Chapter 3: The Threat is Revealed
"Sandstorm came to you?"
Redstar nodded. "I've dreamt of her before."
Honeyleaf looked surprised. "Really?"
Redstar tensed. He wasn't sure if he was ready to reveal his love for Firestar's mate. He shot a glance at Fernpaw. She was listening intently.
Honeyleaf noticed Redstar's discomfort. "Fernpaw, can you go collect some moss? Limepaw used the last of it for Stormspeckle's bedding.
Fernpaw dipped her head and departed.
After the apprentice left, Redstar took a deep breath. "I think I'm in love with Sandstorm."
The medicine cat did not look surprised. "I figured as much."
"I dreamed of her often after she left, but they were mostly of hunting together or running through the forest. She always laughed after I admitted it, or I was too nervous to."
He paused. Honeyleaf was watching with interest.
"But, last morning, I dreamed of her again." He took a moment to remember. "I had been following Sandstorm into the forest. I told her I loved her, and she laughed at me. Suddenly she turned into a dark form with sharp fangs and red eyes. She lunged for my throat. I woke up then and had to check that it wasn't in the camp. I kept dreaming of it afterwards."
"Hm," Honeyleaf mewed. "Go on."
"Last night I dreamed of her more vividly. She came and..." He closed his eyes, conjuring the dream. "We were in the forest again. I heard someone yowl in pain. Then she said, 'They're coming, and soon. You must be ready!' Then I smelled something, something bitter and rank. Other cats joined the first one. Then Sandstorm said, 'They will bring death.' Then I woke up and smelled her scent around my den."
Finished, he sat back and looked at Honeyleaf. She was staring into space with a distant look in her eyes.
"She's trying to tell you something," she mewed finally. "Remember your leadership ceremony? The cats in the series seem to be our ancestors. Some threat is about to come upon us. But what?"
"Has StarClan told you anything?"
"I've had dreams as well, dreams of blood and pain and death. There's always been a presence there, small and deadly."
"Maybe greencough?"
Honeyleaf looked at him as if he had grown a second head. "No, not greencough. It's greenleaf, you mouse-brain."
Redstar flicked his tail. "Oops."
"Anyway, what could StarClan be telling us? I should know. I'll let you know if I find out anything else."
"Thank you, Honeyleaf." Redstar brushed past Fernpaw as he left.
{=}
Honeyleaf curled up in her nest. Lavender was sleeping peacefully in the nursery with Shinyheart. Fernpaw was out collecting herbs with Prismlight. An odd time, but it was all right.
She's been going out with her sister a lot. I wonder what is wrong?
Honeyleaf's eyes closed.
She opened them to find herself in a place unlike any she had seen. It was a large gorge with a bubbling stream and a series of caves along a path higher up.
"Greetings, Honeyleaf."
Honeyleaf turned around to see a pale gray tomcat with white patches padding over. His eyes were a very pale blue.
In an instant, Honeyleaf recognized the tom. "Cloudstar," she mewed, dipping her head respectfully to the SkyClan leader. "Something is going to happen to DareClan."
"I know. Firestar and Sandstorm journeyed to the gorge again to tell me."
"What is going to happen, Cloudstar?"
The old leader seemed guarded. "Let me show you."
Honeyleaf followed Cloudstar up the path and into a cave. A black-and-gray queen was nursing two tiny kits.
Suddenly a terrible grating noise sounded from outside. Chitters and squeaks grew louder. Then a flood of small creatures the size of kits made the queen yowl in terror.
"Rats!" she screeched. "Rats!"
Honeyleaf could only watch as the rats bit and tore at the queen and her kits. Honeyleaf closed her eyes when the hot scent of blood hit her throat. When she opened her eyes again she was outside the gorge with Cloudstar.
"Rats," he meowed simply. "Rats."
DareClan:
Leader: Redstar: reddish ginger tom with amber eyes. Invented by Mothstar.
Deputy: Nightfrost: black tom with light blue paws, tail-tip, and light blue eyes. Invented by Shadus Krifetalon.
Medicine cat: Honeyleaf: light gold she-cat with green eyes. Invented by Jayfeather Luva.
Apprentice, Fernpaw
Warriors:
Willowheart: light brown tabby she-cat with green eyes. Invented by Mothstar.
Silverstreak: silver she-cat with blue, dark gray, and black streaks throughout her fur and blue eyes. Invented by MyrtleFalls and Mothstar.
Apprentce, Darkpaw
Smokesplash: blue and dark gray tom. Invented by Smokeclaw of ShadowClan.
Patchclaw: black-and-white patched tom. Invented by Patchkit.
Palestorm: pale gray tom with darker gray paws, chest, and tail-tip, and green eyes. Invented by Mothstar.
Rainbowheart: rainbow tabby she-cat with green eyes. Invented by Mothstar.
Prismlight: white she-cat with a sheen to her fur that makes it shine in all the colors of the color spectrum and golden eyes. Invented by Mothstar.
Solfang: tortoiseshell-and-white tom with long fur, a ruff of fur around his neck, a tail tuft, and amber eyes. Invented by Mothstar.
Lemonpelt: yellowish-grayish-green tom with yellow eyes. Invented by Mothstar.
Molespots: creamy brown tom with gold spots and green eyes
Apprentice, Jetpaw
Apprentices:
Fernpaw: pale gray she-cat with green eyes, apprentice to the medicine cat. Invented by Mothstar.
Limepaw: white she-cat with lime-shaped green splotches and green eyes. Invented by Velvet Masquerade.
Jetpaw: jet black tom with very dark blue eyes
Darkpaw: smoky black tom with yellow eyes
Queens:
Shinyheart: very pale gold she-cat with yellow eyes. Invented by Mothstar.
Elders:
Stormspeckle: jet black tom with pale gray flecks and amber eyes. Invented by Mothstar.
Outside DareClan:
Lavender: pale gray she-cat, loner, with green eyes. Nursing two young kits, a tom and a she-kit.