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Duskclaw scorned two claws down the tree, two scratches for two deaths. First was Nightcrow, who gave up the desperate fight for life that night, and Greycloud. Who had lost his last life and was now joined in the ranks of Cloudclan, there may be the leader could finally reach the peace he so richly deserved.

While the deaths had shocked everyone in the sick hollow there was a larger issue, those in camp needed to know about them, but that was impossible. Duskclaw and Silentecho could not take the journey, both medicine cats had caught the disease. What would Desertclan do with no leader? Things seemed horribly hopeless and grim.

Just then there was a rattling in the bushes and the loner, Bird immerged from them. "The sickness has spread to the non-clan cats too." He meowed mournfully. Duskclaw looked at the small tom, she remembered helping to give birth to him, he was the only survivor of Yellowmarrow`s litter. The only surviving son of Greycloud.

"Greycloud`s dead." She hissed to him, taking her anger out on his kit. Bird dropped his head, he had never really known his father, he had left the clan as a kit and never returned, but he always had regretted his decision. "I need you to tell the clan that he and Nightcrow has gone to Cloudclan." She murmured, barely seeing the nod Bird gave her before darting off.

"Duskclaw, it`s fine, Nightcrow is with me, watching you all, but without the sorrow." The voice of Watcher whispered in her ear, "Greycloud has caught the snake he always wanted to catch." He added with a chuckle.

"Does that mean you`re free?" Duskclaw asked the air.

There was a pause, "Almost, there hold is softening and their might is dwindling." He said, Duskclaw wondered how it was he could hear her, or speak with her but jerked back to attention as he said one more line, "When the stars are found of dishonesty and untruth, the rulers will continue their raid." He said, repeating the prophecy he had once said.

"How can the stars be talked to? What rulers and what raid that was never finished?" She shouted, but her only response was the soft blowing of the wind. She did not know what that meant, but something was going to change, and all the pain going on right now was linked to it somehow.

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