1Timidpaw approached the camp guards. His twitches had returned. He was Timidpaw once more. He stammered, "H-Hey, guys? Th-there's a p-problem with Qu-Quartzpaw."

"What's wrong?" one of them asked.

"H-he's all w-weird," Timidpaw mewed, "He k-keeps c-calling Sunpaw F-Foxpelt, and says Radiantp-paw is Br-Brightstar. I tried talking to him, b-but all he s-said was 'Don't worry, Gracestep, they're all fine.'"

"He sounds like he's got the foaming-mouth disease," the other guard muttered.

"Pl-please!" Timidpaw squeaked, "You h-have to h-help him! Everyone's w-worried! We're a-all scared h-he's going to d-d-die!"

The two camp guards left their posts and started padding towards the apprentices' den. Timidpaw made as if to follow them, but hesitated a moment. He winked one green eye into the shadows. "Clear!" he hissed. A blur of red sped away from the camp. "Good luck, Sunpaw," Timidpaw whispered, "I'll miss you." He turned and followed the guards. He knew that they would find Quartzpaw sitting upright in his nest, completely normal, mewing a welcome.

Sunpaw panted as he ran. He looked up into the sky and say comets blazing across its black surface. The stars of Silverpelt cast a warm, encouraging light down on his fur. He sighed. Help me find Riversong, StarClan, he prayed to himself, She means more to me than anything, even DuskClan.

Then he noticed a hill with a good view of Silverpelt. Something warm pricked his heart. Maybe if I climb up there, he thought, I'll be that much closer to my warrior ancestors and they'll hear me better.

He trudged upwards, this thought keeping him going. The red tomcat felt as though a presence was beside him every step of the journey. He looked around, but no one was there. A scent brushed against the roof of his mouth. He recognized it. Riversong! But mingled with the smell of his mentor was something else. It was DuskClan in origin, but seemed to speak of something more: the coldness of space, the ice of winter, the very essence of cat. He shivered. This was an interesting scent, if not a little disturbing.

Riversong sighed as the meteor shower ended. She felt somehow fulfilled. The queen curled up on her side and scanned the skies. Send me a sign, Foxpelt, she begged, Something to let me know I've done the right thing. Let me know if Sunpaw is all right. A streak of red flashed in the corner of her eyes. Riversong whipped around. "Foxpelt!" she cried.

Sunpaw stood guiltily. He shook his head. "No," he mewed, "Sunpaw."

"Sunpaw..." Riversong growled softly, "I don't know how you found me, but you're going straight back to DuskClan, young warrior!"

"No." It wasn't a yowl of defiance. It was a calm meow of statement. Riversong was taken aback.

"Why?" she asked.

"Riversong...I like you. A lot. I don't want to have to take orders from Mudslide."

"Mudslide is a very honorable warrior," Riversong murmured. Sunpaw wasn't in the mood to listen to her praise another cat. He wanted to hear her praise herself.

"Maybe, but he's not my mentor."

"Neither am I."

"Says who?"

"Brightstar."

"And when was the last time you took orders from that piece of crowfood?"

Riversong was shocked. Not only at her former apprentice's insult to Brightstar, but at his knowledge of the DuskClan leader's dislike for her. She purred softly. "How did you escape to find me?" she asked.

"Timidpaw set up a diversion. He told the guards that Quartzpaw was sick in the head and was scaring the other apprentices. I was waiting in the shadows. When they left, I ran for it."

"And this was Timidpaw doing all this?"

"He's not the nervous wreck everyone thinks he is. I think it's all an act." Riversong shook her head in amazement. She purred and licked Sunpaw's ear. "So, can I stay?" Sunpaw asked hopefully.

"I don't know," Riversong meowed, "On one paw, you're going to drive the Clan mad with worry with your disappearance, especially Firebelly-."

"Not Firebelly. She'll know I went with you."

"-But on the other paw, I really would like some company. Besides, you could keep up on your training. All right, Sunpaw. You can stay."

Sunpaw purred in sheer ecstacy. Riversong turned her blue gaze to the stars of Silverpelt. "By my honor as a warrior," she meowed calmly, "I, Riversong, hereby reclaim this once-lost apprentice. If the noble cats of StarClan object to my actions, may they send a sign here and now."

Sunpaw felt as though he should add something as well. "And I, Sunpaw, say that this warrior, Riversong, is worthy to be granted such a thing as this. I would gladly take my place by her side. If my warrior ancestors have an objection to voice, let them voice it now."

Riversong dipped her head and drew closer to Sunpaw. The two cats waited in silence, ears pricked, scenting the air for even the slightest disturbance. Nothing. Finally, Riversong relaxed.

"I think they agree with us," she meowed. Sunpaw nodded. "Come on. Let's go find somewhere to sleep. Walk through as much water as you can. If Brightstar decides to send a patrol looking for us, let's give them a PlagueClan of a time doing it!"

Sunpaw purred with amusement at Riversong's statement. He padded happily behind her. "Why not go stay with Martin and Dustin?" he asked.

"Too far. Besides, if DuskClan managed to track us there, they'd kill both of them. Well, Brightstar would at any rate."

Sunpaw poked around the brush until he found a cave much like that of the two brothers. It was under an odd Thunderpath, one that was thin and rickety-looking. He pointed it out to Riversong. The she-cat nodded. She gathered up some moss and heather to make a great big nest for them to share. Sunpaw helped her fix it up. Riversong stepped back. She turned around and dug up a small plant. Scratching a hollow into the ground outside their new den, she replanted it. Sunpaw cocked his head to the side.

"Sorry," Riversong mewed, "Just trying to make it a bit more like home."

"I like it," Sunpaw told her, "It's nice."

The two cats padded into the cave and settled down on the nest. After a few moments of squirming around trying to get comfortable, they lay still. Riversong gazed up at the entrance of the cave. "Sunpaw, look!" she breathed, "Silverpelt is watching us!"

Sunpaw turned his gaze upward and nodded. "I think they want us to be here," he mewed, "That's their sign to us. They want us to know they haven't abandoned us for what we did."

"That's very insightful," Riversong meowed, "And I think you're right."

Sunpaw snuggled up against Riversong. He looked up into her dark blue eyes. He felt safe, like a kit beside his mother. The young he-cat sighed contentedly. "Good night, Riversong. May StarClan watch over your dreams."

"And yours, Sunpaw. I'm very glad you came to find me. I didn't want to face this on my own."

"And I didn't want to be without you. Good night."

"Good night."

Riversong listened to Sunpaw's soft, deep breathing. Silverpelt's light, for once, did not seem distant and cold, but nearby and almost warm. She closed her eyes. Thank you Foxpelt, and all of StarClan for giving me back my apprentice.