Yo peeps! So here is this un-exciting, but rather important, chapter.

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Chapter 44: Quiet

Rainstone breathed in deeply as warm scent of flowers and the fresh air drifted around her. She exhaled and sighed, closing her eyes as she soaked in the pool of sunshine. Opening her eyes again from where she sat in the green grassed clearing, she could see the wave of trees and the shimmer of a small stream not too far away.

It had been four days since she'd first woken up from her sick fever, and even though she still got dizzy when she pushed herself too hard, she was recovering nicely. Needlepine had gone back to his Clan two days ago and only been able to come over once, his Clan suspicious and worried about his sudden disappearance.

"It's in the air, even if the cats don't all know what's going on, you can just sense… the quietness of everything is concealing something."

The words she'd spoken to Needlepine before he left last time echoed in her mind. It was true, the peacefulness just felt superficial. It made Rainstone uneasy; it was too much like the mountains, where the beautiful weather and nature seemed to be trying to hide the atrocities shamelessly committed by the cats in the mountains.

It kept her constantly looking over her shoulder, something she did just now. It unnerved her that there was nothing there and she was wired on edge, she couldn't shake this sense of fear that rang through her at every sudden sound or movement. She stiffened as a sudden burst of wind swept around her, waving her tail to the side.

She turned her head, making sure nothing was approaching while her ears and nose were blocked by the wind. When it calmed, the sun continued beating down and the gurgle of the stream continued happily. She looked out over the large, grassy meadow; it was surrounded by pine trees, but they were only like a dark shadow on the edge of the vision since the meadow was so big.

One of the line of pine trees was where ShadowClan territory laid, making it easy for Needlepine to get to her while keeping her out of Nightwing's territory. Needlepine had told her that he had spotted her underneath the dock on patrol and had taken her here, a place where he used to play with his sister when they were apprentices.

Rainstone liked it here, it was peaceful, she never saw or even smelled danger and there was plenty of prey hiding in the meadow bushes and flower beds. But even with the quiet, she wasn't as ease, not even when Needlepine was there could she fully shake the sense of danger.

That's it, I'm leaving this lake the day after the full moon, that ends my deal with Song, and by then Nightwing and Pinefur should be defeated and I'm free to go. She'd decided that for a while now, but now she felt the urge to leave even more strongly than before.

She looked up at the cloud-patched sky, trying to calm herself down, but even as she struggled to enjoy the quiet, she wanted nothing more than to get up and move. There's just one thing stopping me, and he has two green eyes.

She whined to herself quietly, lying down on her belly and covering her face in her paws. After all she'd gone through; the thing preventing her from continuing now was a tom. But… he's not like those I once knew, he's kinder and gentler then even Pepper.

But she knew she couldn't leave without him. So, what? If he doesn't want to leave, do I end up staying here forever? Maybe when I have his kits, I won't need him so much, and then I could leave my kits here to become warriors… The thought wasn't all bad, but thinking about parting with her kits again tore at her heart and she doubted she was strong enough to do it.

I'm too broken, I can't break anymore or there won't be anything left! Rainstone felt tears in her eyes, she couldn't stay here, but she couldn't leave, what was she to do?! The agony of the paradox forced her to sleep and when she woke the long shadows and indigo sky told her it was just after dusk.

Getting to her paws, she went over to the stream and lapped up a few mouthfuls of water before paying attention to the rumble in her belly. She looked at the stream longingly, but knew it was too shallow to have any fish in it.

Instead, she turned and wandered around the meadow, finally finding a young quail to satisfy herself upon. When she returned to the den that was dug under where an odd boulder stretched over a small dip in the ground. She squeezed into the den and found her way in the gloom to her freshly cleaned nest.

She sighed, waiting up to see if Needlepine would show up. But she fell asleep, her aching wounds and tired head happy to have the rest.

"Rainstone?" Needlepine's quiet voice was what woke her up and she purred as she touched his nose in greeting with his head bent over hers. Needlepine purred back and laid down in the nest next to her, his belly pressed against hers as they laid on their sides facing each other.

"How are you?" Rainstone mumbled sleepily.

"Tired, They've been keeping me busy after being away for so long, I don't know what they think, but Duststar seems to understand… I think he must have spotted me once with you. But he seems to be willing to let it rest for now until the whole problem at paw is taken care of," Needlepine mewed.

Rainstone nodded, nervous about the thought that some cat had spotted them together. When they were together, that was for the two of them and no cat else. "Do you know if Stormstar has contacted Duststar?" she asked.

"Actually," Needlepine's ears pricked, "She visited yesterday and it seems she's made a sort of alliance between ShadowClan, ThunderClan, and WindClan to counterattack Pinefur on the night before the full moon. I don't know what the plan is exactly yet, only Duststar and Wolfseed-"

"Your deputy?" Rainstone interrupted and Needlepine nodded.

"Only those two know in the Clan so far," Needlepine mewed.

"Good, if word gets out to Pinefur there will be big problems," Rainstone sighed.

Needlepine nodded, "That's why I'm worried about ThunderClan; they can't really prepare anything aside from gathering extra herbs without Pinefur knowing, so they'll be the least prepared. I don't think Stormstar has even told any cat in ThunderClan besides her medicine-cat, it's going to be a totally last-minute attack for ThunderClan," Needlepine mewed.

Rainstone shrugged, "There's no helping it, but, Needlepine, I need to talk to you," she looked at him seriously.

"Yes?" Needlepine eyes sparkled as he twitched his whiskers.

"I'm leaving the lake the day after the night of the full moon," she mewed in finality. Even if he didn't come, she'd get over it eventually, be able to look back fondly on a few memories. But she couldn't live like this, and she couldn't join a Clan, no, she had to keep searching for a place to call home.

"What?!" Needlepine cried, jumping to his paws and staring at her in a state of shock that turned to black despair. "How…? Could you leave me?" he cried, tears swimming in his green eyes that were brighter than usual.

Rainstone's heart tore and she felt her lips quiver as tears rose in her own eyes and her chest weighted down in sadness. "I'm sorry! But I can't live like this! I can't…. I need a home! This isn't that and I know it won't be here, I need to go find it!" Rainstone cried, feeling as confused and frustrated as when she had to leave the mountains.

She'd been basically forced to go back then, but it had felt like a choice. And now, as she was choosing to leave, it felt like she was being forced to go. In a way, something was forcing her to leave, to keep moving, and to keep searching.

"But… isn't your home with… me?" Needlepine choked out, staring at her in sad confusion.

"Yes… no… I don't know! I don't want to leave either, but I have to! I can't stay here, I just can't," Rainstone buried her face in her paws in confusion.

Her shoulders quivered as she kept down the sobs and she couldn't help but wonder when she'd gotten so sentimental. Needlepine influenced me, I'm sure of it… so how could I leave him? She wished for him to say those few words, those words that would tell her that he would come with her, but they didn't come.

"Rainstone, I have to go back to my camp… but I'll be back," Needlepine mewed finally, sounding as if he was trying to turn things back to normal, but it just made Rainstone feel even more miserable. Her sobs faded with Needlepine's paw-steps and she was left alone in the quiet meadow.

Rainstone walked over the Thunderpath, breathing in the comforting scent of RiverClan. It had been her home for a while, it had only been temporary, but she still felt as if this place would always have a comforting scent for her.

After she'd pulled herself together when Needlepine left, she'd seen that it was before dawn and had decided that she needed to talk to Willowwater, as she hadn't seen her friend since before she'd gone to WindClan and ThunderClan. She needed to be updated.

Rainstone kept alert as she made her way through the territory, advoiding main trails and hunting spots. "Hey! What's this way?" a sudden shout made her jump and she darted under a large honeysuckle plant, hidden both from vision and scent by the large, fragrant plant.

She peeked out carefully and spotted Sweetberry with Flashkit. No… she must be Flashpaw… and Sweetberry is her mentor. For a moment she wished she'd never left RiverClan, but she knew it was far better this way without any duties to tie her to the Clan.

She waited for them to pass, glad that Sweetberry had a real apprentice this time, she deserved it, she taught me so well. She thought it was odd that she felt so much gratitude, she'd certainly never felt that way while in the Clan, but now she was overflowing with thanks.

But, hopefully, I'll be able to repay that debt soon enough by ensuring their survival. Rainstone then continued on, climbing up the willow tree she had taken refugee under so long ago after Patchkit's death. It feels like a lifetime ago, but it was less than two moons ago.

She stretched out among the shady tree under the blazing sun, waiting and resting as she watched for Willowwater. This was her spot to meet the RiverClan she-cat, and Willowwater checked it between patrols to see if she was waiting.

There she is, Rainstone roused herself and stretched, waving her tail against the willow leaves to alert Willowwater to her presence. "Rainstone!" Willowwater cried with relief and happiness as she leapt down from the tree.

"It's only been a few days," Rainstone mewed in annoyance as Willowwater greeted her ecstatically.

"It's been a quarter moon!" Willowwater argued.

"Whatever, that's only a little but more than a few days," Rainstone huffed, trying to pull strength to her tired limbs so as not to appear weak to her friend and worry her.

"You're injured!" Willowwater pointed out huffily, as if trying to prove she'd been right to worry.

"Nothing serious, I just was taking it easy since my work is now done," Rainstone shrugged her away and covered her worst wounds from Willowwater's prying eyes.

"Frostshine came to see me a few days ago, she said to tell you that Splashstar of WindClan had made an alliance with ThunderClan to defeat Pinefur, care to explain?" Willowwater asked, falling back to her aloof attitude as they climbed into the privacy of the willow tree.

"It's pretty self-explanatory," Rainstone retorted, "I finished telling all the Clans about Pinefur and Nightwing," she concluded.

"What about Sunstar?" Willowwater challenged.

Rainsotne glanced at her but didn't respond, staring out into the distance as she listened to Willowwater rant angrily. "You're telling every Clan but RiverClan! That puts us at risk, why not tell Sunstar? Or let me tell him?" Willowwater challenged.

"He's in a neutrality agreement right now, Sunstar wouldn't do anything," Rainstone used it as an excuse.

"It couldn't hurt to let him know about the whole situation! You said yourself that Pinefur is lying to him, what you know can prove that Pinefur is lying to him and he can break off the agreement!" Willowwater growled.

"Then what?" Rainstone shot back, whipping her gaze to her friend, "You think RiverClan can defend itself all alone if Pinefur would to decide to enact revenge on Sunstar immediately?" Rainstone questioned.

"You don't know that for sure! Stop lying! What's your real reason?" Willowwater hissed, claws clenching the branch as her tail whipped around uncontrollably.

Rainstone huffed and looked away, feeling uncomfortable and slightly guilty. I've spent way too much time with her; she knows when I'm lying. "Fine," she snapped, lowering her eyes. "I want Sunstar to learn his lesson, after Pinefur and Nightwing have been defeated, I'll leave it to the other leaders to take him down a notch."

"You're setting RiverClan up to be a model of humiliation?" Willowwater hissed, outraged.

"Yes, but Sunstar will learn if lesson and be a better leader for it," Rainstone admitted, hating to hear the furious sadness in Willowwater's voice.

"How could you do that? To me? To my Clan? To your Clan?! Make us the scorn of the other Clans for being ignorant of something they couldn't have known without you!" Willowwater cried angrily.

"Sunstar's problem is not ignorance; it's letting a problem grow until it's too big to be taken care of alone. If he had fought Nightwing right when he had made the agreement, he would have won, and RiverClan would be safe with the problem on the other side of the lake!" Rainstone spat.

Willowwater stared at her with wide eyes. "But what about us? The rest of the Clan never knew about it, we have the right to know now!" Willowwater argued.

"If you're so convinced, then why ask my permission? You have the knowledge and the position to tell your Clan without me," Rainstone shot at her friend bitterly.

Willowwater stared at her silently, claws clenching the branch tighter. "Because, I respect you, you're strong, smart, and you care, you are my best friend…" Willowwater trailed off, looking miserable and lost for words.

Friend…? The word echoed in Rainstone's heart and she felt joy flow through her under her icy exterior. I never had a real friend… not even Whisper or Dusty meant as much to me as Willowwater does. "Then… I do give you permission to tell Sunstar, tell him all you know, if RiverClan was prepared to fight Nightwing, then the other three Clan could just concentrate on Pinefur's forces," Rainstone nodded.

"Thank you-"

"But I don't care," Rainstone cut her off, going back to her cool tone of voice.

"What?" Willowwater looked at her, confused.

"You said that I care, I don't," Rainstone turned her face away. A moon or two ago, those words would have been true, but she knew that she did care now, and she had to lie because in a way it was true. I don't care long enough to stay here.

"Whatever you say," Willowwater purred laughingly.

Darn it, I really can't lie to her anymore, she doesn't believe it anymore. But she found herself feeling amused instead of annoyed.

"Well, I better get back to camp," Willowwater sighed.

"Wait," Rainstone looked at her, trying to find the words for the two announcements she had.

"Yes?" Willowwater looked at her curiously from behind those forest green eyes of hers.

"We… err, I mean, I'm expecting kits," she mewed, staring at her friend's blank look anxiously.

"Wow! That's great!" Willowwater shocked look cleared to joy and happiness. "I can't wait to see them! And who is… oh! I bet its Needlepine! He's the father, right?" Willowwater chattered excitedly.

"Yes… Needlepine is the father, but I don't know if you'll see them," Rainstone started awkwardly, wondering again if she was being selfish.

"What do you mean?" Willowwater asked.

"I… I'm going to leave the lake after the next full moon; I don't want to stay here anymore… I can't stay here. I need to find a home," Rainstone mewed anxiously, looking nervously at Willowwater's bowed head.

But when Willowwater lifted her head up, her green eyes showed her understanding, with a hint of sadness behind the outlook. "I kind of always knew you wouldn't stay forever, but will Needlepine be going with you?" Willowwater asked in a quiet voice.

"I don't know, I asked him this morning, but he didn't say anything to me about it afterwards…" Rainstone trailed off, unwilling to voice her fears that she'd be leaving alone.

"Don't worry," Willowwater nudged her comfortingly. "He wouldn't be able to live without you, I've seen how he looks at you, he'd miss you before long and run after you," Willowwater laughed a little, putting on a cheery face, but Rainstone could see it covered her sadness. She knew because she'd done it so often back in the mountains.

"Thanks, Willowwater. Who knows, if I find a home close enough, maybe I'll come visit on occasion!" Rainstone forced optimism for her friend and from how Willowwater's eyes lit up, it worked.

"That would be great! I hope that's what happens," Willowwater sighed and they climbed down from the willow tree. Then Willowwater turned to her suddenly as they said their farewells.

"Just promise me one thing," Willowwater mewed, frowning slightly and serious-eyed.

"Yes?" Rainstone questioned, slightly wary.

"Make sure you come say goodbye before you leave, no running off into the sunset like some happy couple. Make sure you come give me a final goodbye," Willowwater mewed firmly.

Rainstone looked at her with a slight smile, "I can make that promise," she nodded.

"Thank you, Rainstone, goodbye for now," Willowwater nodded and turned back toward camp.

"Goodbye for now, friend," Rainstone mewed softly, then she turned and headed back toward the quiet, waiting meadow.

...

Like I said, un-exciting, but important. Well, this clears the way for everything now! Oh! I'm so excited to write the end of this story! Its going to be awesomelicious!

Please Review! (thanks to everyone who reviewed last time too! Lets keep it up!)