A/N: Man, these chapters are getting longer and longer...O.o Chapter 5!

Skyfeather nudged Cloverpaw to her paws. The brown-and-white apprentice had been stuffing herself with travelling herbs in preparation for the trip to Mothermouth. Skyfeather was still uncertain about the number of cats he was taking, but shoved the thought aside. Why separate mentor from apprentice?

"I'm coming," Cloverpaw mumbled, exasperation thick in her mew. "Give me a second."

"We don't have a second," Skyfeather hissed. "Stormstar's leaving now."

Stormstar hadn't eaten any herbs. Leaders were never supposed to eat anything before sharing tongues with StarClan beside the Moonstone. But Skyfeather had gulped down every last distasteful bite of the herbs. She didn't want to be hungry for the trip and slow every cat down, especially since they were travelling through MidnightClan's new territory.

As Skyfeather and Cloverpaw approached the fern entrance, Stormstar flicked his tail in symbol to leave. Skyfeather cast one nervous glance at the nursery before following the others into the moonlit forest.

"I love the forest at night," she heard Spottedpaw, Cherrynose's apprentice mew softly to her mentor. "It's so peaceful."

Cherrynose snorted. "Not for long," she murmured. "If the Twolegs continue to destroy the forest while we sit here and wait for nothing, the forest might not look so peaceful anymore."

Skyfeather curbed a hiss of anger at Cherrynose's words. Surely the dark ginger warrior couldn't believe that. "Cherrynose—" she began, but was quickly silenced with a hiss from Stormstar.

"Hush, you two!" he snapped urgently. "I can scent an EmberClan cat."

Skyfeather lowered her whole body and breathed in deeply. Stormstar was right. An EmberClan patrol was making its way into RainClan territory.

"What are they doing so far into RainClan territory?" Cloverpaw asked, defiance gleaming in her eyes. Skyfeather couldn't help feeling pride at the apprentice's understanding of Clan territories.

Stormstar shook his head for silence as Skyfeather spotted the patrol creeping along through the undergrowth, bodies down and scenting for any traces of RainClan. Skyfeather was glad that the RainClan patrol was downwind so the EmberClan cats couldn't smell them.

But what captivated Skyfeather was the fact that Sandstorm and Sunpaw were among the sneaking cats. Betrayal and anger stabbed at Skyfeather as she watched the familiar cats creep along through the underbrush.

Suddenly, the head of the patrol, which Skyfeather recognized as the deputy, Thunderheart, stopped and flicked his tail for silence. He had noticed the RainClan cats.

"What is it?" a light brown she-cat whispered. Skyfeather remembered her to be Heathertail, RainClan's first medicine cat's mother. Skyfeather thought she would've been an elder by now.

Thunderheart didn't say anything, he only twisted his head around to see the crouching RainClan cats. Skyfeather saw that Stormstar was sitting up, staring at them, anger showing in his eyes.

"Stormstar," Thunderheart meowed, shuffling his paws nervously on the ground. "I didn't see you there."

Stormstar drew in a breath of annoyance. "You didn't?" he meowed icily. "In RainClan territory? I wonder why that is…"

Skyfeather saw that Sandstorm was staring at her, sorrow clouding her eyes. Skyfeather looked away, unable to meet the medicine cat's pale green eyes.

Thunderheart looked down, suppressing a sigh. "Stormstar, the thing is…" He paused, unleashing the sigh.

Sandstorm trotted up beside him. "What Thunderheart's trying to say is that Streamstar lost his last life this morning to blackcough."

All of Skyfeather's anger at the EmberClan cat quickly vanished, replaced with sorrow and pity. Sandstorm and Streamstar had been really close, and Skyfeather had grown to like the wise leader.

But the way Sandstorm told the news told Skyfeather that she was hiding something. Suddenly, she thought that blackcough, especially in the middle of greenleaf, was not the reason for Streamstar's final death.

Stormstar seemed to relax as well. "I see," he muttered. "RainClan will all grieve for this truly terrible loss. However, you could have simply told us that. All Clan patrols have safe passage through other territories to Mothermouth. I was just heading there myself, but for other reasons. I just warn you that Midnightstar may not be so glad to see you."

Thunderheart nodded. Skyfeather wondered how Snowstorm would take the news of Thunderheart's leadership. He was the father of her kits, the first kits of RainClan, and the she-cat was also the lead of the patrol Skyfeather had sent out to find the Morph, Spottedpaw.

"Shall we travel together?" Cherrynose wondered.

Stormstar glanced at the ginger warrior. "I'm not sure," he meowed. There might not be enough time for a new leader to receive his nine lives and for another leader to share tongues with StarClan in one night…"

Suddenly, a sensation passed through Skyfeather as she mumbled, "StarClan will allow it."

Sandstorm stared at Skyfeather with wide eyes. "You felt it too?" she whispered.

Skyfeather nodded. The sensation was like icy claws pricking her insides, turning her blood to ice. She saw glimmering, clear warriors standing all around the group of cats, frosty starlight glittering at their paws for a moment before the sensation passed and she mumbled the faint words subconsciously.

Stormstar glanced at Skyfeather. "What's wrong?" he asked, the usual kindness showing in his eyes and worried voice.

"Nothing," Skyfeather mewed to her mate, trying her hardest to hide the strange feeling that had overcome her.

As Stormstar turned back to Thunderheart, Skyfeather crept over to where Sandstorm and her apprentice were standing.

"What just happened?" she questioned urgently in a hiss.

Sandstorm shrugged. "I saw them too," she mewed. "StarClan warriors, standing everywhere!"

Sunpaw looked up at her trembling mentor. "I saw them too!" she gasped. "I think all of the medicine cats saw them."

Sandstorm looked at Skyfeather. "But you're not a medicine cat."

Skyfeather took a step back. Surely StarClan wasn't singling her out as they had before when RainClan went to find a proper home. She wasn't a medicine cat, so why had she seen the StarClan warriors? Confusion bubbled inside her, but she pushed it aside and turned to the other cats.

"If Skyfeather believes that StarClan will allow our conjoined meeting then let's travel together," Stormstar meowed. "I'd rather have more cats to go through MidnightClan territory."

Thunderheart nodded and set off to gather the other warriors he was bringing with him. The big patrol set off through the dark forest on their way to MidnightClan territory and to Mothermouth.

"Can you even believe how selfish that cat is?" Cloverpaw spat as the cats made their way across the MidnightClan border. "He made himself leader and named his own Clan after himself!"

Skyfeather snorted. "You think he wants to be remembered?" she mewed, only half-impressed with the blood-thirsty cat's ambitions.

Spottedpaw's mind was somewhere else though. Skyfeather saw her gazing at a dark brown EmberClan warrior trotting silently behind her new leader. Skyfeather decided to ease the apprentice's wondering mind and padded over to the she-cat.

"Hello," she meowed kindly, trying to show as much friendliness as possible.

The warrior looked up at her. "Er, hi."

Skyfeather hid her stab of disappointment and continued. "You seem a bit familiar. Have I seen you before?"

The she-cat looked up more fully now, confidence flowing into her clouded eyes. "Maybe at Gatherings. But I've tried to keep to myself ever since I heard of my mentor's whereabouts."

Curiosity brimmed up inside of Skyfeather as the warrior spoke. Could she possibly be speaking of one of the missing EmberClan warriors? "Who was your mentor?"

The brown cat sighed. "Oakleaf," she murmured. "He was last spotted in a MidnightClan patrol."

Shock came in a pang to Skyfeather. "Oakleaf? You must be Treepaw!"

"Treepelt now," the warrior mewed. "I've been made a warrior, but I'd always hoped that Oakleaf would be there."

Skyfeather sighed. Oakleaf was also the father of Tawnyspot's kits, which were surely born by now, unless Midnightstar decided to get rid of the queen. Skyfeather stifled the shivers curling up her spine at the thought of a lifeless tortoiseshell body lying beside a Thunderpath in the Twolegplace.

"I knew Oakleaf," Skyfeather meowed. "He was a good friend to one of my Clanmates, Tawnyspot."

Treepelt nodded. "He told me about her…"

Skyfeather acknowledged the awkward silence as confirmation that Treepelt knew of the half-Clan kits that Tawnyspot had had.

As the large group of cats neared the bend in the sugar river blocking the Twolegplace from the former RainClan territory. Skyfeather braced herself for MidnightClan warriors to leap out at them, but, surprisingly, no cats appeared.

Stormstar led the cats across a new bridge that Twolegs had built recently across the river's gorge. Thunderheart was right behind him, followed by the warriors and apprentices and medicine cats.

Suddenly, a strong, pungent scent filled Skyfeather's nose. She wasn't quite sure if it was MidnightClan or not, since the acrid stench of the Thunderpath mixed up her senses, but she was sure that the camp was near.

Skyfeather couldn't control the spasms that passed through her body as the cats walked past the alley where the original RainClan camp was. That was the place where Firestar had rested last, where Skyfeather had met Littlerock, Bluetail, and Tawnyspot—more shivers. The last time Skyfeather had been there was at least four whole seasons ago. The memories weren't exactly horrible, except for the fact that different alley cats—rogues—occupied the alley now, hissing at her as she passed them.

"Well, well, well," a dark, menacing voice meowed from somewhere in front of the group. Skyfeather leaned forward past Treepelt to see Blackstorm, the MidnightClan deputy sitting in front of the cats. "What do we have here? Stormstar, I thought you would know more about the warrior code than any other cat."

Stormstar hissed in fury. "I do, Blackstorm," he snarled, spitting the name. "And I suppose you know that all cats have safe passage through any Clan territory on their way to Mothermouth."

Blackstorm tipped her head to one side. "Mothermouth? You mean all of these cats are going to Mothermouth?"

Thunderheart leered at the black she-cat, rage clouding his eyes. "Yes, we are. Now, if you don't let us pass, then I'm sure StarClan won't be too happy."

Skyfeather saw Sandstorm coax Sunpaw toward the front of the group. When she finally got the trembling apprentice to the front, she meowed clearly and firmly, "Blackstorm, EmberClan brings both of its medicine cats. We promise we are not here for a fight."

Skyfeather nodded in agreement. Medicine cats were symbols of peace and were never supposed to encourage war and battles.

Blackstorm surprisingly nodded. "I see," she meowed gently. Skyfeather could see the thoughtfulness in her eyes. "I suppose medicine cats do not like fighting?"

"No," Sandstorm mewed. "We are here to guide our deputy to the Moonstone."

Blackstorm nodded. "And stopping you is against the warrior code?"

Skyfeather looked oddly at the MidnightClan deputy. Was she seriously so keen to learn about the warrior code? Skyfeather thought that she would make a much better leader than that evil Midnightstar, especially since he shoved the warrior code aside like it was nothing.

As Thunderheart nodded, Blackstorm's expression turned resentful and she stepped aside. "Very well," she hissed. "But if I catch you here again, I will chase you all down."

Stormstar nodded, and Skyfeather could tell that he was grateful for the surprising, kind gesture. "Thank you, Blackstorm." Without another word, the cats pushed past Blackstorm and further into the dense Twolegplace.

But as Skyfeather passed the black deputy, she could feel her hackles rising. The she-cat sent out a horrible vibe, like she could attack at any moment, regardless of the warrior code. Skyfeather also saw the deputy leering at Cherrynose through narrowed eyes before slipping into the darkness of an alley.

The Twoleg nest where the Moonstone was hidden soon came into view. Stormstar stopped and gathered all of the RainClan cats around.

"StarClan has granted us safe passage through the Twolegplace tonight," he meowed, casting a glance at Skyfeather. "Skyfeather was right. StarClan does want us to speak with them. I told Thunderheart that he may go first, and that RainClan will keep watch for him. Let's remain loyal to that promise."

Skyfeather watched the EmberClan cats disappear behind the Twoleg nest. The space wasn't all that cramped as Skyfeather remembered it to be, and she thought that the other EmberClan cats would probably wait outside Mothermouth for their new leader to return.

It felt like moons had passed when Thunderheart re-emerged from the dark and silent tunnel. Skyfeather had dozed off some, the smell of the Thunderpath beside her making that a very difficult task. But she had managed to sleep for several moments before Stormstar prodded her awake.

"Skyfeather, I want you to come into the cave with me," the dark-grey leader whispered. "You and Cherrynose will come while the apprentices wait outside with the EmberClan cats."

Skyfeather nodded and got to her paws. She nodded brusquely to Cherrynose as the three cats slipped behind the Twoleg nest.

Thunderheart was there, speaking to his fellow warriors. "Greetings, Stormstar," he meowed, new confidence in his voice. "I wish you safe speaking with StarClan."

"Thank you, Thunderheart. Or should I say Thunderstar?" Stormstar meowed. "Congratulations."

Thunderstar nodded. "Thank you." And with that, the EmberClan cats padded out from behind the nest.

Stormstar nodded to Spottedpaw and Cloverpaw before disappearing inside the tunnel. Skyfeather and Cherrynose followed him apprehensively.

Strangely enough, Skyfeather could make her way swiftly through the damp tunnel. She had only been there once before, but she knew it well enough to remember where the twists and turns were. She had been there a couple of times in her dreams.

Cherrynose on the other hand had some difficulty. Skyfeather guided her along the passage by scent and sound of Stormstar's pawsteps.

Eventually, the Moonstone came into view at the end of the tunnel as it opened into a clearing. Skyfeather was half-shocked to see that it was still lit up with light even though the moon had set long ago.

Stormstar nodded to the two warriors. "Thank you for coming with me. While I speak to StarClan, I ask for silence."

Skyfeather nodded, exchanging an excited glance with Cherrynose. She had never actually seen the inside of the cave, except for in her dreams. This experience was rather enlightening for her.

Stormstar then crouched down with his paws touching the glittering stone. He touched his nose to it and closed his eyes. Suddenly, when Skyfeather was sure that her mate was sleeping, the cave was plunged into total darkness.