Author's Notes: Okay, the ShadowClan section of the allegiances page should have changed due to something that happened in this chapter.
Disclaimer: I don't own Warriors, but I do own the characters created for this story. Please don't intentionally steal my characters.
Chapter 4
"You have to let the words come to you. If you try too hard to find them, they will refuse to even let you utter them," Duskpaw said. "Rowanwind understands what I'm talking about, don't you?"
Rowanwind nodded. "It's almost like the words are controlling what I say."
"In a way, they do," Duskpaw said. "The words use your strength to shape them from words to actions."
"How are we supposed to let the words control us?" Gingerheart wondered, her light brown eyes wide.
"You must think about what it is you want to do, and then politely request the words to use you to fulfill the action," Duskpaw said. "They react very strongly for Rowanwind. I've never seen magick so strong in a single cat."
"It's probably because he's in a prophecy," Thunderstripe suggested. "His destiny is greatly influenced by StarClan."
"That may explain it," Duskpaw said with a nod. "Now, I will demonstrate how to make plants bend to your will."
Duskpaw walked over to a bramble bush. He sat down and stared at the bush with deep concentration in his mismatched eyes.
"Intenglo tho bhemblos ent tuich Thintohsthapo!" Duskpaw whispered.
Rowanwind understood the words as, "Untangle the brambles and touch Thunderstripe!"
They watched in amazement as the bramble bush's tendrils of brambles began to move. Thunderstripe yelped as the brambles came forward and stroked his fur lightly.
"You see?" Duskpaw said, twitching his tail at the brambles. The bush returned to its normal, unmoving state.
"Why can't we understand the words?" Gingerheart asked.
"I could understand them," Rowanwind admitted.
"That's to be expected from you," Duskpaw said to Rowanwind. "The actions only work with this certain tongue. It is impossible to learn because it was created solely for the purpose of reacting to words and making things happen. It's not a language used to communicate between individuals."
"This is amazing," Gingerheart whispered. "And I thought turning into a cat was the most unbelievable thing that has ever happened to me!"
Rowanwind and Thunderstripe tensed suddenly. Duskpaw looked at Gingerheart with curiosity. The she-cat suddenly gasped as she realized what she'd let slip.
"Oops," Gingerheart whispered.
"What were you before, if you were not born a cat?" Duskpaw wondered.
"I was...a Twoleg," Gingerheart mumbled.
Duskpaw's ears twitched with surprise. "You are serious?"
"Of course she is! Why would she lie about something like that?" Thunderstripe hissed.
Rowanwind touched his friend's shoulder with his tail-tip. "Calm down, Thunderstripe."
Duskpaw shook his head. "Who turned her into a cat?"
"StarClan did," Rowanwind replied.
"How?" Duskpaw looked at Rowanwind.
"I'm not sure," Rowanwind said. Something suddenly clicked in his head. "Magick! Firestar must have used magick to turn Gingerheart into a cat!"
Duskpaw's whiskers flicked. "It's possible." He turned to look at Gingerheart. "It is possible for me to return you to your Twoleg body so that you may go home."
"No!" Gingerheart yelped.
Thunderstripe's entire pelt was bristled and his yellow eyes were slitted. "You can't turn her back into a Twoleg!"
"Why not?" Duskpaw blinked.
"The forest is my home now," Gingerheart said. "You don't understand. I went back to check on my foster parents, and I learned that they didn't even care I'd disappeared! They only took care of me for their own, selfish purposes! I can't go back. I have nothing to go back to. I belong here with Thunderstripe...and...and Rowanwind."
"Keep your fur on," Duskpaw grumbled. "I won't turn you back into a Twoleg if you don't want me to!"
Thunderstripe's pelt flattened. Gingerheart's eyes filled with relief.
"Can we continue with my lesson?" Duskpaw wondered cautiously.
"Yes. Please, continue," Rowanwind replied. I want to learn all I can about magick...it might help me defeat Sly later, he thought to himself.
Rowanwind padded out the warriors' den a few mornings after his first lesson with Duskpaw. The weather was getting warmer now, and newleaf was coming. He could feel the warmer wind blowing through the camp. He stretched and yawned before padding over to the fresh-kill pile. Granitetail and Reedclaw were both beginning their morning meals.
"Good morning, Rowanwind," Granitetail meowed.
Rowanwind nodded in response. He wondered at the change in Granitetail. Ever since Granitetail's best friend, Icefur, who was also the mate of Rainfur and the father of Webpaw, Nimblepaw, and Sootpaw, had abandoned his Clan to try and join DarkClan, Granitetail had become less grumpy. When once Rowanwind had little respect for the gray and white tom, he now saw that Granitetail was a strong, loyal warrior who the Clan needed greatly, especially now, in the war against DarkClan.
Oakpelt, Crookedfern, Stormypelt, and Webpaw came padding in through the new tunnel entrance, having just come back from dawn patrol. Rowanwind sat back on his haunches and waited for one of them to come over and report. Oakpelt paused to say something to Webpaw before he and Stormypelt walked over to Rowanwind.
"Did you find anything?" Rowanwind wondered.
Oakpelt and Stormypelt glanced at each other momentarily before Oakpelt spoke up. The glance made Rowanwind's nerves go on edge.
"We were near our border with WindClan when we met up with a rogue," Oakpelt explained. "You'd be very interested to hear what he had to say."
Stormypelt interrupted. "He said he was part of a group of other rogues who are survivors of past attacks made by DarkClan. They've been following DarkClan everywhere they go, hoping that they can try and guess where the Clan will go next so that they may warn the cats DarkClan plans on attacking next. He said that they lost the scent and have only just found DarkClan once again."
"He regrets not being here soon enough to warn us," Oakpelt went on. "He would like to meet with the leaders of the four Clans. I told him our leader was attacked by DarkClan, and that we'd speak to our deputy and the other Clan leaders."
"Crimsonstar will not like this," Rowanwind meowed.
Oakpelt laughed. "When has Crimsonstar ever liked anything?"
"True. When does this rogue want to meet with us?" Rowanwind wondered.
Stormypelt blinked. "You don't seem to be surprised by the fact that a group of cats has shown up who have been following DarkClan around."
"I'm not," Rowanwind said. "DarkClan has been destroying Clans for many moons. They were bound to have made enemies along the way."
"He wants to meet tomorrow on the island, at sunhigh," Oakpelt said.
"Good. That gives us enough time to go and speak to the other leaders," Rowanwind said. "Oakpelt, would you please go get Thunderstripe and Gingerheart? I would like to bring them with me."
Oakpelt nodded and walked away.
Rowanwind turned to Stormypelt. "Will you come along, too? It will give you a chance to speak with the kittypets."
Stormypelt glanced over where Francis and Lola were sharing tongues in front of the warriors' den. "Okay. Let me go tell Francis and Lola."
Rowanwind nodded. "I need to speak to Clawstar before I go. Meet me by the entrance."
Stormypelt touched her nose to his cheek quickly before turning and quickly walking over to where her kittypets parents were lying.
Rowanwind stared after the gray she-cat for a few seconds before he walked over to the medicine cat's den. Just as he was entering the den, a gray blur came flying out. Rowanwind jumped out of the way just in time. Maggotpaw gasped and slid to a stop.
"Rowanwind!" Maggotpaw's fur was standing on end. "I'm so sorry!"
"What's going on?" Frostflower called from inside.
"It's okay, Frostflower. Your apprentice was just a little too eager to get out of the den," Rowanwind called to Maggotpaw's mentor. "Where are you heading in such a hurry, Maggotpaw?"
"Um...I was going...for a walk," Maggotpaw replied hesitantly.
"In such a hurry?" Frostflower laughed, appearing in the entryway to her den. "You don't need to rush everywhere you go, Maggotpaw. Save your energy for the times you'll need it!"
"Yes, Frostflower," Maggotpaw whispered. "May I go now?"
"Of course," Rowanwind told her. "Just try and make sure there aren't any cats in your way before you bolt."
Maggotpaw nodded quickly before hurrying away.
"She's so full of enthusiasm," Frostflower said, her amber eyes full of pride. "Maggotpaw's training is coming along really well. She's been taking care of Clawstar's wounds without any help from me now."
"That's wonderful. I wish I could stay and talk, but I need to speak to Clawstar. Is he awake?" Rowanwind wondered.
"Yes. Don't stay long," Frostflower meowed. "I'll leave the two of you alone."
Rowanwind headed into the den and over to where Clawstar lay in the back. He was curled up in a bed of moss. His face, left ear, tail, and all four legs were wrapped with cobwebs. The scratches across his shoulders smelled of herbs.
"Hello, Rowanwind," Clawstar meowed hoarsely.
Rowanwind inwardly cringed. It was getting more and more difficult to come and speak to Clawstar. Every time he saw the broken body of his once strong leader, Rowanwind could barely suppress a cry of outrage toward DarkClan. In a single day, they had taken eight of Clawstar's lives. Now, ThunderClan's wise leader was reduced to lying, helpless, in the medicine cat's den for StarClan knew how long.
"Hello, Clawstar," Rowanwind mewed softly. "I've come with some news. The dawn patrol encountered a possible ally this morning. He is a rogue who survived a previous attack by DarkClan. He has a group of rogues with him who want to speak to us tomorrow on the island. He requested the leaders come, so I will go in your stead. I'm leaving now with Thunderstripe, Gingerheart, and Stormypelt to tell Angelstar, Featherstar, and Crimsonstar about the meeting."
Clawstar's head rose slightly from his paws. "You are doing well in my place, Rowanwind. I trust your decisions with my life."
"Thank you, Clawstar. I'll let you rest now," Rowanwind meowed. He turned and left the medicine cat's den.
Frostflower gave him a quiet nod as he passed her on his way out of her den. She slipped back into her den, disappearing into the cool darkness.
Rowanwind padded over to the tunnel entrance, where Stormypelt was waiting with Thunderstripe and Gingerheart.
"Ready?" Rowanwind asked.
"Of course!" Gingerheart said. "We're always ready to go into enemy territory and have our pelts ripped off."
Thunderstripe laughed. "They aren't going to rip our pelts off, Gingerheart. We're allied with them right now."
Gingerheart flicked her tail-tip in agitation. "Well, they still could."
"We're with Stormypelt. All of the Clans have agreed to let the kittypets walk freely among all four Clans," Rowanwind pointed out. "We should be fine."
"Then let's go!" Thunderstripe bounded first through the tunnel entrance, the others following close behind him.
Rowanwind hoped Gingerheart's worry was just a waste of time. He really didn't want to have to fight anyone today.
Rowanwind led the way across the border between ThunderClan and ShadowClan. His fur bristled at the silence that greeted them in the dark pine forest of ShadowClan land. Something felt very wrong in this part of the forest. Why weren't the birds calling?
Gingerheart pressed herself up against Thunderstripe, seemingly without thinking. Thunderstripe wrapped his tail around hers in a comforting manner; his wide, yellow eyes showed that he was just as afraid as Gingerheart.
Stormypelt walked forward quickly. "What's going on?" she whispered. Her ears were standing straight up, trying their hardest to find a sound in the silent forest.
"I don't know," Rowanwind whispered. He looked around, scanning the entire area around them. "Do you think it's DarkClan?"
"StarClan only knows," Thunderstripe murmured.
"Wait. Look over there," Stormypelt whispered. She gestured off to their left with her tail.
Rowanwind and his friends all squinted into the distance. A small group of cats was moving slowly through the forest toward them, walking along the border. Even from this distance, all four of the ThunderClan cats could see that the cats were looking around in a panic.
"Hello!" Rowanwind called out to them.
One of the toms raced toward them. "Rowanwind! Stormypelt!" the tom said before stopping beside them. Rowanwind recognized him as Pineroot, a cream tom who had once been a kittypet named Pips.
"What's wrong, Pineroot?" Stormypelt asked him. "You all look so frightened."
Pineroot glanced back at the other ShadowClan cats, who were padding closer. He looked back at Stormypelt with wide eyes. "Stonebreeze was found dead this morning by the dawn patrol. He never came back to camp last night."
"Was it DarkClan's doing?" Rowanwind asked.
"No," one of the other ShadowClan cats replied. He was Brambletongue, a black and cream tom with a white chest. "The cats on the patrol fetched Cracklefur, but it was already too late."
A ginger and white she-cat spoke up next. "The injury was like nothing I've ever seen before. There was a large hole in Stonebreeze's shoulder, which had oozed blood everywhere."
"Rippletail was on the dawn patrol that found him," Brambletongue explained. "Silkpaw here says she heard a strange sound last night coming from the forest while she was asleep. Nobody else woke up, so she assumed it had just been a dream."
"What did the noise sound like?" Gingerheart asked in a whisper, her eyes wide.
Silkpaw, a gray she-cat apprentice with silver eyes, shook her head. "It was very loud. I've never heard anything that loud before."
"Stonebreeze must have been outside the camp last night for some reason," Brambletongue meowed. "Cracklefur thinks whatever made the sound Silkpaw heard is what killed Stonebreeze."
"ThunderClan moarns for your loss," Rowanwind meowed. "We hope it doesn't happen again."
Brambletongue nodded solemnly.
"Can you get a message to Crimsonstar for me?" Rowanwind asked.
"Of course, Rowanwind. Is something the matter in ThunderClan as well?" Brambletongue asked.
"No. We encountered a rogue who says he wants to talk to all of the leaders," Rowanwind explained. "He wants to meet on the island at sunhigh tomorrow. He also says he's encountered DarkClan before."
"You think he will help us?" Rippletail asked.
"We certainly hope so," Rowanwind said. "Will you tell Crimsonstar?"
"Yes, but there are no guarantees that she will agree to go," Pineroot said. "Especially after what happened with Stonebreeze."
"We will try our best, Rowanwind," Brambletongue said.
"That's all I can ask from you," Rowanwind replied with a respectful nod. "We need to be on our way. We still have to talk to Angelstar and Featherstar."
"Wait. Has Clawstar recovered yet?" Brambletongue wondered.
Rowanwind shook his head. "He is getting better, but he still hasn't healed enough to take charge again."
"Those stupid DarkClan cats!" Pineroot snarled, unsheathing his claws and raking them through the dirt. "I want to just..."
"Pineroot, calm down!" Stormypelt said. "You shouldn't get so riled up over something you had no control over."
Pineroot sighed. "I'm just so angry, Stormypelt! There has to be something we can do to stop them!"
Stormypelt looked at Rowanwind with a smile in her blue eyes. "I'm sure someone will think of something that will stop them."
"I think it's time we got going," Thunderstripe said. "We don't want to be out too late."
"Yes. Especially these days," Rippletail agreed. "With DarkClan around, it isn't a good idea to be too long."
"May StarClan watch over you on your short journey," Brambletongue meowed.
"Thank you. And may StarClan watch over your entire Clan," Rowanwind said. "We'll be going now."
Rowanwind led his friends back through their territory and to their border with WindClan. As they walked, Rowanwind thought about what Ashfang had said the last time he'd seen her. Something evil, something hidden in shadows, was coming, and whatever it was didn't have anything to do with DarkClan. Was the evil Ashfang had warned him about what had killed Stonebreeze?
"Do you think we should wait for a patrol?" Thunderstripe asked.
Stormypelt shook her head. "I usually just walk toward their camp, and I find someone who can tell me where Brownclaw and the others are."
Brownclaw was one of Stormypelt's brothers and another one of the kittypets who had joined in the fight against DarkClan. Back when he'd been a kittypet named Rufus, he had been stationed in WindClan along with Smokey, Stormypelt's other brother. Not very long ago, Rufus and Smokey had accepted an invitation to join WindClan and had been given the warrior names Brownclaw and Smokefrost.
"Well, we aren't looking to talk to the kittypets today," Rowanwind said. "We'll wait for a patrol."
The four of them sat down to wait. Thunderstripe glanced around the forest every once in a while. Gingerheart stared out into the vast, empty sky above WindClan's hill-filled territory. Stormypelt began to wash her ears. Rowanwind kept his ears pricked, waiting to hear the familiar sounds of a patrol.
It wasn't long before five cats appeared on the border. Rowanwind called out to them. A brown tom raced forward to greet them.
"Rowanwind! Thunderstripe!" the brown tom purred. "It's been a while since I last saw you two."
"Hello, Brownclaw," Rowanwind said. "It's good to see you again."
Brownclaw went and touched noses with Stormypelt. "What are you all doing over here?"
The other four WindClan cats came padding over.
"We need to speak to Angelstar. Is she well enough for an audience?" Rowanwind asked.
"She's much better than she was last time you saw her," Brownclaw meowed. He turned to the others. "Do you think it would be okay to escort them to camp?"
Orangefoot, a dark ginger tom with a black striped tail, was silent for a moment before he spoke. "Yes, I think it will be alright. Robinclaw, why don't you go on ahead and warn Angelstar that we have vistors."
The black and white she-cat nodded and raced away.
"Follow us!" Brownclaw said.
Orangefoot took the lead with Rumbleclaw, a white, light brown, and dark gray tom. The white she-cat, who Rowanwind recognized as Cloudpool, walked along beside Brownclaw.
"Stormypelt, this is my mate, Cloudpool," Brownclaw said. "Cloudpool, this is my sister, Stormypelt."
"Your mate!" Stormypelt gasped with delight. "Oh, that's wonderful, Brownclaw! It's a pleasure to meet you, Cloudpool."
"And you," Cloudpool meowed in response. "Brownclaw has told me so much about you. I remember seeing you in one of our battles with DarkClan. You are an excellent fighter."
Stormypelt glanced at Rowanwind with a purr. "I had some great teachers."
"We're nearly there," Orangefoot called back to them.
"So, how is Clawstar?" Brownclaw asked. "Has he gotten any better?"
"A little," Rowanwind answered. "But not enough to resume his duties."
"I hope he makes a full recovery soon," Brownclaw meowed.
"We all do," Stormypelt agreed.
They came upon the WindClan camp. Angelstar and her deputy, Graytail, were sitting just outside the camp entrance, waiting for them.
"Hello, Rowanwind!" Angelstar meowed. "Robinclaw told me you have something to discuss with me."
"Yes," Rowanwind replied. "We've met a rogue who says he'd like to speak to the leaders of the Clans around the lake. He's dealt with DarkClan before, so we are hoping he has come to help us."
"When does he want to meet?" Angelstar asked.
"Sunhight tomorrow, on the island," Rowanwind replied.
"We will be there, then," Angelstar said. "Dovewing has told me that I am finally allowed to leave her den."
"That is great news," Rowanwind replied. "May we have safe passage through your territory so that we may go speak with Featherstar?"
"Of course," Angelstar said. "But be careful. We've had many sightings of DarkClan cats on our territory recently."
Rowanwind nodded. "Thank you for the warning. We will try and be as quick as possible."
"Take as long as you need," Angelstar said.
"Thank you. We should be on our way now," Rowanwind said.
"See you tomorrow," Angelstar meowed.
Rowanwind waved his tail at her and Graytail before turning to pad away. He let Stormypelt have a moment to say good-bye to Brownclaw and Cloudpool before he gestured for her and the others to follow. They headed toward the lakeshore and briskly walked toward RiverClan's border with WindClan.
"Let's hope that Featherstar is as willing as Angelstar was," Thunderstripe meowed as they walked.
"She won't want to be left out," Rowanwind replied. "Is that a RiverClan patrol I smell?"
"Yes. Look, over there." Gingerheart gestured with her tail at a group of cats.
The four of them were sitting near some reeds, which rattled in the wind. All of them were looking around with cautious eyes. Rowanwind noticed when one of them spotted the ThunderClan cats heading toward them. The cat gave a yowl, and the patrol came racing toward them.
"ThunderClan cats!" the silver and gray she-cat snarled. "What are you doing on WindClan territory?"
"Willowfoot, calm down," the silver she-cat beside her said. Rowanwind recognized her as the kind-hearted Timberpelt. "We're allied with ThunderClan now, as are WindClan. There must be a good reason for them to be over here."
"We need to speak to Featherstar," Rowanwind said once Timberpelt had calmed Willowfoot.
"Why do you need to speak to her?" the small, gray and silver tom sitting next to Fogpelt, a gray tom with black stripes and white paws, asked Rowanwind, his amber eyes full of suspicion.
Rowanwind recognized the gray apprentice as Ashpaw, Featherstar's son. When Rowanwind had met Ashpaw, he had been a rambunctious young apprentice who had needed to be watched over closely so he didn't get himself into trouble. Could Ashpaw really still be an apprentice?
"That isn't our business, Ashpaw," Fogpelt meowed to his apprentice. "We'll escort you to Featherstar. Ashpaw, you can go on ahead of us and tell Featherstar about our guests."
Ashpaw flicked his tail-tip with agitation before quickly hurrying off through the reeds, his tail streaming out behind him.
"Is Ashpaw still an apprentice, then?" Rowanwind asked Fogpelt as he, Willowfoot, and Timberpelt led the way toward RiverClan's camp.
"Yes. Featherstar was supposed to assess him this morning, but the dawn patrol caught sight of some DarkClan cats and there was a short battle," Fogpelt replied. "He is starting to get restless. The other apprentices, Sunpaw and Scorchpaw, are much younger than him. He feels like he's a warrior now, despite his name still ending in paw."
"I remember when we first met him," Thunderstripe meowed. "Blossomfur was keeping such a close eye on him, and he was bouncing all over the place."
Fogpelt laughed. "Yes, I remember those days. He's developed into a fine young warrior."
"I couldn't agree more," Timberpelt said.
They were silent the rest of the way to the RiverClan camp. Featherstar was prowling around outside the camp. Her deputy, Rapidriver, was sitting calmly as he watched his leader walking around. Ashpaw was sitting beside Rapidriver, his ears perked up with curiosity.
"What is this about, Rowanwind?" Featherstar asked. "I don't have much time. Rapidriver and I were looking over our camp walls to see if there is need for improvement."
Rowanwind was about to reply when a screech made them all jump.
"What was that?" Rowanwind asked.
End of Chapter Four