𝒯𝙷𝙰𝚆𝙸𝙽𝙶 𝐹𝚁𝙾𝚂𝚃 ─── 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘰𝘰𝘯 3.

『 𝙲𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝟷𝟻 』

DOVESONG LOOKED THROUGH the herb store hopefully, hoping that they were low on watermint so she could use that as an excuse to go to the place that Foxclaw told her to go to. She recited his words over and over again in her head. It's by the stream that we always met. In the thicket by the old willow tree.

The watermint supply was stocked, but it was growing old and wilting. Gross. But perfect. Dovesong grabbed a large leaf in her mouth and scooped up the old watermint in it. "Badgertooth?" she called as she emerged.

"Yes?" Badgertooth was just putting away some herbs after treating Flypaw, who had a training accident with Icepaw.

"I found this watermint, and it's old. I'm going to gather some more," Dovesong mumbled through the leaf in her mouth.

"Go ahead and go. Don't be long, though."

"I won't," Dovesong promised, although she believed she would be out for a while. "I'm going to the stream with an old willow tree beside it, if you were wondering."

"Thank you." Badgertooth didn't look up, but he nodded as she left.

Perhaps what Foxclaw wanted her to see was more stunning than she expected, and she'd be there for longer. She left the den and headed for the camp entrance. She buried the old watermint before she left.

***

Dovesong hurried down the path toward the stream. She pushed through the bushes. She would never forget this place. The gently flowing stream, the old willow tree whose branches extended across the stream, the sunlight that streamed through the countless little leaves that hung on the grayish brown branches. She could almost picture the nights that she and Foxclaw spent here, together, alone, without a care in the world.

If only I didn't have to keep it a secret. Dovesong thought it wasn't fair that she didn't even choose to become a medicine cat, yet every cat expected her to uphold the code. Yes, she tried her best, but like Mapleleaf said at the Moonpool, cats fall in love so easily. It was hard to resist a life with Foxclaw. Did he die so that I could be punished for my foolish actions? Dovesong wondered. She shook away the thought immediately, knowing that StarClan would never do something as cruel as that. She headed for the thicket that Foxclaw told her to go to.

In the thicket was the most beautiful patch of wildflowers. Whoa . . . why haven't I seen this before? she wondered, stepping forward to sniff one of the flowers. They released a fragrant, sort of calming scent. She could nearly feel Foxclaw's presence beside her. When her nose met the soft petal of the wildflower, darkness enclosed around her and her surroundings reappeared, but in a vast expanse of rocky plains. What is this place?

"Time is running out." The voice echoed around Dovesong, but no one was visible around her. The warning rang in her ears and made her head spin. She could see fire all around her, spewing up into the clear blue sky, changing it to dark gray with smoke. The fire surrounded her and invaded all of her surroundings until all was darkness.

Dovesong stepped back from the wildflowers, staring at that one, fear pulsing through her. "What was that?" she wondered aloud. "Time is running out for what? How am I supposed to solve this without knowing what I have to do?" She hoped that StarClan was listening to her pleas. "Tell me now!"

But there was nothing but the gentle breeze and the sway and rustle of the willow tree's branches. Dovesong wondered if Foxclaw sent her here to see that. What was coming? Time was running out for what? To go on the journey? They weren't even completely sure if the old FrostClan camp was the answer!

Perhaps we just have to have faith. That's the whole point of being a medicine cat, right? Dovesong turned around and headed for the stream again. Knowing that Badgertooth would notice that she came back without watermint, she collected some carefully. After she had them in a neat bundle, she left and began to limp toward the path to the camp again. Maybe if I talk to Badgertooth, we can get going really soon.

The sound of a twig cracking made Dovesong turn around. It was Foxclaw's murderer and FrostClan's third traitor, Snowtail. "What are you doing here?" she demanded, flattening her ears and bushing out her tail threateningly.

Snowtail ignored the question. "I just want to know where your friend is."

"Which one? The one you killed?" Dovesong remembered how Snowtail left the scene before Foxclaw died. She never knew if her traitorous Clanmate died.

Snowtail let out a mrrow of laughter that sent shivers down her spine. The white she-cat's green eyes made her feel like beetles were crawling under her fur. She sank her claws into the ground to stop herself from attacking her one love's murderer. "Oh, no, why would we want him back? He's nothing but a traitor. I want Moonclaw. Where did she go?"

"I don't know." Usually, that would be a lie, but she really didn't know where Moonclaw went. "I really don't know. And if I did know, I wouldn't have told you anyway."

"Oh, really?" Snowtail asked mockingly. "I know you know. I've had enough opponents to know what a lying cat looks like. Tell the truth."

"I am!" Dovesong hissed.

What Snowtail did next caught Dovesong by surprise. As quick as a flash of lightning, she had her pinned. "You might not know exactly where she went, but you know something. Tell me now. Unless you would like to spend some time back in our camp."

Dovesong's heart sped up. "I don't know!" she repeated desperately and fearfully. "Just let me go!"

"Hm," Snowtail hummed, sounding impressed. "You're a brave one, aren't you? A real challenge, too. Doesn't this seem . . . familiar?" Her eyes flashed evilly.

Dovesong realized with a flash of fear that it did seem all too similar. Will someone else die trying to save me? "Don't kill anyone else! You can take me if you want. But I won't tell you where Moonclaw went, and I won't let you hurt anyone else," she conceded. She immediately regretted it.

Snowtail let out another mrrow of amusement. "If that's-"

Dovesong kicked up at her with her hind paws, pain flashing through her broken leg when she bent it awkwardly. But she ignored it and stumbled to her paws. "But I won't forgive you for killing everyone I love!" she snarled, lashing out with her hind claw and raking it over her muzzle. She let out a cry of pain as her nose opened up and blood spewed out. "I can listen to whatever you have to say, as long as you don't fight me."

But the MoonClan warrior quickly recovered and jumped at Dovesong, skillfully pinning her again. "I would hate to lose to a FrostClan medicine cat," she sneered. "Now-about that deal we had."

"That wasn't a deal. Are you mouse-brained? Or are they all MoonClan warriors?" Dovesong asked, eyeing her mischievously. "You know you can't actually take me away. Or keep me away. You know what happened last time."

"Another try is never wasted," Snowtail pointed out. "Besides, I have a better idea for you."

Dovesong wondered what she meant a heartbeat after everything went black.