It had been three days since their last training session with Snowstar, and Echopaw, Moonpaw, and Breezepaw all felt lost without the wise cat to tell them what to do or anything. On the first day, they began a petty argument on who was the better leader, and wasted the whole day doing races, tests, and cheating on hopes of winning. The second day wasn't too better. Moonpaw ate a rabbit that was actually poisoned and fell ill, and Echopaw and Breezepaw began arguing about which herb would help her the most. It was sunset by the time they actually agreed on one, and Moonpaw recovered. It feels like we're going in circles, Echopaw thought despairingly. And it was true. In the morning, the three passed by a ridge and a few hours later saw the same ridge again.
They were all hot, tired, and thirsty, as they were in a dry part of the river where the water was too murky for drinking. It seemed like forever until the water looked slightly cleaner and they all gratefully got a drink.
Finally, Moonpaw started a conversation. "So, Echopaw, did you have any siblings?"
Echopaw only needed a second to answer that question. "No. I was the only kit."
There was another pause. Then Breezepaw began to talk. "Hey, maybe I can get us there. After all, my power is speed."
"And get dirty like you?" Moonpaw asked. "No thanks!"
"Well, it's better than just wasting our time in this desolate area," Echopaw pointed out.
Moonpaw groaned with exasperation. "Fine," she muttered, but looked doubtful. "How are you going to bring us with you, Breezepaw?"
"Simple. You grab my tail," he replied.
Moonpaw rolled her eyes, but grabbed the tabby tom's tail. Echopaw did the same, but felt unsure about the idea. What if one of us falls off? Then we will never get there!
"This is the world's stupidest plan, but it's the only choice we got other than die," Moonpaw whispered.
Echopaw felt a breeze come. She held on tight, but abruptly realized something. This will put too much weight on his back legs! Echopaw thought with alarm. Wait! She quickly ran forward and hugged him.
"Wait, what-" Breezepaw began, but it was too late. He ran faster than even StarClan cats could run, and Echopaw already felt herself slipping. It felt distant, but Echopaw heard Moonpaw yowling with fear. "Oh, StarClan, why?"
Echopaw felt like she was about to fall off, but Breezepaw halted. The force sent Moonpaw catapulting in mid-air and tumbling, but since Echopaw had a more secure grip, the only thing that shaken her was the fear of falling. Filled with alarm, she began sprinting to Moonpaw to cushion her landing. But she was too late...
"Oof!" Moonpaw exclaimed. A pause. "Don't worry, I'm okay!"
Echopaw sighed with relief, and Breezepaw's paranoia quickly vanished to relief. "Breezepaw, promise me we'll never do this again."
"Promise," he responded with a cheesy smile. Echopaw realized he began to lean closer to her. She was confused, but allowed the tom to continue. Breezepaw hugged her back in return. Happiness became pure joy, and Echopaw allowed the warm feeling to last.
"Hello? Anyone there?" Moonpaw cut in. "Come on, you two, let's move!"
Echopaw and Breezepaw exchanged embarrassed glances before following the bubbly she-cat. Had she really seen that? Echopaw thought, but pushed that off her mind. Remember the quest.
A while later, the terrain became rockier again, but the land was still fertile and teemed with prey. For some reason, Echopaw felt like the terrain was familiar, even though the memory seemed so distant. Wondering if Breezepaw knew it, as they were linked to the same prophecy, she approached him again. "Does this place look familiar?" she asked the tabby tom.
"Well...no, not really. But it does seem a lot like the IceClan camp."
There was a long pause. "So..." Breezepaw began. "We should, uh, just forget what happened earlier, right?"
"Yeah," Echopaw meowed. "I just hope Moonpaw doesn't start teasing us about it."
The conversation felt really awkward, and a few minutes later they separated. I guess I'll just talk to Moonpaw, Echopaw thought.
When Echopaw finally caught up to the silver she-cat, she realized that Moonpaw was unusually quiet. "Moonpaw? Are you okay?"
"Oh, yeah, I'm fine. Just...wondering what will happen after this journey." Silence. "Everything has changed for us. We just realized a few days ago that we have special powers, we're part of a prophecy, and we are the representatives of all good and the world's only hope. I guess you can relate. To be honest, I'm not sure that we can defeat this Darkness thing, whatever it is. If it makes up everything evil in this world, it must be downright impossible to stop it."
Echopaw felt like she had nothing to say about it. "Moonpaw, are you sure you're okay? You're not normally this...downcast."
"I said I'm fine," Moonpaw retorted. When she saw Echopaw flinch at her attitude, she apologized. "I need some time alone, okay? Some time to reflect on all of this."
"Okay," Echopaw mewed quietly, and walked away.
As it became a little darker, Moonpaw's fur became brighter and Echopaw's confusion continued growing. Why does this place look so familiar? Why is Moonpaw acting so weird? Why was I even chosen for this journey in the first place?
Because of her confusion clouding both her heightened senses and judgement, Echopaw didn't realized that she was being watched. Far off in the trees, an object loomed, sneaking nearby. It came closer and closer...so close...until it touched her.
Echopaw yowled in alarm, realizing that an enemy cat snuck up on them. Remembering the skills Snowstar taught her, she scratched the enemy and pinned him down. "What are you doing here?" she snarled.
"I-I..." The cat began. For some reason, the impostor smelled familiar. "I am here to help you, Echo! Don't you know? I am your brother!"