Chapter 4

"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather here beneath the Highrock for a Clan meeting!" Rainstar's voice echoed through the clearing. She stood on top of the rock that overlooked the SnowClan camp, her blue-grey fur glinting silver in the moonlight.

Several days had passed since Thorncloud's dream, and still, she could not grasp what she had seen. Every so often, she remembered the strangely familiar scent, but not the words that came with it. She hoped that the dream would come again, if only to satiate her unrelenting curiosity.

Thorncloud padded out of the warrior den towards the Highrock. Most of the clan was already gathered, as well as several kits who certainly weren't old enough to catch their own prey. Rainstar watched them all. As great a leader she was, Thorncloud had always found her mind strangely distant. Besides her conversations with Blizzardpelt, Thorncloud rarely saw her conversing with the other warriors. She was not a very sociable leader. The clan respected her all the same, but Thorncloud found it strange that she knew so little about her own leader.

"Tonight I would like to discuss the ownership of Sunningrocks," Rainstar began. "Over the last few days, patrols have noted an increased presence of RainClan around that part of the river. We believe they may intend to take it back."

"Sunningrocks belong to SnowClan!" exclaimed Stoneclaw, a light grey tabby warrior. Several yowls of agreement met his statement.

Rainstar let the noise die down before continuing. "It's true that Sunningrocks have belonged to our clan for many moons. We must brace ourselves for an attack. Each patrol that passes Sunningrocks should be increased in numbers, in case an ambush awaits there. Take care around this area." Thorncloud was sure she saw Rainstar's eyes flicker to Tigerfang for just a moment.

"I have another announcement, as well," the leader continued. "Blizzardpelt has decided to retire from his duties as deputy, and move to the elders' den."

Shock rippled through the clearing. Thorncloud was among them. Blizzardpelt was the most senior warrior, but she had never expected him to retire. The white tom dipped his head from where he sat at the base of the Highrock. Rainstar looked down at him expectantly.

"It has been an honour to serve the clan as deputy, but I am not as young as I once was," Blizzardpelt said. "My retirement is partially due to my age, but also to my vision. As most of you know, my head was hit badly in the fight with StormClan. Since then, my eyes have not been the same. I don't believe I can fulfill my duties as deputy and as a senior warrior as well as I could before."

Thorncloud stared at the old cat sadly. She had been fond of him. But no wonder he had been so kind lately, she thought – he must be reminiscing on his younger years, leading up to this announcement.

"As tradition suggests, I must name a new deputy by moonhigh," Rainstar went on. "Berryleaf will replace Blizzardpelt as deputy."

"Berryleaf!" several cats chorused. The black and white tom raised his head proudly to the cheers around him.

"Thank you, Rainstar," he said. "I won't disappoint you. I intend to be a worthy successor to Blizzardpelt."

"I should hope so." Rainstar's whiskers twitched with what might have been amusement, if she could feel such a thing. "Since you already have an apprentice, Oakpaw, Blizzardpelt's apprentice will be passed on. Twigpaw, your new mentor will be Copperfur."

Copperfur beamed; his eyes showed a lack of surprise, only pride, telling Thorncloud that he already knew of Blizzardpelt's retirement. She slouched. Why had he not told her? She watched as Twigpaw bounded towards his new mentor. The two toms touched noses.

"Copperfur, you are a fair mentor and loyal cat. I hope you will pass on your knowledge to Twigpaw as you continue his training," Rainstar said. "This clan meeting is dismissed."

The leader leaped off the Highrock and padded into her den. The cats began to disperse. Cats moved to congratulate Berryleaf and Copperfur, but Thorncloud moved instead towards Blizzardpelt, who was still sitting quietly by the Highrock.

He smiled as she approached. "Congratulations," Thorncloud mewed, sitting in front of him.

"Thank you," Blizzardpelt said, his eyes betraying his relief at being accepted as an elder rather than a warrior.

"You can't control the path of time, Blizzardpelt. It's better to live a full life in the elders' den than risk your life in the forest as a warrior and die too soon," Thorncloud said.

Blizzardpelt looked at her with surprise, and Thorncloud shrank under his gaze, wondering if she ought to keep her thoughts to herself. "Such wise words from one so young," he said, shaking his head. He leaned towards her and lowered his voice. "Between you and me, I wanted you to take over Twigpaw's training. But Rainstar thought you too young."

Thorncloud didn't know how to respond, so she just ducked her head respectfully. Blizzardpelt gave her a fond nudge and then stood up. He stretched his stiff limbs. "I suppose I should go join Crowpelt and Pinetail in the elders' den," he sighed. "Be sure to come by and visit, Thorncloud."

"I will," she called as he padded away. She turned and made her way to Copperfur. The crowd had thinned around him, so she took the opportunity to but in. "I should congratulate you on your new apprentice," she said. "Let's hope he lives up to your last one." She puffed out her chest, then laughed and gave Copperfur a friendly head butt in the shoulder.

"I'm sure he'll stay in line. Right, Twigpaw?" he called to the apprentice, who was chattering with Owlpaw and Ivypaw a few tail-lengths away.

"No trouble from me, Copperfur!" Twigpaw assured him.

Copperfur shook his head, and turned to Thorncloud. "How are you?" he asked.

"Fine." She cast her gaze towards the elders' den.

Copperfur licked her cheek affectionately. "Blizzardpelt will be fine. It's a tough thing to step down from deputy, but I certainly respect him for it." He looked at Thorncloud, and frowned. "Want to go hunting for a bit?" he asked.

"Maybe just a walk," Thorncloud said.

"Alright, let's go." Copperfur lead the way to the tunnel that took them out of camp. Thorncloud followed, feeling troubled, but not able to figure out why. She focused on Copperfur's tail ahead of her and padded on after him.

Once out into the open air, Thorncloud lead the way up the rocks out of the ravine. She started walking, letting her paws take her wherever they wanted. Copperfur followed her silently. She could feel his questioning stare, but she didn't feel like talking.

After some time, Copperfur finally spoke. "Thorncloud… are we headed to Fourtrees?" he asked, looking around.

Thorncloud looked up. She hadn't meant to come this far from camp, but suddenly it felt like the right place to be. "Yes," she said, certain that this is where she was meant to go. She sped up, not stopping until the four massive oak trees came into view.

Looking down into the sacred place, a strange scent flickered on the breeze, startling Thorncloud. That scent – it was the cat from her dream! She lunged down into the clearing, scrambling hastily against the rocks.

"Thorncloud! Wait!" Copperfur hurried after her. "Where are you going?"

Thorncloud didn't answer until she reached the bottom of the slope. She padded into the centre of the clearing. Copperfur panted as he caught up with her. "What's going on?" he asked.

"I had a dream," Thorncloud said.

"A dream?" Copperfur echoed. "About Fourtrees?"

"No…" Thorncloud said uncertainly, and began pacing. "I was somewhere else…" It came to her in a flash. "Rocks! There were lots of rocky land around me. And a cat spoke to me, someone I didn't recognize, but somehow knew…"

"Have you told anyone about this?" he asked.

"Tallfeather."

Copperfur let out a huff, but Thorncloud was too distracted to wonder why. "And what did he say?"

"I couldn't remember much about the dream then," Thorncloud explained. "But it's coming back to me, I think. I was alone in the rocklands."

Copperfur shook his head. "There aren't any rocklands around here, Thorncloud. Unless you mean Highstones."

Thorncloud gasped. "Highstones!" she meowed, and bounded over to the Great Rock. "That's it!" she said and she climbed up to overlook the clearing. "I was at Highstones – I knew I had been there before! But it wasn't near Mothermouth, it was somewhere else. It was greenleaf… and a voice spoke to me."

Copperfur stared up at her, his eyes filled with apprehension. "Thorncloud, you know this was just a dream, right?" he asked.

"Sometimes… sometimes I have vivid dreams," Thorncloud said. "They've come true before. Just small things, but still. But this dream was different. It felt important." She looked around the clearing for some kind of sign, or something to remind her of what the mystery she-cat had said to her.

A shadow at the top of the ravine caught her eye. It was the shape of two cats, slinking along the top, coming from the direction of RainClan.

"We aren't alone," Thorncloud said, and Copperfur turned hastily to where she was looking.

"Thorncloud, we should go."

"We aren't in danger," Thorncloud said, feeling very sure of herself. She wasn't sure why.

The two shapes began descending into Fourtrees. Their scent reached Thorncloud's nose – it was two RainClan warriors, and she recognized them both. It was Bumblestripe, the tortoiseshell tom, and Cloudstorm, the white she-cat with grey and black splotches.

Copperfur circled to the far side of the Great Rock, and hissed to Thorncloud, "Get down here!"

Thorncloud did as he said, hiding from the two cats behind the rock. The wind was on their side; it was blowing up towards CloudClan, so that their scents would not carry to the RainClan warriors. That wouldn't disguise their scent from walking to the Great Rock, though.

The warriors didn't seem to notice. They were chattering distractedly as they got closer. "I just feel as if this is the right place to start," came Bumblestripe's voice.

"I don't understand," Cloudstorm said, her smooth voice sounding small after Bumblestripe's full one.

"The dream mentioned Fourtrees." Thorncloud met Copperfur's eyes. Bumblestripe went on, "She said something about Fourtrees, and then something like 'rain and sun can't exist together', I think."

Unable to stop herself, Thorncloud emerged from behind the Great Rock. "A sapling grows at Fourtrees!" she exclaimed.

The two RainClan warriors reeled back in shock at her sudden appearance. Cloudstorm reacted first, falling into a defensive stance – but stopped when Bumblestripe didn't follow suit. Her tail twitched nervously as her eyes flickered between her clanmate and her enemy.

"How did you know?" Bumblestripe asked, recovering quickly from his shock.

"I had a dream, too," Thorncloud said.

Cloudstream was now scenting the air. "She's not alone, Bumblestripe," the she-cat warned. Copperfur followed Thorncloud out, glancing between the warriors suspiciously.

"A sapling grows at Fourtrees," Bumblestripe murmured. "Yes, that's what I heard, too."

"Both sun and rain cannot co-exist," Thorncloud finished. She stared wide-eyed at him.

"How is it that you two had the same dream?" Copperfur demanded.

Bumblestripe shook his head. "I don't understand."

"StarClan is trying to tell us something," Thorncloud said. "I'm sure of it."

An idea struck her. She sprang into action and ran around the clearing. She took care to circle the stump of each oak tree, and examine the clearing as best she could, but all she found was grass, shrubs, roots, and dirt.

Cloudstorm was nudging Bumblestripe anxiously. "We shouldn't be here, Bumblestripe," she whispered as Thorncloud returned to Copperfur's side.

"There isn't a real sapling," Thorncloud announced. "But maybe it's supposed to mean something else… though I can't see what…"

"Thorncloud, this RainClan warrior is right. None of us should be at Fourtrees tonight," Copperfur said. He cast his gaze up at Silverpelt, as if expecting the clouds to cover up the moon to show StarClan's disapproval. The moon remained untouched.

"If we're not meant to be here, how come we happened to arrive at the same time?" Thorncloud shot back. Copperfur didn't answer; he had no response. Bumblestripe just looked thoughtful. "I know StarClan is trying to tell me something," Thorncloud continued. "Or at least someone is. I just wish I knew who she was."

"It's Thorncloud, right?" Bumblestripe said. The SnowClan cat nodded. "And I recognize you, Copperfur. I'll remember that it was you two that we spoke to tonight. Cloudstorm is right, we should be returning to our clan."

"Let's speak at the next Gathering," Thorncloud said. "Please."

Cloudstorm was glaring at her clanmate, but Bumblestripe nodded. "I give you my word, I will seek you out. I'm just as puzzled about his dream as you." He looked between them. "Goodnight."

As they headed out of the clearing, Thorncloud could hear Cloudstorm berating the tom. Thorncloud turned to Copperfur. "I knew I was meant to be here tonight. Now I know what I dreamt."

"And that another cat dreamt the same thing," Copperfur said. He sounded uneasy. "Thorncloud… I'm worried about you. We shouldn't be speaking to other clans like this. I don't want you to get hurt."

"I won't," Thorncloud promised.

Copperfur leaned forward to lick her head affectionately. She was surprised when he shuffled closer and began to purr. "You mean a lot to me, Thorncloud," he said quietly.

"I…" Thorncloud didn't know what to say. "Copperfur, you're my closest friend. I'm sorry I dragged you into this." She stood and moved away slightly. Copperfur's purring ceased at once. "I value your friendship a lot, Copperfur. You were a great mentor to me."

"I care about you a lot," Copperfur said. "More than I can say."

"I – I know." Thorncloud felt uneasy. What was she to say? "I care about you, too. As a friend."

Copperfur stared at her for a long moment, then stood and began walking in the direction of camp. "We should return now," he said flatly. Thorncloud had no choice but to follow him in swift silence.

They didn't speak the entire walk back to camp.