"Hey Promisepaw, I've been thinking a lot about your prophecy," Shadowpaw meowed.

"Me too," Sunpaw mewed. The other two looked to Wavepaw as if expecting him to add his voice to the conversation. The silver cat shrugged.

"Yeah, same here, and I think I found something out."

Promisepaw looked from apprentice to apprentice, her eyes growing wide with excitement. Her tail rose up in the air, doing a pleased curve at the end. "Really?" she breathed. "What did you guys find out? Do you know what StarClan wants?"

"What's everyone meowing about?" asked Trickpaw as he shook himself awake.

"I had a dream from StarClan a few weeks ago," Promisepaw explained. "They said Hope, Shadows, Fire, and Water will come together to save the Promised Clan." Turning back to her apprentice friends, she asked, "Well? What is it? Tell me before I faint!"

"My name is Shadowpaw."

"And the sun is the burning mane of LionClan."

"I came from LakeClan."

Shadowpaw touched her nose to Promisepaw's. "I am the Shadow in the prophecy."

Sunpaw nodded. "I'm the Fire."

"I'm Water," Wavepaw put in. "But who's the Hope, I wonder?"

"I am."

Every apprentice turned to Promisepaw. Her amber eyes glowed happily. "Don't you see? My name is Promisepaw. A Promise is a Hope for the future."

"But what's the danger we're saving the Clan from?" Trickpaw mused. Shadowpaw scoffed.

"You're not coming with us," she mewed tartly. "Are you mentioned in the prophecy? Well? Are you?" She pushed her muzzle into his face. "No. I didn't think so. Unless you're the danger we're protecting the Clan from."

"Back off, Shadowpaw," growled Sunpaw angrily. "What did Trickpaw ever do to you? He's the newest apprentice. He deserves a little more care and a little less venom."

Shadowpaw dropped back a step. Promisepaw saw an emotion flicker in her eyes that looked faintly like disbelief. The white she-cat pushed herself between the arguing apprentices. "You back off, Sunpaw," she ordered. "Remember, Shadowpaw is allowed to be a little mistrusting of Trickpaw. He was a rogue, after all. As long as they don't hurt each other, I say it's all right to let them talk it out."

"But, er, Shadowpaw didn't look like she wanted to talk it out," Wavepaw muttered, his whiskers dancing nervously. "She looked like she's rather have a catfight over it."

"Shut it, Wavepaw," Shadowpaw snarled. Promisepaw felt anxiety flare up in her belly. What would StarClan think if their chosen cats started bickering like old she-cats? Sunpaw stepped in, his hackles raised.

"All right, this is getting us nowhere! Shadowpaw, over there. Trickpaw, there. Wavepaw—"

"I wasn't doing anything!"

"—over there. Stay in your little corner until you're ready to talk this over like the fledgling warriors you are." Surprisingly, the tense cats obeyed. Sunpaw heaved a soft sigh.

"Thanks, Sunpaw," Promisepaw whispered. The golden cat winked one of his icy eyes.

"Sure thing. I've been thinking, Promisepaw...Why would StarClan choose apprentices and not warriors to carry out their will?"

"Why would they send a prophecy to the medicine cat apprentice?" Promisepaw gave a little pause, then added, "And why would they send it through a kittypet? Sunpaw, perhaps you should know something...Trickpaw isn't a rogue..."

"He's a kittypet."

"You knew?" Promisepaw was stunned.

"Shadowpaw knew. She told me last night."

"He was...the kittypet StarClan sent to me in my dream...He claims that StarClan opened his senses and gave him the name of Trickpaw."

Sunpaw nodded. Promisepaw felt a little flicker of unease. How many of the other apprentices knew about Trickpaw's past? And since when has Shadowpaw...been so...open with someone? Aloud, she said, "Although, I can't help wondering if StarClan has chosen a particular destiny for Trickpaw. Kittypets never join Clans...do they?"

"I'm not sure. I've heard rumors of a kittypet who saved four Clans all on his own. They say he was sent by StarClan to save every cat in his forest."

Promisepaw thought that was just plain silly. Trickpaw was strong, granted, but there was no way he could save even a small Clan like SwampClan without help. She shook her head, whiskers twitching with amusement. "I think you need to stop listening to the elders," she murmured softly. Sunpaw shrugged.

"Perhaps. Oh—here comes Trickpaw."

Trickpaw stopped in front of Promisepaw. He studied the white queen with a look in his eyes akin to worship. "I'm ready to talk," he mewed.

"Yeah, I think I can be 'mature,'" Wavepaw added, butting Sunpaw's shoulder with his gray head.

"Whatever," Shadowpaw muttered as she joined the group.

"All right, here's what's going to happen," Promisepaw meowed. "Trickpaw will come with us when we save the Clan...although we need to find out what the danger is first. I'll tell you if I get any more dreams from StarClan, and if you have a strange dream, tell me about it." She waited until there were nods from the other chosen apprentices. "Great. Well, Seedgrowth will probably want me. I'll be going now."

"Bye, Promisepaw," murmured Trickpaw, touching his nose to hers. Promisepaw saw longing in his blue gaze. Does he...love me? Apprentices aren't allowed to have kits—especially not the medicine cat apprentice! Giving herself a quick shake, Promisepaw returned the touch and scampered out of the den.

The white she-cat stepped out into the clearing, shivering. The setting sun was turning the light red, staining the camp red, like...Blood! Promisepaw's hackles rose stiffly along her neck. Was it a message from StarClan? Promisepaw padded nervously to the medicine cat's den, paws twitching with every step of the journey. She heard a harsh, almost barking noise behind her and jumped straight up. She spun on the attacker, yowling, "PromiseClan! Attack!"

"Whoa! Hey!" The raspy voice broke off in another fit of coughing. "Don't get your tail in a twist, Promisepaw!"

Promisepaw let her fur fall flat. "Oh...Nighthawk. It's just you...I thought you were a dog for a second there..."

"Nope." Nighthawk gave another barking cough. "Just...got a little cold. That's—" He coughed again. "—all."

"Come with me," Promisepaw mewed, laying her tail on his shoulders. "We'd better get you fixed up before that turns into whitecough."

Nighthawk nodded, his body rippling with a chill. "Thanks..."

Promisepaw was worried. Was this the danger? A great sickness? Nighthawk didn't look too sick...but you could never be too careful with leaf-fall so near by. "Seedgrowth, can you come take a look at Nighthawk?" she mewed into the hollow tree.

"I could hear him a mile away," was Seedgrowth's retort. "Coughing like a pack of hounds! Promisepaw, do we have any honey?"

"No...I think we gave the last of it to Longfang."

"Could you go get some, please?"

Promisepaw squinched up her face. "Ugh! Do I have to, Seedgrowth?"

"Take Ashfire and Hexmind with you. I don't want you going out alone."

Promisepaw was about to argue when Nighthawk gave another loud cough. Her duty to the Clan's health came first. Promisepaw scurried off to the warriors den. "Ashfire? Hexmind?" she mewed into the darkness. There was a grunt from Hexmind as the black cat opened one brilliant green eye.

"Yeh?"

"Where's Ashfire?"

"Dunno. Patrolling, I think." Hexmind scratched a few scraps of dead leaves and moss from her pelt. "Why? Everything okay?"

"It's Nighthawk. I need to get honey for him."

"Ah. And you'd need Ashfire and his tiny paws to really make that go. Well, I'm sure we can find another dainty-pawed cat for you." The black warrior looked around the den. "Hm...Heavenstep, no, pads are too delicate...Not Quartzfur, paws are too big...Whitebelly!"

"Wha?"

"Come on, you dozy furball! We need you for getting honey."

"Get it yourself."

"Do you want to have to put up with Nighthawk's coughing for another night?" Hexmind asked tactfully. Promisepaw felt a glow of pleasure. Hexmind was a quick-witted cat. Whitebelly staggered to his paws.

"'m up," he mumbled drowsily. His jaws opened in a huge yawn. Hexmind gave him a hearty nudge with her shoulder in the direction of the tunnel used to climb out of the ditch. Whitebelly nearly stumbled, but he stayed on his paws.

Promisepaw followed behind the two warriors at a respectful distance. Hexmind surprised her with an inviting flick of her tail. The young apprentice bounded forward to walk beside the two of them. "You know the drill?" the black she-cat questioned. Promisepaw shook her head. "All right. Basically, I soothe the bees, and a second warrior—normally Ashfire because of his small paws—reaches in and takes the honeycomb."

Promisepaw nodded, her tail curling up happily. Hexmind had been a rogue once, but now she was a loyal warrior of PromiseClan. The white she-cat twitched her whiskers and ears in a wordless plea to lead the expedition. Hexmind nodded, and Promisepaw padded ahead. She paused at every likely looking clumps where the sweet scent of honey was thick on the air. She could almost taste to ooey gooey ambrosia. It was obvious the other warriors were aware of the scent; Whitebelly's eyes were open and alert, and Hexmind gave her lips a lick when she thought no cat was looking.

"Here," Promisepaw mewed after hearing the low hum of a beehive. Hexmind nodded. Pricking their ears up, the two black cats padded forward into the brush. Promisepaw quickly gathered a few leaves to wrap the comb in for transport back to the camp. The white cat sat where she was, tail waving lazily behind her. After a few minutes, the hum droned softer and softer, finally fading into silence. Promisepaw stood up, hoping to catch a glimpse of the two warriors at work.

She watched Whitebelly stick his forepaw into the hole in the tree. He fished around in the hive, finally pulling forth a small section of the comb. Sticky liquid dribbled form the wax. Promisepaw padded forwards and set the leaf on the ground. Whitebelly nodded and dropped the honeycomb atop the leaf. He licked his dark paws, purring with pleasure. "Mmf...'S good," he meowed thickly. "Try fome." He held out his paw to the other cats. Promisepaw took a lick of the honey, as did Hexmind.

Whitebelly let the she-cats lick his paw clean, then went back for more honey. "Juft in cafe more catf get fick," he explained, his speech still impeded by the honey. He pulled out a few more sections of comb. Promisepaw wrapped them up carefully and picked one up in her teeth. Hexmind and Whitebelly did the same with the rest of the comb. Together, the trio headed for home.

.-''-.-''-.-''-.

Seedgrowth's eyes shone with relief at the sight of the sticky party. "Thank StarClan," he meowed. "We're going to need all of this in case more cats catch this cold of Nighthawk's." He purred with amusement at the sight of the honey still around the three cats' muzzles. "I just hope you left enough for the bees."

"We did," Promisepaw mewed. "There's a ton left for them. I know, they eat it to stay alive in leaf-bare. Remember? You told me about it moons ago."

Seedgrowth purred, giving his apprentice a fond lick. "Yes. And I'm glad you remembered." He sighed, gazing up at the darkening sky. "Take some fresh-kill and catch up with your friends," he ordered. "I'll take it from here. Thank you, all of you."

Hexmind and Whitebelly accepted the thanks and padded off to the warriors den. Promisepaw watched Seedgrowth administer the honey. She licked her muzzle carefully, wondering what the topic of conversation would be with the other apprentices tonight.