I just want to thank all of the amazing people who reviewed!

smartblueladybug: Your idea about how to get rid of Crookedstar is really good! Unfortunately I can't tell you if thats actually what happens in the story because that would spoil the ending, so I guess you'll just have to keep reading to find out ;)

Thanks also to Songstar of Riverclan and bkcartooner!

Since the last chapter was a bit short, I thought I'd make a long one this time!

Enjoy ^_^

Chapter 6

Batwing gazed up at the sky in dismay as the water droplets trickled down her black pelt. The rain made a soft pitter-patter on the dirt as it fell, and it left her with a dreary feeling of sadness.

As she entered the camp through the gorse tunnel, she found Startail talking with both Skykit and Fawnkit. Startail turned in surprise as soon as she spotted the she-cat.

"Batwing!" she exclaimed, her eyes narrowed. Her ginger fur was now flattened by the rain, and she shook herself in annoyance as if it would help to dry her sopping pelt. "Where have you been? Fawnpaw told me you just left her in the middle of the forest!"

Batwing glanced at her apprentice, swallowing down her guilty. Fawnpaw stood sadly next to he brother, her amber eyes sad and innocent. "Startail, I-"

Startail shook her head. "Fawnpaw, Skypaw, why don't you two go and dry off in the apprentice den," she mewed, struggling to keep her voice level. The apprentices nodded vigorously and scampered away, relieved to get out of the rain.

Startail turned back. "What were you thinking? She's just six moons, what if she had gotten lost?"

Batwing looked away, her golden eyes darkening with anger. "Whats gotten into you?" she mumbled, her friends voice cutting through her. "It was an emergency."

Startail snorted in annoyance. "An emergency? What was so important that you had to abandon your apprentice in the middle of the forest?"

Batwing opened her mouth, her whiskers trembling in unwanted fury. She longed to tell Startail the truth, tell her about Dawnspirit, Crookedstar, and everything she had learned in her dream. Yet something was stopping her. A fear for the young medicine cat which she could not control. "I'm sorry," she murmured, locking her gaze with Startail's. "It won't happen again."

Startail said nothing else, however her eyes betrayed her emotions. They were swirling with annoyance and disappointment, as hurtful as her sharp words. She turned and padded away, her blazing pelt catching the light, setting it ablaze as it dripped onto the muddy ground.

Batwing sighed, knowing that there was nothing she could do. Startail would cool off soon, and the whole thing would blow over. Her concern however was with Fawnpaw. She had spoiled her first chance to impress her new apprentice, and that memory would stick.

Dewpelt dropped the wet bundle of thyme and poppy seeds next to Deerspots. The she-cat lay on her side, her breathing quick and panicked. The moss bed had been torn to shreds, and tiny bits of leaves remained in her pelt.

"Deerspots?" Dewpelt nuzzled the young queen gently. "I have some herbs for you."

The brown she-cat rolled over, her deep brown eyes wide with innocence and fear. "It hurts," she mewed softly, her whiskers twitching. "Its not supposed to hurt so soon!"

Dewepelt shook her head, forcing a calm smile. Deerspots had moved into the nursery just three nights ago, and already she had been tortured with cramps. However the medicine cat now suspected that the agony rooted more from the anxiety and fear that Deerspots felt. "Here," she mewed, nudging the thyme closer to the queen. "This will help."

Deerspots lapped up the fuzzy leaves and seeds, her eyes squeezed shut. "It tastes funny," she mumbled, her voice groggy. She let out a soft, rippling sigh as she sank back onto the moss.

Dewpelt smiled in relief. She slowly left the den, feeling the cold droplets trickle down her pelt and gazing up at the darkening sky. It swirled with azure and a deep royal blue, signaling the end of the day. Tinges of pink and gold still lingered, left behind at the setting of the sun, and they clung on as the last ray of sunlight disappeared behind the trees. The rain fell from the sky like tear drops, and they made a satisfactory patter against the wet dirt.

Dewpelt let a huge yawn escape her as she entered her den, her exhaustion catching her by surprise. It had been a long day for her, and she whimpered in relief as she curled up on the soft moss.

As her blue eyes closed, she felt herself sinking into the clutches of sleep. Her mind swirled with the events of that day, yet they slowly slipped away as she drifted off. However it was only moments later that her eyes flew open.

Dewpelt jumped to her paws, her breath quickening. She stood in a forest which was dark and shadowed. Trees loomed up on all sides, their demeanor threatening. It was unlike anything she had seen before, and the feeling of grief which hung in the air frightening her. Her ears cocked in confusion as she heard the sound of pawsteps. Slowly, Dewpelt turned around to face the cat before her.

It was a slim and muscular she-cat, her pelt a deep brown. She had shimmering golden eyes, tinged with amber flecks. The corners of her mouth twitched up into a grin, revealing sharp teeth. "Hello dear," she mewed, her voice daring and warm. "Things are about to get complicated."

Batwing opened her eyes, their golden hue dulled by the sight of what lay before. The dark swirling mist of the dark forest dampened her mood, and she growled in frustration. She had longed to see her mother tonight, yet somehow her dreams had different ideas.

The scent of death and despair wound its way through the thick air, and Batwing gagged. She gave her pelt a quick shake before walking towards the faint smell of cat. It hung on the wind, an invitation to her.

"Why can't I see her?" Batwing called, her voice shaking. "Why hasn't she been in my dreams?"

There was no answer, simply the dead silence. She growled in annoyance, her lips drawing back into a snarl. "I know you can hear me! Why won't you answer?"

A stick snapped behind her, and Batwing whirled around, her paws stumbling. The black tom stood before her, his pelt flattened, and his ears back. His green eyes shown with light that defied the darkness which swirled around him. "Things are changing," he mewed quietly, his voice rasping through the voice between them. "Nothing is as it once was."

Batwing shook her head in frustration. "What does that mean? What has changed?"

Nightclaw seemed not to sense her frustration, or perhaps he didn't care. He raised his head and took a few steps closer until he was directly in front of her. Their eyes locked, the green and gold, and for a moment a connected stemmed between them. "Everything is going to change."

"Who are you?" Dewpelt stared at the she-cat, her azure eyes narrowed suspiciously. "You're not from Starclan are you?"

The she-cat laughed, a sound which floated lightly through space. "Clever. I like that in someone."

Dewpelt shook her head in confusion. "I don't understand, how can I be dreaming of you if you're not in Starclan? Are you real?"

"Of course I'm real!" the she-cat cried in annoyance. "Starclan isn't the only forest for the cats who die."

"So you're from the dark forest?"

The she-cat once more laughed, although this time it was a smirk of amusement at Dewpelt's expense. "Not clever as I thought," she mewed regrettably.

"Why have you called me," replied Dewpelt, beginning to find this she-cat frustrating. "That is why I'm dreaming of you, isn't it?"

The she-cat dipped her head as if to agree. "I have information for you. It is from the cats of Starclan."

"I don't understand, why can't Stormpelt just tell me?"

The she-cat paused, her eyes filling with regret. "Something is happening in the clans," she began. "Something horrible, something which must be stopped."

Dewpelt's paws shifted in fear at these words. "But why won't Starclan help?"

"They have refused. Starclan will not bring aid to the clans at their time of need."

"So you're saying the clans are in trouble, but Starclan won't help?" Batwing shook her head in fury, her voice rising. "Why would they do that?" She was pacing now, hoping to crush the terror which was racing through her veins.

"They received a prophecy," Nightclaw said, his form calm and contained unlike his daughter's. "The cats of the stars will bring the destruction of the clans."

"So they're just going to cut us off? No prophecies, no dreams, no signs? They can't do that!"

"I know."

Nightclaw's words stopped Batwing in her tracks. She turned around slowly, looking her father up and down. "You agree?"

"Yes," Nightclaw mewed softly, his tone tired. "Thats why I'm here, Starclan has a prophecy which could help you right now, but they refuse to give it to any medicine cat or leader."

"And you know that prophecy?" Batwing said hopefully, her fear slowly disintegrating.

Nightclaw closed his eyes and took a deep breath as if to prepare himself. As he spoke, the prophecy echoed through the air of the dark forest, for it did not belong in this place of death and evil, it was not meant to be spoken here. "As crooked ways corrupt the forest, hope will be found at the light of dawn. Yet until blood is spilled and secrets learned, peace shall not come."

"The light of dawn?" Dewpelt's twitched in frustration as she racked her brain, struggling to understand what the strange prophecy meant.

The brown she-cat said nothing, simply watched the young medicine puzzle over her prophecy. "I don't understand it either," she mewed, breaking her silence. "However Starclan would not give it, so I decided to handle it myself."

"But why me?" Dewpelt asked. "Why not another cat?"

The she-cat smiled sadly, her golden eyes twinkling with knowledge far beyond Dewpelt. "You have watched over someone who is very close to me, and I respect that. I know you will use this knowledge well."

With these words, she turned around and began to pad off into the darkness which hung from the trees.

"Wait!" Dewpelt cried. "You haven't even told me your name!"

The she-cat froze and slowly twisted back around to gaze into the grey medicine cat's eyes. "Nina," she said softly. "My name is Nina."

I loved writing back and forth scenes between Nightclaw and Nina! Anyone surprised at how things are going?

I know that the prophecy was a bit obvious, but I'd love to hear what you guys think it means!

Please review ^_^