During Ebony's Roots, if you haven't read it, please do! You can find it under my profile! Sorry, back to the story.

Amberclaw stared at her paws as she refused to meet the gaze of Ebonywind, who was most likely staring at her. She eavesdropped on the conversation nearest to her, which happened to be Rosedusk and Sandleaf of ShadowClan.

"Have you heard about the White Dove?" Rosedusk whispered.

"Of course, I have! Who hasn't?" Sandleaf retorted.

Amberclaw thought back to many gatherings ago, when the rumors had started. The White Dove was supposedly someone who could heal anything with just a touch. According to the rumors, only one cat was Touched, but no one knew who that cat was. Amberclaw wished she could find the White Dove, since lately, her anger issues had been growing as her frustration with Luckystar, Ravenflight and Ebonywind grew.

Amberclaw abandoned her spot in the gathering and snuck around, trying to listen to everyone's conversation. She found a spot near Frogfern, a ThunderClan tom, who was talking to Sunrise.

"I don't like this!" Sunrise was hissing. "This secret keeping sucks!"

"I know, but White Dove needs us to. Both her and the Touched." Frogfern rested his tail on Sunrise's back.

Amberclaw froze. These ThunderClan cats knew something about the White Dove. And the talked about her as if they knew her. Personally.

What if all of ThunderClan's in on it? Wouldn't be the first time they've lied about something. If ThunderClan's leader can lie to her kits, the whole Clan certainly can.

Amberclaw left Sunrise and Frogfern, determined to see another ThunderClan cat. The gathering was ending when she heard Goldenperch talking to Larkleaf.

"I feel as if White Dove is replacing me," Larkleaf confessed.

So, it is a healer.

"I'm sorry about that, but Echo-White Dove isn't taking over your job. She's just trying to help..." Luckystar paused before whispering in a lower tone.  Amberclaw eagerly weaved closer, her ears hurting as she stretched them. "Dawnmist," Luckystar breathed.

Amberclaw backed away, her mind visualizing a ginger she-cat with amber eyes. I need to find her.

As the gathering broke up, Amberclaw searched her best for Dawnmist, but she didn't seem to be here. Neither did the White Dove, who Amberclaw seemed to have a suspicion of who it was. There's only one cat that has Echo as a prefix. Echoflight.

Echoflight is the White Dove, and Dawnmist is Touched.

I hope I can be Touched soon.

Amberclaw settled down to sleep in her nest, breathing deep into the fishy smell. She was determined to find Echoflight or Dawnmist.

Amberclaw got up the next morning before the sun rose, padding out of the Clan. They won't mind if I'm gone, she thought dismissively.

As she left the familiar RiverClan territory by swimming to the gathering island and walking across the tree bridge and into ThunderClan territory, Amberclaw crept carefully in the forest, hating the trees that enclosed her and muffled her senses. RiverClan was so much better.

"What are you doing here?" a voice hissed.

Amberclaw spun around to see Luckystar, her claws unsheathing instinctively. She drew a deep breath of relief as she recognized the cat and forced her claws to sheath.

"Luckystar," Amberclaw made her voice smooth. "Mother," she added.

Luckystar's expression softened and she dipped her head. "I won't tell on you. Just make sure you aren't spotted."

Amberclaw didn't look back as she rushed into the forest. Luckystar's scent soon faded and she took a breath of relief, trying to calm herself.

"Who're you?"

Thoroughly angry at being interrupted now, she sprang at the cat, bowling her over, her claws tugging out ginger fur.

Ginger fur...

Shocked, Amberclaw pulled back, Dawnmist lying on the ground, defeated.

"You're Touched," Amberclaw mewed simply.

Dawnmist didn't look horrified at being found out, instead, she just looked weary. "I suppose it was a matter of time before someone found out."

"Echoflight is the White Dove," Amberclaw pressed.

"Nah," Dawnmist growled casually, a touch of defiance in her voice.

Amberclaw was sure she was right so she pressed onwards. "Come on, you can tell me. I already know about everything."

"About what?" Dawnmist acted dumb.

"You just admitted you were Touched!" Amberclaw snarled, claws coming out again.

"Okay, okay! Don't shred her fur off!"

The voice came from a newcomer. It was Sunrise. The light ginger she-cat was glaring at them, her green eyes narrowed to slits. "Leave our territory. Now!" Sunrise spat.

Amberclaw wasn't sure, but Sunrise sure didn't look as kind as Dawnmist, even though they were littermates.

"Sunrise is right," Dawnmist sighed. "I'll tell Echoflight to meet you at the gathering island at midnight. It's too risky for you to be here. Go!"

Amberclaw nodded in understanding before running out of the territory as fast as she could. She splashed in the lake to get rid of the ThunderClan scent before climbing out and heading back to her territory.

That night, she waited until all the cats were fast asleep before she left her nest and swam to the gathering island. Dripping wet, she shivered under the moonlight and waited for Echoflight to come. When Amberclaw was about to give up, a figure appeared, and she practically leapt to her paws. "There you are! I've been waiting for you for ages!"

Echoflight looked amused. "Good patience."

"Actually, that's what I need help with. I don't have patience and I keep yelling at my Clanmates. Make it stop!" Amberclaw ordered.

Echoflight still smirked. "Alright, calm down. After all, that's what I'm here to help you with. This is what we need to do. In two nights, time, meet me here, yes, right here, the gathering island. I'm going to bring you to a place called the Cave of Peace. It's a cave a little out of Clan territory. Dawnmist and I use it as our place."

"Okay," Amberclaw nodded. Sneaking away would be easy.

"And...don't tell anyone about this stuff. It wasn't meant to be this dramatic. Just...a new role in the Clans, I guess." Echoflight looked uneasy as she mewed these words.

"Alright, I won't," Amberclaw retorted, although she really was planning to tell Hailstar as soon as possible. 

Little did she know what would happen at the Cave of Peace would change her life forever.