Tracking Twilightstar turned out to be a much easier process than Greenpaw had originally anticipated. Twilightstar's emotions were high strung, making her unsusceptible to sensing Greenpaw. Not only that, but Twilightstar expected Greenpaw to be back at camp, where she ordered the apprentice to stay.
Twilightstar had left the hollow immediately after exiting Pearlpelt's den, stopping only to trade a few quiet mews with Seaheart. As he nodded his big head, Twilightstar had already turned away to the camp entrance.
Greenpaw didn't have any travelling herbs, but she had just eaten with Sunpaw, and had never minded long walks that carved ways to adventures. The only thing that Greenpaw was truly worried about was getting cracked paws. After spending so much time in the Saltmarsh with Sunpaw and Silverweb, Greenpaw should have asked Pearlpelt for broomsedge to keep her paw-pads from splitting. Walking on them the rest of the day, in the dry heat of the Clifflands above the beach, was going to be a gamble. She could only hope her paws would hold out on her – Greenpaw had no idea what broomsedge looked prior to being chewed into a poltice. She wasn't a medicine cat – she didn't know what to look for.
Trying to pay her paws no mind, Greenpaw instead focued on her pace. She kept her stride very slow during the beginning of the journey. Greenpaw was purposely attempting to put a lot of distance bwtween she and her leader, regardless of the Twilightstar's preoccupied mind. Should Greenpaw be caught, Twilightstar would be furious, and most definitely send her back on her way to the camp, with a punishment, all without seeing the Moonflies.
Greenpaw just knew she had to reach the Moonflies. She had never had a problem disrespecting authority, but lately had been growing feelings of guilt in regards to her blatant disregard for rules, ever since becoming a part of the clan. Greenpaw didn't like disrespecting Twilightstar's orders so directly, but she knew, she just knew she had to speak with StarClan, to calm her running mind and worries.
The first half of the journey carried along seamlessly. Greenpaw kept as close to the Snakeriver as possible, as to not alert FernClan to her presence. Twilightstar had a much better chance of gaining a pardon from FernClan than Greenpaw did, since she was the leader. Leaders had a right to share dreams with StarClan at the Moonfly cave. Greenpaw, by herself, did not.
But trouble did eventually arise. Greenpaw could see the Steppingstone-place in the near distance, and could see the very faint outline of Twilightstar passing it. Greenpaw was mostly following by scent – and she was so focused on Twilightstar's, Greenpaw hardly even noticed the coming stench of FernClan cats getting closer, stronger. Greenpaw brushed it off, figuring she had just passed a recent marker, but all of the sudden, mid-thought, there was a yowl and a punch into Greenpaw's left shoulder.
Greenpaw had to bite her tongue to keep from howling as she barreled to the very edge of the river. But the cat attacking her had yowled anyway, so making noise hadn't of mattered – and Greenpaw's aggressor yowled again as the cat charged at her as Greenpaw tried to regain her footing.
Greenpaw, however, knew she had very good reflexes in battle, which was proven once more as she whipped around to face her attacker. Greenpaw's paws grounded her, fast enough to see a flurry of very light ginger fur with dark brown stripes come after her.
At the very last moment, when her attacker should have connected with her shoulder once again, Greenpaw darted to the side, waiting for the cat – who Greenpaw now smelled was a she-cat – to fall into the river. But the she-cat had good reflexes too, and stopped herself despite the surprise of Greenpaw leaping to the side. The cat rounded on her, amber eyes flashing, as Greenpaw hissed and backed away, arching her pack and preparing to spring.
She assessed her attacker quickly. There was just one cat, and it didn't seem like her warning yowl attracted any unwanted attention. Battle gleamed in the she-cat's eyes, and the duo began to circle each other. Greenpaw's heart suddenly jabbed, as she realized there was something missing. Sunpaw wasn't here to fight with her. They had practiced so much partner fighting together, Greenpaw felt vaguely anxious and empty-pawed without the beautiful white-and-yellow striped she-cat there.
Her aggressor sprang forward, aiming a swipe of unsheathed claws at Greenpaw's shoulder. Greenpaw dodged it again by leaping backwards, and the FernClan cat snarled. "What pretty kitty is afraid of the big bad cat? Why do you keeping jumping away, pretty kitty?" she taunted, her mew high-pitched like Sunpaw's, but not at all comforting and agreeable. There was venom in her mew.
Greenpaw tried not to let the taunting ease her defensive position, nor force her into a clumsy attack. "Words can begin or end a battle just as quickly as claws," she heard Seaheart's voice echo in her head. "Depending on if ye know how to use them."
Greenpaw wasn't sure if this was exactly what Seaheart meant, but she definitely wasn't going to let some flowery little FernClan she-cat the same size as Greenpaw was taunt her into an ungainly battle.
"Pretty kitty doesn't want to fight?" the she-cat went on, the duo circling each other once again. "Pretty kitty afraid of getting scratched?"
Greenpaw hissed furiously. Her body began to shake, and she forced herself to calm. "Empty minds battle the fullest," Seaheart echoed again. Greenpaw took a single steadying breathe, and leapt out at the ginger she-cat with a single, long leap, and attached herself to the cat's back with her claws. The she-cat yowled in surprise, staggering. "I'm not a pretty kitty!" Greenpaw howled, forgetting about Twilightstar, and bit the she-cat's shoulder, hard.
The FernClan cat shrieked, dropping to her belly and rolling onto her back, crushing Greenpaw beneath her. Greenpaw felt the wind knock out her her, and thought quickly – she raked her paw over the side of the she-cat's belly, just barely able to reach. The she-cat shrieked again and jumped off of Greenpaw. Greenpaw leapt to her feet again, bracing for an attack, but the she-cat just stood their, furiously glaring at her. "What are you even ding here, anyway?" the she-cat demanded in discontempt. "The beaches are full of prey! What are you even doing here?"
Greenpaw was huffing and puffing, trying to catch her breath. The she-cat seemed a little disheveled, and had to be hurting from the scratches and bites Greenpaw bestowed her with, but the FernClan cat just sat, shaking with anger. "I'm going to the Moonfly cave, you raccoon-brain!" Greenpaw spat, not trusting the she-cat enough to sit herseld. Greenpaw settled for a stance straight across from her, on the water's edge again. She tensed herself, just in case. "Can't you smell my leader up ahead?"
The she-cat glanced into the direction that Twilightstar was headed in, truly to the Moonfly cave. "Why aren't you with her, then?" she demanded. "Are you sure you aren't here to spy?"
"What is there to even spy on?" Greenpaw retorted furiously. "What could we possibly want from FernClan? What cat in their right mind would want to spend all day in the dry open like this?"
The she-hissed, but not aggressively. She seemed fairly relaxed. Greenpaw allowed herself to sit, but still tensed herself, bracing herself for a trick. "What's your name?" the she-cat demanded, again. She did a lot of demanding, Greenpaw noticed.
"Greenpaw," she decided to answer truthfully, unsure of what direction this was going in.
"Well, I'm Windpaw. And, for your information, there is plently to spy on. And I'm here to protect, it, because one day, it'll be all mine, and then I'll really rip your fur out!" Windpaw threatened, her fur bristling. But she made no move to fight. She gave her shoulder a little lick and winced.
"What do you mean, all yours?" Greenpaw asked suspiciously. She didn't like the sound of that. It also warily reminded her of her own mam. 'It's all yours.'
"I'm going to be leader of FernClan someday." Windpaw mewed matter-of-factly. "And all of this will be mine."
Greenpaw snorted. "Leader of FernClan, huh? And minxes have wings!"
Windpaw's eyes narrowed to an angry slit. "You best watch your tongue! The rest of the hunting patrol can't be far away. Let's see where your precious leader will be then!"
Greenpaw had to fight from rolling her eyes. "So scary," she taunted sarcastically. "SaltClan would rip FernClan to shreds like the flowers you are!"
And then, all of the sudden, Greenpaw felt a shove and was completely submerged in water, for the second time that day. She straightened her body and climbed onto the bank sputtering. Greenpaw blinked water from her eyes to see Windpaw some fox-lengths away, her tail whipping around, amused. "Get back to your leader!" Windpaw called out, turning around to leave. "Go to the Moonflies!"
Greenpaw felt a shiver of anger as she climbed onto the cracked dirt ground. She licked her shoulder a few times; it felt sore after being bashed into so many times. She wrinkled her nose at the taste of the fresh water on her salty fur. She had forgotten how accustomed she had grown to the salty sea water.
Greenpaw sighed, and watched Windpaw gallop away. The sun was setting, casting warm shades of red and yellow in the water, and darkening the admittedly beautiful surroundings. She was just past the Brokencreeks, and was sure Twilightstar was at the Moonfly cave by now. Greenpaw shook herself and picked up her pace, running like the wind to catch up to the cave in time.
It was nearly dark when Greenpaw approached the Moonfly Cave. She scented Twilightstar, but not so fresh that Greenpaw had to hang back. Twilightstar had entered the cave already.
Greenpaw was beside herself. With everything that had happened, she was anxious to share dreams with StarClan, or even with Brook Where Small Fiish Swim. She passed through the cascade of water eagerly, entering the dark cave. Greenpaw enjoyed the mist of the Bigfalls for a small moment before continuing into the dark cave, following Twilightstar's scent as guidance.
Last time, there had been no major twists or turns to get lost in, at least none that the cats knew of, but Greenpaw didn't want to take any risks. She followed Twilightstar's scent at a quick, impatient pace. It was still some time before she reached the dwellings of the Moonflies.
They were just as beautiful as the last time she had come. It felt like so long ago, that everything had changed in such a short period of time – but, Greenpaw realized, everything truly had changed.
Except for the Moonflies.
They flitted in and out of a crevice in the cave ceiling above her, gently circling and floating around the top, a couple at Greenpaw's own height, glowing brightly before her eyes.
She spotted Twilightstar's dark silhouette lying down already, a Moonfly perched on her nose. She heard the slight draw of breath from her leader, already sleeping and sharing dreams with her ancestors.
Greenpaw was sure she couldn't wake her without jumping onto of Twilightstar, or something of a similar matter, but even so, Greenpaw quietly padded to a few tail-lengths away from her leader before settling down. This was it, she realized. If she didn't wake up before Twilightstar, she would be in major trouble for defying her. But it was a risk she was willing to take.
Greenpaw lay down, crossing her paws to rest her head on. She kept her eyes open, though, and watched as a Moonfly from the very top of the cave flutter down in lazy circles, finally resting on Greenpaw's nose with a small tickle. Almost instantly, Greenpaw was dragged into a deep, deep sleep.
"Greenpaw," a voice called out to her, as assured and calm as the midnight sky. Greenpaw's eyes flickered open, full of energy as if she had been resting for a moon. She found herself in a small clearing, with four large, thick trees, full of leaves, encasing her. There was a rock jutting out of the ground directly across from her, where a blue-gray she-cat with a silver muzzle stood. The night seemed to kiss her pelt, shimmering happily with the myseriousness of the dark. The she-cat's eyes were millions of stars all pinpointed together in her iris, gleaming with the rest of her body. Her gaze upon Greenpaw kindly.
"Greenpaw," the she-cat repeated. Greenpaw stood up, blinking a few times to adjust to the majesty of the she-cat.
"Who are you?" Greenpaw asked. She asked, but she felt as if she already knew…as if a very long time ago, she had met this cat before…but where?
"My name is Bluestar." The she-cat answered. She was sitting comfortably, politely, her tail tucked around her paws. "I come from ThunderClan."
"ThunderClan…" Greenpaw repeated, trying the word on for size. "Those are RootClan's decendents. Right?"
"Right and wrong," Bluestar nodded. "RootClan came of it's own accord, but Midnightstar, of ThunderClan, has been called upon to lead them."
Greenpaw nodded, as if she understood. "But SaltClan comes of RiverClan. Why has a RiverClan cat not come to me?"
"CrookedStar of RiverClan is meeting with your leader, just a few dreams away." Bluestar answered, almost mischeviously. Greenpaw realized Bluestar was in on Greenpaw's deception. But there didn't seem to be any judgement in her tone.
"Troubled times are coming to SaltClan, Greenpaw." Bluestar announced, her tone now serious. "The dynamics of the Clifflands are to change once again, to be shifted in all sorts of directions."
"Is it Twilightstar?" Greenpaw asked feebly. She felt as if she already knew the answer. "Is Twilightstar going to die?"
"The future is not written in stone, Greenpaw." Bluestar answered carefully. "There are many things we can do to change the outcome."
"So Twilightstar isn't going to die, then." Greenpaw mewed, equally as careful.
"The future of Twilightstar does not rest in your paws, young apprentice. However, the rest of the Clan may." Bluestar told her. "You have a very precarious habit of being in the middle of everything around camp."
She didn't sound patronizing, but Greenpaw still felt her fur rise. "Well, maybe, but –"
"I am not judging you, young one. Nor should you judge yourself too harshly. Every cat has faults and strengths. Seaheart will teach you how to use your faults as strengths. But you must be honest with him." Bluestar mewed firmly. "Seaheart can handle right now what Twilightstar may have difficult with. Seaheart must know all. The precipice of the Clan leans on him."
"So that's all?" Greenpaw asked, feeling a little bit annoyed with her ancestor. "All you're going to tell me is to tell my mentor everything? What about Silverweb? And Waterwisp? If you ask me, RootClan is up to something very fishy, and I know fish, I eat them –"
"Greenpaw." Bluestar halted her. She did not seem angry, but her tone was final. "There is nothing left for you to know. The future shall unfold how it will. Every decision made, by any cat, has a ripple effect on the yet to come. Your decision must be to trust Seaheart. The future may not be written in stone, but some things are harder than others. Seaheart will find it easier than you. That is not your responsibility."
"So you're basically telling me to stay out of it and let Seaheart handle everything," Greenpaw muttered, now definitely annoyed. "I came all this way to be told to mind to my mentor?"
"Greenpaw, you've come all of this way out of defiance. I don't think you are in a position to be making demands." Bluestar warned. "Nor are you listening. Listen to your mentor, but also talk to him. Seaheart is a very forgiving cat, and a very understanding one, at that. I doubt you will go heavily punished for sharing with him the truth." Bluestar paused, and sighed. "I'm not telling you to 'stay out of it', either. You are always tangled in everything, and I don't expect that to change. What I expect to see changed is honesty."
"Honesty." Greenpaw mumbled. "Fine."
"Be careful, young one." Bluestar mewed, her tone softening. "Your curiosity and arrogance are both a blessing and a curse. Curiosity will kill the cat…if the cat doesn't know what to do with it."
Greenpaw froze. She looked around wildly, but Bluestar was gone.
And then, all of the sudden, she was back in the Moonfly cave, with Twilightstar towering over her. "What in the name of StarClan do you think you are doing?" she hissed, shaking with anger.
But Greenpaw's mind was elsewhere.
Did Bluestar just predict Greenpaw's death?
Cheesy way to end the chapter, just hold on with me. I promise it isn't going in a cheesy direction. Anyway, we are VERY close to the end of Book One. Let me know what you think so far, read and review! :)