A/N: A WARNING TO ALL:

Do not see Pan's Labyrinth.

Repeat:

Do not see Pan's Labyrinth.

I know my readers well, I know you wouldn't like the movie (unless of course you have already seen it..) Anyway, here's chapter 8. I just came back from a band concert, so bear with me!

It was the day Graystripe, Cherrytail, and Rockfall were leaving, and Featherpaw was not happy. A, Graystripe was proving himself a fine warrior, and would've made a great addition to SkyClan. B, Cherrytail was a SkyClan warrior! SkyClan couldn't afford more lost warriors. C, Rockfall was her brother. She didn't want him to leave in any cost!

But nonetheless, Graystripe was perched stop the Rockpile, Leafstar and Thorntail beside him. He was talking calmly to them, most likely discussing the journey they'd take. Featherpaw remembered Echosong saying that Firestar and Sandstorm followed the RiverClan river a long way to find the river that ran through StreamClan and SkyClan territory. Graystripe was most likely going to take the same route.

"Featherpaw, get your head out of the clouds," Echosong scolded, causing Featherpaw to jump. "You've been really out of it lately," the silver medicine cat added, worry layering her soft mew. "Get yourself together, okay?"

Featherpaw nodded vigorously. "Yes, Echosong."

But Featherpaw knew that that would be easier said than done. With Graystripe leaving and taking two strong SkyClan warriors with him, it was hard to forget about all the troubles caused.

"Featherpaw, have you noticed how oddly Patchfoot is acting?" Echosong asked.

Featherpaw blinked at her mentor. "Patchfoot?" she echoed. "Er, not exactly…" Truthfully, Featherpaw had forgotten there was even a Patchfoot in the Clan!

"He's been acting more and more snappish, and he has a bad temper," Echosong explained. "I have a feeling that he'll be joining the elders soon."

"Joining?" Featherpaw scoffed. "We don't have any elders."

"It'll be good for the Clan to have an elder," Echosong advised. "I know he'll be alone, but I'm quite sure he'll be fine."

"Echosong, Patchfoot won't only be the only elder in the Clan," Featherpaw began, "he'll be the only elder in the entire gorge. I don't think he's going to be fine."

Echosong shrugged. "Thrushflight is getting old in MudClan, and you know that as well," she meowed. "Whitewing was by herself at the Gathering because Thrushflight was too weak to come. I have a feeling the old medicine cat will retire soon, Whitewing taking her place."

Featherpaw nodded, excitement bubbling inside her for her friend. Whitewing was her best friend in MudClan, or any of the other Clans. Echosong and Ivoryclaw had introduced her to a GroundClan queen named Puddlefoot, but Featherpaw wasn't sure how she was supposed to be friends with a cat much older than her.

"Thrushflight told me a few moons ago that MudClan territory is lacking in juniper bushes," Echosong meowed. "Want to take her some berries? They'll help her with strength."

Featherpaw shifted uncomfortably. SkyClan had been making many trips over to MudClan recently, and she feared that Cloudstar would start getting suspicious.

Echosong seemed to guess Featherpaw's uneasiness. "I'm sure Cloudstar will be fine with it."

Featherpaw shrugged. "All right." She nosed through Echosong's supply of herbs and berries and poked out a few of the small, purplish-blue berries stored next to the juniper leaves. She wrapped them in a bundle of leaves and picked the package up with her mouth. She nodded briskly to her mentor before turning to leave.

"Bring a warrior with you, just in case!" Echosong called as Featherpaw left the cave.

Featherpaw thought about asking Graystripe, be she realized that he would be too busy to stop by MudClan's territory again. She decided to ask Patchfoot, just to see if he could make the journey.

She trotted over to the black-and-white warrior and dropped the leaf packet. "Hey there, Patchfoot," she mewed warmly. "Do you want to come with me to MudClan's territory? I'm bringing juniper berries over to Thrushflight—"

"I have better things to do," Patchfoot interrupted, and stalked away.

Featherpaw blinked.

Suddenly, the senior warrior halted and turned to face the silver medicine cat apprentice. "On second thought…" he murmured. "Maybe a good walk will do some good. Should we bring another warrior?"

Featherpaw shrugged. She guessed having another warrior would help Patchfoot make it up the cliff while she had the berries in her mouth.

"Stormcloud!" she called. The dark grey she-cat was crouched over a starling, finishing her last gulps. "Do you want to come with me and Patchfoot to give MudClan some berries?"

Stormcloud nodded and flicked the tip of her tail in acknowledgement. She finished off her fresh-kill and trotted up to Featherpaw. "Do you mind if I take Barkpaw? We're going to train up near the MudClan border afterward."

Featherpaw nodded. "Sure." She would have another apprentice to keep her company.

Once they had found Barkpaw, the patrol set off toward the other end of the gorge. Featherpaw and Barkpaw climbed it was ease, while Stormcloud lingered behind and helped Patchfoot up the rocky wall. This side of the gorge clearly wasn't meant for older cats to climb up.

The patrol eventually reached the top of the gorge, and Featherpaw found herself gazing across the grassy moorland for the second time in one quarter-moon. She couldn't wait to see Cinderfur performing her warrior duties, since the last she'd seen her, she was still an apprentice. She also couldn't wait for Whitewing to get her glory as a medicine cat, but realized that Thrushflight would retire when she was ready.

"Let's go," Featherpaw muttered, trudging through the moors and slipping between the copses of trees, the others following behind her.

It didn't take long to reach the MudClan border. Featherpaw crossed without hesitating, and trekked across the mud to where the trees began. The SkyClan patrol trotted through the trees, their paws slippery from the muddy trail.

"SkyClan!"

Featherpaw jumped when she heard a familiar mew come from her left. She jumped and turned to see Stripedpaw and a few other apprentices purring with laughter at Featherpaw's reaction.

"You furball!" Featherpaw yowled, cuffing the dark grey tabby apprentice on the ear. "You scared me out of my fur."

Stripedpaw turned to the three apprentices behind her. "The apprentices are out for a hunt. I have a feeling Blackfeather is assessing us, but I can't be sure."

"I'm Honeypaw!" a golden tabby she-cat mewed cheerily.

"My name's Earthpaw," meowed a light brown she-cat with a lighter belly. She seemed older than the others, and Featherpaw suspected she would be becoming a warrior soon.

"I'm Leafpaw," meowed the tortoiseshell she-cat. She and Honeypaw had the same stunning amber eyes, and Featherpaw suspected that they were sisters.

"Hi there," Featherpaw mewed.

"Featherpaw," Patchfoot meowed exasperatedly, "the berries?"

"Right," Featherpaw mewed. "Stripedpaw, I have a few berries to take to Thrushflight. Can you lead us to the camp?"

Stripedpaw nodded. "Sure thing," she mewed before turning tail and jetting away from the patrol, the others following suit. Featherpaw picked up the leaf packet and bolted after them, the other SkyClan cats right behind her.

When Featherpaw caught up to the apprentices, she heard Stripedpaw whisper, "Your friend never mentioned his name."

"Oh, that's Barkpaw," Featherpaw mumbled. "He's coming along to train with Stormcloud after the visit."

Stripedpaw spared another glance at the brown apprentice before sprinting ahead of the group.

When they got to the MudClan camp, Whitewing was seated just outside the medicine cat's den, just like before. Featherpaw shrugged off the wave of suspicion she felt and trotted over to her.

"Hey there, Whitewing," she mewed happily.

The white she-cat nodded but said nothing.

"I brought some juniper berries, since you told me that juniper bushes were scarce in your territory," Featherpaw continued, ignoring Whitewing's sudden silence.

Whitewing nodded. "Thanks," she murmured, taking the leaf package from Featherpaw. She ducked into the den and dropped the packet off before coming back out and blinking at Featherpaw.

Featherpaw sighed. "Whitewing, what's wrong? You've been acting strange lately."

The white medicine cat apprentice looked down and lowered her voice as she whispered, "Featherpaw, Thrushflight is refusing to back down as a medicine cat. She won't retire! I have to make sure no cat sees her, since she's getting so frail to move. She was already old with the Ground Rogues. If she doesn't retire soon, too much activity will kill her!"

Featherpaw straightened. "Let me see her."

Whitewing shook her head. "She's asked to make sure no cat sees her. I'm sorry Featherpaw. Thank you for the berries."

Featherpaw sighed gently. She got to her paws and gazed into Whitewing's blue eyes, concern clouding them. Finally she shook her head lightly before turning and finding Patchfoot and Stormcloud talking to Cloudstar and Blackfeather. She saw Stripedpaw chatting enthusiastically to Barkpaw.

"Ready?" Stormcloud meowed.

Featherpaw nodded and flicked her tail toward Barkpaw. "Come on!" she called.

The brown tom nodded and quickly said good-bye to Stripedpaw before following the SkyClan cats out of the MudClan camp.

"I think MudClan is getting along pretty well," Stormcloud observed.

Barkpaw nodded. "I like it here, actually. The mud feels nice on my pads compared to the stone of the gorge."

Featherpaw shook her head. "I'm used to the gorge. Come on, Barkpaw, you're a SkyClan cat. You should like the feeling of stone on your paws."

Patchfoot snorted. "No cat likes it. We're just used to it. I'm sure many SkyClan cats would hate walking on the mud of MudClan's territory."

"Well I like it," Barkpaw insisted. Featherpaw couldn't help feeling that the apprentice only liked it because it was where Stripedpaw lived. Echosong hadn't only enforced that medicine cat's shouldn't love or have kits, but she also warned Featherpaw to tell others that relationships between other Clans was strictly forbidden as well. If Barkpaw loved Stripedpaw, things would be rather complicated in the gorge.

"I think Cloudstar is doing a fine job leading his Clan," Stormcloud put in. "Tinycloud was certainly right when she said StarClan wanted him to lead MudClan."

"Batstar's doing a great job, too," Featherpaw meowed. "But then again, he was already the Ground Rogues' leader."

"What about Jaystar?" Barkpaw added. "How's he doing?"

Stormcloud chuckled. "He's doing fine. He was GroundClan's only traitor at the time. He was the only cat who didn't agree with Sharpstar's rule, but he remained there to spy. He's a highly respected warrior if you ask me."

Featherpaw agreed completely. Jaystar had rescued Tinycloud from death during the battle against Sharpstar, and it was known then that the fierce tom was GroundClan's true leader.

"Hey," Barkpaw meowed suddenly. Featherpaw look up at him.

"What?" Stormcloud asked.

"Where's Patchfoot?"

Featherpaw looked around to where Stormcloud was walking. She expected Patchfoot to be behind her, but he was nowhere to be seen.

"Patchfoot?" she called through the thin forest. There was no reply. "Oh, no!" Featherpaw exclaimed. "What if Flowerfrost or Nightclaw got him?"

Stormcloud stopped and sniffed the air. "He went this way," she meowed, darting through the trees away from the SkyClan border. Featherpaw cast one anxious glance at the edge of the forest and hurried after the others.

A/N: Sorry, not a very productive chapter. But, as I usually say, it's important to the plotline, especially where Patchfoot goes...