Thunderpaw: We apologize for the delay... the writer was having some problems.

Whiteroad: And now we're back. At least for now. Now hurry up and start the chapter, Kay!

The sun had set and the Clan moved on. Snowstripe padded along slowly, her gaze focused on the ground in front of her. "Are you sure we should be leaving so soon?"

Darkwood nodded. "The faster we move, the sooner this prophecy will happen. Maybe then, we won't have to worry about Death stalking us."

"Alright," she replied quietly. "Is Natra keeping an eye on Pharaoh?"

Darkwood glanced back. "Yes. Why?"

"She's a great fighter."

They walked on in silence. The meadow went on as far as Zari could see. The sky above was clear, and the claw moon illuminated the cold grass. A breeze ruffled her fur and her stomach growled. How far was it now, to the forest? The unknown smell from before reached her nose yet again. She opened her mouth to ask if anyone else noticed it, but Darkwood spoke before she could.

"Zari if you don't mind me asking, where have you agreed to take Pharaoh, anyway?"

Oh, roach dung. How was she going to explain this to the Clan leader? Maybe she didn't have to. "It's rather difficult to explain. Darkwood, do you smell that?"

He lifted his nose as he walked, and parted his jaws. After a moment he replied, "it's very faint. Nothing to fret about. How far do you think it'll be now?"

"I was just wondering that."

"Try as I might, I can't see any increadibly bright stars." Darkwood sighed.

"And you're wondering why a stray can."

"I didn't say that!" he replied irritably.

Zari looked at the ground in front of her, then at her feet. Two of her claws were permanately unsheathed. The dark grey fur looked unkempt, even though she groomed herself often. Old habits die hard, she thought with amusement. She wondered if the saying existed the Human realm too. How many realms were there?

She looked nervously at Darkwood. "Maybe I won't always be a stray... Darkwood, if I wanted to join RogueClan, would you let me?"

The Clan leader looked thoughtful, though his irritation didn't falter. "I don't know. You don't really seem to know how to listen to any cat. It wouldn't kill you to have more respect for me, as RogueClan's leader. Thunderpaw can see the star, so it's not like we need you to keep guiding us."

"Sorry. I didn't mean what I said in a bad way. You just seemed upset about me being able to see it but not you. The star, I mean."

Darkwood was quiet. They walked until moonhigh, and stopped to rest. Zari looked around for Mosspaw to see if the tabby apprentice wanted to go hunting. By now, there was another wooded area close by. She found Mosspaw with Emeraldfire discussing battle moves. Emeraldfire's eyes dared her to interrupt. Zari was behind Mosspaw, and therefore, Mosspaw didn't notice her.

Zari had never been one to be frightened by a simple look. Why did that green gaze suddenly scare her? She turned around, only to bump right into Hawkstrike. He hissed and looked ready to attack her again. She must've looked terrified, because an amused purr rose in the cat's throat.

"What's wrong? Afraid of an inferior creature? I thought you were an awe-inspiring dragon!" He laughed, the attention of all surrounding cats now on them. Hawkstrike stepped close, and whispered in her ear, "just so you know. You have no place in RogueClan. You never will. We'd be better off without you. You shouldn't be here."

The orange cat padded casually away. Zari heard Mosspaw's voice behind her. "Zari?"

It was too late. She ran as quickly as her legs would carry her towards the trees. When she got there, she kept going. She charged through bushes and stumbled over roots. Thorns penetrated her skin, but she didn't notice. Why... Why did Hawkstike's words bother her so much? Why did Emeraldfire's gaze halt her in her tracks? Why did joining RogueClan mean so much to her?

Because it's where I belong, isn't it?

Or was it true that she had no place among them? She didn't belong in her birth realm. If her future wasn't in RogueClan, then where did it lay? The woods abruptly ended. She jumped through the metal bars of the town's boundry and ran across a road. The star was supposed to lead her to a place of peace! She couldn't live peacefully among the prism dragons of her birth realm, and right now it seemed RogueClan wasn't the place for her.

Clouds were gathering in the sky as she barely avoided being hit by a car. She soon found herself behind a building. Her lungs felt like they were on fire. Mosspaw had said that Zari was a better cat than before, but... Mosspaw! She must've told Hawkstrike about their conversation. Why? What reason would she have to unless...

Unless she also wanted the grey cat gone. Had it all been just an act? Had Mosspaw only been pretending to enjoy her company? Zari couldn't think of any other answer. But Mosspaw it seemed, was going to be Zari's friend. She would've been the first friend Zari would have ever had.

Lightning flashed in the sky as shadows crept up to her. Rain started to pour as she fought off the attackers the best she could. The storm raged on as she laid there in their alley, bleeding onto the stone. Voices surrounded her, but she heard no words but her own when she spoke.

"Is this it, Cavvile?" Her voice was quiet. "Is this what you had planned all along? For me to die here? You lied to me, didn't you? The star was never supposed to lead me to peace. It was supposed to lead me to my death!"