Runningshadow followed behind Mossflower to the medicine cats den, where an obsessive Weavepaw gave him traveling herbs. Mossflower briefly thanked her but told her that she had to stay in the apprentices den tonight.

Runningshadow remembered swallowing the herbs long ago, when he was just an apprentice. That was so long ago Runningshadow didn't remember: Almost eight seasons. He sighed and shook those thoughts away like drops of rain. Cinderhope always told him that he should focus on the present instead of the past to accomplish things more often.

He grimaced as he swallowed the herb. He hadn't had it for a long time, and he had almost forgotten how dreadful the leaf bundles tasted. Mossflower took one too, but she didn't even frown. Runningshadow guessed she was used to it.

Finally, they were ready to depart. Runningshadow felt very nervous, but knew that everything would be easy and flow smoothly. How hard could giving nine lives be?

As Runningshadow went on through the forest, the sun was set lower and lower, and soon the looming shape of Highstones swallowed it up, leaving the sky with cruel darkness.

Fortunately, amid the darkness the warriors of StarClan were there for them, shining brightly. Runningshadow looked to the stars. Are you really out there, Ashstar? Asked Runningshadow in his head. Are you happy for me? Have I made the right decisions?

Suddenly, the looming black river of the Thunderpath stood out in front of Runningshadow. He gulped.

"Mossflower, are we…"

"We have to if we're going to Highstones," Replied the black and white she-cat.

Runningshadow felt shivers run up and down his spine. Monsters were streaming across the Thunderpath at soaring speeds every few heartbeats. It was very probable that Runningshadow would get squashed by a Twoleg monster. Then who would be leader?

Runningshadow sighed, squared his shoulders and set a paw onto the oily grass that bordered the Thunderpath. He felt disgusted as the grass rubbed up against his newly groomed coat.

He carefully set a paw onto the black stone. Runningshadow had never felt more scared in his life. Well, perhaps he had, when Mudpelt had pinned him down the other day.

"I'll tell you when it's a good time to go," Mossflower comforted.

Runningshadow shot her a grateful glance and looked from side to side across the Thunderpath.

Seconds passed. It seemed like hours that Runningshadow was staring at Twoleg monsters crossing the Thunderpath, rushing by and leaving Runningshadow coughing with the smoke that spit out its tail end.

Suddenly, Mossflower yowled, "Go!" And Runningshadow found himself bolting across the Thunderpath. His heart beat so loud he could almost hear it amid the approaching monsters.

All of a sudden, a huge monster crashed down the road, straight towards Runningshadow. He screamed and pelted even faster across the road, but to him it just kept getting longer and longer.

He shut his eyes tight and braced for the hurt that would pulse through his body when the monster rolled right over him. And, to his relief, Runningshadow felt nothing. Was he dead? No…

The monster had gone right over him! Joy surged through Runningshadow that he had lived, but as soon as he could feel relieved he heard Mossflower screaming, "No, Runningshadow, run!!"

Runningshadow's eyes widened and he looked wildly around. All he could see was the dark Thunderpath. Actually it was getting lighter.

Wait…getting lighter? Runningshadow suddenly realized that a monster three times bigger than the one that had nearly run him over with a swirling middle came swerving at him.

Runningshadow yowled at the top of his lungs. He tried moving his paws, but they were frozen to the spot. Suddenly, he felt a push at his behind, and he caught a glimpse of a white head.

He let out an oof as he thumped on the other side of the Thunderpath. Runningshadow looked out after the swirling monster, but it was going so fast that it was now long gone.

He sighed with relief. He had survived not just nearly getting hit by one, but two! And Mossflower had saved him!

"Mossflower, are you okay?" Asked Runningshadow. "Where are you?"

"Riph umphdeph mmph," Mewed a muffled voice.

Runningshadow jumped and leaped off from where he was sitting. He saw Mossflower flat on her belly, out of breath.

"Sorry," Huffed Runningshadow, still trying to catch his breath. He blushed.

"No problem," Mossflower sighed, "At least our leader is still alive."

Runningshadow beamed at her and purred. She purred lightly back, but cut herself off and meowed, "Well, I guess we'd better get going. The sunset is just going down now."

Runningshadow nodded and followed after the medicine cat.

The rest of the way there, thoughts of the sparkling moonstone and starry cats meeting him in his dreams spun through Runningshadow's mind. He felt extremely nervous. Would getting his lives hurt?

Finally, the two arrived at Mothermouth. "Would you like to rest?" Asked Mossflower.

Runningshadow nodded, glad to flop down on the soft soil and rest for a while. He sighed. "What a journey," He remarked.

Mossflower laughed. "Yes. Thank StarClan we survived the Thunderpath! I thought that huge monster was going to kill you."

"Thanks again for saving me," Runningshadow mewed gratefully. "If you didn't push me out of the way in time, I would have been flattened down!"

Mossflower chuckled again and sighed, looking up at the stars. "They're so beautiful, aren't they?" She asked.

Runningshadow nodded, following the medicine cat's gaze. The moon was high in the sky, it's light flooding all over the plain. "I wonder which one is Ashstar?" He asked.

Mossflower's green eyes focused hard on the stars for many seconds. She finally pointed up with her tail. "It might be that one," She mewed, pointing to a very bright one. "It's not as dim as the others, so it's fairly new."

Runningshadow widened his eyes and nodded, stunned at how right she was. He wondered if it was a matter of Ashstar's coming to StarClan, or how happy she was about her deputy becoming leader.

Mossflower heaved herself up. "It's time," She whispered. "We must go into Mothermouth."

Runningshadow swallowed hard. This was the part of his life that would make him prove himself forever. His heart started beating even faster , he could feel it throbbing deep inside his ribs.

"Don't worry, just follow my scent through the tunnel. I'm sure you remember the way there?" Asked Mossflower.

Runningshadow nodded. "I think so," He mewed, kneading his paws anxiously. "So what do I do?" Asked Runningshadow. "Just sleep on top of the rock?"

"Well, you'd think that, but no," Mossflower explained. "Just go up next to the rock and press your nose to the rock. You should start to sleep soon."

Mossflower started into the gaping tunnel. Runningshadow peered past the she-cat's shoulder but all he could see was pure darkness. It would take a while to get to the moonstone.

Runningshadow stepped into the cave of Mothermouth. The cold stone under his paws was electrifying and woke him up from his half-awake daze. It frightened Runningshadow for some reason. It made him think that the rest of the tunnel would be as cold and apathetic as the freezing rock floor.

As he slowly crept along the chilly floor, Runningshadow unsheathed his claws for no reason. He was just so scared that he didn't want to go unarmed.

The tunnels wound on and on. Runningshadow wondered if this seemingly endless tunnel would ever end. With every step he got even more nervous about receiving lives from StarClan. With every step it got more foreboding and mysterious.

After millions of heartbeats, Mossflower halted abruptly at the end of the tunnel. Runningshadow eagerly looked ahead, but couldn't see anything glittering.

Mossflower gave him an irritated look and Runningshadow blushed for his excitement at seeing the stone. The black and white she-cat flicked her tail for him to go first.

Runningshadow gulped and reluctantly started to step forward, his entire body buzzing with wild fear He padded towards the moonstone as slow as he wanted.

But Mossflower was pushing him forward and was getting impatient. Runningshadow picked up the pace and stepped into the circular room where the moonstone was.

Suddenly, the room was filled with brilliant white light. Runningshadow had to squint to keep the dazzling glimmer out of his eyes. But he had to open his eyes to take in the beauty of the stone.

It was glittering with the light of a million stars as the moon angled it's light onto the moonstone. Runningshadow was amazed. This was one of the best moments of his life.

He noticed that Mossflower was sitting down beside the radiant stone herself and pressing her nose to it. Runningshadow tried to copy her and settled down in front of the rock.

Slowly, anxiously, Runningshadow pressed his nose to the rock, holding back a couple of times due to the sudden cold, but finally lay his head on his paws and touched his nose without taking it off, waiting for StarClan to bring him sleep.

Please review and tell me how I'm doing with this whole leader thing! I don't have any plushies...wait a sec...-rummages around in plushie box- I have a Chasewind plushie! Isn't he getting a little nicer? I like him now that he is kind to Runningshadow.