1Pyre and Spark led the way to their den. It wasn't a 'den' so much as a junkyard. They lived in a Twoleg garbage dump. Pyre pointed to a cavern scraped out into the piles. "Sit in there. Don't touch anything." There was something about his deep voice that compelled Riversong to listen and do exactly as he told her to. The gray queen padded into the cave and seated herself on the ground. Spark appeared with Sunpaw. She dropped the shivering tom at Riversong's paws.

"Here's your little fox kit," she growled.

"He's not really a fox. See-."

Pyre glared at her. Riversong bit her tongue in mid sentence, wrapping her tail protectively over Sunpaw's quaking body. The black he-cat continued in his low voice. "Don't think we don't know a fox when we see one," he snarled, "Foxes are murderous, treacherous beasts. They love nothing more than hearing kits squeal in agony as they kill them slowly."

"I'm not a fox," Sunpaw mewed, "I'm a cat!" He struggled to free himself from the old pelt. Pyre swooped down on him and sunk his fangs deep into his tail. Riversong yowled a battle cry and launched herself at him. Spark came out of nowhere. She dragged Riversong away from her apprentice.

"Foul, evil fox!" Pyre howled, "Learn your place, you vile demon! Lying tongue shall be the death of you!" He slashed at Sunpaw.

Sunpaw yowled in fear as the razor-sharp claws flashed at him. He thrashed and cried for his mother. Riversong backed up his howl with her own as she fought fiercely with Spark. The four cats battled, hissing, snarling, spitting, shouting for the other until-

"Stop."

It wasn't a yowl. It was a mere calm statement. Pyre and Spark stumbled to a halt at the sound of it. Sunpaw flung himself at Riversong, who licked his wounds. The fox pelt had protected him form any real harm. It hung in tatters about him. Riversong looked up to see the new speaker.

The cat that caused the fierce warriors to cease was a tiny she-kit. She was definitely younger than Sunpaw. The she-kit was all black. Her blazing green eyes flashed as she spoke to Pyre and Spark. "Mother...Father...I can't believe the two of you. Look at your fox. Go on. Take a good, hard look at him."

Pyre and Spark blinked at Sunpaw. The apprentice had managed to get free of the hide. A stray shaft of sunlight caught his pelt, turning it bright red. He stood panting, but an undeniable cat. Riversong looked on in awe as the black she-kit circled him. Her green eyes flashed with an emotion Riversong couldn't read. Finally, the she-kit stepped back.

"When the river rises to meet the sun, those called foes will be avenged from their falling at the paws of the celestial," she mewed, "But what else do you wish me to say, my lord?" There was silence. The she-kit nodded. "I see. Very well."

Pyre looked up from his ginger paws. "Hex...I can explain. You see, we-."

"Father." Riversong guessed that 'Hex' was the she-kit's name. "You do not need to explain to me. The red-pelt speaks true. The river is rising. Soon it shall touch the sun."

"Hex, is it another premonition?" Spark asked softly. Hex nodded.

"It was. Though, not one of mine." Hex padded over and placed a tiny paw on Riversong's back. "This one is one of hers."

Pyre and Spark shuffled their paws in embarrassment. Pyre looked up at Riversong after a brief minute, guilt shining through his gaze. "We...We apologize," he murmured, "We had...no idea you were like our daughter..."

"No idea," echoed Spark.

Another kit appeared behind Hex. Hex turned without blinking. "Weaver," she mewed, "Take this one and clean him up well. Be gentle."

Weaver was an equally small tom-kit. His pelt was literally woven with browns and grays. He had icy blue eyes. Something about that stare made Riversong uneasy, but Weaver dropped his stern face and purred at Sunpaw. "Geez, you're a wreck and a half! C'mon, we'll get you all nice and tidy again."

"Riversong," Sunpaw mewed faintly. Riversong stepped up beside him.

"Want me to come to?" she asked. Sunpaw nodded, but Weaver shook his head.

"No can do. For the ritual to be successful, I need to be alone with the wounded." Weaver began to walk away, trying to pull Sunpaw along with his tail. Riversong took a hesitant step forwards only to be blocked by Hex's and Weaver's parents. They glared daggers at her.

"Mother! Father! Stop this directly," Hex growled. The two big cats obeyed. Riversong was impressed. So small, yet so commanding.

"So...Hex, is it?" Riversong asked. Hex nodded. "I'm Riversong."

"I know," replied Hex, "The red-pelt told me."

"Sunpaw?"

"No. The other one. He was big and strong." She had to be talking about Foxpelt. "And he was right behind you."

Riversong studied the kit very carefully. Hex seemed normal. Operative word being 'seemed.' The black kit gazed right back up at her.

"There must be some mistake. The cat you're describing sounds like my friend Foxpelt. But...he died a couple moons ago."

"That explains why I saw him."

"You..." Riversong bent closer to look at Hex. "You saw Foxpelt?" Riversong gasped.

"I think. It wouldn't be the first time something like that has happened. My full name is Hex of the New Moon. I see ghosts."

Riversong was stunned. She gave up trying to see anything unusual about the kit. Hex smiled, an uncommon thing for a cat to do. Riversong finally managed a question. "Did Foxpelt say anything else?" she asked.

"No. Only that you would know what I said. Do you?"

"Yes," meowed Riversong, "The night he died, I had a dream that he told me that same thing you said. 'When the river rises to meet the sun, those called foes will be avenged from their falling at the paws of the celestial.' What does it mean, though?"

Hex shrugged. "I lied. He actually said you would have to find out what it meant on your own as well as the prophecy."

Pyre padded towards Hex. His green eyes glittered nervously. Is he afraid of his own kit? Riversong wondered. "Hex," he whispered, "Would you like a moment alone with..."

"Riversong."

"With Riversong?" he finished, nodding his thanks to the former DuskClan warrior. Hex paused for a moment, then nodded.

"Yes I would, Father. Thank you. Tell Weaver to bring Sunpaw when he's finished."

Pyre nodded and trotted off to tell his son this message. Spark stood uncertainly, looking from her paws up to Riversong and Hex. Hex sighed. "Yes, Mother?" she asked.

"Hex...shall I go get you something to eat?" she asked.

Hex looked up at Riversong. "That would be wonderful. Thank you, Mother." Spark dipped her head and darted off into the distance. Hex groaned softly.

"They're afraid of you," Riversong observed. Hex nodded grimly.

"I know. And I hate it, too."

"Why are they?" Riversong asked. Hex gazed up at her for a minute. Her lips moved silently and she seemed very focused on something over Riversong's left shoulder. The enchantment faded after a few awkward moments and Hex began.