Okay here's the next chapter. Enjoy!

Something wet rasped over Shadefrost's ear, rousing her from her slumber. "Foxwhisker," she purred, her voice groggy from sleep. "Leave me alone."

He nudged her gently in the side. "Come on Shadefrost. We've got to go and tell Fallenstar."

Shadefrost's eyes snapped open. They were leaving today! She leapt to her paws. "Oh yeah," she mewled. "I forgot."

Foxwhisker slapped his tail over her mouth. "Sssh," he whispered, alarm sparkling in his eyes. "You'll wake everyone else."

Shadefrost stared at him guiltily. "Oops," she murmured. "Sorry!"

Foxwhisker nodded and led the way out of the den.

Once in the clearing, he mewed, "Even if Fallenstar doesn't give us permission to go, it won't stop me." He drew closer to Shadefrost. "You still don't have to come, you know?"

"I'm sticking with you," Shadefrost answered instantly. "You know that."

Foxwhisker's tail drooped. "Oh, I wish you weren't so stubborn," he hissed, not unkindly. "I really don't want you to get hurt."

Shadefrost looked at him reassuringly. "I won't get hurt because you'll be there to protect me." She flicked her tail over his ear and raced across the empty clearing to Fallenstar's den, which was situated in the trunk of the oak tree.

She paused and waited for Foxwhisker at the entrance and then they entered side by side. Shadefrost had never been inside the leader's den before. It was much warmer than the warriors den, insulated by the moss that resided on the walls. The entrance was closed off by a layer of ferns and vines. Fallenstar's nest was in the far corner, in a gap between two roots. It was made of moss and looked much softer than the ones in the warriors den. Fallenstar himself was asleep, his chest rhythmically rising and falling in his slumber.

Shadefrost looked questioningly at Foxwhisker. "Are you sure we shouldn't come back when he's awake?"

Foxwhisker shook his head. "I don't want to do this when the clan is awake. They could overhear us."

"But Fallenstar might be annoyed if we wake him. We don't have the right to..."

She was cut off as some cat meowed, "And what might you be doing in my den?"

Shadefrost spun around to see Fallenstar, fully awake, standing in his nest with open curiosity in his eyes. She gasped and dipped her head to the leader. "Sorry Fallenstar, did we wake you?"
Fallenstar shook his head, removing bits of moss that clung to his ears. "No." He padded over so that he could stand before them. "Please sit down. You should know that I am approachable at all times."

Foxwhisker sat pulling Shadefrost with him. "Thank you Fallenstar."

The leader surveyed them, drawing his eyes slowly over Foxwhisker and then Shadefrost. "So what is it that you want?"

Foxwhisker looked nervously at Shadefrost. She nodded at him encouragingly. "Well basically Fallenstar," the ginger warrior began. "I've been having strange dreams. Dreams so vivid that I can taste them."

Fallenstar blinked in surprise. "Dreams?"

Foxwhisker nodded. "Yes dreams. Well dream actually. I have the same dream every night." He took a deep breath and then described his dream to his leader. "And then the voice disappears," he concluded. "And I am left in darkness."

Fallenstar frowned. "This dream of yours sounds like a dream a leader or a medicine cat would receive. I myself have had vivid dreams warning me about things to come." He looked at his two warriors. "What do you want me to do about it?"

"We want to leave," Shadefrost told him. "We want to go to the mountains and find the 'flying star'."

"You want to leave?" Fallenstar meowed in surprise.

They nodded. "Yes," Foxwhisker mewed. "As soon as possible. Preferably today."

Fallenstar looked at them critically. "You do know that I can't afford to lose my warriors. It is leafbare."

Foxwhisker nodded. "Yes we know that Fallenstar. But this is really important. If we just ignore the dream then something bad might happen."

"Do you even know what this flying star is?" Fallenstar asked, his voice calm.

Shadefrost shook her head. "Not exactly. But I have some ideas. The stars are in Silverpelt, right?" She waited for her leader to nod. "And Silverpelt is where all the dead cats go; you know when they go to StarClan? Each star represents a cat. So maybe the flying star is a StarClan cat."

Fallenstar nodded, deep in thought. "I suppose it could be. But what about the snow stripe?"

There was silence. Eventually Shadefrost broke it. "We don't know yet Fallenstar."

Fallenstar nodded. "Right." He looked at them. "This is a ridiculous request yet I am intrigued to find out more. You may go to the mountains but I want you back by the first moon of newleaf. That gives you three moons at the most. Leave today at sunhigh."

Shadefrost and Foxwhisker shared a triumphant glance. "Thank you Fallenstar," Foxwhisker said, his voice full of excitement and gratitude. "We won't disappoint you."

The leader nodded. "You better not. I am being extremely lenient by letting you go." He flicked his tail towards the entrance of his den. "You may leave now."

The two warriors started towards the clearing but before they got there, Shadefrost mewed, "What will you tell the clan?"

Fallenstar thought for a moment and then said, "I shall tell them that you are being sent on a special warrior mission."

Shadefrost nodded and then exited the den.

"May all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather here beneath the Oak tree for a clan meeting." Just before sunhigh, Fallenstar's call rang out across the clearing. Shadefrost, who had been eating a vole in preparation for her journey, swallowed the last bite and raced to sit underneath the Oak tree. Her heart pounded in excitement. In a few minutes she and Foxwhisker would be leaving for the mountains. The ginger tom came and sat beside her now, rasping his tongue over her ear. She looked at him and purred.

Her temper verged on impatience as the cats filtered out of their dens much too slowly. She hissed and lashed her tail. They never were this slow normally, were they? Eventually, the majority of the clan was seated beneath the Oak tree and Fallenstar called, "Today, two of our warriors are going on a special warrior mission. They are going to the mountains as a request from StarClan."

Yowls irrupted from the gathered cats. "Who is going?

"Why?"

"StarClan?"

Fallenstar silenced them with a lash of his tail. "Shadefrost and Foxwhisker will be going," the leader continued. "They will be leaving at sunhigh." With that he leapt down from the Oak tree and padded into his den.

There was a stunned silence. Shadefrost winced as every cat in the clearing turned to look at her. Foxwhisker wrapped his tail protectively around her paws. "So," some cat eventually mewed. "You're leaving us."

Shadefrost turned to see the source of the voice. It was Rootheart. "Well what a surprise," the brown tom continued. "I always knew you were disloyal."

"Yeah," Swiftclaw piped in. "You can't even stay for a moon after becoming a warrior. You're still a rogue at heart, aren't you Rougepaw."

Shadefrost hissed at the use of her apprenticeship catcall. She opened her mouth to retort but another cat got there first. "Back off," Lynxpaw snarled.

Swiftclaw laughed. "Ooh a little apprentice challenging us!"

"Well I'm not sticking around to be told off by an apprentice," Rootheart jeered. "I'm going hunting, coming Swiftclaw?"

Swiftclaw nodded and the two sly toms whipped around and stalked out of camp.

"I'm sure that Shadefrost has a good reason to go," Lynxpaw shouted after them. He turned to face Shadefrost. "You do, don't you?"

Every cat turned their eyes back on her and Foxwhisker. "StarClan told Fallenstar in a dream to send two warriors to the mountains," Foxwhisker lied. "And we were willing to go. We're doing this for the clan."

There was another silence before Finchwing stepped forward. "How can you leaving be good for the clan?" She flicked her tail, first at Foxwhisker, and then at Shadefrost. "Foxwhisker you're a great fighter and Shadefrost you're one of the best hunters in the clan." She looked pleadingly at her sister. "Don't go."

Shadefrost felt emotion well up in her heart. She would be leaving behind so much; her sister, her littermate, and her friends. But if she didn't go then she would be leaving Foxwhisker and that would hurt a hundred times more. She rushed over to Finchwing and laid her head on her sister's shoulder. "I'm going to miss you so much," she murmured. "But I have to go."

Finchwing drew back and pressed her nose to Shadefrost's. "I'll miss you too. Goodbye." She leaned forward and whispered, "My sister."

"Sister," Shadefrost breathed.

Following Finchwing's lead, one by one, the cats came forward to bid farewell to Shadefrost and Foxwhisker. After having received a lick from Icestorm and Sootwhisker, Shadefrost was approached by Lynxpaw. She felt sadness clutch her soul. She would really miss Lynxpaw's calm, funny demeanour. "Hey Lynxpaw," she mewed.

Lynxpaw nodded, his eyes full of sorrow. "Hey."

There was an uncomfortable silence. "You know," Shadefrost meowed. "By the time I get back you might be a warrior."

The golden tom blinked. "Yes," he sighed. "But then you won't be there to see me become one."

"Oh Lynxpaw." Shadefrost pushed her nose into his warm fur. "I'll really miss you."

Lynxpaw rasped his tongue over her ear. "Goodbye Shadefrost," he mewed. "I hope you have a good journey and come back soon."

Shadefrost pulled back to look him in the eye. "I will," she promised. "I'll see you become a warrior."

Lynxpaw smiled and pulled back so that Ratclaw could bid them goodbye.

By the time Shadowheart neared her, Shadefrost was so overcome with emotions that she could barely stand on her paws. Saying goodbye to her old mentor, Shrewfur, had taken what little control she had out of her.

Shadowheart pressed her nose to Shadefrost's. "I'll miss you, Shadefrost."

Shadefrost swayed on her paws. "Goodbye Shadowheart." She thought for a second. "Are you and Sootwhisker, you know, a couple?" she asked uncertainly.

Shadowheart sighed. "I suppose." She looked guiltily at Shadefrost. "Are you angry?"

"Angry? Why would I be angry?"

"Well Rustpaw was your brother and I really miss him, I do. I feel like I'm betraying him by being with Sootwhisker. At first I tried to pull away but Sootwhisker was so nice to me and he made me feel right for the first time since Rustpaw died. I think I might love him but I don't know what to do next. I don't know if Rustpaw would approve."

Shadefrost laid her tail on her friends black shoulder. "Don't worry," she assured her. "Do you remember what Rustpaw told you to do when he died? He told you to be happy. Does Sootwhisker make you happy?" When Shadowheart nodded, she said, "Well then he'll be happy that you're happy."

"Yeah, well, I suppose." Shadowheart grinned at Shadefrost. "I guess I'll be more open with Sootwhisker now. Thanks Shadefrost and bye. Have a good journey!" She pressed her nose briefly to Shadefrost's before racing off, most likely to find Sootwhisker. Shadefrost purred after her friend, happy that Shadowheart was happy at last.

She turned to look at Foxwhisker. He was talking to Hollyfrost, nodding occasionally. As Shadefrost watched, Hollyfrost laid her tail on his shoulder and he respectfully licked hers. Seeing Shadefrost, he padded over to her. "Hollyfrost says we need to go and get travelling herbs from Swallowfeather and Silkpaw," he mewed. "Then we can go." Shadefrost nodded glumly. Foxwhisker frowned. "What's up?"

Shadefrost shook her head. "I'm just sad to say goodbye."

Foxwhisker nodded. "It is hard. You still don't have to come you know?"

"I'm coming." Shadefrost flicked her tail over his ear. "There's no way you're stopping me."

Foxwhisker pressed his nose to her cheek. "Ok I see there's no way of stopping you."

The two of them made their way towards the medicine cats den. Inside, it was warm and comfortable, the thick layer of ferns that surrounded it acting as a barrier against the harsh weather of leafbare. Swallowfeather and Silkpaw were nowhere to be seen so Shadefrost made her way over to where Venompaw was sitting upright in his nest. The grey tabby's eye was no longer covered in cobwebs and Shadefrost could clearly see the ugly scar that ran down the right side of it, spoiling his good looks slightly.

Venompaw looked up when she approached. "Hey Shadefrost."

"Hi Venompaw," Shadefrost meowed. "How's your eye?"

Venompaw blinked. "Oh not too bad. It was worse last sunrise. I couldn't even blink. I hate being cooped up in here." He looked at Shadefrost with interest. "So um, I hear you're going on a warrior mission."

She nodded. "Yeah. Me and Foxwhisker have come for travelling herbs."

"I wish I could go on a warrior mission," the apprentice sighed. "It would be so fun!"

Shadefrost purred. "Well you'll have to be a warrior first."

Venompaw nodded. "Hopefully that won't be too far away. Me and Lilacpaw have been training for almost five moons."

There was a rustle in the ferns behind them and Silkpaw and Swallowfeather stepped through, their mouths full of herbs. Venompaw touched his nose to Shadefrost's. "Have a good journey Shadefrost."

"I hope I will," she said, licking his ear. "Goodbye Venompaw."

"Bye."

Shadefrost turned away from the grey apprentice and padded to join Foxwhisker, Swallowfeather and Silkpaw. She realised, with a rush of grief that she would have to leave her littermate behind. Silkpaw was as good as her sister and she would miss her dearly. Swallowfeather was pointing with her tail to each of the herbs. "You take this," she mewed, indicating a prickly grey leaf. "Then you eat this." She pointed out a softer green leaf. "And you finish with juniper berries to wash the taste from your mouth."

Foxwhisker nodded. "Thanks Swallowfeather." He bent down and started to lap up the herbs. Shadefrost watched as his face contorted into a grimace of revulsion, then sighed and ate the prickly grey leaf. It pocked uncomfortably at her tongue and it definitely didn't taste good. She fought the urge to spit and instead swallowed, scowling as the spiky edges of the leaf scratched her throat. The soft green herb had a slightly better texture but it didn't taste any better than the grey one. Wincing, she swallowed and didn't pause to eat the juniper berries. They tasted sweet after the bitter sharpness of the travelling herbs.

Sighing, she realised that the den was much clearer than it had been before. The colours were much more vivid and bright. She could hear a mouse scuffling around in the undergrowth. She could smell it too. "Wow," she gasped. "These herbs really do work."

"Yeah but they don't taste good," Silkpaw mewed. "We have to take them when we visit the diamond caves." The diamond caves were sacred caves in the side of a hill, residing in the far north of WaterClan territory. When medicine cats and leaders entered, they had strange dreams from StarClan. The caves were also where new leaders went to receive their nine lives. "I could see from your facial expressions that you didn't enjoy the herbs," Silkpaw commented.

Shadefrost turned to the medicine cat apprentice. The time had come to say goodbye to her littermate. She opened her mouth to speak but she was so overcome with emotion that only a strangle gurgle came out. Silkpaw laid her tail on the new warrior's shoulder. "It's okay Shadefrost, I'll miss you too."

Shadefrost nodded and rubbed her cheek against Silkpaw's, breathing in her littermate's sweet herby scent. "Goodbye Silkpaw," she whispered.

"Bye." Silkpaw touched her nose to Shadefrost's and then stepped back so that she could address Foxwhisker as well. "Have a great journey!"

Foxwhisker nodded and turned to Swallowfeather. "Goodbye Swallowfeather."

Swallowfeather dipped her head. "Look after yourselves."

Foxwhisker started to pad out of the den, mewing, "We will." Shadefrost followed the ginger tom. As she neared the exit, she turned and looked back at Silkpaw. The white she-cat raised her tail in farewell and Shadefrost did the same, feeling sadness clutch her heart.

She and Foxwhisker padded through the main clearing at a brisk pace, only stopping to bid final farewells. As Foxwhisker slid through the camp exit, Shadefrost paused and looked back. She could see Finchwing and Shrewfur sharing tongues. Shadowheart and Sootwhisker were lying side by side, their pelts touching. Lynxpaw was sitting outside the nursery, carefully cleansing Emberkit's ears. As Shadefrost watched, Dewkit leapt out of the nursery and ran halfway across the clearing before Breezewing caught up with her and ushered the small grey kit back towards the nursery. Shadefrost would miss them all so much. She wandered what would happen to them while she was away. Would Lynxpaw become a warrior? Emberkit an apprentice? Would Dewkit finally behave? What would Finchwing and Shrewfur get up to? How would Shadowheart and Sootwhisker's relationship develop? She sighed, the answers to her questions unknown, and followed Foxwhisker into the forest.

Okay, those were 2 pretty long chapters huh?

I'd like to say "I'll update soon" but I'm not gonna. You see the thing is, I'm kinda losing insparation for this story. I'm a bit bored of it to be honest. And when I get bored the writing does not flow from me and is sometimes a bit clunky. I want to make this story as good as possible and to do that I need to be inspired. I'm not saying that I'm never gonna update again. In fact it's most likely that I will update it again. But I just feel that I need to write something new and not centred around warriors, you know to keep me entertained. So I'm gonna put this story on hold for a while, just so I can get some of my inspiration back. I hope you understand and I'm sorry.

Thank you to everyone who reviewed chapter 8 - Skyheart, Pebbleclaw, CRAZEDREADER96, Blossomgleam, Hawkfur the Ninja, Stormcloud and Pennypatch.

So um thanks and bye - for now.