Again, I don't own Warriors... That honor belongs to Erin Hunter...

Chapter Nine

Breezestar led her cats out of camp that night with every intention to be home and ready for the attack at dawn. Pushing her worries aside, she focused intently on the news that she must share with the other Clans tonight.

When the CallistoClan cats arrived in the Moon Hollow, only DesertClan and FernClan were already there. Breezestar found herself absentmindedly walking over to Orchidstar. The new leader was sitting beside the Leader's Stone, gazing up at it in awe.

"Hello, Breezestar," she murmured as if in a daze. "To think, I'll be sitting up there tonight!"

"Hi Orchidstar. Did your ceremony go well?"

"Yes, I got my nine lives." Orchidstar looked at Breezestar, her eyes shining, but clouding over in concern at the pained look on her face. "What's wrong? Did something bad happen?"

"Sorta," Breezestar replied, but didn't feel like going any further into it. She glanced around, realizing that the rest of the Clans had arrived. She gestured at the rock behind them. "We'd better start the meeting."

Orchidstar nodded and jumped atop the stone after Breezestar.

Emberstar began the meeting, yowling across the moonlit hollow, "Cats of all Clans, we join here under the truce of the full moon for the sharing of Clan news." She turned to the other leaders atop the rock. "Would anyone like to start?"

Breezestar stepped forward. "I would. I have some critical news to share." She called out, "Cats of all Clans, this has been a moon of peril for CallistoClan. First, we had a rogue attack in which many were wounded. Afterwards, I journeyed to the MoonFalls to converse with StarClan, and I received a prophecy. It is this: Dark times lie ahead, as the Clans drift farther apart. As separate and different as the Elements they are, but needing one another just as much for life to carry on. One will be born of the Elements, destined for the Stars. From four to five and back to one, Earth, Air, Water, and Fire will combine… to stop the greatest Storm in its tracks.

"I'm not entirely sure of its meaning, but I do know that the forest is in danger of an attack by a horde of rogues living in the Southern Hills. They are led by a cat called Proteus, who is evil and merciless. I know from experience what these rogues are like. As you may have noticed, DesertClan has a new leader, Orchidstar. Cometstar and Crowbeak were killed by these rogues when they attacked DesertClan and took over their camp." Breezestar and Orchidstar quickly relayed the story of the battle in DesertClan. They were met by shocked mews. "These are dark times, as the prophecy states. Even worse than nine moons ago. We need to be careful, for a mass attack is sure to come."

Breezestar stepped back, and Ashstar took her place. "Breezestar is right, these are truly grave times. We must keep watch for more rogue attacks."

"But we beat back the rogues!" Breezestar felt her fur prickle with annoyance. She knew that voice all too well. Sure enough, when she glanced towards the source of the mew, she saw Thornheart, the one FernClan cat she absolutely despised. He was a troublemaker, a spreader of ill feeling. And his very near death at the Battle of the Gorge did not seem to have made him any less obnoxious.

"Are you daft?" Flamesky snapped from his place among his Clanmates. Breezestar had to suppress a purr of amusement. Flamesky loathed Thornheart as much as the CallistoClan leader did. The idiot tom was the biggest mouse-brain in the forest, and Flamesky would be the first to point that out. Breezestar secretly guessed that Flamesky would have been happier if Thornheart had died in the Battle, as the tom had tried to kill him once… and get him driven out for his friendship with Breezestar. But, of course, Thornheart had not died… only thanks to Dusksky's healing abilities.

"Did you not pay a lick of attention to what Breezestar said? And what the prophecy said before?" Flamesky continued. "The rogues at the Battle of the Gorge were only the forerunner of the Greatest Storm. These rogues now are the real thing!"

"Flamesky is right, Thornheart," Dusksky mewed from among the other medicine cats below. His voice was soft, but it had an edge, and his eyes flashed when he looked upon the irritating warrior. "So sit down and let us finish here!"

Thornheart hesitated, as if he planned to protest, but did as Dusksky bid him reluctantly, after a warning growl from Timberpelt.

Once everyone had quieted down, Ashstar mewed quickly, "FernClan's only news is that Seaspray's kits were born three nights ago." Both Emberstar and Fallenstar hurriedly shared their news, but it was obvious they were preoccupied. In fact, every cat seemed to be, Breezestar noticed when she descended from the Leader's Stone and gathered her Clan to go back to camp.

The CallistoClan cats arrived back in camp by moonset, and Breezestar went straight to Tallrock. "Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey join beneath the Tallrock for a Clan meeting!"

At her yowl, the cats from the Gathering seated themselves. They were soon joined by their yawning, bleary-eyed Clanmates, looking confused as they padded from their dens. "I apologize for waking you, but what I have to say is important. Shadypelt has received a warning about a rogue attack at dawn, so we must be ready. We will surprise them when they get here. Everyone, go to your dens, but don't sleep. Be ready to attack when the rogues come. We'll catch them off guard and send them running."

Breezestar bounded from the rock, padding to her den to await dawn. The rest of her Clan followed suit, looking far more awake than before. She stopped Galewind along the way, mewing, "Be very careful. Watch your back, and don't take any chances. Stay in the nursery with Cherrykit, and leave the battle to us."

Galewind didn't argue, though she looked tormented. Tail hanging limp, she padded away.

Just as the first pinks and golds of sunrise began to tinge the clearing, the rogues arrived. There were only twelve this time, probably because they had expected to catch the Clan cats off guard. Instead, they were in for a surprise.

As soon as they burst into the clearing, the CallistoClan warriors were out and fighting. Breezestar bounded from her den, flying at the nearest rogue, a burly black tom with a white tail tip. She clamped on to his shoulder and bit down hard, drawing blood, and raked her claws down his flank. The cat spit at her, smacking at her head, but missing and striking her shoulder instead. Shaking off the pain, Breezestar slashed at his nose, while simultaneously clawing his ears. Dodging another blow, she bit at his hind leg, and, having had enough, the cat fled from the clearing.

This battle was thankfully short lived. Within a few minutes, all the rogues had fled angrily, and the dawn patrol chased them off the territory. Breezestar glanced around and saw that no creamy form lay limp in the clearing. Immense relief washed over her, but it turned to a terrible pang of dread when Icefur rushed over, crying, "Galewind's gone! She left the nursery to help Thrushpaw fend off two rogues trying to break in, and she's not in camp!"

Sheer terror like white-hot lightning coursed through Breezestar's body. Quickly, she called over to Rapidriver, "Organize a patrol and look for Galewind to the south. I'll look to the north. Suntail, search the camp." Breezestar bounded from the clearing, head reeling. This could not have happened…

Breezestar stayed in the forest until sunhigh, when she returned to camp in despair. "Rapidriver, did you find her?" she asked hopefully when the deputy returned.

Rapidriver looked dejectedly at the ground. "I'm sorry, Breezestar. Not a trace of her."

Suntail padded over also looking crestfallen. "She's not in or around camp," she mewed.

Breezestar's eyes were clouded with grief. "No!" she cried to the sky. And again, angrily now, "No! This was not supposed to happen like this! I told her not to leave the nursery! Are you positive there's no trace of her? No sent trail?"

Suntail shook her head. "No. She's gone without a trace."

Breezestar let out an anguished wail. "StarClan above!" she groaned. "Why? I- I… StarClan forbid the thought that Galewind has joined their ranks…"

"Maybe not. Maybe the rogues have taken her," Rapidriver suggested.

The leader squeezed her eyes closed. "Either way, she's gone." She had to make a decision: should she send a patrol in pursuit…? No. Everyone was needed here… "We… we shall mourn for her tonight."

Her heart like lead and all feeling but that of sheer disbelief numbed, Breezestar headed for the nursery, to take care of the next unpleasant task.

Cherrykit was practically on top of her as soon as the red-orange leader had entered the den.

"Did you find her?" the little she-cat practically wailed.

Breezestar shook her head. "I'm sorry, Cherrykit. She's gone."

Cherrykit collapsed as if someone had let all the air out of her. After a moment of shaking her head with her most unusual eyes squeezed shut, she blinked up at Breezestar. "She's still alive. I know she is. She can't be dead, or I would be able to feel her spirit."

This startled Breezestar, but also gave her hope. "I hope you're right," she mewed to the kit. "But even if she is alive, there's not much we can do. The rogues have her."

Cherrykit nodded, but looked far less worried that Breezestar would have expected. "Will you be okay?" she asked at last.

"Yes. Will you?"

"I hope so…" After ensuring that Cherrykit would be well looked after by Icefur, Breezestar went about her business as usual. She spent an uneasy day, terribly worried about her sister and wishing there was something she could do. She knew something was going to go badly… That night she held off on the mourning rituals for Galewind, her hope that the queen was still alive preventing her from thinking otherwise.

Breezestar went to bed that night feeling exhausted and troubled. She had a hard time getting comfortable, and it was after moonhigh when she finally fell asleep. However, she was soon awakened with a jolt.

Some cat was in her den.

"Who's there?" she asked, sleep still fogging her mind, making it hard for her to think straight.

"Breezestar, it's me, Cherrykit. I can't sleep. I miss Galewind, and the nest is cold and lonely without her." The small kit's voice mewed sadly.

Breezestar's eyes began to adjust to the dim light, and she could make out the small form of Cherrykit standing in the den entrance. Breezestar shifted in her nest slightly, making more room. "Come lay down. You can sleep in here tonight."

Cherrykit padded over with a mew of thanks.

"I miss her too," Breezestar murmured, her eyes closing as she began to slip back into sleep.

Cherrykit curled up, her fuzzy kit fur soft and warm against Breezestar's side. "Good night, Breezestar," she murmured contentedly.

"Good night, Cherrykit." Breezestar listened as the kit's breathing evened out, and her own did as well, as she easily fell asleep once more.

Breezestar found herself padding softly through the Moon Hollow, the almost-full moon shining brightly, lighting her path. She rounded the Leader's Stone, and found herself face-to-face with Moonfur.

"Hello, Moonfur," she purred. "Imagine seeing you here."

The pretty silver she-cat's whiskers twitched amusedly, and she let out a purr of greeting. "Hello, Breezestar. Much has happened since I saw you last."

"You've got that right. How's Galewind? You've been watching over her, right? Where is she? What happened?"

"She's alive, but not well. She was knocked unconscious by the rogues, and taken as their prisoner. We are trying very hard to watch over her, but it is difficult. We cannot see into the territory of those rogues."

"Well what should I do? Send a search party to rescue her?"

"No. That's the very last thing you should do. She will be fine, for now. Focus instead on your Clan." Moonfur's glittering blue eyes grew more troubled. "Breezestar, let that be for now. It will work out in the end. I have some news for you."

"What is it, Moonfur?"

"It's about Cherrykit. Your assumptions are correct- she has been chosen by StarClan. Her path is already laid out among the stars. She possesses great talent just waiting to unfold, which is why it is vital to the Clans' survival that it be nurtured soon."

"So what should I do?"

Moonfur looked to the sky as she spoke, eyeing it as if reading a map, "Cherrykit must be apprenticed immediately. Her pa-"

"But she's only four moons old!" Breezestar couldn't stop her shocked mew. It was in the warrior code that no cat was to be apprenticed before they reached their sixth moon, so how could StarClan, makers and followers of the warrior code- their code- tell her pointblank to defy it? She was a leader, for StarClan's sake!

Moonfur waved her tail to silence her, and repeated, "Cherrykit must be apprenticed immediately. Her path lies as a warrior, but she possesses unique medicine cat capabilities that must not be ignored. She shall be trained by both a warrior mentor and a medicine cat, who will teach her of the ways of StarClan, the ways of the stars. Her future is bright, but her path shaded. Only she can fulfill her destiny." Moonfur turned her gaze away from the stars, back to Breezestar. "I have already spoken with Shadypelt this night. She has agreed to train Cherrykit's abilities."

"But Moonfur, Cherrykit is only four moons old! The warrior code states that apprentices must be six moons old to begin training. The warrior code- StarClan's laws- say so! I'm a leader, I can't go against StarClan."

"Which is why you must apprentice her. It is StarClan's will. We know it goes against the warrior code, but these are dark times. It must be done."

Breezestar let out a resigned sigh. "Fine. If it is, as you say, truly StarClan's will, then it will be done. But what will I tell the Clan? Will they believe it?"

"They will. Cherrykit's power is great, and her skills will become apparent soon enough. Until then, your Clan trusts your leadership and judgment. They have no reason to doubt you. So who shall her mentor be?"

"I'll do it. I owe Galewind that much."

Moonfur nodded understandingly. "Yes, I was hoping you would. Now, dawn approaches. Hold the ceremony this morning. StarClan will be with you, and Galewind. Try not to worry so much." Moonfur and the Moon Hollow began to fade, until nothing remained but darkness.