Back! It hasn't been very long, has it? I have some great news: there will be AT LEAST three more chapters of THIS FIC in the month of November. For NaNoWriMo this year, I'm going to be putting in over 50K words to a variety of projects, and of that, I am going to be putting nearly 20K words to Elemental. Isn't that exciting? I'm super pumped, because I really want to get this thing completed.

Alright - first Mountain chapter of the new book! I hope you enjoy :)

Chapter 6: Lurking in the Shadows

Mountainstone followed Foxleap and Thornclaw without saying a word, his paws light against the forest floor. Bluemoon moved beside him, particularly downcast, but Mountainstone didn't ask why. It was late enough that the thin branches prevented the last rays of sun from turning the ground entirely orange, late enough that the forest had stilled in its transition to night. Mountainstone breathed out slowly, and then inhaled the life all around him. Beneath his paws, a new family of squirrels huddled in a newly made burrow. In the trees, a female blackbird finished constructing her nest at long last. He felt even the river slow down, heard the voices in the other Clans settle into a steady murmur instead of a symphony of noise. The shadows crept into the earth and kept it just as well as Willowleaf's ice would, for the night.

"All clear," said Thornclaw, turning his head back towards the rest of the party. "WindClan hasn't marked their border since yesterday morning."

"They'll probably fix that soon," said Foxleap. "We should come back then."

"I'm sure Lionstar will agree," said Thornclaw. "Let's report back."

Mountainstone hated himself for hating the routine. A part of him had enjoyed the frantic moments he had spent during the earthquakes, where he had been trying to achieve something. This was worse than knowing that he could not stop the peril. This was all the same routine, wrapped up in the wait. They knew the boundary was falling, they knew RiverClan and WindClan were up to something, but all they could do was wait. Even worse was that Lionstar still had him on probation, so most of the routine was taken from him anyways. This was his first border patrol in a few sunrises. He had done the Clan a favor – an illegal favor, and he should never have gotten caught – but it had done Lionstar and the others good in the end. He understood why Lionstar had to punish Ivypool and Mountainstone so harshly, but it still didn't feel fair.

The patrol's capacity for speech seemed halted today, and Mountainstone could understand why. Mountainstone represented Lionstar with Foxleap the new realm of skepticism brewing under the Clan's overall tensions. Thornclaw represented the cats that hoped no parallels to the War of Shadows and pure Clan blood would be drawn with Bluemoon the younger generation that had not seen the catastrophe. If anything about the current war came up, Mountainstone and Foxleap would be at odds. If anything about the past war came up, Thornclaw and Bluemoon would be at odds. How had ThunderClan turned into a place with so many issues beneath the surface? He hadn't noticed it happening, but now there were so many sides to take, so many cats with different interests.

A flicker of movement past his ear made Mountainstone stop short and look up. He hadn't sensed anything moving in the trees, but now a rank and powerful scent caught his nose. Mountainstone was rendered speechless and without movement for a second as he processed what was going on.

"Mountainstone?" said Bluemoon. Mountainstone glanced down at his friend and rival. A few paces ahead, Thornclaw and Foxleap had stopped to look at him.

"There's…can I…have a minute?" he said. "There's something I need to…"

"You're already on probation," said Foxleap. "We have to take you back to camp."

Mountainstone glanced backwards, into the trees growing darker by the second. He hadn't imagined up that scent. It was ingrained in his memory by his own choosing. Something was happening, and if he didn't act now, he would lose it.

"I'll go with him," said Bluemoon. Mountainstone glanced down at his Clan-mate, who held her head at an angle. She had somehow recognized his desperation.

"All right," said Thornclaw a touch stiffly. "We'll report to Lionstar. I expect you back in camp soon."

"We will be," said Bluemoon. The two older warriors had no more than taken a few steps away than Mountainstone had turned and started heading into the trees.

"So, what's gotten you so excited?" called Bluemoon. Mountainstone grimaced, turning back to her. His paws itched to take the final steps, to pass into the part of the forest that was undoubtedly the darkest.

"You should stay here," said Mountainstone. "Please, Bluemoon."

"I'm your guard," said Bluemoon, narrowing her blue eyes.

"This is…"

"Don't you dare say it's beyond me, Mountainstone," said Bluemoon, stealing the words Mountainstone had choked on. Her tail stood upright, too aggressive for Mountainstone to see any way around involving her. But he couldn't easily bring her into this mess. She may have been a friend – in a strange, twisted, and unorthodox way – but she was a Clan-mate, an ordinary Clan-mate.

"Just, a second," said Mountainstone.

"Give me a reason," said Bluemoon. Mountainstone struggled, and she raised an eyebrow. "You don't have one."

"Would you stay here?" snapped Mountainstone, growling a little bit for effect. Though it didn't seem to frighten her, Bluemoon stuck her nose in the air and sat down. Relieved that for once, she was listening, Mountainstone pushed the bushes aside and took the last step.

He knew this part of the forest as the most closed in, where the trees were so long-branched that they knotted above his head. Prey didn't run here often. In the last rays of evening light, everything seemed more shadow than light. A perfect place for the master of dark cats himself.

"Why are you here," said Mountainstone in a low voice. "This is not a realm for you to control."

"Mountainstone, naïve kit," said Tigerstar, unfazed by Mountainstone's raised shackles and tense voice. "There is no realm outside of my control."

"You were banished," said Mountainstone. "You have not set paw here since the War of Shadows."

"You helped me, don't you recall?" said Tigerstar with a smirk. "You saved me from eternal hellfire. I must say, Mountainstone, thank you."

"Why are you here?"

"I wanted to talk with my apprentice." Tigerstar recoiled, pretending to be affronted.

"I'm not your apprentice," spat Mountainstone. "I'm the one that's going to stop you, don't you recall?"

"I wish you luck with that." Tigerstar stretched, his long claws slicing into the grass with spiritual strokes for a second. Mountainstone studied the old Dark Forest cat, wondering how he would hold up in a fight. Tigerstar had those dangerous claws, and his paws were huge – easily the size of Willowleaf's head. His eyes had just that tint of madness in them that reminded Mountainstone that he could not easily expect to fight in a traditional manner.

"How sweet," said Tigerstar. "You really think you can fight me and win?"

Mountainstone sank deeper into the ground, his paws clenching, his claws sliding out. He felt his heart beating faster at the very thought of a fight, of letting his claws slice through Tigerstar's pelt, of feeling the splash of blood against his fur.

"If it means saving the Clans, I will win," said Mountainstone. He slid a paw to the side, and Tigerstar moved in sync, so that they circled around the clearing. Mountainstone knew that despite his carefree appearance, Tigerstar was itching for a fight as well – his breathing had sped up, and his ears were alert, listening for Mountainstone to make the first move.

"You're too late," said Tigerstar through a hiss. "You'll never stop me now. StarClan will do anything to save their holy hides."

"You plan to use StarClan," said Mountainstone. "How?"

"StarClan is lost," said Tigerstar. "I merely mean to remind them of the only cats capable of dealing the final blow."

"What?" said Mountainstone. He was almost startled out of his stance, but he narrowed his eyes so as to keep concentrated on his foe. "You think we would destroy StarClan?"

"Well, you're certainly capable of it," said Tigerstar with a smirk. "Think about it, Mountainstone. Without StarClan, there would be nothing you could not do. A war against RiverClan? Not a problem. You could take over the four Clans – there are four of you, are there not?"

"There are five of us," said Mountainstone. "Pay attention to your prophecies, Tigerstar. You can't underestimate us."

"I don't underestimate you," said Tigerstar. He grinned, and Mountainstone growled at the sign of open aggression. "Weren't you listening? You're the only ones who could destroy StarClan for good."

"I would never do that," said Mountainstone. "Get that in your brain. I will never let StarClan perish."

"Oh?" said Tigerstar. "They don't seem to be doing you any favors."

That was true, Mountainstone supposed, but this was too far. He growled, leaping at Tigerstar, who feinted away. Mountainstone crouched at the paws of the taller tom, calculating how hard he would have to strike to put his claws right through Tigerstar's throat.

"You can't fool me!" shouted Mountainstone. "I will never fall for your tricks!"

"Mountainstone?" The shrill cry made him turn around, jerking entirely out of the battle. With a laugh, Tigerstar slapped him across the face with a hard paw, and Mountainstone slid across the clearing and right into –

"Bluemoon!" said Mountainstone, fighting to his feet. "I told you to stay back."

"Yeah, then you started yelling, and…" Bluemoon broke off as she saw past Mountainstone's shoulder. Tigerstar sat calmly watching them, a predatory look in his eyes. "Good StarClan…"

"Hello, Bluemoon," said Tigerstar cheerfully. "I was hoping we would meet."

"You stay away from her," said Mountainstone, stepping in front of his Clan-mate. The rush of battle still pounded in his ears, but Mountainstone forced himself to think rationally. Bluemoon could see Tigerstar – an innocent Clan-mate was now facing off with the Dark Forest's leader. This was his position, standing in-between, cutting the two apart.

It seemed, though, that his middleman position was suddenly at the forefront. Now there was no keeping Bluemoon and the others out of the clearing, out of Tigerstar's eye.

"Mountainstone, I want to see her," said Tigerstar. "After all, she is one of my warriors."

"What?" said Bluemoon and Mountainstone at the same time. Mountainstone glared back at his blue-pelted Clan-mate, but she appeared just as shocked. "No, you've made a mistake."

"No mistake," said Tigerstar. "Your mind entered my realm before it ever entered the living world. You and your brother are rightfully mine to claim."

"You're lying," said Bluemoon, her paws trembling. "Greyheart and I will never belong to you."

"Then why do you even know my name?" said Tigerstar. Mountainstone stood, numb, as the great tom approached them. Bluemoon stammered for an answer and couldn't reach one.

"Don't believe me?" said Tigerstar with a grin. "Ask your mother."

Ivypool? Mountainstone blinked twice, taking in Bluemoon's terrified features, and then he realized that they were in stalemate. It was his turn to step in. Growling, Mountainstone rounded on Tigerstar again and padded towards him.

"You will leave Bluemoon alone," said Mountainstone.

"Or what?" said Tigerstar. "I suppose I'll have you to answer to?"

"You'll have all of us to answer to," said Mountainstone in a low voice. "If I have the power to wipe out StarClan, you'd best believe I can wipe you out as well."

For a second, a trace of uncalculated fear entered Tigerstar's eyes, and Mountainstone grinned. Then the mask was back, and the spiritual cat hissed, pulling away.

"You wait, Mountainstone," said Tigerstar. "You five are capable of only destruction. You say you'll hold your powers back now, but will you? I suspect that once you get going, it will be impossible to stop." He winked. "Everyone falls victim to power, even the strongest warriors."

Then the shadows swallowed him whole.

It took three seconds for the Dark Forest smell to fade away, but as soon as it did, Mountainstone whirled on Bluemoon. She should have stayed back! He opened his jaws to yell at her for being stupid, wishing that she could have just listened to him for once in her sorry existence!

Bluemoon was staring at the space where Tigerstar had been, lost in possibilities and threats delivered to her from the jaws of the master of lies himself. Mountainstone readied himself to yell, fixating on her torn face.

"Are you okay?" Mountainstone said instead. Bluemoon looked up at him and sucked in a breath, as she usually did before she gave him an earful of protest. Mountainstone winced away preemptively, waiting for the defensive screeching to begin.

"No, I'm confused and afraid," said Bluemoon instead. Mountainstone blinked. Usually, it would have been Mountaintone's fault that she was confused, that she wasn't okay. He had dragged her into this. He had to pay. And StarClan help him – he had never heard the words "I'm" and "afraid" in the same sentence from her.

"What?"

"Shut up! I'm not going to say it again!"

"No, you don't need to…"

"Why are you laughing?"

"I was just…expecting some screaming."

"Do you want me to start yelling? I can start yelling." Bluemoon had found her place again, and now she glared at him as ferociously as ever. Mountainstone was glad to see the fury, actually.

"No!" he said. "No, it's just…"

"Too bad," said Bluemoon. "What in StarClan's name, Mountainstone? Why were you talking to Tigerstar? What – only capable of destruction? Holding back your powers? What is he talking about?"

"It's complicated," said Mountainstone. This wasn't what he had been expecting. He had hope, d never to have this conversation, and he certainly wasn't going to have it with Bluemoon of all cats!

"Well, you had best un-complicate it, then," said Bluemoon.

"Let's just go back to camp," said Mountainstone. He didn't know what to say. Could he claim that it was beyond her, that she was out of her depth, that it didn't involve her? If what Tigerstar said was true, she was certainly involved. If his suspicions were correct, every member of the Clan was being pulled into this, no matter the depth. And StarClan only knew what was truly beyond Bluemoon, because she seemed capable of anything she put her stubborn mind to.

"Tell me!" Currently, however, it seemed her stubborn mind had been set to getting the truth. Mountainstone gritted his teeth. He could just refuse to tell her. It would be easiest that way, but then what would she do? Tell the rest of the Clan about the encounter? Bluemoon was too mouse-brained to admit to something being too important that she was to be left in the dark.

"I can't tell you." It was worth a shot anyways. "You can't tell anyone what you heard today, okay?"

"Tell me, and I'll give you my silence," said Bluemoon. Mountainstone growled, but Bluemoon didn't react. "Go on. I'm waiting to hear what you have to say."

"I'm not going to tell you. It's…"

"I'm part of this, too, whether you like it or not. Tell me."

"Bluemoon, you don't understand…"

"You know what else I don't understand? Some elder's tale figure is suddenly telling me that I belong to him, and you seem particularly acquainted with him. I wonder how Lionstar would take that news?"

"I'm sure he would understand," said Mountainstone, holding her eyes. It took a moment for that to sink in, and then she was on her paws again, spitting.

"You mean RiverClan's right about all these stupid secrets?" she hissed. "I can't believe it! Lionstar is actually hiding things from us!"

"Bluemoon – "

"I defended him, you know," said Bluemoon, shaking. "Everyone else is throwing their secret theories around, but I said that Lionstar would never lie to us."

"It's not really lying…"

"Oh, are we relying on technicalities now?" said Bluemoon. "That's just like you. I shouldn't even be surprised."

"Now, what does that mean?"

"It means you're a fox-heart!"

A pause as Mountainstone stared at her. He had taken her insults before, but never had she been so serious about her words. Never had her eyes been wet like this, never had her anger been entirely justified. Mountainstone didn't know what to say, so he just stood there.

"I hate you," said Bluemoon. "I hate you so much."

"You probably should," said Mountainstone. Bluemoon couldn't meet his eyes.

"Good, because I do." She sniffed. "I won't say anything about Tigerstar."

"I appreciate that."

"StarClan...just…fall in the river."

Mountainstone let her storm off, staring at the grass, which now was crisscrossed by the slight moonlight that could fit between the tree-cast shadows. How many cats were going to scream like this and run off, all because he couldn't tell them that he was more…more what? More talented? Special? Noble? Was he their hero, and they were all just distressed kits floating upriver? He didn't feel like a hero. Heroes didn't make she-cats cry, didn't lie to their Clans, didn't mess up so badly...Maybe he was only capable of destroying things. Maybe, once this was all over, he would see that the Clan had been taken apart, and maybe he wouldn't be able to repair it.

I know there are some Bluemoon fans out there...:)

Yes, some of the stuff in here ties in War of Shadows plot-plot things, but if you haven't read that, don't worry. All will be explained next chapter.

What did you think? Let me know in a review if you liked it or have thoughts as to what will happen next. Thanks, everyone, and I'll see you soooooon!

~Elsi