SIXTY SEVEN

The forest was strangely quiet as they crept through the undergrowth. A fresh blanket of snow had fallen the other night, which explained the lack of prey in the area. It was bitterly cold out, in spite of it being sunhigh. Flamestrike shivered, missing the warmth of his nest that was shared with Lilypool and Hazelwind. Timberleaf, Stormpaw and Shademask were also with him, looking equally annoyed with the cold weather.

Hawktalon had stepped up patrols on all sides of the border after discovering scent markers from ShadowClan and WindClan. There had been a couple of skirmishes here and there, but WindClan was strangely quiet. It was mostly ShadowClan that Flamestrike worried about. He knew they were planning something. After Spruceleaf explained what happened with SkyClan, he doubted the rest of the Clans were safe.

I should warn Petalstar, he thought guiltily. He had already thought of telling her about his nightly meetings with the others, but he wasn't sure how well that would be received. The Clan was already on edge due to his journey with Spruceleaf and Reedriver. He doubted they would handle the fact that he was meeting with rival warriors in secret, especially with tension being so thick as it was. If I tell her now, it might save the Clan from future battles.

He wasn't even sure where to begin when it came to dealing with the prophecy. They talked about it on more than a couple of occasions, but they were no closer to figuring it out. The only thing he did know was how much of a mess it made of their lives. He knew Reedriver wanted nothing to do with the prophecy. Spruceleaf's life had been ruined because of it, and Birdflight had so many other problems on top of being involved in the prophecy.

Why were we given this kind of responsibility? he wondered. There's only so much we can do without the other Clans getting in the way.

'That's the problem.' Flamestrike stopped in his tracks when a new voice chimed in. His eyes widened and he glanced around warily, not missing the fact that the others hadn't heard. 'The Clans are getting in the way of the prophecy. Five must become one and unite.'

Like that would ever happen, he wanted to scoff.

The Clans could never get along in their current state. RiverClan was only tolerating ThunderClan's presence due to SkyClan's arrival. He knew there were those who were against the idea of giving up territory for SkyClan. As much as he hated to say it, he couldn't blame them for refusing to give up precious hunting grounds. SkyClan didn't exactly arrive on good terms with the Clans, and leafbare didn't help.

"You're awfully distracted today, Flamestrike." He shook himself out of his resolve when Timberleaf finally spoke up. "I hope you're not thinking of getting into trouble again."

"I'm just worried about these recent scent-markers that we've found," he explained warily. The last thing he wanted was to share his concerns with the others. He knew they would think he was mad, and truthfully, he couldn't help but wonder if they were right. Hearing voices in his head wasn't exactly something he wanted to talk about. "This is the second time this week that ShadowClan crossed into our territory."

"Which is exactly why we've been stepping up these patrols in the first place," Shademask growled. "I'm annoyed that Russetstar thinks he can get away with such behavior. He should know by now that we'll easily overpower him and the rest of his stooges."

I wouldn't be so sure of that, Flamestrike wanted to say out loud. He dare not mention the fact that SkyClan had already lost two valuable warriors in an ambush. ShadowClan and WindClan were also working together, which made the situation that much worse.

"It's also a good idea to make sure that they know their place," Timberleaf pointed out. "And you'll soon find out why it's important to patrol so often."

She added the last part to Stormpaw, who was only half-listening to their conversation. Stormpaw seemed more interested in the snow than anything else. Flamestrike hadn't missed how distracted she was, but as Timberleaf explained certain landmarks and areas of interest, Stormpaw paid little attention. He frowned at the sight, suddenly aware of the fact that maybe they weren't a good match after all.

It wasn't his place to judge who made a decent mentor. Petalstar had never asked him to train an apprentice, and there weren't any queens in the nursery with kits. It could be seasons until he had his first apprentice. Yet, he couldn't help but feel some sense of responsibility for the younger cats. They were the future of the Clan, after all.

They made their way to the ShadowClan border, which was just within a fox-length ahead of them. Flamestrike's eyes narrowed when he picked up fresh scent-markers again. Only this time, they weren't as pungent as they had been. He noticed with a start that these scent-posts hadn't come from a patrol. A single cat was lurking in the shadows, watching them from a safe distance.

"We're not alone," he hissed under his breath.

"I noticed that too," Shademask meowed. He glanced in Timberleaf's direction, and the slender she-cat stopped in her tracks, with Stormpaw trailing beside her. "Whoever you are, we know that you are there. There's no use in hiding like the cowards your Clanmates are."

"Cowards? I would hardly consider myself a coward, foxheart." Flamestrike stiffened in surprise when he recognized the voice of the stranger. He had seen her a few times at the Gatherings, and each time he saw her, he knew she was trouble. But as she emerged from the undergrowth, he noticed that something was different. "I'm not here to threaten or hurt you. I simply wish to speak with him."

Both Timberleaf and Shademask shared uneasy looks when the she-cat looked at Flamestrike pointedly. His eyes narrowed with annoyance when he realized she was singling him out. It didn't help knowing that Shademask was already annoyed with him. One withering glare was all it took for him to guess what was on the older cat's mind.

"What makes us think we can trust you?" Timberleaf demanded.

"Let's be honest with each other: If I wanted you dead, you would be already," the she-cat deadpanned in a no-nonsense kind of voice. Flamestrike merely glared at her. She spoke so nonchalantly about death, almost as if she had experienced far more than she should. "I only wish to have a few words with him, then he is free to return to his Clan."

"If this is a trap or a trick, you will regret it," Shademask snarled.

Neither of them said another word as they reluctantly left with Stormpaw in tow. Flamestrike watched them leave warily, suddenly aware of the situation he was in. The she-cat hadn't moved from her spot, which caught him off guard.

His heart was racing with dread when the she-cat closed the distance between them. To his surprise, she didn't cross the border like he expected. She stayed on her side of the border, though she looked more on edge when she got closer. It was only until getting a better look at her that he noticed how heavily scarred she was.

"Alright, we're alone. Now, what do you want?" he asked in a huff of annoyance.

"Ever the persistent one, aren't we, Thunder?" Flamestrike stared at her in surprise when she sat down and looked at him with piercing green eyes. "I've only recently learned of my true heritage and who I really am, though I am still having a hard time grasping it. I'm sure you've had a much better life given how plump you are."

Flamestrike nearly rolled his eyes when he realized what she was implying. It only took a split second for him to register the fact that this cat had addressed him by Thunder rather than his real name. She was very different from the cat he had seen at the Gathering. This cat was much more timid compared to that cat. There was an air of mystery about her, sending a shiver of unease through him.

"You're Shadow?" he asked in disbelief.

"So it would seem," she muttered crossly. "I don't like this any more than you, but it isn't as if I was given a choice."

"How long have you known?" he couldn't help but ask.

It was clear this cat had been through a lot before she found out the truth. She was obviously from ShadowClan, but he knew next to nothing about her past. Then again, he didn't know much about Reedriver's past either. He supposed it was better that way. They were still from opposing Clans, and eventually they would be seen as enemies rather than whatever they were at the moment.

"I only found out a few days ago," the she-cat replied with a shrug. "I normally wouldn't be caught dead speaking to a ThunderClan cat, but it's come to my attention that ShadowClan and WindClan are currently plotting SkyClan's demise."

A shiver of dread swept through Flamestrike as realization dawned on him.

"How do I know this isn't a trick?" he demanded, suddenly worried for his Clanmates and for SkyClan.

"Would I honestly tell you what my Clanmates are planning?" she retorted. Flamestrike pondered over that for a heartbeat, realizing with a start that she made a valid point. "I'm only doing this because I know how wrong it is. It's taken moons for me to work up the courage to stand up to Russetstar. I don't want those kits that were stolen to meet the same fate."

His heart nearly skipped a beat with cold dread.

Had Russetstar really stolen kits from another Clan? It wasn't unheard of, but it was certainly frowned upon. He'd known how harsh Russetstar was to his Clan, but he didn't realize until then just how terrible the ShadowClan leader really was. He suspected this cat had become a victim of Russetstar's ruthlessness, and she was only just able to escape that path.

"When is he planning this attack?" he asked warily.

"Within a moon from now," the she-cat replied. "He wants to wait until SkyClan has dropped their guard, and I've no doubt he'll do the same for the other Clans as well."

He knew he had to warn Birdflight of what was happening. ShadowClan and WindClan had already ambushed SkyClan once, he had no doubt it would happen again.

"Thank you for the warning," he said carefully.

"Consider it my one and only gift," she snapped. She turned and was ready to leave when something stopped her. "My name is Smokefrost, by the way. My actual name, that is."

Flamestrike couldn't help but stare at her for a few heartbeats, suddenly aware of the position she was in. She was risking everything by sharing this information with him. He knew Russetstar wouldn't hesitate to kill her if he found out about her warning or their meeting. Yet, this cat was willing to go to such lengths to keep SkyClan safe.

"We meet up every few nights," he suddenly told her. Smokefrost glanced over her shoulder in surprise when he spoke up. "The others, Wind, Sky and even River. I know this probably goes against everything you believe in, but it would be good for them to meet you as well."

"I'll take that into consideration," she meowed.

She disappeared into the shadows before he could say anything else. He watched as the grass where she had been sitting on swayed back up, as if she had never been there.

He swallowed hard the moment she disappeared. He realized with a start that he just met Shadow, the last cat of the prophecy. This cat was unlike the others. So much so that he had his doubts as to whether or not he could trust her. But he was willing to look beyond that and see the good in her. She was willing to warn them of the threats imposed on SkyClan. He wanted to believe that maybe, just maybe, she was helping them rather than just herself.

...

It was difficult trying to fathom what Smokefrost told him.

After everything that happened over the last few moons, the last thing he expected was to actually speak to her. But as she explained what had happened and warned him of ShadowClan's plans, he couldn't help but shudder with dread. He'd known going into this that the great Five would face their greatest challenge yet. That sooner or later, they would all unite and be forced to come to terms with the prophecy. He hadn't planned on letting it happen sooner rather than later, but it seemed time was against them.

Russetstar was planning something big, he knew that much. Smokefrost seemed to know more about her leader than he probably realized. The fact that she was willing to share that information with an enemy warrior was telling. He suspected that she was getting tired of being treated like foxdung, which explained their sudden encounter.

"So what do you make of this information?" he asked Timberleaf as they traveled side-by-side.

Shademask had gone ahead with Stormpaw. It gave them the chance to talk, and since Timberleaf was at least reasonable compared to Shademask, he wanted the chance to ask her. He hadn't said everything that they discussed – not everyone knew about the prophecy – but Timberleaf was at least willing to listen and understand what was going on.

"I think it's a good idea to share it with Petalstar," she meowed thoughtfully. "The fact that an enemy warrior was willing to discuss the future plans of her leader should be telling enough, but something isn't adding up."

Flamestrike couldn't help but agree with her.

It did seem odd that Smokefrost would tell him out of the blue. The fact that she had waited this long to tell him left him wondering what else she wasn't willing to share. ShadowClan cats had always been secretive and manipulative. He couldn't help but wonder if this cat was trying to use him in some shape or form.

"I want to believe that maybe she's had a change of heart, but I find that hard to believe," he admitted guiltily. "She just seemed like a loose canon at the Gatherings."

"She's what you could say a 'troublemaker'," Timberleaf pointed out helpfully. Flamestrike huffed with amusement at that. "But in all seriousness, I would tell Petalstar. She's already on edge over these recent border skirmishes, but it might give her some peace knowing that someone is against them in ShadowClan."

He doubted that would be the case if everyone knew of WindClan's alliance with ShadowClan. He had yet to share that information with Petalstar as well, and he knew sooner or later that would come back to bite him in the tail. Still, he held onto Timberleaf's suggestion to heart, knowing full-well that she made a good point. If he wanted to make things right, he would have to trust in his leader's wisdom to handle this mess properly.

ThunderClan was already bustling with activity when they returned from their patrol. Flamestrike watched in amusement when Stormpaw reached Dovepaw. The two sisters were close, unlike his own siblings. He and Lilypool were incredibly close, but he had never been close to Shrewfang. He did feel slightly guilty for not spending more time with his brother, but other responsibilities had kept them apart.

He spotted Hazelwind sharing tongues with Kestreltalon near the warrior's den. His fur ruffled a little when he caught her glancing in his direction. Ever since she admitted to having a crush on him, those feelings had never gone away. He wasn't sure what stirred deep within, but he liked the warmth that spread through him whenever they made eye-contact.

"I trust the patrol went well?"

Flamestrike stiffened when Hawktalon approached them. He shared an uneasy look with Timberleaf, suddenly aware of the fact that this was something Petalstar needed to know about first.

"I need to speak to Petalstar," he replied after some hesitation.

Hawktalon narrowed his eyes when he realized what Flamestrike was implying. For a moment, he was afraid that Hawktalon would refuse. Thankfully, there was little to no confrontation as Hawktalon gave him the chance to reach Petalstar's den. His shoulders sank with relief as he entered the den, though not without spotting her talking to Dusknose.

"… should help with those joints. Try not to push yourself too hard, Petalstar," Dusknose warned her.

"Thank you, Dusknose," she murmured. "Getting older is never fun, but it is part of life."

"Indeed it is," the medicine cat agreed with her fullheartedly. "Though there are some positives to being older. I use it as an excuse to get away from the youngins."

Flamestrike nearly rolled his eyes at that, though he couldn't quite blame Dusknose for wanting some time alone. The medicine cat had never really been that social to begin with. Kits made it more complicated by pouncing around and messing up the herb storage.

"Have you thought of taking on an apprentice?" Petalstar asked.

"I may be old, but I am not that old," Dusknose retorted, though his voice was thick with amusement. "When the right apprentice reveals themselves, I'll think about retiring. Until then, you're stuck with me."

With that, they parted ways. Flamestrike didn't miss the side-eyed glance Dusknose gave him. A shiver of unease swept through him at the odd look that followed. He did his best to avoid the medicine cat's den unless it was an emergency, and there was a reason for it.

"Is everything alright?" he asked warily once Dusknose was gone.

Petalstar narrowed her eyes when he carefully approached. She hadn't exactly given him permission to enter, but this was urgent news. He had been hoping to avoid sharing the news with the rest of the Clan. Knowing what he knew of Smokefrost and her true heritage made things that much more complicated.

"Sometimes the duty of a leader can be trying on your body," she explained after taking a deep breath. Flamestrike couldn't help but eye her thoughtfully as he sat down in front of her. "StarClan may heal our wounds when we lose lives, but that is all they can do. And I'm not getting any younger. I'll have to keep that in mind as Hawktalon will be your next leader."

Flamestrike looked at her in disbelief. He hadn't expected her to speak of death so bluntly. Yet, she was used to it. Guilt stabbed him in the chest as he found himself wondering how many Clanmates she lost during her lifetime.

"The Clan wouldn't be the same without you," he said quietly.

"The Clan will move on, just as they have with every leader before me," she brushed off his concern with a shrug. "I take it the patrol went a different direction if you wanted to speak with me directly."

He stiffened when she addressed the thorn in his side.

"I met Shadow," he deadpanned. It was her turn to look surprised when he brought up an uncomfortable topic. They hadn't spoken to each other much about the prophecy outside of SkyClan's arrival. He knew it was something they would need to address sooner or later, especially since he suspected it would occur sooner than they'd hoped. "She was waiting for us at the edge of the border, but she never crossed it."

"She was willing to share all of that with an outsider?" Petalstar asked in surprise.

"When I finally got a good look at her, I can see why," he explained warily.

Petalstar listened carefully as he explained what Smokefrost told him. He made sure to leave out bits and pieces of information, but he did warn her of Russetstar's plans. He knew this was something ThunderClan would need to prepare for. There could be an all-out war with ShadowClan and WindClan. The fact that Smokefrost had been willing to share this information with him was difficult to grasp. But he saw the scars that covered her. He saw the atrocities she went through, and he doubted she would allow Russetstar to continue his treachery if she really was Shadow. Or at least, he hoped that was the case.

"I always knew that Russetstar was a manipulative cat, but I didn't realize how willing he was to take that manipulation," Petalstar let out a heavy sigh once he was finished. She looked down at the ground thoughtfully as she tried to take in this information. It was a lot to consider. With threats looming over them on all sides, they needed to be ready for anything. "I need to speak to Minnowstar and see what she has been through since SkyClan arrived. If what you said is true, then we need to work together and put an end to Russetstar's plans."

Flamestrike agreed with her fullheartedly. He wanted nothing more than to sink his claws into Russetstar and Icestar. If anything to punish them for the chaos they incited throughout the last few moons. Spruceleaf and Birdflight deserved that and so much more.

"What about the Clan?" he asked.

"I'd rather keep this information from them," she replied. "I understand your concerns, but I also don't want to stoke fear and uncertainty. The Clan is already under enough pressure without this looming over them."

And what happens if they decide to ambush us? he wondered.

He had little doubt the two Clans would pull off that kind of stunt. The Clan wasn't even aware of the alliance between ShadowClan and WindClan. But he knew that sooner or later, especially at a Gathering, they would find out. Still, he also knew that Petalstar made a good point. The last thing they needed was to risk panic among the Clan. For now, silence was the best option, but by then, it could be too late.