Book 4: Sol's Revenge & Whisper's Path

Sol

I have learned to read the signs well. Each glowing shape in the night sky, no matter how faint or seemingly invisible, is critical to my plan. I had been on Windclan territory before Hollypaw, a Thunderclan apprentice, spotted me. She thought I was a lion, the foolish apprentice. She told Sorreltail, and the much smarter warrior deduced that I was of course a cat, not a lion. But she knew I was no Windclan cat. If the signs hadn't shown me that I had been seen, things could've gone very wrong.

But instead I made my way to the Thudnerclan border and waited expectantly for a patrol to come my way. Thornclaw, Poppyfrost, and Birchfall. They took me back to their camp, where I met Firestar. The uncle of Gingerfern, the she cat who ruined my plans for taking control of Cedarclan. Firestar, the one Leafstar said had saved Skyclan. He was the one I hated. Firestar was going to reject me, but I made up a story. I had urgent news that must be shared with the medicine cat at once.

The stupid clan cats feared my knowledge of the inner workings of their elusive society. They wouldn't turn me away, not while they were curious. Echo watched my every move, reminding me if I was unable to destroy these clans I would fall victim to the same curse that plagued my brother at this very moment. I would age, and age faster, until death.

"What's going to happen?" Thornclaw, the head of the patrol that brought me here, questioned. Firestar murmured something to him and allowed me to enter Leafpool's den. I ducked into the medicine cat den, the strong smell of herbs hit my nose and caused me to grimace. The smell was familiar, it was the same stench that clung to Stoneteller as he meandered his precious caves.

I forced a smile onto my face.

"Hello," I said loudly, announcing my arrival. A pretty light brown tabby glanced up at me with large green eyes. I guessed she was Firestar's daughter based on the identical green eyes. Apparently they ran in the family. Without a word Leafpool looked away from me and continued sorting herbs. Her expert paws moved quickly and precisely, pulling rotten leaves off the stems and flattening the petals of flowers to dry. Her eyes were locked onto her work, however she angled her ears, signaling I should speak.

"Ahem," I cleared my throat. "Perhaps we should talk somewhere more private," I murmured as I saw several pairs of eyes watching us from the entrance of the den. Leafpool looked past me humorously at several apprentices eavesdropping.

"That would be smart I suppose." She laughed. "Why don't you join me and my apprentice Jaypaw while we collect herbs in the forest?" Leafpool suggested. I nodded and followed her out of the camp. A blue apprentice followed her. I realized he was blind. But he kept looking at me with his sightless eyes...I shivered inwardly.

Leafpool guided me away from the heart of camp and deep into Thunderclan territory, undergrowth caught on my calico fur every step. The blind apprentice Jaypaw had no such qualms, in fact he seemed smug that he knew how to maneuver the thorn brackets and bushes without sight while I was struggling not to be stripped bald by every passing bramble.

I knew I couldn't be out in the forest with them long. The warriors would start to worry I'd done something to their precious medicine cat. But when i thought of what urgent information I could possibly have to share with her to fulfill my lie, my thoughts came up blank.

"What did you need to tell me?" Leafpool asked eventually. My mind raced, all I could think of was the darkness I saw in the sky when I was training with Midnight. The eclipse.

"A great darkness is coming," I blurted. "It threatens all of the clans," I forewarned. Leafpool's eyes widened at the prophecy. Then she smiled slightly.

"I've heard nothing of this from my ancestors, but I shall speak with them tonight to learn more about this darkness."

I frowned. She didn't believe me, clearly.