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Chapter Two

** ** Twigpaw gasped. Did he really just hear what he thought he did? Did Froststar really just claim that her clan would rise above the others? "Now, I know this seems shocking," Froststar continued, "but I believe what my medicine cat says. And, as I hate seeing others suffer, any cat wanting to avoid a slow and painful death from the snow is welcome to join Winterclan and thrive." Shocked yowls surrounded Twigpaw. "That can't be true!" "You're lying!" "Something's not right here!"

Mews of disagreement erupted from all of the clans, including Winterclan. Cloudpaw leaned a bit closer to him, and mewed "You don't believe her, do you, Twigpaw?" "I don't, at all." He replied. "And besides, an endless Leafbare is impossible!" Twigpaw looked to his other side, and noticed that it was Petalpaw who had said that. He returned his attention to Sky Rock, and Leafstar was speaking. "Froststar, as much as I trust and respect you, I cannot believe that there will be an endless Leafbare." She spoke boldly, and most cats nodded agreeing, but others looked unsure. Autumnstar stood up and took a step forward, addressing all the clans. "Fallclan does not believe this either, and will no longer be included in this discussion." She spoke very clearly, and all Fallclan cats nodded their heads. "Nor will Springclan." Leafstar added.

The two leaders took a step back, and sat down, curling their tails around their paws. They both looked at Froststar, and then Breezestar. "W-Well..." he stammered. "Summerclan... is undecided on the subject." He said, his voice meek. Twigpaw noticed that no cat in Summerclan nodded their heads, nor said a word. Froststar jumped off Sky Rock, and as she padded her way towards and through the crowd of cats, he could hear her low growl. After small hesitation, her clan followed her.

Just as it seemed she was going to bound down the pathway to Sky Plain, she turned her head back towards the cats. "My offer still stands for those who wish to avoid suffering!" she yowled, and then led her clan away. No cat spoke as they watched Winterclan go. After what seemed like moons, Leafstar spoke. "This gathering is over!"

Most cats broke up into their clan groups, but few others stayed there, still letting their gaze go where Froststar had left, as if thinking whether to follow or not. Cloudpaw stood up, and before padding off to join Springclan's patrol, meowed to Twigpaw "Come on, let's go!" Twigpaw watched Cloudpaw walk off, and then turned his head to Petalpaw, who was getting up. "What are your thoughts on the dream, Petalpaw?" he asked, getting up himself. "I don't believe a word." She replied, her calm yet strong voice soothing him. "Nor do I." he agreed.

"Petalpaw, it's time to go!" Hazelfur called to her apprentice. Petalpaw dipped her head to Twigpaw, and he returned the gesture. "Goodbye, Twigpaw." She said, lifting her head. She took a step toward Twigpaw, and gently licked his cheek. "I hope to see you soon." She almost whispered, and then bounded off towards her clan mates, who were already leaving. Twigpaw watched her go, and then went to his own clan mates.

As soon as he had gotten to the group, Leafstar flicked her tail, and the patrol followed her as they left Sky Plain. Springclan was located south of Sky Plain. Springclan's territory was unique, and best suited for its clan, as the other territories were theirs.

While running, even in the darkness, Twigpaw could still see some of the territory's land marks. "There's the catmint patch..." he thought, and he remembered what Catmint was used for. _"Catmint," Berrystorm had said, "is used for curing Greencough and Whitecough."_Greencough and Whitecough were both deadly illnesses. They could kill cats in as quickly as just a few sunrises.

The patrol also passed by the Death bush, which grew Deathberries. Deathberries were as the name implied. Any cat that ate them usually died, and even with treatment, not many cats survived.

Soon, they passed by the willow tree. Twigpaw couldn't help but let out an amused purr as he remembered Berrystorm's comment on what the Willow tree was for. "Willow tree leaves. Great for lying under to get some shade and sleep."

Suddenly, he heard a thud behind him. He looked back to see what it was, and noticed that Cloudpaw had fallen. "Cloudpaw!" he exclaimed, and immediately halted. Berrystorm slowly came to a halt as well, as he was near the back of the patrol with them. "Are you okay?" Berrystorm asked Cloudpaw, staring at her. "F-fine Berrystorm. I just twisted my paw. You go on, I'll have Twigpaw take a look at me, and we'll be back at camp in a bit." "Okay then. Twigpaw, see you two back at camp." Berrystorm continued following the path of the patrol.

Twigpaw took a step towards Cloudpaw to make sure she was alright, but she stood up, no apparent injury. "Okay, Twigpaw, what's up with Petalpaw? She's a medicine cat apprentice, right?" "Right, but... Cloudpaw, your leg..." "It's fine. I faked the fall so we could be alone and talk. Now, why was she mooning over you?" "W-what do you mean? She was not!" "It was plain on her face, Twigpaw! Aren't medicine cats not allowed to have mates? You said that's what you swore to at your apprentice ceremony!" What Cloudpaw said was true. Medicine cats couldn't have mates. They had to swear to never have any, as it would distract them from their duties, which almost never ended as a medicine cat.

"Are you saying that me and her are in love? We're not, I just met her! We're new friends, is all!" "I think Petalpaw wishes it was more. Twigpaw, I saw her lick your cheek. New friends don't do that, let alone cats from different clans." Twigpaw didn't respond for several long moments. "Well, it's nothing more than a friendship." He meowed, and then added "Let's get home. They're probably wondering where we are."

He turned, and continued heading towards their camp. Cloudpaw followed closely behind. Neither said a word as they walked, and, eventually, they came to the camp's entrance. It was w all that encircled the camp, laced with thorny branches to protect from intruders and other animals.

Even before walking into the camp, Twigpaw could remember the camp clearly. Just inside the entrance, to the left, was the warriors' den, so that should any unwanted animal enter the camp, they could easily and quickly respond. The warriors' den was a holly bush with an opening in the front made from generations of cats going in and out of it. On the left, farther into the camp, stood a single small tree. At the base of the trunk there was a hollow into it, and it was used as the Medicine Cat's den. A bit higher in the tree was an old owl's nest, which the leaders used as their dens. Just outside of the leader's den was a branch that reached halfway across the clearing, and the leaders used the branch, known as High Branch, for clan meetings. Farther back in the clearing still, hidden from view by the tree, was the Elders' den. Any cat who couldn't serve the clan because of age, or permanent injury lived in it. Lastly, at the very back of the clearing, the Apprentice' den and Nursery sat side-by-side. The nursery was where Queens, she-cats expecting or taking care of kits, lived so that they could care for their young. The apprentice' job was to protect the nursery should there ever be an invasion.

Twigpaw didn't expect to see any cats about, because of how late it was, and was looking forward to a peaceful sleep. As him and Cloudpaw padded through the thorn barrier's opening, Twigpaw was surprised to see that almost every cat was up and gathered below High Branch. He could hear many of them talking about how Yewwhisker's prophecy would never come true. Others were discussing how suspicious the prophecy was. Leafstar was standing on High Branch, waiting for the talking to die down.

"We will not let Froststar get to us. If we are to fall to an impossible endless Leafbare, we will fall with honor!" The clan yowled its approval, and Leafstar padded back to her den. The rest of the clan broke up, still murmuring to each other, and headed back to their own dens as well. Twigpaw looked for Berrystorm among the retreating cats, but couldn't see him. He's probably already asleep in his den. I doubt he even attended the meeting. Twigpaw thought, and added with a silent purr, The lazy old badger. He felt Cloudpaw nuzzle into his flank.

"Goodnight, Twigpaw." "Goodnight, Cloudpaw. Get a good sleep." Twigpaw watched her sleepily walk to the apprentice' den, and not until after she entered the den did he turn and head to the Medicine cat's den. As he entered, he noticed he was right. Berrystorm was asleep. Careful not to wake him, he tiptoed to his own nest, and made himself comfortable. But, though comfortable in his next, discomfort prickled inside him. Many thoughts buzzed around his head, but above all, "What if an endless Leafbare really comes?" He shrugged away the thought, and slowly drifted to sleep.