"Riverheart!"
The white she-cat groaned as her name was called for a second time. She curled into an even tighter ball, reluctent to leave her nest. She could hear the mutterings from the cats outside and knew that her sleep was about to be disturb. Sure enough a soft nose prodded her in the side. Riverheart sighed and slowly unfurled herself, glancing over at the cat who had entered. The red apprentice, Redpaw, crouched in front of her, his eyes betraying the shock that was occuring outside. Riverheart muttered to herself and shifted out of her bed and over to the apprentice. He flew one last terrified glance at her and than retreated out. Riverheart followed, truely disturbed by the young tom's unease.
It seemed as if the entire clan had gathered in front of the medicine cat's den. All of their eyes were wide with fear and shock. Feeling slightly self-concience, Riverheart licked her fur into place, trying not to meet any of the gazes that now rested on her. The clan leader Applestar stepped forward. Riverheart studdied the red she-cat, trying to interperate what was going on, but the leader gave nothing away.
"Riverheart, a patrol has returned claiming to have found a sign for StarClan demanding that we leave at once," Applestar said, the leaders voice never wavoring. Riverheart stiffened slightly and glanced around at the gathered clan, wondering who had found the so called 'sign.' It was rare that a cat other than the clan leader or medicine cat would recieve a sign or message from StarClan. It usually only happened if the medicine cat was too busy to deal with StarClan and that would have been a great embarrasment to Riverheart. She was a young medicine cat since her mentor had soon after she had been apprenticed, but never before had she felt distance from StarClan.
"Who is the one who claims this?" the medicine cat inquired, her gaze studying each cat slowly. The clan began to murmur quietly and slowly, Sootfeather stepped foward.
"I was the one who found it," Sootfeather admitting, glancing up at Riverheart. The medicine cat was taken aback, hardly believeing that their warrior ancestors would send a sigh to this young warrior. "We went out for patrol today, heading up towards the sun-drown-place. The wind was whistling hard higher up in the hills and so we made sure to stay at the bases of them. We had reached to where the old badger den was when we saw a strange cat in our territory. He dissappeared before we could find out who he was and the wind was blowing away from us and so we caught no scent. Of course we chaced him, but he seemed to know the territory just as well as we did. He stopped at the place that Crowfeather and Leafpool had escaped to so long ago and then disappeared into an opening at the side of a hill."
The clan was silent as they listened to the tale. Riverheart shuttered as it unfolded, knowing of the place that they talked of. Sootfeather continued, his voice becoming slightly stronger.
"We approached the entrance but it was way too dark inside to see. We did not want to walk into an ambush and so we came back here, but we did catch a glimpse of the cat before he disappeared." Here, the tom hesitated. Riverheart pricked her ears forward, eager to know who the strange cat had been. "He was a huge tabby, with battle scars all along his muzzle. His eyes were like flecks of amber and his marking were ver dark."
"Are you claiming to have seen Tigerstar on our territory?" One of the listening cats yowled. Furious hissed and outrage erupted from the cats. Riverheart stayed silent, along with Sootfeather and Applestar. The three stared at one another, as if comunicating telepathicallly. Riverheart tilted her head and Sootfeather grunted a reply. Applestar nodded, understanding and then stood, gazing around at the issue that was before her. She yowled for silence, making herself heard over the howling wind.
"I will send a patrol with Riverheart to find out what is going on. There is no proof that this cat is Tigerstar or a cat of StarClan at all. We must find out however and see if there are any other cats living in our territory. A band of rouges is the last thing that we need for leaf-bare is already upon us. Sootfeather will lead the way with Riverheart and I want Dawnpelt and Duskfur to accompany them. Redpaw, being the oldest apprentice, you may go as well, but i expect you to obey all orders given."
The clan settled down, now that orders had been given. Applestar continued, instructing for a hunting patrol and making sure that all kits were to stay inside the camp. Cats began to hurry around, quickly obeying their orders. Applestar padded up to Riverheart and Sootfeather, her eyes glazed over with worry.
"Are you sure that you can do this Sootfeather? You must be tired from this morning," the leader said, gently touching the young warrior's shoulder with her nose. Sootfeather shook his head while standing. Riverheart also stood and watched as their leader padded away towards the nursery. With a quick grunt, Sootfeather and Riverheart walked towards the camp entrance where the other cats for the patrol sat waiting. Duskfur nodded to them as they arrived and then turned and trotted out of the camp. Redpaw followed the deputy, a new bounce in his step with Riverheart and then Sootfeather following next. Dawnfur brought up the rear, the she-cats senses already alarm for any danger that they might meet along the way.
The patrol made their way silently and quickly across the moorland, the whistling wind the only noise that could be heard. Each cat's fur was fluffed up in hopes of keeping themselves warmer but it was no use. The firece wind bit at the cat's flanks, chilling them straight to the bone. This was going to be a hard leaf-bare and Riverheart was not sure how they would make it through. Duskfur led all of the way up to the old badger's set and then allowed Sootfeather to take the lead. The young warrior wirily padded through the hills, leading the small patrol. Excitment had all but vanished from every cat, the wind carrying it away with one powerful blow. Even Redpaw walked on slowly, his head down in silent determination as he pushed against the wind.
Suddenly, Sootfeather stopped, his gaze resting on an opening that led inside a hill. The wind here had picked up and howled as it blew against the cats. Riverheart shivered with fear. They shouldn't be here, this was not right. She turned to Duskfur to tell him her thoughts, but found him gone. With a fearful glance around Riverheart realized that she now stood alone in front of the gaping hole. Voices seemed to echo from within and the wind seemed to be pushing her onward. Riverheart swallowed slowly, her heart pounding in her chest. She was not the bravest cat among the clan, not even close. She could feel the fear gripping her paws and the tension that held her muscles in place.
Taking a deep breath, Riverheart looked into the gaping hole and let out a shrill cry, toppling over backwards at what she saw.