A Fox's Journey Book 7: Lavender Willow's Dream; Part Two

Chapter IV-- The Glory of StarRange

"Is Willow Frost here?" asked Lavender Willow. Amber Heart shook her head.

"StarRange wanted her to stay," Amber Heart barked. Despite that her mother wasn't there, Lavender Willow howled with joy to see her sisters, brothers, and daughters back to the Range.

"Are those, are these foxes really from StarRange? If so how did they come back to life?" Skye Paw wondered aloud to herself.

"Amber Heart, Pearl Fur it is so good to see you both. Where's Willow Frost?" Storm Whisker asked her sisters urgently as she walked up to them.

"She had to stay behind. Bright Light is with her and is trying to help with the hardship she is going through," Pearl Fur explained to them as she came up to join the conversing.

"I must ask Pearl Fur this prophecy we have just gotten. Does it mean that there are going to be six Ranges, and if so is StarRange the Sixth?" Lavender Willow curiously asked her daughter to see if she knew anything.

"Sorry mom I wish I could help you there, but even this prophecy is clouded to us with darkness in StarRange." Pearl Fur said to Lavender Willow with an uneven glance at Amber Heart who nodded her head in agreement. Just then Lavender Willow turned around to see Rip Tide walking up to her grief still hung in her eyes, but joy flashed in them too as she walked up to see Lavender Willow.

"My dear sister, you have been through so much in such little time without me and Willow Frost, but I am glad to see you standing here as the leader I always thought that you would be," Rip Tide proudly said to her sister who in turn gave her a very happy glance.

"Yes I have Rip Tide, and as always I have endured it all and MountainRange has aspired with inspiration from it. Oh, Rip Tide there is so much I have to discuss with you." Lavender Willow said joyfully to her sister. Suddenly Lavender Willow felt a tap on her shoulder it was Gorse Flight and his eyes were shining at her with love.

"I am so proud of you my big sister. Reed Heart told me about how hard it was for you to appoint her as the new deputy, but I am glad and proud that you did. Storm Whisker! My former apprentice and my niece you have no clue how good it is to see you! I am so proud of you as well it looks like you have your own apprentice now." Gorse Flight said with hope shining in his eyes as he looked at Lavender Willow and Storm Whisker.

"Yes, I do have my own apprentice this is Skye Paw, whom I think as more of a sister than an apprentice. Oh, Gorse Flight it was so hard training to pass my assessment without having you to train me, but I won't let that happen to Skye Paw. Oh, yeah, Rip Tide you should go and see Polar Blaze." Storm Whisker said happily to Gorse Flight who looked at his paws.

"Yes, of course I will check on my former apprentice. Lavender Willow if you'll please excuse me." Rip Tide announced to her leader with a respectful dip of her head.

"Polar Blaze! Hi it is so good to see you. We now have four healers again, but two of them would rather be elders. Who is this?" Rip Tide asked as she walked into the makeshift healers den.

"Rip Tide! Oh my StarRange you are actually here. This is my apprentice Tiny Paw. Um, you will have to excuse me for a second, while I go and take these herbs to Sparrow Flight for her aching bones and joints. Sorry come along Tiny Paw, Sparrow Flight will be wanting us soon. I promise to be back as soon as I can, but since the Hidden Cave gathering is tonight I can't promise anything though." Polar Blaze told Rip Tide happily as she took Tiny Paw to the elders den.

"Tiny Paw come along maybe for being coyote brained we will have a good Hidden Cave gathering." Polar Blaze curtly told Tiny Paw who gave a bit of an confused look.

"Yes of course Polar Blaze. Um, at this gathering will I officially get to have my first dream?" Tiny Paw tried to asked Polar Blaze excitedly, but forgot and said it sarcastically on accident.

"Not exactly, it works kind of differently than that Tiny Paw, but once we get there you mustn't tell any fox except for me if it is that important." Polar Blaze explained to Tiny Paw as she worked on Sparrow Flight. By the time she got done it was time for the Hidden Cave gathering.

"River Song, Nettle Herb, Rip Tide, are any of you coming?" Polar Blaze asked the other healers with an exchanged anxious glance with Tiny Paw.

"Of course I will come and Nettle Herb too. River Song said that she needs to stay behind anyway, so let's get going." Rip Tide said happily as she was asked to go to the Hidden Cave gathering.

"No, wait, I'm coming with you!" shouted River Song. "This is urgent."

"River Song, what is wrong?" asked Polar Blaze.

"I don't trust the healer of SunRange," she growled. "I don't know why, but I just don't. Not tonight. They might be planning a raid."

"How do you know?" asked Nettle Herb.

"I had a vision," she barked. "A sun walked into the cave. It burned us, Nettle herb, and it went to camp, and set fire to all of MountainRange's territory."

"Then we all must go." Polar Blaze announced.

"Yes, but who will stay here if they come to needing us?" Tiny Paw wondered.

"Yes, Tiny Paw has a point there Polar Blaze. Don't you think one of us should stay behind just in case?" Rip Tide asked Polar Blaze who was in deep thought.

"I think it would be wise if we all went tonight if they need our help I belive Skye Paw can handle it." Polar Blaze decided confidently. Tiny Paw then walked over to Skye Paw who had just returned from a patrol to tell her.

"Sure I will do it, but aren't any of you staying? If there is a battle I can only do so much. Plus I am not a healer apprentice." Skye Paw asked fearfully.

"Sorry, Skye Paw there is no time to explain. Do what you can because it is your best." Tiny Paw told Skye Paw happily.

"Oh, Tiny Paw why does it have to be me this isn't what I want to do! Being healer is not for me."

"Yes, I know, but as of right now you will just be helping. Sorry, but you will have to excuse me Skye Paw because it is time to leave. Good bye and good luck." Tiny Paw happily called to Skye Paw as she walked off.