Chapter 4

The warriors den felt warm, with all the warriors curled up. Graytail soon closed her eyes.

Graytail opened her eyes, but there was no one in the den. Panic rose in her throat.

"It's okay, young warrior."

Graytail looked around,

"Who's talking?"

A shining figure walked towards her,

"I am Silentstar, the former leader of Iceclan. I have a message for you."

As the she-cat's flaming red-brown fur glowed, she walked closer, until she reached Graytail.

"Rain will turn red, rivers of blood will cover the forest, only two stone cats can save us."

She paused, then meowed,

"The stone cats shall climb to the Sacred Mountains, but meet first at the Gathering place. Before moonhigh."

The she-cat's figure started to fade,

"Wait! Don't leave! I don't know what that means!"

Graytail crouched down, as darkness began to swallow her.

Graytail's eyes flew open. An icy blue stare looked down at her.

"Are you okay? You were meowling like a kit!"

Carvy narrowed his eyes as he waited for an answer.

"Sorry, I just had a bad dream, that's all."

Graytail got up,

"Wait... why do you care?"

She whipped her head around and turned to Carvy, giving him a questioning look.

Carvy hesitated,

"Hey, I'd do anything for a good nap."

Then he stalked out of the den.

Graytail, still confused, walked out of the den to the fresh-prey pile.

"Hello. You finally woke up?" Needleclaw walked to Graytail's side and purred in greeting.

"Hello, Needleclaw. I just had a bad dream." Graytail brushed her tail to his side.

"Well, everyone has dreams." he purred as they reached the fresh-prey pile.

Graytail picked out a starling from the pile. She and Needleclaw ate together.

"Needleclaw, what could 'two stone cats' mean?" Graytail asked the dark gray tom. His one jet black paw rose from the ground curiously,

"I don't know-"

"AHHH!" Bunnypaw came tumbling out of the apprentices den.

Wolfear has been trying to wake her up all morning.

"Gotcha!" he said, as he pinned Bunnypaw down.

"I caught your apprentice snoozing." he growled to Graytail.

"Your a mentor now." he stalked away, to find Sagepaw.

"What's his problem?" Bunnypaw tilted her head with sympathy.

"I think I know. See you later, Needleclaw! Remember about Clawpaw's training!" she pelted toward the training area.

"Okay Bunnypaw, time for training." Graytail purred.

"Graytail!" she heard a voice in the distance. "Graytail, Shootingwhisker would like to see you."

Graytail turned around, Needleclaw's bulky shape coming into view, Clawpaw at his side, their pelts brushed, and mingled together.

"Okay, Bunnypaw, go train with Wolfear." Graytail told Bunnypaw.

"But wasn't he a little upset?" Bunnypaw tilted her head once more

"I-I can train with her. Clawpaw could use a partner." Needleclaw offered

Graytail hesitated,

"Oh, okay then." she walked over to the IcecIan deputy.

"Shootingwhisker, you wanted to see me?" Graytail asked

Shootingwhisker narrowed her eyes in confusion,

"No… What are you up to?" she snarled.

"N-nothing! Needleclaw told me."

Shootingwhisker looked confused, then send Graytail away.

Graytail went back to the training hollow. She stopped dead. Clawpaw laid on her back, carelessly, Foxpaw pawed at the ground. Then it struck Graytail,

"Where's Bunnypaw?"