Chapter 32: The Discovery

Lunaclaw tried again. "But Darkshard, you know because of my abilities, I'm aging quicker than most. I'm going to need an apprentice. How much longer before Bloodclan gets here and decides I'm as old as Eclipse and-"

"Enough, Lunaclaw" hissed Darkshard. "That will not happen. My father said Snipe is easy to gain the interest of. You are under our protection."

"But when happens when I die, and you're left without a medicine cat."

Gorsestar cleared his throat. "Excuse me 'jumping in', but here is what I think you should do. What I've done in the past is ask Starc-…the Dark Forest what they think should be the next medicine cat. They'll give you the best answer."

Darkshard thought for a moment as her striped tail brushed over the den floor. "Fine. The Dark Forest's choice will be better than mine. Go seek them out."

"Ok. I will. Thank you, Darkshard!"

Darkshard flicked her tail in silent response as Gorsestar and she got back to the strategic battle plan they were forming. Lunaclaw bounded down the rocks, trotting toward the medicine cat den. She poked her head through the ferns, spotting the black tom. "Star, will you be able to watch them for tonight?"

"Yeah. Shatterbreeze just went to sleep. I'll be fine."

She gave a quick nod before hopping up the rock entrance. She leapt down, starting a swift trot toward Highrock. Soon, she reached the path leaving above Mothermouth. The pebbles pressed into her calloused paws, and enjoying the cool night, she sat on the cliff's edge for a while. The moonlight was pretty bright, and a gentle wind rustled the leaves that hung in the few trees around her. Wait…what is the wind carrying? Who's scent? She parted her jaws, drinking in the cool air. It smelt like…Thunderclan and Riverclan…and was that…Shadowclan? No it can't be. Darkshard said we drove them out a moon ago.

She dove into the bush, hearing laughter and chatter. She narrowed her eyes, seeing the approaching cats: a grey-blue she-cat who smelt of Shadowclan was talking to a white she-cat from Thunderclan, and a Riverclan tom with short grey fur was talking to a bouncy black tom. Swiveling her ears, she strained to make out their conversation as they came toward Mothermouth.

"Thank you for showing me a bit more on herbs, Lilysong. Ever since Bloodclan slaughtered Darkwing…well, we need a medicine cat soon." Wait…we SLAUGHTERED Darkwing? The kind tom I met earlier?

"It's no problem, Rainwhisper." Lilysong replied. "And it's a pity Bloodclan would do something so…vicious. My brother ran away from Thunderclan to be with them, as did my best friend."

"I'm so sorry."

"Nothing you could do. They were in love, right? Love makes you do crazy things. That's why I became a medicine cat." The she trailed off there, so Rainwhisper looked toward the Riverclan cats. "So, Toadpaw, ready to see what a medicine cat sees?"

"Starclan? Yes!" He turned toward his mentor. "Ripplestep, I heard they have their own version of Fourtrees, is that true?" He barely waited form Ripplestep's nod before rambling off again. As the apprentice went on, Lunaclaw found herself wondering what Starclan was like. From listening to Toadpaw, it sounded wonderful; a complete opposite of the Dark Forest.

The cats disappeared into the starry cavern, and their chatter ceased. Sighing, she headed toward the dark cavern. She felt that, even with the moonlight, it felt a little darker tonight. Going through the routine, she was soon in the shadowy forest, with its dead trees and brown clouds. Scrouge appears from the mist. "I surely hope you were spying on those cats and not wishing to join them."

"Yes, sir. I was spying."

"Liar!" he growled instantly, and scores of claws dug into her eyes. She screamed in pain, hunching over as she felt a sticky liquid splash onto her paws. A howling wind slammed into her, and she could see again, but couldn't hear anything. Scourge's claws ripped up her ears, and her hearing returned. She frowned, trying to ignore the pain in her ears. His voice echoed across the empty forest.

In order to gain, someone else must lose.

Someone loses in order to gain.

One must have someone to choose

And put another in unbearable pain

Blood falls, asking "whose is whose"

And one will be silence by your fang

All of this while rage brews

The battle begins with the cold rain

The tom gave a dark smile before vanishing back into the mist, leaving the confused she to wander out of the cave.

I kind of cheated with the rhyme scheme, but whatever. It works.

Feeling confused with all the prophecies? Soon, my readers, soon, there will be a chapter…but the next one is not that chapter.

Until then, here are all of them. Try to decode them (Some of this has already happened and some you need to PREDICT!) and comment in the review what each one might mean! I want to see if any of you are close!

After dawn, the trees will turn red. More of the Innocent Blood will be spilt, and the bird will cry once more. The moon will reunite with the stars.

Unless the moon overcomes the star, the star will outshine the stone.

In order to gain, someone else must lose. / Someone loses in order to gain. /One must have someone to choose /and put another in unbearable pain./ Blood falls, asking "who's is who's"/ And one will be silence by your fang /All of this while rage brews /The battle begins with the cold rain.

I'm leaving for vacation this weekend, so you may not hear from me for a while. When I get back, I better find a lot of reviews! Ta-ta, my lovelies!

-Luna