Planning

Destiny felt the nervousness creeping up on her. She could still feel the EarthClan warrior's fangs in her pelt. The hate that had filled their eyes. She had expected it, after all that trouble with the dead kit. But that still hadn't really prepared her.

It's just words, she told herself, they can't hurt you. That's what she had thought when the other tom had come. And then he had taken Moon from her.

And Destiny had learned to fear claws more than words.

She shook her head. They are warriors. They might hate us, but they have their laws. They have their honour. And they were significantly better at keeping to their laws than the strays were. They will honour the truce.

But then she remembered the hate and contempt on the black she-cat's face, and her doubts returned.

Maybe it's better once I... She hesitated. She didn't even know if it was true. Let alone wether she was chosen to go.

If the alternative's Chase...

The tom's admission had surprised her more than anything else. She'd expected anybody but him. That it had to be him of all cats to get this power, he, who couldn't take anything or anyone seriously...It really hadn't been a big surprise to hear he'd been using it for mischief.

Others might have tried to do good, to help other cats. But Chase...it just wasn't fair. But then, life was rarely ever fair. It wasn't fair that Elektra had died, not fair that Dark's sacrifice had been for nothing. Not fair that the strays were paying the price for the war between some Clan gods.

"It's not fair." "What?" Splitter's confused voice made her flinch, and Destiny realized with a jolt that she had uttered her last thought aloud. "I...nothing," she muttered, drifting back into her thoughts.

They had almost reached the stone circle, the meeting place of the Clans. The moon shone brightly down from the sky, but its light was drowned out by the one that appeared to be coming from between the stones. The tom that glows. Apparently EarthClan had already arrived.

She turned around to Linus and Hagen, who were dragging the strange creature's body behind them. "You go first. They should see at once that we were telling the truth," she meowed quietly.

The golden tom and his son obeyed. Her gaze drifted further towards Chase, who was practically shoved forwards by Dmitri. "Ready?" The brow tom visibly swallowed. "Not really."

The made a face. "Same here. Let's go." And together they stepped between the stones, towards the Clan cats.


Honeypool craned her neck to see the arriving cats, but none of the strays seemed to have such striking abilities as Foxpelt. There was still an audible gasp when more cats stepped into the circle, dragging something behind them.

"Great StarClan," Flintstrike whispered next to her, and Honeypool felt a chill creep into her bones. Even in the bright shine of Foxpelt's fur it was difficult to recognize what the creature had originally looked like. Countless wounds littered its skin, and one leg was missing, just like the tip of its tail. But what she could see was more than enough to make her fur stand on end.

The slender golden tom that had carried the body dropped something else from his jaws, a strangely flat blade, about a mouse length long. The dark crimson spots were unmistakable. "That was attached to its tail," the tom meowed curtly before walking back to sit between the other strays.

For a moment there was silence. Then a small black she-cat stepped forward. Destiny. "This is the creature that killed Elektra. It came from up north, from the mountains. I am certain that it was one of them that killed Emberpaw."

Boldheart quickly made his way towards the front of the crowd. He stopped in front of the body, staring down at the remains. After a short pause he raised his head, looking at Ashstar. "I know I'm no Child of the Moon," he meowed slowly, a cold glint in his eyes. "But I ask for your permission to join the chosen cats when the times come. I want to avenge her myself."

Ashstar took a moment to react, obviously still shaken at the sight in front of him. "We'll talk about that later," he finally meowed. "But I'm afraid the prophecy speaks of six, not seven cats." Now Icestar rose, seemingly bored with the conversation. If he felt shock at the creature's sight he did not show it. "Which brings us to the actual reason for this Gathering," he meowed with an impatient flick of his tail. "Choosing the six."

Boldheart looked like he was about to protest, but Flintstrike urged him backwards, motioning him to keep silent. All eyes wandered towards the strays. Destiny seemed reluctant to speak once more, but after a short nudge from the tabby beside her she stepped forwards once more.

"We a not certain about the gifts on our group," she meowed, exchanging a glance with the brown-grey tom sitting at her other side, surveying the Clan cats with a curious look on his face.

"Chase here can see other cats' memories in their eyes," Destiny continued, "he's been able to do so for a while, although he kept it secret until now." She looked at the gathered cats nervously. Some craned their necks to see better, others quickly averted their eyes. Others just sat there, silently waiting.

"That is all?" Icestar finally growled, narrowing his eyes when she did not continue. Quickly Destiny shook her head. "No. There's another...well, I'm not sure. But I think I can understand what animals say."

Honeypool stared at her in surprise. Chase' ability resembled that of Amberkit or maybe Hollypaw and Shadepaw. But this... she hadn't even known that small creatures like birds or mice even had anything resembling a language.

"What's that supposed to mean, you're not sure?" ReedClan's leader asked now, clearly getting impatient. Destiny lowered her head sheepishly. "It worked once, a moon ago, but not since. But then it did again, yesterday. When I caught a mouse I could hear what it was saying. Or screaming, really. It wasn't happy, obviously."

Icestar crooked his head. "Probably just spent too much time in the sun," Desertstorm scoffed, and some laughed with him. But before anybody could say anything else a dark figure shot from the crowd and flew up one of the rocks. A tabby ReedClan apprentice yelped in shock. "Owl!" "That's Nightcatcher, moron," another snarled exasperated. Nightfrost, who had come with Amberkit, had leapt to her paws as well but was quickly calmed by Lionblaze, and silence descended once more.

Everyone was looking at the owl, whose amber eyes were fixed on Destiny. Then she let out a series of soft squawks, which actually did sound like some sort of sentence. Destiny seemed to understand perfectly. "Yes," she answered the owl. "Me too."

Without another word the owl flew to the ground, changing back into the black she-cat. "It's true," she meowed curtly, shaking a few remaining feathers from her pelt. "She can understand owls, at least." With that she went to sit back down next to Lionblaze.

Honeypool looked at Destiny thoughtfully. She couldn't quite fathom how that ability should be useful. Cats had to kill in order to survive; it was a simple fact of life. What good was there in listening to ones prey's last anguished words?

Icestar nodded as soon as silence had descended once more. "Looks like we have two, then. There was another new gift in our Clan as well. Sorrelpaw can call fog." All heads turned towards the white apprentice, out of whose fur promptly crept a few wisps of mist. Shimmerfur had mentioned her once or twice, Honeypool remembered; according to her Sorrelpaw was the only decent apprentice ReedClan had at the moment. Not that Shimmerfur's opinion generally was something to adhere to.

Ashstar examined the she-cat for a moment before nodding as well. "I am glad to hear it. Now, I think, it is time for the medicine cats to tell us the rest of the prophecy, so that we can decipher its meaning."

Shimmerfur and Honeypool stepped forward together. "Alright, same rules as before," the ReedClan healer growled at once. "No crying. The same goes for you." She threw a warning look towards the strays, who seemed confused rather than intimidated. Honeypool sighed. No. Shimmerfur would never learn.

Deciding to take over before the strays would change their mind about helping them, she forced a smile on her face. "I thank you all for coming. As you know, two cats are needed from teach Clan. We have a vague description for five of them, but we will have to guess the last one."

"As long as I don't have to go," Foxpelt muttered, looking worried once more. The rest was silence, and Honeypool exchanged a quick look with Shimmerfur before reciting the first verse. "He who sees nothing and everything."

A murmur went through the crowd. Some faces showed bewilderment, on others realization dawned, especially among the EarthClan cats. Honeypool swallowed, avoiding looking in Amberkit's direction. Ever since she had learned of his gift this verse had gone through her mind, refusing to leave her. Up until now she had hoped that there would be someone else among ReedClan or the strays, someone who might also fit the description. But there was no one, and the words were unmistakable.

Nightfrost realized that as well. "No," she mewed at once, fear and determination in her voice. She moved in front of Amberkit, shielding him from the looks that were part sympathy part grim determination. "Out of the question. He's a kit!"

Nobody dared speak. "No, you can't...StarClan would never ask that! Please, Ashstar, you can't allow it!" The grey leader looked at his front paws. Instead it was Icestar who spoke.

"Nobody here likes it," he growled harshly. "But we all have to make sacrifices if we are to life. And it is clearly Amberkit the prophecy is speaking about. Do you really want to save him, condemning countless other kits to die in his stead?"

Nightfrost bared her teeth, snarling at him. Now Flinstrike stepped forward. "He will not go alone," he meowed softly. "The other warriors will protect him. And Amberkit is wise beyond his age. He will come back safely."

The black queen stared at the deputy in disbelief. "How can you side with them? How can you ask me to give up my kit?" There was so much pain, so much anger and desperation in her voice that Honeypool half expected her to attack Flintstrike.

But before anybody could do anything else, the small tom himself emerged between his mother's front legs. At the sight of his milky eyes, which seemed to shine despite his blindness, the gathered cats fell silent at once.

Amberkit sat down in front of his mother. "I think I should have a say in this," he meowed in his confusingly adult voice. Somebody made to protest but Amberkit raised the tip of his tail in warning – a rather pathetic gesture considering his size. "You don't have to say anything. I can hear you anyway, and Shimmerfur asked you to stay silent, after all. Destiny doesn't like your screaming either, actually. It scares her."

At once, any signs of protest died. Most cats looked distinctly uncomfortable now, and Honeypool felt her fur prickle as well. She had sort of gotten used to it by now, but at times it still unnerved her, knowing that Amberkit could hear her every thought.

"Thank you," the red kit meowed simply, before turning back towards his mother. "I know you are worried, but Flintstrike is right. They will look after me. And it is true, the prophecy clearly means me. Honeypool has thought about it quite a lot; surely she'd have found an alternative if there was one."

Honeypool flinched. No. There was no way she would ever get used to this.

"And anyway, I don't mind going," Amberkit continued, a cautious smile appearing on his young face. "With only five other cats it will surely be more quiet than at camp. I can barely sleep at night because there's always someone lying awake and thinking about stuff. It's even worse here. You have no idea how loud you are."

The crowd was utterly silent. Judging by the embarrassment on their faces, many cats would be rather glad to have Amberkit far away. Nobody like the idea of having their most intimate secrets revealed to a kit.

Amberkit sighed. "It doesn't help thinking about not thinking about it. I can still hear you. And I don't even want to know your stupid little secrets, stop screaming them at me."

The silence lengthened. In the end it was Icestar who broke it, nervously pawing the ground beneath him. "I suppose that decides it. Nightfrost, maybe you'd like to return to camp with Amberkit? A cat as young as him shouldn't stay outside for this long."

Nightfrost's bared his teeth at him, her eyes full of contempt. "Oh, but sending him off to some mountains is fine? We haven't heard the last in this. Amberkit, come." The little red tom seemed rather relieved to leave the crowded place, just as many seemed relieved to see him go. "Dewfeather, go with her," Ashstar said into the awkward silence that had descended.

The white she-cat got to her paws and leapt off, and slowly the murmurs returned. "Silence," Shimmerfur snapped. "We still have five cats to go, and if we make such a circus out of all of them, we'll be sitting here till leaf-bare. Next line. She who dies and dies and yet lives."

Honeypool looked at the assembled cats. This verse had given her the most trouble deciphering, and Shimmerfur seemed to realize that as well. "Maybe something easier for now," she meowed quickly. "She whose wings rule the night. I think we can all agree that it means Nightcatcher."

Honeypool nodded, and nobody seemed to protest. Except Lionblaze. "What? Are you sure?" he mowed, eyes widening in shock. Nightcatcher rolled her eyes. "See anybody else here who has wings? Calm down, for StarClan's sake."Shimmerfur's whiskers twitched, but apart from that she ignored the short exchange. Lionblaze did not look happy at all but fell silent as well.

"One who is two and two in one," Shimmerfur continued, frowning. "I must admit I'm not sure about this one."

"But I am!" an excited voice called from the crowd, as Hollypaw hastily pushed past Boldheart. "It means me and Shadepaw! Our minds are connected, so we basically are one. So can we go?" Honeypool crooked her head. The thought had occurred to her as well.

"You can't both go," Icestar was quick to point out. "EarthClan already has one cat on this journey. Three would be against the prophecy." Hollypaw's grin faded. "Oh." She turned back towards her sister uncertainly. "But I don't want to be separated from her."

"I'm not sure this is a good idea either," Ashstar now meowed. "One kit may be acceptable, but two cats this young?" Hollypaw's fur bristled. "We're not kits! We can take care of Amberkit!" Icestar nodded. "She's right," he said to Ashstar with a rather sly smile. "And we don't have anybody else who matches the description."

Ashstar hesitated further, and Honeypool knew the reason. If one of the two apprentices were to go, EarthClan would not have any warriors at all on this journey. The young cats' lives would depend solely on warriors from other Clans. Clearly, Icestar also knew this.

The EarthClan leader turned to Honeypool, looking for aid. "What do you think?" She frowned. She understood his concerns, but they could not afford Clan rivalry at the moment. Not when this much was at stake.

"I think Hollypaw is right. One of them should be part of this mission," she mewed, her eyes firmly fixed to the ground. Boldheart opened his mouth but Echoflight shook her head, silencing him. "They are right," she meowed quietly.

Finally Ashstar nodded. "One of you will go, then," he mewed loudly. Hollypaw beamed, but Shadepaw looked scared rather than happy. Honeypool thought that she could probably guess which of them would go.

"Very touching," Shimmerfur commented dryly. "Alright. One who hears much and understands all. Given that we don't really have many cats to choose from, I'd suggest Destiny. She understands where the rest of us only hear noise."

Honeypool nodded but Icestar frowned. "Is it wise, sending a leader? Wouldn't that make the strays rather over-represented?" Ashstar snarled. "For the same reasoning, it would be better for Spiderfur to go in Amberkits stead," he pressed between gritted teeth. "Apparently your sense for balance is rather limited, Icestar."

The white tom snarled at him as well, but Destiny cut them both off. "I am not our leader," she meowed coldly, looking a lot bolder than before. Apparently she had already come to terms with her fate. "I am one of three Thanes, speakers of our group. And once I am gone, my place will simply be given to someone else. As it is every leaf-bare." She nodded towards Shimmerfur. "I agree with you about the wording," she meowed quietly. "And it's not like we have much of a choice. Chase and me are the only Children in our group. We both have to go, whether we're mentioned in that prophecy or not."

There was another silence, during which Ashstar nodded respectfully. The brow-grey tom next to Destiny – Chase, as Honeypool guessed –stepped from one paw to the other uneasily. "Are you sure? I really think we should listen what this prophecy-thingey has to say about it."

A red she-cat with a narrow face who was lazily lying on one of the lower rocks gave a mocking snort. "If a kit has the guts to go, so should you, you big baby." Chase spun around angrily. "I didn't say I wouldn't go," he defended himself quickly. "Just that I don't insist. If anybody else wants to go I am prepared to... graciously relinquish my spot."

Splinter sighed. "Chase, we talked about this. You're going, full stop. If only to stop these ridiculous attempts at flirting. It's getting rather annoying." Chase laughed. "You're just worried you'll fall to my charm after all," he grinned with a wink. Splinter opened her mouth to reply something but before any sound could come out another figure stepped between the rocks.

"Don't worry, Chase. You won't have to go; I can avenge myself," the dark red she-cat meowed with a grin. The strays gasped, and Chase wasn't the only one jumping in shock. "Elektra!" he yelped, staring as if he had seen a ghost. "How...?" Honeypool froze. Elektra? Wasn't she one of the cats who had...

"She who dies and dies and yet lives? I think you found her," the red she-cat continued now, still grinning. "May I introduce? Elektra, the immortal!"


Darkpaw stared at the red stray curiously. Immortal? Astounding. Maybe these gifts were quite useful after all. Unlike Windflights ridiculous bouncing or that irritating glowing EarthClan elder Darkpaw could actually imagine a couple of situations were immortality would come in handy. Better than spreading stupid fog.

His gaze wandered towards Sorrelpaw. Of course she's a Child of the Moon. It's always here. Ever since the Can had taken him in the arrogant apprentice had picked on him. She was always the favourite, apprentice of the deputy, friend of the medicine cat. Acting like she was the smartest and only worthwhile apprentice of ReedClan.

Unable to suppress a growl, he turned away. The gathered cats had calmed down a little by now. "Alright," Shimmerfur meowed slowly, struggling to smooth her fur once more. "That means we have our five. Only thing missing is one ReedClan cat. The one whose description we didn't hear."

All eyes turned towards Windflight and Sorrelpaw. ReedClan only had three Children, and Nightcatcher was already part of the mission. The tabby tom exchanged an uncertain look with Sorrelpaw. His face clearly showed no more enthusiasm for travelling to some snowy mountain of doom than Chase had expressed.

Icestar did not wait for any of them to volunteer. "Sorrelpaw should go," he meowed abruptly. "It might be useful for them to hide from their enemies. And she is old enough; she's almost ready to receive her warrior name."

Sorrelpaw raised her head, looking rather surprised. "Me? But wouldn't Windflight..." Shimmerfur frowned as well. "I'm afraid I have to disagree, Icestar. We already have one kit and one apprentice going; the other cats should be strong enough to protect them. And Windflight's gift is far more useful on this journey. Climbing the mountain won't be easy."

Icestar's gaze flickered towards Lionblaze for a moment, who was sitting in his place with a stony expression and didn't seem to even notice the leader. For a short instance Darkpaw thought he could see anger on Icestar's white face.

But he quickly caught himself, and the mask returned. "What do you think, Sorrelpaw? It could be your first mission as a warrior." he meowed pleasantly, even though the smile on his face didn't reach his blue eyes.

Sorrelpaw stared at her leader, perplexed. "You mean you'll...make me a warrior before I go? But I didn't even do the trials, I..." Icestar flicked his tail dismissively. "I rather think in times like these we can drop those formalities," he purred, still smiling broadly. "And one might regard it as a trial itself, saving all our lives."

Sorrelpaw kept silence, obviously stumped by the sudden urging. Darkpaw felt his face twist in a mask of disgust. Of course. Why didn't he just make her deputy while he was at it?

But before the white apprentice could answer, Windflight stepped in. "I will go," he meowed firmly. "Shimmerfur is right; my gift is better suited. And Sorrelpaw should have the chance to finish her training properly."

Icestar narrowed his eyes, clearly displeased. "What about Whisperpaw," Smokeheart suddenly interjected, her eyes just as cold as her mate's. "What about her training? One should think you would care just as much about your own apprentice's training as that of others."

Windflight flattened his ears, looking rather apologetic. "I am sure Icestar will find a new mentor for her, at least until...until I'm back," he replied without looking up. Smokeheart opened her mouth to protest further, but Icestar flicked his tail to silence her. Apparently he knew when he had lost. "So be it," he growled, not quite managing to hide his anger.

Darkpaw understood his annoyance. Windflight was an experienced warrior. And together with Nigthcatcher they would be losing two strong fighters, in contrast to EarthClan who would only send kits.

There was a short silence before Honeypool spoke once more. "So we have our six chosen ones," she meowed with a cautious smile. "Only thing left to decide is when they will leave. And how." Elektra nodded vigorously. "Exactly. The forest up north is full of the things that attacked Dark and me. Unless they have moved, which I doubt, there's no way we can get past them."

All eyes wandered towards the broken body in the middle of the circle, at loss what to do. "So you will need a distraction," the orange EarthClan warrior that had asked to come earlier meowed finally. "That'd be suicide," Ashstar said incredulously.

But the warrior shook his head. "Not necessarily. If we sneak past them in the west, alongside the Thunderpath, we can surprise them from the north, and draw them further west. That would leave the way clear for the six. Even if those...monsters know about the prophecy, they will assume that we're the chosen ones, and go after us. The real ones will be safe."

"Us?" a black she-cat next to him repeated, who Darkpaw assumed was his mate. "Boldheart, you can't honestly plan to go on this mission!" The orange tom's expression softened somewhat when he looked at her. "Please understand," he meowed quietly, "It's the only chance for Hollypaw to get past them safely. I couldn't bear to lose her as well, not after..." His voice faltered.

He cleared his throat awkwardly and turned back to Ashstar. "If you will allow it, I'd rather like to sink my teeth in a few of their throats," he said grimly. Ashstar was still silent, and exchanged an uncertain look with Flintstrike. The black deputy hesitated. "It sounds like a decent plan," he meowed, "Risky, but it could work. And we cannot afford this mission to fail."

"Well said," Sandwhisker meowed, and to Darkpaw's surprise he rose to his paws. "I shall join you." The grey apprentice stared at his mentor in shock. Sandwhisker volunteered? Usually the old warrior showed as much initiative as a dead hedgehog.

But he also had a strong faith, and apparently took it as his duty to defend StarClan to the best of his abilities. Icestar scrutinized the sandy tom shortly, then shrugged. "If that is what you want. I agree with Flintstrike, this mission has to succeed under any circumstances."

"I'll go as well," a soft voice suddenly chirped up, and a young she-cat stepped forward from amongst the strays. "It's only fair for us to do our part as well." Darkpaw looked the sand-coloured she-cat over. She was barely older than him, aged maybe a year. She was rather slim, and didn't look very strong.

Chase, the coward that had refused to go, seemed to have the same thought. "Laila? Are you mad? That sounds dangerous! And...well, fighting's not exactly your forte, is it?" Laila spun around, baring her fangs at him. "It was enough to throw you into the river, wasn't it?" she hissed angrily. "And anyway, running away I can do very well. We're supposed to distract them, not fight." Chase ducked his head, and after a brief pause Destiny nodded. "You're right. We've got to do our part," she meowed quietly.

A few tail lengths off Darkpaw could hear Sorrelpaw whisper to her friend. "Looks like she-cats are braver than toms. None of our apprentices would dare to do." Whisperpaw let out a short giggle, but Darkpaw barely heard her.

White hot anger overcame him. As if Sorrelpaw would have the courage to go. Instead she'd sent Windflight, that idiot. And anyway, he was ten times as brave as that skinny stray.

"I'll come, too!" The words had left his mouth before he even had time to think.

He gulped as all eyes suddenly were on him. Some incredulous, other bemused. One EarthClan apprentice even laughed, and Darkpaw felt blood shoot to his face. But he didn't back away. "Sandwhisker's my mentor; I should go with him. It might be good practice," he continued, slightly more timid now. "And if they're expecting six cats, four will be more convincing than three."

Icestar, his mouth already open in protest, looked surprised, and Darkpaw was relieved to see doubt and irritation fight on the white face. He could feel Sorrelpaw's eyes on his back, and knew he'd die of mortification if he was refused like some misbehaving kit.

"We can't take apprentices with us," Boldheart growled irritatedly. "We have to be quick and go unnoticed, up until the right moment. He'd just slow us down." Darkpaw made to protest, but to his surprise it was Sandwhisker who came to his defence.

"My apprentice is quite capable of keeping up, Boldheart. I do not think your input is needed to judge his abilities." The coldness of his voice astonished Darkpaw. Sandwhisker almost never got angry, or emotional at all for that matter. But there was a firm resolution in the look he now shot Icestar. "I think Darkpaw is right," he meowed calmly. "If he wants to come, we should allow him."

Icestar hesitated, scrutinizing Darkpaw. The ashy tom felt his fur prickle as the blue eyes seemed to pierce him. Then the leader shrugged. "So be it. If he does well, maybe we will make him a warrior."

Darkpaw felt his heartbeat accelerate. Warrior. The idea of receiving his name - before Sorrelpaw at that – lifted his spirits higher than they'd been in a long while. He grinned at himself, turning to look at Sorrelpaw.

The look the white she-cat was giving him was murderous. Darkpaw grinned harder.

"Then I want to come, too!" a small EarthClan apprentice cried indignantly, "Boldheart's my mentor!" "No," the orange tom said immediately, "You're too young. If Icestar wants to risk his apprentice's life that's his business. But I will not allow it." The apprentice made to protest, but a stern look from her mentor shut her up.

For the first time Darkpaw realized what he had gotten himself into. You might die. He swallowed hard, hoping Sorrelpaw would not see the trembling of his paws.

"That settles it," Ashstar meowed once silence had fallen once more, "The only thing left is the question of when." "The sooner the better," Shimmerfur growled at once, "We have to save StarClan before it's too late." Splinter nodded. "Leaf-fall comes early up in the mountains. And we do not know how long this journey will take. If they run into snow on the way back..." Nobody needed to hear the rest of the sentence to know what she meant. The autumn storms up in the mountains could be felt even down here, and the icy cold that came with them was a good indicator of the deathly havoc they caused up there.

"I suggest we leave in two days' time," Boldheart said, "The six can follow one day later, once the way is clear." Nigthcatcher nodded. "I will keep a lookout so we will know when the monsters are gone." "And maybe we should meet once more before that, at least the six who will go," Windflight added. "So Elektra can tell us exactly what it is we're dealing with."

The discussion continued, but Darkpaw was barely listening. His gaze wandered over to the black body in the middle of the circle. The severed blade shone dully in the light of Foxpelt's fur, and the dark crimson spots on it seemed to stare at him like ominous eyes.

Despite his efforts to appear calm, his fur bristled. For a moment even Sorrelpaw's nocking seemed unimportant.

Two days. In two days, you might be dead.

He lifted his head, and his eyes met that of the slender stray who had also volunteered. But the encouraging smile she gave him did nothing to drive the cold out of his heart.

Two days.