Hello, everyone! I have a new chapter for you, and it's about Birdfeather finding stuff out. As per the usual. Have fun with Birdfeather working her powers :D I'm not going to say too much about this one, because I would like to post more soon! After this rotation of POV's, things are going to be kicked up a notch. Okay, more like eight notches.

Enjoy!

Chapter 20: Obscured Plans

Birdfeather scoured the hills, her eyes every so often flying down to the border to confirm that no, it hadn't fallen, but yes, it was still the center of every StarClan cat's world. It unnerved her to see them slamming their paws into the border and yowling as if they were under attack. Rushfire hadn't spoken as they maneuvered the hills, but his eyes had gotten dull, and Birdfeather could nearly feel the burden he carried on his shoulders. It was identical, if not smaller than the one she carried.

"Rushfire." A RiverClan ancestor recognized the cream-colored tom, who spooked at the sound of his name. Birdfeather turned as the StarClan warrior, a mottled she-cat with long whiskers, twitched her nose in his direction. "Have you come to see the balance?"

"The balance is going to be reset," said a second StarClan warrior, a tom with puffy white fur. His eyes were glazed, and he turned his head to mindlessly gaze at the border. Birdfeather pressed her shoulder into Rushfire's as she turned to face them.

"When?" she said. "Do you know when the balance is going to be reset?"

Their eyes clouded with confusion as they observed her. Birdfeather took a deep breath.

"I'm a spy against my littermates," she said, smiling. Rushfire was powered by her words.

"We want to be here when the border will fall," he said pleasantly. Birdfeather hoped they couldn't hear the hesitance in his voice. The StarClan cats exchanged a confused glance, blinking at each other like they were speaking in another language.

"Soon," said the she-cat. "Soon."

"How soon?" asked Birdfeather.

"Soon," said the she-cat again. Birdfeather sighed. This had been the fourth conversation of the evening and the ninth total that had given her only the information she knew already. Rushfire turned away from his ancestors and walked a little farther away from the border. Birdfeather followed.

"How can they not know?" Birdfeather mumbled. "Somebody has to."

"Maybe old medicine cats?" Rushfire guessed. He looked around, and his tail lifted. "Is that Littlecloud?"

Birdfeather turned at to look. She had never met the former ShadowClan medicine cat, but in the days before his death, he had come to ThunderClan's camp to speak with Jayfeather once or twice. The cat she saw now looked far less harried and weathered than the old cat she had met then, but it was him nonetheless. She nodded at Rushfire, and the two of them hurried up the rise of the light-grassed hill and descended into a knot of ShadowClan ancestors. They looked up at the two.

"You." A grey-and-white she-cat snarled at Birdfeather, her hackles rising. "You are Birdfeather."

"It's okay!" said Birdfeather, taking a step back. "I'm a spy for you. We were wondering when the border will fall."

"The border…" The ShadowClan cats exchanged glances. Littlecloud looked up at them, eyes conflicted.

"Thank goodness," he said, and Birdfeather breathed a sigh of relief as she realized that the former medicine cat did not have the same draw to the border. He had survived the War of Shadows – it made him a member of New StarClan, didn't it? "Are you seeing this?"

"Can you come talk to us?" said Rushfire, a polite tone to his voice. Littlecloud nodded, extracting himself from the throng of ShadowClan cats that tried to push on towards the border. The trio walked up the hill a ways, until the density of cats had subsided.

"What's going on?" said Littlecloud, eyes sad. "I came here to check on everyone, but things are worse than I could have imagined. The senior warriors are blocking off all the seeing pools. I can't even speak to Flametail."

"Jayfeather has the power to connect Birdfeather and me to this place," said Rushfire. "We've been trying to figure out what's happening ourselves."

Littlecloud sighed. "That's why I'm here, too."

"Then you don't know?" Birdfeather asked. She sighed in exasperation, flicking her tail.

"Sorry, no," said Littlecloud. He sighed. "Maybe you could ask the senior warriors near the viewing pools?"

"Pools?" Rushfire's ears perked. Littlecloud nodded.

"That's where cats go to communicate with the living," he said. "But the senior warriors are high on alert for New StarClan cats. They won't let us approach. You neither, I would guess."

Rushfire nodded at Birdfeather, who already knew what she would have to do.

"We'll figure it out," said Birdfeather. "Thank you, Littlecloud."

"Wait," said Littlecloud as they turned to go. His eyes were bright with stars that were just coming to life. "I was hoping you could talk to Bearclaw or Flametail for me. About what's going on."

Birdfeather and Rushfire nodded.

"Absolutely," she said. "My body is just outside RiverClan territory. I have to go through ShadowClan to come home."

As Littlecloud smiled, Birdfeather glanced up. She could feel her connection to StarClan territory thinning as Jayfeather's powers – to connect to the dreams of other cats and to bring other cats together – faded. He was waking up. That meant she and Rushfire would, too.

"Let's hurry," Rushfire was saying. The two of them headed into a jog, pushing past other Old StarClan warriors that were all wandering towards the border. Rushfire had been closer to StarClan than Birdfeather knew, so he led the way, twisting through the bodies and leading them up into a grove of trees. For a few minutes, they traveled in silence, each second drawing them closer to the waking world. But at last, Rushfire led them out into a stone-rimmed hollow, where indeed, she saw a pool at the bottom. Surrounding the pool were faded spirits and bright ones – the warriors of StarClan entrusted with giving clues to the living cats below. Birdfeather recognized each one. The cats hissed and tensed as the two approached.

"You." Bluestar's eyes were murderous. Birdfeather nearly shrank away, painfully remembering the first time she had met the talented, just leader of ThunderClan. That cat no longer existed. In her place was someone that raved.

"Wait before you hurt me," said Birdfeather. "I'm a spy for Old StarClan. I'm trying really hard to sneak around my siblings."

"A spy for Old StarClan?"

"For you. Those dedicated to restoring the balance." Birdfeather cursed silently, realizing her mistake. It took a moment, but the cats that had tensed relaxed. Leopardstar wound around Bluestar and glared at the two of them, but Birdfeather's lies checked out to everyone in the area.

"Please," said Rushfire. "When will the border fall? Birdfeather and I would like to watch the balance be restored.

"A night of pain." Leopardstar's eyes were dark. "It will be a night unlike any other."

"The clash between the Clans will come to light." Bluestar's purr was haunted, too. "Such a night. StarClan will receive many."

Birdfeather's heart sank. That wasn't a good sign.

"But how will we know?" said Rushfire, his voice as taught as her heart felt. "Is there a sign?"

"We do not have a sign," said Bluestar, eyes flashing. "The Clans themselves hold all the signs now. This war cannot be stopped."

"But…"

"This war cannot be stopped," echoed Leopardstar. "On that day, the Great Five will fail."

"Is that why you're so afraid of me?" Birdfeather could hear her blood boiling. She couldn't dare to believe that all of her own fears, all of Willowleaf's fears, would come true. No…it couldn't be real.

"Afraid of you?" Bluestar tilted her head to the side, and then she started to see her in a new light. Birdfeather's heart was in her throat. "You."

Leopardstar's claws unsheathed against the rock, and Rushfire pressed into Birdfeather's shoulder.

"They've realized who you are," he said. "We need to wake up."

Birdfeather nodded, for Leopdarstar's jaws were spreading open in a sneer, and the leaders were pacing all around them. She backed away one step at a time.

"You are Birdfeather, the Third of the Great Five." They began to speak at once, eerie eyes pouring out of the swathed darkness from all angles. "You are eternal hellfire just waiting to devour. You will fail. You will fail."

Birdfeather stumbled back over her tail as fear erupted swallowed her, and then she fell out of the dream and jerked awake on the grass. She could hardly manage a wheezing gasp, still envisioning their eyes swarming in the trees before her. Birdfeather shook her head furiously, and then Rushfire dropped to his belly in the grass beside her and pushed his muzzle into her shoulder.

"It's over now," he said simply. For a few minutes, they sat there, and Birdfeather alternated between trying to close her eyes and trying to distract herself with the scenery around her.

"I didn't know you knew your way around StarClan so well," murmured Birdfeather after a while.

"I am called there often," said Rushfire into her shoulder. "I think they wanted me to be loyal to them instead of you."

"Makes sense." Birdfeather sighed. "They said this war can't be stopped."

"Cats are going to die." Rushfire's tone was grim. Birdfeather turned to him.

"Did RiverClan kidnap Lionstar and Icecloud?" She sat up, startling him. Rushfire opened her mouth and closed it.

"Lionstar and Icecloud have been kidnapped?" he said at last. He rose to his paws, too. "No, my whole Clan is in camp."

"Is anything going on?" Birdfeather asked, searching his face. "Is something wrong in RiverClan? What are you planning?"

"Woah, woah," Rushfire took a step back. "I'm coming to help figure out this border thing. I'm not going to tell you RiverClan's secrets."

"So you are planning something!" Birdfeather's fur stood on edge. She glared up at him, her heart beating quicker.

"Birdfeather, enough." Rushfire turned his face distastefully away.

"You heard them!" whined Birdfeather. "There will be a war, and cats will die. And we can stop that if we know what's coming."

"I'm not going to betray RiverClan," said Rushfire in a chilly voice. "Willowshine already thinks I'm a traitor just by continuing to be your friend." He took a step closer to her.

"But this could determine when the border falls," said Birdfeather. "The border will fall when the Clans all fight, and if you can find that out…"

Rushfire sighed, looking up at the sky. Birdfeather glared at him, knowing he was pinned. No one had ever been in love with her before. It was a whole new kind of power.

"To be honest, no one will say anything," he admitted. "They know I'm still bound by the medicine cat code that we held before."

Birdfeather nodded slowly, a weight pulling her down. That made sense. She didn't think about what Rushfire would be facing back in his Clan. Willowshine had outwardly rebuked interacting with ThunderClan's medicine cats. Rushfire had been quiet on the matter, but it was clear what side he was choosing.

"Please find out for me," she said. "Rushfire."

"I'll try to learn more about a time," said Rushfire. "But you have to do something for me in exchange."

"What?" Birdfeather took a step closer to him and peered up at him. He hesitated a few moments, drinking in the sight of her face in the early morning dawn. Birdfeather knew his heart was pounding. Hers was doing much the same. She insisted internally that she continue to be the one in control.

"I want to spend time with you." He spoke in a low voice. "After all of this is over. Without spying or anything."

"Meeting outside the Clans…" It was a more direct violation of the code. Birdfeather tried not to shrink back.

He touched his head to hers. "Nothing is going to come of it. I just want to see you smile for me."

She felt warm inside. Birdfeather touched her nose to his, murmuring assent. She didn't know what she was doing, but it wasn't like Jayfeather didn't know. Besides, both of them knew how to control themselves. They could spend time together like they were right now, except Birdfeather was ready to sit out here under the trees beyond ShadowClan and RiverClan land, together and without threat of the stars collapsing.

They parted, and Birdfeather sucked in a breath. She should speak to Bearclaw and Flametaail. Birdfeather wandered through the pine trees, trying to remember her way to the border or to ShadowClan's camp. She had always liked ShadowClan territory the least. So much was enclosed here, like ThunderClan's territory, only everything was the same drab color, like darkness cloaked everything. How cats could live like this, she could never figure out.

Her paws tripped over themselves as she caught the scents of a ShadowClan patrol in the area. At once, Birdfeather forced herself to take a seat and wait for them to approach her.

"Birdfeather." Snaketail was leading this patrol, along with Violetspring and Pineheart. He flicked his tail. "Where are you off to?"

"I was hoping to speak to Bearclaw or Flametail," said Birdfeather. She prayed that her scent trail wouldn't make them suspicious. "I got a little lost on my way."

The ShadowClan warriors exchanged glances.

"And then if you could show me home," said Birdfeather sheepishly. "I'm a little turned around." That wasn't entirely true – she did know her way home, but it would be easier if she had a guide. It would also make her location make a little more sense. Pineheart purred.

"Sure," she said. Snaketail sighed. "Or, I mean…"

"I can walk Birdfeather to the border," said Violetspring. "Maybe you could fetch Flametail and bring him to meet us."

"Good idea," said Pineheart. Snaketail dipped his head at Birdfeather, who was a little perplexed. What was going on in ShadowClan, that they wouldn't show a medicine cat their camp?

"I hope you don't think it's rude of us," said Violetspring as the other two vanished into the trees. She began to lead Birdfeather towards the familiar scent of ThunderClan. "Nothing is wrong, but Blackstar is overseeing battle training in the camp right now. We wouldn't want you to see our techniques."

"Understandable," said Birdfeather, although it really wasn't. If ThunderClan held battle training in their camp, it would only have been because things were desperate, and everyone needed to learn basic techniques as quickly as possible. Saying nothing, Birdfeather followed Violetspring to the border not speaking, and then the black she-cat waited with her until Bearclaw pushed his way out of the trees alongside Pineheart.

"Birdfeather." Bearclaw was frowning, his usually gruff voice confused. "What's going on?"

"It's nothing serious," said Birdfeather. She tried to smile, but the way the ShadowClan warriors scrutinized them unnerved her. ShadowClan was the closest thing to an ally ThunderClan had. If there was suspicion between them, they could never ask them for help when the time came. "I stumbled across Littlecloud last night."

"Littlecloud?" Bearclaw narrowed his eyes. "If Littlecloud had a message for me, why didn't he call me?"

"It's a little complicated," said Birdfeather, flicking her ears. "StarClan…" She glanced at the warriors, who weren't moving any time soon. She sighed. It would be better just to speak honestly. "StarClan seems to be fighting amongst itself."

"So we gathered," said Bearclaw, his whiskers twitching. "So Littlecloud is being thwarted by RiverClan?"

Close enough. Birdfeather wanted to explain more, but she wasn't sure how. So she drew in a breath and thought for a few seconds, nodding.

"He just wanted me to apologize for him," she said. "I didn't get to talk to him long. Like I said, he's having trouble communicating with anyone."

"I see." Bearclaw stared at his paws. "This is troubling. Thank you, Birdfeather. I'll let Flametail know."

"Wait," said Birdfeather as the warriors stood up. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes. She hated herself for this. "You trust me entirely. You know I won't spoil your Clan secrets. You were just telling me what ShadowClan is training for."

"Oh, were we?" Violetspring blinked twice. "We think RiverClan is up to something."

"They've been too aggressive lately," said Pineheart, nodding. "So Blackstar wants everyone up fighting condition."

"Flametail has been getting strange messages from StarClan," added Bearclaw. The two warriors sighed and looked at their paws. "That WindClan and RiverClan may unite, and when they do, it will spell out the end."

Birdfeather's fur prickled. That sounded way too familiar for her liking. It was way, way worse than she feared. Did this mean Flametail was in connection with Old StarClan warriors that actually trusted him with the truth, not the lies they were feeding RiverClan? What end did they feel was coming? Or was Flametail talking to New StarClan instead?

"I see," she said, dipping her head. "Thank you. Oh, and you probably shouldn't mention to anyone that you told me this. I'm going home now."

She backed up in the trees quickly as her lies settled over the trio of ShadowClan cats, as they realized what they had done. When she was fully in ThunderClan territory and out of their hearing range, she sat down and stared at her paws. So it was coming. Something was awry in RiverClan, and ShadowClan knew it. Someone had kidnapped Lionstar and Icecloud, but not RiverClan. ShadowClan thought an attack was coming. WindClan and RiverClan were going to unite. When it happened, the border was going to fall. Cats were going to die in a war that destroyed the Clans. And Old StarClan thought she was going to fail them. Birdfeather shook her head, trying to fit the puzzle pieces together. She almost knew what was happening, but the truth was a little startling, and she found that she didn't like it.

When this was over, she and Rushfire would spend a peaceful night under the stars together, talking in the night, being able to know how they felt and not being afraid. Birdfeather was so sick of being afraid, and she wanted Rushfire to smile for her, too. But what if she did fail, and the Clans were destroyed forever? Would Rushfire still smile for her then?

More importantly – would they be alive together when this all ended?

Ahh, Bearclaw. There's an OC that doesn't get enough page-time.

If you liked this, please review, favorite, follow, and recommend! I'd love to know that I'm not just writing out into the void...

~Elsi