Well, I guess again my want for reviews is ignored. I am seriously thinking of discontinuing this fic. Review if you want me to keep going!

Disclaimer: If I were Erin Hunter, would I be writing fanfiction?

CHAPTER 10

I awoke to a pounding headache. 'I need to go over to Berryherb's den today.' I thought. 'She is kinda freaky, always looking at me weird and asking about Moonherb.' I suddenly realized that I was cold, and there were no sounds of other cats around me. I opened my eyes. At first, all I could see was a cold stone wall. With an effort, I heaved myself up and looked around. 'Where am I?' I thought. Then I all the memories came back to me- the Earthclan patrol, the catnapping- I was in deep trouble.

My prison seemed to be a cave, small, around two foxlengths wide and three long. There was a boulder blocking the small entrance. I shivered-it was cold. Suddenly I noticed something- there was a small pile of black seeds on a leaf near the back of the den. I looked closer and saw that they were seeds to stop pain; I couldn't remember what the name was. I licked them up, and almost immediately, the throbbing in my head dulled. My stomach growled. 'I wonder how long I've been out.' I thought.

After what seemed moons, I heard a noise, and the boulder rolled away from the entrance. Sudden light flooded in, and I squinted my eyes. Once my eyes adjusted, I saw a small cat- undoubtedly a Learner- trot in. The white she-cat layed down the vole she was holding and walked away. When she was almost at the boulder she stopped, and looked back. "Darksky would like to see you after you are done, and one of the guards will accompany you. We will leave the entrance open, but do not try to escape, there are six warriors guarding the cave." With that, she walked out. I finished the vole in a couple bites, wishing for more. I quietly got up, stepped to the mouth or the cave, and mewed "I'm ready to go see Darksky now." One of the guards got up and started walking. I followed, and looked about me in wonder. Earthclan's camp was at the base of a mountain, a hollow carved out by some long-ago pool. There were amazing rock formations everywhere- tall, twisted stone spires, tunnels for dens... it was awe-inspiring. 'Well, now I've seen three out of four of the cat's territories. I wonder where I'll end up next.' I thought wryly to myself. Suddenly the warrior stopped before a spiraling leaning tower, leading up to a cave in a cliff wall.

"Come on." he meowed gruffly. "Do you need a hand, Halfclan?"

"No, I can do just fine." I answered, trying to keep my fear down. Halfclan is what some cats called Soulfire and me, since we had come from one clan but were living in another. It was a steep walk up to the cave, but I made it. We stopped just outside the cave entrance.

"Come in." a deep voice called out, making my shiver.

"Go." whispered the guard, nudging me forward. I hesitantly walked in.

"Why, Spiritpaw, or Spiritwind, as they call you now. How nice to finally meet you at last." Darksky meowed. I said nothing, keeping my head high. "Sit, down, young warrior. I can't afford to have my guest uncomfortable, especially just after getting knocked on the head." Again, I said nothing.

"Quite the silent type, aren't you? Well, I think we can make up for that." he started prowling towards me. Suddenly he leaped at me, raking his claws down my flank. I turned, and lashed out at him.

"You can't beat me, don't you know that?" Darksky hissed at me. "Not unless you have some special powers." Then it dawned on me. He was trying to make me use my abilities! Well, I would not. He leaped at me again, but I was ready and jumped in the air. I landed on his back, and dug my claws in. He growled at me, and rolled. Now he was the one on top of me. I had an idea, but it was my only chance. I flipped over on my back, exposing my tummy. I tried to look helpless, widening my eyes. It seemed to work, Darksky obviously didn't expect me to fight very hard. He loosened his grip, saying, "Bah, they don't train you very hard these days, do they?" I suddenly brought up my hind legs and pushed him in the stomach, throwing him off me and knocking the wind out of him.

He heaved himself up, hissing at me "Now you're gonna get it!" He launched at me, throwing me down. Suddenly all the fight had gone out of me. I lay there, limply, as his teeth came down for the kill. I saw a flash of red and black, and I felt myself lifting, up, up, up, until a cat greeted me. He was mostly white, but he had patches of red on him.

"I'm dead, aren't I?" I asked.

"Yes." the cat answered. "I am Cedarheart, of Skyclan. Come with me." He trotted away, me at his heels. Eventually we came to a place, higher up than the tallest tree. There were all kinds of cats there, starry like Cederheart, but with hues of color to them. There was a silver river winding its way through the crowd. It emptied into a small pool. Suddenly a cat stepped out of the pool. I gasped; she was the most beautiful cat I had ever seen. This cat was not starry like the rest, but was solid colored. She was golden, but had black wings on her back, and black paws and black tip of her tail. Her golden fur and wings were dotted with silver, and her round face was silver, housing blue eyes.

"That is Sky, she is the first cat to die, and she founded Skyclan." Cedarheart whispered in my ear. I nodded- it made sense. The gold on her fur was the sun, the black wings and paws and tail was the night, the silver dots were stars, and her silver face was the moon. She walked through the crowd, the cats parting before her. She came up to us and stopped.

"Greetings, Spiritwind." she meowed. Her voice was like the wind blowing, water rushing, fire crackling, and earth moving all at the same time. And it had a hint of something else in it- life. "You are early." she stopped and studied me. "You have not fulfilled your destiny yet; it is not time for you to die. Or you, either." she directed the last part at something behind me. I turned and let out a mew. It was Soulfire! She was just sitting there, staring off into space and murmuring my name.

"Soulfire?" I mewed, and she didn't answer. I turned back to Sky, puzzled.

"She is not really here. Your souls are so intertwined that if one of you dies, the other's soul goes with you, staying like that until the body eventually dies and it can be free." I looked at Soulfire, and then back at Sky.

"Can't you do anything for her?" I pleaded. "I don't want her to die, too!"

She is not going to die, and neither are you. As I said, you have not completed your task. However, remember this- do not be afraid to die. Skyclan will always welcome you. And do not tell anyone of this, there are cats that would destroy you for your powers. Fare well." And, with that, she touched her nose to my forehead and everything went black.