Moonstripe's Prophecy

Chapter 10

Treepool gave Featherpaw, Tigerpaw and Blizzardpaw half a poppyseed each. Like Lilacpaw, they were quite
shocked about the prophecy. Treepool then led them, and Moonpaw, to Stormstar's den. They had to tell him EVERYTHING. Treepool called to him from outside his den. "Stormstar! May we come in?"
"Of course, Treepool," he answered. His eyes widened when he saw the four apprentices. "Well, hello you four. What can I do for you?" Stormstar asked kindly.
Treepool nodded encouragingly to Moonpaw. He stepped forward and faced his mentor.
"Well...it all started when Cloudstar visited me in a dream..." Moonpaw told Stormstar the whole story, even about the visions. He also told him what Treepool thought it meant.
"So...what Cloudstar was telling me, is that Featherpaw, Tigerpaw, Blizzardpaw and I have to journey to the Clans and save ShadowClan from the darkness that threatens them," Moonpaw finished in an ominous voice. He definitely had the story-telling skills his father had been praised for when he was still alive.
Stormstar was silent for a few heartbeats, his face expressionless. Then his eyes blazed with anger. "Moonpaw, do you know what those Clans did to us? To SkyClan?" he whispered angrily, stepping so close to Moonpaw that he could smell the tom's hot, rank breath. But Moonpaw didn't flinch.
"Yes, sir. Echoheart told me and my littermates the story of the Clans that drove SkyClan out the forest. But she also told us that it is in the past, and that we should not hold grudges against the Clans," Moonpaw said bravely. Featherpaw drew in a sharp gasp. No apprentice spoke to a warrior like that, let alone their leader. Suddenly he thought of his kind, gentle mother who had scolded him and his littermates when they had asked Sandfeather when her kits were arriving, but she was just a little plump. He had barely talked to her since Badgerfur's death, and he felt guilty. Now is not the time to think about this, he told himself firmly.
Stormstar looked at him, but there was no trace of anger on his face. He looked...guilty, somehow, as if he had done something wrong. Then the look vanished, and he said, "Yes, those are wise words, Moonpaw. But there is no way I am letting four apprentices journey on their own to the Clans. I'm sorry, it's just too dangerous." He lay back down as though the discussion was over.
Then, Featherpaw blurted out,"But we could go with our mentors!" She looked as shocked as Moonpaw felt when she fell silent. Featherpaw was usually so quiet. Then, Stormstar smiled. "That's not a bad idea, Featherpaw. Very well. Since StarClan obviously approves of it, you will journey to the forest, along with your mentors of course," Stormstar said. "And I shall come with you."