Echopaw's eyes narrowed. "I have no siblings, and you are just a random cat."

At the corner of her eye, she saw Breezepaw and Moonpaw looking in befuddlement. But the two cousins were too confused to assist, or do anything.

"B-but I'm serious, Echo!" The cat stammered. "Didn't Mother tell you about me?"

Echopaw looked away with confusion, turmoil, and sadness.

"She didn't, did she?" The tom's expression was downcast and crestfallen. He was about to slide out of Echopaw's pounce, but she tightened her grip.

"I'm not letting go, not until you can prove that you are related!" She growled, but thought intently. What was Mother's name again? "Okay. To prove you're being serious, what was Mother's name?"

"L-leaf. Leaf that Falls from Trees," the gray tom meowed nervously.

Realizing that he was correct, Echopaw released her grip on the tom. "I believe you. What's your name?"

Now that she had released him, the tom replied with no stammering or an unsteady tone is his voice. "I'm Bracken."

"Wait, you have a brother?" Breezepaw inquired.

"As of now, yes," Echopaw muttered.

"Yay!" Moonpaw meowed cheerily. "Now we're not as alone anymore, and we have someone who knows this part of the territory."

"She's crazy, but right," Breezepaw pointed out. "Maybe there is some sense in that cat."

Echopaw smiled with amusement. "So, are you going to come with us?" She asked her brother.

Bracken shuffled his paws uneasily. "Well, that's the problem. The Tribe doesn't want anyone to leave, after our mother was exiled. Echo, if you can convince our leader to have me come with you, then I can help you with your journey!"

Echopaw sighed. "So, where is the camp?"

"Wait," Breezepaw meowed skeptically. "Echopaw, are you sure that you trust this cat? I mean, I know he knows your mother, but doesn't everyone know your mother's full name?"

"The rules in our Tribe are different than Clans. Only family knows a cat's full name," the silver-and-white tom replied. "And now you know..."

"Come on," Bracken invited. "Let's go to the camp."

Luckily, the Tribe wasn't as far as Echopaw recalled, and they easily came to a lush background with a waterfall cascading nearby. The sun gently touched the lush grass that grew at the bottom of the cliff that they were climbing, since the Tribe of Infinite Knowledge lived in a cave embedded into rock. The climb looked treacherous and rough, but Bracken assured that it wasn't that hard despite its looks.

After only a moment of climbing, Moonpaw complained, "This is taking forever! Isn't there an easier way?"

Bracken chuckled. "Sorry, this is the only path up to the Cave. Don't worry, we can help you if you have any injuries."

Moonpaw reluctantly continued climbing. To Echopaw, it seemed effortless, but Breezepaw had some trouble making sure he didn't step on any sharp stones poking out.

When the four cats finally reached the Tribe's territory, it looked really familiar. The mossy overhangs, the familiar scents...everything! "Is this really where our camp is?" Echopaw whispered in awe.

"Yeah, it's a nice place, isn't it?" Bracken grinned. "Come on, I'll tell Sky that you're here."

Sky? Echo thought. Things must have really changed...wasn't it Boulder who was leading the Tribe?

As they were walking inside the complex camp, filled with many groups of tunnels and entries, Moonpaw came closer to her. "Echopaw, are you sure that cat's your brother? I mean, you told us you didn't have any other siblings and this random cat comes up and claims he's your brother..."

"I know he's my brother," Echopaw replied firmly. "My mother and father are dead, and even though I didn't know, who else could he be? Only close family members know another's name."

Breezepaw chimed in. "I guess you're right," the tabby tom meowed. "He's a nice guy, and I can't think of him as a bad cat or anything."

The trio nodded in agreement. By the time they finished talking, they were in a smaller cave that Echopaw realized was the leader's den. A small crack of sunlight shown through the dimly lit place, and small grasses filled with mountain dew covered the ground in a seemingly harmonious fashion. The new leader known as Sky was in the center, with gentle white and grey patches shining on his steel blue pelt. He looked up with narrow, cold eyes. "So, it's true then. The daughter of the outcast comes back in aid of my assistance."

Echopaw gulped. This isn't going to be easy, she thought unhappily.

Moonpaw stepped forward cheerily with a waving gesture. "Hi, I'm Moonpaw-" she began, but stopped and shied back to her place as the cave-guards hissed threateningly, with Sky displaying a greater look of disgust and anger.

Of course! Echopaw realized abruptly. Moonpaw did an offensive gesture-mocking the Tribe's leader...

Echopaw bowed and stepped forward respectfully, showing that she wasn't a threat and that she revered the leader's position of rank. Sky nodded approvingly, his repulsive expression relaxing. "I don't want to rejoin the Tribe, after what my mother and father did against you," she mewed quietly. "My friends and I need some help on where the Cave of Shadows are."

Bracken, the cave-guards, and the rest of the Tribe that was at the meeting gasped. The journey there was almost an endless expanse, and lucky survivors would die once they set foot without authorization from the leaders.

Sky's expression was shocked. "You're really asking us for directions to that disgrace?" He snapped. "Going there is a suicide mission, even if you lasted long enough to get here from wherever you came from. Thousands of the toughest cats in the world tried...and never came back. You three, just meager kits, think you can reach there?! Insane!"

Arguments and clamor began to rise from the other cats from the Tribe. Suddenly, a familiar, old, shallow voice came from the back, temporarily breaking the tension.

"Wait! What if she is the Chosen One?"

Echopaw, Breezepaw, Moonpaw, and the rest of the Tribe turned to an elderly cat who Echopaw only recognized from the Tribe.

The Elder Receiver...River!

"Remember the prophecy, Sky?" The old tom inquired. "I knew from the beginning that she was the One, and none of you believed me!"

Sky rolled his eyes. "River, that was a prophecy that was passed on for generations. You of all cats think that this kit is the One?"

"Our ancestors know it; I have spoke to them for guidance," River pointed out. "I see it in her eyes. Destiny has shown that the echo must save us all."

"I trust your judgement, River, but are you really sure the daughter of an outcast is actually the One to save us?" Sky questioned.

"I trust destiny," River meowed firmly. "And destiny is shining through this young cat."

Sky gave a long, exasperated sigh. "Fine," he muttered. "We will help you to the Cave of Shadows."

Sky was about to call the meeting to an end, but Echopaw added, "Wait, can you give us an escort?"

The cats stopped warily. Sky looked annoyed and upset that she was asking this of him, but nodded with reluctance. "Pick one of these members of the Tribe that are here," the leader mewed. "All of them here are capable of coming with you."

Echopaw instantly nodded to Bracken, and the young light brown tom stepped forward.

"Our heroes have been chosen," Sky announced.

"Our heroes have been chosen! Our heroes have been chosen!" All of the cats at the meeting cheered.

Echopaw looked at all of the bright, hopeful faces of the Tribe as she enjoyed the brief moment of mirth. She then looked at Bracken and grinned at him with trust. Her brother returned the gesture, a smile playing on his mouth.With the help of StarClan, we will face this threat.