After a great drought destroyed much of ForestClan, warriors are low and they fear for their survival. But the cousins Silverpaw and Stonepaw are determined to become warrSiors, no matter what it takes.
"Come with me!" Wishpool mewed. "Single file through the tunnel! Hold your head high and your tail straight and . . ."
Stonevoice felt giggles inside her. They were coming up her throat . . . She burst out purring uncontrollably. Uh-oh. She started purring so hard that she fell over backwards. As she calmed herself and got to her feet, Wishpool smiled mischievously and marched out the tunnel entrance. Rainstorm and Icetail followed, Stonevoice behind them, and Moonbeam in the rear.
As the camp disappeared behind them, Stonevoice's good mood began wearing off. She walked without saying a word.
Wishpool broke the silence. "We're nearing the BlizzardClan border," He called back to them. "Keep quiet and don't do anything unless I tell you to."
Everyone, even Moonbeam, nodded their heads. So Wishpool lead them further until they reached the scent line. "Stop," Wishpool hissed.
Stonevoice stopped walking and crouched down. "What are we going to do?" Moonbeam asked. "Wait for a patrol, cross their territory, or go to their camp?"
Wishpool tilted his head to the side. Finally, he lifted it and spoke. "I think that we should wait for a patrol." He mewed.
"Good idea," Icetail sat down, and the others soon followed suit. The sun slowly set behind the trees, and Stonevoice found herself falling asleep.
"What are ForestClan cats doing napping on our territory?" Called a drowsy voice.
Stonevoice shot to her feet. They were faced by Whiteseed, Grassice, Youngtooth, and a small, fluffy silver she-cat Stonevoice had never seen before.
Wishpool stepped to the head of the patrol. "We are here on an important mission. We need to have some catmint. Our only resource is from the Twoleg nest behind your territory. Please let us pass."
"Why were you snoozing on an important mission?" Grassice butted in.
Wishpool hissed and dug her claws into the ground. "Because a patrol took so long to show up." He shot back at her.
Grassice leaned down to the fluffy she-cat. "ForestClan cats are lazy and greedy, Silverpaw." She mewed.
Wishpool let out a yowl of outrage and leapt at her.
"Stop!" Moonbeam yowled, clamping her jaws around his tail and pulling him back.
Grassice snorted. "So you can't even control your own apprentices?" She mocked.
Stonevoice bit back rage and stepped forward. "I was wondering the same thing," She mewed coolly.
Grassice glared at her. Stonevoice tried not to flinch and look away. Instead, she took a step closer to the border. "I think that if these SelfishClan cats won't let us pass, we should just go already."
"Good idea," Wishpool stepped up beside her. "Come on, let's go." He strode past Whiteseed, he hissed.
"Fine!" He mewed. "But you're coming to camp first!" He turned and led both patrols into BlizzardClan territory. Stonevoice wrinkled her nose. BlizzardClan cats stank of fish. As they reached the edge of the forest, she realized why.
Spread beneath, glowing red with the setting sun, was an enormous lake. Stonevoice felt familiarity ripple through her. This was the lake that she'd nearly drowned in when she was an apprentice. The one that Wickedcone had rescued her from.
She froze. Would they have to swim to get to the camp? Excitement pulsed through her. She loved swimming!
Whiteseed turned to the ForestClan cats. "To get to the island, you have to swim," He mewed.
Looks of shock, horror and disgust showed on the patrol's faces. Whiteseed smiled slightly. "I figured,"
Stonevoice turned to her Clanmates. "Come on! It'll be fun!"
"That's the spirit!" Whiteseed cried before diving into the water.
Stonevoice followed him. She leapt off of the edge, and splash! hit the water. It swallowed her,and for a moment, she was back at Mothermouth, flailing around underwater. But soon, her paws hit pebbles and she pushed off, breaking the surface. She took a deep breath and dove under again.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
She paddled with her legs and used her tail to steer her through the water. After along time of swimming, Stonevoice dug her claws into the far bank. She hauled herself out of the water and wasn't surprised to see that she was the first ForestClan cat to arrive.
As the others pulled themselves out behind her, Stonevoice took in her surroundings. She was in a small grove of trees, so she could easily see beyond them. BlizzardClan's camp seemed to be the island. Up at the end, there was a small pool of water sheltered by trees, right next to a large hill with barely any grass on it. This, too was under the trees. To the side of the hill was a large pile of rocks, next to that was an enormous tree, and then a larger pile of rocks, and then another hill, and then the very grove were Stonevoice was standing, and then another pile of rocks.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
"Come, follow me," Whiteseed mewed, gesturing with his tail. The ForestClan patrol followed him out of the trees.
The cats inside turned at the noise and started whispering. Hostile looks were coming from everywhere.
Whiteseed led them into the center of the camp. He then went over to talk to Wickedcone.
"Were are Wonderstar and Shineleaf?" Asked Moonbeam. "Shouldn't they be handling this?"
Grassice glared at her. "That's none of your business."
Moonbeam glared even harder until Grassice backed away. "Okay, fine, fine. Wonderstar and Shineleaf are currently-er-unavailable. Wickedcone is taking over until then. . ."
Moonbeam looked unimpressed with her answer, but turned away. Wickedcone leapt up in the enormous tree.
"Let all cats old enough to swim gather here under the Skybranch for a Clan meeting!" He called.
The cats turned and stared up at him. Wickedcone continued.
"Whiteseed has informed me that cats-ForestClan cats- have been found on the border. They were asking for catmint. What do you say?" He flicked his tail. "For strength, pool!" A majority of the cats moved over to the pool. "For generosity, Skybranch!" The few remaining cats moved under the tree.
"Very well." Wickedcone mewed."If you want catmint-you have to fight us for it."
