Chapter 3

Mistyfoot dreamed of a dark, strange place.

Her tail trembled. She had hoped to dream of something else, anything else, but here she was - the cloying smell of mold and wetness surrounded her, and the trees grew up gnarled and tall with their black, leafless branches cutting her off from the sky. The ground beneath her paws was always just a little too wet for comfort, sucking at her toes, and the air was cold.

The only light in the gloom came from the mushrooms clustered at the bases of the trees, glowing softly as they clung to the trees with their life-stealing little roots. Other than their soft radiance, they looked innocent enough, but Mistyfoot had been warned that they weren't meant for cats - which only made her wonder what they were for.

Before her was a shallow gully with dark roots poking through its dirt walls and a puddle of stagnant water at its bottom. The fur at the back of Mistyfoot's neck prickled at the idea of traversing the narrow passage - but everywhere else was closed off to her, the trees twisting together as if to funnel her into this vulnerable place. She had learned quickly that this forest told you where you were supposed to go, not the other way around.

She had little choice, so she stepped into the gully. Her paws splashed in the nasty water, and she grimaced but pressed on, hissing between her teeth at the icy chill biting at her skin. Not a single part of this place knew the warmth of sun or starlight.

A feeling of foreboding followed her the entire way, and she sensed that she was being watched. The gully finally opened into a small clearing, blocked off on one side by the stagnant water trickling into some sort of foul stream. The grass here was greasy underpaw, and Mistyfoot would've rather had mud than this gross feeling on her paw pads.

The clearing was empty, but that feeling of being watched did not disappear. She looked up into the trees and found her culprit - a cat was perched on one of the branches, a dark shadow staring down at her with gleaming blue eyes.

Bluestar.

The silvery-blue she-cat leaped down as soon as she was noticed, her muscles rippling as she landed neatly on all fours. With a whisk of her tail, she beckoned Mistyfoot forward.

Mistyfoot hesitated, a burning feeling in the back of her throat. This was not the first time she had seen her mother in her dreams, and she felt that familiar apprehension each time they met: "Bluestar" was a name not said idly in the Clans anymore, a testament to her terrible crimes. Being her daughter had caused Mistyfoot no end of heartache, bearing not just the weight of her tainted legacy but the burden of resembling her mother so closely that the comparison was impossible to ignore.

Bluestar was a murderer and a traitor and had died a miserable death, and yet here she was, staring at Mistyfoot with those eyes that shimmered hypnotically, drawing her in close to touch noses with this cat who had nearly destroyed her Clan and killed everyone she cared about.

Bluestar's purr was gentle. "I haven't seen you in some nights, dear daughter," she said, her voice sweetly soft. "You are forgiven - becoming the deputy of ThunderClan was no doubt an adjustment."

Mistyfoot wasn't surprised that Bluestar knew of that. She drew her muzzle away, feeling Bluestar's scent tickling her nose. "It was," she said. She searched her mother's eyes for pride but found it difficult to tell what Bluestar was thinking, and hearing her trying to sound motherly and sweet was making Mistyfoot's fur stand on end.

"Well, it's no excuse any longer," Bluestar decided firmly, whisking her tail. "Now that you are deputy, there is much to do! Your training must continue."

Mistyfoot hesitated. "I can't stay long."

"I know, I know," Bluestar mewed, nodding along. "Your day has been eventful, and this visit is fleeting." Her tail whisked again. "Good job in dealing with that trap, by the way - very clever thinking on your part."

Mistyfoot wasn't sure how to take her mother's praise - she'd had little experience with it before now, and Bluestar had kept her congratulations close to her chest since these meetings had begun about a season ago. She certainly hadn't had any for Mistyfoot when she'd been alive.

"You are well on your way, my daughter," Bluestar purred, her gaze sparkling with some emotion that Mistyfoot struggled to discern. "Your destiny is right between your paws - you need only seize it."

Bluestar leaned forward and touched her nose to Mistyfoot's forehead. "Your real training begins now."

Mistyfoot's nose clogged with her mother's scent, and she closed her eyes. The moment she did, it felt like she had been flipped upside-down, her stomach flopping in her belly. Panicking, Mistyfoot flailed her paws and opened her eyes.

She was no longer in that dark, shadowy forest - now, cold rain hammered all around, soaking her pelt and turning her bones to ice. The world was made of gray stone and scraggly, defiant bushes. Thunder roared above in a sky so dark it was nearly black, and lightning flashed a heartbeat later.

No! Mistyfoot felt her limbs begin to tremble. Not here! Not again!

I can't watch this again!

Water streamed into her eyes and nose, and Mistyfoot felt like she was drowning. She was poised at the edge of a stone cliff, staring down a rocky slope at two dark, rain-wet shapes on another ridge below.

One was Sharptooth, the monstrous cat who had terrorized the Tribe of Rushing Water, who called this forbidding place their home.

The other was Stormfur.

She cried out to him, but her voice was drowned by thunder. Sharptooth was prowling closer, backing Stormfur up to the very edge of the cliff, beneath the branches of a scraggly tree that reached up towards the open sky.

Stormfur spat at the monster, lunging towards it - but before his claws could connect, before Sharptooth could bat him out of the air, lightning struck. The tree instantly burst into cinders, and the force of the strike cracked the rock beneath them both.

They plummeted, their dark bodies bouncing together against the boulders and stones. Mistyfoot wailed, her heart torn apart as she saw Stormfur's shape flop about like a fish out of water.

A heartbeat later, she was pawing through the rubble, her whiskers dripping, her paws sliding off the slick stones and her claws aching as they caught on the rocks. Her heart raced - had he lived this time, somehow?

A stone moved, revealing his dark form, flat and sodden on the ground. His silhouette was misshapen, the rain slicking down his thick RiverClan fur enough for Mistyfoot to see his ribs had broken inward. His legs, splayed out, pointed in the wrong directions, limp and useless.

She choked on a sob, scrambling to his side. He was breathing shallow and fast, his yellow eyes glazed. Blood trickled from his jaws, washing away in the rain. Mistyfoot pressed against him, ignoring how broken he felt beneath his own skin.

"Please," she sobbed, pressing into his soaked fur. "Please, don't leave me!"

"Misty... foot..." He struggled to speak.

Mistyfoot knew that there was nothing any cat could do. Only StarClan could save him, and StarClan was not here. She pressed her muzzle into the thick ruff of his neck and breathed in his scent one last time.

"I love... you..." he gasped.

Mistyfoot felt claws sink into her heart. "I love you, too," she whispered back. "Always."

"Always," Stormfur repeated. "Always... Always... Al..."

His voice died in his throat, and he was gone.

Always, Mistyfoot thought, shivering in the rain. Always, always, always...

Always.

Mistyfoot opened her eyes. Orange evening light streamed in through the branches of the warrior's den - she hadn't overslept, and the sweet, tantalizing smell of mouse touched her nose. Nightfrost had left her meal tucked just inside the moss.

Her heart ached as she drew it close. It was such a sweet gesture, as were all his gestures - but when she shut her eyes, she saw Stormfur's body drenched in the rain and heard his voice whisper her name. Cold guilt filled her belly - how could she ever accept Nightfrost's blatant affections when Stormfur haunted her dreams?

She ate the mouse, feeling exhausted. Every night in that cold, moldy forest sapped her energy as if she hadn't chosen to sleep at all. Perhaps she would dream of something more restful tonight, but Bluestar's words echoed again in her head, and Mistyfoot doubted that.

No cat can know that I see her in my dreams, Mistyfoot thought, crunching on one of the mouse's bones. She had no idea why Bluestar was even speaking to her from wherever her spirit resided, especially after Mistyfoot had gone through such great pains to denounce her - for now, though, it all seemed harmless, and Mistyfoot couldn't help but wonder about this cat she had never gotten a chance to know.

Does she see Stoneheart, too? Mistyfoot wondered. She licked her lips. She supposed her mother must visit her son; why not, if she could see her daughter? Mistyfoot couldn't imagine Stoneheart entertaining Bluestar for very long, though - he had lived under her rule for a little while back in the old forest before her death. He'd never had anything pleasant to say about it.

The idea still troubled her. I don't even know how to make it stop happening or how it started! Mistyfoot trembled. Did she even want it to stop? Bluestar's advice had been helpful across these past seasons, especially now that Oakheart, Mistyfoot's dear father, had been left behind with the other elders in the old forest.

Worse still, Mistyfoot wondered if she would have been considered for deputy had she not been listening to her mother.

Tinystar would never forgive her if he knew - Mistyfoot knew that for certain. Bluestar had been his mentor, his tormentor, his greatest foe. It was kill or be killed with them, and there was no reasoning to be had. No, Tinystar could never find out about this. Mistyfoot's claws sank into the moss at the thought. Being only banished from ThunderClan would be a blessing.

Mistyfoot heard Tinystar's voice just then, calling out a summons from atop the Highledge. Mistyfoot quickly tucked the remnants of her mouse away to dispose of later and slipped out of the warrior's den, trying to ignore the hard lump in her throat formed by her anxious thoughts.

A crowd was forming in the clearing, covered by the long shadows of evening. Mistyfoot shook off a scrap of moss and trotted past them all, nodding to Whitewing and Larchpaw as she passed them. She scrambled up the stone steps, hauling herself up to the Highledge, sitting on her haunches just behind Tinystar.

What the meeting was about was fairly obvious - the news had spread by now. At the far back of the crowd, standing with Mousefur, was Spiderpaw, whose pelt was groomed to a shine like a crow's feather. Each cat below seemed curious about Spiderpaw's warrior name and what would be done with Daisy and her kits.

Mistyfoot, unfortunately, knew the answer to neither of those questions - but as she spared her leader a sideways glance, she trusted Tinystar to do the right thing.

"Cats of ThunderClan, today has been most eventful!" Tinystar began, his voice bouncing off the hollow's stone walls. "Firstly, I want to address something quite serious - the fox traps."

The cats below shuffled in confusion.

"What was that?" spoke Snowstep, tilting his head with uncertainty. He looked at Ferncloud, who seemed unsure how to communicate this concept to her deaf mate.

We'll have to think of something, Mistyfoot thought, glancing at Tinystar.

He met her gaze, nodding in mutual understanding. All he could do for now was explain: "I'm sure you're all aware by now that we have guests in camp. Were it not for one of these traps, we might not have crossed paths at all."

Tinystar gestured with his tail to Mistyfoot. She had thought very little about how to explain the traps to her Clan, but now it was her turn. Clearing her throat, Mistyfoot stepped forward and meowed: "These are dangerous objects left in the forest by Twolegs. They're small and well-hidden and look like large butterflies. Stepping on one will snap Twoleg wire around your leg, and the pain will be excruciating."

Eyes widened, and Mistyfoot heard Ferncloud let out a squeak of fear. Beside her, Snowstep begged for a translation, which Cinderpelt had to give as best as she could in Ferncloud's stead. Tails lashed, and Mistyfoot saw more than one cat with their jaws open in disbelief.

"Why would Twolegs do such a horrible thing?!" demanded Silverstream. The fur along her spine was standing up. "Are they trying to drive us out, like before?"

"No, I don't think so," Mistyfoot meowed quickly. She sensed the tension in the air - it could very quickly tip into outright panic. "Daisy seemed to know where they came from - a Twoleg who lives around here sets them for foxes. They reek of Twoleg scent and are probably placed along fox trails. So long as you know what to look for, I'm certain they can be avoided."

"And what do we do when we find one?" asked Brightheart. Her flank twitched. "Or worse, get caught?"

"There's a small hole at their base," Mistyfoot explained. "You'll find a long, thin stick and poke it in there. Like a Twoleg cage, there's a catch inside, and putting pressure on it will release the snare."

More shuffling. "What if we're alone?" asked Ashfur, his tone icy. He lashed his tail. "Or can we not even roam our own territory anymore?"

Mistyfoot grimaced, wishing that he hadn't spoken up. Now the other warriors were even more agitated and worried. She swallowed and managed, "Obviously, this is a situation we must monitor closely until we know their patterns and signs. There might even be different kinds of them. For now, it would be unwise to travel the forest alone."

"Perhaps we could create a patrol just to sweep the territory and disarm them?" suggested Swiftfoot.

"And what if those things are all that keep the foxes at bay? What if foxes are a real problem around here?" wondered Sun. Her tail flicked. "Perhaps we can use them to our advantage?"

"Perhaps," Tinystar mused, "and I will be willing to hear any suggestions you might have - but for now, Mistyfoot will be taking out warriors to track down these snares and practice disarming them. The more who know how, the better."

He glanced at her, and she nodded in agreement. She reminded herself to think of who might be best suited to the task once the meeting ended. She would not let her Clanmates fear their own territory for long.

"Now, on to our guests," Tinystar meowed on. "Daisy has decided that she and her kits, Berry, Hazel, and Goose, will remain with us at least until Berry's wound has healed."

"Poor mite," murmured Sorreltail from beside Sun. "Is he going to be okay?"

"Brackenfur is worried about infection, of course, but he says that Berry's outlook is hopeful," Tinystar assured. "Though, he may not be able to keep his tail."

Murmurs of sympathy rippled through the crowd. Mistyfoot grimaced - how did Daisy take that news, she wondered?

"Daisy is unsure about staying permanently for now," Tinystar meowed. "I told her we could talk about it more when Berry is closer to recovery. For now, they will stay in the nursery and help as they can. Nightfrost!"

"Yes?" Nightfrost's ears perked, and he looked up from where he sat beside Rainwhisker.

"I ask that, for the time being, you keep an eye on Daisy and help her contribute to the Clan," Tinystar meowed. "If she chooses to stay, she will be named your apprentice, per the warrior code's rules about welcoming outsiders."

Nightfrost's jaw dropped, and Rainwhisker enthusiastically nudged him. Though Daisy had not yet chosen to stay, several cats called his name in congratulations: "Nightfrost! Nightfrost!"

Though Mistyfoot raised her voice with them, she felt something tremble inside. Why Nightfrost? Why not her?

There's a reason, I know it, she told herself, glancing at Tinystar. He was staring down at his son, his gaze shimmering with pride. The lump in her throat turned to ice. There always is!

"And her kits?" asked Longtail when the noise died down.

"If they choose to stay, they will be given Clan names and mentors, same as any kit," Tinystar answered matter-of-factly. "But that is, ultimately, up to them. They have plenty of time to decide, and if they choose to move on, Daisy, at the very least, will have hopefully learned the skills necessary to protect herself and her kittens."

"Well, I welcome the company," Sorreltail decided. Her belly bulged from the weight of her kittens. "The nursery is so quiet without anyone else in it!"

Amusement rippled through the Clan, and Mistyfoot was grateful for that. She worried that the news of those deadly snares would turn everyone sour and paranoid, but it seemed like the prospect of new Clanmates had turned the mood around. Even Dustpelt looked intrigued by the idea, and he was usually the last to admit such a thing - though Mistyfoot guessed it was because Daisy would make use of the nursery he built.

"Now for our last, and arguably most important, order of business," Tinystar purred. He raised his chin and drew himself up. "Spiderpaw, come forward."

Mistyfoot watched as the crowd parted. Mousefur and Spiderpaw walked down the opening side by side, Spiderpaw with her head held high and her lengthy stride proud. The Clan looked on them with joy and excitement, with even Larchpaw, who was about to be left alone in the apprentice's den, trembling giddily.

As Spiderpaw passed her parents, Cinderpelt and Dustpelt pressed close to one another. Mistyfoot's heart ached - Shrewpaw should have been walking with Spiderpaw tonight, not looking down at her from the stars. Had he lived to see past the badger attack that had killed him in the old forest, Mistyfoot would have made a warrior of him by now.

I wonder what his name would have been...

Tinystar leaped down the steps to meet both mentor and apprentice in the shadow of the Highledge. Mistyfoot crouched, staring down at them. Despite her grief for Shrewpaw, she was still very proud of Spiderpaw and how far she had come. She deserved this, and she knew Shrewpaw was one of those little stars in the darkening sky.

"Mousefur," Tinystar began, "is your apprentice ready to accept the responsibility of warriorhood?"

"She is," Mousefur responded, dipping her head. "I've done everything I can to whip her into shape, Tinystar." She ran her tail along Spiderpaw's back, eyes glittering with fondness. "She'll do just fine."

Spiderpaw very obviously bit back a squeal of delight at the heartfelt gesture. Mistyfoot's whiskers twitched - no doubt that was one last test from Mousefur! She could imagine the old she-cat declaring that Spiderpaw still needed more training, even at this pivotal moment.

Tinystar raised his tail. "Then I, Tinystar, leader of ThunderClan, call upon our warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. She has trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code and serve her Clan, and I commend her to you as a warrior in her turn."

Quiet stretched across the clearing. Every cat leaned in, listening reverently, each one of them dying to know Spiderpaw's new name.

"Spiderpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?" Tinystar asked.

"I do," Spiderpaw answered, keeping her voice even.

"Then, by the powers of StarClan, I grant you your warrior name," Tinystar announced. "Spiderpaw, from this moment forward, you will be known as Spiderfang! StarClan honors your energy and courage, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan!"

"Spiderfang! Spiderfang!" cheered the Clan. No cat cheered louder than Cinderpelt and Dustpelt, who seemed to be shouting her name to the sky in hopes that Shrewpaw could hear it.

"Spiderfang!" squeaked Spiderfang. "My name is Spiderfang!"

Mousefur snorted. "Just couldn't wait, could you?"

Spiderfang whisked her tail. "Nope!"

The entire crowd purred in amusement. Mistyfoot chuckled. It would certainly be interesting to have that energy in the warrior's den - they would be spared of it tonight, thankfully, as Spiderfang had to keep a silent vigil through the dark to reflect on her new role in the Clan. Mistyfoot doubted that ThunderClan's new warrior could keep her jaws shut for that long.

The meeting dispersed, though many cats stayed clustered together to congratulate Spiderfang and wish her luck tonight. A flash of movement out of the corner of her eye showed Daisy's two gray kittens, Hazel and Goose, tumbling out of the medicine cat's cave. They blinked owlishly at the commotion until Shadepool came up behind them and pulled them back inside.

Mistyfoot clambered down the Highledge. Nightfrost met her on the ground, touching his nose to hers. He purred so hard that his small body seemed to vibrate from ears to tail.

"A mentor - me!" he breathed. "Even if it's not really official, I'm so excited!"

Mistyfoot twitched her whiskers. "You'll do great," she said.

She believed that wholeheartedly but couldn't help feeling slightly bitter at the news, especially after Spiderfang's ceremony. Mistyfoot had been made deputy without a fully-trained apprentice, and there were cats who no doubt worried about that. There was no way she could even think of raining on Nightfrost's good mood, though.

"I'll help if you need it," Mistyfoot remarked.

Nightfrost whisked his tail. His eyes brightened. "Definitely! Want to-"

"Her? Help?" the snarky voice cut in as Ashfur appeared, coming out of the crowd with his lip curled over his teeth in a mocking sneer. "Maybe you should ask a cat who's actually trained an apprentice!"

Mistyfoot bristled. It had to have been seasons since Ashfur had made a remark like that, but here it was again, as if they were still freshly-made warriors in the old camp. She felt a growl rise in her throat.

Nightfrost quickly rebuked: "Who's the deputy here, Ashfur? You?" He frisked his tail. "Oh, wait!"

Ashfur spat in response, glaring crossly at Mistyfoot. The gray tom turned away, lashing his tail.

Nightfrost snorted, satisfied. He turned to Mistyfoot and complained, "What a beetle-brain! As if I'd want his help. You'd think he'd have grown up by now!"

Mistyfoot had been so caught off guard by Ashfur that she didn't know what to say. Instead, she mewed quietly, frustrated, "He's never respected me. I don't expect him to start now that I'm deputy."

"He should at least keep his mouth shut," Nightfrost muttered. Perking up, he meowed, "Before that sourpuss interrupted, I was saying I'd like to take Daisy around the territory with you."

"I don't think you'll get her away from her kit any time soon," Mistyfoot pointed out. "But I'll come with you when she's ready."

"Good," Nightfrost breathed. His eyes shone, and he touched his nose to Mistyfoot's shoulder. "Tinystar said she would be mine to train, but there's no way I'd want to do this without you, Mistyfoot!"

He pressed close to her, his purr rumbling warmly through her body - but all Mistyfoot could feel was the chill of the rain, and within the torrent of noise in her ears was the echo of Stormfur's words:

Always.

Always.

Always...