I am almost done!!! I am so glad!!! This one-shot is so long that it's almost like it became a miniseries!!! Please, favorite, review and follow!!! (Please review, I'm lonely)

Also: Cactopus, I listened to "Ghost of John" and it creeped me out. Didn't help that it was almost in the middle of the night, never heard it before. Luckily, I was already scared from watching a reaction video to Resident Evil Village. So I'll let you off the hook this time!!! Thanks for the review anyway!!!

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"Do you really have to go?"

"Can't we go with you?"

"You will come back, right!?"

Fireheart soothed each of her kits in turn. Lightly licking their heads and reassuring them that she will be back soon.

"I'll only be gone for a day or two. So there's no need to worry, and in the meantime, I expect each and every one of you to be on your best behavior while I'm away."

Her children's eyes were still stretched wide in dismay, but there was acceptance now to the fact that their mother would be leaving soon. Fireheart nuzzled them in a final good bye and shared a glance with Tallpoppy, who wrapped her long tail around the upset kits to prevent them from following their mother.

Fireheart slowly padded her way to the medicine cat den, where Runningnose and Littlecloud stood outside the entrance passing out traveling herbs to the cats that were going to the moonstone. Fireheart was one of these cats who would be making this journey. Tigerclaw - soon to be Tigerstar - had personally asked Fireheart to accompany him on this life changing journey. Fireheart couldn't find it within herself to refuse. She wanted to be there for Tigerclaw. And perhaps Fireheart can find some answers for herself about where her destiny now was headed while they were there as well.

The others accompanying the patrol were ShadowClan's medicine cat; Runningnose, the apprentices Cedarpaw, Rowanpaw and Oakpaw, and one other warrior, Fernshade, and that also included Fireheart. They were all going as safety percussion. This would also be the three apprentices' first time journeying to Highstones. Their excitement reminded Fireheart of hers and her two friends' enthusiasm when chosen to accompany Bluestar to Highstones as apprentices.

That journey as an apprentice seemed like such a long time ago. When it had been herself, Graystripe, Ravenpaw, Tigerclaw and Bluestar. Fireheart had been so happy to go on that patrol, moving up the ranks of becoming a warrior, and witnessing the wonders of the Moonstone.

Now she was going on a similar journey under new circumstances.

The chosen cats congregated together. Accepting their portion of herb's and quickly devouring them. They were all eager to get going.

Tigerclaw stood apart. The soon-to-be ShadowClan leader would not be taking any herbs for himself, as is custom. The dark brown tabby had a far-off look in his amber eyes, and seemed deep in thought.

Fireheart slowly padded over towards the former ThunderClan deputy. She wondered what must be going through his mind. He once set out to achieve the status of leader in ThunderClan, now he's about to become leader of ShadowClan.

"Tigerclaw, everyone's ready." Fireheart called to him gently. "Your destiny calls, and we have to reach Highstones by nightfall." it sounded light, but a serious edge could be detected in her tone. But it managed to bring Tigerclaw back to the present.

The dark brown tabby nodded, though still partly distant, "If everyone is ready, then let's go."

Runningnose meowed an affirmative after overhearing the dark brown tabby and came to stand at the front. Tigerclaw just a pawstep behind. Fireheart and Fernshade followed after with the apprentice's bringing up the rear. They traveled like this, with Runningnose and Tigerclaw in the lead, Fireheart and Fernshade in the middle and the apprentice's trailing from behind.

"I wonder what the Moonstone looks like." Cedarpaw meowed from behind Fireheart, speaking with his denmates. "I wonder if it's deep underground like they say it is."

"I don't see how it can be deep underground," Rowanpaw remarked, "if it was underground then how does it glow?"

"The reason it glows is because it contains the spirit of our StarClan ancestors." Oakpaw theorized, joining in on the discussion.

"So our StarClan ancestors communicate with us through a rock?!"

Fireheart and Fernshade exchanged an exasperated look before rolling both their eyes. Apprentice's never change, no matter what generation or Clan they might be from.

Their jubilant merrymaking came to a halt as soon as they crossed the border onto the high, exposed moorland, leaving the shelter of the trees behind them. They were high on alert for

WindClan patrol's. Though the ShadowClan cats weren't looking for trouble, and had every right to continue on to Highstones, no one wanted to take any risks and upset WindClan.

Fireheart's heart leaped into her throat as they saw a WindClan patrol picking their way through the heather just ahead of them. The leader of the patrol raised his head, and Fireheart was almost happy to recognize the warrior, Onewhisker.

The last time they had met it had been WindClan and ShadowClan who had attacked ThunderClan in an attempt to kill the former ShadowClan tyrant, Brokentail. Fireheart remembered meeting Morningflower in battle, however the tortoiseshell she-cat had run when she was faced with fighting Fireheart. Fireheart didn't harbor any ill will towards the WindClan cats, in fact, Fireheart honestly wanted to know if they were alright. Accompanying his patrol was Tornear and a small white she-cat.

Runningnose came to a stop and the rest of the patrol followed suit as the WindClan cats came to confront the cats trespassing on their territory.

The WindClan warriors looked on guard, but Onewhisker still dipped his head as he halted in front of Runningnose. "Well this is quite a group," he meowed. "Why are you here on our territory?"

"We're not here to make trouble," Runningnose replied, "We're just on our way to Highstones."

"And why is that?" Onewhisker asked, "Why do ThunderClan and ShadowClan warriors need to travel to Highstones together?"

Fireheart felt herself stiffen as Onewhisker turned to look at her. He seemed cautious, perhaps even scared, though Fireheart didn't know why. But when he looked at Fireheart he seemed to relax a bit as she gave him a friendly look in return.

"That isn't important as we really should be on our way." Runningnose meowed coolly, "so please, we must get going. It's a long way to Highstones."

"Of course." Onewhisker stepped back. "We'll tell Tallstar about you being here. We wouldn't want a patrol to attack your group on sight. Unlike the others. May StarClan be with you!" he called as the group of cats bounded away.

On the edge of the uplands they paused again and looked down over a very different landscape. Instead of bare hillside broken by outcrops of rock and patches of heather, Fireheart saw a scattering of Twoleg nests among fields and hedgerows. In the distance the Thunderpath cut a swath across the land, while beyond that jagged hills reared up, their barren slopes looking gray and threatening. Fireheart swallowed; that desolate region was where they were heading.

"What do you think he meant when he said 'unlike the others'?" Fernshade meowed, bringing Fireheart's attention back as the slender, tortoiseshell she-cat with yellow eyes was addressing Tigerclaw.

"I don't know." Tigerclaw meowed back, his eyes narrowed in thought. "Sounds as though WindClan has been having problems with the other Clans recently."

"Let's leave the other Clans issues alone." Runningnose interrupted, "we need to get to Highstones by nightfall."

"Of course." Tigerclaw meowed, signaling to the group to continue.

The three apprentices' eyes seemed to round as big as riverbed stones. They probably have never ventured outside their territory other than going to the Gathering or raids. As they kept on track, their curiosity seemed to intensify. Everything was new to them. Crossing the Thunderpath wasn't difficult, they had plenty of experience by now as to what to do when crossing one, however this was a new territory they were exploring and therefore they were wary.

Fireheart remembered having to cross and nearly getting hit by a monster when she was an apprentice. If it hadn't been for Tigerclaw pulling her to safety in the nick of time, then she'd be smeared all over the Thunderpath.

Fireheart's crooked tail twitched behind her as she crossed the Thunderpath. It was always nerve-racking but seeing Rowanpaw and Oakpaw cross with little difficulty made Fireheart put a little more effort in masking her emotions.

The flame-colored she-cat looked back over her shoulder as Fernshade, who was going last, encouraged Cedarpaw to cross on his own. The dark gray tom looked a little more hesitant to crossover than his denmates. The apprentice took a step, venturing onto the Thunderpath, then another step, another step but this time quicker, another step--vrrrrrmmm--

It happened so fast that Fireheart hardly had time to blink. The foul odor of a monster filler Fireheart's nose as the smoke that trailed behind the monstrosity stung her eyes. Fireheart vaguely felt Cedarpaw brush against her side as the apprentice raced past, his fur standing on ends and yellow eyes wide in panic. Not one of the warriors, or other apprentice's, could react in order to stop Cedarpaw from disappearing through the hedge that lined the side of the Thunderpath. They were all too shocked by the fact that Cedarpaw was almost killed by a monster that practically appeared from thin air.

"--it, Cedarpaw!" Tigerclaw regained his composure first. "Don't run off by yourself!" That seemed to snap everyone out of their stupor.

Fernshade ran across the Thunderpath and joined up with the rest of them. The ShadowClan warriors pelt was standing on ends as well, clearly the tortoiseshell she-cat had witnessed what happened as well.

"He went that way." Runningnose meowed, gesturing towards the hedge. "He's never been out here before, we need to--"

Bark! Bark! Bark!

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Omg, this was supposed to be longer but I decided to add some more things into this journey than I was planning on doing!!! So bare in mind that those last few chapters will probably be about five or so!!! (This is totally not a one-shot anymore but I lied to myself!!!) Big plans for the next chapter!!!

Fun Facts:

This is Cedarpaw, Rowanpaw and Oakpaw's first official journey to Highstones!! (Like Fireheart and the others' first journey to Highstones!!)

Tallpoppy is basically Brindleface