Chapter Nine: The Warning Comes

Meanwhile, in FlameClan, Hazelstar and Bigstorm had clustered into the medicine den, where Fivefur was being tended to by Poppywing and Starpaw.

"Any change, Poppywing?" Hazelstar asked.

The she-cat shook her head worriedly.

"No. He just keeps saying the same thing over and over."

As if to prove her point, Fivefur began moaning again, although he was still unconscious.

"A warning comes from the lone and the brave! The one who will save us is the one we can't save!"

"Same thing again," Starpaw mumbled, crouching next to his adoptive father.

"He's had this vision before, Hazelstar."

The four cats turned toward the entrance of the den, to see Rosebrier looking in. The she-cat looked concerned, and it wasn't just concern for Fivefur.

"What do you mean, Rosebrier?" Bigstorm asked.

"It's the same vision he had when Bloodstar arrested Campionstripe," Rosebrier mewed. Although Rosebrier hated StoneClan, she and Campionstripe had been friends…and Hazelstar suspected that, as far as Campionstripe had been concerned, there could have been something more between them, if the cats of FlameClan hadn't rescued Rosebrier.

"Nothing happened to Campionstripe then, and nothing will happen to him now," Hazelstar reassured her.

"The darkness comes to take us all!" Fivefur moaned, "If we survive, then one will fall!"

Campionstripe had arrived at the big willow tree. Ducking under its branches, it didn't take him long to discover the tunnel.

The sienna-furred tom raced along through the paw-deep water, until he found something that made him stop short. There, on the bank that led off into the shadows, were the unmistakable paw prints of Hazelstar, Bigstorm, and Fivefur. He had tracked them often enough to know what their tracks looked like.

"Hazelstar!" he called, "Bigstorm! Fivefur!"

There was no reply, but he kept calling as he raced along the passage. He had to get to them in time.

When Fivefur woke up, he couldn't remember anything. Then, he saw the group of cats bending over him, and guessed that he had had a vision again.

"What did I…?" he mumbled.

"Don't you remember?" Rosebrier asked.

"I…not really…" Fivefur shivered, "I remember feeling cold…and afraid."

"It's all right, kid," Bigstorm said, "It's over now."

Fivefur shook his head.

"No," he said, "It's just beginning."

If he had known how true that statement was, he would have been very surprised at just how immense his prophetic powers could be.

At that moment, Blueflash raced into the medicine den.

"There's somebody in the tunnel!" he squeaked, "I swear, I heard somebody calling for Hazelstar in the tunnel!"

Leaving Poppywing and Starpaw in the medicine den, Hazelstar, Bigstorm, Fivefur, and Rosebrier hurried to the warriors' den. There was a crack in the far wall, not very wide, but big enough for Bigstorm to squeeze through. This was the FlameClan cats' secret route to StoneClan.

As Fivefur squeezed through the entrance, they heard the voice. Blueflash jumped.

"Told you!"

Hazelstar looked confused.

"It sounds like Campionstripe."

"Impossible," Bigstorm scoffed, "He doesn't know the way here."

However, about halfway down the tunnel, they nearly collided with none other than Campionstripe.

"Campionstripe!" Rosebrier purred, "It is you!"

"How'd you get down here?" Bigstorm asked suspiciously. Although he and Campionstripe had a lot in common, they had never particularly gotten along.

"Weaselheart found the entrance to the cavern," Campionstripe explained, "It's only a matter of time before Bloodstar hears about it."

Blueflash looked frightened, and he had every right to be.

"What're we gonna do, Hazelstar?" he asked.

"You've got to abandon FlameClan," Campionstripe said, "Get everyone out, before it's too late."

"Never!" Bigstorm retorted, "We'll die first!"

"Bloodstar will invade!" Campionstripe insisted, "And you'll die if he catches you here! He'll destroy everything! It's what he does."

"The darkness comes to take us all," Fivefur whispered.

Hazelstar, Bigstorm, and Fivefur went to collect the older warriors for a meeting, while Rosebrier was left to show Campionstripe around FlameClan.

"And this is the nursery…" Rosebrier mewed, before jumping back to allow Gorgekit and Frostpaw pass. Frostpaw, a white kit who had been saved from StoneClan by his now deceased mentor, Sparrowstrike, had been badly injured by Bloodstar, but he was doing much better, and had only a small trace of a limp to show that anything had ever happened to him.

"I got you, Gorgekit!" Frostpaw announced, "You're tagged!"

"No, I'm not!" Gorgekit insisted.

"If you're going to play like that, then stay outside," Rosebrier called.

"Your Clan is so full of life," Campionstripe said.

"And happiness," Rosebrier said, "Without you, I wouldn't be here, Campionstripe. Please, don't go back to StoneClan! Stay here with us."

"I've got to get back before it's too late," Campionstripe said grimly, "For all I know, Bloodstar's already on his way with an army."

"You can't stop an army on your own," Rosebrier said sadly. "Come on, there's more to see."

"Is she trying to distract me?" Campionstripe thought as he followed the she-cat outside. "Surely, she understands I'm doing all of this for her? To keep her safe?"

Out in the center of camp, the kits were playing with some of the younger warriors, oblivious to what was going on. Two kits ran to hide behind Rosebrier-a small brown tom and a white she-cat.

The white kit giggled.

"Keep up, Kippaw!"

The brown apprentice collapsed comically on the ground.

"Oh, I'm dying!" he mewed, "You're too fast for me!"

"Did you see that, mother?" the white kit asked, "We beat Kippaw!"

"I think he let us win," the brown kit said.

"No, he didn't!"

"Yes, he did!"

The two kits stopped bickering, suddenly noticing Campionstripe.

"Who's this, mother?" the brown kit asked.

"This is Campionstripe," Rosebrier said, "He's our friend. Can you say hello?"

"Hello, Campionstripe," the kits mewed.

"Hello," Campionstripe said, smiling at the kits, and trying not to feel too jealous. He knew perfectly well who their father was…and, much as he wished it was him, it wasn't.

As the kits scampered off, Rosebrier smiled.

"Come and see the world, Campionstripe. This is the place you've been risking your life to protect. FlameClan."

Campionstripe smiled as he looked down from the top of the hill into the forest beyond.

"I didn't know there was any place in the world like this," he said.

"There's only one," Rosebrier replied.

"Campionstripe! Rosebrier!" someone called, "We've got a plan to stop Bloodstar!"

It was Starpaw, who looked very excited.

"Whatever their plan is," Campionstripe thought, "I just hope it's good enough."

Meanwhile, back at StoneClan, Mossfall was getting very tired of Weaselheart. The black tom refused to shut up, and it was getting very annoying.

"It's the caves!" Weaselheart screeched, "Bloodstar has to know about the caves! This is our chance to destroy FlameClan!"

"Weaselheart, if you don't shut up, I'll make my warriors sit on you!" Mossfall exclaimed. "Got that!"

Weaselheart glared at him.

"When Bloodstar finds out that you've kept this information from him, Mossfall, you will suffer! I promise!"

"Fortunately," Mossfall said, "You never keep your promises, do you?"

Weaselheart growled in frustration.

"No, I don't!" he screeched, leaping at Mossfall and startling the grey warrior, giving Weaselheart just enough time to escape.

"Stop him!" Mossfall yelled.

But it was too late. By the time they caught up with Weaselheart, he was already in Bloodstar's den.

"Weaselheart, explain yourself!" Bloodstar thundered at the unwelcome intruder.

Mossfall lost no time. Weaselheart was finally a stationary target, and he had his orders, direct from Campionstripe.

"Sorry about that, sir," Mossfall said, as the guards surrounded Weaselheart. "These mad types can get a bit…hmm…unpredictable, I guess."

The other warriors were trying to drag Weaselheart out of the den, but it wasn't so easy, since he was chattering at twice his usual speed.

"Hazelstar and his Clan are at your mercy, sir!" he screeched, "I know exactly where they are!"

"Wait!" Bloodstar commanded, "I will hear him!"

"Oh, thank you, sir," Weaselheart said, "You won't regret this."

"Let's hope that you don't, Weaselheart!" Bloodstar growled.

Once Campionstripe and the others reached the caverns, they found Hazelstar and several other cats listening to a light grey she-cat. Berrypool was usually in charge of any digging the cats had to do, and this appeared to be the case now.

"If we can bring down this rock, we should be able…"

Berrypool broke off as Campionstripe stepped toward her. For once, the kind but slightly bossy she-cat seemed at a loss for words.

"Oh…um… Hello. You're…?"

"Campionstripe, this is Berrypool," Hazelstar said, trotting over to the two cats. "She's our resident genius, especially where digging is concerned."

"I've heard stories of your courage, Campionstripe," Berrypool mewed, "It's a privilege to finally meet you."

"The honor is all mine, Berrypool," Campionstripe said, looking unusually cheerful.

Bigstorm and Rosebrier exchanged glances. Bigstorm wasn't sure, but it sure seemed like…

"Campionstripe might fit in around here after all," Bigstorm said, bounding up to the pair. "Don't you think, Berrypool?"

"I know he would," Berrypool said, smiling. Then, the moment had passed, and she was back to business.

"We can bring down the rock," Berrypool continued, "But it will take time, and we haven't got much."

"I'll make sure you have enough," Campionstripe said. "I'd better get back to StoneClan."

As the sienna-furred cat trotted off, he glanced back at Berrypool. No one who saw that look was sure, but…had they just smiled at each other? Again?