Chapter 6

"I doesn't make sense, why us?" Waterpaw opened her eyes as she heard Airpaw argue with someone. Images flashed of Airpaw's gray eyes narrowing in disagreement and his fur bristling with the heat of the argument. How well she knew her brother. Part of Waterpaw was tempted to curl back up into a ball and ignore Airpaw and whoever his opponent was, knowing that it was none of her business. However when the second cat spoke, Waterpaw knew that she had some say in the conversation.

"Maybe its because we are Woodstar's kits and Jaystar's descendants," Cloudpaw suggested and Waterpaw stood up, stretching before padding out to greet her littermates. Airpaw gave Waterpaw a nod while Cloudpaw meowed, "Good morning, Waterpaw. We were just discussing the-" Cloudpaw glanced around the camp and when it became clear no one was eavesdropping whispered, "Prophecy. Airpaw thinks its just coincidence since we aren't the Clan leader nor the medicine cat."

"I heard, you guys," Waterpaw meowed, "And I think Airpaw is right. Why us? StarClan must have poor choice in messnegers if they picked three apprentices to do their bidding." When Cloudpaw opened her jaws to protest, Waterpaw added, "I know we are Woodstar and Jaystar's kin, but we aren't the only ones. Darkshadow is Woodstar's son and he hasn't had any dreams and most of the Clan are descended from Jaystar."

"But what if he didn't come forward about it?" When met with confused looks, Cloudpaw explained, "Darkshadow. What if he didn't tell anyone because he didn't know if anyone else had heard it? I mean we aren't exactly being very open about it either. The only cats we've told have been ourselves. Maybe Darkshadow is doing the same thing except keeping it only to himself."

"What am I keeping to myself?" Waterpaw jumped as Darkshadow's voice spoke from behind her and all three apprentices spun around to face their older brother. Ever since he had become a warrior, Waterpaw and the others had been slightly nervous about approaching Darkshadow, wondering if he would still want to hang out with his apprentice kin when he had Lakesky and the other warriors now.

"Er-" Airpaw and with a glance at Waterpaw- who shook her head- and at Cloudpaw- who nodded- he began, "Darkshadow, have you had any dreams lately?" Darkshadow's amused glance made Airpaw rearrange his words, "I mean odd dreams. Visions even. Things that seem like one of StarClan's prophecies? Like in the old stories?"

Darkshadow's black eyes widened and Waterpaw thought he was going to confess to something when he growled, "Are you three completely mousebrain? Why would StarClan choose me or you to hear a prophecy? There are about a dozen other cats who would be better options than us. I'm barely a warrior and you three are still apprentices."

"So does that mean you haven't had any dreams, Darkshadow?" Waterpaw prompted, someone getting the feeling that Darkshadow wasn't being completely honest about something. Could he be having the dreams and be thinking like Airpaw that they meant nothing? That it was just a coincidence? Waterpaw shook her head. No. Everything happened for a reason. Like the day Waterpaw met Cody. She didn't know why, but she had a feeling StarClan had destined her to meet the agressive rogue.

"No it means I have," Darkshadow growled unexpectantly, making Waterpaw's eyes widen, "I just didn't tell anyone because I thought I was being completely mousebrain. Why would StarClan choose us to hear a prophecy?" When Cloudpaw opened her jaws to protest, Darkshadow continued, "Even though we are Woodstar's kin and Jaystar's descendants, it doesn't really matter. Jaystar's blood runs through so many cats. Why us?"

"Why not us?" Cloudpaw hissed, "Remember Firestar and the prophecy that led him to find the Clans? When StarClan first made the prophecy, 'Fire alone can save our Clan', do you think that any cat thought it was going to be about a kittypet? Or the prophecy that led the Clans to find this lake? It was given to Tigerstar's kits! Tigerstar of all cats! And Crowfeather and Feathertail weren't from a remarkable bloodline. If they were chosen why not us? We are just as important as any cat!"

"I don't know if you are right, Cloudpaw," Waterpaw was shocked when it was Airpaw who protested against his sister, "I mean they were all warriors-"

"Not Crowfeather!" Cloudpaw interjected with a snarl and Waterpaw blinked in surprise at her usually calm sister's angry words. What was wrong with her? "And not the Three chosen! Jayfeather, Lionblaze, and Dovewing were not even kitted when the prophecy was revealed to Firestar! At least we heard it ourselves!"

"It doesn't matter!" Darkshadow snarled, "It is just a coincidence!"

"You're wrong!" Cloudpaw growled before darting out of the camp, making several of her Clanmates glance at her in puzzlement.

"Cloudpaw!" Airpaw called before following his littermate.

Darkshadow exchanged and glance with Waterpaw and growled, "Come on. We need to follow them."

*

"Cloudpaw! Airpaw!" Waterpaw yowled, Darkshadow echoing from a couple paces behind her. "Where are you?" Waterpaw and Darkshadow had been searching for their kin for a good time now, already done with RiverClan and WindClan territory. They had paced around the border between WindClan and ThunderClan for a couple moments before deciding to head in. That had been a long time ago.

"Foxdung, its no use," Darkshadow snarled, his black eyes narrowing with frustration, "They could be anywhere by now. They'll probably already back at the-"

"Darkshadow? Waterpaw?" Waterpaw's head snapped towards where Airpaw was racing towards them, his eyes wide with relief, "Thank StarClan, I've found you. I've been wandering around her forever now."

"Where's Cloudpaw?" Waterpaw demanded, eyes wide with concern as she realized that her sister was no where to be found.

"Well I chased after her, but she got ahead of me," Airpaw mumbled quietly and Darkshadow rounded on him.

"Mousebrain! We're deep in ThunderClan territory! You know the rogues have been spotted here recently!" Darkshadow snarled angrily, but Waterpaw spotted a flash of worry in his eyes. He must be just as worried as Cloudpaw as everyone else was.

"I'm sorry. I-" Airpaw began, but Waterpaw cut across him, her heart rising with hope as she heard something, "Did you guys here that?"

"No--" Darkshadow began, but a twig snapped and his head whirled around towards a bush. The scent of cats was strong, but Waterpaw had no idea who it was. A rogue perhaps? "Who's there?"

Waterpaw expected no one to answer, but was shocked to see three cats step out of the bushes. A dark ginger tom was in front, flanked by a brown she-cat and a gray tom. The first tom dipped his head and meowed, "I'm sorry. We mean you no harm."

"What are you doing on our territory?" Airpaw snarled at the same moment Darkshadow growled, "You aren't welcome here!"

Waterpaw flanked her brothers, as she prepared to drive out the intruders when a voice yowled,

"No! You must not hurt them!"

It was Cloudpaw.

Author's Note: Sorry this chapter is so short. I had written a longer version, but my computer wiped it all out. Grrrrrrrrr Anyone I hope you like this chapter. It's the best I could write in my anger