Chapter Eleven: One Last Journey

Winterpaw was awoken from his slumber by a sharp jab in his side. He rolled over with a grumble, trying to ignore his arouser. But the prod came again, more insistent this time, so Winterpaw rolled over again and opened his eyes. Dreamstep was standing over him, his paw raised to poke again if he had to. The white apprentice blinked in the early light; the sun was only just clearing the tips of the trees. It was the second sunrise since Flickertail's banishment, and Winterpaw had slept through all of it.

"Get up, Winterpaw." Dreamstep mewed softly, so as not to wake Foxmask, still sleeping next to the apprentice. "Copperstar wants me to take you with me to RiverClan territory. We're escorting Ripfang home."

Winterpaw yawned. "Can't you take Redpaw with you?" He complained. "He's your apprentice."

"Redpaw has to stay and take care of the cats still recovering." The medicine cat replied. Before Winterpaw could protest anymore, Dreamstep picked up a large squirrel and placed it in front of Winterpaw. "Here, eat this. I've already had a mouse, so I'll wait for you with Ripfang near the exit. Don't lollygag." He gave Winterpaw an affectionate flick with his tail and left the den.

It was only after the smell of the squirrel reached Winterpaw's nostrils that he realized he was starving. He finished the squirrel off quickly, gulping it down ravenously. Swiping his tongue around his mouth to get any last bits, he stood from his nest and stretched luxuriously. Full-leaf was just beginning, and even so early in the day the sun warmed Winterpaw's thin white coat. He purred. So what if he still ached a bit from the battle? Today was ripe for adventure.

Just before he left, Winterpaw licked Foxmask's ears gently. The ginger she-cat grumbled and shifted in the nest, opening one eye to gaze up at the white tom. "I'm going with Dreamstep to take the RiverClan prisoner home. We should be back before sunset…" Foxmask nodded, showing she understood, then rolled over and went back to sleep.

Winterpaw bounded out into the clearing, where Dreamstep was talking to Wildpath while Ripfang waited restlessly beside him. When the medicine cat saw Winterpaw coming, he bid farewell to the new deputy and started out of the camp without another word. Ripfang and Winterpaw hurried after him.

Dreamstep soon set a quick pace; they would need to if the ShadowClan cats were to get home before nightfall. Soon Ripfang's injured leg began to fail her, and she was forced to use Winterpaw as a crutch. Annoyance bubbled in the apprentice's stomach, but he swallowed his pride and forced himself to lead his enemy home.

They crossed the thunderpath into RiverClan territory not long after leaving the ShadowClan camp. Winterpaw shuddered as he raced across the hard black surface, picturing with every step a huge monster crushing him beneath its paws, just as Whistlepaw had been killed. Finally he was across, and they started their trek through unfamiliar territory.

"You'll have to lead the way to the camp." Dreamstep meowed matter-of-factly.

Ripfang rolled her eyes and pulled herself and Winterpaw out into the lead. "Medicine cats are all the same…Bossy furballs…"

The group made slower progress now that they were on RiverClan's land, as Ripfang couldn't move nearly as fast as Dreamstep had. Winterpaw explored the territory with his eyes, thinking about attack strategies and escape routes. There wasn't much tall plant life; mostly grass and reeds, which made better cover than trees anyway. Prey-scent filled the air, making his mouth water, even though he'd only eaten just before he left.

It was almost sunhigh before the sound of a stream ahead could be heard. "It's just up ahead." Ripfang said shortly. Winterpaw was about to ask what the camp was like, but he soon had his answer anyway. They approached a swiftly-flowing stream at a point where a smaller stream joined it. The sounds of cats could barely be heard coming from the small triangle of land between the two streams, but the thick reeds and bushes hid the camp from view. Winterpaw had to admit it was a very good place for a camp, possibly even better than the tangle of brambles that made the ShadowClan camp.

Dreamstep lead the way again, wading cautiously across the smaller stream to what seemed to be an entrance.

"I smell ShadowClan." A voice hissed. A gray tom stepped from the reeds, his fur bristling. "What are you doing here at our camp?!" The warrior demanded, baring his teeth.

"We've come to bring Ripfang home." Dreamstep responded calmly, unfazed by the gray warrior's aggression. "And I have news to discuss with Shimmerstar. Would you deny a medicine cat?"

Reluctantly, the gray cat stepped back and allowed the three to pass through the entrance into the camp. The other RiverClan cats stared at them as they passed, their eyes wide with surprise, but not much hostility. It was just a medicine cat and an apprentice, after all.

They passed the nursery as Ripfang led them to the leader's den. A group of kits were play wrestling outside as their mothers looked on, just as ShadowClan's kits always did. They stopped suddenly as the unfamiliar cats passed, their eyes huge in amazement.

"Mama?" One a small tortoiseshell she-kit asked her mother. "Why are that tom's eyes red? He looks weird!" Winterpaw felt himself flush with embarrassment. He'd almost forgotten his abnormality in the time he'd been staring around the camp.

"Hush!" The kit's mother scolded, pulling her kits close to her and herding them into the nursery. "Those are ShadowClan cats. Don't make them angry!"

"Here." Ripfang growled laconically, leading them to a thicket. She knocked against the thick brambles hiding the nest inside as a greeting, and soon enough Shimmerstar's voice trilled, "Come in!"

The three entered a roomy nest, where Shimmerstar was curled up alone over a juicy looking fish. She beamed in welcome as they entered. "Greetings, Dreamstep, Ripfang and…Friend." Her voice dripped with sweetness, seeming to fill the whole den with honey. "What brings you to my humble abode?"

"Only bad news, I'm afraid." Dreamstep sighed. "One of ShadowClan's warriors led a rebellion against Copperstar. It was stomped down, but you should know that some RiverClan warriors were involved."

"RiverClan warriors?" Shimmerstar blinked, not understanding. "What were they doing there?"

"We were helping the rebellion, you mouse brain!" Ripfang snarled. "Do you even know half the things that go on in your own Clan? Half the time you don't even come out to train your own apprentice!"

The RiverClan leader shrank back before her warrior's anger. Winterpaw was surprised; Was Shimmerstar really going to take that from one of her own warriors? "I still don't understand," She mewed weakly. "Why would you help ShadowClan?"

Ripfang snorted. "That lying Flickertail promised he'd help us overthrow you if we helped him." She hissed. "There's no point in hiding it; you'll find out anyway."

Shimmerstar seemed to collect herself after a moment. She turned to Winterpaw and said, "Could you go ask someone to find Ashtree for me?"

"Ashtree fought with Ripfang against ShadowClan." Dreamstep growled, shaking his head. "Ashtree, Crosspath, Twigleg and Ripfang are the traitors." Ripfang snarled. Winterpaw tilted his head to one side. Had Dreamstep forgotten to mention Fishpaw on purpose? The apprentice had been forced to fight against his will anyway.

Silence fell over the den for what seemed like forever as Shimmerstar closed her eyes, almost in defeat. Winterpaw shifted nervously from paw to paw. This was taking longer than they'd hoped. Finally, Shimmerstar said, "Apprentice, find Skysong for me and…Burnstripe… Please." Winterpaw nodded, glad to leave the tension of the leader's den.

As he left, Winterpaw ran head-long into another RiverClan warrior. To his surprise, he recognized this one as an apprentice he'd spoken to at the Gathering. It seemed like moons ago, even though it had only been about a week. "Ripplepaw! Oh, I'm glad I found you."

"It's Ripplewave, now." The warrior sniffed, looking down at him. "Hello, Winterpaw. Did you need something?"

"Oh, yes…Shimmerstar told me to find Skysong and Burnstripe." Winterpaw told the older cat, feeling a little awkward after being corrected like that. But Ripplewave nodded obediently and bounded off to find the two cats. Winterpaw waited anxiously, and soon enough Ripplewave returned with Skysong and a ginger she-cat with dark black stripes that Winterpaw didn't recognize, but he guessed must be Burnstripe. She looked angry, and seemed to be arguing with Ripplewave.

"I told her that was the last time I'd help her with anything." Burnstripe was grumbling. "Doesn't she listen to a word any cat says to her?"

"Be still, Burnstripe." The RiverClan medicine cat soothed. "I'm sure she wouldn't call you now unless it was important." The two RiverClan cats entered the leader's den. Winterpaw glanced at Ripplewave expectantly.

"I'll wait out here, thanks." She mewed nervously. "It's really none of my business." Winterpaw shrugged and re-entered the den.

Ripfang was recounting the story of how Ashtree started gathering followers for a rebellion after meeting with Flickertail. Shimmerstar sat motionless in her nest, staring at her paws blankly, while Burnstripe fumed next to her. Dreamstep and Skysong were muttering to each other a little way off.

"…I was injured so I couldn't flee with the others." Ripfang finished. "I don't know where they are now, if they haven't returned."

"This is an outrage!" Burnstripe yowled. "How could you have let this go on under your nose, Shimmerstar?!"

Shimmerstar didn't reply. She only closed her eyes in sorrow and sighed heavily. Another silence engulfed the cats, smothering even the sounds of their breathing. Moons went by before Shimmerstar whispered, "I guess I need to announce this to the Clan…And appoint a new deputy." But she made no move to get up.

Dreamstep brushed past Winterpaw, making him jump. "Come on, Winterpaw." He murmured. "This is not our business anymore. We've returned Ripfang and reported all we know about the attack. It's time to go home." Winterpaw nodded and followed the medicine cat out of the den and towards home. He couldn't help looking back at the leader's den as he went, though. It was obvious to any cat that Shimmerstar was hardly a competent leader. Would she be able to pull her Clan back together after such a betrayal, or would the next rebellion be successful?

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Alright, chapter 11! Most of this is RiverClan's troubles. Not really important to the plot, but I think it gives the story much more depth. In my head, I know the stories of all these cats, and I know all their motives for everything they do. I think I'll write a series of one-shots about the other Clans while ShadowClan fights against Flickertail. Every story deserves to be told.

Anyway, hope you like this chapter. The next will probably be a big jump into the future, but I'll explain a lot of what happens in between.

This author's note just makes the fifth page in this story, so the actual chapter is four pages exactly in word. Yay!

Please read and review if you want the next chapter soon. ;)

And thank you Ripplewater for your helpful critique!