A New Horizon Book 2: The Dying Forest {COMPLETE}

Chapter 21

"We have to tell Dawnstar what we heard last night." Pebblestep mewed, looking through her herb selection. It was early morning and the medicine cats hadn't been awake for long.

"What did you hear last night?" Flash questioned from his nest, opening his eyes from sleep.

"You'll probably hear about it later," Pebblestep mewed. "This is something that needs to stay between the medicine cats and our leader, it probably won't affect you anyway." She headed towards the entrance. "Come on, Honeypaw." With a final look at Flash, Honeypaw followed Pebblestep to the SunTree.

Dawnstar was inside with Lionclaw and Cinderflame discussing patrols. Cinderflame was the first to spot the two medicine cats. "Hello." She dipped her head.

"What do you need?" Dawnstar questioned. "What did you learn at the moonstone last night?"

"Nothing good, I'm afraid." Pebblestep mewed, getting the attention of all three cats in the den. "All the medicine cats spoke to StarClan together and they told us what is happening. The forest is dying."

"The forest is dying? What does that mean?" Dawnstar and Lionclaw shared a very concern look.

"Everything in the forest is dying, plants, herbs, trees and prey. That's what caused that branch to break and kill Pikepaw. The tree was dying." Pebblestep explained. "The forest won't survive leaf-bare."

"So what do we do?" Cinderflame enquired. "How do we deal with a dying forest?"

"We have to leave and find a new place to live." Pebblestep stated, the other three cats' eyes went wide with shock. "All of the Clans must search for a new home together, StarClan said that they would guide us but if we stay here we are going to die."

"How can we leave?" Dawnstar mewed, pain filling her eyes. "Everything we have is here, how can we leave? We don't know where we'll be going or what dangers we'll find on the way." Lionclaw rested his tail on Dawnstar's shoulder.

"I know it's going to be hard, but we have to leave. If we don't then we're dooming SunClan to die, the Clans have to work together. There's a home out there for us and StarClan will guide us."

Dawnstar let out a saddened sigh and dropped her head. "I understand, and I know that we have to leave. It's just not an easy thing to grasp. How will I convince the Clan to give up everything to leave? We were all born in this forest, we trained and experienced loss in this forest. It's not as simple as loner finding a new home."

"Trust me, Dawnstar, I know." Pebblestep mewed, pain in her voice. "My mother is buried here, we all have loved ones we've lost who are buried here, but they will follow us. If we stay then we won't be able to speak to StarClan at all."

Dawnstar dropped her head. "I have to take some time to think about this, Pebblestep. Thank you for telling me. I'll get back to you soon."

"StarClan suggested that you meet with the other leaders to talk to them." Pebblestep suggested.

Dawnstar nodded. "I'll be sure to arrange that soon. I'd prefer if the rest of the Clan didn't know until I know exactly what we're going to do."

"Alright." Pebblestep dipped her and and she and Honeypaw left the leader's den. Honeypaw looked up at her mentor.

"What do we do now?" Honeypaw questioned, feeling incredibly on edge.

"Gather as many herbs as possible, prepare to leave. We'll have to work hard to keep

our Clanmates healthy and alive. I would have liked to make a trip to the twolegplace to get the catmint that grows there, but with Echoheart there it's too risky. Hopefully we'll be able to find some elsewhere."