So, here's the next chapter. The plot really kicks off here.

LongClaw

LongClaw crawled out of the ocean with two wriggling fish in her jaws. The sea water ran from her fur and wet the sand as she walked over to the palm trees. StepStorm, who was sitting in the shade, perked up when she saw LongClaw approach.

"I'm sorry," said the tortoise-shell as LongClaw dropped a fish before her before settling down herself. "You shouldn't have to leave the tribe because of me. You can go back."

LongClaw rolled her eyes. "You don't have to say anything. Just eat the fish so we can be on our way. ShiningDark gave us until sunhigh but I'm sure some cats won't stick to that." WaveWhisker immediately came to mind. He would probably use this to get rid of her. Her eyes narrowed at the thought. He could try. Even if he got the strength of the Spirit Wind backing him he would be defeated by her claws.

LongClaw was broken out of her thoughts when she heard a familiar voice calling her. She looked in the direction of the sound, not really believing it.

"It's ScarletLight!" exclaimed StepStorm in surprise.

The orange tabby stopped before her friends, her breathing heavy. Her eyes shone with happiness though. "Thank the Spirit Wind you haven't left yet."

"What's going on?" asked LongClaw. She suddenly had a thought and although she hated it she needed to be cautious. She moved a bit closer to StepStorm and asked, "Did ShiningDark send you?"

ScarletLight shook her head, "No. It was SpiritCave."

"SpiritCave?" repeated LongClaw. Why would be send ScarletLight?

"Why?" asked StepStorm. LongClaw thought she heard something else in StepStorm's voice, some other emotion than curiosity. She dismissed it though as ScarletLight responded.

"It seems you were supposed to be exiled," said ScarletLight quickly like she would forget them before she got them out of her mouth. "Cause we've been chosen to find the cure for the illness!"

LongClaw and StepStorm were both silent. LongClaw couldn't believe it. They were chosen to find the cure? She felt pride well up within her. The Spirit Wind thought she was worth of such a mission! And to make things better, if they succeeded, they would come back as heroes. They could returned with their heads held high. "And WaveWhisker will have to accept me."

"SpiritCave told me we need to go beyond ForestRose territory," said ScarletLight. "To a field beyond where we have to listen to an unlikely source."

"Then I can return to the tribe," said StepStorm softly.

ScarletLight nodded. "Yes! We can all return!" She purred in amusement as the two she-cats stared at her in surprise. "I can't let you two do something like this alone."

LongClaw chuckled. This was ScarletLight for you. One who would never abandon her friends till the end. She was sorry she even doubted her.

"Finish your fish," said LongClaw to StepStorm. "We have a long trek ahead of this."

StepStorm

StepStorm was happy. Sure she was in exile but there was hope. The Spirit Wind had a destiny for her. She had heard some stories from SandWhite and FastFlight. Those cats of the past were just like her. Normal cats who had to rise up to bigger challenges. OceanTide and ForestRose and the fiery Spirit Flame. Could it be the Spirit Wind knew this was going to happen and prepared her for it?

She shook her head and finished her fish quickly while making sure she didn't swallow any of the small bones. They had to get going now. After LongClaw and StepStorm were finished eating they silently began the walk up the beach.

Too soon did the sand become the soft grass of the neutral area. And even sooner they reached the edge of the jungle.

The sounds overwhelmed StepStorm. The jungle seemed to very noisy. The birds and monkeys chattered loudly in the trees as well as whatever else lived in this jungle.

"We need to stay near the rock wall," said LongClaw, gesturing to the long rock wall on their left that ran into the jungle. "Maybe we won't meet any ForestRose cats if we stay close to it."

"We shouldn't," said ScarletLight. "The camp is more in that direction," she gestured with her tail in the direction of the OceanTide camp. "It's more over there."

"And I heard there's a swamp on this side," added LongClaw. "Hopefully no cats will be near it."

StepStrom let them discuss the best way to go while she checked the sky. The sun was almost there. It was almost to the highest point. She glanced fearfully in the direction of camp. A lump rose in her throat as she made out a few shapes coming out of the camp. She turned her attention to the jungle. "Let's go," she said quickly. She was about to take the lead when ScarletLight stepped in front of her.

"I've been in the jungle before," she replied. "I can lead us around some of the dangers."

"Alright," said LongClaw.

ScarletLight took the lead as the three she-cats entered the jungle. The trees covered the sky making the jungle floor seem dark. The air felt hotter and muggier than it did on the beach and there were many plants growing on the ground. Some of them cut StepStorm's fur or tugged it. Overhead StepStorm could hear creatures scurrying around. It made her nervous. What if something fell on her head? A look to ScaretLight and LongClaw told her they were worried like she was.

"How can ForestRose cats stand this?" murmured LongClaw.

The rock wall was always to their left and in view as they walked on. They didn't know how long they walked. It was very hard to get a sense of bearing when a cat could only see a few taillengths in front of them. The only real sense of time they had was the amount of sunlight that made it through the thick canopy.

"Wait," said LongClaw, her ears flicking. She stopped and turned to the deeper part of the jungle. "Whose there?"

StepStorm looked around but she didn't see anything. She opened her mouth and tasted the air. She stiffened.

Next to her ScarletLight adapted the battle position. "Come on out!"

"Why is it you are asking us to come out?"

A lump rose in StepStorm's throat as cats crawled out of the undergrowth. Their eyes glistened with malice for the trespassers. StepStrom realized they were much more muscular than the OceanTide cats as they got closer and closer in a circle around them. "Oh Spirit Wind. Is our journey going to end here before it even started?"