Everlasting Pain

This is the first book in the Everlasting Trilogy

Prolouge
 "They're beautiful Robintail."

 "Thank you Pebblestar."

 "The ginger and white one has your eyes"

 "The gray one has yours."

 "I love them Robintail. Just like you."

 "I thought you never got over Sunheart."

 "In a way, I didn't, in a way I did."

 "Explain."

 "I loved her, she loved Minnowleap. She has him now, and I have you."

 "She did love you. She told you during the battle"

 "Not as much as she loved Minnowleap. Stop worrying."

 "Alright."

 "What are their names?"

 "The ginger and white one is Brightkit."

 "Beautiful."

 "The gray one is Rainkit."

<p style="margin-left:0pt;margin-right:0pt;text-align:left;text-indent:0pt"> "Angelic"

<p style="margin-left:0pt;margin-right:0pt;text-align:left;text-indent:0pt"> "The light yellow one is Sunkit. After our saviour."

<p style="margin-left:0pt;margin-right:0pt;text-align:left;text-indent:0pt"> "Perfect. Just like you."

<p style="margin-left:0pt;margin-right:0pt;text-align:left;text-indent:0pt"> Those were the words that begun the journey. The journey that changed our lives.

Chapter 1 ~Our Meeting~
<p style="margin-left:0pt;margin-right:0pt;text-align:left;text-indent:0pt"> "Brightsong, Rainsplash, Sunshadow!"

<p style="margin-left:0pt;margin-right:0pt;text-align:left;text-indent:0pt"> They cheer. They cheer. We are warriors. Warriors at last. Sunshadow turns to me, her eyes alight. "Can you believe we're warriors! Finally! After all this time!" She's excited. We all are. On my other side, Brightsong is gazing at our father, clearly entranced. She's always trained so hard, passing every assessment in a landslide. She's finally achieved her dreams. Willoweyes walks over to me. "Good job Rainsplash. You'll make a wonderful warrior." I nod to my former mentor, and make my way into the centre of the clearing. Brightsong and Sunshadow settle beside me. Willoweyes smiles, and makes her way into the den. I was so lucky to be trained by our deputy. Ambershine mentored Sunshadow, her own kits already apprentices, and Fuzzyclaw trained Brightsong. We were inseparable, and still are. We will always be the three.

<p style="margin-left:0pt;margin-right:0pt;text-align:left;text-indent:0pt"> I spend the early hours of the morning thinking about our past. I don't know much about the time without peace. Brightsong actually heard Dawnpetal telling Duskpool about the Battle Of Shadow. A time when a villainous she-cat ruled the forest. Brightsong caught the names Sunheart and Darkshadow, but couldn't get anymore. Nothing more. Willoweyes called for for patrol before she could get anything else out. At first we were angry, but we softened. Brightsong couldn't have gotten anymore if she wanted to. You can't just ignore the deputy.

<p style="margin-left:0pt;margin-right:0pt;text-align:left;text-indent:0pt"> The sun rises quickly. Willoweyes, Fuzzyclaw and Ambershine direct us to our new nests. We fall asleep so effortlessly, It's almost like we just had poppy seeds.

<p style="margin-left:0pt;margin-right:0pt;text-align:left;text-indent:0pt"> "Wake up Rainsplash!" Sunshadow's shaking me. I sit up. "What's so important that you had to wake me?" I mew, annoyed. Sunshadow points to Brightsong. "Look!" Brightsong's face is gaunt, and her gray eyes are haunted. This is never a good sign. I exchange a look with Sunshadow, whose green eyes are wide with terror. "Bush den. 5 minutes." She nods, and takes off, leaping over the newly fallen log in camp, and disappears. I turn to Brightsong. "Come on. We need to know what happened." As if I've said the magic word, Brightsong leaps to her paws. "Then let's go." We take off, but Willoweyes stops us. "Where are you two going?' She mews. Before Brightsong can break down and mew the truth, I meow, "We're off hunting. It seems like a good day, not one to waste." Brightsong flashed me a thank you in her gaze. Willoweyes sighs. "I suppose I can't stop you. Considering your bloodline. Go on, but be back before sunhigh. I want Rainsplash for a border patrol." We nod, and take off. "Thanks Rainsplash. I would have given us away no doubt." I shake it off. "You would have done the same for me." My sister shakes her head. "I could never lie! Especially to the deputy!" "Well if we bring bak some prey, we're not exactly lying, are we?" I respond. Brightsong shakes her head, and we dive in Bush Den. We discovered it when we were apprentices. No cat seems to know about it. It's well outside Clan territory, but there are scents here. Scents from DewClan. Maybe it used to be a refuge base. We use it now to meet about secret things, from toms, to training sessions, to Brightsong's nightmares. Sunshadow's waiting for us. "What took you so long?" She meowed. "You're usually a lot faster." I speak up. "We met Willoweyes." Sunshadow nods. "Yeah, Zachfeather almost caught me on the way here." At the mention of his name, Brightsong stiffens. Sunshadow doesn't catch i, but I do. She's relaxed a second later though, so I assume I just imagined it. I settle down on the mossy ground. "Tell us about your dream Brightsong." She shuts her eyes, then opens them, the iris's flushed. "I was walking in a silvery moonlit forest. I began to stalk a mouse, when a light yellow she-cat stepped out of the shadows. I've never seen her before, but she looked a lot like Sunshadow, but without the dark underbelly." I sit up, interested. "What next?" Brightsong replies, "She came up to me, and told me that her name was Sunheart." Sunshadow gasps. "That's the name you heard in the den!" Brightsong nods. "She told us she died in the worst battle ever seen. The Battle Of The Shadow Bringers." The name brings chills up my spine. Brightsong continues. "She told me that we needed to talk to Pebblestar about our past. We needed to know what really happened in the moons before our birth." Then her body went slack, "If we don't, the pain will start again. The regret will run high, and a trusted cat will leave our world forever." Brightsong's eerie prophecy echos through my head. What are we going to do? <h2 style="margin-left:0pt;margin-right:0pt;text-align:left;text-indent:0pt">Chapter 2 ~Our Discovery~ <p style="margin-left:0pt;margin-right:0pt;text-align:left;text-indent:0pt"> Sunshadow's eyes are round with terror. "What in the name of StarClan was that?!?!?!" Brightsong is starting off into space again. "I don't know." She mews. "But it was StarClan has chosen to share with me." I nod. "If Brightsong doesn't know, then she doesn't know." I flicked my tail. "What we need to do is figure out what we're going to do now." Sunshadow bursts right in. "What do you mean? We have to talk to Pebblestar about this." Brightsong's fur goes out on end. "No! That's a terrible idea! I've had dreams from StarClan before, even though I'm not a medicine cat. How can I explain that?!?" Brightsong shudders. "He'd probably order me to become a medicine cat, and that would be horrible because I lo-." She breaks off, as if catching a mistake. "Because I love being a warrior. Running through the woods, wind in my fur." She goes on nervously. Sunshadow doesn't see anything wrong, but I do. Brightsong's always cutting herself off and saying something after that, that doesn't make sense. It's like she's hiding something from me. It's certainly not the first time, and I don't like it. But this is no time to question her. With Sunshadow around I won't get more than a whisker from her. I turn to Sunshadow. "We should hunt. I want to bring something back to to camp. I did tell Willoweyes that we were hunting." Sunshadow nods. "I'll go alone. I need to think about this." SHe scampers off, and I turn to Brightsong. "What's going on with you? You've been cutting yourself off from us, and you keep stoping yourself from saying anything. What's wrong?" For a moment, Brightsong holds her breath, as if she's going tell me everything, but then she flashes her eyes. "I don't have to tell you everything! I'm allowed to have my own secrets!" She hisses. "I'll hunt alone! Go fine Sunshadow!" She spits, and runs off into the forest. For a moment I just stand there, purely stunned. There was something wrong with Brightsong, and it was my duty as her sister to find out what it was. Only problem is, I'm the only one who can read Brightsong, and she isn't telling.

<p style="margin-left:0pt;margin-right:0pt;text-align:left;text-indent:0pt"> We tread back to camp, each holding a mouse. We drop it on the fresh kill pile, and I head over to Willoweyes. "You wanted me for a patrol?" She nods. "Go join Hazelheart and Zachfeather." I pad up to them. Hazelheart's in deep conversation with him. She gives me a look as I approach. "There you are. Come on." She bats her aqua blue eyes. Zachfeather purrs. "No need to rush." Behind me I hear Brightsong screech in anger, but this is no time for that. We head into the forest. "We're going to FrozenClan border. Wingfur's patrol already went by FireClan." Likely because Willoweyes doesn't trust you around your birth Clan. I thought. The whole way to the twoleg bridge, Hazelheart's flirting with Zachfeather. It's very annoying, because we can't focus on anything with her chatter. i can tell Zachfeather's having a hard time not strangling her. We reach the bridge. "We should split up." He mews. "I'll take Rainsplash, and you can go the other way." Hazelheart grins. 'I'll be back soon!" She purrs, and scurries off. "Thank StarClan." He mutters. "I never thought I'd get rid of her." I turn to him shocked. "But-but…" He turns away. "She's been following me for the past two sunrises. It's driving me nuts!" He must see my shocked look. "Hazelheart's a nice cat and all, but I don't want her for a mate." He leans back. "I think I'm losing my mind." Well. Thanks for sharing. I turn to him. "Look, quit moping. Most toms would die to have a she-cat like Hazelheart fawning over them. Now let's patrol!" I spit out the last sentence and stalk off, leaving his white blond pelt in the dust.

We make it back to camp in good time. Zachfeather's in a bad mood, and Hazelheart's not helping. With a sigh, I sit down and lick my ruffled pelt. A moment or two later, Brightsong joins me. "I'm sorry I snapped okay? I'm just having trouble understanding what we're doing. If I'm even supposed to be a warrior." She looks at her white paws. "I wish that I-" She breaks off. "That I knew what I was supposed to do." I turn to her. "Brightsong, you were meant to be a warrior. You proved that after the battle with FrozenClan. You beat Mountaindew, and he's the deputy! Besides, you tried to be a medicine cat before. You couldn't do anything right." She nods. "You're right Rainsplash." She looks off into the middle of nowhere, and starts daydreaming. Soon, though, she's starting at Hazelheart, her eyes full on pain, jealousy, and something I can't place. She's screaming on the inside, but at what, I don't know. That's when Sunshadow bursts into camp, panting. Laurelwing and Owlpelt behind her. "We chased off some FireClan cats!" Her eyes are alight with excitement. Pebblestar turns to Laurelwing, patrol leader. "Come to my den." He mews. She does so, while Owlpelt goes to talk to his sister Poppyfur. Brightsong sighs. I turn, and she's back to staring into space. I grab her, and Sunshadow, and drag them outside camp. "We need to talk. What do we tell Pebblestar?" I mew. Brightsong shrugs, and drags her claw int he dirt. Almost like she's scratching a name, but she scuffs it over before I can see. Sunshadow looks at us like we're crazy. "We tell him about the dream! We need to know!" Brightsong shakes her head. "He'll ask too many questions. I'll ask Dawnpetal. She was a part of the Clan before us." With that, she scampers off. But not towards camp. To Bush Den. But I shake it off. She needs to think. I turn to Sunshadow. "I'll ask Dawnpetal." I head back inside camp, and find the elderly she-cat sunning herself. She looks up when I walk over. "Hello Rainsplash. What can I do for you?" Before I back out, I mew, "Who's Sunheart? Who's Darkshadow? What's The Battle of the Shadow Bringers?" She looks at me, startled. "I-I have no idea. Ask-ask your father." Then she runs back into her den. Well that got us nowhere. But before I go back to my den, I realize something. Her eyes flickered with fear when I asked. They know more. Only thing is, they don't want us to know.

Chapter 3 ~Our Cry~
<p style="margin-left:0pt;margin-right:0pt;text-align:left;text-indent:0pt"> When I woke up, was in a decent mood. For 30 seconds. Then I remembered Dawnpetal's tear of pain. She didn't want us to know something. I set out to find Pebblestar. He was sharing tongues with Robintail as I approached. "Hello Rainsplash." He mewed. "What can I do for you?" I looked at my paws. "I need to talk to you privately." I mewed. Robintail got up and stretched her back. "I'll go." She padded, away, and my father turned to me. "Should we go into my den?" I nodded, and we climbed up. Once we came past the hanging lichen he turned to me. "What is it Rainsplash? Tom troubles?" I rolled my blue eyes. "More like you lying to me." My father's gray pelt bristled. "When have I ever lied to you?" I looked him straight in the eyes. "Sunheart. Darkshadow. Battle of the Shadow Bringers." I mewed. Pebblestar stared at me, blinked three times, and meowed, "How in the name of StarClan do you know about this! We as a Clan agreed to never tell any cats who came after the battle what had happened. How do you know?!?!" I looked at my paws, trying to avoid his burning eyes. "Sunheart came to Brightsong in a dream, telling her that we needed to learn about our past." Pebblestar stared off into space. "She always knew what was right." He murmured. I turned away. "I'll go." Pebblestar shook his head. "You should know. If Sunheart told you, then it must be so." I turned back. My father looked a hundred moon older, as he recounted. "Many moons ago, there was a storm. Sunheart, then Sunpaw got struck by lightning." I gasped. "Did she die?" Pebblestar shook his furry head. "No. She did not. Instead, every night when the sun set, she turned into a villainous she-cat named Darkshadow. Darkshadow killed many cats, including Hailstar, who was leader then, Minnowleap, Ashpaw, Mousepaw and Dawnpetal's only kit, Aspenkit. There were more cats, but it would take me a very long time. Minnowleap was Sunheart's mate, and after he died, Sunheart became suicidal. I saved her, and I did love her. Maybe she loved me, maybe she never got over Minnowleap." His eyes stared at the air again. "Twigclaw, the medicine cat before Cherrywing, took Sunheart to Starpool, and separated Darkshadow's spirit from Sunheart. They thought they could kill her right away, but she escaped, and took over the Clan. She killed more cats, while Sunheart, Twigclaw, Cherrywing and I had retreated to a grove in the forest." He smiled at me for a moment. "You would call it Bush Den" My eyes widened, but kept my mouth shut. Pebblestar went on. "We gathered cats of all Clans, and groups of loners to help us fight Darkshadow, after Cherrywing found out that Darkshadow had summoned an evil called The Shadow Bringers. We fought them, and Sunheart beat Darkshadow. Only thing is, Darkshadow managed to control her army while inside Sunheart, and so Sunheart had to kill herself to win the battle once and for all." He blinked his blue eyes. "There. You know now." I nodded and left the den. But something tells me there's more. More to what he tells me. But I don't want to press him, so I scamper down. Willoweyes stops me right away. "You and your sisters need to spend more time with other cats. Sunshadow went hunting alone, and Brightsong is helping Cherrywing collect herbs." I nod. We've always been so close. At that moment, Sunshadow comes into camp, and puts down a mouse on the fresh kill pile. Willoweyes turns back to me. "I want you to patrol the border by the abandoned twolegplace." I widen my eyes. "But no cat ever goes there! It's full of crow-food, and twoleg waste!" Willoweyes nods. "I know, but it's been a while. Maybe you'll find something useful." I nod. "Whom shall I take with me?" Willoweyes shook her head. "You misunderstand. I want you to go alone." My heart starts to thump. But I reply with a steady gaze. "Yes Willoweyes."

<p style="margin-left:0pt;margin-right:0pt;text-align:left;text-indent:0pt"> I creep along the border, trying not to make myself noticed. I'm scared. There' s no cat here, yet I have the horrifying suspicion that there's something watching me. I creep out of the bushes, and sniff around the group of nests. The scent of crow-food is so overwhelming, that I can barely breathe. Maybe I collapse for a sunrise. Perhaps I collapse for two moments. But when I awake, I'm still here. And there's a tom and a she-cat crossing our borders.

<p style="margin-left:0pt;margin-right:0pt;text-align:left;text-indent:0pt"> Without a second thought, I leap on top of the tom and hiss. "What are you doing on our territory!?!?" I spit. The she-cat backs away, scared. "I'm sorry!" She mews. Her aqua blue eyes show genuine fear. I unflatten my ears, but keep my claws unsheathed. "Who are you, and why are you here." I mew. The brown tom steps up. "I'm Kuso, and this is Aqua. We're very sorry. We were attacked earlier by something else. Aqua's hurt real bad, and she's expecting kits." I turn to the gray she-cat. She's expecting kits alright. I nod. "They should be here soon by the look of it. I'll take you back to camp. My father wouldn't turn you out." Kuso nods. "Thank you-er," I dip my head. "Rainsplash." He nods again. "Thank you Rainsplash." I turn back to Aqua. "Come on."

<p style="margin-left:0pt;margin-right:0pt;text-align:left;text-indent:0pt"> We make it back to camp in good time, considering their wounds. Pebblestar leaps down the second I enter camp. "Who are you?!" He hisses. I motion with my tail to back off. "Relax! Aqua's expecting kits. They'll be here soon, and she might be weak. They were attacked by something earlier. " The fire in his eyes dies. He looks at Aqua. "Head to the nursery. I'll send Cherrylegs to look at your wounds." Pebblestar turns back to Kuso. "And you are?" The brown tom dips his head in respect. "I'm Kuso. Aqua and I met around by that stinking nest, and then were attacked by something yellow." Pebblestar nods. "May have been a fox. I don't know. You aren't as bad as Aqua, so she'll be looked at first." Privately, I knew that Kuso was worse, but because Aqua was so close to kitting, it seemed like she needed the most attention. Kuso replies quickly. "Thank you. She was a kittypet before. Her twolegs began to hurt her, so she escaped." "How do you know this? Pebblestar inquires. "And where did you come from?" The brown tom coughs. "She told me this when we met up. I was a loner around here, trying to avoid cats. I just wanted to get Aqua a safe place for her kits to be born." Pebblestar smiles. "She is a wonderful cat. I'm sure you needed too." Kuso seems to take this the wrong way, and abruptly mews, "I'm going to lie down. Goodbye Rainsplash." He meows to me, then goes to lie down near the nursery. My heart flutters. He seems so sweet. Then I shake myself. He has a mate already! Besides, once Aqua's kist are well enough to travel, they'll leave. I won't know him for long. He's just another tom! I tell this to myself, but I'm not so sure that I believe it.

<p style="margin-left:0pt;margin-right:0pt;text-align:left;text-indent:0pt"> The sun starts to set, when Brightsong calls me over. "Rainsplash! Pebblestar is thinking of going to the other leaders, and requesting a gathering!" A gathering? I tilt my head. "But they always end in disaster!" Brightsong nods. "He thinks that the Clans can do this. After all, we united for the battle!" I nod. I don't remember telling Brightsong, but I assume Pebblestar told her after I left on that patrol. Aqua pads out of the nursery, and basks in the warm evening sunlight. Suddenly she gasps and yells at a cat that's just entered camp. "There! She's the one that nearly killed me!" I turn and my heart almost stops. Beside me, Brightsong stiffens. The cat Aqua is yowling at, is Sunshadow. <h2 style="margin-left:0pt;margin-right:0pt;text-align:left;text-indent:0pt"> Chapter 4 ~Our Split~

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;tab-stops:28.3pt 56.65pt 85.0pt 113.35pt 141.7pt 170.05pt 198.4pt 226.75pt 255.1pt 283.45pt 311.8pt 340.15pt; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none">'' Tell me this isn't true. ''

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;tab-stops:28.3pt 56.65pt 85.0pt 113.35pt 141.7pt 170.05pt 198.4pt 226.75pt 255.1pt 283.45pt 311.8pt 340.15pt; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none">'' Tell me she's mistaken. ''

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;tab-stops:28.3pt 56.65pt 85.0pt 113.35pt 141.7pt 170.05pt 198.4pt 226.75pt 255.1pt 283.45pt 311.8pt 340.15pt; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none">'' There's no way my sister is a killer. ''

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;tab-stops:28.3pt 56.65pt 85.0pt 113.35pt 141.7pt 170.05pt 198.4pt 226.75pt 255.1pt 283.45pt 311.8pt 340.15pt; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"> My heart pounds. The clearing is silent. Sunshadow is staring at Aqua.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;tab-stops:28.3pt 56.65pt 85.0pt 113.35pt 141.7pt 170.05pt 198.4pt 226.75pt 255.1pt 283.45pt 311.8pt 340.15pt; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none">'' Aqua has to be wrong. ''

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;tab-stops:28.3pt 56.65pt 85.0pt 113.35pt 141.7pt 170.05pt 198.4pt 226.75pt 255.1pt 283.45pt 311.8pt 340.15pt; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none">'' She just has to be. ''

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;tab-stops:28.3pt 56.65pt 85.0pt 113.35pt 141.7pt 170.05pt 198.4pt 226.75pt 255.1pt 283.45pt 311.8pt 340.15pt; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"> Pebblestar jumps down from his dean, racing up to Aqua with menace in his normally calm amber eyes. "How dare you accuse my daughter! She is innocent! Look at her! Does she seems like the kind of cat that kills for enjoyment?!?!" Aqua shudders and backs away, but she's run into Robintail, who's russet pelt is bristled, tail swishing like mad. "My daughter would never to any such thing!" She spits. Aqua crouches down, her blue eyes wide with fear. "She-she did! I swear by my own life! By anything!" Pebblestar is bristling, teeth bared. Sunshadow is just standing there, her green eyes filled with horror, and… something else. Fear? Shock? Alarm? Or is it guilt…. I shake myself. ''There's no way Sunshadow attacked them. Sure, she's headstrong, but she's not a murderer! ''   Sunshadow turns to the terrified she-cat. "There must be some mistake. Maybe the cat attacked her looks like me! Don't hurt her!" She mews. Pebblestar unflattens his ears, but he keeps his claws unsheathed. "I'm sorry. There are many cats who look like her, I suppose you just thought wrong." He turns to go back to his den with Robintail, but stops beside me and Brightsong. "Keep an eye on her." He mews. "Just in case." Brightsong nods, but I still have a question. "What about Kuso?" Pebblestar mews, "No, I don't think he's a risk." Then he scampered up to to rocks. I felt my tail droop in disappointment. Brightsong notices right away. He tail fluffs up as she gasps. "You like him, don't you!" She mews excitedly. I shake my head. "No way! He's just another tom!" Brightsong narrows her eyes. I admit defeat. "Fine! Yes! I do!" Brightsong curls her tail is delight. "Congratulations!" She cries. I shake my head. "He has Aqua. Besides, he'd never like a she-cat like me." I mew bitterly. Brightsong licks my ears. "He doesn't know what he's missing." She mutters. "Any tom would be lucky to have you." I roll my eyes. "I doubt it." At that moment, Willoweyes bounded up. "Good. I want you to patrol down by the sunken twoleg bridge. Just the two of you." We nod, while she calls for Fuzzyclaw and Poppyfur to go hunting with Snowstripe and Sunnytail.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;tab-stops:28.3pt 56.65pt 85.0pt 113.35pt 141.7pt 170.05pt 198.4pt 226.75pt 255.1pt 283.45pt 311.8pt 340.15pt; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"> The patrol goes well. Everything seems in order, until we get closer to camp, when we see Zachfeather and Hazelheart talking secretly. I'm content to just move along, but Brightsong insists we listen. The fire in her eyes is haunting, so I crouch down, and angle my ears towards them. Hazelheart mews. "Please Zachfeather. It would mean everything to me. Please." Zachfeather sighs. "Fine. You've pestered me so much. I'll be your mate, if you want it so much." He mewed. Hazelheart gushed, "Aw thank you! I knew you'd see sense!" They grew close and entwined their tails. Brightsong let out a gasp of fury, rage and pain. Then she took off running in the other direction, tearing through the bracken. I cried out, but she was gone. At that moment, Zachfeather broke off, and bolted out from the small grove to see me. "What's going on? He mews." My throat chokes up. "Brightsong. She just ran off, and I don't know what's wrong." I know I'm lying though. I have a pretty darn good idea of what's wrong. And without a second thought, I charged after my sister, leaving a bewildered Zachfeather behind.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;tab-stops:28.3pt 56.65pt 85.0pt 113.35pt 141.7pt 170.05pt 198.4pt 226.75pt 255.1pt 283.45pt 311.8pt 340.15pt; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"> "Brightsong! Brightsong!" I call. There's no response, but her scent can't hide. I've tracked her to Bush Den. I know she's here somewhere. I lean down and mew softly. "Brightsong? I'm not going to hurt you. Please tell me where you are." The forest is quiet, except for the chirp of a bird, or ribbit of a frog. I drop my tail. "You win." I mutter, and lean down to lick my wind-ruffled pelt. Suddenly a stifled sob comes from behind me. I turn around, and a tuft of ginger fur is stuck the the brambles. I poke my head into the bracken. "Are you okay?" Brightsong is crying. Her face is caked with tears, and her eyes are red and swollen. "No! I'm not okay! Where have you come from?" I lie down next to her. "I followed you. You started crying. I think you have something to tell me." Brightsong nods. "Want to know why I've been cutting my words off? It's so I wouldn't give anything away." I nod, trying not to tread on her tail. "What are you trying to hide from everyone?" Brightsong coughs, and mews, "I love Zachfeather. I've had a crush on him since we became apprentices. He always seemed so cool, even though he used to be a kittypet. I wanted to impress him, and I regretted becoming a medicine cat, because I loved him so much. I purposely messed up the herbs, and forgot stuff, so I could tell Cherrywing that I wasn't fit to be a medicine cat. She believed me. So I trained as a warrior. I was happy, because I thought I had a chance. I guess it proves that I should have just stayed as a medicine cat. I'm clearly not good enough for him." She spits. "I hate Hazelheart! I shouldn't but I do!" She hisses with contempt. I lick Brightsong's ruffled pelt. "It'll be okay." I mew softly. "It will work out in the end. I promise." She shakes her head. "Litter-mates are forever. They're supposed to stick together all the time. But they don't. Just look at Moonpaw, Redpaw and Littlepaw. They used to be inseparable. Now they barely ever talk. It's happening to us." I nod. "I guess, but all the same, litter-mates are forever. No matter what, we will always be us. Brightsong, Rainsplash and Sunshadow." She smiles. "I guess. It just seems like we're splitting. I don't want to." I purr. "Me neither. I don't think we will." I trail off. "I'm thinking about that prophecy. I'm scared. What does it mean?" Brightsong shrugs. "I wish I knew Rainsplash. I really wish I knew."

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;tab-stops:28.3pt 56.65pt 85.0pt 113.35pt 141.7pt 170.05pt 198.4pt 226.75pt 255.1pt 283.45pt 311.8pt 340.15pt; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"> We return to camp soon. Willoweyes is out of camp, so she can't question where we were. Sunshadow is resting beside the gorse bush, and we join her. She looks up as we approach. "Hey. Good patrol?" I exchange one look with Brightsong, and the flash of her eyes tells me not to say a word about what happened in Bush Den. That's one secret I'll make sure to keep. "Yes. We didn't run into trouble. We just went hunting, and ended up not finding anything." I mewed flatly. Sunshadow yawns. "That's too bad. We could do with some prey right now." I hesitate for a moment, then dive into my question. "Did you really attack Kuso and Aqua?' I burst. Sunshadow looks at me as if I've just grown a second head."No! Of course not!" She meows. "I'm your sister! Do you really think I would do that?" She lashes her tail. "I thought you knew me better than that." She mutters. Brightsong quickly rushes to the rescue. "We know that you're loyal, we just thought that you might have thought they were intruders. Being as loyal as you are, you tried to get them out of our territory." Sunshadow looks up. "Oh, I thought you were accusing me. I'm not blood thirsty." She turns her head aside. "Duskpool's just kitted. Treetail's in there now." I turn around, and sure enough, the brown tom is sitting and staring at his kits. "How many?" I mew. Sunshadow mews, "One tom and one she-cat. She named them Dirtkit and Rushkit." Brightsong sighs. "Wonderful. More warriors." She stares off into space. Turning, I see she's staring at Zachfeather. No surprise there. She sighs. "I wish." I lick her pelt and murmur, "One day you'll meet a tom who likes you for who you are." She purrs and licks my pelt. "Alright." She pads away.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;tab-stops:28.3pt 56.65pt 85.0pt 113.35pt 141.7pt 170.05pt 198.4pt 226.75pt 255.1pt 283.45pt 311.8pt 340.15pt; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"> The next quarter moon passes by so fast, I can't keep track. All I know is that the three of us are never together. Like we've spilt entirely. The night before the full moon, I'm sitting in camp, chatting to Kuso. "Aqua will start kitting anytime soon." I nod. And then you'll have to leave. I think, my heart pounding. I don't want him to leave. But he has a life outside of us. I'm content to stare into his warm brown eyes all night, but Moonpaw charges into camp, pelt bristling and blue eyes alight with fear. "Hazelheart is dead!" My eyes widen, till I think they will burst. I look at Sunshadow who's just come out of the Warriors Den. Her menacing posture confirms my worst fear. After all, Brightsong's not in camp.

<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;tab-stops:28.3pt 56.65pt 85.0pt 113.35pt 141.7pt 170.05pt 198.4pt 226.75pt 255.1pt 283.45pt 311.8pt 340.15pt; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none">Chapter 5 ~Our Shock~

<p style="margin:0.0px0.0px0.0px0.0px;font:12.0pxHelvetica">My heart is beating like mad. With what little energy I have left, I exchange a glance with Sunshadow. I don't want to believe this. Brightsong would never kill a cat. But I she said she hated her. No other cat had a motive. No other cat held a grudge. The only thing that I can think is, Thank StarClan no other cat knew about Brightsong's grudge. Snowstripe and Kuso pad up. "We need to find that cat!" Hisses Snowstripe. Kuso nods. "How dare they hurt one of our- I mean your clanmates!" Kuso's slip makes me wonder. Does he want to be a part of DewClan? But I hake that off. This is no time to be thinking about my love life. Willoweyes jumps down and looks at the three of us. "Snowstripe and Rainsplash. Get Moonpaw to take you back to where she saw Hazelheart die. Kuso, I want you to come with me." Willoweyes can't possibly suspect Kuso of killing Hazelheart. We charge after Moonpaw, who's leading the way. Her silver pelt still tuck up. She takes us on a twisted path. it goes so far that we've nearly left our territory. Moonpaw finally stops right by the gorge. "Here." She mews, nearly breathless. Below us lies Hazelheart's bloodied body. Twisted at unnatural angles. Her once glossy black pelt is unrecognizable. It pains me that my sister would kill her. It's so hard to believe. But the claw marks on her neck and belly are so like my own that I know I'm right. But just so it doesn't look suspicious, I turn to Moonpaw. "Did you see what attacked her?" I mew. Moonpaw shakes her head. "It was so fast. Some cat pushed me aside and killed her in a flash. By the time I got up, the cat was gone." Snowstripe sighs. "That doesn't give us much to go on." She looks over at me. "Do you know any cat that might have had a grudge against her?" I thought it might be Willoweyes or the rouges staying with us, but they were all in camp." I shake my head. I won't give my sister away. I want to give her a chance to come clean first. Moonpaw hangs her head. "I wish I could have caught the cat. I would have shredded them to pieces, no questions asked." I shiver. Brightsong. What have you gotten yourself into?

<p style="margin:0.0px0.0px0.0px0.0px;font:12.0pxHelvetica">We return to camp. I hate myself for not keeping an eye on her. Pebblestar confronts me as soon as we return. "Did you catch the cat?" He mews. We shake our heads. I put Hazelheart's body down. "I'm sorry. There was nothing we could do." I meow. My father sighs. He seems so old. "I hope she finds StarClan well. She was so young." I nod. Snowstripe joins her brother, Owlpelt, while Moonpaw runs up to Laurelwing and Stickwhisker. Laurelwing clutches her tight. "Don't leave me, my precious daughter." She mews. I turn about and see that Brightsong has returned. She smells of river water, confirming that she did kill Hazelheart. I pad up to her, and we sit with Sunshadow. For a moment everything seems fine. Brightsong puts some prey she caught on the fresh kill pile. During that time, Sunshadow mews to me. "She told me about the Zachfeather/Hazelheart thing." I nod. "I can't believe she would kill a cat like that." Sunshadow blinks. "I doubt it was her." Brightsong returns quickly. "Why is everyone so nervous?" She mews. "I've never seen Willoweyes so alert." I narrow my eyes. "Let's head out of camp."

<p style="margin:0.0px0.0px0.0px0.0px;font:12.0pxHelvetica">Soon as we leave, Brightsong looks at me. "What's going on?" She mews. I growl at her angrily. "It has to do with the fact that you murdered Hazelheart! I know you hated her, but that was no reason to kill her!" Brightsong's gray eyes grow wide. "Hazelheart is dead?" She mews faintly. "Don't play innocent on me!" I hiss. "I know it was you. There is no other cat with a motive to murder her! Besides, you even said that you hated her." Brightsong just stares at me, her eyes haunting. "I-I didn't." She replies. I lash my tail. "Then why were you washing in river water? To get rid of the blood?" Brightsong backs up. "I never touched her!" I roll my eyes. "Don' lie to me! It hurts me so much to know my sister is a killer!" I yowl. Brightsong's eyes water up, and she takes off running. "Follow her!" I mew. Sunshadow and I chase her as far as we can. But we can't find her. With a flurry of doubt we return to camp, only to find that Aqua is kitting. Cherrywing is sitting in the nursery, trying to help. "You need to eat this!" She mews. "It will help!" I cringe as Aqua lets out a yowl of extreme pain. Finally it all stops. Aqua has three healthy she-kits. I pad into the nursery to see. Aqua looks at them with pride. "I name them Berry, Willow and Cloud." She mews. I'm happy for her, but sad at the same time. ''As soon as her kits can travel, I'll lose Kuso. ''I head back outside, to see Kuso. "Happy to be a father?' I mew with a slight bitter add. He looks at me shocked. "I'm not the father. I met her by accident. I don't know who the father is. I care for her, but I don't love her." He mews. He stares at his paws. "Not like the way I love you." My heart nearly explodes with pure joy. "You-you mean it?" I mew, hardly able to breathe. Kuso nods. "Even if Aqua leaves when her kits can travel, I'm staying. I won't lose you Rainsplash." I purr and wrap myself around him. He entwines his tail with mine. I'd be content to stay that way forever. I never want to let go. Thank you.

<p style="margin:0.0px0.0px0.0px0.0px;font:12.0pxHelvetica">Kuso and Aqua make the descision to join DewClan. Kuso has been trained by many cats since he arrived, and Aqua will be trained after her kits are weaned. It's only been two nights since Kuso told me that he loved me. But it feels like I've had a lifetime with him. I've never felt so happy. There's one thing that's been bothering me though. Brightsong still hasn't come back. Part of me thinks that this proves that she is guilty. But the other part thinks that she is hiding because of fear.

<p style="margin:0.0px0.0px0.0px0.0px;font:12.0pxHelvetica">"Let all cats old enough to hunt, gather to here my words!" I snap out of my train of thought. Pebblestar looks down at the Clan. "Kuso, Aqua, to your promise to uphold the warrior code and defend your Clan, even at the cos of your life?" Kuso responds right away. "I do." Aqua seems a little hesitant, but she replies too. "I do." Pebblestar nods. "Then from this moment on, you will be known as Kusoheart and Aquasplash. StarClan honors your courage and integrity, and we welcome you as full warriors of DewClan!" I raise my voice as loud as I can. "Kusoheart! Aquasplash! Kusoheart! Aquasplash!" Yowls DewClan. The Clan disperses. The sun is setting, and Kusoheart goes into the centre of the clearing for his vigil, while Aquasplash heads back to the nursery to take care of her kits. I want to sit vigil with Kusoheart. But I can't. So I climb into my nest in the warriors den. I expect to brush against Brightsong's warm pelt. Then I remember. She's gone.

<p style="margin:0.0px0.0px0.0px0.0px;font:12.0pxHelvetica">The next morning, I awake to Kusoheart beside me. He lay in Brightsong's old nest, his chest rising and falling. I purr and pad outside the den. The last of leaf-fall's sunlight falls upon my back. I look around for Yellowpelt and Poppyfur. I remember that they mentioned a fox in the territory. For one fleeting moment, I wonder if it got my sister. I have to remind myself that I don't care about that murderous traitor. I don't care. Pebblestar leaps down and shoulders up to me. "We need to talk." He mews. I follow him into his stone den. He looks at me with pain in his eyes. "Where is Brightsong? She's been missing for 3 days. You don't seem worried, and haven't brought it up until now." He looks at me, concern in his blue eyes. "What's going on?" ''Mouse-dung! '' I try to plan my answer carefully. "She's gone? I thought she was just taking on extra patrols!" I choke up my voice. "I didn't know she was gone at all! We have to find her!" So we can prove she killed Hazelheart. Pebblestar nods. "I want you to take Kusoheart and Wingfur to go find her." I nod. "Of course."

We set off. It takes us a long time to catch a trace of Brightsong's scent. I turn to Kusoheart and Wingfur. "We should split up. Otherwise we won't have a chance of finding her." The toms agree. Wingfur heads off towards the thick forest, and Kusoheart takes the mountain ridge. I take the valley field. There's so way she'd go near Bush Den. I avoid it all together. The sun is setting. I need to turn around, but I can feel another cat's presence. I keep running, and crash into a lump of fur. For one moment I think it's Brightsong, but it's Sunshadow. I gasp. Why would she be here? She shakes out her fur. "Pebblestar sent me to try to find your patrol." She mews shakily. "Where are Kusoheart and Wingfur?" She inquires. I mew, "We had to split up. Kusoheart is in the mountain ridges, and Wingfur is looking through the thick forest." Sunshadow replies, "Well there' no point looking for them now. Let's keep looking for Brightsong." I nod, and we search or ages. Finally we turn around, and realize we're very close to camp. Wingfur appears out of the trees, and Kusoheart comes out of the bushes a moment later. "Any luck?' I mew. They shake their heads. I sigh, when suddenly I smell the stench of blood. "Follow me!" I mew. We run towards Bush Den. I don't know why we're here, but I know something's wrong. Lying on the ground is Pebblestar, bleeding out. His chest is still. I expect him to wake at any second, but he stays still. He's lost all 9 of his lives. We dip our heads in remorse. Suddenly I gasp, and look down. Stuck in Pebblestar's claws is a tuft of ginger fur. I exchange a look with Sunshadow. Her face is full of sheer horror.  The same thought runs through our heads. Brightsong has struck again.

Chapter 6 ~Our Renewal~
<p style="margin-left:0pt;margin-right:0pt;text-align:left;text-indent:0pt"> Tell me I'm dreaming. Please tell me this is all just a dream.

<p style="margin-left:0pt;margin-right:0pt;text-align:left;text-indent:0pt"> But it's no dream. Pebblestar lies dead in front of me. No cat speaks. Not until Wingfur attempts to pick up his broken body. I shake him off though. Sunshadow and I carry him back. The second we arrive back, cats break into wails. Robintail is crying, and I've never seen Willoweyes look so distraught. We lay the gray and white tom on the ground. The Clan gathers around him. "He was a great leader." Mews Laurelwing. "He always knew what was right." Meowed Stickwhisker and Ambershine. Redpaw, Moonpaw and Littlepaw just stare. We all stare. Finally Willoweyes speaks up. "I-I suppose I am to be leader now." She mews. "I say this before the spirits of StarClan, so they may hear and approve my choice. The new deputy of DewClan will be-" Her voice chokes up. "Will be Treetail." DewClan begins to weakly cheer. "Treetail! Treetail!" They mew. Willoweyes nods. "I must make my way to Starpool. Cherrywing, Rainsplash, you are coming with me." Me? I think. But there's no time to lose. I follow the two up the ridge to Starpool. We enter the cave. Willoweyes laps the water, and we all fall into a haze of sleep.

<p style="margin-left:0pt;margin-right:0pt;text-align:left;text-indent:0pt"> I awake in StarClan. 9 cats surround Willoweyes. I watch as 1 by 1, they approach. Pebblestar is first to appear. My heart leaps with joy as he gives his life. The rest of the cats seem to almost introduce themselves, as I have no idea who they might be. Cats named Beetlestar, Poppystar, Minnowleap, Littlefawn, Twigclaw, Ashpaw and then Hazelheart each give a life. Finally a golden she-cat steps up. I realize this must be Sunheart. Brightsong was right. She looks so much like Sunshadow. That's when something hits me. Sunheart. Sunshadow. Darkshadow. Sunshadow. It's been a combination of them. I hadn't noticed once. Sunheart gives her life to Willoweyes, and StarClan begins to cheer. "Willowstar! Willowstar!" I cheer too. I notice that Pebblestar has retreated from the others. He pads over to me. "Hello Rainsplash." He mews. I dip my head. "Father." I mew. He laughs. "You haven't changed." He looks at me carefully. "Brightsong did not kill me. Nor did she kill Hazelheart." I widen my mouth. "But then who did?" I mew. Pebblestar sighs. "I wish I could tell you Rainsplash. But I am bound by the laws of StarClan. But it was not Brightsong. You must find her." I nod. "Of course Pebblestar." I mew. He nods. "Good." And the dream seems to fade away. I awake on the stone cave.

<p style="margin-left:0pt;margin-right:0pt;text-align:left;text-indent:0pt"> The others are shaking out their fur. Willowstar's green eyes are vibrant. "Come on. We need to get back to camp."

<p style="margin-left:0pt;margin-right:0pt;text-align:left;text-indent:0pt"> We return to camp. Before anything else can happen, I mew to Willowstar. "I'm going to keep looking for Brightsong. I know we'll find her." She nods. "Take one more cat with you." My voice chokes. "Just one?" Willowstar looked confused. "Well, you don't need all of DewClan to help you find her." She meows. I nod, but a battle is raging in my head. Kusoheart or Sunshadow? My sister, or the cat I love? I shake my head. "I hate making decisions!"

<p style="margin-left:0pt;margin-right:0pt;text-align:left;text-indent:0pt"> Finally I make my choice. I pad up to Kusoheart. Sunshadow might be my sister, but I want Kusoheart by my side. I mew quickly, "We're supposed to go find Brightsong." I mew steadily. He gives me a look, his warm brown eyes seem to turn my legs to jelly. But his words turn my blood to ice. "I promised I'd join Sunshadow on a hunting patrol." My brain translates this to, "I think that you are a terrible cat, and I want your sister to be my mate. Then I shake myself. That's just my jealous side kicking in. He leaves, and I wonder who else I can take. Treetail, Willowstar, Cherrywing, and all the queens and kits are automatically out. I'm not about to bring any of the apprentices. The senior warriors will just try to be bossy, and Robintail would be distraught. Snowstripe, Poppyfur and Owlpelt are out training, and Rosewhisker is on patrol. This leaves me one option. Brightsong's going to hate me when she sees who I show up with, but that's not the point. I just need to find her.

<p style="margin-left:0pt;margin-right:0pt;text-align:left;text-indent:0pt"> I pad up to the cat I've chosen. "Zachfeather, Willowstar wants us to go find Brightsong." I mew. he turns, his white-blond pelt shining in the evening light. "Why me?" He mews. I don't bother to explain my reasoning, I just mew, "You're one of the best trackers we have. Most likely, you'll find her." "Oh, alright Rainsplash."He mews. "I'm coming."

<p style="margin-left:0pt;margin-right:0pt;text-align:left;text-indent:0pt"> We pad out of camp. "I suggest we stay away from the mountains." He mews. "Kusoheart said there was no trace of her." I nod. There's no chance she'd go for the fields/ Too easy for her to be caught. That leaves us with one option. Zachfeather reaches is at at the same second I do. "if we want to find her, we'll have to go to the Forbidden Woodland."

<p style="margin-left:0pt;margin-right:0pt;text-align:left;text-indent:0pt"> The Forbidden Woodland is a thick forest, filled with foxes, badgers and dogs. It seems impossible to survive there, but I can see Brightsong's feeble logic. No cat would dare go after her in there. We pad into it, uncertain, but she has to be here. I know Brightsong is hiding somewhere. We search for a while, until night falls. We decide to shelter under a shelf of rock. Zachfeather decides to ask me a few questions. "Why do you think Brightsong ran away?" He mews. I sigh. "Well, uh, I kinda thought that she, uh, killed Hazelheart." I mew awkwardly. Zachfeather looks shocked. "Why?" He mews. I stutter for a moment, then reply. "Well, uh, she kinda really hated her." Now Zachfeather is entirely bewildered. "Why would she hate her? Did they fight?" I turn my head away. I won't give away Brightsong's secret. She probably still likes him, despite everything that's happened. The white blond tom nods. "Sorry. That's probably personal." I nod. "Littermates are forever." I mew. He mews, "Can I tell you something important? You have to promise that you won't say a word to any cat." I nod, confused why he's trusting me. He looks at his paws, and takes a big breath. 'I never really liked Hazelheart. I mean, she's nice, but I didn't like her in that way. yet it was so obvious that she loved me, and she begged to be my mate. I said yes, hoping she'd finally stop." He stops for a moment. "Then she died. I really don't get anything." I look at him. "Sometimes she-cats are like that." I say. "If you'd said that you would think about it, then she would have stopped bugging you. It's how she-cats work." He looks at me. "why is your gender so complicated?" I laugh. "She-cats are not complicated. It's toms that are crazy. I mean, how hard is it to tell a she-cat that you like her?" Zachfeather turns away, and mutters under his breath, so I can hardly hear. "A lot harder than you think."

<p style="margin-left:0pt;margin-right:0pt;text-align:left;text-indent:0pt"> Finally I get to sleep. For the first time in a long while, I dream. I don't usually dream. But I don't question it. I'm standing in a thinly wooded part of the Forbidden Woodland. There's a fallen beech tree, wrapped in ivy, and a patch of orchids. In the fallen tree is Brightsong. I leap up to her, but she can't see me. She's living this. Brightsong stares at the ground. "Day 5." She mews quietly. "Dear Rainsplash and Sunshadow. I miss you guys. How are Pebblestar, Robintail and Willoweyes?" In saying this, I know she couldn't have killed Pebblestar. She would have known, otherwise. "Has Aqua kitted yet? If so, how are the kits? Is-is Zachfeather alright? Do you miss me?" She sighs. "I hope you're all okay. I miss you guys so much. Your sister, Brightsong." She seems to be stating a letter to us. She can't see us. She misses us. In my heart, I know we have to find her. We have to find this place. I have to get my sister back.

<p style="margin-left:0pt;margin-right:0pt;text-align:left;text-indent:0pt"> In the morning, I wake Zachfeather. "Wake up! I think I know where Brightsong is!" He jolts up instantly. "Where? How do you know?" I quickly mew. "A dream. Come on." We race throughout the Forbidden Woods all day. Finally, after hours of searching, we come upon the beech tree. I look around, but I don't see her anywhere. I turn to Zachfeather. "She's gone. What do we do?" He sniffs the tree. "She was here. I know she was. I guess she's just not here now." I sigh. "Brilliant." We wait for Brightsong, but she's not back by nightfall. The rainstorm seems to be brewing, so we shelter inside the beech. Zachfeather falls asleep. The rain on the tree is soft, rhythmic, and nearly lulls me to sleep. But I know that Brightsong's out there. I just know she is.

<p style="margin-left:0pt;margin-right:0pt;text-align:left;text-indent:0pt"> The next day, we scout around the area, finding good places to hunt. We catch traces of her scent, but no Brightsong. It seems almost hopeless. I want to find her, but it seems almost impossible. I want to curl up, and wake up in the warriors den, back at camp. Curled up next to my sisters and Kusoheart. The thought of him makes me sad. I hope he's alright. I think. Night sets in, and mist is lurking around the woodland. Zachfeather and I are coming back to the beech, when we see a sight that makes us stop in our tracks, and hide in the bushes. Brightsong has just walked into the half-clearing, and in settling down in the hollow tree. "Day 6. Dear Rainsplash and Sunshadow. I hate myself. I was a coward. I shouldn't have run. I want to go back, but I doubt they'll accept me. I know they don't miss me. I want to be home with you, but I'm not. I'm a terrible, jealous cat." She begins to cry. "I don't even know they way. home. I just wish that you would step out of the mist. To take me home. I want to be home." She sniffs. "I hope you're all okay. Your sister, Brightsong" She sighs, her eyes staring at an empty spot in space. I flick my tail at Zachfeather. "Come on. We should get her now." He nods, and we step out of the bushes. Brightsong's eyes widen, her face in sheer delight and happiness. She looks so relieved. "Rainsplash? Is that you?" She mews. I nod and rub my pelt against hers, and purring. Zachfeather smiles. I lick Brightsong's cheek. "We've come to bring you home." <h2 style="margin-left:0pt;margin-right:0pt;text-align:left;text-indent:0pt"> Chapter 7 ~Our Travel~ (AN: This chapter is very long.)

As the three of us pad towards camp, I hear Robintail mewing urgently to Treetail. "You can't send Sunshadow on patrol. I've already lost my other daughters and my mate, I'm not losing her!" Brightsong, Zachfeather and I pad into camp. "I don't think that a hunting patrol will be much of a problem." Robintail whips around, and her face is so happy as she runs over and collides with us. "Oh thank StarClan you're safe!" She mews. Her face buried in our fur. Brightsong winces, but she knows better than to protest. She's been missing for nearly a quarter moon. I pad away so that Robintail can fuss over Brightsong. Standing beside the warriors den, I see the cat I wanted to see most in the world. My face breaks into a smile as I charge towards the brown tom. He turns, and seeing me, begins to purr. I entwined my tail with his. "Oh Kusoheart." I mewed quietly. "I've missed you so much." Kusoheart purrs. "You don't know how long I've waited to hear that." We stand together, only breaking apart for a quick patrol. I can see the other cat's eyes following us, hearing Duskpool mew to Pondwhisker on how the nursery would be so full soon. But I didn't listen to the gossip, or rumours. I just stayed by Kusoheart, knowing that he would always be there for me.

<p style="margin:0.0px0.0px0.0px0.0px;font:12.0pxHelvetica">6 moons pass. I awake in the morning before any other cat, just to make sure that Brightsong is still there. She always is, but i feel the need to check. My brain spins wildly, as I recount what's happened.

<p style="margin:0.0px0.0px0.0px0.0px;font:12.0pxHelvetica">I poke my head out of the den, and see Rushpaw's brown pelt, sorting herbs. Her brother, Dirtkit, never made it out of kit-hood, dying of a terrible bout of black-cough. But Rushpaw seems to be doing well as Cherrywing's apprentice.

<p style="margin:0.0px0.0px0.0px0.0px;font:12.0pxHelvetica">Duskpool and Treetail's kits, Whisppaw and Mousepaw seem to be working well in the Clan. For some reason, Willowstar takes an interest in Mousepaw, as though remembering a cat from the past.

<p style="margin:0.0px0.0px0.0px0.0px;font:12.0pxHelvetica">Aquasplash's 3 kits are doing well, almost their time to become apprentices. I don't know who Willowstar will choose to mentor them, but I honestly hope to mentor Willowkit. She's very clever, and always getting into a bit of mischief. But she's a good, smart cat.

<p style="margin:0.0px0.0px0.0px0.0px;font:12.0pxHelvetica">Behind me, I hear Moonwing start to snore. She alone of Laurelwing and Stickwhisker's kits became a warrior. Littlepaw and Redpaw were attacked by rouges during their assessments. Moonwing still grieves for them. I wish that Sunshadow could have found them more quickly. Otherwise they might still be alive. I crawl out of my nest and stretch my legs. The morning light feels nice on my gray pelt. Treetail pads over. "Rainsplash, I want-" But Willowstar cuts him off. "I don't want Rainsplash on that patrol. I want to her to take Whisppaw hunting." Treetail nods. "Very well. I'll send Fuzzyclaw and Moonwing." I padded over to the apprentice den, only to find the dappled gray she-cat waiting for me. "Where to?" She mewed. "The stream." I replied quickly. She nods, and we hunt. We come back with a good haul. 3 mice, a blackbird and a squirrel. The second she puts it on the fresh kill pie, Willowstar calls a Clan meeting. "Let all cats old enough to hut, gather to hear my words!" She mews. I sit in the crowd, and look upon the white she-cat. She looks down at Aquasplash's 3 kits. "Today we are welcoming 3 new apprentices to DewClan. Until they have received their warrior names, they will be known as Willowpaw, Cloudpaw and Berrypaw." She paused for a moment. "Rainsplash, I want you to mentor Willowpaw." My eyes widen. "Me?" Willowstar nods. "You have shown to be modest and clever, and I believe you to mentor Willowpaw." I touched noses with the small white she-cat. "Willowpaw! Willowpaw!" Willowstar nodded, and went on to apprentice Berrypaw to Sunshadow. Everyone cheered until Willowstar mewed, "Brightsong, I believe you are the cat to mentor Cloudpaw." The Clan began to murmur uneasily. Owlpelt called out, "How can we trust her?! She's been missing! We only have the word of Rainsplash and Zachfeather of what she was doing!" Robintail turns around her eyes narrow. "You think my daughter is a traitor?!" She hissed dangerously. Owlpelt gulped. "I-I mean we-we have no idea-" Robintail's fur fluffed up. "She would never do anything to hurt her Clan! How dare you!" Willowstar mews sternly, above the hisses and growls. "Enough! Back off Owlpelt! I trust Brightsong, and you should to! She's not a traitor!" Owlpelt growled and backed up. Willowstar continues. "Brightsong has proved herself to be brave and loyal." She mewed with a odd glint in her eyes, as though daring any cat to contradict her. "I trust her with Cloudpaw." The Clan took up the cheer, but less strongly as they did for Berrypaw and Willowpaw. Before the Clan could disperse, Fuzzyclaw jumped to his paws. "Wait! I want to tell you something important." He waited for us to sit down. I whispered to Brightsong. "What do you think he'll say?" I mewed. She shrugged, clearly lost in her own thoughts. Fuzzyclaw mewed, "Poppyfur is expecting kits!" I whipped around to look at the brown and white tabby. Her belly did look bigger than usual, especially compared to Snowstripe, who was sitting next to her. Moonwing, Poppyfur's former apprentice begins to cheer. "Poppyfur! Poppyfur!" Sunshadow proceeds to take Berrypaw to learn to hunt. Willowpaw looked at me expectantly. "What are we doing today?" She mewed. I paused. "Just a moment. I'll take you on a tour of the territory. I need to talk to Brightsong first." She nods, and sits down. I pad over to my sister. "Brightsong, should I take cloudpaw with me today? You seem a little off beat." She snaps out of a daydream. "What?" I repeat my questions. She nods. "Yeah, good plan. I need to talk to Cherrywing." She mews, and heads over to the den. I quickly tell Cloudpaw what's going on, and proceed to show them about DewClan territory. We get back early, and both of them are still full of energy. So I decide to take them to see Bush Den.

<p style="margin:0.0px0.0px0.0px0.0px;font:12.0pxHelvetica">"Now be quiet." I mew. "No cat knows about this place." Cloudpaw nods, and Willowpaw blinks her soft hazel eyes. I show them around the clearing, and small bramble patches. As we head back, I tell them, "Remember. This place doesn't exist. We never here." They nod, and we settle back in camp. That night Brightsong sleeps well. A little too well. In fact, every cat seems to be in a fast sleep, except for me. I see a flicker of movement in the far corner of camp, and get out of my nest. Standing in the centre of camp is a pale she-cat. So pale, she's hardly there. Before I get a chance to wonder what's going on, she pads towards me. "Welcome Rainsplash." She mews softly. "I see your brain has wandered into the portals of time." I blink. "Am I dreaming?" Another voice from behind me mews snakily, "Let's move on Aurora. It's obvious she's stupid." The cat called Aurora looks over me. "Oh Ebony. Don't be so keen. I think she just doesn't understand yet." Ebony rolls her leaf green eyes. "Fine. You explain. I'm going check out the case in Sector 13b." Then suddenly, the black she-cat simply wasn't there anymore. I whip around to Aurora. "How-how did?" I mew. Aurora looks at me, with wise hazel eyes. "Rainsplash, you aren't dreaming, but you aren't exactly awake either." I don't even bother to ask how she knows my name. Aurora continues. "You are frozen in time. Ebony, she she-cat you saw before, and I are time travellers. We can replay the past and see the future." Her words leave me almost rooted to the ground. "You seek answers. I can tell by your aura. You want to know about the past." Her gaze becomes more serious. "Be warned. Not all answers are the ones you want." I shake my head. "What do you mean?" Aurora flickers. "My time is up!" She mews urgently. "Come to Cloud Mountain tonight, and I can speak to you properly." She mews, and starts to fade. "Come to Cloud Mountain!"

<p style="margin:0.0px0.0px0.0px0.0px;font:12.0pxHelvetica">I awake in my nest, Brightsong shaking me. "Rainsplash wake up!" She mewed. "Your fur was fluffed up, and you kept muttering something about time. Are you okay?" I flattened my fur. "Yes, I-I'm fine. Can you take Willowpaw for the day? I've been summoned by StarClan." Brightsong widens her gray eyes. "Of course! I'll go tell Willowstar!" She mews, and races out of the den. I just manage to get out of the den, and into the clearing when Willowstar charges over. "You've been summoned by StarClan?" She mews with shock. I nod. "yes. I have to go the Cloud Mountain tonight." I don't know if Aurora is part of StarClan, but it's my closest guess. Willowstar nods. "I'll notify Treetail. If you're going there, you better start now. It's a long journey, even further than Starpool, because you have to leave Clan territory. Will you be alright to travel alone?" I dip my head. "Of course. I'll get traveling herbs from Cherrywing, and then I'll set off." She nods, and pads to the brown tom. I pad into the rock cleft. "Cherrywing? Rushpaw?" I mew. Rushpaw skids into the sandy area. "Yes?" She mews. I mew quickly. She nods, and starts muttering. "Burnet, chamomile, daisy, and sorrel." She piled the herbs together. 'Enjoy!" She mewed. I quickly licked them up, grimacing at the foul taste, and left to go to Cloud Mountain.

<p style="margin:0.0px0.0px0.0px0.0px;font:12.0pxHelvetica">It took me all day, but I made it to the peak just before moon-high. I lay down on the only flat stone, next the the bubbling aqua pool, and slowly fell into a deep sleep.

I awoke in a moonlit glade, dew on the grass and fireflies floating in the air. Aurora stepped out of the far side of the glade. "Welcome Rainsplash. This is my home, and Ebony's." I nod, and look around. "It's beautiful." She laughs. "Most cats say that about us. We make our den over there." She nods towards a rock cleft. "It's amazing." Aurora blinks. "Do you recognize it?" I shake my head. Aurora looks at a flighted songbird. "This is Bush Den. Before it died, it was lush and green. This is the era that Ebony and I choose to live in, before the Forbidden Woodland, before the twolegs, before anything but cats and their prey." I nod. "Would DewClan's camp be here?" She nods. "yes, but it would look very different. You probably wouldn't recognize it, if you didn't know exactly what it was." I mew, "It makes sense." Aurora fixes her gaze on me. "You've come a long way for an answer. I can help you. You may be shown one statement. You will see many different scenes that all connect. You will get an answer. But be warned, it might not be the answer you really want." I nod. "I understand." Aurora meows, "You will never be able to see into the time portals again. Once you get your answer, you will never meet any of us again. Not me, not Ebony, and not any other cat that works with the time." I look around. "I'll never see you or this place again?" I mewed hesitantly. Aurora sighs. "They all say that. You'll get over it. Perhaps you'll dream of this place. But you'll never see me. Do you want to continue?' I take a breath. "Yes Aurora. I'm sure." she nods. "Good. Tell me what you would like to see, and you will be sent there. You will not see me, and no cat can see you. Everything will be rather blurred, in Sepia, or both." She mews. I reply, "I want to know who killed Hazelheart and Pebblestar." I mew. Aurora flinches. "That is a complicated wish. If you want to see it, you'll have to see things that happened before and after. It all relates to the same thing." I nod. "If it answers my questions." Aurora nods, and her hazel eyes become glassy. My vision is blurry, and the ground and sky swim before me. My brain feels like it's on fire. i feel ripping and dread. Live snakes seem to come out of my mouth, and I have the sensation that I've just spilt in half. This all happens in under a second. Suddenly I'm nowhere, then, I'm in the woods near where I found Kusoheart and Aquasplash. It's blurry, and sepia, but I can make them out. A yellow shape strikes out of nowhere, and slashes Aquasplash across the muzzle. That's why it's scarred. The shape strikes her, and she doubles over. Then the shape battles Kusoheart, and eventually rakes his back. He throws the shape back, grabs Aqua, and gets out. The shape leaves, and the scene changes. I'm near the cliff where Hazelheart died. I'm sure that's her, bending over the edge. The yellow shape streaks down from the hills, and shoves Moonwing, Moonpaw then, and shoves her aside. Then the shape slashes Hazelheart across the neck, and buries her claws her her belly. Hazelheart falls, and the shape streaks away, before Moonpaw can stand up. The scene changes again. I'm watching the shape race through the forest, and suddenly ramming into Pebblestar. The shape has their claws extended, and accidentally kills Pebblestar. He's gone. The shape is running, and fats but not before I see the glint in their green eyes. My eyes widen, as the scene changes. Redpaw and Littlepaw are burying some prey, when the shape charges out, and murders them so fast. I gasp, and she shape stares at them with triumph and savage. And that's when I recognize the face. My heart drops, and I want to die. The scene changes rapidly, so fast i can't see anything, but I get the stench of blood. It's so overwhelming that I want to keel over. I awake back in the glade, Aurora standing over me. "Are you alright? Your aura seemed faint. Did you get your answer?" She mewed. I nod. "Yes, but you were right. It wasn't the one I wanted to find out." Aurora brushes her pelt against mine. "Have faith. I trust you will find what you are looking for." Then she fades. Everything fades, and I'm lying on the cold hard stone or Cloud Mountain. The sun is just rising. Without a moment to lose, I almost fly down the mountain. One thought is on my mind. The only thing I need to do, is get home and find the real truth.

Chapter 8 ~Our Determination~
I charge into camp, my heart pounding, and mind racing. Brightsong runs into me, the second I return. "Rainsplash!" She mews, her eyes wide with terror. "Berrypaw is dead!" I gasp, jumping to the worst conclusion. Brightsong nods and continues. "Aquasplash was training with Sunshadow and Berrypaw. Rouges came out of nowhere, and killed Berrypaw! Aquasplash is still in shock." She mewed breathlessly. I nod and turn my head. "Where's Sunshadow?" I mew. Brightsong mews, "Out hunting with Rosewhisker." I nod, slightly distracted. "Come on. To Bush Den. We need to talk about what happened last night."

I take Brightsong out of camp, and to Bush Den. Here we sit on some cushiony moss. "What happened?" Brightsong mews. I gulp, and begin to tell her everything."And at the last clear thing I saw was the face of the killer. The scene then kept changing rapidly. So fast, I couldn't place it. But I smelt blood." I mew. Brightsong's fur is sticking up. "That's scary." She mews quietly. "You traveled in time." I nod. Brightsong licks her paws. "But you know who the killer is?" She mews. "We can tell Willowstar, and end this! They'll be banished!" Her gray eyes sparkle with excitement. I shake my head. "I-I can't." I mew. Brightsong looks at me. "Well, you can tell me. It's okay if it's Kusoheart. I promise not be hard on you." I shake my head. "I can't tell you now. But I promise, it's not him." Brightsong sighs. "Clearly, I can't change your mind. But when you are ready, please tell me. We don't want to lose anymore cats." I nod, and stare off into space.''What am I going to do? ''

"Snowstripe! Take Rainsplash and Willowpaw. I want you hunting by the sandy cliffs." Mews Treetail. I regretfully look up from my half-eaten vole, and pad over to join my apprentice and Snowstripe. The white she-cat looks at me. "Come on." We head over to sandy cliffs, only to run into a small black she-cat. She smells of FireClan. Snowstripe hisses and arches her back, but I tell her with a flick of my tail to back off. The cat looks so scared, I doubt it's an invasion. I turn to her. "What's wrong?" I mew. The she-cat replies, "I'm sorry, but FrozenClan is invading us! We're outnumbered! Please come! Froststar sent me to get help!" I turn to Willowpaw. "Go back and tell Willowstar! Tell her to bring a strong battle patrol, but leave behind enough cats in case FrozenClan goes for us next!" She nods, and runs off. Snowstripe turns to the black she-cat. "Who are you?" She mews. The she-cat replies. "I'm Nightpaw." We nod. "Take us to the battle!" We run across the fields and scorched grass. I can already hear the yowls of battle. My heart twists in fright. Cats are everywhere. I can barely place a familiar pelt. But I can see Froststar taking on Waterstar, and Appleglimmer fighting off Snowclaw. Without a second thought, I charge towards Mapleheart, slashing my claws across his flank. He turns around in surprise, leaving Hollyheart to take down me. He bites down on my scruff, but I shake him off, and quickly pin him down. He squeals like a kit, and turns tail. Not a second after does Mountaindew, the deputy, pounce on me. I spit, and rake his belly, but he's too quick, and bowls me over. I lean in tight and roll with my strength. I land on his back, and bite down on his spine. He throws me off, wounded, and charges into the thick of battle. I wince, seeing just how many FrozenClan cats are here. Without a doubt, this will be ugly. I'm about to give up, when I hear DewClan yowling a challenge. At the head of the patrol is Treetail, his brown pelt bristling with fury. I can make out Brightsong, Rosewhsiker, Fuzzyclaw, Wingfur, Kusoheart, Mousepaw and Willowpaw. With a pang, I see that Sunshadow is not among the cats brought. It would be the first battle we'd all fought in since we were apprentices. Treetail yowls at the cats. "DewClan, attack!" Soon it seems even. The Clans are all fighting, and there isn't much we can do. I slip into battle, side by side with Brightsong. We take down Mistfeather, and go on to get Shadowbreeze. All seems well till I collapse out of pure exhaustion. That's when I swear I feel long claws slashing down my throat, and hearing nothing. Only watching as my world goes white. ''What are we going to do? ''

"Rainsplash! Wake up!" i hear Brightsong's terrified mew. "She won't wake up! She won't wake up!" I try to move, but I hurt to much. I want to tell Brightsong that I'm okay, but I don't believe myself. I feel light as air, but heavy as stone. And nothing is coming together. Am I dying?

"Wake up." Mews a soft voice. "You're safe. Come on now." I raise my head, and see a golden she-cat. Her green eyes are warm. "Sunshadow?" I mew, confused. The she-cat moves her paws, and reveals a gold underbelly. So this isn't my sister. It's some cat else. "Are you... Sunheart?" I mew. The she-cat nods. "You are troubled. Walk with me Rainspalsh." I nod, and stand up. "Am I dead?" I mew. Sunheart shakes her head. "No. I have simply come to visit you." She mews. "If you were dead, would you see me instead of your father?" She mews. I shake my head, and follow her. Her paws seem to barely touch the ground. "So Rainsplash. What have you discovered?" Right away, I blurt out, "I know who killed Pebblestar, and everyone else." Sunheart nods. "Yes. Aurora told me about your journey." My tilt my head. "You know Aurora?" Sunheart nods again. "I know her and her sister quite well. But this is no time to speak of myself. What was your question?' I mew, "I wanted to know who killed Pebblestar. I had to know. I saw more than that. The scene kept changing, and I saw the killer's face." Sunheart looks over at me. "Were you not happy with your answer?" I shake my head. "I would have rather seen something else. Anything else." Sunheart licks my ear. "Have faith. Your time has not come yet." I look at her in surprise. "What?" Sunheart flashes her eyes. "You do not know then, I take it? Well, good. you should not know now. Not until we know the thrid's fate." Then she begins to fade. "Wait!"  i mew. "What's going on? What thrid one?" But there is no response.

"Rainsplash!" I hear Brightsong's mew, the second I awake. I'm lying in a nest in Cherrywing's den. Thank StarClan! Aloud, I mew. "Did we win the battle?" Brightsong nods. "yep. FrozenClan has learned their lesson." I nod. "I need to tell you now." Brightsong nods. "Whisper it to me." I gulp and mew a name into her ear. She looks at me in shock. "are you sure?" I nod. Brightsong's gray eyes stretch out in pure horror. "Why?" She whispers. I shake my gray head, reflecting on the name. The name that has now pained me for eternity.

"Sunshadow."

Chapter 9 ~Our Desperation~
Brightsong seems out. I guess it hurts her more to learn that our beloved sistser is a complete traitor. But I don't know what we're going to do. Only that we must hold on to what little hope we have left.