After that, Storm gave me more freedom. He allowed me to go pretty much when ever and where ever I pleased, so long as I told him first. I wondered if he'd have let me go back to my Clan if I'd asked him, but I never did. I wouldn't dream of it.
From then on we hunted together. He never left me behind unless I asked to be. He taught me herbs and let me help gather them, and taught me some quick, basic remedies as well. I enjoyed my new life immensely. I loved the freedom of it, and the lack of snobbish older warriors. But I knew that I would have to go back. I procrastinated, though.
Until that one awful day.
It was gorgeous. The sun was shining prettily, the fresh-kill pile had enough on it to last us at least two days, the herbs were sorted, our nest's bedding changed (we shared one now), and we had some time all to ourselves.
We were lying in the sun in front of the den where a soft patch of grass grew, chatting about unimportant things. Suddenly Storm's ears pricked. He rolled over and leapt to his paws. I followed suit. "Who's there?" he shouted. I managed to pick it up, too. Someone was walking near.
A skinny, golden tabby cat topped a boulder in front of us with some difficulty.
Storm looked ready to spring, but I stopped him with a call of recognition.
"Lilypaw?"
The she-cat let out a cry and leapt down to where we sat. "Ripplepaw!" she meowed, sounding relieved. "And...who's this?" she added, turning to Storm.
"I'm Storm," he said. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Lilypaw."
"Actually, it's Lilyfrost now."
"Has it really been that long? Only two moon passes, I'd thought. We both had three left, didn't we?"
"Yes. But Flamestar..."
I bristled. "You're joking."
"I wouldn't joke about something like this."
"How awful is he?"
"Just horrible. A lot of us hate him but we're scared to do anything."
"How horrible?"
"It's not like we're starving or anything. But we know he's planning something. A lot of the cats believed you, including me."
"Really?" I asked, touched.
"Of course! And we're trying to do something about it. Rosepool's started an underground rebellion. We're trying to overthrow him. But we need you."
"Rosepool?" I asked, disbelieving. She nodded.
"Yeah. She saw a horrible omen for his leadership skills the second he started chasing you. But you know what the craziest thing is?"
"What?"
"The kits."
I bristled. "What has he done to the kits?"
"He hasn't done anything. But we're using them. As messengers. They can slip out through the nursery walls and out of camp. Shykit's just brilliant at it. She's delivered two messages to HillClan and LedgeClan so far."
"You let them go into the forest alone?"
"We send them out when a patrol made of our cats is in the area. They're not really in danger. Besides, Brightwing hates Flamestar as much as you. She's one of us. She suggested sending out Shykit."
"And Aspenwing's kits?"
"Almost old enough. We'll give them another half-moon, at least."
"She kitted?"
"Yes. Shimmerkit, and...Ripplekit."
"Ripplekit?" I whispered.
She nodded. "When Flamestar came back he didn't tell us what had happened. We didn't know if you were dead or alive. Then, at the Gathering, at the Rocks, he acted all mournful and Firstar said you were dead. I guess that's what he told him right before we reached the Rocks."
I was shaken by this fact, but not much. "How did you know?"
"Rosepool had a dream. Flamestar still respects her and she's playing her part well. So, he let her go on the Highstone Trek."
"Really?" (The Highstone Trek is a long Trek that takes you all the way up Highstone, the valley's highest mountain. Near the very top there's a cave where StarClan speaks to medicine cats.)
"Yeah. She delivered a message about our new leader while she was out. To HillClan. She said Rainstar was real nice about it and to keep him posted. We haven't reached PeakClan yet because obviously Shykit can't climb all the way up there."
"That's why you need me."
She gave me a look that quickly turned into a grin. "You've still got it."
"Of course. And I'll go. I promise. Can you make it back tomorrow?"
"No, I barely got away myself. But Shykit most likely could." The idea of little Shykit, the sweet little grey tabby, traipsing all around the valley made me nervous, but I didn't have a choice.
"Send her with the message you want given to Blizzardstar. We'll see she makes it back safely."
"You needn't worry. She's smart. She knows the territory by now better than most of the senior warriors," Lilyfrost assured me. I nodded.
Storm looked at Lilyfrost. "We will give the message. Now you'd best leave before you're missed," he added gently.
Lilyfrost nodded. "It's been wonderful seeing you again, Ripplepaw. And it's been a pleasure to meet you," she added to Storm.
She turned and started over the boulders when I remembered something.
"Lilyfrost?"
She turned. "Yes?"
"Firstar. How...how did he die?"
Lilyfrost just gave me this bleak, sad, cold look. "How do you think?"
And then she was gone, leaving me frozen in horror.
"Hey! You!" a voice yowled. We were awfully close to the PeakClan border, and I was nervous. Returning to the Clans from being "dead" was dangerous, but I had to do it. I ran over the message in my mind again. "Rosepool said to tell you to tell Blizzardstar that Flamestar's a raving lunatic and he's scheming up something awful, but we're not sure what yet," Shykit had said. If that wasn't putting it simply I didn't know what was.
I was counting on Dawnflight being on the patrol that spotted us. She was more trusting than some of her Clan, and she knew me and, as I said before, disliked Flamestar. Please, StarClan, I begged.
Luck was, for once, with me. Dawnflight raced up at the head of a border patrol. She saw me and her eyes got huge. She skidded to a stop rather comically a few tail lengths away from us, up the rock face. "Ripplepaw?" she demanded in a hushed voice. I nodded. She cleared the distance instantly and began licking my ears. "I knew it! I knew you weren't dead! Flamestar's a big fat liar!" she declared.
"You're right," I reply. "That's why we're here."
She was looking at Storm curiously, so I said, "Dawnflight, this is-" but she cut me off.
"Who was your father?" she asked softly, looking at him carefully.
"Swiftriver, of PeakClan," he replied calmly, respectfully.
"I might've guessed," she murmured, looking far away. She shook herself slightly. By now the patrol had gathered and was exclaiming happily over my arrival, and nodding courteously to Storm.
"I see," Dawnflight said. "Well, we'd better get back to camp. Blizzardstar will want to see you both." She turned and led us off, the patrol walking around us, peppering us with questions, most of which we ignored.
At last we reached the PeakClan camp, which is made of a series of caves and dense bushes; it's located near the treeline, and they need all the shelter they can get. Dawnflight led us through the maze of dens and curious onlookers to a niche in the rock. She called out, "Blizzardstar, you have visitors."
"Who?" he called back.
"Ripplepaw, of ValleyClan, and..." she looked at Storm.
"Storm," he said.
There was rustling from inside the den, then a soft "Come in."
We wriggled through the niche. It looked narrow but once you squeezed through it was actually very spacious. We were in a small cave. Light came in through the niche and a few cracks in the ceiling. A white tom was visible, sitting on a nest. "Ripplepaw, of ValleyClan?" he repeated, looking me over. "How very interesting. And...Storm, is it?"
"Yes."
"His father is Swiftriver," Dawnflight said. Blizzardstar looked shocked.
"I see," he said, his gaze raking over Storm, who sat still and stared calmly back. "Well. It appears we have much to talk about. Ripplepaw, you first." He turned to me. I shifted my paws nervously and began.
"It all started when Flamestar killed Frostleaf..." I began. Then I told him the whole story. His eyes got bigger and bigger until they were practically the size of boulders.
"So what do you plan to do?" he asked when I'd finished. I guess the fact that Flamestar had lied about my death had cinched it for him.
"Take him down. He's got about half the Clan on his side, most of the big fighters. The only reason we haven't rebelled yet is because we're afraid of what will happen if they lose. Also, they're afraid he has outside resources; Shykit has reported seeing him talking with strange cats near the outer border. They're seeking help from the other Clans. That's why I'm here. Obviously Shykit can't make it."
"Of course. You can count on us. Come and fetch us whenever you're ready. Do you have a message?"
"Yes.'Tell Blizzardstar that Flamestar's a raving lunatic and he's scheming up something awful, but we're not sure what yet.'"
He nodded, then turned to Storm. "I'm afraid it's your turn, son."
"Of course." He shifted his stiff pose and laid down. "It's quite simple, really. My father encountered some humans hiking. They captured him and took him back to their nests. He fell in love with my mother and they ran away together. He taught her Clan stuff; all he knew about herbs. They found a den in the rockslide on Darkstone and had me and my brother. I've been living quietly ever since. That is, until I had to save a certain she-cat," he added, glancing at me teasingly. I glanced at my paws.
Blizzardstar nodded. "Where is your family now?"
I winced. Storm tensed, but relaxed quickly. "Gone. Dead, I suppose," he said quietly.
"I'm sorry," Blizzardstar said gently. "He was a great warrior. " He sighed heavily, then turned to me. "You two had better get back. We'll keep our eyes and ears open. You have my word."
"Okay. We'd better go now. Take care." We slipped out of the den and hurried from PeakClan.
A few days later the call came. Lilyfrost came tearing into our den. We leaped to our paws to see a gasping Lilyfrost, one ear dripping blood. "It's started," she gasped. "The strange cats-they're attacking. The kits went to tell HillClan and LedgeClan. Hurry!" She flopped down on the den floor. Storm bent over her, then grabbed some herbs. I raced off to alert PeakClan. "No!" she gasped out. "There's no time! Just go to camp." Storm nodded.
"Go. I'll catch up." I flicked my tail worriedly, then raced off.
I could hear the battle long before I reached it. Unfamiliar scents flooded my senses and I ran even faster. I reached camp and looked around in horror.
Several of ValleyClan's warriors were locked in combat with other warriors from ValleyClan, and I recognized a few from other Clans. But the scene was dominated by other cats, many of them. I stood stricken, then threw myself at the other cats. I caught a grey tom by the ear. He screeched and turned, striking at me.
"Who in the name of StarClan are you?" I yowled.
"How dare you speak of StarClan when StarClan and your own kind have forgotten us?" the tom snarled.
"WHAT?" I demanded. He didn't answer, only dragged his claws down my shoulder. I gave a yowl of pain and launched myself at him, bowling him over and slashing him. He moaned in pain and I darted off.
It was carnage. Blood spotted the ground. I would take down one cat and move onto the next. It wasn't easy, though. They fought like Clan cats, and, after the grey tom's outburst, I wondered if maybe they were.
There was a yowl and PeakClan streamed into the clearing. Dawnflight leapt over to me. "How did you get here?" I yowled.
"Shykit," she replied, yelling over the noise. "That kit is brave!" She engaged a random tabby cat as I fought another. I could hear Storm yelling my name, and turned, too late. A red she-cat already had her claws in my throat and I went down hard. The last thing I remember is gasping to Storm, who had rushed to me, "Tell Dawnflight they're Clan cats." The red she-cat's eyes went wide, and she said something to Storm in a rush, something I couldn't quite make out.
Then everything went black.