Chapter 12!

"I don't understand!" Hailpaw lashed his tail as he gazed up at Oakheart, the starry warrior only sighing in response.

"It's not like you to be so rash, Hailpaw. What's on your mind?" The former RiverClan deputy sat with his tail curled around his paws. Hailpaw felt his anger dissipate, his fur lying flat and his tail dropping to drag the ground. He pressed his ears down against his head and sat, his head bowed.

"I'm sorry," he murmured. "It's just… I keep having these dreams about…" he shook his head. "These nightmares…"

Again, Oakheart sighed, standing to move closer to the upset apprentice, resting his tail-tip comfortingly on the young tom's shoulder. "I know. And in time, they will take shape, and the meaning will become clear to you."

"So they are dreams sent by StarClan…" he realized softly. Oakheart dipped his head in a silent acknowledgement that Hailpaw was correct.

"A great darkness is coming," Oakheart rumbled, turning his gaze to the stars. "And only the brightest fire can light the way."

Hailpaw turned his own blue gaze towards the stars, a chill creeping through his pelt like cold rain. "But Oakheart," he turned to look at the reddish brown warrior again, only to blink at the empty space where he had been moments before. Then, he realized, it was raining—a steady drizzle that brought with it clouds thick enough to blot out the light of Silverpelt above him. Suddenly, Hailpaw felt very small, and very alone, crouching low to the ground as Oakheart's words echoed in his head. Only the brightest fire…

A yowl split the air, and the vicious cats came rushing down the same hill they had when Hailpaw had first visited the Moonstone, their pelts ragged and their eyes burning with hatred. The silver tabby could not bear to turn around and face his brother—to see him nearly overcome by the enemy cats—even though he knew what came next. He closed his eyes, feeling the dark liquid crash over him, drowning him in darkness and the scent of blood.

Hailpaw woke trembling on the smooth stone beside the Moonstone, the other medicine cats sitting close by, murmuring in quiet voices. Slowly, the pale tabby sat up, his trembling legs barely supporting him.

"Hailpaw," Yellowfang stood, padding slowly towards her apprentice. "Are you alright? We…" She glanced uncertainly back at the others before continuing. "We could all smell blood."

Hailpaw only shook his head, his ears pressed back as he gave his mentor a look that clearly said, 'I'll tell you later.'

"We should get moving." Mudfur stood as well, Barkface and Runningnose following suit. With a soft sigh, Hailpaw followed, trailing behind the others as they exited Mothermouth. It had been half a moon since Tigerstar had taken over ShadowClan, and still there had been no signs of hostility. The patrols never found ShadowClan's scent on their side of the border, and no cat had seen so much as a whisker of a ShadowClan raiding party. Bluestar was not herself, though. Their once-wise leader seemed paranoid—even to the warriors and apprentices. In her sudden state of paranoia, all of the patrols were doubled, and only two days ago Sootpaw, Rainpaw, and Sorrelpaw had been given their warrior names: Sootfur, Rainwhisker, and Sorreltail. Hailpaw did not doubt that they were ready, as they had, after all, been training longer than Foxpaw, Stormpaw, and Featherpaw, but he feared Bluestar's motives. There had been no assessment, no preparation. She had called a meeting, and announced quite suddenly she was naming three new warriors.

Since then, Whitestorm and Dustpelt had been trying to find ways to get their apprentices to the Moonstone (as all apprentices must make the journey once before becoming warriors). Mousefur, who was covering Featherpaw's training now that Sandstorm had finally moved to the nursery, had taken Featherpaw the night before. Foxpaw and Stormpaw, by request of their mentors, were allowed to escort the medicine cats there that very night.

As Hailpaw emerged from the dark entrance, the two apprentices jumped to their paws to greet him.

"I was beginning to wonder if you were ever going to come out!" Foxpaw paced around his brother in a wide circle, and Hailpaw rolled his eyes good-naturedly. He seemed to note Hailpaw's unease, stepping forward uncertainly. "Hailpaw…?"

"I'm fine," the pale tabby assured his brother quietly. He flicked his tail towards the other medicine cats, who were showing no sign of waiting on them to talk. "We shouldn't fall behind."

Stormpaw nodded, but Foxpaw still looked unconvinced. Hailpaw didn't leave room for his brother to question any further, padding away after his mentor. I wish I could tell you, Foxpaw. I truly wish I could. But… He sighed. I'm not even sure how to tell Yellowfang…

Hailpaw always looked forward to the Half-Moon, being able to meet with the other medicine cats and share news peacefully without the crowds of other cats at Gatherings, so the trip to Mothermouth seemed short to him, if not fun. The return journey, on the other paw, seemed to drag by, every step urging the pale tabby to curl up and go to sleep again—to get better answers from Oakheart about how he could save his brother from that wave of blood and darkness.

Foxpaw, for his part, wouldn't stray a tail-length from his side, though he didn't ask again what was bothering the pale tabby apprentice. The red-furred tom only walked quietly beside him, their contrasting pelts just barely brushing. One by one, the other medicine cats left them—Barkface in the moor, Mudfur before they even reached Fourtrees, and Runningnose in the sacred Gathering place. As soon as they were on ThunderClan's territory again, Foxpaw disappeared, returning moments later with a plump mouse in his jaws.

"Here." He dropped it at Hailpaw's paws, Yellowfang and Stormpaw pausing just ahead to wait on them.

"I can wait until we reach camp," Hailpaw murmured. Foxpaw shook his head, and even Yellowfang dipped her head towards the fresh-kill.

"Eat it now," she rumbled gently. "You can barely stay on your paws right now."

Stormpaw turned to the old medicine cat. "Would you like something, as well, Yellowfang?"

"What kind of question is that?" Yellowfang scoffed. "Of course I do, now get to work you lazy warrior apprentice."

With a purr of amusement, Stormpaw slid away into the undergrowth. With a sigh, Hailpaw crouched down and took a small bite of the mouse in front of him. It wasn't until he swallowed the sweet meat of that first bite that he realized how hungry he really was, polishing off the rest of the fresh-kill in three clean bites.

"Aren't you going to eat?" Hailpaw swiped his tongue around his jaws, glancing curiously at his brother. Foxpaw shook his head.

"Stormpaw and I hunted a little while you were in Mothermouth last night. We have to hunt for the Clan again before we can eat."

Yellowfang rumbled appreciatively as Stormpaw returned with a fat vole, instantly tearing away at her meal. "Speaking like that, I wouldn't be surprised if you were made warriors tomorrow." She meowed between bites. Foxpaw sat up a little straighter at that, and Stormpaw's eyes lit up. "Alright, let's get back." Yellowfang stood, shaking herself to remove any moss and sand from her pelt. "I could use a nap."

They were greeted with cheery meows when they entered camp, and Hailpaw realized just how peaceful the forest was. The fresh-kill pile was nearly overflowing, and warriors were still panning hunting trips. Ferncloud and Brightheart's kits were tumbling around outside the nursery, playing happily while the queens shared tongues. Sandstorm lay in patch of sunlight just outside the nursery, her heavily rounded stomach suggesting her and Runningwind's kits would be arriving any day now. Rainwhisker was sharing a large rabbit with Tawnypelt, Sootfur and Swiftstep eating nearby as the sun began its descent. If Foxpaw and Stormpaw were going to go hunting, they would have to leave soon to get back by sunset.

Even as he thought of it, the two warrior apprentices took their leave, meeting back up with Featherpaw by the fresh-kill pile, the three apprentices heading towards the gorse tunnel. Hailpaw waved his tail in silent farewell to his brother, then followed Yellowfang to the medicine den.

"Now," she sat in the shady clearing, her yellow eyes suddenly sharp. "Tell me what you were dreaming of, Hailpaw—it was not anything pleasant."

Hailpaw took a deep breath, letting it out in a heavy sigh as he sat down in front of her. "I've been… For a while now, I've been having these dreams… Well, the same dream, really…"

The old medicine cat's ear pricked up, interest sparking in her eyes.

"In these dreams," Hailpaw continued, "I'm standing in a clearing in the forest, between two hills that are covered in snow. Over the top of one hill, this—this giant patrol of vicious, rogue-looking cats comes. They're always growling and hissing and obviously looking for blood. On the other hill, is Foxpaw, standing by himself. For a moment, Stormpaw appears, only to whisper something in Foxpaw's ear and receive a response, and then he leaves again." As he described it, Hailpaw felt the fur on his spine standing up, crouching lower to the ground as the images replayed in his head. "But every time, just before the first cat reaches him… This wave of—of blood… It breaks over the hill, washing over everything and turning everything red. All of the enemy cats are gone, and Foxpaw is standing on the hill, alone at first, but then Stormpaw and Featherpaw join him, and they're surrounded by this light—the entire hill looks like the sun is rising just on the other side. Stormpaw and Featherpaw disappear over the hill, and Foxpaw turns, looks me in the eye and beckons for me to follow before going after them over the hill."

Yellowfang listened silently as Hailpaw told her about his dream, thoughts swimming in her eyes. "And you've had this dream more than once?"

Hailpaw nodded. "Yes. The first was my apprentice ceremony at the Moonstone."

Yellowfang tilted her head. "So it must have a meaning."

"I believe it does." The pale tabby shuffled his paws, waiting for his sharp-tongued mentor to scold him for keeping the dream from her for so long, but his rebuttal never came. Yellowfang still looked deep in thought, and Hailpaw continued cautiously. "I'm just not sure what it could be… Everything is so peaceful right now…"

"In time," Yellowfang murmured, "I'm sure it will make itself clear. For now, we'll wait."

Hailpaw dipped his head in a small nod of consent. "I think that will be best."

"Now, I want you to lie down and rest. Tomorrow will be busy—now that it's warming up we've got a lot of herbs to collect!"

With a light purr, Hailpaw did as he was told, moving to curl up in his nest of ferns just on the edge of the medicine den. Yellowfang's calm reaction soothed Hailpaw's more-than-slightly-frazzled nerves. Feeling more relaxed, Hailpaw drifted into a deep, easy sleep. Things will be made clear soon enough… His deep sleep lasted only until a terrified yowl split through his dreams, followed by a ferocious growl and the long, snapping snout of a fox.

Hey! I'm sorry that all of Hailpaw's chapters are kind of slow, right now he's my primary plot-developer, as you'll begin to see as the story progresses. I'm looking for names and appearances for Sandstorm and Runningwind's kit, for anyone who would like to make suggestions:D Thanks so much for reading, you're the best! Drop a review and let me know what you thought of the chapter, and for the kits(: And to my reviewers:

To Pinkstar:Thank-you so much! :D That really means a lot to me(:

My Guest: Thanks for the personality info, that helps a bunch(: But… I have to ask… do you mind if I change her eye-color? The cat I'm thinking of pairing her with also has dark blue eyes, and I prefer them not matching. If you don't want me to, I'll pair her with someone else(:

Frostflower223: Thank-you! I tried, but sometimes they're just borring lol

And LavenderCrystalOfRoses: Thank-you for the suggestions! I already paired Ferncloud with Dustpelt, though, and I think Hailpaw may stick to the warrior code(: Thank-you so much for reading and reviewing though!