Half a moon later, Lynxheart was taking a nap in the warriors' den when there was a rustle; the heather entrance being pushed through by a stocky form. Lynxheart tried to ignore it; rolling over to bury herself deeper into her nest; but a moment later, there was a whispered "Lynxheart!"
Lynxheart stretched; eyes cracking to find the sandy form of Bird, the clan healer, at the edge of her nest. Startled, she scrambled to her paws. "Yes?" she asked; hoping that her fur wasn't unpresentable. She hadn't seen Bird more than a few times in her life, and something about the tom made her want to be on her best behaviour.
Bird shook his head. "Not in here," he murmured, turning around, "follow me." With that, he disappeared back through the heather. After a moment, Lynxheart followed him. The tom lead her out of camp, and then doubled back around.
Lynxheart frowned. "Why are we behind the dirtplace?"
Bird didn't reply; just nosed around for a few moments, and then—disappeared. It took a few seconds for Lynxheart to realise that he had actually wriggled into a tunnel next to the back of the dirtplace. "Are you coming, or...?" came the tom's voice; echoing, and Lynxheart hastened to follow him.
"Why all the secrecy?" she grumbled. "What's so important we can't talk about it in camp?"
"It's just not done," the other replied primply; and finally stopped. They were in a large cave, and a small stream trickled by. Lynxheart tried not to gape in awe. "The visions you've been having," Bird prompted.
Oh. Right. Yarrowflight had said she would tell Bird.
So, confident that, if nothing else, the tom wouldn't call her moon-addled, Lynxheart explained everything; the visions, Tawnyear's story, and the run-in with the rogue—Captain Ashwind. As she spoke, Bird's frown grew deeper and deeper; his whiskers twitching in agitation.
Finally, he spoke. "I think you might be right," he said; and then, hesitantly, "recently, my connection—all the healers' connections, really—with the Ancestors has been...muddled, and what I have been getting has been distress and rumblings of trouble. I wonder if something's stoping them from communicating with us, and that's why you're getting visions instead."
Relief coursed through Lynxheart; so the tom wasn't going to dismiss her visions. The knowledge brought her comfort. But— "What about the Captain?" she asked. "And, and Tawnyear's story? Do you think it might...happen again?"
"History repeating itself?" Bird's expression was grim. "I'm afraid that it's probably very likely."
The pronouncement chilled her. "Then what are we going to do?" she asked.
"I'll speak with Smoketalon," Bird replied. "We can increase the patrols, and make sure Owlstar has a guard—I'll also travel to the other clans to speak with their healers, and explain our fears. Hopefully, forewarning will give us the advantage. But other than that...all we can do is wait, I'm afraid."
"Great," Lynxheart said, sarcastically; and then sighed. "Sorry, I'm just...worried."
"That's more than understandable. But now, let's get out of here—I think the walls are going to choke me." He shuddered; and led the way out of the tunnels and back into the fresh air.
It was just as well that they got out when they did; because as they returned to camp, Owlstar's voice sounded loudly. "Let all cats old enough to roam the moors gather for a clan meeting!" she called.
Bird and Lynxheart hastened to enter the camp and take their places beneath the Highrock. Lynxheart wondered what the meeting was about; she couldn't think of any reason—at least, not until she saw Yarrowflight, standing near the base of the Highrock, and the pride shining in her eyes.
A few moments later, her suspicion was confirmed. "Mirrorkit," Owlstar called, "please step forward."
The half tortoiseshell kit bounded forward; bursting at the seams. "From this day forth, you shall be known as Mirrorpaw," the leader intoned. "Your mentor will be Yarrowflight. Yarrowflight, I hope you pass on your kindness and hunting skills to this apprentice."
With that, she stepped aside, letting the two touch noses; and the clan burst into cheers, chanting, "Mirrorpaw! Mirrorpaw! Mirrorpaw!"
After a while, the chanting died down; and the cats dispersed back to their dens and tasks. Lynxheart padded over to the pair. "Congratulations," she meowed; and to Mirrorpaw, "you couldn't have a better mentor than Yarrowflight."
Yarrowflight's ears flattened slightly in embarrassment. "You flatter me," she said; but their was a note of pride in her voice. To Mirrorpaw, she said, "I'll do my best to live up to that claim."
Mirrorpaw was looking at Yarrowflight with unabashed awe. "I'm sure you will," Lynxheart said, as the she-cat seemed too starstruck to speak.
"I was thinking about training for hunting," Yarrowflight said, "Lynxheart, you've always been better at your hunting moves that than me—would you help me?"
"Of course," Lynxheart said, smiling.