SIXTY TWO

She knew this was a dream the moment she opened her eyes. Her senses were hyper aware of their surroundings as she picked up signs of life around her. Cats of all sizes and ages were lingering around her as she moved through the mist. Spruceleaf wasn't sure where her paws guided her. She simply recognized the scents in the air as WindClan. Her Clan. Her family. Wind's family and Clan.

Spruceleaf blinked as she registered the fact that she was indeed Wind. The former founder had a sleek, well built body meant for endless running. She could run for miles without losing stamina across the moors. She had vivid memories of chasing down rabbits until they were worn out. Sometimes the hawks would try and attack them, and her Clanmates were quick to defend themselves. The hawks were probably her favorite source of prey. They often provided the most amount of fresh-kill, and their feathers could be used to line their nests for warmth. She had all of Wind's memories and then some.

She realized with a start that these memories were becoming clearer with each passing day. Sometimes Wind's mate would visit her in her dreams. He was usually cautious around her because he knew something was off. More often than not, Wind's kit Mothflight was a frequent visitor. Admittedly, she had grown rather fond of those visits. Mothflight shared some of her wisdom with her, often talking about what the moors had been like at the old forest territories. She would talk about some of the battles WindClan fought, and how they were always at odds with the other Clans. Wind never once backed down from a challenge though, regardless of how difficult the path forward could be.

Tonight's dream was different.

She could sense tension in the air. Something was amiss. She paused in her stride and stared at something that caught her attention. The same cat that she saw during a nightmare. Or possibly a memory that Wind retained. She had seen this cat a few more times, but thankfully he kept his distance. She watched him cautiously as he took a step towards her, though not without blinking when he saw the glare that followed.

"You haven't changed a bit," he scoffed after stopping. Spruceleaf narrowed her eyes when he sat down and wrapped his tail around his paws. "Wind was always fiercely defensive and cautious, even around her own family. It's obvious that you are my mate, even if you're in a different body. I can see her in you."

She wasn't sure how to respond. Her hackles rose slightly at the prospect of being someone she wasn't. She learned to accept her destiny, unlike Reedriver. Though that didn't stop her from feeling wary around cats she didn't know.

"Why are you here?" she demanded. The cat, who she suspected was Gorse, tilted his head to one side in amusement. "I'm assuming this isn't just a casual visit."

"I was sent here to warn you," he admitted. Spruceleaf stiffened when he said that. "A time of great darkness is coming. The Clans are nowhere near ready to face the threats that loom over them. That is why the original five leaders were reborn. Their goal was to unite the Clans and fight against this darkness."

A lot of good that has done them, she wanted to spit out.

The fact that Icestar and Russetstar were working together didn't help. Then there was the added tension of SkyClan to consider. She trusted Birdflight, and she even liked the SkyClan warrior as a friend. Yet, that didn't stop her from being wary of the rest of the Clan. She suddenly found herself understanding why the other Clans were filled with tension.

The division between said Clans would only get worse. From what she had seen, it would take more than just the original five leaders to unite them.

"So you thought that putting this kind of weight on five cats would help?" she muttered in disbelief. She would gladly put her life on the line if it meant defending the Clan and her Clanmates, even if they didn't see it that way. Icestar had turned everyone against her and the rest of her family, but that didn't stop her from caring about the Clan. "What makes you and the rest of StarClan think we're capable of fulfilling this prophecy?"

"Because if you don't, the Clans will fall to the darkness," Gorse replied without missing a beat. Spruceleaf's ears flattened when he approached her. The moment he reached her was when she found herself longing to feel his presence again. She knew somewhere deep down that this was Wind longing for him. Wind desperately missed her mate, and she realized with a start just how cruel this must have been to him. "I know it is confusing, and that none of you deserve this kind of fate on your shoulders. But StarClan chose the five of you for a reason. You are so much more than you realize."

Spruceleaf shook herself from the fear threatening to overwhelm her. She could see the sincerity in his eyes as he backed away and faded into the darkness. The moment reality came rushing back was when she found herself back in the barn.

"Bad dream?"

Spruceleaf glanced at Wildheart warily when he looked at her with mild concern.

Their family had been sleeping in a separate part of the barn while SkyClan stayed with them. It was easier that way. Harepaw and Gorsepaw were able to continue their training thanks to the arrangement Wildheart made with Pinion. Even though the loner hadn't fully anticipated allowing an entire Clan to stay in her territory, she was more than generous with what she offered. Spruceleaf hoped that they could repay her aunt's generosity one day, especially since she didn't have to go out of her way to help them.

"Something along those lines," she muttered crossly. She tried shaking out the violent visions that clouded her memories. Gorse's warning still rang clearly in the back of her mind. She couldn't help but wonder if things would get worse before their lives finally got better. "I'm sorry if I woke anyone up. It seems like all I've had lately are nightmares."

Wildheart gently nudged her with his muzzle, and she relished the comforting warmth he provided.

Even if Wildheart wasn't her father, he had become the father figure she desperately needed. He cared about her just as Leopardheart would have.

"After everything you've been through, it's no wonder you suffer from them," he remarked. Spruceleaf swallowed hard when she realized what he was implying. "If you ever need to talk, don't be afraid to ask. I know how hard it is to cope with stress, especially in light of recent events."

You would never know the kind of burden I have to carry, she thought bitterly.

No cat knew what it was like to be reincarnated. No cat understood what it was like to have memories that were not hers.

She knew it wasn't fair to blame them for something they didn't understand. But it made her feel worse when she realized what a burden she was to them. In another lifetime, she would have happily accepted her destiny and followed through with the prophecy. Now, with the warning Gorse had given her, she wasn't sure if that was the right path.

At least now she had a clear path ahead of her. Gorse's warning gave her an idea of what to look out for. Though she had no clue when the threat would appear. Or if anything could prepare the Clans for what loomed ahead.

"Thank you," she let out a heavy sigh and looked down at her paws guiltily. She knew he was trying to help, but she wasn't ready to share those nightmares with anyone else. "I should check in on SkyClan. They could probably stretch their legs."

She left before Wildheart could stop her.

Guilt stabbed her in the chest as she thought of how to handle this situation.

No one should have to carry this kind of burden on their shoulders, she reminded herself.

She stopped when she spotted Birdflight talking quietly to Darkflower and Emberstar. The three cats were so intent on their conversation that they hadn't noticed her arrival. And not for the first time, Spruceleaf found herself feeling guiltier than ever for intervening.

She was just an outsider after all. No matter where she went, she would always be treated like an outcast. The sooner she accepted that fate, the better off everyone would be.

...

Furzewhisker let out a sigh of relief as she finished sorting through the rest of her herbs.

Leafbare had not been kind to her collection of borage. She had to sort through what was left to ensure that the queens had enough milk. With hunting as difficult as it had been, the queens were the first to get fresh-kill. Icestar made it a rule that any pregnant cat needed to be tended to first. Kits meant more mouths to feed, but it also meant more warriors in the future.

She tried not to think of what those kits would go through once they were old enough to train and fight. She knew Icestar would want them to train as warriors. There was no doubt in her mind what he was using the queens for.

Olivebranch had recently given birth to a litter of three kits. Two she-cats and a tom. The she-cats were healthy enough, but the tom hadn't shown signs of progress. Furzewhisker couldn't shake off the feeling that this was an omen for WindClan. Olivebranch didn't seem to think anything of it though. She was simply relieved that her kits had been born, in spite of being the middle of leafbare.

Then Whitebirch had given birth shortly after to two kits, both toms. Leafshine's kits were due any day now, so she had been keeping an eye on the heavily pregnant queen.

With the nursery now full of queens and their kits, Furzewhisker was busier than ever. She had to leave the Clan in order to find what few herbs survived the first frost. Though it also gave her a sense of peace the moment she left the tension-filled camp. Icestar was driving the Clan into a frenzy that wouldn't end until they fought in battle.

She knew what he was planning before it even happened. He hoped that he would make ShadowClan weaker by forcing them into constant battles. Russetstar had been foolish enough to form an alliance with Icestar, though that alliance lasted only as long as Icestar needed him. There was also the added problem of the ShadowClan warriors that Icestar had begun meeting with. Some of them were already showing signs of aligning themselves with him, which made her task as medicine cat that much more challenging.

She tried pushing those thoughts aside. Thankfully she had enough comfrey and cobwebs to last her for the next few days. Other herbs were a bit more challenging to come by, such as herbs for bleeding wounds and infections. She would have to ask the other medicine cats if they had herbs to spare, though that was easier said than done with leafbare in full swing.

There was a half moon tonight, which meant she would be meeting with the other medicine cats to share tongues with StarClan. She hoped they could provide answers to her current problems.

"Are you heading out?" She froze midstep at the sound of Rowantail's voice. The gray and ginger-dappled deputy had been keeping an eye on any cat that threatened to leave camp unannounced. Lately, Icestar was getting paranoid with the idea of cats leaving without warning. She knew this was likely due to her own departure when she went to help Wildheart and his family. "I know it's a half moon tonight. All medicine cats are duty-bound regardless of what our leader says."

Furzewhisker couldn't help but look at Rowantail in surprise. The deputy hadn't said anything about Icestar's cruel behavior in the past, but she could tell it was putting Rowantail on edge. She was surprised that Rowantail hadn't mentioned anything to the other Clans. Then again, she was also bound to the warrior code like everyone else in the Clan.

Including myself, she thought guiltily.

"Tonight could be my only chance to figure out what to do about this mess," she let out a heavy sigh. Rowantail just stared at her as she looked down at her paws warily. She knew how dangerous it was to confide how she felt to the deputy. Rowantail could just as easily use her words against her. "Rowantail, you have to know that what he is doing is wrong. He cast out Wildheart and his family. Kits who should be apprentices by now."

Rowantail tilted her head to one side as she saw the value in Furzewhisker's concerns.

"Considering we have three queens who just gave birth, and Icestar is itching for a battle, I'm not too surprised," she suddenly deadpanned. Furzewhisker didn't know what to say when the deputy looked at her thoughtfully. "Hopefully you will find some answers, because I'm getting tired of seeing the Clan suffer under his rule."

It took a few seconds for Furzewhisker to register what Rowantail was implying.

So I'm not the only one who has noticed, she realized.

Maybe it was time she started asking other cats from the Clan what they really thought of Icestar. His leadership was still under question as to how he gained that role in the first place. There were still cats who thought Leopardheart should have been their leader. His mysterious death still left many unanswered questions, and Furzewhisker doubted they would ever know the truth.

Once they exchanged glances, Furzewhisker left without another word.

The sun had already set by the time she left. Stars were just beginning to appear across the sky as she reached their meeting point. To her relief, two other cats were waiting when she arrived. She tilted her head to one side when she recognized Dusknose, ThunderClan's medicine cat. The second cat sitting beside him was unfamiliar, though she carried a distinctive scent that wafted in the air.

"Furzewhisker… I trust that you have had good hunting this season?" Dusknose asked when she reached them.

She eyed the newcomer warily, not missing the fact that this cat had been with SkyClan when they were at the Gathering.

"It has been as good as leafbare allows us," she replied carefully. She might not be thrilled with the way Icestar was leading the Clan, but she wouldn't give away any weaknesses. "I trust you have had a good season for herb gathering?"

"We've had a steady supply of catmint and chervil before the cold killed it," he explained with a purr. "If you need any, don't be afraid to ask. Petalstar is looking out for all the Clans."

That caught Furzewhisker by surprise.

ThunderClan already had an infamous reputation for helping cats when they didn't want said help. What surprised her was the fact that Petalstar was willing to sacrifice precious supplies for rival Clans. She wasn't used to that kind of behavior from any Clan leader, let alone ThunderClan. Her tail curled thoughtfully at the prospect of asking for help, though she also knew that would cost her dearly if she gave away WindClan's weakness.

"And who might this be?" she decided to change the subject before it got anymore awkward.

"My name is Dewspots, and I am SkyClan's medicine cat," the she-cat explained with a dip of her head. Furzewhisker's pelt flushed with embarrassment when she realized what that meant. "Back home, we shared tongues with StarClan as well. I am hoping that our ancestors followed us to the lake territories."

"What will you do if they haven't?" Dusknose asked curiously.

I can't imagine going through something like that, Furzewhisker thought. Her heart sank at the thought of abandoning their ancestors. Even in the darkest times, StarClan had always been there to provide some comfort. That was the main reason she wanted this trip in the first place. She hoped that she could get some answers for her problems and WindClan's problem.

"I don't know," Dewspots admitted. A shadow swept across her face as she looked off in the distance. "My Clan has already suffered enough as it is… I don't want them to endure anymore suffering if it can be helped."

Furzewhisker suddenly found herself wondering what life had been like for SkyClan. She hadn't heard of SkyClan until the Gathering. She knew that the Clan had likely been around longer than the Clans realized, especially if they had an established leader, deputy and medicine cat. That begged the question of why they chose now of all times to return when the Clans were currently in turmoil.

Thankfully, they were saved from the awkward conversation when Scarletfur arrived. Furzewhisker watched as the dark ginger she-cat approached them carefully. She hadn't missed the fact that her ribs were sticking out. The gray tinged around her muzzle suggested her age, or that hard times had fallen over RiverClan.

"The lake's been frozen for the last couple of days," she explained when she reached them. "Luckily, RiverClan knows how to hunt more than fish."

That's not what I see, Furzewhisker wanted to say.

She usually took the last piece of fresh-kill to ensure that everyone else ate. She knew that Scarletfur preferred doing the same thing, though it was clear age had also taken a toll on her.

To her relief, Ravenfeather arrived shortly after.

"Scorchheart had some ShadowClan business to attend to," the apprentice explained once she arrived.

No one bothered questioning that explanation. Though Furzewhisker didn't miss the tension in the young cat's posture. Ravenfeather kept glancing at everyone with what passed for suspicion. She recalled seeing Ravenfeather when she was just an apprentice, and that appearance was a stark contrast to what she looked like now.

Everyone is on edge, she realized.

"Let us hope that StarClan provides good answers this time around," Dusknose meowed when they reached the Moonpool.

That was something Furzewhisker fullheartedly agreed with. She took a deep breath before lapping her tongue into the Moonpool. A cold chill swept through her, sending a shiver down her spine. The last thing she saw was the Moonpool before darkness swept across her vision, causing her body to collapse beside the still water.

...

It was only a few heartbeats later when Furzewhisker blinked her eyes open to the sound of wails in the distance. She choked as the scent of smoke hung in the air, causing her lungs to ache. The acrid tang of fire was enough of a warning signal. Though as she saw the charred bodies of Clanmates littering the ground nearby, her heart nearly skipped a beat with horror.

Great StarClan, what's happening? she wondered.

Her heart sank when she spotted tiny bodies near the nursery's entrance. It only took a few heartbeats for her to recognize the sign of kits. They didn't stand a chance as the flames reached the nursery and tore it apart. Though the flames weren't what killed most of her Clanmates. To her horror, the smoke had choked out most of them.

"Fire has the power to destroy entire forests." Furzewhisker stiffened at the sound of Leopardheart's voice. "But the fire is the least of your worries. It's the smoke you have to worry about."

Furzewhisker stiffened when she saw a pair of green eyes lingering in the smoke. She stared at those eyes for a few heartbeats, and it took a few seconds for her to recognize the cat in question.

"This isn't just a warning, is it?" she asked when Leopardheart finally appeared beside her.

"It is a prediction," he deadpanned. Furzewhisker stared at him in disbelief as he led the way towards the green-eyed cat. "She was meant to be part of the Great Five. A savior to the Clans. Now she walks a path of darkness thanks to Russetstar. He has twisted her into his vision."

The medicine cat couldn't help but stare at the young cat guiltily as realization dawned on her. She had seen this cat before. This cat had been to many Gatherings, often picking fights with other warriors or sitting by herself. It only just dawned on her that this cat was not born into ShadowClan, which explained her cruel behavior.

"And you're saying that she'll destroy the Clans?" she asked warily. "How are we supposed to stop her? We can barely help each other let alone stop this threat."

"This cat is a pawn of a much larger problem the Clans will face," Leopardheart replied with a flick of his tail. "We had been hoping that the Clans would be ready to accept SkyClan, but it seems that even now they cannot look beyond the future."

Of course we can't, she wanted to shout back.

She hated feeling so helpless, especially in light of recent events. She glanced at the black form once again, feeling a pang in the pit of her stomach.

"How are we supposed to fight something that hasn't happened?" she demanded.

And how are we supposed to know what to expect? she added silently.

StarClan always seemed to speak in cryptic messages. She couldn't help but claw the ground in frustration as she found herself wondering what the Clans could do to fight against this threat.

"I think you already know the answer to that question." Furzewhisker blinked in surprise when Leopardheart led her to the abandoned horseplace. She stopped by on more than one occasion to check on Wildheart and his family. Ever since SkyClan moved in, things had become even more tense. She knew she couldn't keep up those visits without Icestar getting suspicious of her actions. "I may be a little biased since she is my daughter, but the original great leaders are the only answer to this growing threat."

Furzewhisker eyed Spruceleaf's sleeping form thoughtfully. She was curled up with the rest of her family, looking less than happy with their current situation. Considering what she experienced in her lifetime, Furzewhisker couldn't blame the young cat for feeling that way. Her heart wrenched with pity when she realized that no cat should suffer what Spruceleaf suffered from.

She sat down to think about his warning and the fact that the Great Five were back in the Clans.

The prophecy she received moons ago came rushing back. That occurred soon after Spruceleaf was born. Then disaster struck the Clan when Leopardheart unexpectedly died. A shiver swept through her when she realized that they were all part of something bigger. And she was only just beginning to understand the mistake Icestar made in casting out Spruceleaf.

She only hoped that they weren't too late in writing their wrongs. Otherwise the Clans could suffer from more than just Icestar and Russetstar.