Chapter 9

When they got to the BadgerClan border, Otterhope told the others, "Let's wait for a border patrol."

They didn't have long to wait. A border patrol came quickly. It was made of: Mapleleaf, Flufftail, Flufftail's apprentice, Thornpaw, and Waterflow. "What do you want?" Mapleleaf narrowed his eyes.

"I need to speak to your leader about something that will put us all in danger." Otterhope replied smoothly.

"Fine. We'll escort you back to our camp." Mapleleaf nodded and they were surrounded by the BadgerClan cats.

They finally got to the BadgerClan camp, a clearing in the middle of some bushes. "Come with me. Thornpaw, go and get Splashcoat and bring her to the leader's den." Mapleleaf told them. They went to a small den with a screen of brambles protecting it, and Mapleleaf called out, "Sunhope! Otterhope has something to talk to you about! Can we come in?"

"Yes!" Was the reply from inside. They went in.

"Splashcoat is coming." Mapleleaf said, just as Splashcoat ran in.

"A few moons ago, I got a prophecy from Grayhope. 'Beware of the Otter of Light and the River of Black who come from the past.' She meant that Lightotter and Blackriver would come back. And they have. They now have an army the size of four Clans, and we have a moon to prepare to fight them. I know OtterClan will fight. They're trying to take over all of the Clans!" Otterhope told them.

"We will fight with you. You can be assured that we are allies until then." Sunhope assured her.

"Good. Could we rest for a while here? I'm going to travel to HedgehogClan, and then to FoxClan. I need to tell them, too." Otterhope requested.

"Sure." Sunhope said.

"Thank you. I have one more request. Could you or one of your warriors come with us to HedgehogClan? Last time they came to our camp even the medicine cats ended up with scratches."

"Of course. I'll come myself." Sunhope mewed. He couldn't hold the surprise out of his voice.

"Thank you again." Otterhope said, acting as if she had never heard his surprise.

After a while, Sunhope came up to them and mewed, "Are you ready to go?"

"Of course. Come on." Otterhope nudged the deputy and medicine cats.

Grumbling, they left the camp. Sunhope was surprisingly a good travelling partner. They were joking and laughing all the way to the HedgehogClan border. "Let's wait for a patrol." Hedgedapple suggested. They all nodded.

They had to wait longer this time. "What are you doing here?" Nightthorn hissed. Blackclaw and him were out on patrol.

"We need to speak to Spikehope." Sunhope came up.

"Well, if your with them, I guess we can let them come to our camp." Nightthorn sighed. "Come on."

When they got to the camp, a grove in between bramble bushes, Nightthorn ran in to the leader's den.

"You can come in!" He called after a moment.

When Otterhope got in the den, she and Hedgedapple were bristling.

"We won't harm you." Spikehope told her. "For now. Anyways, what are you of the wanting?"

"We are of the wanting to whack you with moss." Otterhope muttered.

Sunhope stepped forward. "Don't." He muttered to Otterhope. Turning to Spikehope, he spoke louder. "We have a prophecy. Otterhope, will you be civil enough to share our news?"

Otterhope shot him a glare. "A few moons ago, I had a dream in which Grayhope came to me and gave me a prophecy. 'Beware of the Otter of Light and the River of Black who come from the past.' She meant that Lightotter and Blackriver would come back. And they have. They also have an army the size of four Clans. We need your help defeating them or we will all die. You in?"

"Of course. You may rest here over night. You can go back in the morning." Spikehope told them. "Would you like any prey?"

"Do you have any rivers?" Otterhope asked.

"Yes. Get Thornbristle to show you two there." Spike hope waved his tail.

Otterhope and Hedgedapple left his den to find Thornbristle. "Hi, Tornbristle!" Hedgedapple smiled.

"Hi, Hedgedapple." Thornbristle smiled as well. "What do you need?"

"Spikehope wants you to show us the way to the river." Hedgedapple told her.

"Okay, then. This way." She walked out of HedgehogClan's camp. Otterhope and Hedgedapple followed her.

After a while, they got to a wide river. "Here it is." Thornbristle told them. "Catch as many fish as you want. We don't eat fish."

"I think I'll try trout. You?" Hedgedapple asked Otterhope.

"Sure." Otterhope meowed.

The two walked up to the edge of the river.

After a while, they had two trout. As they were eating, Hedgedapple and Thornbristle were talking. "…you know, I've always wondered what fish would taste like." Thornbristle meowed.

Hedgedapple offered her a bite of his fish, while Otterhope watched in disgust and wonderment. Thornbristle liked the fish, apparently.

That night, Otterhope asked Hedgedapple if he wanted to go hunting with her. When they got to the river, Otterhope turned on him. "What's the deal with you and Thornbristle?" She spat the she-cat's name.

"We're just friends! I know her from Gatherings; we're the same age!" Hedgedapple meowed. He looked a little edgy.

"You are a terrible liar, you know that, Hedgedapple? Now what's really up with you two?" Otterhope demanded.

"Fine," Hedgedapple sighed. "We're mates. And she's expecting my kits."