I don't own warriors and never will! Enjoy this chapter, and don't forget to review. The next chapter will be juicy, and if you want it to come faster, reviews always help! ;3 And don't forget to point out any inconsistencies for me when you review, it really does help!

"We're going to do what?" Darkpaw asked incredulously, stopping her sorting of herbs.

Scorchwind had suggested that the two of them travel to the Dark Forest, without Jayfeather's permission. It had been a few sunrises after the gathering, and Darkpaw had not been in a good mood. Shiningsky was looking as if she was going to join Pondclaw and her followers, and Darkpaw did not approve.

"We have to do it now, I don't have much time to get Jayfeather to stay away."

"He wouldn't let us go, then. That's what you're saying."

"Uh, right." Scorchwind mumbled.

"Then we shouldn't go!" Darkpaw hissed, and went back to sorting the herbs in her dream.

"We must! Don't you want to find out what they're planning in there?" Scorchwind pleaded, knocking the herbs away with his tail. Darkpaw growled but waited for him to continue. "The Dark Forest warriors haven't stolen anyone in many sunrises. They're doing something!"

"Maybe so." Darkpaw began, "But how would we even get there?"

"Oh it's not far. Jayfeather went there once a long time ago, you know."

"Then why don't we take him? Oh yes, he's not letting us go in the first place!" Darkpaw said, exasperated. She stepped back from the swatted herb pile and looked up at Scorchwind angrily.

"Oh, come on, Darkpaw. StarClan needs you to do this."

"Then why is Jayfeather disapproving?"

"Because… because, ugh. He doesn't want us to go just yet, but I think we have to! Who are you going to trust, a cat who has been dead for a hundred moons, or me?" Scorchwind asked, but realized he shouldn't have asked.

"You know my answer to that." Darkpaw sighed. The two cats sat in silence for a while. Scorchwind started to turn around.

"I guess Jayfeather was right. You're too stubborn to listen." Scorchwind said with an exaggerated sigh, but a twitch of annoyance from Darkpaw made him continue. "You only think about you and your sister, but not the future of your Clan, and all of the Clans. If you would only come with me, we might put a stop to this sooner rather than later."

Darkpaw knew he was egging her on, but his points were sensible.

"Alright, fine. I'll go." Darkpaw gave in, and Scorchwind leapt up happily. "Will it be dangerous?"

"Oh, very." Scorchwind said good naturedly, and began to walk off.

"Wait up!" Darkpaw followed after him, and the two took a walk through StarClan's grounds.

They followed a clear stream that flowed slowly and calmly. Mice scattered along its banks as the two cats walked by. Darkpaw saw large flat rocks on the far side of the stream, where three cats were lazily resting and taking in sunlight. They looked content and peaceful.

As they went further upstream, they came to a waterfall that poured smoothly into the lower river. Darkpaw wasn't sure if she was imagining it, but she saw eyes peering out from behind the falls.

"Is there a cave behind the waterfall?" She asked quietly to Scorchwind. The dark ginger tom nodded and replied, "Behind there is a special place where usually only leaders and medicine cats go. It is one of the places that we can watch over the living cats."

"Is Jayfeather there?" the apprentice asked, and Scorchwind shook his head. She asked no further questions as they passed the waterfall and made their way to an area where the trees were closely packed together.

"Stay beside me." Scorchwind warned, and they weaved through the trees. Although the forest became denser, the trees became thinner. The lush grasses and trees that Darkpaw had spotted just before had faded and become scrawny and dark.

The sun was casting eerie light onto the forest floor now, and the air was thickening. Darkpaw found herself breathing slower, and willed herself to move on. Scorchwind's figure was getting further ahead, and Darkpaw ran faster to catch up.

Mud splashed against her fur as she ran on the swampy grounds. Fog lowered and thickened to shield her view, and Darkpaw attempted to call out for her mentor. Her throat seemed choked and with a rush, Darkpaw ran as fast as possible. In her quickness she collapsed against a furry surface, and she gasped as a figure loomed over her.

"What have we here?" The dark shape breathed onto her face. Darkpaw slashed at the figure immediately and it cried out, but no blood fell from its face. It faded, and with a startling realization, whatever it was, the cat howled and fled. Darkpaw panted as she recovered from the strange cat's appearance.

"Darkpaw!" A voice hissed, and the black apprentice looked to see Scorchwind. "Where were you? And what happened?"

"I couldn't see you anymore, so I ran… I ran into a Dark Forest warrior, it seems." Darkpaw mumbled, still breathing heavily. "I slashed at him and he seemed to fade before running."

Scorchwind sighed in relief and licked her shoulder reassuringly. "Your power is beginning to reveal itself, this should help us greatly."

"What power? I thought medicine cats could defeat the dark cats like that."

"No, we only have so much power on their grounds. But you can defeat them here, and you will be able to do other things as well." Scorchwind explained.

"What kinds of other things?" Darkpaw shivered. It was cold in the Dark Forest.

"We'll talk later, let's get to a clearing first." Scorchwind walked slowly this time, so Darkpaw couldn't lose him. The fog cleared and Darkpaw could see a clearing through the trees. A gnarled stump was fixed in the center of the clearing, raised above all other patches of land. A brown tabby tom with piercing icy blue eyes was sitting calmly on it. A silver and white tabby she-cat with the same shade of eye color was beside him. The two were focused on each other, and didn't see the two cats in the trees.

"Don't say a word, we're here to spy." Scorchwind said as quietly as he could, and Darkpaw nodded. The two watched.

"Hawkfrost, why don't we just steal everyone away? There's nothing they can do about it if we take that approach." The she-cat mewed icily.

"My father would not want it like that, and neither do I." The tabby's voice rumbled throughout the clearing. "There will be a battle, the Clans must go down."

"If you say so." The she-cat retorted. "Shall I rally the troops?" Her voice was laced with sarcasm.

"Don't be like that, Ivyleap." Hawkfrost growled. "I don't want to have to do anything to you like I did to Dovewing." His voice was playful.

"Oh, Hawkfrost." Ivyleap purred, and they rubbed against each other.

"Yuck." Darkpaw looked away. Scorchwind looked stunned. He motioned for Darkpaw to move away from the clearing so they could talk. Her footsteps felt heavy.

"Do you know who they were?" Scorchwind demanded, his voice serious.

"I've… I've heard of Hawkfrost." Darkpaw admitted.

"Well, I can't believe that we got to see Ivyleap! She betrayed her entire Clan for Hawkfrost!" Scorchwind growled.

"Who is Dovewing?" Darkpaw asked, confused. "They mentioned a cat called that."

"Dovewing is Ivyleap's sister, and Jayfeather's cousin. She was one of the Three. I'm not surprised you haven't heard of her over Jayfeather or Lionblaze, though." The older medicine cat explained.

"Wait, why haven't I heard of her? I know Jayfeather and Lionblaze, but the third of the Three was only vaguely mentioned."

"Dovewing was a bit of an enigma. She died when she should not have, but the Clans moved on. Ivyleap played a role in her death." Scorchwind said sadly. "I've learned a lot from Jayfeather about his family history."

"Really? I figured he was more of the silent type, from what I've seen of him." Darkpaw replied curtly.

"Me too. I think this whole Dark Forest thing is making everyone confused." Scorchwind sighed. "Come on, we should listen a little longer." The two returned to the edge of the clearing. More cats had gathered around the tree stump as they talked.

A dark grey tom and a cream furred queen had gathered beneath the stump. The queen had two kits with her, and the tom was arguing with Hawkfrost. Hawkfrost's voice rose angrily, and he hissed at the grey tom.

Darkpaw realized with wonder that the two cats and their kits were Clan cats. They smelled faintly of RiverClan.

"We'll never bow down to you, Hawkfrost!" The grey tom growled. "Sandfur and I will never support the Dark Forest!"

"Then you won't be getting anywhere, will you, Rockfall? Ivyleap…?" Hawkfrost swung his gaze to his mate and at once the she-cat lunged at Rockfall. The tom stepped to the side and swatted at Ivyleap with his huge paws. But Ivyleap was too quick, and she tackled the large tom to the ground.

Rockfall tried to claw Ivyleap on her belly, but she jumped upwards from her position over the prisoner, and landed at his throat.

"Rockfall!" Sandfur cried, and a white tom who seemed to come out of nowhere tackled her to the ground. He bared his fangs and let a single claw puncture her shoulder. Blood trickled out and the two abandoned kits mewed for their mother.

"Don't hurt Sandfur…" Rockfall managed to growl as Ivyleap pressed against his neck.

"But we already have." Ivyleap whispered, and bit into his neck. Blood poured from the wound and Rockfall choked.

Sandfur moaned in grief and the two kits screeched.

"Shut up!" The white tom growled, lifting off of Sandfur for a moment to take care of the kits.

"Don't you dare!" Sandfur yowled and knocked her attacker away with the strength she had left.

Scorchwind seemed frozen in the trees, and Darkpaw felt more scared than ever. Her resolve was clear now, though. She had to defeat the Dark Forest!

"Flash, move out of the way!" A brown she-cat with spiky fur tackled Sandfur down. Darkpaw became aware of the hundreds of eyes staring out from the trees. A few locked their eyes with her, but made no moves. Darkpaw shivered, moving closer to Scorchwind.

"Thistle, I can take care of it." Flash growled, but Ivyleap left Rockfall's side and tackled Flash to the ground.

"I don't think you can." Ivyleap spat to the white tom, who struggled to get up.

"Flash is the cat I got rid of when I was still alive!" Scorchwind gasped, and Darkpaw looked back at the Dark Forest warrior. She was only a kit when he had attacked, but she vaguely recalled his menacing presence. At the moment though, he wasn't so menacing under Ivyleap's claws.

"You failed to steal ThunderClan's medicine cat, and you even managed to send her apprentice to StarClan!" Ivyleap hissed.

"Let's… let's not get hasty, Spiritfeather did join us, after all…" Flash sputtered, and Ivyleap reluctantly loosened her grip.

Thistle picked up the two kits by their scruffs, who mewled for Sandfur desperately.

"Don't hurt my kits…" Sandfur sobbed, lumbering towards Rockfall's body.

"Can you be killed here?" Darkpaw asked her mentor in awe, but Scorchwind only dipped his head to look at the ground.

"Are you going to obey now, Sandfur." Hawkfrost said icily. He said it like a sentence instead of a question.

Sandfur feebly dipped her head to the tom in charge and was corralled into the woods by Thistle, who still carried the two kits. Ivyleap removed herself from Flash's fur and the white tom ran after his mate and Sandfur. He glared back at Ivyleap before disappearing into the darkness.

"Ivyleap, we'll attack before the next Gathering of the two remaining Clans." Hawkfrost decided suddenly, and hopped off the decaying stump to be with Ivyleap. She purred and the two wandered off.

Scorchwind and Darkpaw were silent. So much had happened in so little time.

"We need to prepare. Wake up, Darkpaw, and I'll speak with you again tomorrow night." Scorchwind murmured, and began to walk back on the winding forest path to StarClan's hunting grounds.

"Wait, Scorchwind!" Darkpaw called, and unlike most StarClan cats, he turned to face her.

"Yes?"

"Do… do you know of the prophecy Jayfeather gave me?" Darkpaw asked, "Sprang from water, sprang from heart, if so the days ahead are dark. Sprang from darkness, aimed much higher, and then the days won't be so dire."

"Yes."

"What does it mean? Does darkness refer to me?" Darkpaw questioned, hoping she could get information out of the StarClan cat. She knew deep down he wouldn't give her a drop of information, if he was truly like other StarClan cats that gave prophecies.

"I can't tell you anything, you know that. Now wake up." Scorchwind growled with humor in his voice. He turned and walked away, but Darkpaw's vision faded before she could say another word.

"Darkpaw, get up!" Shiningsky hissed, prodding her younger sister in the side.

"Wha- what is it?" Darkpaw yawned, and rose from the ground. She recalled her meeting with Scorchwind in the Dark Forest.

"Were you having a dream?" She asked, her face anxious.

"Yes… I was, but don't worry, it was ending anyway." Darkpaw replied.

"Alright… I was just worried that nothing was going on up in StarClan." Shiningsky sighed, but she still seemed nervous.

"StarClan… StarClan are doing the best they can." Darkpaw responded, and Shiningsky locked eyes with her.

"I'll believe you for now, Darkpaw, but I don't know what to think anymore." She finally sighed, and walked out of the medicine cat den. Darkpaw peered out over the brambles and saw the sky was still dark. No one seemed to be up, except for Lightheart, who was guarding the camp.

"I hope I'm right." Darkpaw muttered to herself, curled up into a ball and fell asleep.