Fallstar could see the light and smell the fresh air but the faster he ran the further away the exit seemed. The DustClan leader had never been in this tunnel system before, it sloped upwards with smooth stone floors. His paws scrambled to find footing in several spots. Something, no, somethings were chasing him. He could hear the echo of many pawsteps running behind him. The leader turned in, unsheathing his claws and prepared to fight with all nine-lives. A wave of cats came towards him, most were unrecognizable in the dim light but the bright orange pelt of his sister stood out amongst them.
Why was Tulipstar chasing him?
The group of cats raced past as if he wasn't there. There was a look of horror in their eyes as they ran. Scruffystar, Lightwing, and Snaketail raced past him, each with a kit dangling from their jaws. He opened his mouth to call out to his family and friends but found himself unable to make any noise.
"Fallstar! Fallstar!" Crowfoot mewed hurriedly, the DustClan leader turned in a circle several times seeking his deputy.
A paw jabbed into his side and Fallstar sat up quickly with a gasp. Crowfoot was standing above him, a look of concern in his eyes.
"Fallstar? Are you alright? You were thrashing around in your nest."
"I'm fine. Just a bad dream," the leader responded, shaking out the moss and bracken in his pelt.
"I'm taking the border patrol this morning with Longnose and Mosshead. Sunclaw and Goosetongue are going hunting in the dirt tunnel. Snaketail, Marveleyes, and Goldwhisker are in the stone tunnels hunting."
"Do you need me to do anything?"
"I'll have you lead an evening patrol. Maybe you should speak to Limpleg about your dream." The deputy quickly slipped out of the rockpile. Fallstar pushed onto his paws and quickly gave himself a once-over with his tongue before padding out into the camp.
It was a quiet morning. Crowfoot's patrol passed by him as they padded down the exit tunnel, the other patrols had left already. The leader trotted across the camp to Limpleg's den. He wove his way between the two-leg rubbish left behind and slipped underneath the fern fronds and weaved bracken. The den was cozy, built to keep sick cats warm and give them privacy to heal.
Nighttail was curled up asleep in a nest, Fallstar hadn't even realized he was sick, and Ivypaw was sitting up watching the entrance to Limpleg's stores. The medicine cat hobbled out, a bundle of herbs in his mouth. He flicked his brown-gray tail in greeting to the leader and set down the plants in front of the apprentice.
"These are borage, bright-eye, and lovage," the tom carefully moved his paw to point out each plant. "Chew and swallow these, they're for your fever and cough." The red-furred apprentice quickly began chewing the herbs. "When you're done with those. Take the poppy seed, it will help you get some sleep."
"Can we talk?" Fallstar asked the medicine cat. The brown-gray tom nodded, hobbling further into the den, behind a two-leg crate.
"Is something bothering you, Fallstar?"
"I know Ivypaw has been sick but what happened to Nighttail?"
"Age is what has happened to Nighttail. He's getting older, bad eyes, aching joints. I've given some herbs and I'm keeping an eye on him for today. If he feels up to it, I'll let him return to some warrior duties tomorrow."
"Is it time he thought about becoming an elder?"
"No. He would be bored to death. I can help with the aches and pains and if he doesn't overdo it, he can continue for a few more moons at least," the medicine cat said matter-of-factly. "Now, I know you came here for a reason Fallstar. What is it?"
"I had a bad dream. I don't understand if it means anything or not."
"Tell me about it?"
"I was in an unfamiliar tunnel, it was dim but I could see a light and smell fresh-air at the end of it. I was being chased, or I thought I was being chased, but when the cats caught up to me. They were fleeing."
"Did you know the cats?"
"A few, it was very dark, but I saw Tulipstar, Scruffystar, Snaketail, and Lightwing for sure."
"Multiple Clans fleeing together?"
"There were a lot of cats running, more than all five clans combined."
"Probably just a bad dream then, but I'll see if StarClan says anything at the next Half-moon Gathering."
"Thank you," Fallstar dipped his head and stood up.
"Go for a walk today, relax, try to forget the dream," Limpleg suggested as the leader made his way out of the den. Once in the camp clearing, Fallstar stood in silence, his gold paws pawing at the dirt for a few moments.
Go for a walk, relax. How is a leader supposed to relax when Leaf-Bare was approaching them quickly?
He quickly focused on the stone tunnel, trotting through the camp towards it. He could always go hunting. That would help him clear his mind.
The scent of a rabbit led Fallstar down a different tunnel. Rabbits were rare for DustClan and his mouth watered at the thought of sharing one as a meal. The tunnel was cold, fresh-air mixing with the scent of the rabbit, and a faint light at the end of it. He picked up his pace, nervous about losing fresh-kill. Each pawstep brought him closer to the light.
The DustClan leader froze in place as he reached the entrance to the tunnel. It opened to a valley with a river cutting through it. The rabbit he had been tracking raised its head to look at Fallstar. The tom froze for a moment, he was distracted until the rabbit took off running. The leader startled, racing after it.
He stretched out his tabby legs, turning his body away to cut off the rabbit's escape. As he neared the gray-brown creature Fallstar pounced. His claws digging into his prey as they tumbled onto the ground. He got onto his paws, shaking out his fur.
"Thank you StarClan for this prey," he murmured as he picked up the rabbit and began padding back towards the tunnel entrance.
As Fallstar padded through the tunnel he realized it was familiar. He dropped the rabbit and turned in a circle, taking in the dimly-lit stone walls. It was the same tunnel from his dream. StarClan had to be telling him something. Why else would he dream of a tunnel he had never been in before? The DustClan leader snatched up his rabbit and quickly trotted back for camp.
