Chapter 29-

The bluish-black darkness of night spreads over the land, pressing the warriors into their darkened den. Sagesong yawns, mouth stretching into a circle and then going back down.

Smoothpearl passes by, chatting with Yewmist and Fallowshard, smiling wide. Her eyes catch Sagesong's, full of glee, and then back to Fallowshard, who whispers her response. Smoothpearl giggles like a kit, her tail rippling with happiness. Sagesong feels a rough pang in his chest. Had the she-cat ever been that happy with him before? No, the answer is no.

Sagesong tries to ignore it as he flops into his nest, his brain heavy but his eyelids even heavier. It isn't hard to slip into a deep sleep.

                                                                ~~~

Sagesong wakes to the scent of rot clinging to his fur, and the reddish brown mud sticking to his pelt. The tom's heart fills with confusion as his head comes up, searching the landscape.

A few spindly, leafless trees stand rigidly, bending and swaying in the slight wind. Mud and dirt coats the ground in a slick brown paint. Sagesong rises from his muddy-red puddle, shaking his pelt and giving himself a few couple licks to get the streaming mud from his pelt. The smell of rot stays.

Sagesong blinks. Is this the Dark Forest or Starclan? After all, there is mud in Starclan, right? And Sagesong feels no dread. He'd feel dread if he was in the Dark Forest. So no, this couldn't be it. Plus, it didn't look threatening. No bones, no blood. And there's no prey in the Dark Forest. Sagesong smells the aroma off mice. No, this can't be the Dark Forest.

"Greetings, Sagesong," a innocent-sounding voice hums. It sounds almost like Ivypaw's voice, no, like Ferretsqueak's, but it isn't either of them. They aren't here. Sagesong wheels around, fur standing on edge. A tattered-looking grey and white tabby smiles from behind the tom, purring with a curled tail-tip.

"Who are you?" Sagesong spits, his back fur bristling, confusion and anger seeping through him. Quickly, however, he flattens the fluff flying up. This could be a Starclan cat. Sagesong subconsciously fidgets with his paws. Hopefully.

"I'm Lacewing," the she-cat purrs, and before Sagesong can interrupt she goes on, "Sagesong, correct? I said it right? Good." The she-cat whisks her tail, hopping in excitement. "I was your age when I died. My death was unfair, slaughtered for self defense. Do you agree that is unfair?"

Sagesong doesn't know; he needs more context. The tom only nods.

"Good," Lacewing hisses, before smiling again, as if nothing had happened, "We are the same, Sagesong. That's why I'm here. Because your life was unfair, and so was mine. I wasn't born in the clan I was raised in. And you weren't either. Your father was wrong. Mine was too. Us wronged ones, we stick together. I'm here to help you."

Sagesong doesn't listen to her words, not that much. One question rings in his mind. Where am I?

"What is this place?" The tom asks, looking sharply at Lacewing. The she-cat's face smooths from eagerness and determination to a look of knowledge.

"Some place. Not Starclan, I'll tell you, but better. It's where the successful cats go. Not the Dark Forest, I'd say. Better, way better than Starclan. It's safe here," Lacewing says gently, "I promise." Sagesong's whole body fills with a feeling of peace. He feels safe. Are the she-cat's words true? Maybe. It doesn't matter. He feels protected. This must be Starclan. Or better.

Lacewing purrs as the tom nods. "Your life isn't fair, but it will be worth it. I'll make you a leader. Leader of all four clans."

Sagesong pricks his ears, his interest clear on his face. His tail flicks to one side, excitement running beneath his skin. A Starclan cat, wanting to make him leader? It sounds too good to be true.

"You mean...I mean...how? Why? After all I've...done..." Sagesong doesn't finish, he doesn't want to. He fidgets uncomfortably. Lacewing smiles sadly.

"You've done nothing wrong," she almost grins, "You did what had to be done." Lacewing whisks her tail too, making eye contact with a now excited young tom.

Sagesong grins, wanting to spin and rejoice. He'd not thought he was wrong, not really, but hearing that he isn't only makes him happier hearing it from another cat, one that knew the whole story, one that didn't assume, one that only saw. Sagesong feels like he is floating. He only purrs.

"You'll be just like your father, you know, if you follow me. All powerful, you understand?" Lacewing nods eagerly, "All the power in the world." Sagesong's happiness runs out, and his purrs die.

"I don't want to be like Snapstar," Sagesong snaps, "He isn't my father. You should know that. You should know who is." Lacewing flicks her ear dismissively.

"Right, right. But Snapstar was powerful, correct? He was successful. You aren't. Not yet," Lacewing says slowly, rolling her eyes, "But that's why we're here, right? Enough small talk. Will you be my apprentice?"

Sagesong's mind goes crazy. Apprentice? I've just become a warrior! Sagesong wants to screech the words, the anger starting to show. Does she think he is weak? He doesn't need training! Sagesong lashes his tail. "No."

"No, no, not like that," Lacewing purrs, whiskers twitching in amusement, "I'll help you, teach you new moves. You understand. And I'll make sure you become leader, for no cost. No cost at all." Sagesong forces himself to calm down.

"Okay...okay..." Sagesong breathes, allowing his mind to process the information further. A Starclan cat, training him. Wouldn't it be his dream? He'd always wanted to train under Snapstar, and, even if Sagesong can't quite accept it, he was good at fighting and leading. And leaving. Sagesong growls to himself.

"F-Fine," Sagesong sighs. His tail flicks.

"I'll be your apprentice."

                                                           ~~~

Flickerpaw wakes to light piercing his eyes. His whole body feels fatigued. A grayish shape paces around the herb shelf, grabbing a green stem Flickerpaw can't make out.

"Flickerpaw, get up, now!" Tumblecry's voice cuts through Flickerpaw's foggy brain. Suddenly, the fuzziness disappears, and everything is clear. The world explodes into sound. A faint screech sounds, Tumblecry's urgent voice forces him to stand.

"What's...What's....happening?" Flickerpaw asks groggily, before panic seizes him. "Did some cat...some cat...pass-"

"No, just get up," Tumblecry urges, and Flickerpaw's panic slowly melts into confusion once more.

"What's happening then?"

"Come. On."

Flickerpaw shakes off his pelt, yawning quickly. The whole camp seems to shake as Orejump bursts through the medicine cats' den entrance. His face looks both panicked and excited, or maybe confused, as the tom pants.

"Fringe...Fringestrike..." The tom pants. His eyes look wildly, settling on Tumblecry with a look of relief.

"Fringestrike is kitting!"