;-;-;-;
Snow fell on and off for six days, eventually reaching nearly up to Sunfire's shoulder. Paths had been plowed all around the camp, tunnels in the snow leading to the separate dens, the fresh-kill pile, and up the slope.
It was almost like any other leaf-bare the forest had endured: prey was scarce yet the Clans were not starving; cats huddled in their dens when not patrolling or hunting rather than sitting outside; cats slunk over to Treeshadow and Rootpaw's den, nursing cracked paw pads; the cats assigned to guard duty sat close together for warmth, hunched against the cold. It would have been any other leaf-bare, save for the heavy knowledge of the coming battle that hung over the Clans.
Sunfire, Darkcloud, Badgerclaw, and Quickriver spent nearly all their time perfecting their apprentice's fighting moves. Treeshadow and Rootpaw took turns nosing around the forest for winter herbs and berries and treating cats that limped over to their den with bloody, split paw pads.
Sunfire, when she was not training Softpaw or eating, worried about Lightningstar. He'd just recovered from his abrupt bout of whitecough, yet he spent his time wandering around camp with Mudspeckle. Sunfire wanted to bite some sense into her leader; he was old, and though he would not admit it, he was becoming frail, and if he kept up his routine of standing in the frigid snow all day the sickness would come back.
"He's strong," Icestorm assured her after she was finished training Softpaw for the day. "He'll lead us into battle, and he'll come out alive."
Sunfire, though grateful for his comforting presence, could not make herself believe his words. "He's going to die sometime, Icestorm. The odds are against him."
Raintail moaned softly: "Can we please try to keep just a little optimism? Conversations of impending death and doom is not what any of us needs the day before the battle."
Sunfire snorted lightly yet squirmed; though Lightningstar had named courage as one of her traits during her warrior ceremony, thinking about the coming battle made her feel sick and anxious. Perhaps because the entire forest is at stake this time. It wasn't before. Not really. All the other fights with the Tribe were just border fights, almost insignificant...
A sudden commotion from outside made her raise her head. Many voices were talking at once, excited and questioning. Raintail had popped up at the sound of the voices; already she was starting out of the den. Sunfire followed her, Icestorm on her tail.
A group of cats stood at the bottom of the slope. The hunting patrol had returned, and each cat was talking, trying to get the attention of someone in the center of the circle they had formed. Sunfire felt excitement loop through her like lightning as she caught a blessedly familiar scent.
"It's Pinefur!" exclaimed Raintail. Other cats were streaming out of their dens now. Lightningstar scrabbled up the Hightree and called for silence.
"Who is our visitor?" he asked. The patrol fanned out, stepping away from Pinefur. Unable to stop herself, Sunfire bounded forward to greet her.
"Why are you here?" she asked, touching her nose to Pinefur's. "Did the Tribe—?"
"We'd all like to know why she's here," growled Hawkclaw. He stepped up to Sunfire, his dark eyes burning. "She's not welcome."
Sunfire felt fury rush through her. For moons, Hawkclaw had been quiet. He had stayed away from her and her friends, keeping to himself, speaking only when he had to. She'd stopped paying him much mind, sometimes even forgetting he was part of ThunderClan. But hearing him say that refreshed the hatred she had so long nursed for him. You murdered my mother!
"Lightningstar has said she's permitted here," she snarled, unsheathing her claws. "You have not succeeded him as leader. His laws still hold." Attack me, Hawkclaw, just do it, so the Clan can see your murderous streak. StarClan, she'd even forgotten her oath to avenge the deaths of Roseleaf and Orangestripe! StarClan forgive me, I've had so much on my mind for moons...
"Sunfire, correct as you are, I must ask you to calm yourself. We cannot have infighting, especially with the battle tomorrow." Seething, Sunfire glanced up at her leader, then bowed her head and stepped away from Hawkclaw, heeding his warning tone.
"Now. Why have you come?" asked Lightningstar calmly, looking at Pinefur.
Pinefur turned her head up to face him. "You remember I said that a small branch of the Tribe is living near my territory? I heard them discussing the battle; they were leaving, going back to the mountains. I wanted to come and offer my fighting skills, to aid the forest in this final battle."
"Your offer is accepted," said Lightningstar. "You have ThunderClan's most sincere thanks. We need every friend we can get in this fight."
Pinefur nodded. "I am no longer a Clan cat, nor will I ever be again, but I will fight to keep the forest in StarClan's paws." Appreiciative murmurs issued from the Clan. Pinefur shyly dipped her head in acknowledgement.
"We need to depart for WindClan's land tonight," said Lightningstar once the camp was quiet. "Now, in fact. It will be nearly sundown when we reach them. We will spend the night with them, then rise to face the Tribe at dawn."
"Couldn't you have given us more warning?" It was Yellowflower who spoke, her voice an odd mixture of accusing and dismayed.
"I told the Clan when we were leaving days ago," said Lightningstar. "This should not seem sudden or unexpected."
Sunfire privately thought that despite the warnings Lightningstar had dished out, every cat was surprised to actually hear him say the words. Every cat was coming, Sunfire knew, except for the elders, and Nightwhisker and Granitekit. Sunfire admired the bravery required of the black queen to stay in camp alone with her kit, not knowing the fate of ThunderClan.
Lightningstar jumped down from the Hightree. "Come," he said, waving his tail. "We must all be brave. All the Clans are united in this. We cannot fail if we fight together."
Pressing close to Icestorm, Raintail, and Pinefur, and giving Softpaw a reassuring lick when she hurried over, Sunfire prayed her beloved leader was right. She saw Treeshadow and Rootpaw bearing bundles of herbs in their mouths, standing as close together as she and her friends did.
Moving as one, ThunderClan started up the slope. Sunfire craned her neck, looking at Lightningstar's black-and-white fur. Oh, Lightningstar, you cannot die. I don't know life without you.
;-;-;-;
ShadowClan had already joined WindClan at the edge of their territory. Lightningstar greeted the other two leaders formally, then told his Clan to rest, to be ready to fight come dawn.
Sunfire found it impossible to sleep. Icestorm, Raintail, and Pinefur sat with the Clans, but Sunfire sat away from the mass of cats. She needed to be alone, at least for now.
"Sunfire?"
She turned. Softpaw had come up behind her in complete silence. "What's up, Softpaw? Scared?"
"I don't know," answered her apprentice. "I don't really feel anything, actually. I'm just numb."
"Well, I'm proud of you," said Sunfire truthfully, looking down at Softpaw. "You're not acting like a scared kit. You're acting like a seasoned warrior."
"I wish I was going into the battle as a warrior," muttered Softpaw, looking out over the moor and gazing at the mountains. Reedstar was right: WindClan was more or less right up against the Tribe's home, at least when compared to the other Clans. "But I'm too young. No apprentice ever gained their warrior name after only two moons of training."
Sunfire could sympathize with Softpaw; she remembered feeling the same way when she was younger. "Even if you're not entering the battle with a warrior name," said Sunfire quietly, wrapping her tail around Softpaw, "you're entering the battle with a warrior's courage and spirit."
Softpaw looked up at Sunfire with such gratitude Sunfire felt like weeping. She'd never really realized how much Softpaw looked up to her, strived to be like her. "Get some sleep," Sunfire said, swallowing hard. "You'll need it. And you will be a warrior after this battle; I promise."
;-;-;-;
Dawn came brittle and silent, like the world was holding its breath. Sunfire had joined her friends after sending Softpaw off to sleep, and was glad she had: even pressed against the others' warmth, the snow had nearly frozen her. Though three separate Clans were gathered, they were all mingled, encouraging each other.
As if acting on a previous arrangement, Lightningstar, Reedstar, and Hickorystar all stood together, their deputies beside them. Treeshadow and Rootpaw stood with the other medicine cats. All the warriors stood in one massive group, and all the apprentices stood together. Softpaw was flanked by Dewpaw and Fogpaw; Sunfire was touched to see the latter press his cheek against Softpaw's.
The Clans sat in near silence, waiting for some unknown signal. The fear Sunfire had felt the night before had vanished; now she felt as though a flame burned within her, a bright, unyielding light that lent her strength for the battle ahead. Icestorm sat with his head raised, his fur glinting in the almost-light. He turned his head and looked directly at her, his deep blue eyes burning with determination and love.
When the sun rose above the mountains, its fiery light glinting off the snow, Lightningstar pointed towards the mountains with his tail. A great mass could be seen moving, a huge dark shape coming down the mountainside and moving towards the Clans.
"The Tribe is coming," said Lightningstar, his deep, noble voice carrying over the snow-coated moor. "Let us go and meet them, and fight them with all the power of StarClan."
;-;-;-;
In the silence just before the dawn
The shadows lose their form
We rise to greet the morning
In the calm that comes before the storm. –Moody Blues, River of Endless Love