Life 2:4

It had been a couple days since Snakepaw appeared in Windclan. Cats were looking far more lively than they were before, now not exposed ribs gaunt. This was primarily due to how good of hauls Tallstar and Snakepaw were getting, but this time of plenty came with a price. Each day they'd have to range further and further out to find old Wander tunnels. It was becoming increasingly apparent that the Wander tunnels were never made to provide for a full clan of cats. It was for this reason that Tallstar decided to make it known to all his clan about the nature of the Wander tunnels, how to spot them, and how to utilize them. It was a risky move. While Snakepaw knew how to safely dig, his cats did not. They'd have to risk it regardless as well as keep some above ground hunting in case they ever ran the tunnels out.

Today, Snakepaw was leading Tallstar, Deadfoot, Barkface, and Mudclaw out to find a Wander tunnel and demonstrate how to use them. Unluckily for him, Mudclaw was the only odd one out, wondering why an apprentice would guide them. Barkface, being a medicine cat, could feel an aura of age coming off Snakepaw, so he assumed the apprentice was some kind of Starclan sent guide.

After checking several burrows, Mudclaw was getting frustrated. "Come on! How many more of these are you going to check? They're burrows, all of them. We're wasting time we could be using hunting." He complained.

Tallstar calmed Mudclaw with his answer. "Patience Mudclaw. We're sure to find a correct tunnel soon. Remember, it was through Snakepaw's efforts that we even had this boom in prey."

Fortune smiled upon Tallstar at that moment because Snakepaw called out, "I found one!" at that moment. Snakepaw scrambled into the tunnel, digging it wider to allow the rest of the cats to enter. Tallstar, now used to entering these tunnels, went in first. Deadfoot was second to follow. Then came Barkface and finally Mudclaw. While Snakepaw shot ahead to deal with the burrow, Tallstar stopped the rest to show off the sign of Wandering.

"Take a moment to familiarize yourself with this mark. It is a mark made by the Windclan cats of old. Long ago, before we ever gave up tunneling, Windclan had its own unique spiritual journey. Modernly, we take apprentices to the Moonstone, but back then we had something called the Wandering. A pair of apprentices would be sent out to explore as far as they could go for a moon. This was by no means a safe journey, but it was ours. During that time, our cats would discover and explore. We wanted to see how far we could get. To that end, the Wanderers began digging out tunnels such as this to aid future Wanderers get food and shelter. Of course, these tunnels wouldn't be all that useful if we had no way to identify them. For that purpose, this mark was made. It is the mark of Wandering. Memorize it because we may end up reviving it. It was considered good luck to remark the sign when you find one, it keeps the mark fresh and reminds us of all the efforts those before us put into allowing us a better future." Tallstar lectured before tracing the mark himself.

Deadfoot was still leery of this lost tradition, but he followed Tallstar's example and traced the mark. Barkface traced it after, but a strange look of wonder crossed the medicine cat's face.

"This mark! It has power, not much, but for it to accumulate this much… It must have been something we placed great faith within." Barkface rambled, gingerly tracing the mark so as not to scuff it or change it.

"You should feel the one back at camp. It's seen dozens of cats whereas this one has only seen about five before us." Tallstar teased.

"Please!" Barkface mewed eagerly, his eyes lighting up at the prospect of finding such spiritual power.

Mudclaw ignored the mark besides memorizing its shape. To him, it was just scratches on the wall. Regardless, he followed Tallstar as they went forward. They soon found Snakepaw with three rabbit corpses.

"What took you guys so long? One of them slipped by me since no one was there to stop it. At least I got these three." Snakepaw mewed, baffling all the other warriors besides Tallstar. In fact, Tallstar let out a chuckle upon seeing the faces of his companions. Snakepaw had that effect. Tallstar, Deadfoot, and Mudclaw dragged the three rabbits out, but Barkface stuck behind to talk to the apprentice he was sure was sent by Starclan.

"Snakepaw. You appear to have knowledge long forgotten by our clan and appeared during our time of need. There is no need to hide it from me. I know Starclan sent you." Barkface mewed.

Snakepaw let out a laugh at the statement. "Starclan sent me? Maybe, but it was only really luck that I appeared here at this time. If this happened maybe six moons before or after now, there would have been absolutely no chance I'd be here. I'd either be in Thunderclan or Riverclan. You see, I don't pick favorites or appear at a request. I exist in a clan for a while, die, and get moved to the next. If Starclan had any interference, it was only to kill me faster in Thunderclan." Snakepaw corrected, drawing a look of horror upon the medicine cat's face.

"That's… That's impossible." Barkface mewed slowly. "We'd have noticed a cat changing clans."

"That would be true, but a strange effect of me being reborn is that everyone not of prophecy or medicine remembers me being there in my new life and forgets me when I leave. They don't even remember my name, only the nameless apprentice. Though, I have heard some neat ghost stories about an apprentice no one ever remembers. It's sort of amusing to hear about how a ghost sacrificed itself for another cat. I've heard my legend sometimes called Nameless, Sacrifice, Ghost, The Forgotten. Funny how time warps all stories." Snakepaw mewed calmly as if just discussing the weather.

Barkface said nothing, instead taking the time to comprehend what it meant that an entity like Snakepaw could exist. It defied all he knew about life and death, A creature like him could be an unending monster, but this being chose instead to help the clans. It was a confusing but decidedly benevolent being. When he got the chance, he'd have to discuss this with the other medicine cats.

They got back to camp with a good amount of fanfare. The clan always celebrated such successful hunts. While the rest of the clan feasted, Barkface had Tallstar guide him to the Wander mark in their camp. As soon as he touched it, he felt Starclan press a vision into his mind. What he saw was a his clan as they were now within a great, old, and wounded snake. It was a strangely pitiful sight, until the Snake began to move. It slowly curled into a ring, its own mouth clamping down on its tail. The snake pulled, peeling off its skin in a large sheet, revealing a new and young snake. The Windclan within was now upon its old territory, chasing down rabbits, proud, and powerful. Barkface could also see cats digging, a practice long abandoned. The vision could only mean one thing. Windclan was about to experience a great change, one akin to a rebirth. Barkface had never felt a vision so terrifyingly grand, and he couldn't wait to witness it.