All right. All you 13-fearers skip over the last chapter? Well, I lied. You actually have to read Chapter 13 for this next chapter to make any sense at all. (Pause) Ha-ha. Psych! Well, actually no. While you really should have read Chapter 13 (since some important things actually did happen), I'll just give you a brief summary so you don't have to face your fears. But you really should consider counseling if you're triskaidekaphobic.
Right, so in the last chapter, Wavepaw confessed the whole story about Snailpaw and Ripplepaw to the other apprentices. They all had a huge debate over whether or not to travel during the day or the night. Night was decided as journey time. Wavepaw went off on his own to play by the stream, and while he was there, he received a prophecy from StarClan: Only the fox knows the way.
Trickpaw, after some heavy thinking, realized that he was the "fox" in the prophecy. While he does not know the way for sure, he knows something that will guide his friends on the right path. What is this? Well, you'll have to read and find out. I ain't gonna tell you. Oh, and all you freaks who are afraid of the number 14 (I don't know what's wrong with you; 14 is my absolute favorite number), I refuse to let you skip this chapter. Suck it up, ya big babies! XP
Trickpaw felt a little nervous as every pair of eyes turned to him. His tail flicked anxiously. What if this wasn't the right way? What if he was all wrong? StarClan help me! "Well...I don't know much, but I remember a song my mother used to sing to me and my siblings every night."
"A song?" Promisepaw asked curiously. Trickpaw felt a wave of warmth towards her. She was so caring and sweet...He shook himself.
"Yes...A song. Although it has a couple lines of gibberish, I think it's what we're looking for." He paused, unsure of how to begin. "So...listen close, I guess."
"The child of Moon is not who you think!
Skittle-um, Diddle-um, Riddle-um-dink.
The child of Stars is not who you see!
Skittle-um, Diddle-um, Riddle-um-dee."
"The child of stars and moon!" Promisepaw mewed softly. Shadowpaw hushed her.
"Seeking Moonchild, here's how to go!
Skittle-um, Diddle-um, Riddle-um-doe.
Follow the east wind until the west moor!
Skittle-um, Diddle-um, Riddle-um-door."
"East wind to the west moor? That makes plenty of sense, doesn't it?" muttered Wavepaw. Shadowpaw nudged him dangerously close to a patch of nettles.
"You may find the Ratnest, but that's the right way!
Skittle-um, Diddle-um, Riddle-um-day.
You may enter the barn, but only for mice!
Skittle-um, Diddle-um, Riddle-um-dice.
Go up to the hayloft and look out below!
Skittle-um, Diddle-um, Riddle-um-doe.
Follow the gold beam wherever it shows!
Skittle-um, Diddle-um, Riddle-um-does."
"I'm liking the 'skittle-um's, myself," Sunpaw murmured. Shadowpaw merely tapped her tail on his shoulder for silence.
"Don't be disheartened if you're out of luck!
Skittle-um, Diddle-um, Riddle-um-duck.
Remember your cause and fight your way through!
Skittle-um, Diddle-um, Riddle-um-dew.
If you're still going, then don't give up yet!
Skittle-um, Diddle-um, Riddle-um-det.
You're almost home free, so keep your paws strong!
Skittle-um, Diddle-um, Riddle-um-dong.
Slip past the Twoleg and enter the lairs!
Skittle-um, Diddle-um, Riddle-um-dares.
Past Bearplace and Houndplace, don't give up hope!
Skittle-um, Diddle-um, Riddle-um-dope."
"Bearplace? Houndplace? What are bears and hounds?" Shadowpaw mused quietly. Promisepaw and Wavepaw took their revenge and shushed her loudly.
"Soon you will find her, but wait until night!
Skittle-um, Diddle-um, Riddle-um-dite.
When silver moon shines down, howl at her cave!
Skittle-um, Diddle-um, Riddle-um-dave.
Tell her your journey and what your signs are!
Skittle-um, Diddle-um, Riddle-um-dar.
Listen so closely, for she won't repeat!
Skittle-um, Diddle-um, Riddle-um-deet.
And now that you're with the sweet child of Moon,
Skittle-um, Diddle-um, Riddle-um-dune.
Rest in safety with her, then do what you must!
Skittle-um, Diddle-um, Riddle-um-dust."
Trickpaw opened his eyes and looked out at his friends. They were all staring back at him in awe. Promisepaw spoke first. "It's like a prophecy...A great, big prophecy...Trickpaw, you're a genius!"
"Oh, well, I'm not really..." Trickpaw felt his fur flush hot. He dropped his head into his chest. "It's just something my mother always did to get me and my littermates to sleep..."
"Was your mother a rogue or a Clan cat?" Sunpaw asked.
"Rogue. Her name was Kenya."
"Kenya...I like it. Nice name."
Promisepaw gazed at Trickpaw, her amber eyes shining brightly. Trickpaw had never seen such eyes with the housecats. They spoke of wild places and running in the night; of dreams and fantasies that could only be realized through taking that leap of faith. He found them charming.
And what of Promisepaw? She was slender and petite. Her white fur was sleek and well-groomed, a sweet scent that he couldn't place rolling off of her in ripples. Those three yellow paws were dainty and nimble. And her back was ginger fur the color of leaves in leaf-fall. It took all of Trickpaw's self control not to run over to her side and lick her ears lovingly.
The ginger tomcat licked his paw and swiped it over his ear once or twice. "So, any ideas?" he asked. "Got any instincts that are just burning you up?"
"Well, you look at the first two lines of it," Wavepaw ventured. "The child of moon is not who you think. Who do we think we're looking for?"
"Some cat who can tell us the way to save PromiseClan?" Promisepaw mewed.
"But if it's not who we think it'd be, then it's likely not a cat from the Clans. After all, we're the only ones who believe in StarClan," Sunpaw told her. "So...a rogue who believes in StarClan?"
"Unlikely," Shadowpaw grunted.
"A kittypet who does, perhaps?" Trickpaw asked.
"Even less likely," the dark apprentice replied, curling her tail over her paws.
"Let's skip that," Trickpaw meowed, "and move on to the next line. The child of stars is not who you see. So...perhaps we're not looking for a cat? Maybe a warrior of StarClan?"
"Oh, sure. A warrior of StarClan is going to descend from Silverpelt itself and tell us exactly what they want us to do to save PromiseClan." Shadowpaw rolled her eyes. "Yeah. You keep believing that, Trickpaw. The rest of us will try and be slightly reasonable about this."
"Keep your claws sheathed, Shadowpaw," Promisepaw protested. "It's not Trickpaw's fault he was born a rogue. We can excuse his 'ignorance' of StarClan's ways."
"Seeking Moonchild, here's how to go..." Sunpaw murmured. "Well, the rest sounds like directions to me. Follow the east wind until the west moor. How hard could it be to find an east wind and follow it?"
"Well, does an east wind start in the east and blow to the west?" Promisepaw asked. "Or does it start in the west and blow east?"
"My brain hurts!" moaned Wavepaw, wrapping his paws over his head in dismay. He shook his head. "Ugh. Let's just ask around for the nearest moor and go there!"
"Oh? And who were you planning on asking, Wavepaw? That reed over there? Maybe we could try asking the monsters on the Thunderpath." Sunpaw rolled his eyes. "We're in this on our own. No other cats are going to help us find this so-called Moonchild."
"Moonchild?" Trickpaw mewed. "Where'd you get that from?"
"Seeking Moonchild, here's how to go. I'm guessing the one we're ultimately trying to find is called Moonchild." The golden-striped tom looked around. "It makes sense, doesn't it? We're looking for the child of stars and moon. Moon, Moonchild."
"So who's the child of Stars?" Trickpaw asked. Sunpaw shrugged.
"I dunno. I say we find Moonchild first, then worry about Starchild."
Wavepaw took one paw away from his head. He looked around the group with eager green eyes. "Well, then let's get a move on!" he mewed.
"Wait until night," Shadowpaw scolder, flicking her tail up to the sky. "We should probably get to sleep now...Who knows. Maybe StarClan will show us more when we're sleeping." She stalked into their "den." Sunpaw padded after her. Trickpaw watched Wavepaw yawn and skip up behind his friends. Promisepaw stayed a little longer.
"That song," she whispered. "Trickpaw, where did your mother say it came from? Did she ever tell you any more about it than what she sang?"
Trickpaw took a deep breath. "Well...I mean, she always used to say that she got it from..." He squeezed his eyes shut tightly to block out any distractions. She had told him so very long ago...Trickpaw wasn't sure if he could remember it all. "My mother said that the song came from a wildcat she once knew. He came from an island far away...a very rainy island...Eye-something...She said he was a happy creature, always smiling and dancing and singing..." He shrugged. "I can't remember much more than that. Sorry, Promisepaw."
"It's okay." Promisepaw gave Trickpaw a friendly lick. "Let's get back to the tunnel. You can sleep by me. Unless, of course, Wavepaw's all stretched out and taking up all our space."
Trickpaw followed his friend into the impromptu den. He felt his narrow pupils expand and turn the world from dark to dimly lit. Sunpaw and Shadowpaw were curled up together on one side of the wall. Wavepaw was crouched on a lower level, his paw dangling limply in the water. Trickpaw felt a flicker of amusement. Already, the bouncy apprentice was fast asleep. He spotted Promisepaw flicking her tail for him to follow her. He flopped down next to her on a bed of soft moss. Trickpaw closed his eyes and felt her lay her head on his flank.
"Trickpaw..." she mumbled. "Do you...love me?"
Trickpaw was caught off-guard by the sudden question. Promisepaw was obviously half-asleep and saying whatever came to her mind first. He licked her ears, knowing she wouldn't remember anything he said to her now. "Yes," he whispered. "I love you more than my own mother. And some day, we will have kits together..."
"I hope so," Promisepaw murmured, smiling in her sleep. "'Cause I really like you, Trickpaw. I'm glad you joined PromiseClan."
"I am too, Promisepaw. I am too."
Trickpaw laid his head on his paws, breathing in Promisepaw's sweet scent. He knew they would never have kits together. Never. Promisepaw would be the medicine cat someday, and Trickpaw would have to find another mate. But for here and for now, Promisepaw's warm body beside his made it seem trivial. He let himself believe that they were ordinary warriors, sleeping side by side in the den. Ordinary warriors who could mate and have kits...
What a wonderful dream.