SILENCE hung heavy in MarshClan camp. As Sedgepaw lay staring at the ceiling of the apprentices den, she heard not a whisper from anyone outside. In her mind, she wrestled with a haze of fatigue and confusion. Minnowtail betrayed the Clan. He seriously wounded Egretsong and consequently let a convicted killer free. Sedgepaw rolled to her side, sighing. The weight of it all threatened to crush her skull. What did this mean?
The soft breaths of the other sleeping apprentices sparked a wave of envy in Sedgepaw. If only she could sleep so easily. When she was graced with shut eye, she was subsequently haunted by hellish dreams of blood and gore. She sat up in her mossy nest, staring at her paws. She felt surrounded by the unknown. So many questions. The prophecy, Vinestripe's fate, Blueflower's parents, Scorchface's innocence, and now, Minnowtail's betrayal… all the jagged pieces built a dagger that struck Sedgepaw's heart, dousing her with dread and doubt until she feared her chest would corrode. That's why she had to talk. She needed to tell her siblings and closest friend what clouded her mind, or risk losing herself to the storm forever. Maybe if she unshackled these words boggling her brain she would break from the bog.
Mudpaw was practically snoring in his nest while Ospreypaw and Yewpaw were nestled close, curled up in a peaceful slumber. Sedgepaw prodded at each of them, stirring them from sleep. If she was going to tell them the truth, she needed to do it now. Ospreypaw blinked her yellow eyes open first, staring up at Sedgepaw sleepily, before she shot upright and nodded. Yewpaw woke next, yawning softly, before carefully stepping out of her nest, not wanting to disturb Blackpaw as he rested beside her. Sedgepaw frowned when Mudpaw failed to wake. She glanced at Ospreypaw, only for her to shrug and roll her eyes. With a grunt, Sedgepaw poked at Mudpaw's face, watching her brother screw his face up in annoyance and open his eyes grudgingly. When his bright green eyes finally focused, he seemed to remember what was happening and rose to his paws eagerly.
"We're still doing this?" he whispered excitedly.
Sedgepaw nodded. "I need to tell you what's been going on… but I can't do it here."
Yewpaw and Ospreypaw followed Sedgepaw out into camp, with Mudpaw assuming the rear. Keeping to the shadows, they stalked along the outskirts of camp. The moon was only a small sliver of its full glory, looking like a tiny scratch in the vast indigo sky. The dark of night was almost at its most dominant, and it gave the apprentices plenty of shadows to stick to. Sedgepaw hesitated by the warriors den, keeping to the fringe of the plumegrass and knotweed that composed it. She could feel Ospreypaw, Yewpaw, and Mudpaw freeze behind her. They all stared at the guards posted outside the wall of sawgrass and maidencane that led to the marsh: Otternose and Dewpelt.
Sedgepaw gritted her teeth. Dewpelt would be easy to surpass, but Otternose? Her keen sense of smell could jeopardize their escape. She watched the dark brown she-cat as she slowly stalked along the entrance, amber eyes burning. Meanwhile, Dewpelt was busy grooming her dappled gray fur, likely taking a break from her watch.
"What do we do?" Yewpaw whispered fretfully.
"Distract and evade, duh," Mudpaw teased.
"Okay." Yewpaw huffed. "But how do we do it?"
Ospreypaw spoke up, "Maybe one of us could sneak into the sawgrass and make some noise to distract them?"
"You'd need to be fast to do that," Sedgepaw added, eyes narrowed as she tried to visualize the plan in her head.
Before long, Sedgepaw realized she and her siblings were all staring at Ospreypaw. The black and white she-cat glanced between them in surprise and then annoyance. "You can't mean me?"
"You are the fastest," Yewpaw pointed out apologetically.
"Don't be a wimp." Mudpaw prodded at her hindquarters, snickering. "The worst thing Otternose will do is talk your ears off about how mousebrained you are for trying to outsmart her."
"You can do it." Sedgepaw encouraged her friend with a smile. "Because if you don't, we'll all be in trouble," she deadpanned.
The apprentices all shared a soft laugh before Ospreypaw broke away from them. She nudged Sedgepaw playfully as she passed, prompting a smile from her. As Ospreypaw stealthily tiptoed into the sawgrass, she felt Yewpaw and Mudpaw come to stand by her side and press close. Sedgepaw strained her ears for Ospreypaw's movement within the grasses, but could only hear the croaking of a nearby toad and the gentle snores from the warriors den. Before long, all she could hear was her heartbeat pounded in her ears. Did Ospreypaw give up? She could feel Mudpaw growing restless beside her.
Then, a splash sounded from the grass, followed by the loud rustling of reeds. Sedgepaw stiffened. Mudpaw and Yewpaw were frozen against her. She could see Otternose's dark pelt prickle while Dewpelt hurried to her side, ears and tail raised in alarm. The two she-cats murmured to each other. Sedgepaw realized she was holding her breath while they coordinated. The earth seemed to stand still as the guards went silent, becoming dark statues in the night, gazing intently into the mass of grasses.
Sedgepaw flinched when Otternose crashed into the sawgrass, disappearing into the thick fronds. Dewpelt followed quietly, melting into the darkness, tail tip flicking like a metronome. It seemed like Otternose was trying to spook the source of the noise out while Dewpelt remained silent and hidden in the darkness. Otternose really was clever…
"We will have to be quick," Sedgepaw murmured.
Yewpaw and Mudpaw nodded in tandem. Briskly, Sedgepaw maneuvered toward the wall, pushing into the sawgrass with a grunt. The serrated edges of the foliage combed through her thick fur, snagging at the knots and tearing into her, slowing her. She could hear her slimmer siblings managing to slip through the blades with ease. Stifling her envy, she pressed on ardently, panting softly as her limbs fought the thickening mud. Closer, closer, faster, faster, she chanted in her head. Sedgepaw dared not freeze when a growl sounded nearby. She was unsure if it was Dewpelt or Otternose, but she knew she would not stay to find out. Yewpaw and Mudpaw were ahead of her now, plunging and jumping through the mud and maidencane, weaving and whipping along. Sedgepaw crashed through the thicket with a hiss. She could not be left behind! This was her own damn idea. The grasses grew taller as she trodded through the heart of the sawgrass field. Above, she could not capture a glimpse of the indigo sky. Nothing but black bog and ragged reeds surrounded her.
"I think I hear something!" Otternose hissed from behind. She sounded close.
Heart threatening to burst from her chest, Sedgepaw lunged through the thicket. She could feel her muscles scream for a break, throwing a tantrum as they spasmed, but Sedgepaw refused to give up. She needed to talk to her siblings and friend. She needed them to listen. The grasses bent and leaned to form a tunnel before her, and at the end she could see a dim light. Her escape! Sprinting for the end of the tunnel, she burst into the murky water with a splash.
Freed from the cover of the grasses, Sedgepaw could breathe easy again. Yewpaw and Mudpaw were both staring at her, wide-eyed, and Sedgepaw snorted at them. Snaking through the lily pads and water to come close to them, she relished the cool of it as it soaked halfway up her legs.
"Did you have a hard time getting through?" Mudpaw teased.
"Shut up," Sedgepaw snapped before snickered. "Let's just get out of here before Otternose realizes what's up."
"But what about Ospreypaw?" Yewpaw fretted.
Sedgepaw glanced back to the thicket. It was quiet. Then, a faint snapping noise. Sedgepaw's ears perked and eyes narrowed as she tried to figure out the source. When a slim, black and white she-cat peeked out from the stalks, she smiled.
"Ospreypaw!" Sedgepaw hissed, waving her feathery tail for her attention.
Her friend's yellow eyes glinted under the pale moon and she began to slowly make her way toward the group. Sedgepaw felt pride glow in her heart for her friend. No one could outrun Ospreypaw! When the apprentice regrouped, they all collectively shared a sigh of relief, followed by bouts of nervous chuckles.
"We made it!" Mudpaw crowed.
"Keep it down!" Ospreypaw hissed. "Otternose was not far behind me."
"What about Dewpelt?" Yewpaw wondered nervously.
"She probably noticed her own reflection and stopped to groom herself again," Mudpaw mocked, proceeding to pretend to see his own reflection in the gloomy swamp water with a prim look on his face and drag his paw along his whiskers to fan them out all fancy-like. "Great StarClan, I just can't defend the camp looking like this!" he mewed in a high-pitched voice.
Sedgepaw laughed, shaking her head. "Come on, the Great Cypress isn't too far away."
As the apprentices turned to leave, a loud crash sounded from the thicket. From the corner of her eye, Sedgepaw saw the sleek frame of Otternose. Even from afar, her amber eyes burned bright in the night.
"Get down!" Sedgepaw hissed.
She and the others lowered their bodies into the water so that only their heads and the ridge of their backs remained unsubmerged. Under the cover of darkness and the shroud of swamp water, they probably looked like clumps of peat among the bog. Sedgepaw barely breathed when Otternose scanned the marsh, her eyes roving over them keenly. She could see her lips parted to taste the air, and her tail was lashing with frustration. Dewpelt appeared behind her, yawning.
"It was probably just a marsh rabbit." Sedgepaw heard Dewpelt's annoyed mew and stifled a chuckle. "I don't know why you have your tail in a twist over a little splash."
"It was more than a little splash." Otternose's growl bordered on a snarl.
Sedgepaw remained still as a stone. It felt like moons passed before Otternose finally turned back to the wall of sawgrass. Tension released from her body in ripples. Dewpelt followed after her with a loud sigh. When the sound of their rustling retreat faded, Sedgepaw rose from the water with a loud exhale. Yewpaw, Mudpaw, and Ospreypaw followed her lead.
"That was close," Yewpaw squeaked timorously. "My tail was shaking so much I thought it would fall off."
"They're gone now, that's all that matters," Sedgepaw reassured her.
Quietly, Sedgepaw turned and led the way towards the cypress forest. Above the treeline that touched the stars, one dome stood higher than the rest: the Great Cypress. Its branches built a staircase toward the stars. Sedgepaw could remember how it felt to be at its peak. The wind in her fur, the sky in her eyes, and the taste of the heavens on her tongue. If not for her seeing that mysterious cat beyond the border, she may have stayed up there forever. Her stomach tightened when she realized that if she never fell, she never would have discovered the prophecy kept secret from her. How different would her life be?
Stepping onto the shore, Sedgepaw curled her toes in the supple sand with a sigh. Flanked by Ospreypaw and Mudpaw, she had to glance back to make sure Yewpaw was not far behind. Her sister seemed hesitant, hugging the shadow of the cattail reeds with a sullen look on her face.
"What's wrong, Yewpaw?" she asked.
Yewpaw's eyes searched the sandy shore for an answer. She shuffled her paws nervously. "I'm scared," she admitted. "I… don't like being out at night."
Yewpaw's tawny fur appeared almost black under the cover of night, and it hugged her petite frame, making her appear small and helpless. Sedgepaw's chest twisted with the need to protect her sister. "It'll be fine, you have us here to protect you," she promised.
"Yeah! I'll fight anyone that dares give us trouble!" Mudpaw piped up with a broad grin. "I got this one move that Longscar taught me, and hoo-ah, it'll bring a whirl of-"
"Mudpaw, please," Ospreypaw hushed.
Sedgepaw neared Yewpaw gingerly, pressing her nose to her sister's head. She felt rotten for dragging her out at night. Not only was it against the rules for apprentices to be out without a warrior at this time, Yewpaw had always been afraid of the dark. Her memories travelled back to their moons as kits, when Yewpaw never wanted to sneak out of the nursery after the sun went down, and Mudpaw would end up being Sedgepaw's only playmate under the stars.
"Just stick close to me," Sedgepaw murmured softly. "Nothing can harm you with us around."
Yewpaw nodded solemnly, eyes wide. Sedgepaw felt confused as she watched her sister's eyes dart from the bushes, to the corners of the forest, and to the shadows of the reeds, as if she was searching for something that obviously was not their. Her ears were trembling too, but Sedgepaw was not sure if it was because her sister heard something, or if she was trembling out of fear.
"We are here for you," Ospreypaw assured her, the words stiffly waddled off her tongue.
Sedgepaw stifled a chuckle. Watching Ospreypaw attempt to be comforting was like watching a turtle try to sprint. Rasping her tongue over Yewpaw's quivering ear, she nudged her onward into the forest. Frogs periodically screeched a reverberating solo as a chorus of crickets sang in the night. The air hung heavily, full of moisture. Sedgepaw grimaced against the humidity as it clung to her fur, an unwelcome passenger. The smooth, silvery trunks of the cypress trees glowed under the moonlight. Sedgepaw watched as Mudpaw weaved effortlessly through the forest with Ospreypaw close behind.
"Th-the Great Cypress… Why do we have to go there?" Yewpaw wondered, sounding spooked.
"It's far enough from camp that we will have privacy, and the sentinels rarely scout the Great Cypress at night," Sedgepaw explained as they ducked through a myrtle bush.
"There's a reason no sentinels go there at night," Yewpaw mewed frightfully.
"Oh, stars, not this story again!" Mudpaw groaned, gagging dramatically. "Please don't tell me you think they were serious?"
Ospreypaw blinked in confusion, staring back at Yewpaw curiously. "Story?" She slowed to walk beside Yewpaw. "What story?"
Sedgepaw frowned, she remembered Ospreypaw's mother rarely allowed her to listen to the nursery tales the queens shared. Kiteclaw was as stern a warrior as she was a mother. "It's not that exciting," Sedgepaw assured her, not wanting Ospreypaw to feel left out.
"It's said that the Great Cypress is possessed," Yewpaw mewed shakily. "By… Marshstar himself."
Ospreypaw snorted. "What? That's complete mousedung! Marshstar is in StarClan with the rest of our ancestors."
As they walked through the woods, Sedgepaw noticed the shadows growing. Gazing above, Sedgepaw could see the sky darkening through the tangled canopy of branches and moss. Clouds were gathering. In the dark of night, it was impossible to tell if a storm rested in their bellies.
"Marshstar is said to have given his last life to the Great Cypress," Yewpaw went on, voice just above a whisper. "He wanted to be sure that a piece of him remained in the forest, to stay close to the Clan forever."
Mudpaw stopped and turned, his toothy grin glinting in the dark. "And if any one dares to venture to his final resting place at night," he interrupted animatedly, "he will possess the roots of the Great Cypress and drag you down to stay with him forever!"
Yewpaw shivered against Sedgepaw. When she spoke, her voice was stronger, holding a warning, "Mudpaw, you shouldn't make fun of the legend. Remember what Fernstream said: there's a bit of truth-"
"In all the tales," Mudpaw interrupted again, finishing their mother's saying while rolling his eyes.
Ospreypaw was giggling, glancing between the siblings with amusement. "Good story, Yewpaw." She smiled. "Even if it's true, I think being near Marshstar is the safest place to be."
Sedgepaw nodded. "Marshstar always wanted the best for his Clan."
Yewpaw shrugged, not looking convinced. "I guess we are about to find out."
Emerging from the ferns, the apprentices entered the clearing that surrounded the Great Cypress. With the moonlight suffocated from the sky by the clouds, light was dead. A miasma of blackness cast its claws from the shadows all around. The massive cypress tree stood strong against the dark, its gnarled roots casting claws of their own deep into the earth. Everything was so fierce and sharp and bleak. Sedgepaw doubted if this was the right place, the right time… No! She shook her head, stepping out into the open with a soft sigh. This was her time. She had to.
"It's quiet," Ospreypaw observed.
Mudpaw and Yewpaw followed sitting between the roots as Sedgepaw perched herself on one. Ospreypaw sat beside them, gazing up at the vast cypress with wide eyes. Sedgepaw remembered the last time she and Ospreypaw were here, she nearly plummeted to her death from the crown of the Great Cypress.
"Thank you guys for coming," Sedgepaw mewed. A bundle of nerves unfurled within her, causing her tongue to feel heavy. As the apprentices all stared at her with curious and concerned eyes, she struggled to find the courage to continue. "I… know I've been acting distant lately, and I'm sorry, but there… there's just been so much on my mind!"
"Is this about the test?" Mudpaw wondered, eyes narrowed.
"Not at all." Sedgepaw stared at her paws, and with a sigh, she found the resolve to continue. "When I fell from the Great Cypress, I was in the medicine den for a few days. In those days, I… I learned something."
Sedgepaw noticed Yewpaw was staring at the base of the trunk, shivering. Sedgepaw felt a pang of hurt. Was her sister even listening?
"Go on," Ospreypaw encouraged sternly. "Don't leave us hanging."
"I… overheard Fernstream and Redleaf talking about a prophecy."
"Oh! Cool!" Mudpaw hissed excitedly.
Sedgepaw shook her head. "No, it wasn't cool… It was a prophecy... about us. Me, you, and Yewpaw," she explained, gesturing to Mudpaw before flicking her tail at Yewpaw.
Ospreypaw seemed resigned as she went on, her face twisted in contemplation.
"The birth of three who were not meant to be will give rise to revolution," Sedgepaw recited the prophecy carefully, not wanting for leave out a single word.
"Not meant to be… meaning us?" Yewpaw mewed, sounding bewildered. "We weren't meant to be born?"
"Not in StarClan's eyes. Our mother, Fernstream, was supposed to become medicine cat, according to Redleaf. By having us, she went against StarClan."
"That's complete mousedung!" Mudpaw was seized by a fit of chuckles, but Sedgepaw could see the growing fear in his green eyes. "Fernstream always has and always will be a warrior!"
"It was not always this way, Mudpaw," Sedgepaw argued, face feeling hot. She did not think she would have to debate with her siblings about the prophecy. "Redleaf got into a bad argument with our mother about it… She used to be his apprentice."
"So… she defied StarClan?" Yewpaw's pelt was prickling with unease. Sedgepaw could smell the rank scent of fear emanating from her. "Does… does this mean we are doomed?"
Ospreypaw remained silent, when Sedgepaw looked to her friend, she looked away. Her heart lurched. Maybe this was a mistake? She dug her claws into the root she sat on, scratching at it.
"I think you guys are missing the point. Who cares if we weren't meant to be born, it happened. We are here now, there's nothing StarClan can do about it," Sedgepaw growled in defiance. She gazed at the gloomy sky above, but the stars that condemned their birth were hidden.
"They could kill us," Yewpaw fretted.
"Ugh, would you shut up?" Mudpaw snapped. "Get a grip! Sedgepaw is clearly making this up to scare us." His glare fell on Sedgepaw, his chuckling growing hollow. "Come on, you got us. Good one. Let's just go to camp and pretend this never happened."
Sedgepaw stood fast. "It's not a joke, Mudpaw." Her tone was serious, but laced with frustration. "Forget about the 'not meant to be' bit, it's the revolution that's been on my mind! Doesn't that concern you?"
Mudpaw shuffled his paws, avoiding Sedgepaw's stare. "This is dumb," he muttered. "I'm not going to start a revolution. And I am meant to be here." He shook his head. His voice was hardened by his resolve, but the words broke in his throat. "The prophecy is wrong. You're a fool for letting it bother you."
Ospreypaw spoke up, her voice calm, "Lightningstar began a revolution. He was a hero. Perhaps you are destined to be heroes?"
Her sentiment stirred hope in Sedgepaw. "I just want to know where we stand," she reiterated solemnly. "This has been on my mind for days… I was hoping speaking to you guys would help me."
"You're wasting your energy," Mudpaw mewed, shaking his head. "This prophecy isn't worth worrying over. We're as normal as Ospreypaw and the others. There's nothing special about us."
"You're not listening!" Sedgepaw snapped. "Don't you understand what a prophecy is? We are going to fulfill it whether we choose to or not. We can't choose our fate when it's already been mapped out by the stars!" She was screeching now, growing desperate as her siblings and friend seemed to be shying away from the truth.
"You're letting all this get to your head," Mudpaw growled. "We are normal cats, and we will have a normal life. If Fernstream wasn't supposed to have us, she wouldn't have. She is a good and loyal MarshClan cat!"
"How could you say that?" Sedgepaw demanded. "She loves us more than anything. You think she'd choose to be medicine cat over a mother?"
"I—I don't know what she would do. This… this isn't making sense to me," Mudpaw admitted through gritted teeth. "I wish you never told me this."
Sedgepaw flinched back from her brother. A shadow was cast over his face, but she could see the pain in his eyes. What have I done? she asked herself.
Sedgepaw looked to Yewpaw. "Do you feel the same way?"
"I… don't know how I feel, Sedgepaw," Yewpaw admitted shakily. "This is a lot for us to handle." She looked to the sky. "Whatever StarClan has planned for us, I believe with all my heart we are destined to do good." Yewpaw brushed against Mudpaw, comforting him, but he shrugged her off. "We are good cats. All of us. But I don't think we would need to start a revolution to prove it."
Ospreypaw cleared her throat, shifting in her seat uncomfortably. "I think you gave us all a lot to think about." She smiled nervously at Sedgepaw. "I'm not good with all this… spiritual stuff, but I feel like StarClan saying that you shouldn't have been born is a little… weird."
"It's 'weird' because it's not true!" Mudpaw spat. "Sedgepaw, you've got to snap out of it. You cooked all this up in your head while you were bedridden in the medicine den. Don't you see?"
"No, Mudpaw," Sedgepaw growled. "I know it's true. I know it is because… because Redleaf tried to kill me."
A small whimper escaped Yewpaw.
"Great StarClan, you've lost your mind!" Mudpaw mewed in disbelief.
Ospreypaw leaned in close to Sedgepaw. "Do you know what you just said?" she hissed, eyes wide with shock. "Any cat, let alone the medicine cat, could be seriously punished for making an attempt on a Clanmate's life."
"But he had good reason to." Sedgepaw's rebuttal was accented by a firm stomp on the root she sat upon. "The prophecy! Redleaf represents the will of StarClan! Maybe he tried to carry out their wishes?"
"Sedgepaw… you're scaring me," Yewpaw whined, backing away from her.
"Please," Sedgepaw begged. "You have to believe me. When I began vomiting, I saw small white flowers in it—flowers that were never in the remedies he gave me before!"
"You reacted to a new herb. So what?" Mudpaw countered, shrugging his shoulders. "You're going crazy. I should've listened to Longscar…"
"What?" Sedgepaw snapped, eyes narrowing.
Mudpaw rolled his eyes. "He said he caught you hanging out with Blueflower, asked if I knew anything about you two, and I said no… because I don't."
"Sedgepaw settle down," Ospreypaw whispered.
Sedgepaw's pelt was bristling and her golden eyes blazed like fire. Longscar was the one! The one placing doubt in her brother's mind… He was stealing Mudpaw's trust in her.
Mudpaw continued, "Blueflower is a shifty she-cat, Sedgepaw. You can't trust her. Her parents were traitors. She's probably the one confusing you." Her brother stepped closer. "She's probably the reason you're acting this way!"
"This has nothing to do with her," Sedgepaw bellowed. "You're the one being fooled. Your mentor is a paranoid freak!"
"Better than a batty fool like your new friend," Mudpaw retorted, spitting.
"Take it back!" Sedgepaw hissed.
"Please, calm down!" Yewpaw pleaded. "Don't fight."
"Yeah, enough of this." Ospreypaw stood between them, her eyes hard on Sedgepaw. "We need to sleep on what's been said and retire for the night, before you two do something you'll both regret."
"I already have," Sedgepaw mewed sadly, voice breaking. "I should've never told you any of this. I just wanted someone to talk to." She felt like her insides were being corroded away, melting to puddles of bile that sat heavy in her stomach. "I thought you all, out of anyone, would believe me."
Mudpaw backed away, towards the forest. "I'm sorry, Sedgepaw, but this… this just can't happen." He was shaking his head. "I love you, I really do, but I can't accept what you believe. My life was just fine before you said this!" He wailed, shutting his eyes as if to blind himself from the pain. The truth. "Don't talk to me about this again."
Turning for the woods, Mudpaw ran off into the shadows. Yewpaw watched him go, forlorn. Sedgepaw gazed at her sister feeling her heart break all over again as she moved to go after their brother.
"Sedgepaw…" Yewpaw mewed softly. "I want to believe you, but I don't know how. Please, forgive me." She slowly backed away. "I… should go after Mudpaw. He shouldn't be alone right now."
As Yewpaw left the clearing, a warm breeze filtered through. The Great Cypress shivered, sending small patches of low-hanging moss to its knees, which jutted out like fangs from the earth. Sedgepaw felt suffocated by the heat, and she gazed at the sky for answers, but all she could see was a mass of dusky gray. The heavy clouds rumbled with thunder, and large, warm drops fell from their faces as they cried on the earth.
Ospreypaw remained standing before Sedgepaw, staring at her with an unreadable expression. "I just don't know what I'm going to do with you," she confessed, sounding tired.
"You could leave," Sedgepaw offered. "Just like everyone else."
She shook her head. "Then I'd be alone too." She glared at the sky as the rain slowly fell. "I know this prophecy is not mine… but whatever it means, it'll never stop me from being your friend."
Sedgepaw nodded slowly before she collapsed into Ospreypaw with a heavy sigh, pressing her head into her chest. Ospreypaw stiffened and cleared her throat before she allowed her chin to rest on Sedgepaw's neck.
"I don't know what to do," Sedgepaw admitted softly.
"That's okay," Ospreypaw murmured, sounding uncertain but still pressing close. "Just be you?" Her words of comfort were phrased like a question.
"I feel like the earth, the sun, the moon, the stars are all going to collapse on top of me. How can I fight them all?"
"I'm sure you'll manage. You're pretty tough," Ospreypaw joked. Her awkward laugh tapered off and she sighed; Sedgepaw could feel her warm breath on her shoulders. "You don't need to defeat the force of nature or rival the power of the stars. You don't have to conquer it all, Sedgepaw. Sometimes, the answer is not to fight."
"But if I don't fight, how can I win?"
"Knowing when not to fight is the greatest victory of all."
"Tch," Sedgepaw sniffled. "Since when did you get so wise?" She leaned back and was surprised to see Ospreypaw looking melancholy. Raindrops slid from her whiskers to the ground. When they locked eyes, it faded, and she mustered a smile.
"I've always been like this. You just never shut up and listen to me," she pointed out curtly, raising her chin.
"Thank you." Sedgepaw whispered after a break of silence emerged between them.
Ospreypaw shrugged. "What are friends for?"
A loud snapping noise sounded from behind the Great Cypress, causing both apprentices to nearly jump out of their fur. Sedgepaw unsheathed her claws first. The snap was followed by a rustling noise. Sedgepaw thought she could hear whispering.
"Alright, no games," she warned in a growl. "Come out before I make you."
Ospreypaw was beside her, glaring into the shadows.
"Rats!" A voice squeaked. "We've been found!"
"Told ya this was a shoddy hiding spot," another grumbled.
"W-we're coming!" A third's voice sounded like the peal of a bell. "J-Just don't eat us! It was Hawthornkit's idea!"
"Hawthornkit?" Sedgepaw echoed, bristling. Her heart sunk. So they were followed… but not by the guards. No, worse. The kits. Sedgepaw groaned. "Get out here, you three."
Magnoliakit tumbled over the roots first, her stark white fur sticking out in the darkness. She was followed by Foxkit next, then Hawthornkit. They all bumbled toward the apprentices, looking sheepish.
"It's Hawthornkit's fault. He chose the worst hiding spot," Foxkit complained, glaring at the smaller tom.
Hawthornkit's brown and white fur fluffed out in offense. "Hey! We didn't ask you to come!"
"Ugh, enough squabbling. I've had more than my share of it tonight," Ospreypaw ordered.
"Sorry," Hawthornkit mewed, ducking his head.
"What are you doing out here?" Sedgepaw demanded.
"Spying," Foxkit admitted. "We saw you guys sneak out… We wanted to come too!"
"I didn't!" Magnoliakit clarified. "I just wanted to make sure no one got hurt."
Ospreypaw and Sedgepaw exchanged glances. How much did these kits hear? Sedgepaw lowered herself to the kits level, eyes glowing.
"So, how did your spying mission go?" she asked conspiratorially. "What did you learn?"
All the kits snickered and exchanged glances. They seemed to like that Sedgepaw was playing along.
Foxkit spoke up, "We saw you two cuddling!"
Hawthornkit giggled. "Yeah, being all mushy and stuff! Gross." He stuck out his tongue. "When I'm an apprentice, I'm just gonna be the best fighter! I'm not gonna be all lovey-dovey like you two."
"Wh-What?" Ospreypaw wheezed, coughing after swallowing the wrong way. She bristled. "It's definitely not like that!"
Sedgepaw sighed in relief. At least that's all they seemed to notice. Even if it wasn't true, Sedgepaw would rather have them believe she was going out with Ospreypaw than being a part of a prophecy.
"But we don't know where Yewpaw and Mudpaw went… so our mission wasn't that good." Magnoliakit's ears dropped as she mewed.
"Forget about them!" Foxkit laughed. "This is way funnier. Just wait til I tell Hollyfoot!"
Sedgepaw nudged Ospreypaw with a chuckle, seeing her friend's face spasm in embarrassment. "Look at that, we're rumored lovers," she teased.
"You're incorrigible," Ospreypaw hissed, shaking her head. "Come on, let's get these guys back to camp before they're missed."
"Awww, do we have to go back?" Hawthornkit whined.
"Yeah! This place is way cool at night!" Foxkit protested.
Magnoliakit was already hopping beside Ospreypaw as she made her way toward the forest. "I think it's creepy!" she called back.
"Go on," Sedgepaw ordered, nudging Foxkit forward with her paw. The older kit growled and ran off, his short ginger tail sticking straight up. Hawthornkit followed after him, smiling goofily at Sedgepaw as he passed.
Shaking her head, Sedgepaw smiled as she watched the kits go after Ospreypaw. Another breeze rolled through the clearing. Sedgepaw's ears flicked when she thought she heard a whisper carried in it. Rain and thunder sounded around her, but the whisper was louder.
"Sedgepaw," it seemed to say. She turned to the Great Cypress when the whisper sounded closer. "Sedgepaw."
Narrowing her eyes, Sedgepaw thought she saw a face in the ripples and whorls of the tree trunk. It looked like a cat with long, drooping whiskers and half-shut eyes.
"Marshstar?" she murmured, fur prickling.
"We're always watching," the voice uttered softly, sounding like a wheeze in the breeze. "Do… not… doubt… us."
A flash of lightning flickered above, followed by the roar of thunder. Sedgepaw's fur turned white as snow when she thought she saw a gray silhouette of a cat against the tree trunk, its stormy blue eyes burning like the lightning that crashed above.
Backing away, Sedgepaw nearly bowled over herself when she tripped on a root. She turned to run for Ospreypaw, and the voice echoed from the tree.
"Let us help."