Disclaimer: I do not own Warriors. Stop grilling your underpants!

Happy Halloween, peoples! What are you all going as? I'm going as vampiric Pete Wentz. Yes, yes, oh yay.

Sorry to keep you waiting for this chapter. I'm petsitting for two dogs and a cat right now... the cat's name is Bob, and I swear that cat is so effing cute it hurts sometimes. He's got a little bobtail and a head that moves around that funny. Plus he doesn't listen to my authority, which (very lucky for him) I find somewhat ah-dorable and Caribbean Crunch treat-worthy (Mmm. Sounds delicious, doesn't it?)

Chapter 8: Midnight Leave

Stripedtail followed the fast-moving patrol back to camp, the patrol also consisting of Darkbranch, Largefoot, Puddlemist, Spikefur, and Claypaw. Earlier, Stripedtail could feel the fear coming from Darkbranch, for this particular patrol was not made for hunting or patrolling borders, but looking for Midnightpaw. She still had not returned the following day; the clan and especially Darkbranch felt that a search patrol was more than necessary.

This was the patrol that confirmed the sad and surprising news: for whatever reason, Midnightpaw was no where to be found. Another patrol went out in the morning, and Midnightpaw had not been found in either patrol. In the morning patrol, other clan cats were told to keep a look out for Midnightpaw, and there had been no word yet from any clan, including TreeClan.

When the group turned into the camp, Stripedtail observed the rest of the group. Largefoot went towards Thinstar's den. Claypaw went to the apprentices' den, Puddlemist went quickly back to the warriors' den, obviously anxious to rest after a long, emotionally exhausting patrol. Stripedtail felt incredibly sad when she saw a disappointed Darkbranch walk slowly back to the warriors' den. Stripedtail knew that Darkbranch was extremely close to his apprentice, almost like a father.

Stripedtail whirled around when she felt something touch her flank, but relaxed when she realized it was just Spikefur.

"Sad, isn't it?" Stripedtail asked Spikefur.

"Midnightpaw's leaving? Yes, very…"

"Maybe she didn't leave, maybe it was something else." Stripedtail commented.

"It could be…" Spikefur did not sound very convinced, and Stripedtail could tell he was sure she had run away. But he turned his brown eyes straight into Stripedtail's amber eyes. "Um…there's something else, Stripedtail. About Yellowpelt."

"Yes?"

"Have you noticed anything different about her?"

Stripedtail twitched her tail. She had spent a lot of that morning comforting her friend, who was confused and hurt about what Swiftfoot said. "Like how?"

Spikefur smiled slightly. "I think she's got a crush!"

Stripedtail forced a smile, though she knew Spikefur's ignorance of what came out of Yellowpelt's latest meeting with Rattail was obvious. "Yes, she does."

Spikefur smiled wider. "I knew it! Who is it?"

His last sentence made Stripedtail freeze. "Why did I have to say something? Why didn't I play dumb?! Thinstar is helping Rattail out, but if it got out that Yellowpelt liked a rogue…"

"Well? Who?" Spikefur jumped slightly on his paws.

Stripedtail looked around the camp. "I'm not actually sure…but I can tell she likes someone…"

Spikefur's tail suddenly froze after constantly twitching (in its usual Spikefur manner that Stripedtail found attractive). "You don't? Huh, I thought you would know…my sister is a mystery sometimes…well, I'll find out one of these days. I'm going to go into get some fresh-kill and get some rest. Care to join?"

Stripedtail touched her tail to his shoulder. "Thanks, but I'm going to go see how Frecklepaw is doing. I'll see you later." Stripedtail dashed off to the medicine cat's den. She met up with a pair of worried orange eyes in an instant.

"Stripedtail!" Frecklepaw had a look of panic in his eyes. "The prophecy came true! It came true!" He spoke quickly, almost inaudibly.

"What? What do you mean? Why is that so bad? Why are you panicking?"

"Well, the prophecy was 'a cat of your own will be leave at midnight, and a flash of silver will cross the field'! Midnightpaw left, and Swiftfoot has joined the clan. He's got silver fur!"

"Yes, but I don't see why you're panicking so much about the prophecy coming true," Stripedtail was trying to make sense of the twitchy medicine cat apprentice.

"Well, we got a new prophecy last night as well. And it's…scary!" His fur was bristled in fear, and he reminded Stripedtail of one time when he was a kit and said something to make Tawnythorn angry.

"What is it?" she queried, already afraid of what she would hear.

"The flowers climb the tree, choking it off. The brook will dry up and wither away."

Stripedtail scanned her mind for a meaning out of what Frecklepaw had said. She looked up at Frecklepaw. "Do you have any idea what it's supposed to…?"

Frecklepaw shook his head in response, looking quite worried.

Stripedtail touched her tail to his shoulder. "Well, don't worry about it yet. You'll figure it out with Thinstar and Crazyeyes." Frecklepaw said nothing in response and turned and walked away.

BOO.

Next chapter: Gonna need a homage!

My brother helped me think of the prophecy... he always does. I'm bad at that kind of thing. Aw man, there's romance, prophecy stuff, what else am I not good at? Okay, besides sports! Why are you picking on me? I'm good at angst... you know, I worry if it's healthy for me to be so good at being hideously mean to characters in my fanfics.

And celebrities, I can be hideously mean to them, too!

'Kay bye.