Floodstar stood up. Ambrosiaaura, Heathwhisker, Snowclaw, and Sagetail were behind him.
"I put Wolfblaze in charge while I am away." Floodstar said, looking at the young tom. He nodded. "I am honored, Floodstar."
Floodstar bade his good byes, as did the other four. Then Ambrosiaaura padded up to him. "Floodstar- I have an unborn kit. Featherstorm just told me."
Floodstar stared at her in shock. Making her go would put the kit in danger. But her staying here could result in failure to complete the mysterious task, and who knew what would happen if they failed?
"Ambrosiaaura, I will leave the choice to you. It is your kit and you should decide."
"I have to go. Who knows what can happen if I do not?"
Floodstar nodded. "Let's go."
o-o...o-o
"Why is the wind so strong?" Heathwhisker yelled. Floodstar forged ahead, his whiskers flat against his muzzle and fur plastered to his frame. "It might let up soon!" yowled Snowclaw, but her voice was lost in the wind and rain.
As soon as the travelers reached the pond that lay on the edge of FloodClan territory, a strong gale and rain had kicked up, almost blowing them back.
"We have to keep going!" Floodstar shouted, shivering.
As soon as the word left his mouth, the gale and rain died away, leaving the cats cold and wet.
"That was weird." Sagetail remarked in anger that her fur was soaked.
"Almost like a test." Ambrosiaaura murmured. "A test of whether we would give up... or keep going."
o-o...o-o
A crystalline stream marked the border between Clan ground and the land beyond. Plump fish flitted through the whispering water.
"Let's rest here. We'd be stupid not to." Ambrosiaaura said.
Floodstar was a bit tired, but not so much he couldn't go on; and he could tell by the bemused looks on their faces that Heathwhisker, Snowclaw, and Sagetail weren't either.
But he saw the exhaustion on Ambrosiaaura's face, and he realized carrying young would be tiring. "Okay." he agreed. Sitting by the stream, he fished out a carp, trout, and many little minnows.
The others tore into the fish, but Floodstar caught a squirrel for himself.
He took a bite of it, his strength renewing, hope lifting. I am leaving FloodClan behind... but I have seven lives. I will protect these cats seven times over to get them home safely... especially Snowclaw.
Especially his mate, who he would do anything to protect.
He looked at her. "I'm sorry." He murmured. Her emerald eyes sparkled in confusion. "For what?"
"I never was there enough for you and the kits."
"That's true. But you made up for it... I just wish that Stormpaw hadn't paid the price."
Floodstar was still up at nights with guilt over this. His son had run off many occasions when he was little, not having his father there for him due to his duties. Stormpaw had fallen into a deep pit early in his apprenticeship, and it had crippled his leg.
"I do, too."
"Nothing can be done now." She told him firmly. "We need to concentrate, now. Think. Where are we going?"
"Well, the prophecy says, 'On the brightest night, keep north in your sight.'" Floodstar mused Then he sat up. "Look! The full moon! That must mean the brightest night!"
"North in your sight, though?" Heathwhisker asked, hearing the conversation. "Look, Floodstar, I am loyal, and honored to be here- but if we are on some 'quest' that we don't even know what we're doing, I'm not okay with that. I may not have any mate or kits to return to, but my brother Wolfblaze will be devastated if I don't return. And you have four kits, your apprentice Hiddenpaw, and a Clan, Snowclaw has almost everyone, Sagetail has Hiddenpaw and Surefire, and Ambrosiaaura has a kit in her belly."
Floodstar sat up. "North!" He meowed, remembering something from his early kithood. "The North Star!" He searched the skies. There it was, glittering down on them.
"We must follow it tonight." He said, sure of himself now. "Let's go!"
...
They trekked onward. FloodClan territory was far behind now. Nothing of note happened, except for Ambrosiaaura gasping when her kit kicked her belly. Suurely the other would know soon.
He saw Sagetail and Heathwhisker walking together, purring. No doubt we'll have mates on this voyage. He thought slyly.
Crash!
"What was that?" Sagetail whispered.
No sooner had the words left her mouth than Ambrosiaaura was gone.