Now finally, we go to the day of the journey, it`s just before dawn, and Swamppaw is starting to wake up...
Swamppaw opened his eyes and looked around, it was almost dawn. He looked at each apprentice in turn, all were asleep. Quickly and quietly, he creeped out of the den and padded into the medicine den. Glancing around, he saw Fuzzypetal snooring in her den. Tiptoeing, he made his way to the herb store. Sniffing the herbs, he found the four Fuzzypetal used for traveling herbs. Fuzzypetal turned in her sleep, he put the herbs in a wrap and padded out of the den, unaware of the shadowy cat that had followed him into the medicine den. Looking out of the cattail tunnel, Swamppaw saw that Sandheart was on guard. Changing directions, he escaped through the dirt place, still with the shadowy cat on his tail. Once outside, he quickly lapped up the herbs and started heading to the meadow, the cat copying his every move.
Now we switch to Lakeclan...
Mistblossum felt a proding at her side. "Mommy, I`m not ready to open my eyes yet," she murmured sleeply. "Mistblossum! We`ve got to go now, it`s almost dawn!" Jaymint growled in her ear. Mistblossum was instantly awake, remembering her mission.
"How are we supposed to get the traveling herbs now?" She whispered.
"We`ve got to hurry!" Jaymint whispered. Sliping between warriors trying not to disturb them. They got into the clearing as the first rays of dawn began to rise. They were runing out of time. Suddenly, at the entrance to the medicine den, Mallowbloom appeared. In her jaws were a mixture of herbs.
"I may have only been a medicine cat for a few moons, but I still remember how to make traveling herbs," she told them.
Jaymint looked at his sister, "She knows?" He asked.
Mistblossum nodded. "It`s a long story," she told him.
"Which you don`t have time for," Mallowbloom interrupted. "Now eat these herbs and follow your destiny." They both obediently ate the herbs. Jaymint started to make his way to the dirt tunnel, Mistblossum followed with a "Thank you!" To her best friend. Then they disapeared into the dirt place, leaving all that they loved behind.
Next, we go to Shadeclan...
Nightsky was roused awake by Violetleaf. "It`s almost dawn!" She told him. Nightsky reluctently got up. Taking his traveling herbs in his jaws, he padded out into the clearing, where he paused. Should I wake up Ambercloud so she can come with me? After all, she is my only family... But then Nightsky remembered that his sister had her vigil last night, she would probably be too tired. Then he saw a flash of white fur come out of the warriors den. "Nightsky!" Whispered a familliar voice, "I`m glad I caught you in time."
Nightsky whipped around to face Ambercloud. "H-how did you know I`d be out here?"
Ambercloud let out a mrrow of amusement. "You and Violetleaf aren`t the best whisperers."
Nightsky couldn`t hold it in any longer, "How much do you know?"
Ambercloud glanced at him, "That your going on a mission and you wish you could bring me... So are you?"
Nightsky gulped, the only question he hadn`t wanted her to ask. "Well...uh..I...I want to...but..." He trailed off.
Ambercloud regarded him indiferently. "You`re thinking of not taking me?!"
Nightsky thought about Violetleaf`s words to him yesterday, This destiny is yours, no distractions. "I-it's not that I don`t want to take you...It`s just... I have a different destiny then you, I can`t have any distractions..."
"Well I`m coming and you can't do anything to stop me!" Ambercloud hissed.
"But you don`t have traveling herbs!"
"Oh yeah?" Ambercloud turned around to a newly dug hole outside the warriors den. Inside were traveling herbs.
"Well...You don`t even know where or why I`m going on this mission!"
"You`ll have plenty of time to explain on the journey," Ambercloud resoned. Nightsky had no more arguments on why she couldn`t go and since he knew she wouldn`t leave him alone until he agreed to let her go, he obliged.
"Ok, fine, but we have to go now!" Quickly and quietly, the siblings slipped out of camp.
And finally, we go to the Hillclan camp...
Skyshadow streched and opened his eyes. Looking up he saw it was just before dawn, I guess I`ve got a few more rabbit hops to sleep before patrols... Then it hit him. Wait, I can`t wait for dawn, I have to start my journey to the meadow! Turning his head, he saw that Ebonyshine`s nest was empty, Went to get the traveling herbs. Ebonyshine and Skyshadow had agreed that whoever woke up first would get the traveling herbs and wait for the other in the clearing. That was where she must be, Skyshadow groomed himself quickly, then went to join his friend in the clearing. Ebonyshine had indeed gone into the medicine den, for there were two bundles of herbs at her paws.
"Are you ready?" She murmured as Skyshadow walked up to her.
"As ready as I`ll ever be," he responded.
Quietly, they laped up the herbs and disapeared through the dirt place.
Swamppaw sighed, plopping down on the soft grass of the meadow. Still clueless to the fact that the shadowy cat had followed him there and was crouching in the bushs on the Marshclan side. Swamppaw was the first one there, but not for long...
Mistblossum and Jaymint arrived minutes later...
Mistblossum sighed, seeing the meadow ahead of them. Finally, I can find out why Skyclan decided to turn my life upside down and who the other cats are... So far there was only one cat outlined on the meadow and it was close to the Marshclan side. Ok, time to find out who the Marshclan cat is. Giving her brother a nod, both Lakeclan warriors leapt out of the reeds together. At once, almost as if on que, the other cat leapt up and faced them. Oh Skyclan no... Mistblossum thought looking at the cat, don`t tell me this frog-brained apprentice is the one Skyclan destined to stand for Marshclan...
"Hello Mistblossum," Swamppaw greeted, dipping his head.
"Swamppaw," Mistblossum responded curtly.
Jaymint looked up as the apprentice`s name was spoken. "Swamppaw? Now where have I heard that name before? Wait wasn`t he the-"
"Yes!" Mistblossum looked at him pleadingly, begging him not to start a fight. No matter what had happened they had to work together. Grudges now put aside. And, by the look Swamppaw gave her, he knew it too. Little did they know, three cats were watching them...
Nightsky and Ambercloud stood watching in silence as the three figures eventualy stopped talking and sat down.
"Oh, come on Ambercloud! We`ve been watching them long enough, let`s go!" Nightsky told his sister impatiently.
"But-"
"No one`s going to hurt me!" He told her impatiently. "I already explained on the way here: We just came to see what Skyclan wants to tell us, or destruction." Without waiting for her response, he headed straight for the cats.
"Nightsky!?" They all gasped in astonisment as he padded up. Swamppaw, Mistblossum and Jaymint? He thought to himself.
"And Ambercloud!" His sister meowed, padding up to his side.
"A medicine cat? Going on a mission?" Swamppaw said in confusion, completly ignoring Ambercloud.
Mistblossum nudged the apprentice, "Swamppaw, don`t be so rude! Nightsky knows how to fight and he could heal us if we get injured."
Nightsky blinked at her greatfully. Jaymint, however, looked at Ambercloud suspisiosly.
"Why did you bring her?" He asked Nightsky.
"Funny I could ask the same question about you, Jaymint." Said a mystirous black she-cat with gray eyes.
Ebonyshine and Skyshadow entered the meadow, heading towards the... five cats? Ebonyshine had just asked a question while Skyshadow was slowly realizing who these cats were. Swamppaw, Mistblossum, Jaymint, Nightsky, Ambercloud?
"Ebonypaw? Skypaw? Skyclan sent us three apprentices?" Nightsky said in disbelieve.
"For your information, we got our warrior names two sun rises ago. This is Ebonyshine and I`m Skyshadow." Skyshaodw informed them.
"And you didn`t answer my question," Ebonyshine added, "Why are there seven of us?"
"Eight," corrected the shadowy cat, making an appearence, "So this is what you were so happy about Swamppaw? Sneaking away to meet with cats of other clans?"
Swamppaw gulped, "Flintpaw?" He whispered.
Another cliffhanger! Anyway, from now on aside from the odd chapter I`m going to do a paragraph for each cat, sorry if some are longer then others, it just means it not their time to shine get. Please review, new chapter coming soon!