Well, here we go! First chapter of the big marathon! Remember, all my stories will be updated during said marathon. UNfortunately, the marathon won't go according to plan, as North Ontario is annoying and has cold days. That's right, not snowdays, cold days. Well, we have both, but exams were moved back a day because it was minus thirty something before throwing in the winchill last Friday. So now said mrathon will be parts of today, as I have an exam at 12:30, tomorrow, skipping over weekend while I go to Winnipeg, which is in Manatoba, and four or so hours away. If possible, I will bring my netbook and write more chapters to post when I get back on Sunday. And the marathon will resume from Sunday to Monday. Oh, and once again thank you so much North Ontario for being you and having cold days. You would. I seem to recall that last year exams were postponed in the winter because of a snow day. With luck this won't be an annual thing with exams.

Hollyleaf: But the marathon will go on anyway?

Aduial Rana: That's what I just said! Like they say in the theatre: The show must go on!

Blackstar: So this is a show?

AR: No, but the saying applies!

Hollyleaf: I is confused.

Spottedleaf: Hollyleaf, that is bad grammar!

Hollyleaf: Shut up! You're not my mother!

Leafpool: Yes, that would be me.

AR: Ok, please stop babbling and let me get on with the story!

Blackstar: And remember folks, new stories are scheduled to be posted some time during the marathon!

AR: Thank you Blackstar. Now, on with the story!

Chapter 10

A Visit With the Lost Ones

Moonpaw lay sleeping in the apprentices den with her littermates. She was dreaming. She was following a trail of mist to a strange place. A place where misty-pelted cats were, like the one she had seen in the forest. Moonpaw jolted awake. Her eyes were wide. She saw it. A trail of mist. Without wanting to, she found that she was being drawn towards it. Her legs and paws were moving, even though she didn't want them to. She had no choice. She had to follow the mist.

She padded out of the den and began to head for the entranc of the camp. The guards seemed to be in a strange, trans-like state. Their eyes were gazing blankly ahead. They bever saw her leave the camp.

As she padded through the fores, she found herself thinking. This is exactly like my dream! Which means that- I'm going to see the mist cat again! It's the misty-pelts! They sent the mist! They sent it to lead me to them! She continued to follow, although somewhat more willingly, curiosity burning at her as she went, thoughts swirling aruond her mind as she wondered why they wanted her to go to them. Why her? Why not someone else? She knew that all would be answered soon.

Suddenly, she realized that she was no longer in ShadowClan territory. Everything seemed to be surrounded with a soft glow and thin mist.

"Welcome, Moonpaw," came a rather frightening voice. It was like the wind, soft, and seemed to be filled with the voices of many cats.

"Who are you, where am I?" she asked, trembling.

"You are in the land of the Lost Ones. We are the lost souls. We are very different from you. There are ome who die, but never reach StarClan or the Dark Forest. You are the one we have been waiting for. The daughter of the Black Holly. You will save us. And give our kits The Choice."

"The Choice?"

"Yes. The Choice of whether to live or move on. You see, we are able to mate and have kits, yet like us, they are caught in between the worlds of the living and the dead. Once free, they will be able to make The Choice, but only you can give them that. You are our saviour."

"But how? How can I save you? I don't know how!"

"At the end of the war, you will know."

Moonpaw watched as hundreds of misty-pelted cats appeared, then vanished in the mist. She turned and ran back to ShadowClan, back to her home. She raced through the entrance and into the apprentices den, where she curled up and tried to go back to sleep. Why her? She wasn't the only daughter of Hollyleaf and Blackstar. There was also Hopepaw, and Larkpaw. Why her?

"Moonpaw, are you alright?"

Moonpaw turned to see Ashpaw looking at her.

"I'm fine, Ahspaw, just a bad dream."

"Oh, ok," the tom mewed.

She longed to tell him what had happened, or to have been able to tell him she was fine without it being a lie. Why was everything so complicated?

Spottedflower: Poor Moonpaw!

Hollyleaf: I know! Why aren't you taking proper care of our daughter!

Blackstar: Why did you have to keep the its secret? Things likely would have been better if you had told! You might still be alive!

Aduial Rana: Oh, shut up you two!

Whitestorm: Review!