Life 3:10

Silverstream's pregnancy cramps turned out to be something the medicine cats would have to constantly monitor. She still wasn't that far along, but if too much stress and a cramp occurred at the same time, there was a real possibility Silverstream would have a miscarriage by going into labor far too early. For that reason, one medicine cat would be stationed by her side at all times. She was still allowed to fulfill her warrior duties during the early stages of the pregnancy, but she needed the support for if she suddenly got what she called a 'ripping me in half' cramp.

Today, Snakepaw would be accompanying her as she hunted the territory. Usually, that just meant hanging around the river's edge for a sizable fish to appear. The river had finally settled down enough to fish. Thus, the two were lazing about near Sunningrocks which was currently under Thunderclan control.

Snakepaw was watching his charge out of the corner of his eye. It was obvious that Silverstream was watching for something and was looking for a chance to ditch Snakepaw. Snakepaw gave an amused chuff that drew Silverstream's attention.

"What do you find so funny?" Silverstream queried.

"The fact that you think you can ditch me to go meet your mate. Don't look so surprised. I've seen stuff like this more times than you can count. Your code breaking doesn't even show up in the slightest of the things that can damn a cat to the Darkforest. I mean seriously. Like half of all clan leaders have had some interclan affair at one point in their life. That's not even mentioning how many kits are born that have undeclared fathers. I won't tell, but I can't have you ditching me when your health could swing on a moment's notice." Snakepaw lectured.

"You're seriously ok with me visiting a cat from another clan? Why? You say you've seen many cats in similar positions, but you're only eight moons old." Silverstream questioned back with a growing sense of frustration sourced from the dull ache of a small cramp.

"Easy. Easy. Just take a moment to breathe. Now, I'd like to take a moment to test something if it would be fine with you. Would you let me?" Snakepaw asked while settling the slightly angered molly.

"Fine. Not like you aren't messing with me enough already." She mewed, feeling the cramp slightly worsen, making her bite back a hiss.

"This isn't my first life." Snakepaw stated calmly while watching her eyes, noting how they just lost focus for a minute before refocusing.

"You said you wanted to test something." Silverstream mewed, noting that somehow, she'd briefly relaxed, alleviating the cramp she had been building up.

Snakepaw shook his head softly. "Sadly, not here. I'll have to tell you elsewhere." Snakepaw mewed, his mind drifting off to find somewhere that might have enough power to break the geas. Then an epiphany hit him. Barely over a year ago, two lives were lost at Sunningrocks, and if anything gave a place power, it was blood. As long as the souls were cooperative, which ones from blood usually weren't, then he had access to a place of power.

"Say, do you ever meet your mate at Sunningrocks? If so, I might be able to tell you there." Snakepaw tempted.

"Yeah. We meet there on occasion. He will probably be passing by there soon enough." Silverstream answered, eliciting a smile from Snakepaw.

"Great! Let's get over there so I can do my work. If anyone else shows up, we'll just use the excuse that you're escorting a medicine cat." Snakepaw stated, bounding to the edge of the river.

"Hold on! You want to cross into Thunderclan? That's crazy." Silverstream stated, but there was a hint of desire in her voice.

"Come on. It'll be fine. Medicine cats don't really care for borders anyways. You'll be following me to 'escort' me, and if your mate gets caught with us, we can use the excuse that he's keeping an eye on us to ensure we don't pull anything underpawed." Snakepaw replied, clambering onto the first steppingstone.

Silverstream opened her mouth to argue, but she couldn't think of anything to counter his plan. It was an enticing plan too. It was a chance to see her mate again without the threat of trouble. Silverstream snapped her mouth shut and made to follow Snakepaw. Once over, Snakepaw took a moment to scour beneath the many large rocks for some useful fungus that grew in the dark and damp environment. He stashed some of them in a pile to act as the excuse for the trip.

"Any reason for the mushrooms?" Silverstream queried.

"They're a strong pain killer. They're also good for infections, but I wouldn't recommend using them unless you were really hurt. They slow the blood, allowing wounds to clot easier, but they're very easy to overdose on. Basically, too much with outright stop your heart." Snakepaw explained.

"Besides my love life, why did you want to come over here anyways?" Silverstream tested.

Snakepaw finally felt it, the point where spiritual energy was most dense. It was a perfect midpoint between where Redtail was cut down and Oakheart was crushed. It would barely work for what he needed it to, but it was definitely workable. Snakepaw twirled on the spot, calling upon the dead to grant another cat freedom from the effects of his curse.

Silverstream felt a sudden static in the air as a seemingly damp breeze swept through her. The phenomena felt entirely impossible since it was so localized to her. She looked over to Snakepaw whose eyes were far older than she remembered. He sat across from her, his form still utterly the same, but Silverstream could just tell that this cat wasn't just an apprentice as she'd for so long assumed.

"What are you?" She asked, her voice soft with curiosity and a touch of fear.

"Some call me a ghost, a revenant, the unnamed one. I've got a fair number of titles. I am old yet walk with the body of a youth. I may die but never for long. I am an immortal who has been part of the clans since the beginning. The ocelot of my Long Night story was in fact me. I am sorry if this frightens you, but this is who I am. Very few cats can remember me without the touch of Starclan. What you just felt was the souls of Redtail and Oakheart allowing me the chance to remember me." Snakepaw mewed, his voice firm yet heavy.

"Are you still Snakepaw?" Silverstream gently asked, careful not to antagonize a cat who claimed such power.

"For this life and many others, yes. I'm still the Snakepaw you know. I'm still a kit when I can be, but sometimes I've got to call upon my age. What you saw from me before was not a façade. It is who I usually am." Snakepaw answered.

"Why did you tell me though?" Silverstream pushed.

"Because you trusted me with your secret, whether it was willing or not. I wanted to make us even. I wanted to trust you with a secret of my own. You're the daughter of one of my long-time friends. You treat me as an equal despite my apparent age. I consider you a friend." Snakepaw replied.

Silence hung between the pair awkwardly. Finally, Snakepaw broke the silence. "About your mate. Is it any cat I might know?" He probed.

Silverstream huffed, secretly glad to be free of the silence but also getting that Snakepaw was attempting to tease her like her father did about finding a good cat to mate. "Alright. It's Graystripe if you must know."

Silverstream bore witness as Snakepaw happily trotted in place before quickly sprinting a lap around Sunningrocks to burn off his excitement. "Graystripe! I know him, and he will remember me! It'll be so nice to see him again." Snakepaw cheered while blurring around the many rocks. Silverstream couldn't help but laugh in response. Maybe this wouldn't turn out so bad, she thought