StarClan isn't real..

Chapter 9

"Let all cats old enough to run the moor join here beneath the Tallrock for a Clan meeting."

Yellowpaw lifted her head groggily. She peered outside the apprentices' den, squinting against the pale dawn light. Why is Applestar calling a meeting so early? Yellowpaw rose to her paws, pausing to glance at Larkpaw. The handsome brown she-cat was huddled in her nest, her eyes wide open and blank. She clearly hadn't slept all day, distraught and traumatized by the horrific death of her sister.

Fallowpaw and Logpaw were already gone. Finchpaw was still awake. Yellowpaw debated whether to wake her, then decided she'd rather not miss a meeting than get snapped at by the gray she-cat. So Yellowpaw just turned and headed out of the den.

In the clearing, cats were gathering, visibly confused. Yellowpaw was even more puzzled when she saw Applestar sitting next to Specklebird, beneath the Tallrock, instead of on top of it like he normally was. Stormcloud and Weedtooth were on the rock instead; the medicine cats looked serious and quite worried.

Yellowpaw spotted Fallenthroat and padded over to her. She sat down and was about to ask her mentor what was happening, but Fallenthroat looked as confused as she was.

"Cats of WindClan," Applestar mewed, catching Yellowpaw's attention. "Stormcloud has had a vision last night that she decided to share with the Clan. Please pay close attention, as she says it's important."

Stormcloud cleared her throat, looking nervous to speak for all these cats, then hesitantly started to speak. "When I was dreaming, I was visited by a StarClan warrior. It was... strange. The warrior was dark, his eyes were glowing red, and he had a haunting aroma around him. But he was in StarClan's hunting grounds, so he was obviously a StarClan cat. He told me, 'The Clans have had it too good, for too long'. Then I woke up."

The cats erupted into distressed murmers.

Yellowpaw's tail twitched. Dreams are dreams! And StarClan- She could hardly hold herself back anymore. She waited for a gap in the mutters.

When the crowd quieted down a little bit, she finally spoke.

"Don't you guys know? StarClan isn't real."

Instantly, all pairs of eyes turned on her. Yellowpaw bristled, biting her tongue. Why did I say that? She knew how much her clanmates relied on 'StarClan', even though it was obviously a bunch of nonsense. How could dead cats become stars? Didn't they just... die? Dead cats were gone, like Yellowpaw's mother and unborn littermates.

"Yellowpaw," Fallenthroat hissed. "Don't speak that way." Raising her head, the torbie mewed, "Yellowpaw means that StarClan wouldn't say that, which I agree with. Why would they want bad things to happen to us?"

Fallenthroat whipped her tail around Yellowpaw's mouth as she opened her jaws to speak. Annoyed, Yellowpaw rolled her eyes but didn't try to resist.

Stormcloud shuffled her paws. "I'm not sure," She mewed. "But Weedtooth thinks this had something to do with Larchpaw's death," She glanced at Larkpaw, who was sitting outside the apprentices' den. The apprentice dipped her head to the medicine cat, who blinked apologetically at her, as if she was guilty for mentioning Larchpaw's death. "Has any cat noticed anything? Any shortage of prey... foxes or badgers?"

"Me and Fallowpaw found scent of fox near fourtrees," Grassleg spoke up, his voice distant and rather mumbly. "But it was stale, and there wasn't any milk scent, so no fox kits. I don't think other animals are the things we have to worry about."

Specklebird gave his pelt a shake. "It could be the wolves," He said. "Although we haven't seen much of them lately.

Should I speak up about the deathberries? Yellowpaw wondered. She knew anything she said would probably get her in trouble now, so she kept silent.

Applestar spoke up. "I may not be a medicine cat, but I think we should go on with Clan life while keeping the prophecy in mind," She glanced at Stormcloud. "Our warriors will tell you anything they find, but for now, our worries should be limited to feeding the Clan and marking our borders. Leaf-fall will be here soon, after all."

Stormcloud dipped her head. "As you wish."

As the Clan began to disperse to go on patrol, Fallenthroat led Yellowpaw over to Specklebird. Confused, Yellowpaw followed, until she stood in front of the deputy. "Specklebird, would you like to give Yellowpaw a punishment for speaking up so rudely?"

I can't have true opinions? Yellowpaw thought. She looked at Specklebird, expecting him to be deep in thought, but he just purred in amusement.

"No punishment needed," He said, to Yellowpaw's surprise.

Fallenthroat's eyes narrowed. "Specklebird, surely you should make her do something... make her picks ticks off the elders or something." She sounded generally surprised, but there was another tone in her voice... as if she was challenging Specklebird about something. Yellowpaw's tail flicked curiously.

"It's always all right to have opinions," Specklebird chuckled. His eyes lit up for a moment, and he glanced at Stormcloud, then back at Fallenthroat. "Right, Fallenthroat?"

For a moment, the torbie warrior looked almost frightened. Then she dipped her head, her paws shifting awkwardly as if she was guilty of something. "Yes, Specklebird."

What? Yellowpaw thought.

The deputy licked a paw then drew it over his muzzle. "Well, if you're quite done, you can join Sharpbriar, Beetleshine, and Fawnleap on a border patrol. And Yellowpaw, I would like you to come with me."

"Me?" Yellowpaw echoed. Was she in trouble after all?

Specklebird whisked his tail around her neck and swiped it under her chin. Yellowpaw felt uncomfortable. "You're not in trouble," The deputy purred, his tone silky.

Fallenthroat sighed and padded off.

Yellowpaw ducked away from Specklebird's tail and followed the tom as he headed off towards the elders' den. Do I need to pick off ticks? Gross! Yellowpaw thought. She hated the smell of mouse-bile, more than anything in the world! Or was she going to get lectured about believing StarClan? Elders would be perfect at that, with silly stories and all.

But as Specklebird entered the den, he had no sign of strictness in his eyes. "Reedtail, Dapplestream, Graydapple?" He purred. "Can Yellowpaw stay with you today? I'm giving her the day off duties."

The day off? Yellowpaw's eyes widened with delight.

Reedtail looked confused, but simply mewed, "Sure!" He looked strangely at Yellowpaw, as if he was uncomfortable about what she had said earlier.

Specklebird nodded and left.

"Um." Yellowpaw began. "I'm as confused as you are."

Graydapple chuckled. "Who's confused?" She joked. "Come on in. You must've done something to earn a day off. I know Specklebird isn't easy to impress." Her words seemed to calm the elders, who looked more welcoming to Yellowpaw now.

"Thanks," Yellowpaw muttered. She suddenly felt very lazy, and realized this would be the most boring day of her life. Why did Specklebird suggest this? Is there something that he's not telling me? Or the rest of the Clan?