… Well, that's a lot of questions. A lot. Uh… let's see what I can manage…

Medicine cats are usually impartial to most decisions made by the Clan under normal circumstances, but they are often present to help make sure things are fair. They are impartial but their opinions are sought and considered because they are the voice of StarClan.

Medicine cat apprentices do not go through a trial in TigerClan. Willowshine already has her full name, actually, due to an error on my part – so there was really no trial. Medicine cats in TigerClan don't go to the Moonpool, but they still function as normally as possible beyond that. Hawkstar doesn't go asking for their advice but he does acknowledge their necessity – the fact that Mothwing is Tigerstar's kin means that she will live a long life in TigerClan.

Mothwing's beliefs (or lack of) are something that will be addressed a little later. She does acknowledge the existence of the Dark Forest cats as she has seen them.

… I feel bad but I can't really answer all these questions – the answers would be major spoilers! I hope you all understand.

Chapter 34

"Keep up, Robinpaw."

Robinpaw flicked his ear at Barkface's tone. The old brown tom was clearly tired.

"I'm coming," Robinpaw threw back. "Just give me a moment."

Robinpaw stumbled to his paws. A stray root had tripped him up as they padded up the slope, dragging Robinpaw onto his belly. He checked to make sure he hadn't sprained his paw before rushing up to join Kestrelpaw and Barkface further up the slope.

Barkface grunted and turned away when Robinpaw caught up. He began making his way up the slope towards the Moonpool.

"Don't worry," Kestrelpaw meowed. "Soon you'll know this trail like the feel of your fur!"

"Not soon enough," Robinpaw huffed. He was sick of tripping over roots and stones he didn't know about – in the forest he knew the feel and scent of his well-traversed trails. Here, on the path to the Moonpool, he didn't know where he was going.

It wouldn't be a problem if I had working eyes, Robinpaw lamented. Then I wouldn't have to worry about shuffling my paws whenever I'm somewhere I don't know.

The air was thinner when the three medicine cats reached the top of the rise. Robinpaw's ears twitched, hearing the Moonpool bubbling below. The whispers and murmurs of unintelligible voices rustled like the wind in dry reeds.

"Here we are," Barkface mewed.

The old tom led the way down the slope and into the hollow. Robinpaw followed behind, feeling Kestrelpaw's excited breaths puffing against his backside. The ground leveled out and their paws fitted into the age-old pawsteps that dimpled the cold ground.

Robinpaw's paws trembled, recalling his last visit to the Moonpool. Firestar spoke of the Three – cats with the power of the stars in their paws. Will he give me more information this time? "The three must fight, or all will fail…" What did he mean?

And he mentioned a darkness, Robinpaw thought. A darkness that any of us can slip into, but one that I apparently know more than anyone.

He heard Barkface and Kestrelpaw scuffling against the rocks. I wonder if Silverhawk knows these answers… if he knows what Firestar and Tallstar have told me.

Does he even care?

Starlingpaw's warning flashed in him once again, and the thought of talking to Silverhawk gave Robinpaw a lump in his throat.

Silverhawk would probably chastise me for not paying attention to him, he decided. Maybe he doesn't care about that sort of thing. He doesn't like that I go to the Moonpool, after all. Takes away from training.

"StarClan," Barkface called, "we come to you as your humble servants. Please, show us visions to help guide our Clans in these tumultuous times."

"Do you think StarClan will be upset with us about the last Gathering?" Kestrelpaw wondered.

"We shall see," Barkface sighed. "Drink, young ones. Let us dream… and let us hope our dreams are good."

Robinpaw nodded and stooped before the pool. The water was mountain-cold, like ice on his tongue. He lapped at the surface and swallowed. The cold water filled his body, touching his bones and veins. He settled down beside Kestrelpaw and let sleep overtake him.

It was a chilly night beneath the half-moon. Starlingpaw could hear the bustle of the Clan as they gathered around the clearing for the ceremony. Like the half-moon before, mist seemed to creep and crawl across the ground and fill the camp with a haze. The night was otherwise silent.

"It's almost time," murmured Dapplepaw. She was trembling beside Starlingpaw. "Who do you think will come tonight?"

"I don't know," Owlpaw admitted. He was sheathing and unsheathing his claws with either nervousness or impatience. "We never know."

"You three have got this," Minnowpaw offered. "Starlingpaw, you're the best fighter out of all of us… and we've all learned so much from you!"

Starlingpaw flattened her ears at the praise. "I could still lose," she reasoned.

"Don't think like that!" Owlpaw hissed. "One of us needs to make it out of this!"

Starlingpaw frowned, remembering Applenose's brother, Marshpaw, and how he had died during his trial. He was the only apprentice that Starlingpaw knew of that had died during these trials, but she was unsure how many others had died before him.

"You'll all make it," insisted Pebblepaw. "I can feel it."

"Y-You really think so?" Dapplepaw stammered.

"Of course!" Pebblepaw mewed. He nudged her with one paw and added, "If you don't stop chewing on your tail, that is." Dapplepaw's eyes glowed, and she purred.

"Hush!" hissed Pouncepaw. The ginger-and-white tom's ears were pricked forward. "The meeting is starting. We'll be called out soon."

Starlingpaw poked her head out of the apprentice's den. The cats were jostling about, making bets with prey – but they fell silent as Hawkstar's eyes fell upon them, gleaming in the half-light. Russetfur, Blackclaw, and Ashfur sat before him at the base of the hollow willow log.

A bit of ginger caught Starlingpaw's eye – Squirrelflight! The she-cat was lying at the edge of the crowd, near her prison. She looked to have almost fully recovered from her beating a half-moon ago – only one or two stubborn wounds remained.

Starlingpaw's heart filled with relief at the sight of Squirrelflight. At least she was safe. At least she was well.

"I have a small announcement," Hawkstar meowed, catching Starlingpaw's attention. His ice-blue eyes were filled with anticipation, as if he couldn't wait for the trials. "With the help of Tawnypelt and the other queens, another pairing has been decided!"

The Clan shuffled on their paws. Graymist leaned forward expectantly, eager to hear who her new companion in the nursery would be.

"Snowbird will be joining our queens in the nursery," Hawkstar announced. "Rippletail is the father."

The Clan cheered – clearly they were more receptive of the pairing idea than they had been before. Starlingpaw flicked an ear. The Clan might have been more receptive, but Graymist didn't look happy about being denamtes with Snowbird. Rippletail and Snowbird accepted their congratulations with some awkward thanks.

"Should any cat wish to help populate the Clan," Hawkstar meowed, "please speak with either myself or Tawnypelt. We will find you a willing partner to help you both contribute to the growth of TigerClan."

There was some murmuring, but no one stepped forward. All eyes were on Hawkstar when he began speaking again.

"Now, for the reason we are all here tonight… let us begin the warrior trials!"

Cheering erupted from the TigerClan warriors. Prey shuffled from paw to paw as cats made their bets. Voletooth turned to the apprentice's den and growled, "Come out, you lot."

Starlingpaw narrowed her eyes and pushed herself out of the den. The other apprentices followed, and together they headed for the center of the clearing. They spread out in a line, their stride matching as best as they could manage. There was some fear-scent, but it was not powerful.

The mist gathered around their paws, forming into shapes. The misty shapes turned into cats, who mingled and weaved amongst the TigerClan warriors as if they were old friends. Three of the misty cats stepped out into the clearing.

Starlingpaw narrowed her eyes at them.

"Here I thought you would never shut up," growled Thistleclaw. The patchy gray-and-white tom didn't look pleased about being kept waiting – but then again, he hardly looked pleased. "Who cares about who mates with who if your kits are born weak to begin with?"

A familiar shape purred next to Thistleclaw. Sparrowfeather's dark pelt was like a shadow, her eyes bright and shining as she looked over the apprentices. Dapplepaw's breath hitched beside Starlingpaw when the she-cat locked eyes with her.

The third was a cat Starlingpaw hadn't seen often – Maggottail. He was little more than a shadow himself, with the cats in the clearing rippling almost clearly behind him. His eyes were large and baleful and yellow, a contrast to his dark pelt. His tail was long and thin.

Not much was known about Maggottail – but Starlingpaw knew a big question about the enigmatic tom was whether or not his original name had been "maggot". Starlingpaw often argued that his name had to have been changed – no mother would be so cruel to their kit.

"Now, now," Sparrowfeather purred. "Thistleclaw, all kits are born weak! It's up to us to make them strong – right, Maggottail?"

Maggottail rolled his eyes and said nothing.

Sparrowfeather pouted, "Aw; you're no fun."

"Shut up, Sparrowfeather," Thistleclaw snarled.

"Sure thing – oops!" Sparrowfeather purred.

Thistleclaw rolled his eyes and growled, "Let's get on with this, Hawkstar. I'm sick to my second death of your posturing."

Hawkstar flicked his tail, looking a little irritated. Starlingpaw's whiskers twitched in amusement despite the situation – Hawkstar did enjoy his posturing.

"Very well," Hawkstar meowed. "Here are our apprentices, Thistleclaw. Those who are ready will approach you… or you can choose yourself."

The apprentices stood in a line, their paws planted on the earth. Starlingpaw could smell their fear-scent – her own, too – as Thistleclaw's eyes flickered over them, burning with judgment. Starlingpaw's heart beat in her ears. Who would he choose, or would he care?

Owlpaw stepped forward, and Thistleclaw's eyes snapped to him.

"I plan to fight," Owlpaw meowed. His voice trembled, just a little.

"Brave little one," Maggottail mumbled. "The first to step forward. I will face you."

Owlpaw blinked, but did his best to hide his fear. The young tom nodded and said nothing more.

"Me, too!" called Dapplepaw. "I can fight you – I… I can fight any of you!"

"Is that so?" Sparrowfeather sneered. The dark she-cat almost pushed her muzzle into Dapplepaw's face. "You're the cute little tortoiseshell who was drowning in fear-scent last time. Grown a backbone, have you?"

Dapplepaw's eyes burned into the dark she-cat.

"I suppose we'll find out, then," Sparrowfeather chuckled. "Come on now. Don't be shy!"

Sparrowfeather stepped away, and Dapplepaw stepped forward until she was even with Owlpaw. Her legs were trembling, but Dapplepaw's head was held high.

I'm so proud of her, Starlingpaw realized, feeling a warmth blooming in her chest. Of all of them.

"And which one of you has the gall to face me?" Thistleclaw wondered, lashing his tail. He paced in front of the line of apprentices, his yellowed teeth bared. "Which one of you is so foolish?"

Starlingpaw narrowed her eyes as Thistleclaw thrust his muzzle into Pouncepaw's face. The patched tom's aggression caused Pouncepaw to yelp in shock and stumble back. Thistleclaw unsheathed his claws.

"Weakling," he hissed. "TigerClan deserves better than you…"

"Enough, Thistleclaw," Starlingpaw growled. Her neck fur bristled as she thrust herself between Thistleclaw and Pouncepaw. She unsheathed her own claws and curled her lip. "He won't be your opponent tonight."

"And you will?" Thistleclaw snarled. "Do you really think that you – a loner, a worthless loner – could hope to stand against me?"

Starlingpaw pushed forward and shoved her muzzle into his face. "I'm doing it now, aren't I?" she growled.

Thistleclaw's eyes were slits. "You and I never got to finish our first fight," he hissed. "Let's see how well you do this time."

"Do we have our matches then?" Hawkstar wondered.

"Yes," Maggottail decided.

"Rules?" Hawkstar asked.

"One scratch each," Thistleclaw growled. "If they can't manage that, they deserve their fate."

"Very well," Hawkstar meowed.

Thistleclaw and the other dark warriors moved away. The chosen apprentices followed, while the others stepped back into the crowd. Starlingpaw face Thistleclaw right before Hawkstar, while Owlpaw and Dapplepaw found their own places in the clearing with enough space for their battles.

"The rules are set!" Hawkstar announced. The crowd fell silent as Hawkstar looked over the apprentices. His eyes rested last on Starlingpaw, ice blue and filled with anticipation and… worry?

He's worried about me? Starlingpaw looked away from him, stunned. Her pelt felt warm at the thought. He's… worried about me.

"Good luck, apprentices," Hawkstar announced.

Thistleclaw leaped at Starlingpaw before the last words had even left Hawkstar's mouth. Starlingpaw bundled him away with her paws, throwing him towards the willow log where Hawkstar was perched. Thistleclaw spat as he got up, and he and Starlingpaw began circling one another. Their eyes were deadlocked. The crowd cheered, and claws unsheathed.