Mistyclaw

Yes, I had security within the walls of the garage. But I also couldn't move at all. Immobile, faced with boredom and insanity, every moment elongated, I felt utterly useless. There was nothing I could do but ponder what to do about the imminent threat. It would have healed so much faster had we told Badgerbranch to come with us, but I wasn't sure he would have if we did.

On the bright side, everyone else kept me company sometimes. The apprentices were nice enough to bring me fresh-kill, and we chatted together while we ate a few meals. While I didn't like being pitied, it still made me feel better than if I was alone. However, Streamripple was constantly sneaking around outside the garage, and I rarely saw her. She looked like she had her own stuff to take care of, but since we were so far outside the Clan boundaries, I wasn't sure what.

When they all sat down the morning after we arrived, Adderpaw looked at my wounds guiltily.

"If you were given my ability, you would have recovered by now." Which killed the mood right away. Everyone stared at their food in silence.

"That's really sweet of you, Adderpaw," I replied after a moment, "but this is just the way things are."

"But still. I feel bad that you're the one in pain. I wish there was something we could do to help."

I nudged him comfortingly. "Really. Don't worry about it. It'll heal soon."

"Okay." He took another bite of his mouse. I turned back to my food, and everyone else did the same. Icepaw opened her mouth to say something, but before the words got out, she got distracted.

"Adderpaw, are you okay?"

The apprentice had fully collapsed. We gathered around him and watched the horrifying sight of a large wound splitting open on Adderpaw's body. I felt my pain recede, and when I looked down at my side, I saw my skin heal until it looked like I'd never been wounded like that before.

"What did he do?" Oakpaw asked, and peered closer at his wound. "Hey now, that's in the same place as Mistyclaw's…"

My voice tight, I added, "That's no coincidence." They gasped collectively.

Mosspaw murmured softly, "I didn't know he could do that, but I guess it must be an addition to his ability. If he can rapidly heal any wounds on his body, doesn't that mean this will heal soon too?"

"So we shouldn't have to worry," Icepaw replied, looking very worried.

I cautiously got up. Not even a twinge of pain. I strolled around, feeling guilty for enjoying being on my feet again while the apprentices fussed over Adderpaw, but now I would be prepared for whenever my next vision would come to pass.

Adderpaw

I wouldn't take back what I did. Mistyclaw deserved to be healed, because I wanted her to stand a fighting chance for whenever we'd be attacked, like she saw in her vision. But that didn't mean I knew I was able to heal her. Leopardscar didn't mention anything about that.

But I suppose I passed out after, and for a good reason, too. I had no idea Mistyclaw was in this much pain. I drifted in and out of consciousness for a long time, and my thoughts drifted back and forth between convincing myself the pain would leave soon and thinking about the fact that I could absorb injuries and pain.

Smoky went to check on me one time when I was conscious, but not totally there. I couldn't function completely, but I still could somewhat comprehend what went on around me.

"How unexpected. That will come in handy in the future, Adderpaw."

"Yeah… makes me feel less useless… I mean, I was given the worst power, but now I guess not…"

In my state, I suddenly remembered something. "Hey Smoky… didn't you say you have powers? You know… when we were leaving ShadowClan… I asked you why you were helping me…"

Smoky's face blanched, his golden eyes widened. I paused, wondering if I'd struck a nerve. "That is a question for another time, Adderpaw. Maybe ask me sometime when you've healed enough to use full sentences."

"Come on… now you have to tell me…"

"The answer is no. I have to go, but get better soon." Smoky left my line of sight.

Strange… Very suspicious… Why didn't he tell me…

I closed my eyes slowly. When I opened them again, Leopardscar was sitting quietly across the clearing.

"Before you ask, no. I did not know you could do that. If I had known you were capable of that kind of stunt, I would have sent you to ThunderClan sooner." I struggled to interpret the emotions in his voice, but I very much doubted there was any joy. "That was not my intent. I'll be honest, Adderpaw, I gave you the "worst power," as you call it, because I was unsure how you would handle it. My goal was to start off with a tame ability, and if you showed promise, I would have reconsidered."

I blinked. "So then why me?"

"I chose everyone for a reason, Adderpaw. I can not disclose that information to you quite yet, but keep in mind that you bring something unique to this operation. All of the special cats do."

"And you still want us to take over the Clans with our abilities? I'm not even a warrior yet. Wouldn't it just be easier to let the other cats lead? You know, the ones you tricked?"

"Your age is a minor issue. You don't have to worry about that just yet. And like I told you previously, the other warriors were only for the purpose of helping you rise to the top. This lie is just a charade for the rest of the Clans, leading them to believe they were my plan when it was you five the whole time. Brilliant, right?"

"Whatever you want to say."

"When I started, I knew this process would take time, but I have no intention of letting them lead permanently. Like for instance, Sunfoot. You may have heard Alderstar gave her the deputy position shortly before he died, so she has the opportunity to fulfill what she believes are her orders. But I realize how hard it may be, so I suggest once you wake up, you go to the Moonstone and kill her when she arrives."

I blinked. "Why so convoluted? Why don't you just kill her yourself?"

"Just trust me, Adderpaw. Everything I do is for a reason."

When I woke, the giant wound was finally healed. It could have just been my power, gradually strengthening and speeding up over time. Or it could have been the dead crazed lunatic that wanted me ready for battle.

Oakpaw

There were some mice in the garage, but I needed to stretch my legs badly, so I made up an excuse to go outside and hunt. The meal with Mistyclaw seemed so long ago, even though it was just this morning, but I figured I'd bring some fresh-kill back for everyone.

Mosspaw saw me leave and bounced up. "Can I come with?"

"You don't know how to hunt yet."

"Yeah… but can I watch? I have to learn eventually."

"Fine. But you can not make noise." I didn't mean to be so harsh, but luckily, she didn't take offense.

"Of course. I won't make a sound."

Clan territory was only a little ways away from the Twoleg nest. We carefully made sure we were on the other side of the faint border. I caught a sparrow and a few squirrels, and Mosspaw quietly watched, true to her word. Judging from the look in her eyes, she was mentally taking notes on my form, fascinated.

When I finished, I looked at her in mock amazement. "I didn't think you could stay quiet this entire time."

She laughed and playfully swatted at my muzzle. "Of course you didn't."

"Do you want to pick first?" I presented her with my catches. "I know there's no fish, but…"

"I'll survive. Can I take a squirrel?"

"Hey!" A call from beyond the Clan border made us both jump. We turned, anticipating the worst, but it was only Badgerbranch, sprinting as fast as he could on three legs. He stopped just in front of us and fell down, panting hard.

I replied awkwardly, "Uh, hi."

"It's Sunfoot…"

"She's not Sunstar? Alderstar died yesterday, she should have gotten her lives already," Mosspaw observed.

Badgerbranch finally caught his breath enough to tell us, "Well, she didn't. Sunfoot was too depressed to make the journey, believable as that is. She's going to the Moonstone tonight, and you have to stop her. I don't know all the details, but if she wins…"

Mosspaw turned to me. "But Leopardscar doesn't want that, he wanted Mistyclaw."

"If he let her get this far, it must have been part of his plan. Sunfoot was apparently still alive when she woke up this morning," I reasoned.

"But we still can't let her take over ThunderClan. Badgerbranch is right, she has to be stopped. Let's head out soon."

"Fine." I sighed. "Badgerbranch, go back to ThunderClan. Sunfoot can't suspect anything. We'll meet you there before she gets her lives."

The medicine cat nodded. "Great. See you then."

As he ran away, the gravity of the situation hit me. "If we try to stop Sunfoot, there's a chance…"

I expected Mosspaw to be terrified, but she put on a brave face. "Well, at least then we go down fighting for the good of the Clans."

Mosspaw

When we got back, Smoky and Snowberry weren't in the garage. Good thing too, because he was acting more and more untrustworthy. Adderpaw thankfully was fully healed, and he mentioned that he thought his healing time was getting better with every wound. We found Streamripple just as she was sneaking out again. Mistyclaw was moving around inside the garage, getting used to moving around freely. We gathered everyone together and relayed what Badgerbranch had told us.

"If we go and stop her," Icepaw asked, tail quivering with fear, "will Leopardscar get mad at you and kill you the next time you go to sleep?"

"If what he told us is the truth, then no. He never wanted Sunfoot to carry out his will, he wanted us."

"And," Adderpaw added, "I did see him when I was unconscious, and he told me to kill Sunfoot, and that it was part of his plan. I think we're good."

"Kill her?" Mistyclaw exclaimed. "But… she's still my sister, despite all that's happened. I don't know if I can…"

"Then I'll just do it for you. It's for the good of the Clans." Oakpaw looked around the circle impatiently, ignoring Mistyclaw's conflicted protests. "Any more questions? Because we have to leave right now."

No one replied.

We set out almost immediately after that for the Moonstone. We made a good pace as we traveled along the gorge, and we all crossed the Thunderpath without any complications. To pass the time, Streamripple told us about how she was suspicious of Smoky, and the gap in her memory. Mistyclaw led the way into the mouth of the cave and through the caverns.

The Moonstone was breathtaking. We gazed at it in awe.

"It's beautiful," I gasped, shuffling closer.

"I agree."

I shuddered. Oakpaw stiffened. Adderpaw jumped.

Sunfoot emerged from behind the stone, with Badgerbranch right behind her. "What are the five of you doing here? You should be glad, I'm the first one who is going to take over. And I didn't even need your powers, Mistyclaw. Or any of yours."

Mistyclaw didn't give her the satisfaction of a weak retort. Instead, she glared at her while Streamripple spoke up. "We can't let you do this."

"I never expected any of you to 'let me' do anything. I'm only fulfilling the destiny that Leopardscar carefully laid out for me. All of you are just bitter because he believed we were more capable than you were, and that your sole purpose was to pave the way for me."

"Capability has nothing to do with it," Oakpaw interjected, and walked forward as Sunfoot smirked. "We're the ones with the abilities to completely annihilate all of you. So maybe think again before you belittle our capabilities."

His declaration sent a flurry of shivers from my nose to the very tip of my tail. Not just because he was making a solid point that made Sunfoot take a step back and her smirk falter, but he was dancing on the edge of revealing to Sunfoot just what Leopardscar's true plan was.

But I doubt Sunfoot suspected anything was up, because she snapped back, "Mm. Yeah, you especially, Oakpaw. You can make your pelt any color you can dream up. I wonder how that will help you in a battle?"

Oh no, Sunfoot. You really got us with that retort.

Oakpaw rolled his eyes. "Whatever. Enough talking. Sunfoot, it's over."

"Really?" Smoky, of all cats, was the one to emerge dramatically from the shadows. "It doesn't have to be. In fact, it's all according to the plan. If anything, you should be impressed, overjoyed even. We're finally making a difference."


Thanks for reading! Please comment if you have any questions or feedback.