So, here is the next chapter for all of you!

LongClaw

LongClaw wasn't sure what to think as they followed the maned wolf through the tall grass. On one paw she was happy that they had found who they were looking for without too much trouble but on the other paw, that was the problem. It was too easy for her. Fighting the shark was difficult. She had almost died in the process. That was hard. This seemed too easy in comparison.

"Wonder what SunTalon would think of me now," she thought smugly. "Probably can't believe that I'm actually thinking through a problem." Thinking of SunTalon though made her depressed and she turned her eyes to the thing StepStorm had called a mountain. What was up there? There had to be something up there. Something awesome. She chuckled to herself. Who was she kidding? After this trip she would probably never come out here again. She was an OceanTide warrior through and through. A warrior never abandoned her duty to her tribe.

"Interesting," barked Asa from ahead. StepStorm had really taken a liking to the maned wolf and was pretty much answering all of Asa's questions about clanlife.

Taking a quick glance to ScarletLight told LongClaw that she was not liking the fact that StepStorm was revealing OceanTide secrets too easily. The ForestRose cats had the same look but LongClaw noticed that MintFang seemed to be listening to everything StepStorm was saying. She narrowed her eyes. If that tree-climbing tom ever thought about using this information he would feel the pain of LongClaw's claws.

"You all nervous back there?" Asa laughed and stopped. She looked back at the four tribecats. "Afraid of all the stuff StepStorm is revealing to an outsider like me?"

StepStrom blinked in surprise like she couldn't believe what she just did. She folded her ears and dropped her head. "I'm sorry for talking about OceanTide," she murmered. "I wish I remembered that you don't want this information told to anyone."

"It's fine," said ScarletLight smoothly. "Asa here is curious about our life. A little information wouldn't be a lot to tell her since she is going to help us get the cure for the tribe's illness."

LongClaw was impressed. Even though ScarletLight was probably as annoyed as LongClaw was about this she made it seem like she wasn't. "Well she was trained by ShiningFeather herself. Maybe she picked up some leadership qualities from her."

Asa chuckled and turned to the ForestRose cats. "You?"

"I will tell you any information you require so my tribemates can be saved," said SharpRock. He placed his tail on MintFang's shoulder, who looked like he wanted to yell something out to the wolf, and shook his head.

Asa laughed, her mouth stretched wide to reveal teeth that could probably tear a cat apart. "Both of you, good answers." She got up and pushed some of the tall grass down to reveal a burrow in the roots of one of the few trees out in this open territory. "The cure you will get for an answer like that."

"Really?" exclaimed StepStorm. Her eyes were wide as a kit's when they saw the biggest fish. LongClaw didn't blame her. The she-cat was blamed for this mess. To save the tribe, well, ShiningDark better accept her after that or LongClaw would have to teach the leader a lesson!

Asa laughed again. "Yes yes. But before I do," she sat down and put her tail over her paws. "Tell me a bit about both tribes. I'm very curious to how you cats live."

StepStorm

The sun was setting when Asa finally stopped answering questions. They had went to all categories, from normal tribelife to hunting techniques, to special qualities and even myth and lore. StepStorm was really surprised to find out that both tribes had the same stories only with slight variations to make their tribe seem better. It was weird but both tribes were the same in some ways. Both felt proud for their tribe.

StepStorm on the other paw felt even lonelier than before. She may be a part of OceanTide but she didn't know all these stories that LongClaw and ScarletLight told with a passion. She didn't have the specials skills that they had. She was nothing compared to them.

"StepStorm?" ScarletLight poked her with a paw. "Asa's asking you a question."

"Huh?"

Asa chuckled. "My question was, how special are you?"

"What?"

"You are not tribe born. I'm asking how special are you?"

StepStorm dropped her head to the ground. "I'm not. I'm just a normal cat. I can't swim like OceanTide cats and I can't climb like ForestRose."

"Hang on!" cried LongClaw. "You're special too. You know how to climb those coconut trees better than any OceanTide cat can."

"And you can find crabs and such on the beach better," put in ScarletLight.

"You know about the world outside here," said SharpRock to everycat's surprise. He gestured to the mountain. "We wouldn't know what that is much less what to call it if you weren't here."

Everyone turned to MintFang to see if he had something to say. The tom glared at everycat and looked away. "I agree with SharpRock," he put in quickly.

"See? You are special," said Asa. "Your difference to these cats make you special." She got up and slipped into the roots of the tree and came back with a huge pile of leaves. "Just mix this with some coconut and you should be fine. Give each sick cat a pawful, a kit should get a kit sized amount."

"Thank you!" yowled StepStorm.

Asa laughed and pulled out a banana leaf which she used to pack the leaves away. "Break the amount among yourselves."

"ForestRose is in your debt," SharpRock dipped his head.

"OceanTide is also in your debt," ScarletLight copied SharpRock.

"Now now," said Asa. "Raise your heads. Just come to visit me every now and then okay?"

"We promise," said StepStorm.

"Good," replied Asa. She paused and sniffed the air and a concerned look flashed across her face but it was quickly replaced by her happiness. "Now, you all should head back. I know you want to rest but this illness moves quickly so it would be a risk to leave any of your tribemates with this illness for too long."

"Right." SharpRock got to his paws. "Let's get going then."

StepStorm wanted to say something but the others were already leaving. StepStorm followed them quickly. "Hey. Did Asa seem hurried to make us leave?"

"Yes," replied LongClaw. "But come on. Our tribe mates are going to die if we don't get back. I think she was worried about them."

StepStorm had a feeling it was something else but she couldn't really say anything could she? Their tribemates would die with the medicine.

It was then when a strong wind blew past them and the scent of a maned wolf caught all the cats' in the nose. Not Asa though but a different one. A more wild smelling one.

"I have a bad feeling about this," said SharpRock. He looked back at where they had come from.