Lost In The Stars (Book Two)

Chapter Twelve- Robinwing

"Robinwing! Owlflight!" Robinwing woke one morning to hear Frostytail calling him. A moment later, the medicine cat appeared in the den, nuzzling fur. "Get up, you furball. Rosepaw and I need your help to collect herbs."

Robinwing's jaws parted in a massive yawn as he stood, shaking moss from his pelt. Owlflight and Ashpaw were just waking up; Robinwing guessed that they were coming too.

"Come on, we can't waste any time." Frostytail rushed him, "Hawkstar is ill. I saw some feverfew near the gorge, which would work to keep him better for now. Come on!"

Robinwing followed her out of the camp, walking beside Owlflight. He felt the familiar sense of comfort being around his father, and he longed for the days when it was just him and his family on the island.

As they neared the gorge, something seemed off. Robinwing glanced at Owlflight, who seemed to be slowing his pawsteps. Frostytail's tail fur fluffed out a bit, while Ashpaw and Rosepaw looked around nervously.

When they got to the gorge and Frostytail began sniffing around for the feverfew, Robinwing realised that it was oddly silent. No birds were chirping, or bugs buzzing. Nothing.

Then he nearly leaped out of his fur. He'd realised what was wrong; the water in the gorge was silent. He cried out, just to make sure that he hadn't suddenly lost his hearing.

"What is it?" Owlflight asked as Robinwing bounded past him, staring into the gorge. Rosepaw came to stand beside him, her jaw dropping.

"What?" The horror in Ashpaw's voice made Robinwing's blood turn to ice.

"The river!" Robinwing cried. "It's gone!"

The others stared over the edge of the gorge, staring at where endless black water used to spill endlessly through the stone. "Do you realise what this is?" Frostytail asked, breaking the silence.

"What?" Robinwing cocked his head to look at her.

"Your prophecy! The one you received in the mooncave. Remember what it said?"

Owlflight answered before Robinwing could speak. "When the river stops running, cats lost in the stars will return to shine light on the shade that has covered the island."

"The river.." Rosepaw breathed. "Where are the cats lost in the stars? That must mean StarClan!"

"We're here." A voice behind him made Robinwing jump, nearly causing him to fall in the gorge. He turned to see a group of nine cats, their pelts glittering with starlight although it was daytime. StarClan. It's StarClan!

"Firepelt!" Owlflight sounded like a kit as he saw his mate among the cats. Robinwing recognized Thorncloud, Skywing, Birdkit, and Snowstorm among them. Dawntail will be happy. He thought, seeing Birdkit standing beside the glittering pelt of Firepelt.

"Tell us, why are you here?" Frostytail demanded. "What is this light you intend to shine on us?"

"Quiet, Frostytail.." Whispered one of the cats. "You will learn that later. For now, let's return to speak to the leaders."

*

Stripedstar, Hawkstar, and Rainstorm spoke to the StarClan cats in private. Robinwing guessed his clanmates had been quite surprised to see a patrol of ghosts enter their camp, but no cat mentioned it. He settled down beside Firestorm, waiting for the leaders to announce what would happen.

"What do you think they're here for?" Firestorm asked. "I wish my mother was among them."

Sympathy made Robinwing's paws feel numb. "I'm sorry." He muttered. His mother had arrived in the clans, but not a single cat that Firestorm had been close to was there.

Firestorm was going to reply when Foxkit tumbled into her paws, stopping her. At that same moment, Rainstorm leaped on top of a tall rock, followed by the clan leaders and the leaders of the returning StarClan cats. Foxkit sat up, not bothering to move back to his mother. All eyes were on the leaders now. It was the announcement they had all waited for.