Elsi: More Elemental! All the Elemental! Just kidding, just this chapter. But I like this chapter. Plus, I did a lot more figuring out exactly what everyone needs to do and when...which is good! It means that I can write more faster, I believe. Okay, so this is a Skypaw chapter, which is evident by the first couple words, and...it's pretty cool, I'd say. It made me happy to write. :D

Elsi: So, enjoy! I don't own Warriors, but I did create a lot of these major characters, so...don't just make off with them, ya hear? Anyways, read and review if you like it!

Chapter 8: Dominoes

Skypaw woke in the darkest of StarClan's corners – at least, that's what it had to be. When her sapphire eyes opened, Briarpaw moved forward, and a white bushy tail covered her mouth.

"We're not supposed to have brought you here," whispered Briarpaw, crouching in the darkness. "But we needed to talk to one of you, and the others are monitoring Birdpaw."

"What?" whispered Skypaw, shaking away whoever her second attacker was. It turned out to be Runningpaw, who in death, looked almost as beautiful as she had in life. Skypaw stared at them both, awestruck.

"StarClan's great leaders won't let us talk to you," Runningpaw explained in a quiet voice. "We're not sure why, but they've put a blockade over all of us."

"Us who?" whispered Skypaw.

"The newer members of StarClan," explained Briarpaw. "Look, Skypaw, we really can't explain it very well. And as we can't get to Littlepaw, well…we can't say anything now."

"Okay," agreed Skypaw. She didn't want to know anyways, what was going on. "What's the matter?"

"It's just…there's something happening," whispered Runningpaw. "This is your warning, and we're giving it to you as best as we can. There's a greater force at play here, and it's already ruining our world." They exchanged a knowing glance. "You have to promise not to betray each other. Okay?"

"Betray each other?" asked Skypaw. "What does that mean?"

"It means there are…so many tests and trials," Runningpaw went on. "Whoever these greater forces are, they're trying to test you and make sure you're up to the task they're giving you."

"So the earthquakes…they're…?"

"All fake," responded Briarpaw. "Yes. Well, they're a test. You have to stop them if you mean to fulfill your destiny."

"Is that what you came to tell me?" Skypaw demanded, only a little annoyed. "That we have to stop the earthquakes?"

"Yes, and soon," Briarpaw murmured. "Please, Skypaw. These things can take lives."

"Well…" Runningpaw began slowly. "That's not all…"

"We want to show you just a snippet of what you must do," Briarpaw continued. "We…we're sorry, Skypaw. You won't be used to this, but we can't…"

A meow of alarm sounded, and the two she-cats looked over their shoulders. Skypaw made note of four burly StarClan warriors striding towards them.

"You're not supposed to do that," roared one of them, a monstrous golden tom. Runningpaw turned to Skypaw, her blue eyes wide.

"Sorry, Skypaw," she whispered.

Then the world plunged into the blackest darkness Skypaw had ever seen.

Then it all happened at once.

The thunderous noise of the Thunderpath nearly tore her ears off, and monstrous pain rocketed through her body. Skypaw screamed, and then heard sobbing, miserable sobbing. Gold and cream surrounded her, and lightning of green and blue melted together as the warmest feeling entered her heart. The green lightning flashed again, wicked and laced with everything ferocious in the world, and flames leapt towards her. Skypaw fought to escape, but there was nothing she could do, and flames engulfed her, tearing at her skin and putting her through the most intense agony she had ever experienced. When it finally cooled down, the softest of familiar voices was calling her name, though whose it was, she couldn't tell.

SKYPAW.

The world began to shake, and Skypaw stumbled downwards, looking up just in time to stare into the vivid eyes of the palest fox she had ever seen. He snapped his thin jaws at her, and as Skypaw jerked away, the claws of a million cats dug into her, tearing her in every direction while the world shook and boomed all around her.

StarClan opened up before her, a paradise, but then it was falling into miserable darkness, and someone was holding her back, a warm barrier of some color…a tail, perhaps, but whose, she didn't know. She felt warm tears on her face, and then three angels jumped around her legs, calling her name in the voices of kits. But then there were other voices, too.

You see, I knew it all…

She was my everything. Now that she is lost, I cannot go on. I must…

I'm sorry! I couldn't live with this feeling…

You cannot touch me. You do not know me. Never touch me.

End this now. Do it. I cannot watch.

We are but the dust that shadows can take…

…All of it. Everything. From the beginning.

SKYPAW!

"SKYPAW!" Her sapphire eyes opened, but the world was still shaking. Greyheart's face swam before her, and she scrambled forwards, diving on instinct as the rest of the apprentice's den caved in under the force of a falling rock. Everything was pale chaos, and Skypaw leaned into her grey-pelted protector as the earthquake took the camp by storm.

"Stay with me," whispered Greyheart. "Don't move. It'll be over soon."

"There you are!" roared a voice, and Littlepaw was beside her. Skypaw fought out of Greyheart's hold, looking to her brother for support. "I…Skypaw…" His eyes closed for a moment and re-opened, captivating amber-turquoise. "I'm glad you woke in time."

"In time?" roared Skypaw.

"Three seconds, and you would have been dead," sighed Greypaw. He touched his nose into her shoulder. Littlepaw looked to the sky, glancing around in circles. Far away, Skypaw saw Lionstar and Squirrelflight ushering the queens out of the nursery, while little Nightkit and Marshkit wandered out, wide-eyed and shivering. Doveheart was with Ivypool, guiding the elders out of their den, and the senior warriors were barking orders, herding cats into the center of the camp. Skypaw walked alongside Littlepaw and Greyheart, still shaking. Had she really almost died? What had saved her? Had it been one of her own powers, or simply chance?

"Are you alright?" Birdpaw moved to the trio, her green eyes little fires of their own accord. Skypaw nodded, and Greyheart pressed into her pelt. She was grateful for the support – this was still terrifying. Another rock broke free with a terrible smash, and Skypaw coughed viciously as the dust rose up to choke her.

Then the terrible earthquake was over, and the Clan looked up, searching for their family and friends. Skypaw's heart began to throb, and she turned in circles. Littlepaw was beside her, and Birdpaw was here as well…where were the other two? Then, she saw Mountainpaw charging towards them.

"I couldn't do anything," he sighed in frustration. "If only I had started working soon."

"You tried," Littlepaw murmured supportively. "Skypaw?"

"Where's Willowpaw?" demanded Skypaw.

"With Stealthstep and Brackenheart," Greyheart insisted. "She's fine, Skypaw."

"No," Skypaw whispered, and she moved forward through the crowd, looking for white, any source of white. She needed to see her sister.

Then Brackenheart's pelt caught her eye, and Willowpaw was a ball of silver fluff in the middle. Sighing in ultimate relief, Skypaw pushed to her sister, nosing into her icy fur.

She had three moments of peace, and then Greyheart had pulled her towards him with his tail, staring into her blue eyes.

"Stop moving," he rumbled. Skypaw blinked at him. "I need to see you for a few seconds."

"Why?" demanded Skypaw, confused.

"I need to convince myself that you're still alive," Greyheart responded. "I need to make sure that this isn't my imagination. If you had died…Skypaw…"

"I'm fine," insisted Skypaw, but her mind was already on the confusing words and sights of her dream. "I just need a minute to breathe." She tried to push from the crowd, but Greyheart followed her.

"Skypaw, please," Greyheart whispered. "You're scaring me. Are you sure you're alright?"

It then hit her: she had almost died, and something had saved her. It could have been a manifestation of her own powers, or it could have been some higher force, what Briarpaw and Runningpaw had mentioned. Were they okay? What did it all mean? Why was StarClan acting so…divided? Skypaw sat down, suddenly dizzy, and tried to puzzle it all out.

"Skypaw?" Greyheart brought her back to the real world, and for the confusing moment, she tried to put her dream at the back of her mind. She had almost died. She had almost died for the second time – this time, though, either she had saved herself, or a greater force had. It was no longer Greyheart, but he had fought for her just as fiercely. He could have died, too, in the force of that rock, had he refused to leave her.

"You should have left me," Skypaw said, turning to him. "Why didn't you run away?"

"How could I?" Greyheart asked, horrified. "I had to get you to safety."

"You could have died," Skypaw snapped back. Greyheart blinked, as if he was only just realizing this.

"I guess I could have," he admitted. "But that's okay." Skypaw tried to read the look in his dark blue eyes, not comprehending.

"You would give your life for me?" she wondered. She was beyond touched – that was an amazing force. How had that ever happened, that a cat would give their own life just to protect her?

"Of course I would," Greyheart said, as if this was obvious. "You mean everything to me."

Skypaw paused, her paws shivering. What did he…what was he implying?

"I wouldn't want to live without you," Greyheart promised. He touched his nose to her ear. "I love you, Skypaw. I always have."

"Oh," murmured Skypaw. "Oh."

Then she rested beside him, living in his love, and the future seemed farther away.

XXXX

The world was a blur, but Skypaw sort of found herself enjoying it. Her whispered announcement to Stealthstep, Willowpaw, Brackenheart, and Dustfur, revealing that Greyheart had confessed his love for her, was met with a squeal (Willowpaw) and a few confused glances. Brackenheart later admitted that he thought that he had already done so. Dustfur meowed his congratulations, as did Stealthstep, but the mottled tom turned away nearly instantly afterwards.

"What's wrong with him?" asked Brackenheart, raising an eyebrow. Skypaw watched Stealthstep go, a little bit of regret and hurt in her chest. She knew very well what was wrong with Stealthstep, and it pained her to think about it. How could a cat like that, one that she barely talked to, feel that way for her? She had tried to avoid him after the incident between them back when Windfeather had first given her the scar on her face, but…occasionally, he sought her out, and very rarely, she would catch him staring at her from across camp. The look in his eyes was always the same – something about her scar, which was barely noticeable now, still held some sort of value for him. Maybe it was their conversation, or maybe it was just the mark itself, Skypaw didn't know. Whatever it was, she was a little glad to have him out of her fur.

Willowpaw moved to press her pelt into Skypaw's.

"That's so exciting," she gushed. "What did you say?"

"I didn't know what to say," admitted Skypaw quietly. Willowpaw gave her a curious glance, and Skypaw shrugged. She wasn't sure what she was supposed to do – nothing like this had happened to her, at least not with someone about whom she cared. Did she love Greyheart? Maybe she did, but what about the prophecy? Didn't it count for anything at all? Could she have a mate and still fulfill her destiny? Those questions going unanswered for the moment, Skypaw shrugged again.

"I wish I had that," sighed Willowpaw, high on the idea of fresh romance. Skypaw's eyes widened in shock, and, behind her back, Brackenheart gave Willowpaw the most wistful, confused, and hopeful look that Skypaw had ever seen on a cat. How could her little sister be so blind? In any case, she was acclimating to Clan life again, which was excellent. Touching her nose to her sister's ear thoughtfully, Skypaw took her leave, suddenly feeling awkward and out of place. She needed a breath of fresh air.

Outside of camp, the trees welcomed her, but the nice breeze called to her, giggling and dancing. Seeing a flurry of color, Skypaw glanced over her shoulder before summoning a violet wind to pull her into the air. She loved it up here, above the trees, where no one could touch her. Some winds were tougher than others to master, but the nice violet ones always came when she called. And then she could soar, above the trees, limitless, truly free in ways that she'd never been before.

When she descended down to earth, her pelt full of the breeze and her heart wild and light, Littlepaw was waiting for her. He always seemed to have some monitor on her and the other three, which was uncanny, but Skypaw paid it no mind. What was more pressing was the look on her brother's face.

"It's funny, how much a simple few words can do," Littlepaw said casually. Skypaw gave him a strange look. "I just thought you should know what your interaction with Greyheart after the earthquake really did."

"What do you mean?" asked Skypaw, frustrated and confused already. Littlepaw sighed, sitting down.

"Once Stealthstep heard that you had chosen Greyheart, he stormed off to Bluemoon and asked her to go on a walk with him. Trying to make you jealous, I suppose."

"Go on," Skypaw said hurriedly. Stealthstep's affairs meant little to her.

"And Bluemoon is in love with Brackenheart," Littlepaw said simply. Of course, Skypaw knew this. "So, when she found out that she had Stealthstep, she went ahead and flaunted him around. That, of course, made Brackenheart angrier than anything else."

Skypaw's heart began to sink. What did Brackenheart do that would affect her?

"He told Willowpaw, finally," Littlepaw murmured in answer to her unspoken question. "She…well, she fled."

"But just a few minutes ago…" trailed Skypaw, but Littlepaw shook his head.

"It doesn't matter," he pointed out. He nudged her shoulder. "I just thought you should know. You can help cheer Willowpaw up."

Skypaw recoiled, horrified by her own actions. Just by letting Greyheart love her, she had risked the emotional limit of her little sister! There was no way to forgive that – if she compromised the sanity or well-being of any of her littermates, they could fail in their destiny. Having a mate really was dangerous, for the prophecy if nothing else.

The signs were crystalline. Shaking her head, Skypaw stepped back.

"If I had known…" she whispered. Littlepaw's amber-turquoise eyes went wide, and he shook his head in some effort to stop her, but Skypaw's mind was set.

In order to keep the prophecy firm in her mind, she would have to sacrifice Greyheart, and that's exactly what the others had to do, too. She would see to it.