I'm just gonna skip the other author notes for now and stick with this one since not enough people are reviewing. Okay, so thanks flareon200 for reviewing! If you want your name posted you're going to have to review! Oh, and as for Willowpool's question, I'm afraid you're gonna have to look it up on the warrior's archive, I don't really remember, sorry. As for Kate's blog, type in her name on facebook.

~Chapter 17~

A shiver went through Cinderstar as a cold blast of wind rocked the mountains. They could finally see the forest that lay beyond. But Cinderstar was certain that anything that would have been left in the old territory would have gotten destroyed by Twolegs.

It had been because of the Twolegs they left the first time. StarClan had warned them of the on coming dangers, but no warning came when the lake erupted. Did StarClan once think they were safe there? Did StarClan turn their backs on the Clans?

No! A voice inside her wailed inwardly. Think of Runningmoon, Moonpaw and Mouseflight!

She shook the thoughts away as she looked at her own Clan. Ever since she woke up from Dovekit's wails, she had been wondering what happened with Weaselstar.

His eyes had a glazed look like something terrible had happened. Or something terrible was about to happen. She blinked for a couple of moments as the Clans waited for what she would say.

"Come on, once we get out of the mountains the forest will shelter us," she called over her shoulder.

Solar, the cat who had been leading them, nodded. Though there was something about this tom that made her heart stir, Cinderstar knew that he couldn't be trusted.

He was too much like Sol, the loner who had tried to destroy the warrior code and the Clans. And yet, he was also calm and collective too. Cinderstar felt like he was different. That there was no need to fear him.

The sun was high in the sky by the time they reached the edge of the mountains. Stiff blades of grass jutted out of the ground, but it was a nice sight compared to seeing nothing but jagged rocks and gray stones. The different colors were almost welcoming.

"This is close to the old forest," meowed Owlwhisker. "I remember it."

A sense of remembering unfolded in Cinderstar too. Though she couldn't put her paw to it, she felt like she remembered this place. She glanced around and spotted a grove of trees nearby. It would be the perfect place to stay for the night, but she felt like they should keep moving.

"Cinderstar, Brightheart's paw pad is torn up!" cried Squirrelflight, who was standing next to the white and ginger she-cat.

It took Cinderstar a moment to remember the warrior. She blinked and padded over to where they were sitting. Brightheart held her paw up, and Cinderstar gazed at the pad. Sure enough, the skin seemed cut and bruised. Pink splotches clotted the dry skin, and blood dried up and crusted around the edges shown.

She stepped to the side as Rainshower, followed by an enthusiastic Dovekit, joined them. Dovekit's gray eyes gleamed with interest as she watched the medicine cat. Cinderstar wondered if Dovekit wanted to be a medicine cat, or she was just curious.

"It's just a few scratches," Rainshower murmured. "I'll fetch some cobwebs though and marigold." Rainshower turned to Dovekit, and there was a frown in his face. "Would you mind asking Foxwhisker to fetch some chervil?" he asked. Dovekit tilted her head to the side and he let out a sigh. "It looks like a fern, has small white flowers, and it smells sweet."

The gray tabby kit nodded and bounded away. Cinderstar stared after her, wondering if she should follow to make sure Dovekit understood everything Rainshower explained to her. But then she shook her head and watched the blue-gray tom.

Rainshower was a good, unique medicine cat. He took after Jayfeather's crankiness, but Cinderstar thought that this was because he missed Hollystar. He had been close friends with her, and Cinderstar knew that he never thought the black she-cat would die the way she did.

Suddenly a flash of reddish-brown tabby fur appeared with a strong, sweet smelling plant in his jaws. He also carried a bundle of cobwebs and marigold with him too. "Dovekit said you'd need this," he panted as he dropped the herbs on the ground.

Rainshower nodded gratefully and began to chew the herbs into a pulp. With the medicine cat doing his work, Cinderstar left him alone with Brightheart and Squirrelflight so she could talk with the other leaders.

Dawnstar was sitting close to Scorchfur. Their tails were entwined, and Cinderstar had a feeling it wouldn't be long until Dawnstar had kits. She like every other cat had noticed how close Dawnstar grew towards Scorchfur. The two of them were almost inseparable.

Reedstar was talking quietly to Shellspots, his deputy, who was listening intently. Cinderstar had always liked Shellspots. She knew that Shellspots had been good friends with Hollystar once, and she also knew how horrible it must have been to see her friend die.

As she looked around, Cinderstar spotted Weaselstar. He was pacing around the clearing, casting uneasy glances at Dovekit and Buzzardkit, one of Swallowflight's kits. Cinderstar noticed that his eyes were gleaming with fear, and what looked like dread.

"Is everything okay?" she asked as she padded over to the WindClan leader.

Weaselstar looked up at her, and suddenly his eyes flashed with anger. "Everything's fine," he snapped. His fur bristled as she backed away.

What's bothering him? Cinderstar wondered as she turned away to leave him alone.

He wasn't the same since they left the mountains. Now, his pelt looked matted as though he hadn't groomed it in days. Something was troubling him, and Cinderstar was determined to find out what it was.