Chapter 9
"Graystripe, you great lump! Wake up, you big waist of fur!" Sandstorm cuffed the gray warrior's ears sharply.
"I am up. I'm not just up up." Graystripe grumbled. Firestar smiled inwardly. This was how most of the mornings started since they had left Thunderclan. It had been six sunsets since he had left his clan to follow Shade. The loner had left the clan cats alone, most of time. He really only talked to them to point out directions, which was mostly to follow the rising sun. Firestar felt that the loner wasn't telling him everything, either.
"Lets get moving." Firestar interrupted the squabble. "Shade said we should meet him by the stream once we've hunted."
"Good." Nightpaw stood and streched her back with a yawn. "I need to sink my claws into something."
"Then let's go." Sandstorm was already halfway through the thin wall of bracken before Graystripe, Firestar and Nightpaw could follow. Soon they all had prey for themselves, so they headed for the stream. Firestar was suprised at how well Nightpaw could hunt. When they returned to the clans, he must concider making her a warrior.
When they emerged from the small bit of woods, they found the loner waiting patiently with his tail wrapped neatly around his paws. "When you've eaten, we'll get going. As I said yesterday, we're nearing our destination. I hope your-" The loner looked straight at Firestar, green eyes laiden with mystery. "Prepared." Beside him, Firetsar heard a growl from his apprentice. He silenced her with a flick of his tail.
The group of cats, loner and clan cat, started. They followed the stream with the leafbear sun shining overhead. Firestar padded on, soft grass under his paws. The scent in the air seemed familiar, but he couldn't place it. Firestar felt strangly comforted. He knew he shouldn't be, he should be worried sick about how his clan was fairing, but a sense of utmost calm washed over him. He closed his eyes and drank in the cool air around him. Yes, things were going to be okay.
Suddenly, the feeling of peace inside him was replaced by cold dread. Your clan is safe for now, Firestar. But there will be three, kin of your kin, will hold the power of the stars in their paws. It had been a long time since those words were spoken to him. And now, the prophocy was nearly upon them and Firestar was in the unknown, unable to help. Firestar tried to shake the fear from his mind when Nightpaw's night of apprenticeship flashed through his mind. Starless Night... How could he leave his Thunderclan with their doom hanging over them like an invisible stormcloud? But it was to late now. He had chosen the path, and now he had to deal with the consiquences.
"Starclan, watch over Thunderclan." Firestar mewed silently. "Give them courage, strength, and guidence. Please." He started the pace again, not wanting to worry the others.
* * * * *
Night had fallen, and everyone was asleep, except Firestar. He sat a little ways away, just on the woods edge. He gazed at the moon so intently, he didn't hear a cat approaching. "Worried, aren't you." Firestar jumped around, startled by Shade's sudden appearance.
"Oh, it's you." Firestar gave his shoulder a few embarrased licks before turning to face the loner. His eyes were shining with memories.
"You remind me of a cat I used to know. He was as high-strung as you were." He told the Thunderclan leader, pulling himself from the past. "Why did you come?" Shade's eyes were fixed on the moon, but his words were directed at Firestar. The question caught Firestar off guard.
"I-I don't know." He answered truthfully. "It just seemed right to go and help." Firestar, too, looked to the moon.
"And you believed me, just like that?" The black tom's voice sounded strained, but Firestar had no idea why.
"Yes, I guess I did."
Shade shook his head in frustration. "Your very trusting, you know that, right?"
Firestar had no idea where this conversation was headed, so he decided to play truthfully. "I- yes." He looked to the ground.
Shade looked away, towards where the others were asleep. He looked back, shaking his head slowly. "Things just got more complicated." He murmured. Firestar realized he probably wasn't meant to hear that. To the leader he meowed "You better get some sleep. I'll take watch for you." This wasn't a suggestion, it was a command. Shade circled down and sat with his back to Firestar. Silently, the ginger tom slipped through the thin lay out of trees and lay beside Sandstorm, mind blurry with thoughts. Soon, he slipped into a deep, untroubled sleep. He did not notice the longing look that Shade cast over his shoulder, or the pain in the loners eyes.
* * * * *
"We're almost there. Only about two more days till we reach their camp." Shade mewed to the group of clan cats behind him. He didn't sound too happy.
"You don't seem to fancy going back." Graystripe challenged aloud.
Shade half turned towards him. "No, I don't. You'll understand when we get there." It was a cool morning, and the slight tange of flowers hinted of a nearby meadow. Nightpaw breathed in the morning air. She let her troubles fade away as the gentle murmuring of the nearby river slid past. It was hard to believe that there could be any danger in the clans.
"You see that dot of red and gray in the distance?" Shade pointed his tail towards a speck in the distance. "That's our final destination."
"You mean these cat's we're helping live in a Twolegplace?" Sandstorm asked in disgust.
"Yes, Sandstorm." Shade mewed. "In Twolegplace." He rested his gaze on the ginger she-cat. Nightpaw could have sworn she saw a flash of regret in his eyes, but it was there and gone so fast, she couldn't be sure.
"Well, we'd better get going if we want to get there by tomorrow." Firestar kneaded the ground, obviously anxious now that they were so close.
"Yep. We'll make for the thicket of trees and stay there overnight before going into the Twolegplace." Shade mewed as he started down the hill.
"Wait, Shade." Graystripe looked at the loner in confution. "Won't it be faster if we cut across the feilds and stay the night in that big barn down there?"
"We will not be going anywhere near that barn, you hear!" The black cat's eyes were enraged in a sudden fury.
"Y-yes sir!" Graystripe looked taken aback by the sudden rage, as was Nightpaw. One thing was clear. Shade did not want to go into that barn.
"Good. Shall we get going?" Shade was instantly calm again, fury gone as soon as it had come. Nightpaw heard Graystripe lean closer to Firestar and whisper: "What's his problem?" Firestar simply shrugged and continued after him. The sun soon began to set, casting a firey light on the stretch of fields ahead of them. Once they had reached the smalll thicket of trees, all cats split up to hunt. Nightpaw carefully breathed in the scents of the small woodland, sifting out a singular prey scent. As she carefully followed the thrush scent, she heard voices on the other side of the wall of ferns. It was Firestar and Shade.
"Shade, you said you traveled alot. I'm wondering, did you ever, by chance, meet a loner by the name of Ravenpaw?" Firestar asked tentitivly.
"Yeah, I've met him. Sort of jumpy like, right?" Shade returned. Nightpaw found a gap in the ferns just large enough to see out of. She saw the loner with a freshly caught rabbit at his paws; Firestar with a plump starling.
"Yeah... Is he well? I miss the little guy." Nightpaw caught a wistful flash of regret in her mentors eyes.
"I'm afraid to say the contrary." Shade mewed gravely. "Ravenpaw died about eight moons ago. I'm sorry."
Firestar looked as though he'd been hit by a Thunderpath monster. He slowly let his gaze fall, shoulders bunching like a wieght had been cast upon him. "Thank-you for telling me." He mewed quietly. The two stood up, and started back to where the others would be waiting. As she watched them go, Nightpaw saw Firestar lag a little behind. He lifted his gaze towards the sky and let out a low, mournful moan. "Why did I leave you?" He mewed quitely to the blue heavens. Shade stared at Firestar, eyes full of a mix of horror and regret.
Nightpaw quickly turned to stalk prey, not wanting to be seen. Soon she had a vole lying limply in her jaws. She bounded off to where the others sat, eating their catch. Nightpaw joined them, and soon they had all eaten their fill and had settled in for the night. Nightpaw saw Firestar cast Shade a short, wondering glance before circleing next to Sandstorm. The young black she-cat wondered just how deep Shade's news of Ravenspaw's death had cut the older cat.
