Heronflight backed away from Blizzardstar and stumbled. A wave of noise crashed into his ears. The Clan was calling his name just as he had dreamed they would. This was not how he had imagined it would feel.
All around him Heronflight could hear his Clanmate's repeating the names of the new warriors. A different voice, high pitched and terrified, pierced through the chanting. Heronflight snapped his eyes onto the source of the cry.
A blood-soaked white cat stood at the mouth of the fern tunnel, illuminated in a splash of moonlight. Its wild amber eyes shone with exhaustion and shock. Its mouth was stretched wide in a desperate wail.
For a moment Heronflight thought that it was another vision. Then he recognized the young tom's black paws and ears.
The noise around Heronflight died down as cats began to notice what was happening. Triumphant yowls faded into confused mutters.
Heronflight was at Coalpaw's side in two heart beats.
The young AlderClan apprentice stared up at Heronflight. His white fur was plastered with blood. There was no way to tell if it was his own or somecat else's.
"We're being attacked!" Coalpaw choked. His breath came in sharp gasps. His black paws were shaking. "You have to help!"
Heronflight whirled around. Whiteshade and Blizzardstar were just behind him. From the looks on their faces they had heard what Coalpaw said.
Heronflight looked to his leader. Blizzardstar shared a glance with his deputy.
Whiteshade shook his head. "AlderClan is too far. We'd never make it in time." He said in a low voice.
Dark regret fell over Blizzardstar's face.
Heronflight's belly clenched. "We can try, can't we?"
"They trapped us in camp." Coalpaw choked out. "I escaped. Please, you have to come."
Blizzardstar regarded the bloodied AlderClan cat for a moment before nodding firmly. He swung his great head around and called out to his Clan.
"AlderClan needs our help!" He boomed.
The cloud of shock began to melt away. Hawkstrike and Morningsong jumped to their paws, ready. Kestrelfeather and Swiftwing joined them. Others began rising to their paws. The glint of battle sparked in every eye.
"Whiteshade." Blizzardstar turned to his deputy. "Gather a battle patrol."
Whiteshade nodded and leapt into the center of the gathered cats. Immediately they surged to him, ready to be called upon.
Blizzardstar faced the terrified Coalpaw. "I need details, son." He rumbled. His tone had softened considerably.
Coalpaw shot Blizzardstar a wide-eyed look and shuffled closer to Heronflight's side. The young tom looked up at Heronflight. Heronflight nodded.
"WillowClan." Coalpaw said. His voice shook along with his body. "And rogues."
"How many?" Blizzardstar coaxed.
Coalpaw blinked for the first time since he arrived. "Too many."
Blizzardstar and Heronflight shared a glance.
"Out of the way. He's in shock." Plumleaf growled from behind them. She pushed Heronflight aside and crouched at Coalpaw's flank. Her mew turned low and comforting. She even chirruped a few times as she nosed Coalpaw's flank. Coalpaw flinched at her touch at first but eventually relaxed.
"I need to ask him one more question." Blizzardstar said. He stood his ground as Plumleaf shot him a withering look. She snorted, shrugged, and went back to her work.
"Make it quick." She snapped.
Blizzardstar caught Coalpaw's eye. "How did you find our camp?"
Coalpaw blinked. "A white warrior showed me."
Plumleaf led the poor thing away with her fluffy tail draped protectively over his shoulders. A set of small, bloody paw-prints followed in their wake.
Heronflight watched them go. He felt numb. It felt so strange that the AlderClan apprentice had been dragged into this. The danger had seemed so far away from that mountainside.
Close by, the rest of the clan was coming to a decision.
"Falconstorm, Shadowgrove, Kestrelfeather, Crowfrost, Hawkstrike, Morningsong, Brushfire, and Cherrynose will come with me." Whiteshade was saying.
Blizzardstar nodded his approval. "Elkheart, I am putting the camp's safety in your paws."
Elkheart nodded and gathered the remaining warriors to him with a sweep of his brown tail. The cats who had been called grouped together near Whiteshade.
Heronflight's paws carried him to the deputy's side.
"I want to go." He said.
Whiteshade eyed him. "I thought your shoulder was injured again."
Heronflight stretched his sore shoulder and shook his head. "It's fine."
Whiteshade opened his mouth to reply but was interrupted.
"He's fine, Whiteshade." Petalpaw had appeared beside the deputy with several large bundles of herbs at her paws. She glanced at Heronflight. "Besides, I need somecat to help me with these."
Whiteshade hesitated. His shoulders sank in a shrug. "Alright then." He moved away.
Heronflight stared to speak but Petalpaw cut him off. "Dawnheart needs to tell you something before you go."
Heronflight paused, surprised. Around him his fellow warriors were readying themselves to leave. Petalpaw's eyes flashed silver in the moonlight. "Hurry!" she hissed.
Heronflight jumped into a run. In moments he was at the mouth of the medicine den. Just inside he could see Plumleaf settling a ragged looking Coalpaw into a nest. Dawnheart was lying a few nests over.
Heronflight hurried past Plumleaf, hoping she was distracted enough not to notice him.
Dawnheart straightened up as he caught sight of Heronflight hurrying over.
"Petalpaw sent me." Heronflight muttered once he was close enough.
Dawnheart nodded. "There's something you need to know about Crowfrost."
Heronflight's heart skipped a painful beat.
Dawnheart's blue eyes shone as he looked up at Heronflight. Fear lingered in their depths.
"He's a traitor. He's been giving information about the Clan to someone." Dawnheart paused and shivered. "Something."
"What do you mean?" The words came out sharper than Heronflight had intended. "What happened?" he added more softly.
Dawnheart shook his head. "Slatefang found me while I was unconscious. He dragged me out onto the beach. Crowfrost was there. He was talking to someone.
"She said not to believe what the Clan says about Cranewing. She seemed to know Slatefang too, and he was afraid of her." Dawnheart closed his eyes. He curled his body into a tighter ball.
"I don't know how to explain it, Heronflight, but there was something wrong."
Heronflight knew exactly what his friend was talking about. His suspicions had been correct. Whatever force Snowbreeze had warned him about was in contact with his brother. Crowfrost was the traitor.
"There's something else." Dawnheart opened his eyes and lifted his head. He fixed Heronflight with a piercing stare. "Is Slatefang going to AlderClan?"
Heronflight tried to remember who was called. Before he could answer, Dawnheart continued anyway.
"He's the one who attacked me."
Heronflight's fur stood on end. "What?!" he choked out.
Dawnheart didn't acknowledge Heronflight's outburst. He continued to look him in the eyes. "Just be careful around him. He's not right."
Confused, Heronflight opened his mouth to respond but was interrupted.
"Aren't you supposed to be somewhere other than here?" Plumleaf demanded. Heronflight jumped and spun to face the testy medicine cat. She lashed her plumy tail and glared at him.
In that moment, the foolishness of not telling Plumleaf about his visions hit Heronflight like a blow from a warrior twice his size.
The annoyed look in her eyes faded as she searched his face.
"CedarClan, move out!" Blizzardstar's call to leave was muffled.
Heronflight stared into Plumleaf's eyes. Panic started to fill his chest. Why hadn't he come to her with this before? He had thought that he knew what to do; now he was sure that he knew nothing. Something bigger than he could ever hope to understand was going on. The weight of his realization began to crush his chest. He gasped for breath.
Plumleaf flicked her ear and nodded. "Tell Petalpaw." She said. She slipped to his side and whisked her tail at his back legs, forcing him to move.
"What?" Heronflight stammered.
"Tell. Petalpaw." Plumleaf repeated as she swept him forward. "Don't do this alone."
Heronflight opened his mouth but nothing came out. With a final shove from Plumleaf, Heronflight stumbled through the medicine clearing's exit. He found his footing and looked back.
Plumleaf was already bustling away.
Suddenly steeled by her words, Heronflight moved. He hurried across the clearing. Ferntail wished him luck as he passed. He waved his tail to let her know he heard. He reached the entrance just as the last of the battle patrol was disappearing through it. Petalpaw was waiting for him. With a nod to her, Heronflight scooped up a bundle of herbs. Petalpaw did the same.
Together they slid through the bracken tunnel and out into the night.
. . .
Blood pounded in Crowfrost's ears as he ran with the battle patrol. His paws still felt unsteady beneath him.
Breathe. He told himself. The rogue didn't know anything important.
He fixed his eyes on Shadowgrove's black and white form just ahead of him and slowed his breathing. He had barely managed to keep his anxiety under control as he threw himself into his duties earlier that day.
He remembered the unbridled terror of waiting for Blizzardstar to tell the Clan what the rogue knew. His belly clenched painfully. He shook himself. He hadn't been exposed. Songbird hadn't been exposed. StarClan's plan was still safe.
There was the small issue of Cranewing, though.
The whole Clan had been muttering all day about the reappearance. Crowfrost had tried to ignore them as Songbird had instructed, but words kept jumping out at him.
"Death", "traitor", "Falconstorm."
What did the Clan think Cranewing had done? Part of him desperately wanted to know. The other part knew that wasn't what Songbird wanted for him.
Crowfrost was forced out of his thoughts as the patrol slowed. They had just entered WillowClan territory. The patrol drew closer together at a signal from Blizzardstar. Crowfrost purposefully allowed himself to be shifted to the very edge of the patrol. He wasn't keen on feeling crowded at the moment.
As the patrol fell into a new formation, Falconstorm appeared at Crowfrost's side. The dark tabby cast a glance at his son. Crowfrost tried his best to ignore him. He was content with silence. Falconstorm opened his mouth and closed it. It seemed that he still hadn't figured out how to talk to his sons.
Crowfrost shrugged and ducked under a low-hanging tree branch. He didn't need Falconstorm. He had StarClan on his side. As long as Songbird had faith in him, he knew he could do anything.
He just had to trust her completely.
. . .
"Crowfrost?" Petalpaw's eyes widened with distress.
Heronflight nodded and ducked under an approaching branch.
The patrol was making their way through WillowClan territory. Blizzardstar had decided that taking the fastest route was more important than risking an early run-in with WillowClan. Heronflight and Petalpaw brought up the rear of the company. Hawkstrike and Morningsong ran just in front of them. Petalpaw's herb wraps were safely grasped in the new warriors' teeth.
Petalpaw shook her head and stared through the ranks of CedarClan warriors. "Has he really changed that much?" Her voice was small and full of guilt.
Heronflight's paws grew heavier as they raced through WillowClan's forest.
"It isn't his fault." He said. He wondered if his statement was meant to convince Petalpaw or himself.
"This is why Cougarstar knew so much about Clan business. Crowfrost must have been meeting with Cranewing." Petalpaw dropped her gaze to her paws. Her fur fluffed up a little. "We should tell Blizzardstar."
Heronflight's heart sank and his belly twitched with unease. "How?" How could they possibly explain everything in time?
Petalpaw clamped her jaws shut. She seemed to have realized the problem as well. There was too much to tell. Too little time.
"I'll keep an eye on Crowfrost." Heronflight said. He readied himself for Petalpaw to argue but she didn't. Instead, she locked eyes with him for a heightened moment as they leapt over a fallen tree in unison.
It felt like moons since they had last been in this forest together. Everything had seemed simpler then.
Heronflight watched Petalpaw's tabby-and-white coat flash in and out of the moonlight. Her green eyes were narrow with focus. She was so strong. So beautiful.
"Petalpaw…" Heronflight was cut off as the cats in front of him slowed their pace. He forced his attention to the front of the patrol where Blizzardstar had given the signal to stop.
Heronflight looked around. The place was slightly familiar. They were near the AlderClan border.
Blizzardstar curled and uncurled his tail once. Silence. He flicked the tip three times. Ready for battle.
Hawkstrike and Morningsong slipped silently to Petalpaw's side and dropped their herbs. Petalpaw gave them a nod of thanks and they returned to their place in line.
Heronflight caught Petalpaw's eye one more time. She held his gaze without blinking. Heronflight wanted to assure her that they would meet once the battle was over, that they would figure this out together, but there wasn't time. There weren't words. There was only this shared look. He hoped it was enough.
Ahead, Blizzardstar gave the signal to move.
. . .
Dawnheart shifted in his nest, restless. He wanted desperately to go after Heronflight and help him figure out what was going on. Plumleaf's watchful gaze had prevented that. His head still throbbed but he no longer felt dizzy or sick.
The shadow of the rocky overhang above his head did little to give him any sense of comfort. A stray, dead leaf tumbled across the darkened medicine clearing and landed in the little frozen brook. Dawnheart watched it skid across the ice.
Movement in the corner of his vision caught his attention. He looked up, confused. His confusion turned to horror as he saw two green eyes peering at him from across the stream. They winked out as whoever was watching him turned away.
A sinking feeling in his belly told him he knew exactly who those green eyes belonged to. He was proven right as Slatefang emerged from the shadows on the other side of the clearing.
Dawnheart stiffened in his nest. Slatefang stood, unmoving, half-obscured by the darkness.
Dawnheart found himself wondering if this was the real Slatefang or the angry, unforgiving shadow of his brother that had haunted him lately.
Shaking slightly, Dawnheart peered into his Clanmate's eyes. They were wide and unblinking. The pupils were slits. Icy claws of fear gripped Dawnheart once more.
"Forgive me."
It took a moment for Dawnheart to realize that Slatefang had indeed said those words.
Dawnheart swallowed hard. "What?"
Slatefang blinked once. "This isn't what I wanted." He murmured.
Dawnheart stiffened. "What do you mean?" He asked slowly. He didn't know if he wanted to hear the answer.
Slatefang shook his head. "He was so much like me. I thought he would understand." His voice again had that strange quality of sounding like himself but feeling like an imitation.
Dawnheart was utterly bewildered. "I- "
"I never meant to twist him like she twisted me." Slatefang cut him off. His voice was tight with guilt and sorrow. The dark warrior paused and dropped his gaze to the ground.
There was a moment of tense silence during which Dawnheart considered calling out for help. Curiosity and pity stayed his tongue.
Slatefang's head snapped back up. Dawnheart jumped.
The gray warrior's pupils had rounded once more. The vulnerability in his posture shifted to stiff determination.
Dawnheart slid his claws out. Green eyes met blue.
"I have to stop her." Slatefang growled.
Dawnheart raised his head a little. "Who?" His mind raced.
Slatefang didn't seem to have heard the question. "I have to stop her from taking anyone else." He continued. He looked past Dawnheart's shoulder and narrowed his eyes at something that wasn't there.
Dawnheart's pulse quickened and he sat up. "Take me with you." He didn't quite know what made him say it, but he didn't regret it.
Slatefang's ears twitched and he lifted his scarred lip in a half-snarl.
Dawnheart fought the worsening pain in his head and pushed himself to all four paws. "I want to help."
Slatefang shook his head as Dawnheart spoke.
"You can't go after her alone." Dawnheart took a step forward out of his nest. "Please, let me help you." It was tantalizing seeing the old Slatefang back like this. So confused and twisted, but there all the same.
Slatefang thrashed his head back and forth and backed away. "No one else." He hissed.
Dawnheart stopped advancing. He didn't want to scare Slatefang away this time.
Slatefang turned his head away from Dawnheart and fell still except for his nervously flicking tail. Dawnheart clenched his jaw, frustrated. What could he say to get through to the disturbed warrior?
Rustling from the medicine clearing entrance caused Slatefang to snap his head around. Plumleaf's voice announced her imminent arrival.
Dawnheart cursed and took a few steps towards Slatefang. The gray warrior cast Dawnheart one last conflicted look before turning and fleeing into the closely-knit trees. The darkness swallowed him up in less than a heartbeat.
Dawnheart stared after the vanished warrior. Fear and uncertainty pricked at his paws. He ignored Plumleaf as she entered the clearing and asked him what in StarClan's name he thought he was doing up and about.
He let the grumpy medicine cat shuffle him back to his nest without complaint. He pretended to follow her instructions, but his mind was elsewhere.
"You're going to go running off, too, aren't you?" Plumleaf's question jerked Dawnheart out of his thoughts. He looked up at her. She pierced him with a disapproving gaze.
"Yes." Dawnheart said. His decision was made.
Plumleaf sighed and began muttering to herself. Something about no cat ever listening, and these young cats thinking they were invisible. She padded off to her den as she grumbled. She paused before entering.
"Well? Aren't you going to take advantage of my distracted state?" she snapped.
Dawnheart jumped a little, but got up. He stretched a little before stepping out of his nest. He was half expecting Plumleaf to whirl around and demand he lay back down. She vanished into her den instead.
Dawnheart shook himself and turned his nose to Slatefang's scent. He would have to run fast if he wanted to catch up. He cleared the frozen stream in a single bound and took off into the night.