CHAPTER SEVEN

Sunlight poured into my eyes and I sat up and glanced around. I knew this den all too well. Was I in the warriors den? What was going on? Last i remember was being with Nightfur at the border, bleeding out. How did I get here? I turned to look at the wound on my side and noticed that cobwebs were covering it. Some of the nests in the den were empty.

I stood up, still feeling shocked. How did I get here? Did my Clanmates find me and carry me here? Did Nightfur and Willowshine bring me here?

So many questions and I didn't want to wake up the sleeping warriors so I slipped out of the den and looked around. No one seemed surprised or angry at me being here and I padded right up to Strikefang.

"What happened?" I asked, shaking my head slowly as everyone continued with their duties, not even paying notice to me.

Strikefang tilted his head and gave me a weird look. "What do you mean?" He was standing next to Pinenose who looked at Strikefang and back to me with confusion.

My eyes narrowed. "Two sunrises ago I got my warrior name right?"

"Yes, Beestripe," he purred in amusement. "And then yesterday you disappeared for half the day, came back with a lizard, and went to sleep." He shook his head and looked at Pinenose who nodded in agreement. "Actually, I think Crowfrost wants you on a border patrol with Slatepaw and I. I'll be in charge of Slatepaw while Tigerheart is healing."

Just as he finished talking the apprentice padded up to us with a warm smile. "I'm ready to go!"

"You lead us, Beestripe," Strikefang ordered. "RiverClan border, of course."

I nodded, accepting that maybe I'd dreamt last night. It was possible. I had to be careful about my wound though. I carefully led the way out of camp and trotted along to the RiverClan border, pushing off last night as I pushed on, Strikefang and Slatepaw trailing after and talking about battle moves.

Nightfur remained on my mind as we approached the RiverClan border and they began marking, still talking about battle moves and I started marking too but not paying attention to their conversation and instead searching the RiverClan area.

A mouse shot past me and I jumped in surprise, crouching down as Nightfur ran through the bushes and stopped at the border, looking at me with wide eyes.

"Oh, uh, hello there," he purred softly, not taking his eyes off me. He nodded at the other two. "Don't worry I wasn't going to run over the border," he laughed.

The other two in my patrol looked at me and then continued marking the border and I mumbled to Nightfur, "What happened last night? I woke up in my nest!" I knew I was already tempted to attack the RiverClan warrior but I held my temper. "I thought I was going to die."

"I told you I was coming back for you," he purred softly, his eyes only showing compassion and happiness. "I told you I wouldn't let you die." His head shook gently and he blinked his leafy green eyes innocently. "Willowshine came here and fixed you up, we managed to bring you both back to your nest without being caught.. I told her I found you like that. She bought it." He shrugged and met my gaze.

My head shook slowly. "You're a genius," I purred softly and hesitated, looking around to see Strikefang and Slatepaw coming back to us. "Alright, time for you to leave," I growled at him loudly, narrowed my eyes but giving him a small smile so he knew it was an act. "I don't want to see you ere again you fish-face!"

Slatepaw laughed and nodded in agreement. "Yeah fish-face!" But he was serious about it. He hated RiverClan warriors. I did too, but not Nightfur.

Nightfur dipped his head and backed away, disappearing into the bushes with a smile at me. I was lucky to know him, that's for sure.

I still couldn't get last night out of my head. I was dead, I was sure of it. I didn't have anyway to prove that but there was no way she fixed me so simply.

"Beestripe?" Strikefang mewed, tilting his head at me but everything faded and I was left standing in front of Rowanstar and Snowstar.

They didn't seem to know I was there. "I have saved your tail one too many times, Rowanstar! She almost died last night! You need to talk to her, help her figure out the rest of the cats! And fast! Before it's too late!"

Rowanstar opened his jaws to respond but Snowstar disappeared and then I was back in reality, looking at Strikefang with wide eyes and Slatepaw was crouched down low beside him, looking shocked.

"W-What happened?" I mumbled, my legs wobbling.

Strikefang shook his head, lashing his tail. "Nothing, you just blacked out on us for a heartbeat. Come on, let's get back." He pushed me along, leading me back to camp and I stumbled around, glancing back at my wound to make sure it was still coated in cobwebs and it was. I was okay, no need to panic.

Finally, we entered camp and it was easier to breath. Rowanstar jumped to his paws when we entered and walked right up to us, his eyes narrowed in determination.

"Beestripe, we need to talk in my den, now." He nudged me off to his den and twitched his ear at Puddleheart who raced after us and we entered the den. "I know you've been given the prophecy, Beestripe. But Puddleheart has not." Rowanstar sucked in some air and mewed, "Storm clouds roll in, bee's lark in the shadows, and the night takes over."

Puddleheart looked at the both of us with wide eyes. "A prophecy? Okay… So we know the middle part, bee, is Beestripe. Now we just need to figure out who else has names in the prophecy like.. Storm clouds roll in could be Stormcloud of ThunderClan. Or Cloudkit. Lark could be Larkpaw of ThunderClan or Larkwing of WindClan. The night could be Nightcloud of WindClan or Nightfur of RiverClan!" he mewed thoughtfully, his eyes darting around the floor.

My ears pricked at the mention of Nightfur. Is he in the prophecy? "Nightfur is not with RiverClan with the attacks on us, right? He'll be easy to figure out," I told them, but it wouldn't be easy for me to figure out just because he disagrees with the fighting, but because he's my friend.

"Snowstar said there are two cats in our Clan who are part of the prophecy. Cloudkit is definitely the other one!" Rowanstar agreed, his eyes shining in triumph. "I'll try and figure out Stormcloud, he's a kittypet so he should be easy to trick as well as Larkpaw. He's a foolish apprentice so he'll be easy to figure out as well. Puddleheart you talk to the other medicine cats and see if they know anything about the prophecy. Beestripe, you figure out Nightcloud and Nightfur." He exited the den without another word and I could tell he was proud of himself for figuring it out.

I exited the den after him, hearing Puddleheart following after. He didn't say it but I knew he was uneasy about snooping in the other Clan's business, especially RiverClan and WindClan when they were so furious with us. However, if Cloudkit was really in the prophecy than there was no way they'd make us kick her out of ShadowClan.

Right now, I wasn't ready to go snooping, I needed until sunrise to just relax. All of this patrolling and running was hurting my wound. I needed it to heal if I was going to do anything, including live to fulfil this prophecy so I padded to the slowly growing fresh-kill pile where there was two frogs, a mouse, and a blackbird.

I snatched up the mouse and padded to the edge of the clearing, right outside the warrior's den and ate it hungrily, sitting down and curling my tail around my paws. It was cold and soggy from the snow. I couldn't wait for it to be newleaf or greenleaf, either was good for me. As long as the snow was gone.

Silently, I gazed up at the sky, seeing the sun was sinking in the sky. I longed for it to be shining down on me, warming my pelt.

"Beestripe?" I voice behind me made me jumped and I turned around, seeing Junipernose standing behind me in the warrior's den with a bright smile. "What're you doing?" The sleek black tom almost blended in with the darkening den.

My eyes darted behind him, trying to peer around him to see if anyone else was in there but I couldn't see around the large tom. "S-Sorry, I was eating a mouse. I'll get out of your way…" I shuffled to the side to let him pass but he didn't move.

"No, no, that's okay. I can sit with you," he offered, his eyes brightening and he sat down, sitting up straight and neatly curling his tail around his paws.

I nodded, watching him sit at the entrance of the den. I put on a weak smile and sat down next to him. It felt awkward to me, to hang around the black warrior again. "Thank you for sitting with me," I purred and my eyes landed on Lionpaw. "Oh, and congratulations on getting an apprentice." I met his gaze hesitantly.

Junipernose nodded firmly, as if he was determined to stay. "Oh thank you very much! And congratulations to you for getting your warrior name!" His smile widened and he parted his jaws, letting out a yawn. "We should get some sleep." He slipped back into the den and I followed after him, laying down in my nest and watching the other warriors slip back into the den silently, settling down in their nests. After a while everything got quiet and I could faintly hearing the sleeping warriors snoring.

I should probably get some sleep too, I thought and closed my eyes, tucking my head into my nest and letting sleep overcome me.

A whisper made me sit up. Everything in the den was quiet, however, outside the den I could hear pawsteps and the faintest whispers and a familiar scent washed over me. RiverClan! Panic rose in my throat and I stood up in my nest, lifting up my head and let out a loud screech that echoed through the camp, "RiverClan is attacking!"

My yowl woke up everyone and every warrior was pouring into the clearing, jumping onto the RiverClan warriors instantly. They weren't expecting the warning and the ShadowClan cats overwhelmed them for a few heartbeats until they got back on their paws.

I searched the RiverClan cats and my eyes fell on one warrior: Nightfur. He tore through Dawnpelt, shoving her to the ground and raced straight over to me, worry in his eyes.

"Run, Beestripe," he whispered and I could see his bloody claws slide out. "Please," he pleaded, shaking his head slowly. "I don't want to hurt you… I-" He was cut off by a loud screech that sounded familiar to me.

Cloudkit! Fear rushed through me and I searched the clearing for the white she-kit and spotted her, being crushed by Prickleclaw whose eyes were gleaming with excitement. "Cloudkit!" I shrieked and raced over to the kit, using my shoulder to push the she-cat off Cloudkit and grabbed her scruff, struggling to keep her off the ground and run to the entrance, slipping out and continuing to run, hearing paws running after me.

"Beestripe!" a yowl echoed but I didn't dare stop until I was at the border with RiverClan and I whipped around, facing Nightfur and Stonetooth, they skidded to a stop, snow showering me but they were more focused on each other.

Stonetooth got down low, narrowing his eyes at Nightfur. "Get out of here, fish-face!" he spat, digging his claws into the ground. "This is my daughter!"

Nightfur looked at me with wide eyes. I could hear the water rushing nearby. Was the river unfrozen? "I don't want to hurt you, Stonetooth, please. I'm just here to help!" he mewed. I could hear the truth in his voice.

"Why should I believe you?"

He looked at me for a few heartbeats as he spoke, "Because I love her."

Everything went quiet as my father stood up, looking at me with concern and turning back to Nightfur and baring his teeth. "I will punish you in the name of StarClan!" he snarled and lunged at Nightfur and they wrestled, teeth and claws wildy and rolled around violently.

I protected Cloudkit with my body, watching them and wanting to fight but I was too scared to leave the kit so I watched as they drew closer to the river I felt my panic rise. I blinked and suddenly, a white cat was thrown into the river and the shouts of my father disappeared as he was washed away by the waves.

Cloudkit let out a yowl, looking at me, "Stonetooth!" She was shaking in fear as Nightfur dived into the river after him, swimming strongly and he grabbed ahold of Stonetooth's pelt and clung to the bank and clawed his way onto the bank but my father slipped out of his jaws and washed away with the river.

The RiverClan warrior sat on the bank for a bit longer, his head low. He finally padded back over to Cloudkit and I, I could see the tears welling up in his eyes. "I'm so sorry, Beestripe. I tried to bring him back to you but he was bleeding heavily and…" He lowered his head again.

My mouth felt dry. I couldn't speak and I wasn't sure why. I parted my jaws and a waft of ShadowClan and RiverClan went over me. I turned my head to see the RiverClan cats fleeing and Crowfrost and Dawnpelt chasing after them with howls of triumph. They stopped when they saw the look on my face.

"What happened?" Crowfrost asked, looking at Cloudkit, Nightfur, and I.

Finally, I spoke, "Stonetooth… He was thrown into the river. It was an accident!" I added when their fur began bristling at Nightfur. "He went to go save him but… The river was t-too strong." I felt the tears welling up in my eyes and Cloudkit rubbed against me gently.

Crowfrost closed his eyes for a few heartbeats and looked back up at us. "Rowanstar has an announcement, get back to camp. We'll be right behind you," he promised and I grabbed Cloudkit and took off running, glancing back at Nightfur who was about to jump over the river.

Once we'd reached the outside of camp, I set Cloudkit down and looked at her sternly, mewing, "You will not telling anyone what Nightfur said, understood?"

She nodded and I nudged her into camp, seeing Rowanstar was already on the hazel branch but his eyes lit up when he saw us.

"Time to get to the real reason I've called us together... " Rowanstar looked at the entrance when Dawnpelt and Crowfrost entered. "Way back when Cedarstar was leader, WindClan had divided themselves up into two groups. ShadowClan is going to do something like that." There was mewls of shock throughout ShadowClan and Rowanstar waited for them to die down before he continued, "One group will stay in the territory and mark the borders and hunt for prey. The other group, however, is going to go into unknown territory, where the loners and rogues live. They will hunt their and make escape routes so we can flee if need-be. They will create a second ShadowClan camp! Since before Shadowstar was leader, ShadowClan has been given the smallest territory, which means less prey. We barely survive when it comes to leaf-bare." He paused to let his cats whisper about this choices. "Crowfrost, Puddleheart, and I have chosen carefully about this. The one's who stay in our territory will be known as pine hunters. The one's who leave will be known as outgoers. We have carefully selected each and every cat who will be in each group."

Crowfrost padded forward, standing under the hazel branch but he spoke, "Tawnypelt, Junipernose, Lionpaw, Dawnpelt, Sleekfeather, Birchpaw, Pinenose, and Needleflower, you all will be pine hunters. Beestripe, Spikefur, Tigerheart, Slatepaw, Wasptail, Yarrowfur, Strikefang, you will all be outgoers," he announced and looked back to Rowanstar who nodded in approval. "Grassheart, when you become a warrior again you will be a pine hunter."

"You will not tell anyone about this change in ShadowClan. They will suspect we are going to attack them and we do not want that." Rowanstar's eyes flashed and he looked down at me. "Beestripe, I'm putting you in charge of the outgoers patrols, inform Crowfrost when you've made a patrol." He jumped down from the hazel branch. "Get back to your duties!" And then slipped into his den without another word.

I looked at the outgoers who were whispering amongst themselves. "Goto Puddleheart and get your wounds looked at," I ordered and they all rushing to the medicine cat while Wasptail padded up at me, grief in her eyes. "Crowfrost told you?" I asked her with wide eyes.

My mother nodded but I could scent something on her, surprise? "Beestripe," she gasped, "are you expecting kits?"

The question surprised me and I looked down at my belly. It did look bigger than before and now that I thought about it, it had been harder to run. Without thinking I hushed my mother. "Don't tell anyone!"

Her eyes shone in disbelief. "Are they Strikefang's?" she asked and squeaked like a kit in excitement. "My kit is having kits," she whispered and closed her eyes. "If only Stonetooth were alive to see this."

I felt a pang of sadness. He wouldn't see me have kits, because Nightfur and- My thoughts stopped and my eyes widened. They were Nightfur's kits! I quickly replied to my mother, "Yes, yes they're Strikefang's." Panic engulfed me and I caught sight of the tom. "I'll go inform the father," I purred and padded to him, secretly freaking out.

Strikefang smiled at me, looking up from the mouse he was eating. "Beestripe, are you alright?"

"I'm having kits," I whispered and he jumped up. "They're yours."

His eyes shone brighter and he purred in excitement. "My kits?" He closed his eyes for a moment and then looked at me with an even bigger smile. "Did you tell Rowanstar? You have to move to the nursery!"

Guilt soared through me as I thought about Cloudkit. "Cloudkit needs to have an outgoers mentor. You need to mentor her while I have m-our kits," I told him, forcing out the word our. "And as soon as possible I will take over." I looked at the kit who was bouncing around in excitement with Grassheart who had a lizard in her jaws. "I'll go speak with Rowanstar…" I padded away from him, heading straight for our leaders den and I slipped inside.

Rowanstar was talking with Puddleheart and when I entered they both looked up at me. "How can I help you, Beestripe?"

My mouth felt dry and I had to swallow hard in order to speak, "I am having Strikefang's kits. When Cloudkit is apprenticed, Strikefang will be her mentor until I can take over," I told Rowanstar firmly. "I'm not moving to the nursery until my kits are born."

A purr came from Puddleheart. "My sister is having kits!" He rubbed his muzzle against mine and smiled warmly at me. "Congratulations! Come, we must go to my den so I can see how far along you are!" He pushed me toward the entrance.

I stumbled and clumsily padded out of the den, heading to my brother's den with him following behind me.

As soon as we'd entered his den Puddleheart began to sniff me. "Wow, you're further along than I expected, Beestripe." He seemed surprised at this. "You only have about quarter-moon left! How had you not noticed?"

I was surprised as well. How had I not noticed?! I'm huge! I shrugged at Puddleheart. "I'm not sure…" Something inside me was excited for this kits, but I knew I'd have to tell Nightfur at some time.

"You have to stay in camp," Puddleheart told me. "Your kits could be born tonight for all I know!" He shook his head. "Go to the nursery, tell Grassheart and she'll help you out." He grabbed a leaf and gave it to me. "Eat that."

Go to the nursery. Where Cloudkit is. I didn't even want to think about how disappointed Cloudkit would be but I lapped up the leaf and exited his den, walking over to the nursery and slipping inside where the queen and Cloudkit were playing mossball.

"Beestripe!" the fluffy white kit purred, bouncing over to me with happiness. "What're you doing in here?" Her head tilted.

I swallowed down my fear and smiled, "I'm moving into the nursery. I'm having Strikefang's kits!"

Cloudkit looked at me with wide eyes, her tail twitching as she thought. "Congratulations! Who is going to be my mentor while you're in the nursery?" Her smiled was wide, no disappointment showing on her face at all.

"Strikefang," I responded and looked at Grassheart who seemed surprised as well. "I'm due in about a quarter-moon, Cloudkit should be an apprentice by then. And as soon as I can, I will take over your training, I promise." I licked the she-kit's ear, and breathed in her scent before pulling away.

The she-kit smiled up at me. "Just focus on your kits, Beestripe. I'll always be here for you."