Chapter 10

                The patrol returned and almost instantaneously, their Clanmates were besides them, sniffing their blood-stained fur and asking questions. They stopped though when Cloudstar descended from his den on the Highledge. “What happened?” the ThunderClan leader demanded.

                “WindClan wouldn’t let us train in the cave,” Liontail began.

                “And you fought with them?” Cloudstar snarled, fur bristling with anger. “You should’ve left them alone if they were there first. We could’ve gone back and trained another time! Don’t tell me I have to apologize to Rabbitstar because of you, Liontail!”

                “Of course not!” Liontail replied, looking insulted. “I told Smokewhisker, who was leading the training, that WindClan could keep the cave. I simply asked to pass through the cave and train in the narrow tunnel on the opposite end. That stupid furball wouldn’t let us pass through! I decided we had to teach that arrogant mange-pelt a lesson!”

                “And? Did you win?” Cloudstar asked.

                “We did,” Liontail responded.

                “That’s very well, but I’ll have to tell Leafstorm to increase patrols along the WindClan border,” the white tom meowed before turning away as if he was about to leave. “Hostility will be high between our Clans because of this.”

                “Wait!” Liontail called, causing the ThunderClan leader to turn around. “Make sure you definitely increase patrols along that border!”

                Cloudstar spun back around and raised an eyebrow questioningly. “Why?” the ThunderClan leader asked cautiously.

                “Before he left,” Liontail answered, taking a deep breath. “Smokewhisker said, ‘This isn’t over, ThunderClan fools. I’d watch your borders carefully if I were you.’”

                “A threat, no doubt,” Cloudstar growled. “What is Rabbitstar plotting now?”

                The ThunderClan leader didn’t speak for a moment. “I’ll lead a patrol to the WindClan camp tomorrow morning,” Cloudstar meowed finally. “We should at least try to settle this in a peaceful manner. I’ll take….Leafstorm, Liontail, Splashheart, Cloudheart, Morningpaw, and Crazypaw.”

                “Crazypaw?” Blackwing asked incredulously. “Morningpaw? They’re both apprentices! You’re not letting any of us younger warriors go and-”

                “I’m aware of that, Blackwing,” Cloudstar replied. “It’ll be good experience for them to see the other Clans’ territories. And as for you, if you wish to be included patrols such as these, it’ll be necessary for you to learn to control your mouth.”

                Blackwing stiffened, eyes blazing with anger, but padded away without saying any more. The ThunderClan leader turned and scrambled up the Highledge to his den, sending showers of pebbles down onto the camp below.

                Suddenly, a wave of tiredness swept over Crazypaw. She turned, staggering exhaustedly towards the apprentices den, and curling up in her nest.

                She closed her eyes and was quickly carried away into dreams.

***

                A brown tom with a battle-scarred white muzzle stood in front of her, studying her intensely with sparkling amber eyes. Crazypaw did not recognize him, but she did recognize the faint scent of ThunderClan. “Crazypaw,” the tom meowed, dipping his head to the young apprentice.

                Crazypaw was bewildered. “H-how do you know my name?” she stammered. ”Who are you?”

                The brown cat hesitated for a moment before responding. “I suppose you would call me Thunderstar, although to myself I am Thunder, as that was the name that was given to me by Gray Wing.”

                “Thunderstar?” Crazypaw whispered in awe. “As in the first leader of ThunderClan?”

                The ancient leader nodded. “I would prefer that you call me Thunder,” he meowed.

                “Alright,” Crazypaw responded cheerfully. Suddenly, she paused, doubtful. “Wait! How can you be Thunder? Thunder died long ago! And why would ThunderClan’s original leader speak to me?”

                “I did die,” Thunder agreed. “Hundreds of moons ago.”

                Crazypaw seemed to notice the glimmer of starlight at his paws for the first time. “And as for why I’d visit you, you’re my kin,” the StarClan warrior meowed smoothly. “For countless moons, ever since I joined my warrior ancestors, I have watched my descendants grow and become fine warriors. It has come to my attention that for the first time in seasons, one of my kin has been born who has a great destiny. And that would be you.”

                “Me? What destiny?” Crazypaw asked surprisedly.

                “I can’t tell you much. Just a prophecy that an old cat named Rock gave us long ago,” Thunder replied.

                “What does the prophecy say?” Crazypaw inquired.

                “The flame of mischief will rise and attempt to defeat the dark splash of murder and betrayal,” the great leader recited the words of the prophecy. “And now, StarClan has seen that the time draws near.”

                Crazypaw became even more confused when the first ThunderClan leader spoke again. “I have come to train you for the final confrontation,” he meowed. “You must be prepared for the fight of your life.”

                “What do you mean?” she questioned him.

                “You will know when the time comes,” Thunder replied. “The meaning of the prophecy will become clear to you.”

                “Tomorrow, I will start teaching you battle moves,” the tom finished, turning around and padding away.

                “Wait!” Crazypaw called. “Why must you teach me? Is Liontail unable to train me well?”

                Thunder looked back.”Liontail is a very proficient warrior,” the former leader meowed. “Yet he was not around when the Clans were formed and all of the battle moves were created. He was never taught any mountain techniques by his father’s brother. He didn’t live on the moor and the forest in his lifetime.  To defeat the evil that is certain to rise, the only way to even have a chance is to be the best fighter in the Clans, and even that may not be enough.”

                Crazypaw was about to ask more questions, but Thunder dipped his head and meowed, “I’ll see you this evening for the start of training.”

                StarClan’s territory and Thunder were growing fainter, harder to see….

***

                The dream faded and Crazypaw woke up in the apprentices den.

                She went out into the clearing and stretched, her mind still reeling from her dream. What does the prophecy have to do with me?  

                Crazypaw noticed Oakstream trotting towards her. She nodded distractedly and meowed, “Hi, Oakstream.”

                The young warrior’s eyes brightened when she spoke to him. “Hi!” he replied cheerfully.

                Crazypaw forced her thoughts to wander away from the prophecy and onto the current conversation. “Um, so, what’s up?” she asked. “How’s the prey running?”

                “Fine, thanks,” he answered, pausing for a moment. “You fought well today. As good as any warrior I’ve ever seen.”

                “Thanks, but Liontail and Leafstorm and a bunch of the other experienced warriors are much more skilled than I am. Honestly,” she insisted.

                Oakstream shrugged. “I was terrible,” he hissed, sounding annoyed with himself. “A WindClan apprentice nearly beat me!”

                Crazypaw forced herself not to show too much interest. “I bet you did fine,” she reassured him. “What did this apprentice look like?”

                Oakstream shrugged again. “Dark gray fur, and…” he paused, trying to remember. “Blue eyes, I think. Sorry, I’m not sure.”

                It was the same apprentice I saw in the cave!

                Crazypaw tried to look indifferent. “Oh well,” she meowed. “Doesn’t really matter that much, I guess.”

                “Yeah,” Oakstream sighed.

                He was about to say something else when a loud yowl filled the camp. “Those of you who are accompanying me on the journey to the WindClan camp, meet by the camp entrance now!”