Warriors | A Prophecy Reborn: Book 4. (Hidden In Darkness)

~Hidden In Darkness: Chapter 3~

"Psst, Russetfire," Firpaw whispered.
"Nobody else can hear you, you know," Russetfire whispered in frustration. "And did you seriously just say 'psst'? I thought you disagreed with the stereotypes kittypets give us."
"Assumptions," Firpaw scoffed with amusement. "Anyway, Russetwhisker hasn't returned. I think that means she's either been replaced by a Dark Forest cat or she found Shadedclaw and is now helping him and the other StarClan Medicine Cats."
"Why wasn't I able to contact StarClan prior to discovering the tree?" she whispered, walking further into the den.
"I don't know, truthfully," Firpaw said with a shrug. "I think the tree is connected closer to the Medicine Cats only after they find it. But if that was the case, the dead Medicine Cats would be able to contact you as well."
"So, how come I can talk to you but not Redpelt?"
"I'm your brother, is that really so bad?" Firpaw said with a grin. Once the smile faded from his face, he added, "I think Redpelt really has been replaced with a Dark Forest cat. Greenstar isn't supposed to be with us, but he is. I didn't notice our father coming here when he died, so I think the Dark Forest has taken him..."
"Taken him? You say that like he died there too," Russetfire scoffed. "He didn't, right? Just to clear that up."
"That's just the thing! None of us know! We haven't had contact with the other side and we've only recently been able to contact the living."
"Okay. Well, what do you have to say about Fernstar, in the meantime?"
"What do you mean?"
"I mean she's been acting quite strange ever since my disappearance," Russetfire said hesitantly. "Were you here when she held the meeting?"
"No, I missed that because, for an odd reason, I'm needed on this side," Firpaw said.
Something in Russetfire's brain quickly clicked, and a question that had been irritating her for moons may finally be answered now.
"Firpaw," Russetfire said slowly, "how did you die?"
Firpaw scrunched up his nose, evidently angry or unimpressed. "Stonestar took me out to hunt the day after I became an apprentice. I didn't look where I was going and fell over an adder on the ground. The adder chased after me and Stonestar killed it, but I didn't know at the time and I kept running.
"After I thought I was safe, not caring to look, I stopped on the Thunderpath. I could barely smell anything and I was so tired I could hardly feel my paws. Stonestar shouted at me to move, and a split second later a monster came out of nowhere.
"I narrowly avoided being hit and ran over, eventually coming across Crabclaw, that big ShadowClan warrior. I didn't know where I was at the time and I'm pretty sure I'd basically passed out by the time he took me away to the abandoned Twoleg nest, but I ended up being interrogated until one of Half-Sight's followers had enough and decided to kill me."
Firpaw stretched and added, "But anyway, I heard Fernstar and Tigerfur weren't too sure where that tunnel under the tree leads. I can confirm it goes some place safe. Safer than here, anyway."
"Stonestar sent out search parties for you," Russetfire commented.
"Stonestar follows the rules whether he should or not. He didn't check anywhere. Technically, his ignorance was what killed me."
"I mean, maybe if you hadn't ran so far ahead of him, you wouldn't have been kitnapped by Crabclaw."
"Fair point," Firpaw said with a nod. "Anyway, are you guys ready to leave the Lake?"
"Another six moons and we should be," Russetfire said uncertainly. "I think it'd be better to leave as soon as we possibly can, but I understand Fernstar's concern."
"Oh! I forgot to mention something!" Firpaw said.
"What?"
"Well, you remember those stories we'd heard when we were kits? The ones Specklefern used to tell us, saying there used to be another Clan?"
"There's not," Russetfire muttered after a moment of hesitation. "There can't be! They all died when we came to this Lake."
"No, they didn't!" Firpaw insisted. "There's an elder here, she died not long after Russetwhisker and Silver-Eye! She's with Shadedclaw right now! She used to be of the Forgotten Clan."
"So, what happened to the Forgotten Clan then?" Russetfire said.
"Well, we left them behind, didn't we?" Firpaw said, suddenly angry. "The leaders we had in the Clans at the time decided they'd be fine to fend for themselves in the remains of the Lake.
"Flowertail says otherwise!" he snarled. "Flowertail says the ShadowClan leader at the time had opted to kill the Forgotten Clan! The only ones he left alive were the kits, queens, medicine cat and deputy with a few apprentices and warriors. He killed them without even a hint of remorse and Flowertail had been sent away for protection."
"Where is this elder now?" Russetfire asked. "Maybe Whitestripe or-"
"Wait," Firpaw interrupted her. "I'm not finished. StarClan, with help from me, other Medicine Cats and a few old leaders and special warriors, have been..."
He glanced sideways at Russetfire's patient expression and said, "Don't be mad, but we've been giving visions to... Stonestar's kits."
"Who, specifically?"
"So far, Spiraltail, Whitestripe and Reedtail."
"Oh. What have they been about?"
"You aren't angry?"
"Why would I be?" Russetfire asked. "Should I be angry? I can be angry if you want me to, but it'll have to be fake anger."
"Oh. Good. Well, most of them consist of the new territory and the future they could have there," Firpaw explained.
"Interesting. Care to share any more?"
"Spiraltail can," Firpaw said. "Or Whitestripe. I don't know if she's got the same power as Spiraltail or Grayfur's sister, but one of them might be able to show you at least something."
"All right!" Russetfire said, remembering the rest of the Clan was still asleep.
"Wait, wait! Before I go," Firpaw said, "I'd like to say one thing."
"Well, go on then! Spit it out!"
"You need to show them the Spirit Tree," Firpaw said. At Russetfire's puzzled expression, he added, "That tree from before, near the Winding River. It'll be connected to their powers. However it affects them, have something close by just as a precaution. While their spirits and minds are focused on grasping the power from the Tree, their bodies will be open for any evil spirits to jump into."
"So, show them the Spirit Tree and be careful," Russetfire repeated. Firpaw nodded before disappearing for the night.