I have good news and bad news, faithful readers. Bad news: This chapter is not the trailer I promised. Good news: I made one and put it on Youtube! I'm so happy, I love making videos! Please, please, please look at it, the link is on my profile! I'll love you forever if you tell me what you think! Also, there's a new poll on my profile and I encourage you all to vote. Enjoy!

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Darkpaw burst through the bushes, her heart beating wildly. Skidding to a stop, she whimpered. "It's gone."

"I told you it was gone," mewed Mothpaw, glancing around nervously as she emerged from the trees.

"It just feels so… empty," Darkpaw said sadly, looking at the dry riverbed but not wanting to approach.

"I know what you mean," said Owlpaw, staring down mournfully. "ForeverClan's very essence was that stream, and without it… we're nothing."

Darkpaw padded closer. She'd only seen the Stream once before in her life, the day she became an apprentice. It had been so beautiful, so magical and awe-inspiring… to think that something so incredible wasn't permanent made her skin crawl. What was the point of life, if nothing made a difference?

Tears in her eyes, she turned to her friends angrily. "I'm going to find it," she said, her voice slightly thick. "Whatever it takes."

Owlpaw nodded, smiling then frowning then giving a determined sigh. Mothpaw flicked her dark silver tail and mewed, "And we'll be with you every step of the way."

--

Creeping away from the Stream clearing, Darkpaw reflected on the recent events. The call to find the Stream was strong as ever, and after convincing Mothpaw and Owlpaw to come with her, she'd almost immediately set out. They weren't sure how to leave a message to their parents and mentors, so they'd had no choice but to entrust the message to Thornkit and Icekit, who promised they'd deliver it. Darkpaw could only hope they got it right, and that they weren't too upset about being left behind.

She sighed. This journey felt impossible, even though it had barely begun. It would be a big help if we had a power.

The blackness of night gradually faded into the pale gray and orange-pink of dawn. The smell of salt disappeared, replaced with a more piney scent. ForverClan territory was left behind them as they moved upriver.

Mothpaw broke the silence. "What is that?" she gasped. In front of them was a flat black stretch of rock. It stunk terribly.

"I think it's a Thunderpath," said Owlpaw, sniffing at it. He wrinkled his nose with distaste.

"Does that mean there are humans here?" Darkpaw asked, eyes wide. She stepped forward and, reaching out bravely, tapped the rock. It was very hard, and hot where the newleaf-turning-greenleaf sun had shined on it.

"It must!" said Mothpaw, excited. "They must come by here! Oh, I always wanted to see a human! I heard they walk on two legs, and have no fur, or claws, and flat faces, and they wear these skin things on them-"

"Where'd you hear all that?" asked Darkpaw, trotting around on the Thunderpath, the warm stone heating her paws.

"From Birdfeather and Sandfur and Waveheart, back when I was a kit," Mothpaw explained, joining Darkpaw on the Thunderpath. "Didn't you ever listen to any of the stories?"

"A few," she said mildly. "I was more interested in going on adventures!"

"You're on an adventure now," pointed out Owlpaw. He was studying the Thunderpath with his wise, ringed eyes. "A dangerous, rule-breaking one."

"So? I told you, I was meant to do this. Nothing is going to stop me," Darkpaw retorted, every word the truth.

Owlpaw would've said something else, but he cocked his head and twisted his ears around like radar dishes. "Do you hear that?" he asked, brow furrowing.

"Hear what?" Mothpaw mewed curiously, but it was clear. A strange noise, like muted thunder, was rumbling. It got louder, and Darkpaw could feel slight tremors beneath her paws.

"Guys…"

A huge, red, shiny, thing barreled down on them, snarling as it whipped around a bend in the Thunderpath. With a scream, Darkpaw flew to the side of the road. She saw Owlpaw had down the same, leaping to the other side of the road, but Mothpaw was still standing in the middle, staring open-mouthed at the creature, her eyes wide and terrified. Owlpaw shouted at her, but she remained frozen.

Without any thought, Darkpaw leaped into the road, her heart clenching painfully in her chest. Paws stretched out in front of her, she slammed into Mothpaw a split second before the creature screeched by. The whoosh of wind it made blew strongly through her fur.

And then it was gone. Darkpaw was in a tangled heap with Mothpaw, both of them trembling faintly in shock. Owlpaw crouched nearby, a similar expression of horror on his face. Adrenaline sang through Darkpaw's veins.

Creeping forward as if he was being hunted, Owlpaw whispered. "StarClan… What happened just now? Are you two okay?"

"I think so." Darkpaw flexed carefully, making sure nothing was broken. She had a few scrapes, which stung, but otherwise nothing was broken.

Mothpaw shuddered, climbing to her feet. Rasping her tongue over a bloody scratch, she hissed, "That was the most terrifying thing that's ever happened to me. I thought I was going to die."

"It's a miracle you both made it," Owlpaw said, shaking his head in disbelief. "I've never seen a cat move so fast, with the exception of Sunshine."

"But what was that?" Mothpaw asked, cutting in. "I thought humans came here, not that… thing. I've never seen a creature so big."

"I don't know what it was," Darkpaw mewed, "But whatever it is, we need to stay far away from it and the Thunderpath. This place is more dangerous than we thought."

Owlpaw nodded in agreement. "We can call it… a… a ground-shaker."

"Or a thunder-bringer," suggested Mothpaw.

"Or just a scary smelly thing," said Darkpaw, the shock wearing off.

"No," said Owlpaw. "That thing… is a rumbler."

"A rumbler," Darkpaw meowed, rolling the word around on her tongue. It fit.

"Let's get away from here," Mothpaw said, shooting a scared glance at the Thunderpath behind her. "Next time, it might try to eat one of us."

Darkpaw shuddered but moved quickly. Crossing as fast as they could, they slowed and padded towards the forest on the other side. The Stream, or where it used to be, ran along somewhere in front of them. Once they found it again, they'd continue the journey up river.

Owlpaw led the way, keeping his tail stretched out behind him so he could make sure he was being followed. As if they were all kits again, Darkpaw grabbed the end in her mouth. Owlpaw looked back in surprise, but didn't say anything. Mothpaw gripped Darkpaw's tail in her teeth, and three young cats walked on, hanging onto each other's tail like they did when they were Mothkit, Owlkit and Darkkit.

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Ha! Not including the author's notes, this was exactly 1100 words long. Not bad, I must say. But it still seems kind of rushed.

So the journey continues, but it's not as easy as expected. But if they stick together, they can conquer all, right? Well, remember to vote, and especially to check out the trailer! Please, tell me what you think! Plushies to whoever does!