I've calculated a bit of stuff. I predict the end of this story at around Chapter 22, like Song of the Shadows. I know it's not my usual strategy when it comes to writing stories, but I've loosely planned out what to write for each chapter (like two sentences a chapter) so it stops at around that point.

However, I only plan after the middle of a story, never at the beginning, otherwise it seems forced and unnatural. Just a warning: from here on, things get real.

Chapter 13

My breath was coming in short, ragged gasps of air. "What are the Cinders?" I hissed, voicing my inner thoughts.

Maybe it was just my imagination, but the air in front of me seemed to condense into more of a solid figure- if such a thing was even possible. "My name is Hiss," the spirit rumbled. "The Cinders are right here. Remains of a great culture. Only ashes and bones are left."

I shivered. "The kits," I nearly whimpered. "The kits. They- they can't last long. I need to get back to them. There are dangers out there. Foxes. Badgers. Stray loners and rogues could have gotten to them. Please- I don't have-"

"Time?"

Hiss finished my sentence with what seemed to me like a slight scowl. "There is all the time in the world here. Because here," he whispered in a soothing tone, "time stops. When it is time for you to go, then you may go out. It will still be the same night as when you first came in."

I frowned at him. "Really?" I still didn't trust this spirit entirely, but I wasn't in the mood for arguing, either.

"I'm telling the truth," Hiss insisted. "However, once you leave this place, you will not be able to come in here again. This is a special place. It is what made the past EarthClan so powerful. The cats do not age, so they have no need for hunting outside. They will always remain youthful, and prosperous."

I nearly sucked in a breath at that. "That's... cool," I gasped. "But I really need to go, because the kits need me and-"

"Remember, there is all the time in the world here," Hiss interrupted me. "Come. I have someplace to show you." Suddenly, a slight wind seemed to rush past my flank, traveling on to where I stared, open-mouthed. "Hurry up!"

I managed to gather myself onto all four paws and follow the old spirit on through the winding tunnels.

Soon, we came to a place where the glowing spirits didn't seem to be crowding in as much and a large, earth-bound room lay before us. It didn't look like the one that Tigerkit, Stonekit, Frogkit, and I were in before, but still... I frowned, remembering something. "Hiss, I've already left the Cinders once. But I came back. How?"

Hiss whirled around, staring at me through his pale ghostlike eyes. "Really? Well, then I must have gotten something wrong... Oh!"

He smiled at me once again, that strange, transparent smile. "I meant, you can only leave for two times before not being able to come back here. Sorry, my mind is all jumbled up these days. It happens when you're as old as me."

I nodded. "So, what is this?"

"We're just getting to the best part," Hiss grinned. "This..." he made a whole show of swooping around and around the room a few times before finally settling down next to me, "is where the members of EarthClan used to all make their dens and share tongues."

"That's cool," I replied politely. "But if you really are as old as you say... then why are you still here? I thought spirits couldn't last long in the living world."

Hiss stiffened. "It's not nice to ask spirits about spirit-related things," he scowled. "It brings back bad memories. But yes, you are correct. Most spirits just fade away if they aren't in the spirit realm without a physical body. But this place is special, you see. Our time is never up."

Something was strange about the skeletons lying all around, and his explanation in general, but I couldn't quite pick out what. "But then-"

"No more questions, I am getting tired," Hiss retorted. "Like me, you must rest before heading back to the kits. I know you do not need to eat or drink here, but..." he pushed forward a small ball of soaked moss to me- where had it come from? "I suppose you are thirsty?"

I nodded, shrugging, leaning my head down to take a small sip of the cool, refreshing water- there were some dust particles in there, but I didn't mind. When the moss ball was almost bone dry, I pushed it away, curling up into a small bundle of fur. Hiss purred in amusement. "Tired?"

Exhausted, I tried to say, but I didn't want to move my mouth to form the words. I didn't even want to make myself more comfortable. Because all I knew was that I was more tired than I had ever been in my whole life.

But even as I drifted off slowly to sleep, there was still one thought in my mind: I could really afford to stay in this nice place a bit while longer.

Leaf screeched in pain as Mistflame's claws tore through his fur, ripping out shreds of his brown pelt.

Creekstar was somewhere a few fox-lengths away, staring at the commotion with uncertainty in his eyes, but it wasn't until Leaf screamed at him to run that he made a single movement. Soon, his rump disappeared into the lush undergrowth, while Mistflame did not even spare a glance at him.

Eventually, Leaf managed to scramble away, panting for breath and Mistflame shrieking bloody murder after him.

But he couldn't see his former leader anywhere, and he was more lost than he realized with an angry she-cat on his trail. Things were getting worse, he realized with a pang, trying to catch his breath. Maybe this wasn't the best plan he ever had. But he had to keep going with it.

Like I said, stuff is starting to happen. Over the next few chapters, it will get even deeper. Just you wait.