DISCLAIMER: I do not own Warriors.

Chapter 8:

WindClan

Riverpaw winced as mouse bile seeped into her mouth, struggling with the urge to gag.

Seeing her expression, Swiftbreeze laughed. "You hurry along now. The elders need that, and they can't get it if you're eating it all!" Riverpaw groaned and stalked out of the den, trying to keep the bile-soaked moss out of her tongue's way; all the while, Swiftbreeze purred with amusement behind her as he continued his own duties as medicine cat.

The warm, late-greenleaf sun shone brightly over the WindClan camp, warriors and apprentices alike basking in its unexpected warmth; nearby, the kits were playing outside of the nursery, bouncing around a dried-out heather bush Eaglefeather had found for them while on patrol that morning. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary as Riverpaw made her way toward the elders' den, but she noticed that all of the WindClan cats - including the kits - were unnaturally skinny for this time of year. This worried Riverpaw, but she pushed the thoughts aside as she approached the elders.

"Finally! I've had a tick nipping me for days." Milkeyes sighed as he saw Riverpaw enter with the mouse bile. Riverpaw set it in front of him, and Milkeyes turned around so his back was facing her. "Well, get started!"

Sandfoot purred. "Oh, give her a break, Milkeyes. With all your yapping, she'll be too exhausted before she starts on me!" Riverpaw grumbled, not in the mood for the elders' humor as she dug around Milkeyes's shoulder fur.

All night, Riverpaw had lay awake worrying about the prophecy. Onestar had said that she played a part in it, but Riverpaw couldn't help but wonder what part and how big it was. She also had a sneaking suspicion that there was more that Onestar wasn't telling her. When dawn had finally come, Riverpaw decided that she would like to speak to him again, and figured out exactly how to do it.

Riverpaw quickly finished with the elders, running back to the medicine den as Swiftbreeze exited it with herbs in his jaws.

"Swiftbreeze!" Riverpaw yowled as she barreled into him; herbs flew everywhere, and Swiftbreeze hissed in annoyance.

"Riverpaw! What's the matter with you!" He growled, shaking dust off his pelt and gathering his herbs again.

Riverpaw drooped her ears, then perked them up again. "Sorry, Swiftbreeze, but...I wanted to ask you something." She shuffled her paws.

"Well, make it quick, Riverpaw. I'm going to the Moonpool and I have to leave now if I want to make it there by nightfall." Swiftbreeze licked his paw and swiped it over his whiskers, sneezing as dust puffed in his face.

"Er...That's..." Riverpaw stumbled to find her words. "Can I go with you?"

Swiftbreeze blinked at her in surprise. "Why?" he inquired. "I don't even know if that's allowed."

Riverpaw's tail shot into the air. "I'm sure it's okay, if we ask Tawnystar."

"Yes, yes, but why do you want to go?" Swiftbreeze asked again.

"Um, I need to ask StarClan something." Riverpaw looked at her paws again, her pelt burning. Why did she think this was a good idea earlier?

Swiftbreeze's eyes widened in question, but he said nothing. "All right. Let's go ask Tawnystar if it's okay." Riverpaw's heart soared.

The two padded toward the far center of camp, where Tawnystar was speaking to Nightshadow in front of his den. Riverpaw walked a bit ahead of Swiftbreeze, eager to hear what her leader would say.

"Tawnystar," Swiftbreeze called, and the golden tom turned his head in their direction.

"Excuse me," he mewed to Nightshadow, and trotted toward Riverpaw and his medicine cat. "Yes?"

"Riverpaw has asked if she can come to the Moonpool with me." Swiftbreeze explained, and Riverpaw nodded.

Tawnystar looked skeptical. "Well," he grumbled, "we don't usually send warrior apprentices to that kind of place; only for their one trip at the beginning of apprenticeship." He looked at Riverpaw. "I'm aware that you still haven't reached nine moons yet, the requirement for such a trip."

"Please, Tawnystar," Riverpaw pleaded, "it's really important. Let this serve as my trip, and when the other new apprentices go, I can stay behind." Riverpaw desperately wanted to go; she couldn't stand another sleepless night worrying about the prophecy.

Tawnystar exchanged a look with Swiftbreeze. He flicked his tail for him to follow, and the two toms padded a short ways away to talk in private. Riverpaw sat down, yellow eyes alert and ears straining to hear what they were saying.

After a couple of heartbeats, the toms returned. To Riverpaw's delight, Tawnystar nodded approval.

"You may go. But, you have to hunt all day for the Clan when the other apprentices visit." Tawnystar warned.

Riverpaw nodded vigorously. "I promise I won't be a burden."

Tawnystar nodded, and padded back to where Nightshadow was waiting for him.

Medicine cat and apprentice padded back toward the medicine den, and Swiftbreeze dismissed Riverpaw momentarily as he packed another set of traveling herbs. Riverpaw waited outside his den, and when he told her to eat the herbs she obeyed.

"All right, come on." Swiftbreeze flicked his tail and trotted toward the camp entrance, Riverpaw following close behind like an obedient kit.

Riverpaw made sure she was on her best behavior as she followed Swiftbreeze across the moor. The sun beat down on her neck fur, and the grasses at her feet crunched dryly as they padded along. How I wish for water. Riverpaw thought ruefully of how nice it would be to splash into the cool lake right now.

Stop that, she scolded herself, you can't just go wandering about like that. Pay attention.

Ahead of her, Swiftbreeze stopped to scent the air. Riverpaw followed his lead, smelling the faintest scent of rabbit on the breeze; Riverpaw's stomach rumbled, the traveling herbs she had eaten not filling her in the slightest; they weren't half as satisfying as real food.

"Come on. This way. "Swiftbreeze mewed as he skirted around a dry bush. They padded along, and Riverpaw swore she could see heat waves over the hills ahead of them.

Riverpaw, uncomfortable in the heat and silence, made an attempt at conversation. "If it gets any hotter, my pelt will burn off."

Swiftbreeze made a scoffing noise. "If this heat doesn't let up, our pelts won't be the only thing WindClan will have to worry about." Riverpaw blinked at his ominous words.

"Well," Riverpaw mewed, "I'm sure it won't get that bad; I mean, we're fairing pretty well, what with the prey loss..." She trailed off when she noticed Swiftbreeze wasn't listening. Instead, his ears were perked up and he was scenting the air again.

"What's up?" Riverpaw asked hesitantly. She glanced to her left, where the sun was just beginning to set; she hadn't noticed it had gotten so late.

Swiftbreeze closed his jaws and growled. "Nothing. Just a ThunderClan patrol." Riverpaw nodded and slit her eyes. ThunderClan had recently doubled their patrols, making WindClan cats suspicious; why had they suddenly become so keen to protect themselves? Was it because they were hiding something?

A thought struck Riverpaw. Weren't medicine cats supposed to be neutral to Clan boundaries? She looked to Swiftbreeze, who was staring across the border with hatred. Why was he being so hostile, then?

Swiftbreeze bounded up the hill, and Riverpaw shook her head to clear it before following him up the slope. They headed closer to the riverbed, and Riverpaw gratefully soaked in the spray. The air, even if the sun was almost down, hadn't cooled a single degree, making Riverpaw feel hot and sticky. A steady wind had picked up from the lake, and the two cats leaned down to drink before starting up to the Moonpool.

As they headed upward, Riverpaw decided to ask Swiftbreeze about her thoughts. "Swiftbreeze," she started, "Back there, when you scented the patrol, you seemed to be more hostile than usual. Why is that?"

Swiftbreeze harrumphed. "Why is it your so nosy?" He snapped.

Riverpaw blinked. "I wasn't trying to be." Riverpaw countered. "...I just thought that medicine cats didn't have hostilities for other Clans, you know?" Riverpaw mewed, her voice softer.

Swiftbreeze sighed and looked down at the ground. After a couple of moments, he looked ahead again. "Things are different now. In these times, ThunderClan and WindClan cats...just don't mix." Riverpaw blinked, puzzled. Seeing her expression, Swiftbreeze sighed.

"You'll understand when you're older." Swiftbreeze stopped. "We're here."

Riverpaw looked around, but didn't see any sign of the Moonpool. She opened her mouth in question, but closed it again as she saw the ThunderClan and ShadowClan medicine cats coming up the rise. They meowed greetings to Swiftbreeze and Riverpaw, coming to sit down next to them.

This must be where they meet each other first, Riverpaw realized. She looked down toward the lakeshore, straining to see the RiverClan medicine cat, but she couldn't see anyone there.

"Hello, Swiftbreeze." The ShadowClan medicine cat mewed. She was a petite dark gray she-cat with startling blue eyes, and Riverpaw noticed a cream tom sitting beside her, one she had seen before. She grasped around her memory for his name.

Luckily, Swiftbreeze jumped in before Riverpaw was forced to answer. "Greetings, Dewheart, Fuzzypaw." Fuzzypaw. Riverpaw knew she recognized him. That's it! He's that ShadowClan cat Skullpaw's brother. But... Riverpaw cocked her head to the side.

Fuzzypaw squinted his eyes at Riverpaw, then opened them wide. "Riverpaw! It's Riverpaw, right?" Riverpaw nodded. "I remember you." Fuzzypaw padded over to her and sat down, purring. "Are you a medicine cat apprentice now?"

"Er, no." Riverpaw mewed, slightly embarrassed. "I'm just...along for the trip." She tilted her head to the side, looking Fuzzypaw up and down. "What about you? I saw you helping the medicine cat on the beach, but I also saw you hunting. Are you a new medicine cat or...?"

Fuzzypaw nodded. "I recently switched from training as a warrior to training as a medicine cat. This is my second time coming to the Moonpool." he stated proudly.

Riverpaw nodded and excused herself to talk to the ThunderClan medicine cats. Although she knew her newest friend Moonpaw was training to be a warrior, she thought that maybe this medicine cat apprentice could tell her about her.

"Hey." Riverpaw mewed as she approached the tortoiseshell she-cat and the gray tom. "Who're you?"

The tortoiseshell smiled. "I'm Mosspatch, and this is my apprentice, Ashpaw." Ashpaw muttered a "Nice to meet you," but didn't look Riverpaw in the eye.

Riverpaw glanced at Mosspatch questioningly, and she replied, "Oh, he's just a bit shy around cats he doesn't know. That's just how he is. He'll loosen a little on the trip up." She swiveled her head around. "Speaking of which, where's RiverClan at?"

Swiftbreeze looked to the sky, where the first stars of Silverpelt were beginning to blossom. "RiverClan or not, we should get going now. It'll be moon high soon enough." The medicine cats began to pad up the slope, Riverpaw's excitement mounting with every paw step. She was going to speak to StarClan, but how a medicine cat did it!

Still, doubt and worry creeped into her mind. If she did meet Onestar again, and if he did give her more information, would it help her...? Or only make her worry more...?

Riverpaw shook off her thoughts as she saw Ashpaw was coming over to pad beside her. "Hi." He mewed shyly. "I'm Ashpaw. Sorry, I didn't properly introduce myself back there."

Riverpaw blinked, sympathetic. "It's okay. We all get shy sometimes."

Ashpaw sighed. "But that's the issue. I'm shy all the time. Well, except when I'm working." he mumbled.

"It's okay, though." Riverpaw tried to cheer her new friend up. "Sometimes being shy can be to your advantage. If cats think you aren't listening to them because your too shy, you could use that as a way to listen. Like," Riverpaw struggled to find an example, but they had already reached the crest of the Moonpool. Rocks were scattered along in the dirt, and Riverpaw had to jump to avoid them as she bounded up to where Swiftbreeze stood at the top.

"Ah, there you are." Swiftbreeze mewed as Riverpaw came to stand breathlessly beside him. He turned his head forward. "Have a look."

Just as Riverpaw had caught her breath, it was taken away again at the sight she saw. A roaring, silver waterfall cascaded down a midnight-black slab of rock, landing in a perfectly still pool that Riverpaw swore she could've stepped on for how smooth and glassy it was. Everything was glowing faintly in the moonlight, staining all of the cats' pelts a light silver color.

"It's beautiful." Riverpaw breathed, and Swiftbreeze chuckled beside her.

They headed down the hill, Riverpaw finding herself slipping into numerous cracks and imprints in the rock; when she looked closer, however, she saw with a rush of excitement that what she was slipping on were paw prints, eternally stuck in the rock.

"Wow. I wonder who made these?" Riverpaw wondered aloud, staring at the paw prints in awe. Fuzzypaw and Ashpaw chuckled behind her.

Riverpaw saw all of the medicine cats sitting down at different sides of the Moonpool, and she noticed with a frown that Swiftbreeze and the ThunderClan medicine cat, Mosspatch, were on opposite sides with ShadowClan in the middle.

"Where is RiverClan?" Fuzzypaw mewed with worry. "If they were coming, they should've been here by now."

The three senior medicine cats glanced at each other, eyes full of understanding. Riverpaw waited for them to say something, but all they did was face the Moonpool again.

Swiftbreeze beckoned to her with his tail, and Riverpaw sat at a place beside Fuzzypaw and Ashpaw in the centermost edge of the pool.

"RiverClan or not, let's begin." Dewheart sighed sadly. She dipped her nose in the water and settled herself down, falling to sleep almost immediately. Riverpaw watched as all the other medicine cats did the same, and turned to where Swiftbreeze was looking at her expectantly.

"Well? Go on." He nudged her gently, and Riverpaw tentatively put her nose in the water; it was icy cold, and she shivered slightly as she felt darkness swallowing her until there was nothing.

Riverpaw opened her eyes to a biting wind, having to squint as her eyes watered briefly. Riverpaw looked around to grasp at her surroundings, but all she could see was an endless yellow plain, with a dark, cloud-covered sky that held no moon and no stars.

"Hello?" Riverpaw yowled, trying to raise her voice above the howling wind. There was no answer, so Riverpaw shrugged and started walking along the plain ahead of her. After a couple of heartbeats, a dark, evergreen forest glittering with what looked like stars sprouted as Riverpaw crested another hill, and she picked up the pace until she was standing at the edge of the forest. The sky was a deep blue on the other side, with stars littering it like snow on a dark gray pelt. A large, round moon hung low in the sky, just rising and bringing a warm silver glow to the forest.

Riverpaw tried to take a step into it, but stepped back again, puzzled. As she had placed her paw at the edge, she felt as if she were being rebounded backwards, like hitting a soft wall. Riverpaw tried running at it, but ended up flying backward as she hit the wall again; only this time, it felt like a solid rock was there in front of her.

"Ow!" Riverpaw rubbed her nose with her paw, losing confidence.

"You won't make any progress going in from there." Riverpaw jumped as a low voice chuckled behind her. She whirled around and faced a ginger tom with a forlorn look in his eyes besides the smile he had on his face.

"Who're you? Where am I?" Riverpaw scented ShadowClan on his pelt, but besides the fact that he was an enemy Riverpaw couldn't help feeling like he was important somehow.

"My name is Flametail." The ginger tom mewed, dipping his head in a formal greeting. "And we're just about on the edge of the territory of the Dark Forest."

At the sound of the name of The Place of No Stars, Riverpaw felt the hairs on the back of her neck bristle. She'd heard many a tale as a kit of what the Dark Forest was like; always forbidding and drenched in shadow, it was a place where evil cats - like the ever-famous Tigerstar - went to spend eternity after they died. Riverpaw didn't recognize Flametail's name, but from the way he sounded it seemed like he knew this place well; so well, in fact, that he may have spent forever living here.

"Who are you?" Riverpaw demanded, slitting her eyes. She dropped into a crouch, bristling, ready to spring if this strange cat dared to make a move on her.

Flametail shook his head. "I told you, my name is Flametail." He looked away wistfully. "I used to be ShadowClan's medicine cat, before..." He trailed off, shuddering.

"Just like ShadowClan to produce a traitor of a medicine cat!" Riverpaw spat in an attempt to be brave; she was, in fact, so frightened that she could've fled right then and there.

Flametail gave her a crooked smile. "I wasn't a traitor, apprentice. I actually was a part of StarClan before Brokenstar captured me." He sighed. "I know this is hard to believe, but try to understand."

Riverpaw's fur flattened on her back, but she continued to slit her eyes at the tom. "How do I know you're not lying?"

"The truth is, you don't." Flametail replied flatly. "But if you want to continue to StarClan I suggest you follow me." The ginger tom began to pad away to Riverpaw's right, making sure to keep well away from the edge of the forest.

Riverpaw paused. Should she follow him? He could be leading her into a trap; and yet, Riverpaw thought with guilt, she had seen such sadness in his eyes. After another moment of pondering, Riverpaw finally decided to follow him after all.

Riverpaw bounded along the edge of the forest, cresting the rise and spying Flametail sitting a couple of tail-lengths ahead of her near a pile of dried bracken.

"Here." Flametail mewed quietly as Riverpaw sat down beside him. Riverpaw looked to where he was gazing and saw an old, graying tree stump, its edges blackened with the scorch marks of past fire. Riverpaw leaned forward and sniffed it, catching with surprise the scents of fresh water and new grass.

Riverpaw looked to Flametail questioningly. "Go now, little one." Flametail mewed. He licked her ear in comfort. "Go to StarClan. All you have to do is head for the stump at a running start and don't stop until you hit it."

"But won't I just crash?" Riverpaw meowed as she looked at the stump. She thought Flametail's idea seemed foolish, but she found that she felt a warm aura around the stump, as if life and energy were swelled inside it.

Flametail nudged Riverpaw forward. Riverpaw looked back at him, an idea forming in her mind.

"But wait. You said you were stuck here, right?" Flametail nodded sadly. "Can't you just follow me through, back to StarClan?"

Flametail shook his head. "I wish I could, child. But one who has passed into this world and is already dead can never return to StarClan again."

Riverpaw felt her heart was about to break for this sorry cat. But instead, a new determination swelled inside her. "Stay here, Flametail. I'm going to go to StarClan and tell them about you. I'll get you out of here, I...I promise." With that, Riverpaw leaped at the tree stump and into another forest. Riverpaw stumbled and rolled forward, bumping into a tree with a thump. Riverpaw stood and shook out her pelt, the warm scents of StarClan wreathing around her like a protective veil. She looked behind her to where she had exited The Place of No Stars, but saw nothing that could've shown any sign of her arrival. She sighed and began to head out of the forest, eager to be out on the plains of StarClan again.

As Riverpaw left the forest and opened out onto the grassy plain she was used to seeing, she saw Lionflower and Onestar calling to her and bounding forward toward her not three fox-lengths away.

"Riverpaw! You're a new sight to see on a half-moon. Are you a medicine cat now?" Lionflower yowled as she bounded toward her; Riverpaw saw a new light in her eyes. Onestar trotted up next to her, and suddenly Riverpaw felt warmed by all of the familiar and safe scents around her.

"Onestar, I need to talk to you." Riverpaw stated flatly, all business now. She had finally gotten to visit him, and now she had to talk to him before she awoke, which she felt was soon.

Onestar's gaze turned from one of joy to one of a true leader. "Riverpaw," He mewed sternly, " I told you - "

"I know, Onestar, but, there must be more you can tell me!" Riverpaw blurted out. Onestar slit his eyes.

"I'm sorry, Riverpaw. But, this just isn't stuff an apprentice should know alone. You still have a lot to learn about the warrior code without worrying about a fabled prophecy." Onestar wouldn't meet her eye, and he turned to pad away.

"Wait! There's something else I need to tell you!" Riverpaw called, and Onestar turned his head to look back at her. He sighed wearily and padded back to her, sitting down with his tail curled around his paws.

"You used to know Flametail, right, Onestar?" Onestar nodded to Riverpaw. "Well, he was captured by...by Brokenstar and brought to the Place of No Stars and he needs to come back because he doesn't belong there..." Riverpaw found herself rambling, and immediately stopped.

"I'm sorry, Riverpaw. But every cat who goes there - "

"Can't return, I know, but still...you have to figure out how to help him. He just..." Riverpaw remembered his sorrowful expression, "...seemed so lost."

Seeing Riverpaw's stricken expression, Lionflower licked her between the ears in comfort. "Don't worry about it, Riverpaw. There's time yet." Riverpaw felt her paws getting heavy, her eyelids drooping.

"B-But...wait..." Riverpaw mewed sleepily. But the world of StarClan was already fading around her.

"All in good time..."

Riverpaw opened her eyes, blinking in the sudden darkness. The other medicine cats were waking, and Riverpaw realized Swiftbreeze was still cloaked in StarClan. She padded over to the bottom of the hill to wait for the others, her paws heavy with sadness.

That didn't help at all, she thought wearily. It only seemed to make me more confused. A new thought suddenly dawned on Riverpaw. Why did Onestar not want her to know more of the Prophecy; besides her being an inexperienced apprentice?

Could it be, Riverpaw shivered, that StarClan doesn't know what it means? Could it be...they don't know anything at all?

This is, by far, the longest chapter for WindClan that I've written. XD Even the longest chapter on record for me. I'll give you a cookie if you review. :D