Forestpaw was sure that she had stood at the entrance of the camp, her back rigid, for moons, but she knew that she had only been there since sunhigh, and the sun was only just setting. Nightpaw's pelt was pressed against hers, and so were all of the other cats, excluding Turtlemist, who was sitting at the entrance of the elder's den, trying to convince Mossbranch to stay inside of it.
Firebird, Vinewatcher, and Icepad had all returned with alarm lighting in their eyes as they saw their Clanmates huddled behind the entrance, creating a barrier.
"What happened?" Icepad exclaimed. His blue eyes were wide.
Firebird rushed to Forestpaw and Nightpaw and began to lick them.
"Skyclaw's border patrol found ThunderClan scent by the RiverClan territory," Galeblossom explained, "Gorgestar took Juniperlight and Aspenthorn for backup in case the patrol needed it, and he told everyone else to guard the camp."
"Why would ThunderClan be on the RiverClan border?" Vinewatcher asked, flicking his tail, "Wouldn't it make sense to enter on their side?"
"They could have entered through their territory, and made their way into ShadowClan territory without us realizing it," Juniperlight suggested.
"This is why Gorgestar was right," Echowing hissed, "We needed more patrols surrounding all borders; ThunderClan could've found a way to get into our territory without us realizing, and we need to find out what it is."
"If ThunderClan is going to invade, shouldn't the apprentices train even more than they already have?" Galeblossom asked, "I know Gorgestar figured out a plan, but he hasn't really been following it that much."
Forestpaw felt a twinge in her shoulder. She rasped her tongue over it to sooth it as best she could. I must've landed heavily on my shoulder as I was running back to warn Gorgestar, she thought as the other cats discussed ThunderClan.
"When Gorgestar gets back, I want all apprentices to go out together and battle train," Echowing meowed finally, "They need to practice a mock fight with more than two cats, so they can get used to cats fighting around them."
As Echowing said this, Umberpaw and Windpaw bounded up to Forestpaw. "Hi, Forestpaw!" Windpaw mewed.
Forestpaw blinked and waved her tail in response. What's…happening?
"Do you want to hunt with us after Gorgestar and his patrol comes back?" Umberpaw asked, "W–we know they might be fighting with ThunderClan, but, you know, we just…" Her voice trailed off in embarrassment.
Why are they being so nice? And where's Toadpaw? Forestpaw narrowed her eyes and flicked her ear. Finally, she nodded slowly and began to back up toward Nightpaw.
"Can I come with you?" he asked eagerly. His eyes brightened at the idea.
"Er—yeah, sure," Windpaw meowed awkwardly. He shifted his paws. "We were thinking we could just go with, you know, Forestpaw, but I guess you could come too."
"Okay!" Nightpaw meowed. He turned back to the camp entrance, pricking his ears. Forestpaw turned back as well, glancing at Umberpaw and Windpaw once more before pressing herself against her brother.
xxx
Forestpaw had begun to panic when Gorgestar's patrol hadn't come back by moonhigh. All the cats around her had started to mutter anxiously.
"Did Aspenthorn and Juniperlight get killed?"
"Are they too weak to come back?"
"Did Gorgestar get captured?"
"Are they all dead? But Gorgestar isn't on his last life!"
"When are they coming back?"
"Quiet!" Echowing hissed, "They will come back soon, you just have to wait. There will be no patrols, and no apprentices will train. We are all staying here." He flicked his tail in exasperation.
Forestpaw winced as her shoulder twinged again. Should I go see Thistlestep…? No, I'm fine! She began licking her shoulder again.
"Are you okay, Forestpaw?" Vinewatcher asked. She jumped and looked up. Vinewatcher's face looked full of concern, "Did something happen while you were coming back to camp?"
"Just landed on my shoulder too hard," she muttered as quietly as she could.
"Maybe you should go to Thistlestep, and have it looked at," Vinewatcher mewed, "If there is a battle, we need as many warriors as we can get."
Right.
"No, I'm fine," Forestpaw whispered, looking away. She wasn't necessarily lying, although it was true that she had begun to limp. Besides, how could explain to Thistlesetep what had happened if she was too mouse-hearted to talk?
"Would you like me to come with you?" Vinewatcher suggested, as though he had read her mind. Forestpaw sighed.
I guess it would get in the way of my training…
"Yes," she finally whispered. She padded to the medicine cat den opening with Vinewatcher behind her.
"Thistlestep!" Vinewatcher called.
"Come in," the medicine cat meowed. Her voice sounded distant, so she was probably at her herb stock.
Forestpaw ducked into the den, and Vinewatcher pressed his pelt against hers for comfort.
"What is it?" Thistlestep asked, turning toward the two cats.
"Forestpaw wrenched her shoulder on her way back to warn Gorgestar," Vinewatcher replied, "Is there anything you can do to help?"
"Yes," Thistlestep meowed, turning away. Adding a bit more quietly, as if she were talking to herself, "If I have enough comfrey root, that is."
As Thistlestep gingerly grabbed an herb with large leaves, round flowers, and fat, brown, roots, Forestpaw began to distinguish a tangy scent that she guessed was the comfrey root. The black-and-white she-cat started to chew up the roots and spat them out. She wrapped them in a small leaf and pressed it against Forestpaw's shoulder.
"You may leave us now," Thistlestep meowed to Vinewatcher. He dipped his head and vanished outside of the medicine den.
Forestpaw jumped as Thistlestep pushed too hard and pain lanced up her shoulder. "You know," Thistlestep said, seeming to ignore Forestpaw, "I dreamed of StarClan a few moons ago."
Forestpaw's eyes widened. Really?
"They gave me a prophecy," she mewed, "and I think you deserve to hear before anyone else does."
Even Gorgestar? Forestpaw narrowed her eyes.
Thistlestep purred. "I do have a reason, you know," she said, "It's because I think you're in it, but…I'm not sure."
What is it, then? The question died on Forestpaw's tongue as she remembered that she couldn't talk.
Thistlestep began to lick the poultice onto Forestpaw's shoulder. "The prophecy that StarClan shared with me was, 'The forest will remain silent until the sun has fallen.'"
What? That makes no sense!
"Do you understand now why I think it's about you?" Thistlestep asked, sitting down.
Forestpaw nodded reluctantly. I don't want to be in a prophecy! I want to be a normal warrior!
"Although I still don't know what StarClan meant by 'until the sun has fallen,'" Thistlestep meowed, "I assume it's another cat, but the only cat I know with 'sun' in his name is Sunpaw of WindClan. But then again, StarClan gave me the prophecy before you were born, so maybe this cat will be born into ShadowClan."
Yowls outside of the den snapped Forestpaw to focus and she hurried out of the medicine cat den with Thistlestep right behind her.
In the clearing, lit by moonlight, stood Gorgestar's patrol. They were panting hard, but Forestpaw saw no exposed blood.
What in StarClan happened?
"ThunderClan is gone!" Gorgestar yowled.