Chapter 20.

ScarletLight

"Well well," spoke a dark brown tom. "From the stinky smell of fish on you, I would say you're OceanTide. Came to steal prey didn't you?"

"Of course we wouldn't do something that monkey-brained," snapped LongClaw. "OceanTide cats are much smarter than that."

ScarletLight held back a groan. LongClaw wasn't helping the situation at all. "We only want to pass through," she spoke up before LongClaw could rustle their fur anymore.

"Oh?" said a russet tom. "What should we do with them FlyingClimb?" he asked the brown tom.

"Take them back to camp with us," replied FlyingClimb. "SharpRock, MintFang, get behind them."

"What do we do?" whispered StepStorm.

"Go with them for now," replied ScarletLight before LongClaw could offer a suggestion. She shot LongClaw a pleading look. "Please don't try anything to make the situation worse for us."

LongClaw seemed to understand for she nodded and didn't complain as the ForestRose cats began to take them deeper into the jungle.

"Hey SharpRock, you're a warrior now? Congratulations!"

ScarletLight glanced back. StepStorm was trying to make conversation with SharpRock. Her heart went out to her friend for she knew what SharpRock's reaction would be.

"Stop talking," he hissed. "Keep moving."

StepStorm blinked. She was obviously surprised by his reaction. "These cats won't give us friendship," thought ScarletLigtht, "We are trespassers. Nothing more."

"There are more of them in the trees," said LongClaw quietly.

ScarletLight looked up. It was very hard to make out but she could kind of see cats running through the canopy. So it was a good thing that they had come quietly. If they had made trouble for the cats on the ground, the cats in the trees would take them out. The mission would truly be over then.

The camp was just like how ScarletLight remembered it. Warriors were everywhere and they stared at the newcomers with mistrust. StepStorm's eyes were wide in wonder while LongClaw just looked around with boredom. ScarletLight knew it was nothing like that thought. She was observing without being obvious about it.

"What is going on here?" spoke ShiningBlade. Like the last time, he looked menacing to ScarletLight. "Why have they been brought here?"

"We found them on the territory," spoke FlyingClimb.

ShiningBlade stared at the three cats intently before speaking again. "Take them to SpiritLeaf's den. I will speak to them in a bit."

"Yes ShiningBlade," spoke FlyingClimb. He gestured for the three OceanTide she-cats to follow before walking over to one of the root dens. ScarletLight remembered how last time she was here she had to stand outside the spiriter den. Wow. That was such a long time ago. Back when ShiningFeather was alive…

The inside of the spiriter den reminded ScarletLight a little bit of SpiritCave's den. Like his, this one had two sections. A main section for all cats to enter and a smaller section that only spiriters were allowed in. The smell of henna was thick in the air and seemed to be coming from the roots themselves.

"Wow," whispered StepStorm.

ShiningBlade, RedFern, SpiritLeaf and AuraGaze were the only cats that came in. AuraGaze stood to the side while the leader, deputy and spiriter watched the three OceanTide cats.

"Care to speak why you are here?" asked RedFern.

"We are traveling beyond your territory," spoke ScarletLight. She had to take the lead. LongClaw would probably say something monkey-brained and StepStorm didn't get tribe rivalries that much. Plus, they probably knew that StepStorm was an outsider to tribe life. "We had to pass through to get there. We meant nothing by it. However there is no way to get to the territory beyond without going through yours. We were not going to take any prey and we stuck to the edge."

"Where were you going?" asked ShiningBlade. He looked very calm and serious. This was a leader with a good level head. He was trying to find out everything from them.

"We were going to find the cure," replied LongClaw.

Looks passed between the three cats. ScarletLight couldn't believe how monkey-brained LongClaw was being. They may not be considered OceanTide cats at the moment but they shouldn't show that OceanTide was weak!

"Cure?" asked RedFern. "Cure for what?"

ScarletLight and StepStorm shot looks for LongClaw to be quiet but she didn't seem to hear them. Instead she rolled her eyes. "The cure to the illness that's hit both tribes."

"Both tribes?" asked ScarletLight in confusion. ShiningBlade and RedFern looked at LongClaw in surprise.

"I scented it on the way in," replied LongClaw. "It came from, what I think is HealingLake's den. That illness that's killing off ForestRose cats at this very moment is the same one that's taking out OceanTide cats. The three of us have been chosen to go get the cure for OceanTide. If you want, we'll get some for ForestRose as well."

"How dare you?" snapped RedFern.

ShiningBlade held out his tail to prevent the deputy from throwing herself at LongClaw. "SpiritLeaf. What does the Spirit Wind say about this?"

SpiritLeaf dipped her head. "I did not get a vision of this event but I think AuraGaze did." She gestured for her learner to step forward.

AuraGaze, who was in the background until now, stepped forward. "I got the vision two days ago," she said. ScarletLight noticed that her voice seemed to have a timeless quality to it. This she-cat was young but already ScarletLight knew this cat would become a good spiriter. "In the vision, I saw a field and lapping against the field was an ocean with some roses floating on it."

"Meaning?" asked ShiningBlade.

AuraGaze glanced at her mentor who nodded for her to continue. "I think it means that ForestRose should let these cats go get the cure for both tribes."

ShiningBlade was silent for a few moments before he spoke. "Fine. I let you three go to get the cure." Happiness sprung from the three she-cats. This was perfect! They would be able to get the cure and save the tribe! "But," continued ShiningBlade. "I will be sending two of my own warriors to join you."

ScarletLight couldn't really complain about that. ShinignBlade probably wanted to make sure they would give ForestRose some of the cure. A glance to the others showed her that they understood as well.

"Go get SharpRock and MintFang and tell them the situation," ShiningBlade ordered RedFern. The deputy dipped her head to the leader before leaving the den. The gray leader turned to the three she-cats. He didn't say anything but ScarletLight knew what he was saying. "You will get the cure for ForestRose."