It had been about half a moon since Windclan had attacked. Clampaw was awoken by a sharp shove on her shoulder. She shifted but didn't get up. The shove came again, this time accompanied by a voice. "Clampaw, get up! The travelers are here!" Her sister, Pearlpaw, sounded even more excited then usual. Clampaw immediantly sprang up, knocking Pealpaw back. She looked around. Hollypaw and Glitterpaw must have gotten up earlier. "The travelers? I didn't know what was today." The two apprentices left the den to find the entire clan gathered in a loose circle. They squeezed their way in, getting a pretty good view.

In the middle of the circle was a small group of cats. The first to speak was a black and white tom brown flecks with deep hazel eyes. he had gray around his muzzle. Grief struck Clampaw's heart as she remembered Smallstar's graying muzzle. His voice cut through the other cats murmuring. he spoke to Lakestar. "I see that Riverclan has finally said goodbye to Smallstar." He dipped his head low to the ground. "She was leader when me and my companions first started coming to this lake. We will all miss you as you do."

Lakestar nodded. "Yes. And, in a recent battle with Windclan he have also lost a rather fine warrior. A very young warrior. I believe you've met Snakebite last time you came."

Meows of grief came from a few of the cats in the small group. The tom, who Clampaw presumed was their leader, spoke again. "Yes, I remember him. A new apprentice when we came around." He perked up a little. "but we would also like to meet the newer members of your clan. Please introduce us." The strange cat glanced over at Glitterpaw.

Lakestar nodded and led the tom away from the others. The rest of the clan gathered around the remaining cats. "Of course, Zane. We have a few new apprentices and some new warriors as well." He looked over at pealpaw and Clampaw. "Their is those to for starters. Pearlpaw and Clampaw."

"Pearl?" Zane nodded. "Ah yes, a beautiful gem. And what about her." he pointed to Glitterpaw with his tail. Glitterpaw stood up straight. She looked Zane directly in the eye. 'it's nice to meet you."

Zane purred. "Nice to meet you too, little lass. And you two as well." He turned to the Clampaw and Pearlpaw. Clampaw shank away from the tom. She didn't like how he smelled. it was a mix of many different scents. He smelled of badger, water, and twolegs. It didn't seem right for a cat to have so many scents clinging to its pelt.

"It's nice to meet you too." pearlpaw greeted enthusiastically, nudging Clampaw out of her thoughts. "We have heard much about you."

Zane purred, his tail swishing and rustling the moist grass. "I don't doubt it. Allow me to introduce myself and my companions. I apologize if are names seem strange. Most of used to be housepets for twolegs. but that life is long over. My name is Zane." He pointed out a short-haired she-cat with brown fur and beautiful hazel eyes. "That is Deary. And beside her is her mate, Fish." Clampaw's gaze switched to a white and ginger tabby with green eyes. Scampering around Fish's paws were two small kits. One was a ginger tom with green eyes very similar to Fish's. The other a light ginger and white she-cat with fiery amber eyes.

"Those to little rascals are Berry and Orange. Deary and Fish's kits. They sure are a handful. It takes all of us to raise them. Oh, and those two over by the warrior's den are Josh and Domino."

Josh, a white tom with dark green eyes, and Domino, a black and white tom with blue eyes, were talking with a few of the senor warriors. Clampaw watched them wrap their tails around a pile of rocks.

"They must be talking about the new stones we found. You can go listen if you want. I have some old friends I want to catch up with." Zane padded away towards the nursery.

"Come on, Clampaw! Let's go see." Pearlpaw bounded across the clearing, Clampaw close behind her. A group of kits and apprentices were already gathering around Josh and Domino.

"This is called amethyst." Josh pointed out a small purple rock with a string that seemed to be fused into it. that shined in the early morning sun. It was absolutely beautiful. "Twolegs were in around there necks."

"Why would they do that?" Bearkit, a brown tom questioned. Josh only shrugged. Domino then spoke up. "I have a theory that how pretty stones and shiny things that twolegs wear represents their rank. The more they have, the higher their rank."

Hollypaw stepped forward and sniffed at the black string attached to the amethysts. "What is this?"

"That's what twolegs use to keep in on." Domino answered. "See, like this." He nuzzled the string until it was on his muzzle, then tilted his head back until it fell around his shoulders. "This is how they wear it. I remember my twoleg. She used to wear a fat string of gold." He looked around at the kit's and apprentice's confused gazes.

Sparkwhisker purred with amusement. "Gold is another type of pretty rock." He looked at Domino. The black and white traveler nodded. "Twolegs use it for many different thing. Mainly ranking as well though."

Clampaw watched Sparkwhisker limp over to sit in the group. He had a very long scar along his flank and underbelly. The medicine cat, brightshine said he was lucky to still be alive after the beating he took from one of the Windclan warriors. Sparkwhisker wasn't even really supposed to be up walking around. But the Traveler's visit was an exception. They came on the last moon of each leaf-fall and would leave when leaf-bare came around.

Josh turned his attention to the other stone sitting in the pile. "This is called plastic." He wrinked his nose in disgust. "Awful stuff this is. Don't get too close, little ones." He put a paw infront of two kits who were trying to get a better look. "it should suffocate a cat. And even a twoleg from what I've seen!"

gasps echoed through the group of young cats. Clampaw stared down at the clear, shiny material in horror. "Why did you bring it if it's so dangerous." One of the queens, Rockfur, questioned, wrapping her tail around her kits.

"To warn you of course!" Domino interrupted Josh before he could speak. "We heard of this stuff and just had to warn you about it." Murmurs of agreement arose from the cats.

"That's true."

"How thoughtful!"

"Thank you."

Domino straighten proudly. Clampaw rolled her eyes at the tom. "Got anything else?" Pearlpaw and Hollypaw said together. Josh nodded at the two. "Well, there's this. We don't know what it is but it's another pretty rock. he pushed a rainbow colored rock forward. It almost looked like it was changing colors in the sunlight. 'We think it's some kind of quartz."

"How pretty..." Clampaw stared at the rainbow stone. The colors danced on the stone, making it look almost alive. She smiled softly. Domino's voice drowned out as Clampaw became lost in the swirling colors. She knelt down at stared at it. The world became nothing to her. All that remained was the stone, herself, and an old gray she-cat padding toward her. A paw touched her shoulder. Clampaw jumped a little and turned around. Her yowled in shock at the cat infront of her.

"Smallstar? But...were am I? This isn't the camp." She looked around. Clampaw was in the middle of a forest clearing. She looked back at Smallstar. The small she-cat seemed stronger and younger then she did almost a moon ago.

"Hello, Clampaw." Smallstar smiled. Her voice was stronger too. "You are still in the camp. But your mind is not." her face hardened. "Riverclan is the only clan left that has not forsaken Starclan. We have a message for all the clans."

"What...?" Clampaw looked at her, confused. "Why are you telling me. Shouldn't you be connecting with brightshine or Hollypaw."

Smallstar frowned. "Brightshine has given up on us. Hollypaw is too unfocused. She think it was only a dream."

"brightshine has given up on Starclan." Clampaw backed away. "She's are medicine cat. She can't do that." Smallstar's eyes filled with sorrow. 'She is not the first Riverclan medicine cat to not fully believe in Starclan. And she will most likely not be the last. Now quiet, little one. I can only keep you for so long."

Smallstar stood up straight. She no longer seemed like the frail old cat who she had died as. "The war of clans must come to an end. There is only so long we can defend. The one of dark death will soon be coming. The eight must rise, the stars are awakening."

Once she finished, Smallstar dipped her head and began to fade. "Wait. Wait! Don't go!" Clampaw stepped toward the former leader. "Smallstar please! Why are you telling me of all cats? Who are the cats you mentioned?"

Her questioned remained unanswered as the real world swirled back into view. Clampaw was still staring at the rainbow stone. She blinked at sat up. Domino was still talking about the stones. Clampaw looked around for the rest of the travelers. Zane was over by the nursery, letting a few kits play with his tail. Deary was laying near the nursery as well with her kits. She was talking with Rubyshine. Fish was at the edge of the camp near the entrance, surveying the other cats. Two warriors, Shrewfur and Jadeclaw, Greeted him then walked out of the camp.

Clampaw sighed. She wasn't even really paying attention to the rest of Domino and Josh's presentation. She couldn't shake off Smallstar's words.

Wow, a prophecy. but not given directly to Thunderclan because I'm not that cliché! So there is were most of the strange names come from. happy now? greta chapter opinion. Got to justify the cats names and put the plot pizza in the oven.

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