Chapter Twenty-five
"So they need a safe place to sleep." Darkstar finished explaining. "Can they sleep in here?"
"Can you promise she won't eat our kits?" Embershade hissed.
"If it makes you feel better, some of the warriors can share the den for tonight also."
Embershade hesitated, then nodded. "Alright, as long as Sandpelt and Brighttalon are among the warriors in here."
"That can be arranged." Darkstar responded. Moon and the fox kits were sitting outside the nursery with the patrol that helped rescue them while Darkstar spoke to the queens. After Rosethorn nodded her agreement to Embershade's condition, Darkstar turned and exited the den.
"Okay, they agreed. But they want some warriors in there too. Sandpelt, you and Brighttalon were named specifically. I'll send Brighttalon in as soon as I find him. I rather suspect they wanted more than just you two though. Wildear, Crimsonclaw, will you join them?"
"'Kay" Wildear agreed with a shrug. Crimsonclaw nodded and picked up a fox kit. Moon, Sandpelt, and Wildear picked up the others and moved them inside. After this was done, Darkstar went to search the warriors den for Brighttalon, his tail dragging with weariness. Brighttalon agreed quickly to sleep in the nursery for the remainder of the night and Darkstar trudged to his den, collapsing into sleep as soon as he got into his nest.
It was nearly sunhigh before Darkstar awoke. He jumped out of his nest, annoyed at himself for sleeping in so long and left his den. Brighttalon was sitting a tail-length away, grooming.
"Oh, hey, you're finally awake."
"You could've woken me up earlier."
"You were out all night rescuing people. You needed the sleep. Anyway, I already assigned the patrols for today."
"Am I on any?"
"Sunset patrol on the lake-side border."
"Who's with me?"
"Moonleap and Blackpaw."
"'Kay, thanks."
Just then Snaketail walked up to them.
"Darkstar?"
"Yeah?"
"Would you mind telling Tornadoclaw to move to the nursery? I told her earlier but she doesn't want to so she said that she only would if you told her to."
"Yeah, I will."
"Thank you." Snaketail turned and left, her tail twitching irritably.
Darkstar got up and followed her a little ways, veering off to check the warriors den for Tornadoclaw. Shadowlion was the only cat in there. She looked up from her grooming as Darkstar entered.
"Hey Darkstar." Shadowlion greeted him.
"Hey." Darkstar purred in return. "Do you know where Tornadoclaw is?"
"She and Moonleap went out hunting."
"Thanks." Darkstar turned to leave, then continued speaking on a whim. "Do you want to come with me to find her?"
"Sure." The two of them exited the den and left camp together.
Blackpaw slipped into her den, weary after training all night with Iceheart and then being assigned to a hunting patrol as soon as she awoke.
"Hello Blackpaw." Blackpaw closed her eyes tight in disappointment before opening them and turning around.
"Hello Iceheart."
"I didn't expect to see you return so soon."
"I was hoping for a nap so that I'd be more awake for border patrol later."
"Well, let's take this opportunity to train more, shall we?" Iceheart asked, willfully ignoring her hint.
"Do we have to?"
"But Blackpaw, I thought you wanted to be the best warrior you could be?"
"I do want to but I'm exhausted!"
"Very well," Iceheart sighed, sounding disappointed. "I suppose it can't be helped. Someone of your stamina does need sleep." Blackpaw twitched her ears back, feeling like she'd been insulted but not certain. The background, and Iceheart with it, faded to black and Blackpaw was able to sleep restfully.
Blackpaw wasn't sure exactly when she made the connection but after she woke up she knew that Iceheart was a member of the Dark Forest and that his training would lead her to trouble. However, she was uncertain as to what to do because she was scared that Iceheart might turn on her if she said she wanted out. Eventually, Blackpaw decided to wait until Iceheart had taught her enough to defeat him if he did attack her, then tell him. With this solution in mind, Blackpaw left to join the border patrol.
Snaketail looked up from sorting plants as Nightpaw came in with some more.
"Hey, want to help?" Snaketail asked. Nightpaw set her mouthful of goldenrod leaves and flowers down.
"I'm afraid I can't. I told Silverfire I'd come in and look at her paw. She's getting restless."
"That didn't take long." Snaketail commented, her whiskers twitching in amusement. "I'll get a rosemary poultice ready."
"I can do that. The herbs do need to be sorted."
"I thought this was supposed to be an apprentice task." Snaketail said with a scowl but she twitched her whiskers again to show that she didn't mean any of it.
"Seems to me it's the task of whoever's doing it." Nightpaw teased. Snaketail hissed playfully at her and Nightpaw went into the stores to find the rosemary. When Nightpaw came out again a moment later Snaketail stopped her again.
"I was thinking about what Sunfish said last time we saw her" -this was over a moon ago because clouds had covered the moon the last two times- "and I was wondering, do you think I should go talk to Blackpaw?"
Nightpaw deliberated for a moment, then shrugged, unwilling to set down her rosemary, and nodded.
"Alright, thanks." Nightpaw nodded again and left. Snaketail finished separating the different plants and put them all away before going to look for Blackpaw. Snaketail found her quickly; Blackpaw was sitting outside the apprentice's den talking to her denmates.
"Um, Blackpaw?" Snaketail asked, approaching the group of apprentices hesitantly.
"Yeah?"
"Would it be okay if we spoke together in private?"
"Alright." Blackpaw agreed, looking vaguely surprised. Snaketail led Blackpaw out of camp and to the riverbank.
"What's up, Snaketail?"
"I was wonder... I was just curious, have you been having, uh, different dreams lately?"
"What do you mean?"
"Um," Snaketail paused. "I'm not sure how to say it. Have you been, dreaming about, one cat multiple times?"
"I don't feel anything for any of our clanmates." Blackpaw responded with an embarrassed smile. Then she struggled to clarify. "Well, I mean other than friendship. I don't feel anything romantic."
"That actually wasn't what I meant." Snaketail clarified, also slightly embarrassed. "I meant, have you dreamt about a cat that you have not met outside of dreams?"
"Why do you ask?" Blackpaw questioned, beginning to understand where Snaketail was going.
"Um," Snaketail had to think how she would answer the question without giving Blackpaw reason to doubt her sanity if she was incorrect in guessing that Blackpaw was meeting with a Dark Forest cat.
"I just needed to check something for Starclan. I'll ask other cats similar questions." Snaketail finally answered.
"Okay. Well, yeah, I have been." Blackpaw responded, feeling no need for secrecy.
"Who is it?"
"His name is Iceheart. He and some of his" -there was the slightest hesitation- "friends were teaching me some fighting moves. Moves that I don't think Moonleap knows. But-" Blackpaw cut herself off before she could finish the sentence. Snaketail's ears pricked at the sentence that Blackpaw didn't finish.
"But what?"
"He- I'm not sure he's as safe as he seemed before."
"What makes you say that?"
"If I tell you, will you help me?" Blackpaw's voice was suddenly desperate. "Please don't leave me to die there!"
"Of course." Snaketail promised, alarmed at the sudden change in attitude. "Of course I'll help you."
"They've been teaching me for over a moon now but when I woke up from a nap earlier I realized why it all seemed so familiar. Iceheart's with the Dark Forest!"
"I know." Snaketail replied. "Or rather, I suspected. Have you told Iceheart that you know who he is yet?"
"No," Blackpaw admitted. "I was scared to."
"That's fine. Would you mind acting as a spy? I would but, judging by the fact that no Dark Forest cat has approached me, I don't think they plan on inviting me."
"I don't know if I can." Blackpaw said. "But I might be able to get you in. If I comment to Iceheart that you want learn how to fight better he might offer you training as well."
"That'd be great." Snaketail responded, trying not to let it show through her eyes just how excited she was by this opportunity.
"But Snaketail, will you help me survive there? I don't think anything could be worse than those imaginary friends. I wouldn't be surprised if any one of them would betray the others for a mouse whisker."
"They probably would." Snaketail agreed grimly. "And of course I'll help you. I'll do everything in my power to protect you. Don't surrender to fear."