Quickfoot looked over her shoulder. Darkpaw was taking in the WindClan scents excitedly. Behind him, Birdfoot took up the rear. She seemed rather amused by the apprentice's curiosity. Quickfoot turned. Goldenheart was leading the patrol determinedly. Her tail and her head were held high, and the breeze ripple her long ginger coat.
A rustling in the bushes made her drop into a cautious crouch.
"Why are you on WindClan territory?" a voice growled.
Three WindClan warriors emerged from the bracken. Quickfoot recognized the deputy, Lightfoot, and a senior warrior, Orangepelt. The other cat was crouched low to the ground. He was probably an apprentice, judging how small he was. Despite his awkward position, he carried a fierce expression in his yellow eyes.
"I received a message from StarClan involving every Clan. We need to speak with Skystar and Tickedfur," Quickfoot replied.
Tickedfur was WindClan's medicine cat.
"Very well. I can trust a medicine cat's word," Lightfoot growled, glancing at Goldenheart and Birdfoot.
"We'll escort you into camp," Orangepelt meowed.
Goldenheart seemed reluctant to be led by WindClan cats, but she followed anyway, given a stern look from Quickfoot. The apprentice padded next to Darkpaw.
"So, you're the medicine cat's apprentice, huh? Doesn't that make you less of a fighter?" he meowed to him.
"Of course not. We'll fight with all the strength of StarClan if we have to," Darkpaw growled in response.
Quickfoot swelled with pride at his answer. It sounded like something she herself would say.
"Don't be so rude, Arrowpaw. That's the medicine cat's apprentice. You don't argue with a medicine cat." Orangepelt spat over his shoulder.
"But-" Arrowpaw began.
"It doesn't matter what Clan he's in," Orangepelt corrected him.
Quickfoot gave the WindClan warrior a grateful glance. Her heart leaped when she realized he was already staring at her.
Skystar was stretched out in the sun with her mate, Brownfur, by her side. She looked up expectantly when the patrols strode into camp.
"What is it?" she mewed.
Quickfoot explained her dream for the third time. She wasn't surprised to see a look of horror on Skystar's face when she had finished. The cats had gathered in a circle around them, and, they too, looked like they had seen a ghost.
"We're going to RiverClan next." Goldenheart announced.
Meows of agreement echoed through the camp.
"I'll come with you if you like," Tickedfur volunteered, "I think WindClan will get along without me for a little while."
"That won't be necessary. I think we'll make it to RiverClan fine by ourselves," replied Birdfoot.
"Then I'll send an escort. Orangepelt, will you go with them to the border?"
Quickfoot felt her throat tighten at Skystar's words. She had grown a small likeness for the ginger tom, even though she knew she shouldn't.