Warriors: A Dangerous Path - Book Five (Completed)

Chapter Ten

Mudfur led Waterlily out of camp and to a rather swampy place up stream. She could see Sunningrocks just across the river and she knew the way home from there, but first she had to get the horsetail. Mudfur stopped at a small swamp. It was a pond that had a swarm of insects and looked as if all RiverClan cats used it for making dirt.

"This is where we keep the supply of horsetail. There is plenty of it. Feel free to take as much as you need."

Waterlily nodded her thanks and began picking a good amount.  As she made her way back to ThunderClan territory, the horsetail safely held in her mouth, her senses keenly attuned to her surroundings. The familiar sights and scents of the forest brought a sense of comfort, but her attention was suddenly captured by an unexpected sight. 

Nearing Sunningrocks, Waterlily's eyes widened as she spotted Shadowpaw and Shadepelt engaged in conversation. She narrowed her eyes in anger and disgust. He vowed to not sneak out again. She felt furious that he went and did it anyway. She crept a few tail-lengths closer and listened in on their conversation, hiding behind a bramble bush. The brambles clung to her thick fur, but she didn't care. She wanted to hear what they were saying.

"Our patrols follow a pattern, and our hunting grounds are well-defined. If ShadowClan were to strike at the right time and place, it could disrupt our prey supply and cause chaos." Shadowpaw's voice wavered, the weight of his words settling upon him.

"Let's just hope that Tigerstar doesn't do that." Meowed Shadepelt.

Waterlily's claws dug into the earth as her frustration grew. Shadowpaw was giving out crucial information to another Clan cat. She wanted to race over there and stop him, but if she was caught spying, Shadowpaw would hate her forever. She narrowed her eyes, then silently slipped away back to camp. 

She paced inside the medicine den, wondering what to say or do to Shadowpaw. If she said something, she might jeopardize her friendship with him, but if she didn't, she may jeopardize her whole Clan. She softly sighed then stopped pacing as she saw Shadowpaw approaching back into camp. She flexed her shoulders, but dug her claws into the ground to make herself secure in case she actually went lunging at him.

Shadowpaw looked over at her as he passed by. Waterlily straightened up and pretended that she was counting something small like poppy seeds that were hard to see from a distance. Just as she looked back up, he was gone. She stopped counting and with a heavy heart, she made the difficult decision not to approach him. Instead, she resolved to closely observe his actions, making sure he remained loyal to ThunderClan and did not further endanger the Clan with his secret meetings.

The more she observed Shadowpaw's actions and listened to his conversations with Shadepelt, the more she became convinced that there was something sinister at play. The thought of Shadowpaw being manipulated by Tigerstar, using their secrets to undermine ThunderClan's safety, sent shivers down her spine.

Waterlily then padded into Bluestar's den. Bluestar was sound asleep and woke up with a startle. "Waterlily." She meowed, panting from fear. "I thought you were... never mind..." She shook her head as if to clear it. "What can I do for you?" She added quickly.

"I want to go to the Moonstone." Waterlily confessed rather quickly. 

"Now? It won't be moon high when you get there."

"I know." Waterlily dipped her head in respect. "I plan on going there once the moon rises again. I must speak with StarClan. I just..." She paused, wondering what all she could tell Bluestar without worrying her. "have a lot on my mind and need some answers."

"Very well." Bluestar meowed, then laid her head back down and closed her eyes to sleep.

Waterlily left in silence and padded back to her den. She sat just outside the entrance and looked up at silverpelt. Her amber eyes glittered golden as the sun rose just over the trees. 

***

Waterlily paced anxiously in the medicine den, her eyes constantly darting toward the entrance. The anticipation had her on edge, and every passing moment felt like an eternity. She yearned for the moon to rise, casting its silver glow upon the forest and signaling the time for her to leave camp. The sun, seemingly relentless, continued its slow descent across the sky. Waterlily found herself glancing at the shadows cast by the trees, hoping they would lengthen and signal the approaching dusk. 

Impatiently, she watched as the sun dipped lower, its warm golden rays fading into hues of orange and pink. The world around her seemed to hold its breath, as if even the air knew that something significant was about to take place. Yet, time seemed to drag on, prolonging her restlessness and increasing her anticipation. Waterlily tried to distract herself by organizing the herbs in the den, meticulously arranging them in neat piles and checking their freshness. She even attempted to meditate, seeking solace in the calming rhythm of her own breath. But her thoughts kept wandering back to what all Shadowpaw said to Shadepelt. 

As the sky finally transformed into a canvas of twilight hues, Waterlily's heart skipped a beat. The first glimmers of the moon began to appear, casting a faint glow over the treetops. It was a sign that the long-awaited night was finally arriving. She padded out of her den and trotted up the ravine with ease. She scrambled through the gorse tunnel and she was finally on her way to the Moonstone. 

The forest was shrouded in an eerie stillness as Waterlily navigated the familiar path, her paws padding softly against the leaf-strewn ground. The moonlight filtered through the canopy above, casting ethereal patterns on the forest floor. It was a solemn and sacred journey, one undertaken by medicine cats throughout the ages.

Waterlily's thoughts swirled in her mind, weighed down by the secrets she had discovered. She couldn't ignore the growing unease within her, the knowledge of the potential danger lurking in the shadows of ThunderClan. She felt a deep responsibility to protect her Clan, but she also grappled with the bond of friendship that had formed between her and Shadowpaw. There was a pale glow beckoning her forward. She entered the sacred space and took a moment to offer her silent prayers to StarClan.

She laid down and touched her nose to the cold stone and wrinkled her nose from the shock. She then closed her eyes and let StarClan take over her sight and mind.

"Welcome young one." The familiar voice of Spottedleaf sounded just a tail-length in front of her.

Waterlily opened her eyes and saw Spottedleaf standing there. Her coat was brighter than ever. She raced over to her and rubbed her flank. "It's good to see you again." She purred.

"You have many questions." Spottedleaf mewed, sitting down and wrapping her tail over her front paws. 

"I am very concerned for Shadowpaw." She began.

Spottedleaf blinked slowly, letting her amber eyes sparkle from the rays of the sun above them. She listened to Waterlily talk about what Shadowpaw was doing and her worries for him. She nodded a few times in agreement, then responded once Waterlily was finished. "Secrets are delicate threads that can unravel trust and bring chaos. What does your heart tell you, Waterlily?"

Waterlily felt like she had skipped a beat. "I fear for my Clan's safety. Shadowpaw may not fully comprehend the danger he's putting us in. Yet, I also feel a sense of duty to protect him as his..." She paused for a moment. "As his mother in a way. I am torn between loyalty to my Clan and the bond I share with him."

"The path of a medicine cat is one of wisdom and discernment. Sometimes, tough decisions must be made for the sake of the Clan's well-being. Trust your instincts and choose what is best for ThunderClan."

Waterlily dipped her in thanks for the knowledge, but she felt like nothing was being answered. Then she thought of what his destiny could be and maybe they knew anything about it yet. "What about Shadowpaw's destiny? Have you been able to understand anything about that?"

"The threads of destiny are complex and intertwined, woven with purpose. Each cat has their own part to play, and sometimes, the unexpected brings forth the greatest change."

"But what about his purpose? What lies ahead of him?"

 "His path is uncertain, yet, in his struggles and choices, he will find his true strength. He carries within him the potential to become a guiding light or a harbinger of darkness. It is through his actions that his destiny will be shaped." She sounded as if other cats joined her as she spoke. Her voice faded into the light and then she was gone completely. Waterlily was alone once more.