Bluestar didn't hesitate to call for a meeting the second her paws touched the gorse tunnel. The cats who were lounging in their dens came rushing out, likely remembering that the last time Bluestar had called for a meeting about the Games, Brokentail was still leader of ShadowClan and was demanding territory.
Bluestar sprinted to the top of Highrock, "There seems to be trouble with RiverClan and ShadowClan."
"But, they agreed with us," Graystripe blinked. "They backed down and agreed that WindClan should be brought back."
"That was single pawedly the most insincere agreement I've ever heard," Fireheart informed his friend. "They didn't mean it and Nightstar probably only said it so that he didn't completely void the moon of peace we offered them."
Fireheart shook his head in disgust, "And that look they exchanged in the end hinted at a meeting between them. Probably right now after the Gathering, since RiverClan had to force ShadowClan to back down from their territory."
Bluestar nodded approvingly at him and a few of the senior warriors sent him a smile, "Fireheart is correct. ShadowClan and RiverClan are behaving suspiciously- they clearly don't want WindClan to return to the forest and I have a hunch that they may attempt to impede their return."
"Nightstar is far more ambitious than we thought," Whitestorm scowled. "I made the offer of peace in good faith- it seems they plan to use it to their advantage."
"But why does RiverClan need the uplands?" Willowpelt asked aloud, Lynxpaw beside her. "The river is the most stable prey source in the forest and the uplands are a long way to go for rabbits they can't even catch."
"There must be something happening further upstream," Whitestorm deduced. "Beavers or otters maybe."
"Geese," Graystripe corrected, pulling from Silverstream. "There's been a massive flock of them that started temporarily nesting on RiverClan territory preparing for their migration and they're attacking patrols."
"That must be it then," Willowpelt agreed. "Goose bites are painful and a whole flock of them would stop most cats in their tracks."
"RiverClan must be trying to make up for the loss of that portion of their territory," Bluestar concluded, nodding slowly. "We can't do anything about that- our main goal should be not doing anything to further unite RiverClan and ShadowClan against ThunderClan. That said, Runningwind, Mousefur and Volewhisker, head out and patrol the RiverClan border."
Fireheart watched the three cats in question break off and head for the tunnel entrance. For his part, Fireheart yawned and followed Graystripe towards the warrior's den as the meeting concluded. He padded towards his nest and settled down with Graystripe pressed against him. His friend's warmth seeping into his pelt, Fireheart drifted to sleep.
Fireheart pounced on a squirrel, purring loudly at his success. He sniffed around, seeking other scents. He caught the trail of a mouse and instead of stalking it, he charged straight after it. He laughed loudly, swiping at it, snapping at its tail and sending it flying every once in a while. He'd probably get in trouble for harassing his prey but he was having too much fun to care.
Just as he pounced on the mouse one more time, his muscles went stiff and he froze. A familiar intense heat flooded his muscles and burned at his brain. The bright, blinding blue of the sunhigh sky abruptly turned an inky midnight blue without a single star in sight. He felt his muscles release and he sprinted- the heat kept building instead of dying away. He didn't know where he was running to or even why he was running but a sense of intense urgency filled his body and he pressed himself to move faster, faster, faster.
He skidded to a halt coming out on the deer trail, spinning and looking around. He panted heavily but saw nothing. A loud agonized shriek came from nowhere and everywhere at once. Fireheart dropped down, covering his ears, screaming alongside the shriek as a blinding pain raced through his muscles ripped through him. The pain faded and Fireheart dry heaved for a moment, his stomach turning.
He looked at his paws and blinked at the scattered ashes surrounding him. There were various hoof prints like something had slipped and scrambled for a hold on the land.
A fire? he thought to himself in confusion as he dragged his paw through the ash. He drew it towards his face to inspect it and his confusion turned to raw terror. The ash that coated his paw had turned to hot scarlet blood. He looked back down and scrambled away as all the ash turned to blood, splattering across his fur as he ran. He heard something chasing, chasing, chasing-
Fireheart jumped to his paws with a muffled scream and sat curled up in the tattered remains of his nest trembling. His fur was bristled and he couldn't feel anything but raw terror rolling from his body and he shook. He made a conscious effort to calm his breathing, eyes darting about the den noting the mundane things and the fact that he was not surrounded by blood in the forest.
When he calmed down enough to not jump at every snore from the warriors around him, Fireheart got to his paws. He'd have to fix his nest later but for now, Fireheart didn't think he'd be able to go back to sleep. That had to have been a vision and after the last one resulted in Lionheart's death, he had to speak to Spottedleaf. Maybe she would even have something to soothe his shock and fear.
Fireheart shook his head and crept out of the den and stalked towards the fresh-kill pile. He sniffed about the prey and grabbed a pair of mice- one for him and one for Spottedleaf. He stretched as casually as he could, doing his best to not appear frightened and utterly horrified.
"Spottedleaf?" he said tentatively poking her head into the den.
The medic was calmly sorting and separating herbs- creating medicine bundles for the more common combinations and sweeping away any dead or withered herbs. The friendly molly glanced up with a warm smile that melted into concern when she realized he was trembling.
"What's wrong Fireheart?" she asked moving towards him.
Fireheart walked in and gently set one of the mice in front of her. She took the mouse and sat next to him, draping her long fluffy tail over his back.
"Fireheart?"
"Amaha," he said tiredly. "Sal ene ku upasha."
"I don't know what that means," Spottedleaf told him gently. "Morning and uh, I?"
"...I had another Sight," Fireheart admitted. "And it was horrifying."
He watched Spottedleaf's confused expression turn to alarm and sympathy as he explained the transition from him gleefully chasing squirrels to being covered in blood being chased by something.
"Well you're okay now," Spottedleaf told him gently. "You're here and you're safe. That seems like a serious Sight- it seems that someone will be injured on the deer trail. I'll stock up on herbs and go over healing techniques just in case. And I'll tell Bluestar that I had the dream and warn her to be cautious about the deer trail."
"...thank you Spottedleaf," he said, giving her a relieved smile.
"It's no trouble Fireheart- go get some rest. You need it."
Fireheart trekked back to the warrior's den, mouse forgotten as the fear melted from his body, replaced by exhaustion. He paused when he noticed Graystripe sitting up smiling sadly having rebuilt his nest with the pieces of Fireheart's to hold them both. FIreheart sent him a shy smile and climbed in, nestling against his friend.
"You have nightmares a lot," Graystripe noted quietly. "Are you okay?"
"...yeah," Fireheart told him. "I think I am now. Thank you Graystripe."
He settled his head on his paws, sighing happily when Graystripe started gently licking between his ears. Fireheart slipped into unconsciousness to the soothing sensation and the warmth of his friend beside him.
"Fireheart? Come on little finch, wake up."
Fireheart blearily opened his eyes and blinked up. Graystripe was standing over him with a mouse at his paws, smiling gently down at him.
"I know you're tired but Bluestar wants to see us."
Fireheart nodded and stretched before something occurred to him and he glanced up at Graystripe, tilting his head.
"Little finch?" he asked.
Graystripe's ears turned red and he ducked his head sheepishly.
"Sorry, it's something mom used to call me- I'll stop."
"No no it's okay," Fireheart reassured. "I just wasn't expecting it."
"I can still use it?" Graystripe asked hopefully.
Fireheart nodded and Graystripe purred and pushed the mouse closer to him. Taking the hint, Fireheart quickly gulped down the mouse so as not to keep Bluestar waiting. He jumped to his paws, gently head butting Graystripe.
"Thanks for last night," he said quietly. "I don't know if I'd be able to sleep without it."
"It's no problem," Graystripe told him, leading him from the den. "I did something similar for uh… for Ravenwing. He never slept well on his own either."
Fireheart gently bumped his shoulder with his head again earning a gentle smile and a slight nod that he was okay. They crossed the clearing to the fallen tree and clambered into the den. Fireheart pressed his paws into the soft moss and baby grass that had grown across the floor of the den.
Leaders have it good, he chuckled to himself.
At the back of the den, Whitestorm and Bluestar are waiting for them. Bluestar on the smooth rock warmed by the sun allowed to break through the den and Whitestorm laying next to her with the neatly piled remains of a rabbit they must've shared between them.
"Thank you two for coming so quickly," Bluestar addressed. "I have an important mission for the both of you."
Graystripe and Fireheart straightened up quickly.
"You will find WindClan and bring them home."
Fireheart blinked in shock. He'd heard Nightstar's voice and the implications that he wanted ThunderClan to retrieve WindClan but why trust this important task to two new warriors instead of powerful cats like Tigerclaw?
"This will be a true testament of your skills," Whitestorm added. "You'll be going into dangerous and hostile territory- RiverClan and ShadowClan are probably attempting to take advantage of WindClan not being present again."
"Why not send Tigerclaw?" Fireeart voiced.
"We need his strength," Whitestorm reminded him. "With Brokentail's threat, it's very likely he'll attack the camp at any point. Tigerclaw's strength and seniority is needed here. Leaf-bare is on the horizon as well and we need to prepare for the preyless season."
Fireheart dipped his head in acceptance, he flattened his ears in embarrassment that he'd actually forgotten about Brokentail. He seemed so inconsequential in the grand scheme of things.
"You've also expressed familiarity with Tallstar," Bluestar added. "WindClan may be intimidated by a large patrol of ThunderClan warriors coming after them but a small squad of two with one cat seeming to have a positive connection may result in better outcome. You've also left clan territory recently so you're more likely to be capable of finding your way back."
"Do you remember how to get to WindClan through Fourtrees?" Whitestorm prompted.
They nodded.
"Good," said Bluestar. "Then get some traveling herbs from Spottedleaf and be on your way. Be safe and be careful- you represent the clans in your behaviors and actions while you're journeying."
"Yes Bluestar," Graystripe and Fireheart said together and quickly darted off.
Whitestorm rose to his paws and escorted them to Spottedleaf's den.
"Do you both remember what WindClan's scent smells like?" he prompted. When they nodded, he sent them on to the medic and veered towards the apprentice's den. Probably to get Sandpaw, Fireheart figured.
They trekked across the clearing towards the medic's den, head held high at being granted such an important task. Spottedleaf was sorting more herbs but Fireheart took in the herbs that were geared towards bloody wounds with relief.
"Hello you both," said Spottedleaf with a warm smile. "What can I do for you two?"
"We've got a proper mission," Graystripe said proudly. "We'll be returning WindClan to their home."
"I'm so proud of you both," Spottedleaf purred loudly. "I assume you need traveling herbs?"
"Yes," Fireheart agreed, purring. "Thank you."
Spottedleaf dropped the bundle of leaves before them. Fireheart took a moment to identify the herbs as best as he could- he recognized daisy and sorrel but the last two herbs were foreign. Noticing his concentrated expression, Spottedleaf explained, "These are sorrel, burnet, daisy and chamomile- if you can find some on your journey, you can make another set for your safety and ease of travel."
"You're still learning herbs?" Graystripe asked curiously and Fireheart nodded in agreement. "Cool- are you going to be a medic?"
"No," Fireheart said quickly. "It's just good stuff to know, you know?"
Graystripe nodded thoughtfully, "Yeah- I would've felt better being certain about which herbs I was looking for when he had to get horsetail for Bluestar."
"Hurry along now," Spottedleaf told them. "It's been moons- the longer you wait, the harder it'll be to find the scent."
"See you later Spottedleaf," Fireheart said and they aimed for the gorse tunnel.
"Good luck on your mission," Whitestorm told them as he passed with Darkstripe, Sandpaw and Dustpaw.
Dustpaw snorted, "Are the new warriors off to chase blue shrews?"
Sandpaw smacked him on the side of the head with an annoyed expression.
"What's gotten into you? Bye Fireheart! Bye Graystripe!"
"Bye Sandpaw," Fireheart purred and with that, they slipped from the camp.
