A/N: Erin Hunter is will always be the true harbinger of the Warriors Series. Please support the official release!

Ch.4: The Trail

The night following Swiftpaw's naming ceremony was the night of the Gathering. ThunderClan glided through the forest towards Fourtrees as the full moon gleamed in the sky. Bluestar found that she had a peculiar knot in her gut. She knew she would have to petition for WindClan's return and she suspected the other Clan's would give…opposition. However, she was prepared for that.

What was truly on her mind was Fireshade. At the ceremony, out of the corner of her eye, she'd seen the flame-colored warrior's smoldering expression of disdain, a glower of wounded pride. His eyes were haunted with Longtail's taunts from his first day at camp, Bluestar could tell. It appeared as though he inherited his mentor's penchant for judgement and anger. The Clan leader had hoped to that Tigerclaw's less desirable qualities wouldn't rub off on the former Kittypet but that didn't seem to be the case. No, that wasn't entirely true. His attitude isn't the same as Tigerclaw's. There is a sadness to it.

Hmmm…Maybe she was being a bit hard on him. After all, he'd witnessed the uglier side of ThunderClan and undeservedly so. She knew it wouldn't be wise to let that type of scorn fester. With Spottedleaf's prophecy ringing in her ears, she could not afford to.

"Fire will save the Clan."

Bluestar couldn't imagine the prophecy referring to anyone else. Plus, there was still the oddity of what occurred in Mothermouth. The sight of glowing green eyes gallivanting in the darkness and an eerie song coming from Firepaw's throat was something she wouldn't easily forget. I need to find out what that was about. Had he convened with StarClan while awake and just what had they done or said to him?

"Tigerclaw, take the lead!" She bellowed suddenly as she gradually slowed her pace. She could sense the tabby glancing curiously as he passed her. She fell in beside Fireshade, tapping his shoulder with her tail. "We need to talk," she explained as his green eyes shone with surprise, then suspicion.

He's putting his guard up already. If she wasn't careful, she'd never get a straight answer out of him no matter what her rank was. They slowed to a steady trot and soon they were alone.

Fireshade lapped at his paw and ran it over his face. "Is there something you needed Bluestar?" His tone was cool as ice as his tail twitched patiently.

The she-cat narrowed her eyes at her subordinate's crisp demeanor, wondering what secrets were under that orange pelt of his. "I'm wondering how you're fairing," she meowed. "I'm sure you feel as though a lot has happened to you in a short time." He'd certainly taken a fair leap from that curious kitten she'd meet on the edge of twoleg place. Although not quite as big as his mentor, his muscles rippled almost as brilliantly under his pelt of almost-shining fur.

Fireshade's whiskers twitched in annoyance. "Surely you didn't think I'd run home by now, did you?" His voice wasn't venomous but there a sharp edge to it.

Bluestar had to stop her tail from curling over her paws in guilt. She hadn't thought it outside of the realm of possibilities at one point. "Of course not. You have an act for gaining strength quickly. I dare say you contribute more to the fresh-kill pile than you're Clanmates almost every day. But I have reason to believe your advantage is more than just physical." There it was! A slight, almost invisible jerk in his frame. "You remember our journey to Mothermouth, right?" A tentative nod came in response. "Do you recall everything that happened?"

The orange tom ears quivered as he resisted flattening them. "What is this about? With all due respect," he added the last sentence quietly, his narrowed eyes threatening to portray an aggressive cadence.

Bluestar ignored the tension befouling the air. "When I awoke from my visit with StarClan, I saw you in what I can only describe as a trance."

The ginger warrior tilted his head, looking genuinely perplexed. Perhaps even fearful…

What are you hiding, Fireshade?

She went into more detail, "You were mewling a strange melody and the shining in your eyes was most peculiar. To my knowledge, you hadn't even touched the Moonstone." Her pelt rippled as fresh curiosity slid over her. She could not hold back her intrigue any longer. "Tell me," she ordered, "what did you see?"

Fireshade's eyes squeezed shut, his tail flicking strangely. His silence dragged for a moment. Bluestar began wondering if he was drifting off again, back into that time. "I was surrounded by an unshakable warmth, as if everything around me pulsed with a new life. And you've never seen such colors! They gave the air itself a voice." An aura bliss seemed to be surrounding him as he spoke with grandeur.

The older warrior found herself morbidly fascinated at the young tom's words. She stood in excitement. "And what of StarClan? Did they speak to you? What did they tell you?" Everything suddenly felt as if it hinged on the answer to her questions; her breath was practically catching in her throat.

A deep frown suddenly crashed through the orange tom's peaceful demeanor, like an unexpected storm on a clear day. His pelt bristled for just a second before it laid flat again.

"Bluestar!" Tigerclaw's yowl came from further up ahead. "We're waiting for you at the border!"

Cursing inwardly, Bluestar turned to tell him to keep his tail on only to find that Fireshade was already stalking on ahead. How had he gotten around her so fast? And without her notice!

"They're clearly impatient," he meowed over his shoulder as he went. "Maybe it would be better to finish this at camp?" He suggested it as question, though she could tell he would budge no further for the time being. He bounded towards the Clan deputy whose amber gaze flickered between them questioningly.

Bluestar followed, flustered, and frustrated at the tabby's timing. What was with Fireshade's grim change in demeanor. Her hunger for answers burned even brighter now. But perhaps it was best to save her energy.

There was still another fight waiting for her at the Gathering.

A/N: I've only got one book from the Super prequels left to read and Summer Breaks right around the corner. Please be patient for a bit longer. Updates should at least pick up a little very soon.

Read, Fav, Follow, Review! Thanks so much all that you do!