-Chapter Sixteen-

My mind is now spinning, twisting, cramping with all of the new information that I've learned in the past few heartbeats. It feels like it's been moons, but of course it's hardly been any time at all.

"You…knew?" is the only thing I can manage to squeak out. "You've known this whole time, and yet all of the times I've come to see you you've not told me?"

Navy flicks one of his deep blue-grey ears sideways, his eyes bored and seemingly tired with this whole conversation. "Yes, I knew. I didn't tell you because I didn't want to upset you. Is that really so terrible?"

I can't even speak, I'm in such a rage right now. I want to rake my claws down Navy's smug-looking face, but manage to restrain myself. Hissing, my back fur bristles up, and my claws unsheathe, digging into the dirt.

"How did you know?" is all I can manage to choke out. My voice is very emotional all of a sudden, and I'm suddenly scared that I'm going to start crying, which would really ruin my reputation as a fierce, tough, not-afraid-of-anything kind of cat.

"How did I know?" Navy asks me curiously, boredom flooding his voice. "Well, I'd love to tell you…" As he stands up, he flicks his tail under my chin and draws it upward. "…but I can show you. Will your Clan mind if you leave for a little bit?"

My claws dig into the grass. "I don't care if they miss me or not," I spit out through clenched teeth.

He laughs. "Good. This'll be an adventure… Now come. It's time to visit the Shimmering Stream."

My jaw drops. "You mean…the place where the medicine cats share tongues with StarClan?"

Navy grins, revealing pointed, yellowed teeth. "I told you this would be an adventure, didn't I? So quickly, hurry up. We don't have much time."

-Chapter Seventeen-

The trip is long, but not perilous whatsoever. I know the territory well, and I've visited the Shimmering Stream several times before. My father and mother have brought me to "show me where I'll speak to StarClan." Oh, please. Give me a break.

Navy is faster than I am – leaner, too. He darts throughout trees and up ridges, occasionally looking back over his shoulder, eyes glinting. "Come on, slowpoke. What's taking you so long?"

"Ha, ha." My breath is winded and words panted, making me realize I might be more out of shape than I had previously thought. "Very funny."

"I'm serious." Navy stops, fur blowing in the wind to one side in sort of a rugged way that makes him look handsome, cute, even. "There's a very important message that you need to see, and it's at the Shimmering Stream."

"'Kay, 'kay…" My voice trails off into a slight whine, which I instantly regret, but I feel it's needed. I am a princess. And I am tired.

It takes a few more foxlengths but finally we're there. Navy immediately, without saying anything else to me, dips his head, takes a drink at the stream, and slowly drifts off to sleep. Rolling my eyes at the aloofness of this particular act, I do the same.

And the world slowly goes black…

-Chapter Eighteen-

I'm in a very dark forest. I can't see the sun, can't see the stars, can't see the moon. It's like the trees are interlocking into a thick web over my head. A breeze blows my fur back, but it's not a warm, friendly breeze – it's cold and chilling.

"Navy?"

My voice echoes throughout the forest, but nothing comes back. The grass is cold and somewhat slimy, almost feeling like it's climbing up my legs. The thought of that makes me shudder, and I begin to walk slowly forward. "Naaaavy?"

The blue-grey tom is absolutely nowhere to be found.

"Abandoning me in this dark, dreary forest…that's just like him," I grumble under my breath, along with several soft curses that would have sent Hawkstar raging after me right away. "Why am I even here anyways?"

A crashing through the undergrowth alerts me; my ears flick up and I cock my head. Suddenly my fur bristles on end as Navy bursts out of the bushes next to me, his eyes wild and panicked like I've never seen them before. He has a gash down his side.

"Run, Snowypaw!" he screams as he tears across the clearing. "I wasn't expecting it to be here! RUN!"

Without a shadow of a doubt – whatever gave him that scar must have been awfully big and awfully fierce – I dart after the nimbler cat, but quickly find myself trailing. He's just too fast, and I'm too slow…

The creature that we're running from erupts out of the bushes and gives a deafening roar that sounds like it could be a cat's screech or a badger's howl. I want to turn and look at it, but there's no time to focus on details. I have to run.

My paws ache as I bound through the forest, going faster than I've ever gone before. I can't see Navy ahead of me anymore, and I'm starting to get scared. That can't be right. I'm Snowypaw, princess of BerryClan. I don't get scared.

The creature lets out another roar and slams his paw in front of me; terrified, I look for another exit but he's blocked them all. Quivering, I turn…

…and look into the eyes of a huge, navy-colored badger.

"CHOOSE, PRINCESS," it snarls in a loud, terrifying tone that sounds more like an enraged cat than anything else. "CHOOSE…AND THE WORLD WILL BE DESTROYED AT YOUR PAWS…"

My eyes are wild, panicked, as I search for a way out. In the background I think I can hear Navy calling my name, faintly. But it's blocked out by the creature and its terrible voice, echoing around me, over and over and over again…

CHOOSE…CHOOSE…CHOOSE…

And suddenly my eyes snap open.

END OF PART ONE