Hey there!

Holidays, holidays, and more holidays! Back from the US, and now... I HAVE NOTHING TO DO AND IT'S HOT!

So...

Spottedmoth- Yes, yes... SORRY FLAME-Y! (flame-y?)

Wilder123- THANK YOU for reviewing! My Flamepelt/tail mistake is obvious, isn't it? Hehe... :P

Shadow- See me? You hafta come over sometime. Seriously. And about that challenge...

And finally, Disk...8? 2? No, 9!- NO FRYING PANS! *Surrendering*

OHHHHHHH EMMMMMMMM GEEEEEE IT'S MY BIRTHDAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!

I'M FINALLY A TEENAGER! :D :D :D :D :D :D

Wow I'm hyper today...

And you know what would be the best birthday present!

PLEASE REVIEW!

Chapter 10

"By the powers invested in me by Starclan, I name you Whirlwind. You have successfully completed your apprenticeship, and we welcome you as a full medicine cat of Shadowclan."

Flamepelt's voice vibrated strongly around the Moonpool's hollow, and each and every cat's eyes were fixed on the pair. Resting her head on Whirlwind's shoulder, Flamepelt mewed softly, only for her to hear, "I'm proud of you. I know there's something you're not telling me. Go do whatever you need to do."

Whirlwind's shock slowly ebbed into peace and acceptance.

"Thank you, Flamepelt," she murmured.

Drawing back from her mentor, the newly named Whirlwind looked around the clearing, her eyes full of wisdom and sadness as she turned back to her mentor.

"May Starclan light your path," Kestrlewing mewed, and the others echoed him. Cherrypaw gazed enviously at Whirlwind, but at the same time, with awe. The medicine cats settled down on the edge of the Moonpool, their noses dabbing the water. Whirlwind tasted starlight and frost on her tongue, and was sent to dreamland almost immediately.

"Whirlwind? Oh, my precious kit!" a voice sounded beside her, full of love and emotion.

Whirlwind's eyes flew open, and saw the only cat she wanted to see.

"Mother!" she shrieked, tears again blurring her vision.

"Follow your heart, Whirlwind. You know your own heart, and what to do with it." Tawnypelt whispered, her gaze holding her daughter's.

Understanding flowed through Whirlwind like a rapid river. She could love Emberpaw! She sprinted towards her mother and buried her face in her fur. Drawing back, Whirlwind gasped as she saw the wounds and scratches covering Tawnypelt's coat.

"Mother! What…what happened? Where are you? I'll come to save you!"

A wild panicked look came into her mother's eyes. "Don't, Whirlwind! Don't risk your-"

Her words were abruptly cut off. A grey haze enveloped Tawnypelt, and she disappeared from view.

"Mother?"

A chilling voice spoke inside her head, sending shivers down her spine, "Travel towards the rising sun, and in a Cave That Bites…"

"What?" a bewildered Whirlwind gaped her mouth open, but was struggling awake back at the Moonpool.

Travel towards the rising sun?

Beside her, Flamepelt was snoring slightly, twitching in her sleep as she visited the cats of Starclan. Whirlwind sat up, giving herself a thorough wash, and thought about the mysterious words.

I have to go save her! But how?

Flamepelt woke up, disturbing her thoughts, and glanced at Whirlwind. "You okay?"

Whirlwind nodded mutely and turned her head towards the sun, peeking out form the hollow's side.

I'll have to go there!

Slowly, other medicine cats were waking too, and Cherrypaw bounded over, whispering, "Was it fun?"

Feeling a gush of sudden warmth towards the feisty apprentice, Whirlwind smiled and replied, "Yeah. I bet you can't wait until yours!"

"Whirlwind! Come here!" Flamepelt called from the ridge of the Moonpool.

"We need to go home now." Whirlwind padded after her, casting one last glance at the sacred pool behind her.

Goodbye, Starclan. I'll come back.

Back at the camp, Flamepelt yawned and settled down in her nest. "Whirlwind? You can rest for the day. We'll collect some daisy tomorrow."

With that, her breathing steadied, and she fell into a deep sleep.

I'm sorry, Flamepelt. I have to go.

Whirlwind pushed out of the den, and watched the camp slowly light up as the sun rose. Cats were beginning to wake, and soft chatter filled the camp.

Where's Emberpaw? I need to talk to him!

Glancing around, she spotted the brown tom appearing from the apprentice's den, his jaws gaped in a huge yawn. Whirlwind hurried over, and whispered furtively.

"Emberpaw! We need to talk! Meet me outside the dirtplace!"

Emberpaw's eyes lit up at the sight of his love, but quickly changed to confusion.

"Oh…okay," he replied, obviously confused. Whirlwhind padded away, trying to keep very cool and calm, but butterflies were churning in her stomach.

"Flamepelt? I'll go get some daisy now, okay? You can sleep for a while," Whirlwind mewed softly as she stuck her head in the medicine den.

Flamepelt gave an approving grunt before falling back to sleep. As Whirlwind turned to leave, she cast one last sad glance at her mentor before leaving. Outside, Whirlwind casually ducked out of the fern entrance and raced towards the dirtplace.

"Emberpaw!" she hissed and saw his head poke out.

"Whirlwind? What did you want to tell me?" Emberpaw mewed while looking at her with large brown eyes.

Rapidly, Whirlwind told him everything in her encounter with her mother in one big breath. At last, she pleaded, "Would you come with me? I can't make this journey alone."

Whirlwind glanced up and saw that Emberpaw's eyes were shining. "Of course I'll come with you! Do…do you forgive me?" he added hesitantly.

Whirlwind purred, and stretched out her neck to him. "Yes, Emberpaw. I've never stopped thinking about you."

"So?" Emberpaw mewed excitedly. "Are we going to leave now?"

"Shh…" Whirlwind whispered, brushing the tip of her tail over his mouth. She stiffened, hearing a rustle in the bracken behind her. Motioning to Emberpaw to follow her, Whirlwind backed away until she was hidden under a holly bush. The bracken rustled again, and Rowanclaw stepped out, chasing after a squirrel that had ran away.

When she was sure that he had gone, Whirlwind crept out, whispering, "Emberpaw. We have to go, now!"

Emberpaw nodded excitedly and raced out, "Come on! Let's go!" "Wait, Emberpaw! I have to get some traveling herbs first."

Emberpaw nodded again, and crept back into the shadows of the holly bush to wait. After confirming that he was hidden out of sight, Whirlwind dashed back into the camp, plucking some daisy for good measure.

She squeezed into the medicine cat den and saw that Flamepelt was still in dreamland, her soft snores filling the air. Careful not to wake her, Whirlwind ducked into the storage room and gathered the herbs needed for the mixture. Extending a claw, Whirlwind mixed them together, grabbed a leaf, and bundled the herbs into two packages. Whirlwind daintily plucked them up in her teeth and padded out.

"Hey, Whirlwind! Where are you going?" Nightshadow called from the opening of the warrior's den.

Mouse dung! Groaning inwardly, Whirlwind racked her brains for a reply.

"Oh! I'm just going to…um… get some herbs! See ya!" she mewed, sprinting away before she could ask more questions. Her sides heaving, Whirlwind screeched to a stop in front of the holly bush and set the packages down. A pair of eyes blinked at her from he darkness of the bush, and Emberpaw came out. Nudging one of the bundles towards him, Whirlwind gulped down the herbs, gagging at the bitter taste.

"Yuck!" Emberpaw swallowed the last of the herbs with a disgusted look on his face.

Then, looking towards Whirlwind, he asked, "You ready?"

Whirlwind nodded and recited the message from her mother. "Travel towards the rising sun…" Glancing up, she saw the big flame ball high up in the sky; it was sunhigh after all.

"Come on, let's get out of our territory. We should go to our stream, and follow it upstream."

"Okay!" Emberpaw gave a bounce of excitement and Whirlwind felt a flash of doubt pass through her.

Was I right to bring him along? He's still an apprentice after all! Whirlwind pushed her nagging thoughts away and fell in step beside Emberpaw.

As they reached the stream, Whirlwind was breathing hard. Emberpaw beckoned her closer, and when she got to the side, Emberpaw splashed her with water.

"Hey!" Whirlwind meowed indignantly, but a glimmer was in her eye. Whirlwind stepped into the stream, and was grateful for the coolness on her paws. Bending down to take a drink, she saw Emberpaw with a fish in his mouth. Whirlwind reared up, shocked.

"You caught a fish?"

Emberpaw nodded bashfully. "Yeah. That stupid thing practically leaped into my paws and begged to be caught." Whirlwind dipped her head and took a bite. The flesh was succulent, and cool juices filled her mouth, temporarily stopping her hunger pangs.

"Come on, let's leave. I don't want to get caught by a Riverclan patrol." Whirlwind mewed anxiously, scanning the area for a glimpse of fur. Polishing off the last bite, Emberpaw drew his tongue over his mouth and nodded. The two cats plodded upstream, veering away from Shadowclan patrols and Riverclan ones. Suddenly, Whirlwind halted behind a thick scent line.

"This is our border. If we pass it, we'll be on our journey for real."

Hesitating, Whirlwind cast her thoughts back into camp. Was Flamepelt searching for her? How about Rowanclaw? Will he feel the same sorrow as when her mother disappeared? A soft touch on her shoulder jolted her out of her thoughts. "Let go, Whirlwind. We have to find your mother," Emberpaw whispered as he buried his nose in her fur. "Let's go." Taking a deep breath, Whirlwind nodded and stepped past the scent line and padded off, not glancing back even once.

Goodbye, Shadowclan.

*sniff sniff*

I'll hafta send them on their way, then! Good luck, EmberxWhirl!

Once again, please please please review as a present for me. OKAY? *does puppy face*

PS. Disk 9, gimme a frying pan! :P