I'm sorry about the long wait! I could give many excuses for not writing, but since the biggest one is my laziness I've decided simply to post this and spare you the petty half-truths. Enjoy this new chapter, and be happy that since it is summer, more will be on their way! Feel free as always to comment with questions, criticisms and simply to say hello.

 Chapter 2

    “It’s not enough to just let it go. It will never be enough to allow the cats roaming free and healthy in the place of stars and light to just go on their way. Retaliation is the only method. It will solve all of our problems. Revenge will heal us all.”

    The large gray tom assertively stamped his paw down on the large rock upon which he stood. The gathered cats below were silent, listening with sickening glee. Their leader would bring them the light that they deserved, they thought. He would help them triumph where they previously failed.

    “We have cowered in the shadows for long enough. Star Clan has grown, but in our absence they have become lazy and comfortable. Our numbers are greater than ever and our strength unparalleled.” The tom looked upon his subjects and smirked.

    “Now is the time that we will strike. With our weapon we will infiltrate the heart of the Clans and get what was once ours. All you must do is exactly what I tell you…”

“Will all cats old enough to catch prey join beneath the High Rock for a Clan meeting!” Leafstar’s strong voice rang out over the camp and shocked Amberkit awake. The ginger kitten rubbed at her face in confusion, thinking of her dream. Who were those cats? She was already forgetting what they were talking about...

“I wish to address something of great importance...” Leafstar mewed loudly. Amberkit scrambled out of the nest, noticing that only her mother and sister were still sleeping inside. Carefully, she crept out of the den, blinking as light permeated her eyes. Leafstar was still speaking, but she had lowered her voice to speak to the cats right in front of her.

Amberkit’s ears flattened to the side of her head when she noticed Nightkit and Rosekit loudly complaining about their inability to hear Leafstar’s words. Amberkit let out a little snort at their behavior.

“Hey Amberkit, where are you going?” Emberkit asked from behind a tall root. Amberkit jumped on top of the root and surveyed the Clan. If she was careful, she could sneak forward and overhear the conversation.

“Cover for me! I’m going to see what’s happening!” Ignoring Emberkit’s protests, she jumped off the root.

With a little wriggle, she pushed noiselessly through the hanging vines and padded carefully towards the crowd. She slinked carefully under and around roots of trees until she was closer to the high rock, but she still couldn’t hear anything. With a deep breath she carefully picked her way toward the crowd. Most of the cats ignored her, some looking behind them with a brief smirk of amusement before fixing their attention on Leafstar. Amberkit sat down at the edge of the crowd, finally able to hear.

“I regret to inform you of the terrible tragedy that befell another Clan. I received word today that Rainfoot was crushed in a tragic rockslide.” Every cat gasped in dismay. Rainfoot was a well known tom from StoneClan, popular for his amicable attitude and excellent skills as a warrior. He had been in line to become the next StoneClan deputy if anything befell the current one.

“He was sheltering in a cave from the heavy rainfall two days ago. He drowned to death. They were unable to recover his body.” Cats were murmuring to each other, tails drooping and eyes wide with nervousness. It was always disheartening to remember the suddenness of life.

Leafstar yowled to attract everyone’s attention. “This news would have been told at the gathering, but Goldenstone, their deputy, kindly warned us because of the possibility of rockslides near our border. It has been a long time since such rainfall befell our territory, and StoneClan wanted to prevent any more deaths.” Murmuring began anew between the watching cats. Amberkit sat on her haunches, confused. Why would an enemy Clan help them?

“This means that we must be more cautious along the border between TreeClan and StoneClan. I want patrols to consist of at least three warriors, and every apprentice must be accompanied at all times by a warrior. Avoid fighting, loud noises, general scuffles and stomps in the area. Anything can provoke a rockslide.”

“That will be all for now.” Leafstar’s loud mew broke through the murmurs of the crowd, and just as quickly as they had arrived, they disappeared. Amberkit was left in the middle of the clearing with a shocked look on her face.

“Amberkit! There you are!” Lilyfire dashed from the entrance of the nursery towards her errant kit, who stood up and looked at her mother. “You were supposed to stay by the nursery! These meetings are not for kits to hear. How’d you get over here without me noticing?”

“She slunk under the roots and then into the crowd of cats. She was very quiet for a kit her age.” Amberkit stiffened. Turning, she saw her  leader staring down at her with an amused smile.

“You saw me?” She squeaked. She had been sure that she hadn’t made too much noise.

“You were very sneaky.” Leafstar praised. “However, from my vantage point on the Highrock  it was easy to see you moving around.” When she saw Amberkit’s disappointed look, she moved closer to her. “Remember that if I hadn’t seen you it would have been a problem. I’d be a bad Clan leader if a kit could sneak past me!” Amberkit let out a murrow of amusement.

“But I snuck past Lilyfire! And everyone else!” Leafstar smiled.

“Yes you did. Remember to use your small size to your advantage. Your stealthy movement will also be very good for hunting and battle in the future.” Amberkit nodded ferociously. Leafstar licked her on the forehead before turning to Lilyfire.

“You have a very adventurous kit. She’ll be a fine warrior in the future.” Lilyfire stammered out her thanks while Amberkit squealed loudly. She couldn’t stop jumping up and down as Lilyfire herded her back towards the nursery.

“Emberkit! Birdkit! Leafstar said that I’m going to be a good warrior!” They bounded over to her and squealed.

“You’d never be a good warrior! Look how small you are!” Rosekit sneered from where she stood in the entrance of their den. Amberkit’s ears flattened. It was true that she was a very small kit, and though she was older than Rosekit she was still smaller.

“Leafstar said that she’d help me learn how to use my smallness to my advantage.” Rosekit scoffed.

“That’s what she wants you to think. She knows you’ll be useless, she just hopes that by the time you’re a warrior you’ll actually be apprentice-sized.” Amberkit’s ears burned but she bared her teeth at Rosekit.

“I don’t see her speaking to you! You’re just jealous!” Before Rosekit could speak, Amberkit turned around and darted away. She wasn’t in the mood to listen to any more of Rosekit’s lies. Behind her, Emberkit and Birdkit followed slowly.

“Do you think I’m too small?” Amberkit asked, looking up at her fluffy gray sibling. Even Nightkit was larger than her!

“I think that even if you are small, Leafstar and any warrior training you will make you a good warrior.” Birdkit mewed. Amberkit huffed.

“Well you’re big! It’s easy for you to say.” Birdkit blinked at her.

“I want to become a medicine cat. I don’t like hurting people.” Amberkit groaned and flopped down under a root.

“Why does Rosekit have to ruin everything?” Emberkit jumped on the root above her.

“Rosekit is a mean cat. Don’t let her get to you. Maybe she’ll change and be nicer, or even just quiet like her sister.” Amberkit snorted. I’d be quiet too if I had a snappy sister like Rosekit!

“So do you guys want to know what Leafstar was talking about? It’s crazy!” Emberkit leaned down eagerly, and Birdkit moved closer.

“Apparently Rainfoot died a few days ago. And StoneClan actually told us early to warn us about the possible rockslides! Since when do other Clans give out warnings?”

“StoneClan have been our allies for a long time. We are peaceful with each other and help where we can. Typically, MarshClan and RussetClan ally together as well, but if you speak of it at a Gathering they will insist that they simply remain neutral and that our alliance is very prominent.” Amberkit squeaked and turned around. Thunderstrike, Leafstar’s dark brown tabby mate, was standing right behind them! “You’d know this if you were paying attention to yesterdays lessons.”

Amberkit scuffled her feet. She had been forced along with the rest of the kits to try a new program instilled by the elders where twice a week the kits would be taught allegiances, the warrior code, general world do’s and don’ts, and anything a cat needed to run their Clan. The elders figured that the Clan would benefit from new warriors that were already engrossed in Clan politics.  The only problem was that the kits had found it both boring and tedious and tended to not pay attention. She resolved to focus more in the future.

“So that means that if they hadn’t told us, it would have been a violation of our peace treaty?” Thunderstrike nodded.

“It’s a bit more complicated than that, but yes, essentially.Hmmm, you do listen. Perhaps tomorrow you’ll participate more.” Amberkit nodded ruefully, but considered that maybe listening would teach her useful things. And Thunderstrike would like her more! He held a lot of influence within the Clans, and if he liked her it would be a big advantage. Maybe he could even become her mentor!

Thunderstrike mewed his goodbye and padded towards Leafstar. Amberkit stared after him, thinking hard. Recently there had been many attacks on various cats, all seemingly unrelated. One tom had drowned, a she cat had been hit by a monster, and now Rainfoot with the rockslide. The elders had been muttering for days with anxiety over the seemingly chaotic bad luck going around the Clans. The only Clan that had been spared from the attacks thus far was TreeClan.

What really worried Amberkit was not the attacks themselves, but rather the affects of them. The Clans were becoming more paranoid. What once was a fun outing in the forest could now be a stroll to your potential doom. Border skirmishes had however, decreased, and Amberkit remembered hearing that the other Clans were acting more polite to one another. Gatherings especially were filled with fake friendships and pretend easygoing attitudes. Yet TreeClan remained unaffected.

“Amberkit?” The golden she-cat turned to see her gray sister batting a moss ball around. Next to her, Darkwhisper was staring warily at Amberkit, large blue eyes peering cautiously at the little she-cat. “Are you ok?” Amberkit bounded over and nodded.

“I’m feeling fine actually. Did you need something?” Darkwhisper shook her head.

“I just wanted to ask you if your dreams have been continuing.” Amberkit scratched at her ear in sudden thought.

“No actually. I stopped having that weird nightmare two days ago. I slept fine last night.” Darkwhisper’s tail lashing at the ground was the only indication of her sudden angst.

“Good. Amberkit, if you begin having more weird dreams come and find me immediately.” Amberkit nodded before jumping away, distracted by the tantalizing presence of the moss ball. Darkwhisper continued to stare at her.

Was it a coincidence that Amberkit’s dreams coincided with Rainfoot’s death? Probably. Was it weird that they stopped on the day of his death? Yes. But until something else happened, Darkwhisper knew that she could take her suspicions to noone. To tell StarClan of such a kit would ruin Amberkits life, and if she was wrong, Darkwhisper knew that it would haunt her forever. No matter what, this mystery would reveal itself, one death at a time. She only hoped that StarClan was ready for what was coming.