(A/N: What? Tansy actually updated twice in two days? What a surprise.

How could anyone forget about poor sweet little Eaglekit? I'm ashamed of you! JK. Honestly, I almost forgot about him, too. I guess that happens when you write in a character who's only purpose is to die.)

Chapter 7

"Listen to me, Streampaw. I'm trying to help you," the skinny brown tabby meowed smoothly, keeping his amber gaze locked on the medicine cat apprentice.

Streampaw lashed her tail, unsheathing her claws menacingly. "I don't want to hear anything you have to say to me."

The tabby tom's eyes widened, giving the she-cat a hurt look. "Why not? Don't you trust your father?"

"No, I don't," she hissed. Streampaw stood on the icy grass on the dark forest floor, glaring at her father. This was the fourth night in a row Onestar had appeared in her dream, attempting to persuade his daughter to trust him. The tabby she-cat was having none of it, refusing to listen to the thin tom. She could tell he was growing more annoyed with each passing night, and was almost forcing himself to remain calm. Streampaw knew the tom was up to no good, and she wished he would just leave her alone. She would never trust him. Ever.

Onestar drew a front paw over his ear, smoothing a tuft of fur. "Why won't you listen to me? I'm only trying to get to know my daughter. Can you honestly blame a father for wanting to know his kit?"

"I doubt that's all your doing," Streampaw growled. "You're probably going to try and turn me against my mother, blaming her for everything. You think I don't know this is the Dark Forest? Good cats don't end up here, you know."

"This is most certainly not the Dark Forest!" Onestar meowed, shaking his head quickly. "We're just in a secluded part of StarClan."

The tabby she-cat rolled her eyes. "You're lying to me. You think I'm just a dumb kit who doesn't understand what's going on. I know exactly where we are, and I know why you keep bringing me here. You can't trick me, Onestar."

Wrapping his tail around his paws, Onestar took a deep breath. "I don't think you're just a kit, Streampaw," he mewed smoothly. "I know you're practically full-grown and are turning into an excellent medicine cat. Don't you believe that, dear?"

"Don't call me that," Streampaw snarled. "And don't patronize me!"

She whirled around and stalked away from the tom, pushing her way through the undergrowth. The tabby she-cat never wanted to see her father again. She was sick of hearing him speak to her like she was a helpless kit in the nursery. He tried to sound like a kind parent hurt because he wasn't able to see his kits, but she wasn't buying it. Onestar was up to something, and Streampaw had no desire to find out what it was.

"You can't stop me from seeing you!" the tom called after her. "You should be more like your sister. Swallowflight actually talks to me!"

Streampaw woke with a start, nearly jumping out of her nest. Heaving for breath, her eyes darted around the den quickly. She sighed with relief upon seeing she was safe in the apprentices' den. She was away from that dark and dreary forest, far away from her father.

Pale sunlight was beginning to poke through the woven branches that formed the den. Careful not to wake the other apprentices, Streampaw silently stood up and made her way out into the clearing, raising her face to bask in the warmth of the leaf-fall sun. ThunderClan was just beginning to wake up, and the sound of yawning cats filled Streampaw's ears. Her sister was sitting in the center of camp, ears pricked as she heard her Clanmates beginning to move around.

The medicine cat apprentice stared at Swallowflight, a nervous feeling pricking her pelt. Did her sister really talk to Onestar? Surely the black she-cat didn't listen to the skinny tabby. Onestar was a threat, not someone that they should be friends with. Shaking her head quickly, the apprentice turned and trotted toward Jayfeather's den.

"Jayfeather?" she called into the mouth of the rocky crevice.

The dark gray tom poked his head out of the den, his soft fur still ruffled as if he had just gotten out of his nest. "Morning already?" he asked.

Streampaw nodded. "Yes," she mewed. "It's sunny. I think it's going to be a nice day."

"Excellent!" the tom replied. "That means we can go herb hunting."

The tabby apprentice didn't respond, the thought of her father still clouding her mind. She sent her sister another glance, getting the nagging feeling that maybe Onestar was trying to destroy both their lives.

"Streampaw?" Jayfeather asked. "Is there something wrong?"

"Wha- no, nothing's wrong," the apprentice mewed hurriedly. "I was just thinking."

The medicine cat narrowed his eyes thoughtfully, but didn't say anything. He pushed past his apprentice and padded over to the fresh-kill pile, snatching a plump mouse. "You'd better eat," he called back. "You can't collect herbs on an empty belly!"

Streampaw pulled her eyes away from her sister and followed her mentor to the pile of prey. "Yes, Jayfeather," she mewed. Scanning the prey, she selected a sparrow and turned to go with her mentor back to his den. Movement from the center of camp caught her eye. Turning, she saw Ivypool approaching Swallowflight. The white-and-silver deputy meowed something to the black she-cat, who nodded and opened her mouth to reply. A moment later she came bounding over to Streampaw, her amber eyes gleaming with excitement.

"I completed my vigil!" Swallowflight meowed happily, flicking her tail joyfully.

"Good for you," Streampaw replied. "You must be awfully tired now."

The black warrior shook her head. "The crisp air kept me wide awake. I could go on the dawn patrol and still be awake when I got back!"

The medicine cat apprentice shook her head in amusement. "What did Ivypool say to you?" she asked.

"Oh, she said I was allowed to take a nap if I needed it," Swallowflight meowed. "I'd rather doing something productive, though. What are you doing today?"

"Herb hunting," Streampaw replied. "Jayfeather's low on poppy seeds, chervil, borage…and some other things."

The warrior nodded. "Does he need an extra paw? That sounds like a lot for two cats to carry."

Streampaw shrugged. "I'm sure he wouldn't mind the extra help."

"Great!" Swallowflight mewed. "I'll go tell Jayfeather I'm coming with."

The apprentice watched her sister bound over to the dark gray tom, wondering how the black she-cat could still be so wide awake. She certainly didn't seem the least bit tired. Maybe she wasn't alone last night, Streampaw thought. Onestar was only in my dream a short while. Is it possible he was talking with Swallowflight first?