C h a p t e r 44

Chillpaw was waiting for her as soon as she opened her eyes. Moonpaw had already let him into the dream, and Sootpaw was surprised to see that he had someone with him.

"Swiftshade?" she asked curiously, blinking at the blue-and-white tom as the forest appeared around them. Chillpaw began to stride into the brush without a word, and Sootpaw turned with him.

"Don't follow me," he said, glancing at her over his shoulder. "I have things to do. I'm sure you can keep yourself entertained."

Sootpaw blinked, taken aback by his harsh tone. Her ears flattened, but she nodded. "Um, okay. Are you going to come back—"

She cut off as he disappeared from view. "Okay then," she mumbled, feeling surprisingly dejected as she turned back to Swiftshade. "What are you here for?"

She realized as soon as the words left her mouth how cruel they sounded, and she hastened to add to them to soften the blow, but Swiftshade cut her off with a shake of his head.

"I just…well, Shrew said that you could build things. In the dream. I was just wondering if perhaps you could…." He seemed embarrassed as he trailed off, and he shuffled his paws uncomfortably.

"You want me to try and make a place for you?" she asked. "Somewhere from your memories?" She thought of Shrew, and flinched despite herself. "A place where you did something terrible?"

"It wasn't always a terrible place," he said. "I did make a terrible mistake there, once…but before that, it was a beautiful place. I just wanted to visit it again, is all. Even if we do manage to muddle through all of this, even if I am reincarnated, I'll never be able to go to that place…it doesn't exist in RiverClan's territory any longer, not the way it was."

He bowed his head. "But I understand if you make it uncomfortable. I was just…hopeful. It's been a long time. I've almost forgotten what it feels like."

He looked over his shoulder, as if searching for Moonpaw. "I can go, if you'd like."

Sootpaw felt a flutter of pity for the heavy-hearted tom. Of all the Dark Forest cats, she could empathize with him the most. She knew how it felt to be outshined by a sibling, to feel as though she had to do whatever her brother said in order to keep him happy.

"Okay," she found herself saying. "I can try. It might not be as good as you remember, but…I can try."

Swiftshade's eyes glinted with gratitude. "Thank you."

She sat down and calmed herself as she had done before, reaching out with her mind to contact the dream, feeling the glinting leaves and gleaming grass.

"Go on, then," she said, still keeping her eyes closed. "What did it look like?"

Swiftshade's voice was low, almost husky, and slowly but surely the picture began to form in her mind. His voice painted a silver willow for her, a sparkling stream, old roots clutching a tiny, grassy little island, silver fish darting in the shallows. She could hear the river rushing over the stones, scent that quaint, fishy smell of silver scales and fluttering fins, picture the willow's leaves dipping gently into the flowing surface of the little creek.

And then, something strange happened. Swiftshade began speaking of someone else, a cat – just snippets here and there, how her pelt had looked like the clouds, which were always easy to see from within the folds of the willow, or how her eyes had been even bluer than the reflection of the sky on the stream – and Sootpaw could feel something changing. There was a little pull, a little tug inside of her mind that she knew shouldn't be there. At first, she tried ignoring it, focusing on the scene, but the tugging became stronger, and Swiftshade fell abruptly silent.

Her eyes fluttered open, but she did not behold the willow, the stream, or the fish. Instead, her attention was completely focused on the smoky white form that had appeared out of thin air.

It was a she-cat, with blue eyes that were both playful and alluring, although her face seemed frozen in an expression of deep, aching sorrow. Sootpaw was stricken speechless, and for a long moment she and Swiftshade merely stared at the strange apparition.

Then, the white spirit took a step towards Swiftshade. He stiffened, a muffled sound building in his throat. Sootpaw felt a flare of panic, and her concentration lapsed for a single moment. Instantly, the white cat disappeared, leaving Sootpaw wondering if she had ever been there at all.

Swiftshade was on his paws immediately, staring at the spot where the white cat had been. He touched the ground where she had been standing, but the grass was not flattened, the earth not disturbed. He looked to Sootpaw, an expression of pain and confusion written clearly on his face.

"Who was that?" Sootpaw asked, although somehow she already knew the answer.

"My…my sister," Swiftshade whispered, looking again to where the white she-cat had stood. "The way I remembered her, I mean…before she became leader and grew old…it was her, I swear, it looked as though I could have just reached out and touched her…." His voice was ragged with pain.

"Swiftshade, I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to," Sootpaw mewed. "I'm not even sure what happened, she just sort of slipped in there…."

She blinked as she remembered when she and Chillpaw had played in the stone, and the memory of Lion had appeared. The white she-cat had seemed exactly like that, wavering and on the edge between existence and oblivion.

Just a memory, she thought, feeling another surge of pity for Swiftshade. Just like Lion, her memory crept in only to be snatched away from him again….

"I'm sorry," she said again, but she wasn't sure he was listening.

"I didn't realize how much I miss her," he murmured. "I mean, I still care for her because my sister, but after all she did, I didn't think it would hurt so much to see her disappear again…."

"It wasn't really her," Sootpaw meowed, trying to comfort him as best she could. "It was just part of your imagination. You were describing her with the setting, so I guess I just sort of…created her. I'm really sorry. I didn't know that I could do that. It won't happen again."

Swiftshade's eyes flicked towards the willow tree, and his gaze softened for a moment. "It looks right," he said, and began moving towards it, padding through the icy water without flinching until he reached the trunk. Sootpaw followed him, a shudder running down her spine as the flowing stream chilled her paws.

Swiftshade reached out with one paw and touched the trunk gently. He closed his eyes, and somewhere a breeze stirred, sending the willow's tendrils swaying. One reached up and touched his muzzle, like a mother's touch.

"Just as I remembered," he whispered, before turning towards her. Gratitude glimmered in his eyes. "Thank you."

She nodded. "No problem. I think creating scenery is actually kind of fun…why was this place special, out of curiosity? What happened here?"

"My mother brought my sister and I here, when we were young," he answered. "After she died, we continued to visit, but it grew more depressing after time. It's my fault the place fell into ruin."

Sootpaw couldn't hold back her curiosity. "How could it be your fault?"

"I let my friend die."

Sootpaw's ears pricked; she hadn't heard of Swiftshade having any close friends at all when she had talked to him earlier.

Swiftshade continued, unprompted, "Her name was Berrypaw. We were friends as kits and apprentices. One day, during leaf-bare, we ventured onto one of the rivers on our territory…the ice was thin, and she fell in. I was too afraid to try and reach her. She drowned. I don't think her father, Foxstar, ever forgave me.

"After that leaf-bare, things changed in the territory. The larger creek that fed this little stream changed its path after a bad flood. The willow's island dried up, and the fish died. It was never the way I remembered it again."

"But Berrypaw didn't die here, did she?" Sootpaw asked. "How could the stream changing its path be your fault? StarClan wouldn't punish you for something you couldn't control. Of course you were scared to help. Anyone would be."

Swiftshade didn't seem to have heard her. "Snowstep used this place against me. She said the change in the stream was because of StarClan's anger, and that I had disappointed them. She said the only way to reclaim their guidance would be by helping her."

Sootpaw remembered what his sister had wanted: for Swiftshade to kill the deputy of the Clan, then the leader, so Snowstep could seize power. She moved forward and pressed her nose against Swiftshade's flank. He started, then looked down at her, his eyes still clouded with grief.

"What if it happens again?" he asked. "What if I fall into the same pattern in the next life? What if I just end up chasing my tail and come back here once more?"

"Then I'll be here," she said, trying to soothe him. "I'll give you another chance. You're a good cat on the inside, I know it. You'll find your way this time, and if you don't, I'll try to be here to help."

Swiftshade stared at her for a long moment, before moving forward and pressing his nose against her shoulder. She stiffened, surprised by his reaction.

"I won't forget," he rasped. "I swear to you, I will not forget what you have given us."

Sootpaw's fur tingled uncomfortably – she didn't understand why his reaction was so mournful, instead of hopeful – but she didn't have time to say anything.

"What are you two doing?"

Chillpaw's voice was as quiet and sharp as crackling ice. Swiftshade drew away abruptly, his ears flat against his head. Sootpaw turned to find Chillpaw staring the blue-and-white warrior down with his chilling gaze.

"I didn't tell—" Swiftshade started to say, only to be cut off by a clap of thunder. Dark clouds swirled over their heads, gray and ominous. Sootpaw shivered as an icy breeze whipped over her fur, ruffling Swiftshade's whiskers.

"We're leaving," Chillpaw growled. "You certainly won't be coming back here, you clouded fool. Moonpaw!"

The black she-cat sprang out from behind a fern, and trotted towards him. Before Sootpaw could object, she and Chillpaw had touched noses. The two toms faded from view and disappeared. Above Sootpaw's head, the storm clouds began to fade, but she made no attempt to replace them with her own.

"What was that?" she asked Moonpaw, and saw that the black apprentice's eyes were wide, mirroring her own fear. "He actually looked angry."

"You should go," Moonpaw mewed. "Wake up. Return to your friends."

"But—" Sootpaw started to say, only to flinch as the dream came crashing down around her ears.

Her eyes snapped open, and she drew in a sharp breath. It took her a moment to remember that she was sleeping next to Sage; his thick tail was pressing up against her nose, making it difficult to breathe. She drew away from him and swiped a paw over her nose, taking a moment to look up at the night sky. It was clear, without any of the dark clouds that Chillpaw had conjured up in his anger. She shivered, remembering the menacing way his icy eyes had glittered. Swiftshade had been about to say something important, something that he wasn't supposed to give away.

But what? She wondered, blinking up at the stars, watching how their jewel-light twinkling paled in comparison to the round, waxing moon. Her eyes traced its craters and cracks, and she felt a wave of homesickness wash over her. Back in the forest, a Gathering was only a few days away. Would her brother be going? Would she have been, if she had stayed?

I wonder how the Clan is holding up, she thought, feeling worry prick her stomach. Hopefully no more of them have fallen ill…maybe the snowberry plant will have helped them.

She looked down at Sage, noting his serene expression, how his nose twitched faintly as he slept. No nightmares haunted him, no dead cats requested his aid. She felt a stab of jealousy, before she shook herself.

I'm only being foolish, she said, but even her mental reprimand couldn't extinguish the embers of envy that were being kindled in her heart.

She rose to her paws, suddenly eager to get away from the sleeping cats that surrounded her. As soon as she pulled away from Sage's warmth, the chill of the night air hit her. She sucked in a sharp breath, but didn't retreat back to his warm pelt. He had Bluepaw on his other side, so hopefully the night's icy fingers wouldn't manage to pierce his thick fur.

Sootpaw's eyes narrowed as Bluepaw twitched in her sleep, and again she felt the anger that had been smoldering quietly for the past day flare up. She hadn't spoken a word to Bluepaw since the medicine apprentice's reveal of her 'gift.' Bluepaw seemed puzzled by her silence, but the blue-gay cat hadn't approached her about it.

They hadn't been able to cover much ground because of Bluepaw's twisted paw. Sage had offered to look at it again once they had settled down for the night, but the medicine apprentice had insisted that she could take care of it herself.

Sootpaw's eyes found the dark skin of the Thundertracks, and she felt a strange impatience move through her. She was tired of the group moving so slowly, picking their route with such care. She was tired of curling up in a strange place every night, and having long-dead cats cloud her dreams. She was tired of waiting, of hanging onto every line of Bluepaw's prophecy, of leaving all of her trust in Chillpaw, of allowing StarClan to taunt her with dreams of the past that she wasn't able to figure out.

The fire within her blazed up again, and without quite knowing why, she began walking forward, right on the edge of the Thundertracks, which had been dyed silver by the bold moonlight.

The feeling of the rough Thundertracks against her paws was almost comforting now, like her mother's rasping tongue dragging over her fur. The soothing light of the moon guided her on her path, and after a few moments of walking, she began to relax, although as soon as Bluepaw came into her mind, the anger leaped back up and she had to quell it again.

She was pulled out of her reverie by the sound of pawsteps. Turning, she saw a flicker of movement as a small shape ducked back into the brush. Her fur bristled, and she unsheathed her claws, tensing.

"Who's there?" she growled. "I saw you. Come out."

The bush rustled, but no one appeared. Sootpaw drew closer with caution, until she recognized the blue eyes blinking out at her from between the silver-drenched leaves.

"Why are you following me, Bluepaw?" she spat. "Get out of that bush. You look ridiculous."

Bluepaw looked startled, but she parted the branches with her paws and stepped out. One leaf managed to cling to her ear for a few brief moments, before she shook her head to rid herself of it.

"Are you angry with me, Sootpaw?" she asked, her voice low and meek.

"No," Sootpaw snapped, her ears flattening as her sharp tone revealed the lie. Bluepaw's eyes clouded with hurt.

"Why? What did I do?"

The gray apprentice stared at her with disbelief. Then, she snorted and turned away. She knows exactly what she did! Sootpaw thought, her fur still bristling.

"Sootpaw, please don't go! Just tell me what I did! I'll make it up to you, I promise!"

Bluepaw's heartbroken voice made Sootpaw pause. She looked over her shoulder, and saw the medicine apprentice's ears were flattened and her round blue eyes were dark with sorrow and confusion.

"You lied," Sootpaw hissed. "You took my dreams and used them for yourself, to make everything think that you're something you're not!"

Bluepaw's eyes widened. "Sootpaw, I didn't mean it for it to seem that way at all! I thought…I thought it would be better for everyone if I said I was having them…so maybe we could talk to the others and see what the dreams really mean! I didn't mean to steal anything from you….It's just that you seemed so burdened by them, and I knew that you didn't think you could figure out their meaning on your own. I was hoping that if we shared them with everyone else, we might be able to avoid more trouble, like with Nightingale on the Thundertracks."

The blue apprentice blinked at her earnestly. "Really, you have to believe me. I didn't do it to hurt you, Sootpaw. You're my best friend."

Sootpaw's eyes narrowed. "You certainly didn't look bothered when they were complimenting you on your 'gift.' Why should I believe you did it for my interests, instead of yours?"

Bluepaw looked hurt for a moment, before a bit of steel glimmered in her eyes. "You should believe me because I'm your friend, Sootpaw, and I have been for moons! I've always had your back. If I knew it would make you angry, I wouldn't have done it! You'll probably never tell me your dreams again now, and I'll just look pathetic when the Clan expects me to have some sort of huge insight on what's going to happen to us next."

"You have the prophecy from StarClan! You have more answers than I do."

Bluepaw's ears flattened, and she ducked her head. "The prophecy's just as confusing for me as it is for you. I don't have more answers than anyone else. The prophecy was the first time StarClan even spoke to me." Bitterness seeped into her voice, soaking into every word.

Sootpaw's ears pricked. "What? But you and Shimmerfrost went to the Pool of Stars moons before the prophecy came to you."

The medicine apprentice sighed. "Yes, but it was like I wasn't even there. I followed Shimmerfrost into her dreams, but StarClan was too busy to take notice of me. They were all wrapped up in her, her anger and feelings of betrayal. Shimmerfrost never forgave them for what they let happen to Silverstar. She insisted that StarClan should have warned us about Chillpaw, but they said that they weren't sure what choice he would make. Even he wasn't completely sure until he made his leap. And with everything that happened afterwards…Shimmerfrost has been doing her best to get back at StarClan."

The gray apprentice's pelt prickled uncomfortably – these were the secrets of medicine cats, not things she should be privy to – but she couldn't help prying further. "What did Shimmerfrost do?"

"She's been meeting toms," Bluepaw whispered. "PeakClan toms, on the border. Medicine cats aren't supposed to have mates or anything like that…she doesn't want a mate, though, she's just using them to get back at StarClan, to punish them for what happened to Silverstar. She won't listen to them when they try to speak to her in her dreams. She goes to the Pool of Stars, but she doesn't drink the water. I do everything I can to get them to talk to me, but they're only interested in reaching out to her…."

Sootpaw's anger melted away as she saw the utterly defeated expression on Bluepaw's face. She sighed, and shook her head.

"You should have told me what you were planning to do, Bluepaw. I just thought you were being selfish."

Shame burned in Bluepaw's eyes. "Well…maybe I was, a little bit…I just don't know why StarClan would trust you with these dreams, and not me."

"I don't know either," said Sootpaw. "I think you'd be better equipped to handle them than I am, to be honest. It doesn't really make sense to me…but it's okay, Bluepaw. I'm not mad."

Bluepaw smiled, but her eyes were still dark. "I'm glad. You're my best friend, Sootpaw. I wouldn't want to lose you."

"I guess it falls into line with the dreams, though," Sootpaw meowed. "There was that she-cat, Cloudpaw, who claimed to hear StarClan speaking about coming doom…I suppose you're supposed to be our Cloudpaw, speaking for StarClan and me to warn everyone of danger."

Bluepaw nodded. "I thought that too. I was worried they might not believe you, since you're not a medicine cat. If you want, though, we can tell them the truth…."

Sootpaw considered it for a moment, trying to picture everyone's reactions; many would be astonished, she was certain. Perhaps some, like Sage, would be in awe of a cat like her, a cat without any special training having such dreams. The thought made her smile, but her smile faded as she realized the responsibilities that would be weighing on her shoulders, the demand for more of her prophetic dreams that she couldn't control. And there were other dreams, too, dreams that she couldn't tell anyone about…everyone would be watching her, waiting for more dreams, and what if they realized that her dreams weren't only from StarClan? What if they sensed the darker cats hanging around her clouded mind?

"No," she decided. "You should keep pretending that they're yours. Like you said, you're a medicine cat…and if we changed the story now, they might become suspicious."

Bluepaw brightened. "Thank you, Sootpaw. This means a lot to me; I want to make my Clan proud, and StarClan too."

Sootpaw smiled, and for a moment it was just the two of them in the moonlight, as the last of her anger dissolved. Then, Bluepaw frowned, glancing towards the Thundertracks. Her gaze followed their black, winding path. "What are you doing out here, anyway? You weren't going to run away, were you?"

Sootpaw's whiskers twitched. "No. I just needed some space. It just feels like we aren't getting anywhere, you know? This journey has been dragging on and on, and it seems like there's no end in sight…I wish we could just find what we need and get on with it."

"I know how you feel," Bluepaw mewed, and gave her sore paw a lick. "I'd like to be home too. But sometimes there are greater plans, you know? Maybe there's a reason we're all out here and everyone else is at home. Maybe someone bigger than us has a plan."

She shot Sootpaw a look as she spoke, but the gray apprentice couldn't read her expression. Her eyes were still dark, which was strange for the usually cheery medicine apprentice.

Has StarClan really shown her more than she's letting on? Sootpaw wondered. Is something going to happen back home?

Dread settled into her stomach like a heavy stone, and she reflexively looked up at the moon. The twinkling of the stars seemed colder to her now, more foreboding than comforting.

If StarClan's always watching over us, why do so many terrible things happen? She found herself wondering. Why did Rainwind have to die? Why did Silverstar have to get sick? Why did Swiftshade have to give into his sister's ambition? Why did Chillpaw have to lose the only father he ever had?

She felt the tiniest bubbling up of anger inside of her, before Bluepaw distracted her by taking a limping step forward. Sootpaw turned and followed Bluepaw's line of sight, blinking with confusion as she saw the small, round shapes lying atop the Thundertracks ahead of them.

"What are those?" Sootpaw asked as Bluepaw took another step towards them. The medicine apprentice didn't answer, and as the two of them drew closer, Sootpaw saw there were far more than just a few round shapes. As they drew nearer, Sootpaw was astonished to see a carpet of small, round objects covered the Thundertracks, glowing bright silver in the light of the moon.

"Berries," Bluepaw said, reaching out with one paw to touch them. Her touch send a few rolling, which in turn jostled the others, sending a rippling motion over the dark tracks. Bluepaw blinked, then grinned at Sootpaw in sudden excitement. "The sea of blue, from the prophecy! That's it!"

Sootpaw's heart leaped, and she bent down until her nose grazed one of the berries. In her shadow, she could see that the berries were indeed a dark blue-gray, much like Bluepaw's fur.

"I've seen these before," she said, touching the berries and rolling one underneath her paw. "There are several bushes full of them in our forest."

"Yup," Bluepaw said, surveying the area around them; both sides of the Thundertracks were adorned with thick, spiky-leaved bushes. "Juniper berries. They help give a cat strength, and ease their breathing…good for the heart, too. They must be to help the effects of the foxglove; too much can cause a cat's heart to fail."

"But this is just another plant that we could have gotten back home," Sootpaw mewed, her momentary elation fading. "There's nothing really special about juniper berries."

Bluepaw didn't seem bothered. "Still, that means there's only one more herb to go, and then we can all go home. I can't wait to see Spiderpaw again."

Sootpaw shot the medicine apprentice a glance, and thought she detected a hint of heat underneath her blue-gray fur. Sootpaw's whiskers twitched in amusement.

"We should get back, I guess," Sootpaw said. "It'll be dawn soon, and everyone will want to get moving again."

Bluepaw squished one of the berries playfully, then nodded. "Okay. Do you mind if I lean on you? My paw's still sore."

Sootpaw rolled her eyes. "Whatever, furball."

Bluepaw rested her head on Sootpaw's shoulder with a contented sigh, and the two of them began the long walk back to camp.

Well done, a voice murmured in Sootpaw's mind. She went rigid as she recognized it: it was the voice of Chillpaw. She stopped, and looked over her shoulder, half expecting to see the white tom's ghostly form.

Ssh, relax, the voice ordered. Wipe that expression from your face. Bluepaw's staring.

Sootpaw realized he was correct; Bluepaw was blinking at her with a puzzled expression. Sootpaw feigned a smile.

"Sorry, I'm just tired," she lied, and faked a yawn.

"If you say so," Bluepaw said, still looking curious. They began walking again, somewhat unsteadily because of Bluepaw's limping gait.

Is that you, Chillpaw? Sootpaw asked, trying to reach out with her mind.

Yes. I'm only here for a moment, though. I just wanted to alert you that your next meeting will be with Dapplefern. We won't have enough time tonight, unfortunately, but it will be coming soon.

How are you here, in my head? I saw you melt away. You can't access my memories, can you? Can you read my thoughts?

Her heart began pumping furiously as all sorts of embarrassing thoughts ran through her mind. She heard Chillpaw's quiet chuckle.

No. Your thoughts are safe, unless you actually want me to look. I don't really care about them, to be honest. I'm only here to observe.

Observe what?

You forget things too easily. He sounded faintly amused. In order to hear the story of each character, you must first show some sort of characteristic that is the opposite of whatever the fault was of the cat. For example, you showed determination when you joined the journey, and thus you heard Swiftshade's story.

Why do we have to do that?

It's part of the ceremony, he answered. It will make more sense in time. It's the traits that are important. Don't worry, they're fairly minor. For example, you earned Shrew's story by sharing prey with Swanpaw. By no means do you have to be a perfect pinnacle of virtue.

Are you saying I can't be? She teased. I think I'm pretty awesome.

No, you don't, he said offhandedly. But that doesn't matter either. I just wanted to let you know that you'll be hearing from Dapplefern.

Her ears flattened. Is she going to appear in my head too?

No. I'm only using Moonpaw. She communicates this way from time to time, correct?

Sootpaw nodded as she remembered when Moonpaw had talked to her in the tunnels. Yes…but she's a part of me. You're not.

Moonpaw acts as a link between you and the Dark Forest. Using her, I can enter your mind for brief periods of time.

Why me? She asked. I'm sure other cats have imaginary friends too. What makes Moonpaw so special?

Chillpaw's reply was a long time coming, and she was almost afraid that he was already gone.

It has a lot to do with your heritage, he said finally. There are some pieces I cannot yet explain, but one is because of your mother. A long time ago, StarClan hoped that she would be a medicine cat.

Sootpaw nodded, remembering how Ravenwing had been a medicine apprentice before she had chosen Eaglestrike over the chaste life of a healer. Yes. Ravenwing's told us about that before.

Yes…Ravenwing. Anyway, your mother had a heightened sense of spirituality, which is why StarClan was hopeful. Ultimately, her path led her elsewhere. You inherited that sense from her, which makes you easier for cats like me to contact you. I inherited my abilities from my father as well.

Sootpaw blinked, trying to remember what she had heard about Ashstir, the father of Shimmerfrost and Chillpaw. Ashstir can contact those of his bloodline, right? Anyone that was related to him or that was related to those he was close to, like Silverstar and Northstar?

Exactly.

So how can you contact me, if your powers are like his?

Chillpaw was quiet again for a long time. They were nearly back to camp now, and Sootpaw was ready to collapse back next to Sage, this time with Bluepaw on her other side.

It's complex, he answered. I promise you'll understand more later. I have to go now. Communicating like this is taxing, since I have to try and keep my focus in the Dark Forest as well. We're still on the move.

Okay…good night, I guess?

His voice was amused once more, as he said, It's always night here.

She waited for more from him, but heard nothing else, and after awhile she finally concluded that he was gone. She let out a quiet breath as they entered camp and padded silently to where Sage still slept. Sootpaw sandwiched herself between Bluepaw and Sage, and closed her eyes. Her mind was abuzz with new possibilities and questions, but she forced her breathing to slow down, and managed to lull herself into a fitful sleep.

. . .

They took the group to the berries the next morning. Thistlethorn seemed dubious; he rolled a few with his nose, before looking to Bluepaw.

"It falls in line with the prophecy, but juniper berries are nothing special," he growled. "I hope StarClan isn't going to send us on a wild goose chase."

"We would never have thought of mixing foxglove and juniper on our own," Bluepaw mewed. "Foxglove is too dangerous to use most of the time anyway, but juniper helps give a cat strength enough to beat the harmful effects. I'm sure the third herb will be something we wouldn't normally use too."

"But why didn't StarClan just tell us what we needed?" Thistlethorn lashed his tail back and forth. "I should be back home, with my mother. She needs me."

"I'm sure it's all part of StarClan's plan," Reedrush said soothingly.

"Besides, without this journey, we wouldn't have Rook or Nightingale traveling with us!" Bluepaw chirped.

Thistlethorn glanced towards the two rogues, who were hovering near the edge of the Thundertracks. "That would be a real shame," he said dryly.

"Do you know where we're going next?" Rabbitleap asked Bluepaw. The medicine cat cocked her head to the side as if trying to remember.

"I think the Thundertracks eventually come near the Thunderpath again. When they do, we should rejoin the path," Bluepaw answered.

"How far west do you think we'll end up, out of curiosity?" Reedrush asked.

Bluepaw shrugged. "I'm not sure, really. Pretty far, though, I think. It just depends on how far away the third ingredient is."

Reedrush nodded, and Sootpaw thought she saw her green eyes flicker before the she-cat looked away.

What's she looking for in the west? She wondered. Is she hoping to run into Bullet?

"What's the hold-up?" Rook called. "Are you done sniffin' them berries yet?"

"We'll take some of them with us," Sage said, laying down the little packet of leaves which contained several foxglove seeds. He rolled a few of the blue-gray berries into the packet, before picking it up again.

"Let's go, then, no reason to waste more time. We'll know when we get closer to the Thunderpath," said Thistlethorn, before he flicked his tail and started walking. The others followed, taking care to avoid stepping on and squishing any of the fat, round berries. The prickly leaves brushed against Sootpaw's fur, making her think almost nostalgically of the thick brambles in AshClan's territory.

She glanced to her right and saw that Bluepaw and Sage were speaking to each other quietly. She allowed herself to drift nearer to hear their conversation, noticing how Bluepaw's eyes were glowing with mischief.

"Well?" she insisted. "Are you ever going to tell us your little theory about Rabbitleap?"

"Perhaps you should figure it out for yourself," Sage said, his voice muffled by the leaves. "You're a healer in training, after all."

Bluepaw frowned at him and nipped his ear. Sage nudged her with his shoulder, sending her staggering a few paces. Sootpaw considered joining in on the budding play-fight, but realized with a touch of envy that the two of them seemed to be having enough fun without her. Her gaze flicked instead to Rook and Nightingale, who were traveling in silence, as always.

"Hey," she meowed as she fell into step with Nightingale. Nightingale signed that she was having a good morning, although Sootpaw could tell she was still a little shaken from her encounter with the speeding Twolegs on the Thundertracks.

"What about you?" she asked Rook, when he remained silent. The thick-furred tom gave a shrug of his shoulders.

"It's alright, I guess," he growled. "This is all more moving than we're really used to. We stayed in Adder's territory for quite awhile."

Sootpaw blinked as something occurred to her. "Did you have cats move through that territory often?"

"A few, here 'n' there. Why?"

"Was there ever a tom named Bullet? He was blue-gray, kind of—"

"Yeah, I 'member him," Rook interrupted. "Quiet feller. Wasn't no trouble. We were gonna block 'im, but Adder seemed to know 'im. Told us to let 'im through, so of course we did."

Her ears pricked. "Adder knew him? How?"

Rook shrugged. "The feller seemed…I dunno, well-traveled. Couldn't place his accent, I ain't never heard it in the city. He had the look of a wanderer to him. Scruffy fur, dark eyes, a sort of swagger to his step. But he was quiet-like, never said much even when we jumped 'im like we did you guys. Didn't say much to Adder, either, just kinda nodded. I'd almost say Adder was a little way o' him, but Adder wasn't scared of nobody."

Sootpaw mulled over the information for a minute, laughing quietly as she realized that 'scruffy fur, dark eyes, a sort of swagger to his step' described Rook fairly well also. Bullet was obviously the same cat that Reedrush was looking for, but Sootpaw couldn't figure out why Reedrush wanted to find the tom in the first place. It clearly had something to do with Jaggedclaw – she knew he was secretive, and Reedrush was always worried for him – but couldn't place the connection between Jaggedclaw and Bullet. If Bullet was blue-gray, it was unlikely that he was Jaggedclaw's father or relative of any kind. Even if he was well-traveled, it seemed unlikely that the two of them would have met up at any point.

Then again, I don't know much about Jaggedclaw's past either, she mused. Even Reedrush doesn't. I wonder how much he's told Spiderpaw? I'm sure Spiderpaw wants to learn from him…but he's crippled, so I guess that's unlikely….

"Do you know where he was going?" she inquired. Rook tilted his head, trying to remember. Nightingale frowned, thinking as well, before her blue eyes lit up. She signed something to Rook, and he nodded.

"That's right. Back to his roots, he said. Adder seemed to know what that meant."

The same thing he told Natasha…although she had no clue what it meant, Sootpaw realized. Perhaps his roots are tangled up with Jaggedclaw's, somehow.

Nightingale was signing something else, and Rook frowned.

"Right. He was askin' Adder about a cat, too. Someone named Jag. Wanted to know if he had passed through the area. Adder didn't know."

"He did, I think," Sootpaw meowed. "Jag – Jaggedclaw, now – and Reedrush walked along the Thunderpath together, to the lake. I guess Adder didn't have control of the territory then."

Rook nodded. "Yeah. I think it was granted to him by Carmelo, from the city. Carmelo's been pushing cats out of Twolegplace for moons now. That's partially why we left. We wanted to nab a sweet spot out here before everythin' was taken. Didn't work too well, though." He shot a glare in Sage's direction, and Sootpaw's whiskers twitched as she remembered how indignant the ex-kittypet had been about being defeated by a healer.

"Do you know why he was looking for Jag?" she asked. Rook shook his head.

"Nah. Adder didn't know who he was, so Bullet dropped it. I was kinda hopin' he'd stick around, but he left pretty quick. Obviously had places to be."

"I wonder if we'll catch up to him," Sootpaw meowed, trying to conjure up the blue-gray tom in her mind. In her imagination, his eyes were amber, sort of like Thistlethorn's, only dark and haunted.

Rook snorted again, and this time his disdain was directed towards Bluepaw. "Not with her leg like that. We'll be lucky if we're home before next leaf-bare swings around."

"So, you've never been to our forest and you're already calling it your home?" Sootpaw teased.

Nightingale signed something else, then winked at Rook and nuzzled his shoulder. The brown let out an embarrassed huff.

"What did she say?" Sootpaw asked, and Rook shook his head. Sootpaw prodded his shoulder with her paw. "Come on, let it out. Don't tell me the big, tough rogue who survived a house fire is actually embarrassed about something!"

"She said…we're home as long as we're together," Rook mumbled, and Sootpaw let out a delighted purr.

"That's adorable," she mewed, and Nightingale beamed.

"Oh, shut up!" Rook snapped, puffing up with indignation. He stalked away, muttering something about she-cats under his breath, while Sootpaw giggled. Nightingale's mouth was open as if she was laughing as well, but no sound escaped her jaws.

Sootpaw's merriment quickly faded, and her mind focused back on Bullet. She burned with curiosity about the tom and his past, and how it was connected to Jaggedclaw.

Can't you just make it easy on me just this once, and send it in a dream? She asked StarClan. That would be the only dream that I'd actually want to have.

Of course she received no reply, and she sighed. Figures. The only dead cat that actually talks to me when I ask it just has to be from the Dark Forest. At least he's attentive. And, I have to admit, he's not always terrible. Just most of the time. She smiled to herself.

If the journey doesn't lead us to Bullet, I think Reedrush will probably try to pursue him…and I'll go with her. I'm curious too, of course, but I think she needs someone with her that understands, who won't judge. After what I've seen and heard in the Dark Forest, I'm not sure I could ever judge cats like Reedrush again. I suppose I should thank my stars that things haven't turned out worse for me, like they did for Swiftshade or Shrew or Chillpaw…they all had hard times growing up. All I have to deal with are potentially evil cats assaulting my dreams. She chuckled.

Really, though, it's not such a hard burden to bear. Bluepaw would give her pelt for something like this. I'll let her keep the credit for the dreams, for now. She needs it more than me.

She realized that she had fallen behind the rest of the group while she thought. She broke into a gentle lope until she was on Nightingale's heels once more, as the little group of ragtag travelers continued the serpentine path of the Thundertracks.

AN: So late, I know, I know. I'm sorry! Seniors are just so busy this time of year. Bluh. Anyways, I'm graduating in approximately five hours…so I guess that's something.

Blog update might be a few hours coming, I'm gonna be busy.