Chapter Two

Moonstar walked back to camp in a daze, her delicate paws seeming to trip on every trailing tendril and vine. Berrysplash followed in silence, her gaze fixed on the path ahead as she contemplated the strange scent she encountered before she had found her leader. It had seemed more than just a lost animal. It made Moonstar feel as though she was being punished, for not telling her the truth; but how could she tell Berrysplash that there were strangers living on this island with them? What if they were dangerous?

They haven't caused a problem in all these moons, but now that they were aware of each other's existence there were sure to be more meetings. Her clanmates would not be as trusting as she was, they would be keen to protect their territory from unknown cats. It made sense to her to try and stay on good terms with this other group's leader, even if she hadn't gotten his name. He didn't seem to want any kind of conflict with her group. She decided she would tell the Beachrunners when she got back to camp. She didn't want any misunderstandings with any potential allies, not when the darkness was looming on the horizon.

"I have some news for the group when we get back," Moonstar meowed to Berrysplash as she trailed behind her. She perked up her ears in interest but Moonstar didn't tell her anymore as they neared the camp. Maplestripe was sitting right inside the entrance as they emerged and gave Moonstar a puzzled look. She could clearly tell that her daughter was very wrapped up in her thoughts and emotions; but, she could not confide in her mother until she was sure of the actions she would take for her group.

She slid quickly into her den before any more of her camp mates could stop to question her. She just couldn't help this feeling in her chest, whenever she thought about that strange tom. She even still felt a little light headed, but deciding what she would tell the others made her alert once more. She figured she could just tell them that another peaceful group was discovered; after all, they were on land that the Beachrunners had no intention to try to expand upon. The barren dirt surrounding the Red Mountain was too open for their taste, no trees or sparkling pools to drink from.

I wonder where they get their food and water from then, Moonstar thought for a moment. There had to be some jungle on the far side of the mountain for them to hunt in. She would also tell the others to be friendly if they found them near their territory, but to also remind them to not stray into their part of the island. They could be friendly towards each other, and learn new ideas and techniques to better survive in their home. It seemed to be the best plan for Moonstar. Besides, she liked the idea of possibly meeting their leader again and to not feel like she was keeping secrets from her camp mates.

As she was getting ready to leave the den, Maplestripe called in through the curtain of palm leaves. She knew she should really talk to her mother about these feelings she was having, but she never tried to trouble her kin with the strain of leadership responsibilities. "Moonstar, can I come in," she called again.

"Yes, you may enter," she mewed politely. She didn't know yet how much she would tell her mother but she knew she had to tell her something. Moonstar knew that as her only kit, Maplestripe was prone to worry about her. She would explain to her that there was no reason to worry.

"Don't try and shoo me away, I know how to tell when my daughter is troubled," she began. Her orange tabby stripes showed dark against her pelt in the gloom of her den. It was almost hard to forget she had those stripes; in the light she looked like a normal orange she-cat.

"I wouldn't try to push you away," Moonstar reasurred her, "something has been troubling me." She began to tell her mother about the strange tom she had met in the jungle that morning, but she did leave out the fact that he had ambushed her and knocked her unconscious. Her mother seemed a little alarmed at the fact that there were other cats on the island. "Shellstar patrolled the forest so tirelessly, there could be no way that he would not have found them," she persisted.

"He says they live on the Red Mountain, and don't venture into the jungle at all," Moonstar meowed. Their group has always been wary of the mountain so that explained why they have been secluded all this time. She hoped her mother would understand that she wanted the groups to be peaceful to each other, she needed some kind of support when she went to her group with the news. Her mother seemed to understand, but she was still unsure.

"I just don't want this group to secretly be plotting against us," she whispered in Moonstar's ear, "that'd be just what we need on top of all of the other animals that stalk us in these lands." Moonstar lovingly licked her mother's ear, "I'll be careful but just convince everyone to not be so hostile towards our new friends," she mewed.

Maplestripe noddded and stood to leave; once again her stripes rippled in the darkness and Moonstar wished that she looked as mysterious and alluring as her mother. She was almost the spitting image of her father, Shellstar. Would that tom still find me interesting if I looked like her, she thought suddenly. She tried to push the thought away, why should she care if he was interested in her? They both had responsibilities, to lead their groups. As Maplestripe exited the den, Moonstar followed her. She called out the summons to gather her group, "All cats old enough to feel the sand between their claws gather for a meeting!"

In only a few moments, most of the warriors had gathered in the clearing around her. She knew that Battlescar was out hunting with Orangeleaf and Tinypaw, so she decided she would have to have someone tell them later once they returned. Webpelt, the Leafmender, sat outside the entrances to his and Berrysplash's dens, the spiritwalker beside him. Since sharing with the Star Runners was sometimes necessary to heal, they slept in dens right next to eachother. She had to wait for the two elders to emerge last, their pelts merging together as they exited the den. Foxleap, only recently made elder, took it upon herself to always be at Hawkfeather's side. He was so old but wise, he was born at the same time as Shockstar, Shellstar's father. It was quite normal for new warriors to visit him in the elder's den for wise advice and areas where they should improve in training. His fur looked a little unkempt but he was still perfectly healthy and showed no signs of getting ill very soon.

"I have important news to share with all of you," she meowed loudly to her group as they crowded around her. Most of the warriors whispered excitedly to each other while the elders and senior warriors waited for Moonstar to continue. "I have met a new cat that lives on the Red Mountain! He leads another group, just like ours," she mewed. She noticed the elders exchange a glance but most of the reactions were positive and reassuring.

"That means Tinypaw could be out there meeting them right now," Fernpaw exclaimed over the other cats in the clearing. Antlerheart lay his tail across her shoulders, "Unless Orangeleaf is patrolling near the Red Mountain, I doubt it," he laughed. Fernpaw's shoulders sagged but her gaze was still glowing with excitement.

Crimsongaze poked her head from behind the nusery entrance where she had been sitting while she watched her two kits. "Does this mean we will never be able to claim the land around the Red Mountain? What if we need to expand," she meowed worriedly. Moonstar raised her tail for silence as the group started to get wound up. She only had to wait a few seconds but it unsettled her. Was territory really more important to her group than strong alliances?

"I have thought this over," Moonstar meowed to the queen, "our territory is so vast and plentiful it would be able to support a group three times our size as well as all of the other creatures that roam our jungle." Crimsongaze dipped her head, receeding back into the dark nursery. There were no other questions from her camp mates, their gazes were rested on her confidently. They trusted her and each decision she made.

Moonstar dismissed them with a wave of her plumy tail, starting to make her way towards Berrysplash and Webpelt. She didn't think the Spirit walker looked too suprised with the news after finding her leader that morning. Webpelt dipped his head as she approached, staying silent. She purred and brushed her tail against his pelt, "has everything been alright with you both," she asked.

Webpelt nodded, "healing our group mates this season has been not a problem," he purred. As far as she knew, Berrysplash had not had any omens. She also nodded but stayed quiet. Moonstar said no more and padded away back to her den.

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Berrysplash was just beginning to drift off to sleep when a sickly sweet scent drifted over her nest. It was hauntingly like boar's blood but unimaginably worse. A voice whispered into her ear, "I have been waiting for you."

The spirit walker stared around her den, her pelt prickling. She was afraid she would find a stranger standing in the shadows of her den, but instead she saw her old leader, Shellstar. She visibly relaxed, letting her pelt lay smooth once more. "Shellstar, what are you doing here," she mewed.

His white pelt danced with starlight and his eyes sparkled with wisdom. "I have come to bring you an omen," he meowed grimly. A pulse of light errupted from somewhere nearby, eluminating the surroundings. They were no longer in her den, but next to the ocean on a vast and sandy beach. A crowd of Star Runners stood behind her at the tree line, their pelts merging and their gazes all locked on her. Shellstar rested his tail on her shoulder, sitting right beside her. "We are all beside you," his voice rummbled.

"What must you warn me about," Berrysplash mewed softly. This was her first omen under the leadership of Moonstar; she would need to guide her through it no matter the cost. Shellstar and the whole crowd of their ancestors bowed their heads, the beach becoming silent except for the crash of the waves only two yards away.

"Darkness is coming," he began, lifting his head to look into Berrysplash's eyes. "A dark tide is looming, threatening to wipe out the Beachrunners," his voice choked at the end, showing how troubled he was by this prophecy. Berrysplash felt suprisingly calm, her voice was soft but firm, "I will share this with Moonstar," she meowed.

"Moonstar," Shellstar echoed softly. "You must show her the way out of this darkness," he meowed urgently in a harsh tone. His gaze grew wide and terrified, "You must keep my daughter from this devouring death," he yowled. Berrysplash took a shocked step back, her calico fur beginning to rise. Quickly, another cat raced across the beach to her side. She recognized the starry cat at once, it was Stormpelt!

Eager to break away from Shellstar, she bounded over to meet him. She took one last look back at Shellstar to see his blue gaze boring into her. As Stormpelt approached she sat and gazed at his glorious dusky grey form once more; she almost had forgotten how much she had missed his guidance. "Stormpelt," she purred, "I haven't seen you in so many moons."

He nodded quickly, "I can't talk long it is almost morning." She looked up at the sky and noticed that it was growing milky pale with the approach of dawn. "Shellstar is just worried for his daughter, you will grow to understand their bond," he mewed calmly.

"But I can not bear kits," Berrysplash mewed. Stormpelt nodded again but continued, "Moonstar will make mistakes but you must always guide her. She will need you when it seems the darkness has almost consumed her," his normally bright green gaze suddenly grew very dark, as if a storm were raging in his irises. "Just don't forget we are all beside you," he meowed, his voice fading. In a blink she was no longer on that strange beach but back in her nest in her den. Her fur rippled with dread, but she was confident that she could guide her leader through this darkness, no matter what it was.