"Starpaw, wake up! It's time for patrol!"
Starpaw opened her green eyes, blinking slowly, and looked around the apprentices' den.
"Who-"she yawned sleepily, "Was that?"
"It's just me, a ravenous Shadow Clan leader" Someone said from behind her, with forced sarcasm. Starpaw forgot about being sleepy and whirled around.
"Great Starclan, Graystripe! That wasn't funny!" she whacked Graystripe with her paw. Then she saw how serious he looked.
"Starpaw, you have to help me!" he pleaded, with fear in his eyes."Please!"
"What's wrong?" she asked. "Hey! Graystripe, what's wrong? And why do you need my help?"
"I had a dream." He started, "And I was in the Dark Forest. Tigerstar was there, but I don't know how, after Firestar defeated him. There was also a strange cat that hid in the shadows and kept her eyes closed, like she didn't want me to see them. Anyway, they taunted me for a while, and they said that they would be keeping their eye on me. This is the message they had for you, though: 'Stars can die, and shadows could rule forever'. I don't know what it means."
Starpaw was shocked. She didn't know what to say, but she thought that it was something about the prophecy, and why Blackstar had attacked her. After several moments of awkward silence, she managed to say, "Shouldn't you tell Bramblestar about this?"
"And what would Bramblestar do?" he snapped. "Nothing!"
"But what can you do on your own, Graystripe?" she asked. "Besides, what would Bramblestar say if he found us keeping secrets from him?"
"Would he even care?" asked Graystripe. "The Clan has been in disorder ever since Firestar died!"
"What did you say?" asked an icy voice. Graystripe looked over Starpaw's shoulder, shocked. Starpaw whirled around.
"Um…er…nothing…uh…." Starpaw mumbled, looking at her paws because she couldn't think of anything to say, and Bramblestar had obviously heard everything.
"It's okay Starpaw, it's not your fault." said the Clan leader, glaring venomously at Graystripe. "Why don't we go to my den for a minute, hmm?"
Bramblestar and Graystripe went into the leader's den above the Highledge. Starpaw hid behind a boulder and listened to what they said.
"I'm sorry, Bramblestar, I didn't mean it." said Graystripe.
"Sorry! You're SORRY!?" screeched the Clan leader. He hissed, and Graystripe yowled in pain. It was enough for Starpaw. She burst into the den and saw Graystripe pinned underneath Bramblestar's claws.
"Stop!" Starpaw yelled, and lunged at her mentor, slamming him against the wall. "It wasn't Graystripe's fault! He was frightened!"
Bramblestar snarled, but stayed where he was. Graystripe had already fled to the medicine cat's den.
Starpaw's head hurt. This was all too much for her. She followed Graystripe to Jayfeather's den, hoping that this was all a dream and she would wake up the next day safe in the nursery.