Alliance

Sorrelpaw sighed. "Can I join you and Windflight? Lionblaze's still sleeping," she meowed in a resigned tone, passing over the magpie they were sharing to Whisperpaw. The dappled she-cat looked at her, surprised. "I thought he's always super punctual?" Sorrelpaw shrugged. "Dunno. He's been getting up really late these past few days. No idea what he's doing at night that makes him this sleepy." Whisperpaw's whiskers twitched. "Do you reckon Nightcatcher knows?" she asked with a grin. Sorrelpaw returned it, if only shortly. The relationship between the deputy and the black warrior was an open secret in ReedClan.

"Well, good for him, but I'd really like to get my warrior name at some point," she frowned, rising to her paws. "So can I come?" Whisperpaw nodded. "Sure. Darkpaw'll be there as well, 'cos Sandwhisker's on the dawn patrol, but I don't think Windflight will mind." Sorrelpaw made a face. She had never been very fond of the ash grey apprentice, and he didn't like her much either. "Oh, well," she meowed wistfully as she followed her friend, "We can still throw him into a stream."

As he was leading them towards the fish bay, Windflight threw longing looks towards the trees in the north of their territory. Apparently he missed the climbing quite a bit. But Icestar had ordered him and Nightcatcher to stay away from the borders while things were still unresolved with EarthClan, apparently expecting Ashstar to take affront at his attempt to talk to the strays.

Sorrelpaw remembered Boldheart, the big EarthClan tom who had been so angry at the Gathering. Larchpaw had told her that he was the murdered apprentice's father. No wonder he was so furious. But she still hoped the other EarthClanners were more prepared to forget. Because even if the strays had killed that apprentice, there was no changing it now. And she believed Shimmerfur when the medicine cat had warned them that all three of the groups were needed to save StarClan.

"Alright. Darkpaw, you go first," Windflight suggested when they finally reached the fish bay. It wasn't really much of a bay but rather a slightly broader part of the stream. But there were a lot of fish, searching the calmer water for food. And becoming food in the progress.

Sorrelpaw licked her lips. Unlike Whisperpaw, she quite liked fish. As if on cue, her friend complained. "Why can't we hunt rabbits? There's not much to eat on those tiny slime things anyway." Sorrelpaw's whiskers twitched but she didn't answer, instead watching Darkpaw, who was hovering above the water, not moving a muscle.

She wasn't sure what to think about the tom. There wasn't much she really knew about him, since he rarely talked. Shimmerfur had found him a few months ago, completely abandoned and barely older than a kit. Apparently his parents had died, or at least that's what he'd told them. They'd been strays, on their way south.

But that was all there was to know. He kept to himself, treating others in a cold manner that bordered on arrogance and made Sorrelpaw bristle with irritation every time she was forced to interact with him. It was like he thought himself something better than they, and talking to them beneath his dignity.

Thus she felt rather smug when she noticed how he was leaning forward too much, letting his shadow fall onto the water and frightening off the fish. Amateur. Windflight noticed the apprentice's mistake as well. "Watch out, they can see you. Try to keep the sun to your site, then your shadow will be on the shore and not the water," he advised pleasantly, if somewhat distracted. His eyes were already drifting back towards the trees up north.

Darkpaw didn't reply, changing his position with an icy frown. But the irritated twitch of his tail tip showed that he had indeed noticed Sorrelpaw's smirking. Good. "Come, we'll go a bit upstream," she meowed loudly to Whisperpaw. "This'll take a while."

The ash grey tom stared after them angrily as they padded off. "Why do you keep doing this?" Whisperpaw asked when they were out of hearing range, shaking her head. "He didn't even say anything. You'll never make friends like this." Sorrelpaw shrugged. "I don't like his attitude," she replied simply. "And you're one to talk about being social. When was the last time you talked to anybody except Duskstrike or Windflight?"

The golden brown she-cat flattened her ears. "At least I'm not picking on younger apprentices," she defended herself stubbornly. Sorrelpaw didn't bother with a reply, crouching down close to the water instead.

The current was stronger here, but the stones on the other shore forced the fish to swim closer to her than they usually would, and she would be able to reach any that passed her. She stared at the water in concentration, searching for the familiar silver flash of sunlight reflected on scales. Whisperpaw sat a little behind her, not even bothering to try and catch anything. Instead she continued their talk.

"It was the same thing with Larchpaw last week. She was simply happy about her first prey. What's wrong with that?" Sorrlepaw snorted, not moving her gaze from the water. "Happy?" she repeated mockingly. "She was acting as if she'd caught a fox. And you saw how upset Oakpaw was. I was just trying to cheer him up." She threw a crooked grin over her shoulder, but Whisperpaw was unimpressed.

"That's not how it works. You can't be nice to people by being mean to others. Nobody would thank you for it." Sorrelpaw shrugged, once more fixated on her hunt. "Dunno. I'd thank you if you'd throw Darkpaw into the stream."

A silver flash in the corner of her eye, and Sorrelpaw struck. Water splashed, and for a second she felt slippery scales between her claws. Then the fish slipped out of her grasp, vanishing back into the stream with a loud splash. Sorrelpaw swore, and realized angrily that she had leaned too far over the water as well.

This conversation was distracting her. "Would you mind shutting up for a second? I gotta catch a fish before Darkpaw does." The golden she-cat snorted irritably but complied. Sorrelpaw felt a twinge of guilt at snapping at her friend like that, but she forced herself to concentrate on the task at hand.

She stared at the stream once more, her silver paw raised, ready to strike. But the next fish spotted her in time as well, just as the one after that. She swore again. The sun was directly behind her, making it practically impossible to keep her shadow on the shore. She had to be less obtrusive, blend into the surroundings...

Whisperpaw gasped. "Sorrelpaw-" The white she-cat hissed. "Not now," she growled in concentration. The next one... "Sorrelpaw, really..." The fish sped away. Angrily the white apprentice spun around. "What?"

She froze.

Whisperpaw was barely visible, hidden behind a thick fog. "Whisperpaw? What's going on?" She stared back at the other shore, which was still perfectly clear. When she turned back around the mist was dissolving, disappearing just as suddenly as it had come.

Whisperpaw came into sight, her eyes wide in shock. "You...You...that stuff came out of you!" she yelped, still frozen in shock. "Just...Just like that! How did you do it?"

Sorrelpaw stared at her. Out of her? Yes, how indeed? She frowned. Then she pressed her eyes closed and tried to imagine the mist, a thick, impenetrable fog...

Whisperpaw gasped once more, and when Sorrelpaw opened her eyes she was once more surrounding by a thick wall of mist. She quickly shook herself and it disappeared.

For a moment they simply stood, looking at each other incredulously. "Does that mean..." Whisperpaw finally began, rather hesitantly. "That you're one of them as well? A Child?" Sorrelpaw swallowed. Yes...what did this mean?


Icestar purred, burying his muzzle in Smokeheart's thick fur. "Of course we're not telling anybody," he meowed quietly, more to himself than the black she-cat. "We can't risk that..." Shimmerfur's prophecy came back into his mind, and its unsettling last lines.

No. The thought of sending Smokeheart to some chilly mountain was unspeakable. Apart from that, he had no clue how her abilities should be of any use up there. Down here, however...

Smokeheart flicked her tongue over his muzzle and disentangled herself from him. "Thank you, Icestar. I knew you'd understand." She smiled, the warm, wonderful smile he loved so much. But it quickly vanished. "I've got to go. Lionblaze insists I do the sun high patrol," she sighed, rising to her paws elegantly. "Again. Can't you tell him to leave me alone? It's far too hot out there this time of year. Especially with my fur."

Icestar's muzzle twisted in disdain. It was true, Lionblaze was far too demanding when it came to Smokeheart. But he couldn't afford to have the deputy against him, not with things being as uncertain as they were now. And much less while that insolent upstart had Nightcatcher on his side.

Rather useless under normal circumstances, the black she-cat had earned a lot of respect among the Clan due to her being one of those strange Children. Better to wait a little with moving against Lionblaze.

"I'll sort it out," he promised, licking her ears as a farewell. "As soon as I can." Smokeheart beamed at him before padding outside, into the searing heat of summer.

Icestar stayed in his den, deep in thought. Three, then, he thought grimly. EarthClan still had two more. And if we really do send Windflight and Nightcatcher away... He hesitated. Was this prophecy just a trick of EarthClan? An attempt to get rid of their strongest cats so they could invade more easily?

It couldn't be, after all Shimmerfur had received it as well. Unless...No.

Icestar thought it rather unlikely the medicine cat would simply betray her Clan. He knew the silver cat since childhood. And even though he'd never liked her much he was still certain that she was not a traitor. Anything else, maybe. But betraying ReedClan? No.

The entrance of another cat interrupted his thoughts. At first he thought is was Smokeheart, having somehow gotten out of the patrol duty, but it was only Owlfeather. "Icestar," the young warrior meowed nervously. "There's someone who wants to talk to you. A stray. I'm not sure what she is, some sort of deputy I think."

Icestar rolled his eyes. "Thane. And all three of them have the same rank," he informed the other tom with an impatient flick of his tail. He shouldn't have moved him to the warrior's den after all; that cat was dim as a vole. "Let her in, and go wake up Lionblaze." Owlfeather nodded hastily, hitting his head on his way out. Hopeless.

Icestar ignored his misgivings about the newest warrior and went back to the matter at hand, frowning. Had the strays changed their minds after all? And if they had, what did that mean for their alliance with EarthClan? Ashstar had made it more than clear what he thought about joining forces with the strays, yet surely he'd have just as much interest in fulfilling the prophecy as they did?

The cat that now entered his den had light brown tabby fur with a few white stripes in between, and looked vaguely familiar, although he couldn't quite remember her name. Shard, maybe? He rose and inclined his head slightly. "Welcome to ReedClan." The cat returned the nod, quite clearly feeling uncomfortable in this surrounding. "I am Splinter, second Thane of the strays," she meowed loudly, obviously trying to hide her insecurity.

Icestar nodded. "I remember you. I am Icestar, leader of ReedClan as you certainly know, and this-" he motioned to the golden warrior who was now bursting into the den, pieces of moss still clinging to his scruffy pelt, "is Lionblaze, my deputy. Who apparently doesn't think much of grooming himself."

He threw an annoyed look at the other tom's dishevelled appearance. One would have thought he'd have the decency to at least look presentable when talking to potential allies, if he insisted on being late already.

Lionblaze only threw him a short glance before turning towards Splinter. "I am honoured to meet you," he said calmly, if slightly out of breath. The tabby she-cat nodded wordlessly before turning back to Icestar.

"Two of our cats were murdered last night," she began without wasting any more time on pleasantries. Icestar stiffened, but her voice was sober, and there was no hint of enmity in her eyes. "By creatures that are...different from anything we've ever seen. One of them fell into the gorge with Elektra, and we found half a dozen more up in the forest, with Dark. Apparently he was trying to help her escape."

She was silent for a moment and now Icestar could clearly see the shock that was still in her expression. But she gathered herself quickly. "To make it short: We decided to help the Clans," she meowed firmly, "In the fight against whatever those things are."

Silence fell. "I...I am glad you changed your mind," Icestar finally meowed. "As saddened as I am by your friends' deaths. It is good to know you realized that only together we hold a chance to survive."

Splinter threw him a hostile look. "We don't intent to ally with you. All we will do is try to find the two Children you need for that prophecy," she replied coolly. Icestar stiffened, and nodded curtly. "I understand," he said, equally cool. "May I inquire if you have spoken to EarthClan?"

Splinter threw him a suspicious look before nodding. "Destiny is with them now. She suggested we meet at moon high by the Stone circle. That's how you people do it, isn't it?" Icestar nodded as well, his thoughts already with Ashstar and how he would react to the news. "Yes," he muttered absently. "It is...We will be there."

"Alright. I will see you tonight," Splinter meowed, making to leave. Icestar merely nodded again, leaving it to Lionblaze to see her out.

So the strays had changed their mind...He'd really like to know what kind of creature could make cats as stubborn as that do so. Once more he was glad about the fact that ReedClan was shielded from the mountains by the territories of EarthClan and the strays.


Spiderfur was sharing a dove with Timberpelt when Shadepaw came bursting out of the apprentice's den. "A stray! A stray invaded our territory!"

Spiderfur leapt to her paws. A stray in the apprentice's den? Her brother was on his paws as well, his claws unsheathed, and Ashstar, who had been talking to Raincloud at the entrance of his den spun around. "What?" Mistpaw came stumbling after the black apprentice, looking just as confused as the rest of them. "No idea! She just started screaming all of a sudden!" he stammered, utterly bewildered.

Amberkit was the first to understand. "Hollypaw," he said simply. "Their connection." Spiderfur turned towards the small kit, who was standing next to the elders den with his sister Cloudkit. "Can you hear what's going on?" she asked, curious despite the shock. Amberkit nodded, but before he could answer Shadepaw herself spoke up.

Her eyes were glazed over, as if she was seeing something the rest of them didn't. "It's just one...Destiny...she says she just wants to talk. Something about Icestar, and the prophecy. Somebody was killed."

Spiderfur felt her blood run cold. "Somone from EarthClan?" Ashstar asked immediately, standing directly in front of the apprentice now. She shook her head. "No, a stray. Two of them. By some creatures. They...they are bringing her here."

The dark leader narrowed his eyes. "Who else is on that patrol? Aside from Hollypaw and Dewfeather? Echoflight, right?" Shadepaw nodded, still without actually looking at him. "Yes. And Desertstorm."

Ashstar flicked his ears. "That should be enough. Still," he motioned to Flintstrike, who had emerged from the warriors den halfway through the commotion. "Go to the border and see if any more show up. Take two warriors with you." The black warrior nodded, signing for Timberpelt to follow him. Frostspark joined them as well. Spiderfur's brother flicked his tongue over her ear in goodbye. "Tell me what happens, will you?" With that, the three cats were gone.

Spiderfur nodded mechanically. Worry for her brother came over her in an instant. If the strays really had killed Emberpaw, then they would not stop before a warrior. And if this was a trap...

Before she had finished the thought the patrol was entering the cave. Echoflight's fur was bristled and her fangs bared, just as Dewfeather's. Desterstorm was dragging a small she-cat behind him who was furiously struggling to free herself. Spiderfur recognized her at once; it was Destiny, the stray's leader.

Her arrival was met with hostile snarls. Boldheart appeared behind Ashstar as she was brought into the centre of the cave, and Shadowfang was desperately trying to keep him from lunging at the prisoner. "Murderer! Foxheart!" he growled furiously.

Ashstar silenced him with a short hiss. "We will not harm our guest," he meowed loudly, motioning for Deserstorm to release the she-cat. But the look he was giving her was filled with contempt, and his voice was deathly cold.

"May I asked what is the reason for your...visit?" he meowed with narrowed eyes. Destiny straightened. Anger burnt in her eyes, but beneath that Spiderfur could also sense fear. The small stray was afraid of them.

"I come in peace," Destiny finally said. "As an ambassador of the strays. I do not want to cause you harm, and I expect the same in return." "Tell that to Emberpaw!" Echoflight spat, voice trembling with anger, "Tell that to my dead daughter!"

Destiny turned around, giving the black warrior a long look. "I know what it means to lose a kit," she finally meowed in a quiet voice, the rest of the cats apparently forgotten. "And I swear to you, the strays had no part on Emberpaw's death. I believe I know who did, however. And I want to avenge my dead just as much as you do yours."

Echoflight was silent, but the hostility in her eyes stayed. "What do strays know about loving ones children?" Desertstorm muttered dismissively. "You value your kits about as much as a piece of fresh-kill."

The way Destiny flinched it was clear that she had heard the sandy tom. Her claws flashed, and for a moment Spiderfur expected her to attack him. But then a shiver went through her body, and she turned back towards Ashstar.

"Two of our cats were murdered," she meowed calmly, as if nothing had happened. The trembling in her voice wasn't hard to miss, though. "And the killers were creatures that we have never seen before. When Icestar came to us asking for help, he was speaking of a night that would come. We believe that it is those creatures."

A murmur went through the crowd. "Lies!" Boldheart snarled angrily, "She's just making up some nonsense to get out of the blame." But Lightfur shook her head. "It is true," she meowed quietly. "The smell when Emberpaw...the scent was different from anything I knew. The strays I would have recognized, but that...it smelled like...like..."

"Cold," Destiny finished calmly. "Icy cold." She visibly shuddered at the memory. Towards Boldheart she added: "We found enough of their bodies. If you want proof, come to our camp. Or go to the forest, north of the ravine. Dark killed at least half a dozen of them before he...before he died."

Spiderfur noticed that Desitny was barely talking to Ashstar. No warrior or even leader of a foreign Clan had dared to simply address some warriors instead of formally speaking to the leader. But apparently things were different with the strays. Was she even their leader? Or was she just some sort of speaker?

Ashstar frowned. "From your words I gather that you suggest an alliance?" he meowed slowly, his voice still cool. But his eyes flashed with curiosity. Hope.

Destiny nodded slowly, a puzzled look appearing on her face. "Not suggesting...Agreeing. Icestar came to us a week ago, he...I thought he was speaking on behalf of both the Clans." Again angry hisses were heard, even louder this time. The anger towards the strays was only surpassed by the generation-long antipathy for ReedClan.

"Icestar speaks for his own Clan, and not a cat more," Ashstar pressed between gritted teeth, "he had no right to offer you an alliance with both Clans." His voice grew softer once more. "But I was aware of his intention. And I do agree with its necessity. If we are to fulfil the prophecy, we need two of your cats."

He lowered his head for a moment, then exchanged a look with Honeypool, who had remained silent so far. The golden she-cat nodded, and Ashstar turned towards Destiny once more. "We agree to this alliance," he meowed loudly, ignoring he angry howls from Boldheart and others. "But only as long as it is necessary. And I demand so see one of those creatures."

Destiny held his gaze for a few seconds, as if assessing him. Then she nodded curtly. "Agreed. We will be at the stone circle tonight at moon high. We will bring the body." Ashstar looked at her a while longer, and seemed to want to say something, but then he changed his mind. "Desterstorm, Dewfeather, escort her back towards the border. If you see Flintstrike and the others, tell them to come back. And tell him to come to my den."

"You have to tell them!" Dmitri urged his friend once more. But Chase remained stubborn. "I don't want to trudge up some stupid mountain; I'm not a hobbit! I hate cold, and anyway, I can barely climb the ravine. How am I supposed to get up a bloody mountain?"

Dmitri rolled his eyes. Almost two hours had passed since Splinter had come back from ReedClan, and a few minutes ago Destiny had returned as well. It was settled; they'd meet the Clans tonight.

And they still didn't have a single cat that showed any signs of those wondrous abilities Icestar had talked about.

Or rather, not a single cat that admitted it. Because Dmitri suspected that Chase wasn't the only one hiding something. Cassandra cameback into his mind, and the recent abruptness of her comings and goings. He sighed.

"Come on. We need two Children to go on this journey. Or even more cats will die!"Chase flattened his ears stubbornly. "Climbing's exhausting. Why don't you go? We could act like you had my ability. If I stand next to you, and whisper it into your ear..."

For a mad moment Dmitri actually considered this suggestion. Then he shook his head. You really must be desperate, if you're willing to listen to Chase of all cats..."Come on. If you start, maybe others will reveal themselves as well. And there were these lines; maybe you're not even in it. EarthClan have five Children, and they don't all have to go."

Chase dragged his claws across the rock they were sitting on, a sourly expression on his face. It made an awful grating sound, but Dmitri smiled nonetheless. Chase was in a bad mood, which meant that he had won. Now it was just a question of payment.

"How much?" he sighed quietly. Chase stared after a fly with an expression so bitter as if every last one of his troubles was the insect's fault. "Three birds," he meowed after a short consideration. "And you mention my bravery and selflessness towards Laila. And how I might never return. That should stop her from remembering that...conversation we had."

Dmitri rolled his eyes. "We don't know if you're even going. And even if you do, you'll definitely come back. Out of sheer spite, to make my life miserable." Chase grinned. "You're right. I'm totally safe." He jumped to his paws, his mood miraculously improved. "I'll go talk to Destiny. And I want to see food when I come back! Or you'll taste mud!"

Dmitri watched him leave, shaking his head. Not even Elektra and Dark's death had managed to unsettle him. Sometimes he wondered if Chase was just acting, or if he really did not worry about anything.

Then he remembered the mud and their agreement, and he hastily raced off. Three birds... He could only hope that Chase would take a long time explaining.


The clear night sky was devoid of any clouds, stars sparkling down. The pale silvery moon hung above the tree tops, illuminating the ravine. The air was completely still, and only the chirping of crickets disturbed the silence.

The rocks in the middle of the ravine were deserted. Usually they were populated by at least a dozen cats, but tonight nothing stirred. A soft glow came from the rocks at the end of the ravine, almost like that of a fire. But nothing moved, and there was no smoke rising. Instead it looked like a star had fallen towards the ground, exactly in the middle of the stone circle. An owl called, drowning out the crickets for a moment, before silence descended once more.

The figure at the other end of the ravine, half buried under a pile of lose rocks, stirred. A few smaller stones rolled over, larger ones shifted. From under them emerged a red she-cat. Her dark green eyes glowed in the moonlight as she was looking around, scrutinizing her surroundings. Then, a small smile crept onto her face.

"Immortal," Elektra whispered. "Look at that."