonder Ravenflight attacked him, she thought with another roll of her eyes.

With a sigh of frustration she sat down near the warrior's den and started grooming her unkempt fur. Life in RiverClan just got interesting with Hawkstar as their leader. She wasn't sure whether that was a good thing or a bad thing. Only time would tell.