IN RESPONSE, MOONCLAW waved her tail. "Of course. Follow me." Moonclaw led the three of them to a network of tunnels that sloped upwards, away from the flooded main den. She stopped at a large, more elevated den with small dents in the flooring. Luna had followed them, but she went to her own nests where two kits were wriggling around. Dovesong was right; she had just kitted. The kits hadn't opened their eyes yet.

     "We can gather some moss and bracken for your nests. We have some extra somewhere here," Moonclaw explained. "I can show you around the caves if you like. It can get confusing, but you get used to it. If that's okay with you." She looked at Luna.

     "Do whatever you like," Luna meowed back. "You live here too."

     Moonclaw dipped her head and led Goldenheart, Blizzardpelt, and Dovesong back into the tunnels and into another den. It was much, much smaller. "This is our storage, where we keep fresh-kill or supplies that we need, like materials for nests." She glanced over her shoulder at Goldenheart and Blizzardpelt, as if expecting that they would be warming up to her by now. Goldenheart seemed to be, but Blizzardpelt still seemed skeptical.

     "Isn't the flood going to come up here and destroy the storage here? What can we do to prevent it?" Goldenheart asked, sounding worried.

     "Luna and I check it everyday," Moonclaw answered. "If it begins to get flooded . . . well . . ." She clenched her jaw as she looked around the cave. "We'll figure something out. Hopefully it doesn't flood, though."

     Goldenheart nodded, but she seemed to be thinking about what they would do if the den did get flooded.

     Moonclaw turned to Dovesong. "There's this technique that Luna showed me," she mewed. "I'm not sure if these two would be interested." She flicked her tail to Blizzardpelt and Goldenheart. "But I can show you, Dovesong."

     Excitement buzzed in Dovesong, making her fur tingle. "That would be great! Where is it?" she asked.

     Moonclaw's eyes gleamed. "Follow me. Goldenheart, Blizzardpelt, you can start making your nests if you like. All the materials are here."

     The two cats nodded reluctantly. Moonclaw and Dovesong left. "What do you call it? This technique?"

     "Well, Luna doesn't really have a name for it, but it's kind of like she talks to the spirits of the earth. Kind of like StarClan, except not in the stars. You know what I mean?" Moonclaw asked, a hint of confusion in her voice. She didn't seem to totally understand, either. "She's been trying to teach me to do it, and I guess I can teach you. She says I'm a natural." Moonclaw let out an uncertain mrrow.

     "Right." Dovesong nodded, unsure of what to say.

     "Since it's raining, I doubt you want to go outside, so it'll be a bit harder. But here-look." Moonclaw stopped beside a pool on the side of the main cave. A couple boulders had been stacked next to the pool. Moonclaw and Dovesong sat on the rocks. "Touch the surface of the water with your nose. Kind of like the Moonpool, except you don't move away from it. Close your eyes and try to block out all the noises, all the distractions, all your thoughts. Nature can speak to you when you empty your mind and let it in."

     Dovesong gave her a skeptical look. "That's really . . ."

     "Odd? I know. But I've done it before, and I've seen Luna do it many times. Try it," Moonclaw urged. "I'll do it with you," she added soothingly.

     Dovesong nodded. She turned away from Moonclaw, touched the surface of the water with her nose, and closed her eyes. She flattened her ears to block out most of the noise, but did the rest herself. She felt darkness, comforting darkness, enfold her. Nothing, not a single thought or whisper in the wind, was heard.

     All was quiet until Dovesong heard a voice call her name. Her eyes fluttered open into some sort of dream world, a lush meadow with a single oak tree looming over her. The sun shone clearly from a cloudless sky. She didn't see anyone, but then heard the voice again. It was clearly in her head.

    Dovesong.

     A large snowflake floated above Dovesong's head, and a sort of playful feeling washed over her. She chased after the snowflake, not questioning why it was here in the meadow when there weren't any other snowflakes. She followed the white flake down the hills of the meadows and soon came to a clearing surrounded by heather and gorse.

     The snowflake was gone. Doveosng looked around in confusion, but she stayed where she was. There were cats in the clearing. Dens were woven on each side of the clearing. This must have been a camp. But were these cats a Clan? Rogues, perhaps?

     Dovesong began to come to the conclusion that these cats were rogues, until she recognized one of them. A black and brown tortoiseshell, who was sharing fresh-kill with a silver-and-white she-cat. Flowerdawn was her name. Dovesong recognized her because she was a senior warrior before she went missing along with many of Dovesong's other Clanmates. Excitement filled her from ears to tail-tip. Her Clanmates were here! And they were okay!

     Dovesong felt an odd pull toward this she-cat, as if they were connected in some way. Were her Clanmates really still alive? Was this where they were?

     "Dovesong!"

     Dovesong emerged from her deep trance when she heard Moonclaw's voice cut through the air and her paws prod her side. She sat upright immediately. Her nose was numb from the cold water, but when she rubbed it once, some of the feeling returned. Moonclaw was standing beside her, her eyes wild. "We have to get out of here!"

     Dovesong looked around, startled. Water was rushing into the caves in waves, filling up the already flooded cave quickly. Blizzardpelt and Goldenheart were pushing through the water that slowly but surely filled the caves, one of Luna's kits carried in each of their jaws. Luna was struggling after them. Moonclaw nudged Dovesong up and they rushed out of the cave.

     "I know a place where we can keep shelter!" Moonclaw told Dovesong, raising her voice above the rushing water. She began to swim vigorously to the exit of the den. Dovesong began to follow her before another wave of water washed into the den and took her by surprise, lifting her legs from under her and causing her to go under the water.

     Dovesong opened her mouth to yowl for help, but all that came out was a muffled yelp and a whirl of bubbles. She unsheathed her claws and scrabbled at the stone as it flew by, trying to steady herself so she could emerge from the water. She managed to emerge for a gulp of breath, but was dragged back down again. Great StarClan, it's happening all over again! she wanted to wail.

     Then she felt the earth give way beneath and her head hit the sharp rock, knocking her unconscious. The last thing she saw was dark, bubbling, red water.

***

     Dovesong opened her eyes when she heard someone yowl her name desperately and she felt paws press against her chest, causing the dirty rainwater she swallowed to come back up. She coughed and it all burst out of her mouth onto the ground. Her head throbbed painfully and her muscles screamed in exhaustion. Three blurry figures of cats surrounded her, worry lining each of their faces. They were soaked in dirty water. Dovesong had a hard time remembering what had happened, much less who these cats were. "What happened?" she asked, her voice coming out raspy.

     "There was a flood," responded the black-and-white cat. "You hit your head. Do you feel okay?"

     "N-no, not really," Dovesong answered; her head was throbbing. No, it was more like a stabbing pain that repeatedly shot through her head and neck, and even the rest of her body. "Who are you?"

     The she-cat hesitated, her green eyes widening, then she sighed, extremely worried. "It's me, Moonclaw," the she-cat murmured softly. "Don't you remember me?"

     "Why would you say 'It's me'? I don't even know you." Dovesong looked around at the other two cats around her, and her heart lurched with fear. "Who are you all?"

     The three cats murmured or shuffled their paws worriedly. "Don't you remember anything, Dovesong?" asked the yellow she-cat.

     "Should I?" Dovesong asked.

     The three cats didn't answer. They began to become clearer now. The first cat, Moonclaw, was holding cool moss to her head, soothing the headache and soaking the blood that came from the wound on her head. The second cat was a yellow she-cat with blue eyes. The third was a muscular white tom.

     "Try to sleep," Moonclaw murmured, stroking Dovesong's throbbing head with her tail. "You need rest."

***

     "She doesn't remember anything," a she-cat's voice meowed hastily.

     Dovesong opened her eyes when she heard voices speaking hurriedly and quietly.

     "Perhaps she just needs some time to rest," a slightly high-pitched voice answered. "She just hit her head. It'll heal."

     "Yeah. And hedgehogs fly," a tom grunted. "I doubt rest will work. She doesn't know who any of us are."

     Who are they talking about? Dovesong wondered. Then the black-and-white she-cat, Moonclaw, turned around. "You're awake!" she exclaimed. She came forward and spoke softly when she was at Dovesong's side. "How do you feel?" Her voice trembled.

     "My head hurts, but I'm otherwise okay," Dovesong answered, feeling sorry for Moonclaw. Why was she so worried? Dovesong sat up straight so that Moonclaw could examine the wound on the back of her head.

     "Can you remember anything now?" Moonclaw asked. "Who is that tom right there?" She flicked her tail to the muscular white tom, who's eyes glinted with concern in the night.

     Dovesong turned her gaze to the tom. He was extremely familiar, but his name was lost on Dovesong. She narrowed her eyes, trying to remember. "I . . . I don't know."

     "It was you!" the tom exclaimed suddenly, turning to Moonclaw. "You did this. I overheard what you were telling her before the flood. What have you done to my daughter?"

     "Luna was the one who taught me that technique, Blizzardpelt. Have I lost my memory? No, I have not. It was the flood," Moonclaw explained calmly. "She just needs rest."

     "You keep saying that, and she's rested, but she doesn't remember a thing!" the tom burst out. "Fix it, or I'll make you!" He growled low in his throat.

     Moonclaw seemed to shrink beneath her pelt. The fear in her eyes told Dovesong Blizzardpelt just mentioned a sensitive subject. "I didn't do it! Didn't you see the wound on her head, or are you blind? It obviously happened when she was knocked unconscious during the flood." She stepped toward Blizzardpelt, her damp pelt bristling.

     "Maybe it wouldn't have happened if you didn't tell her to do all that kit-like nonsense!" Blizzardpelt snapped back.

     Moonclaw's eyes flashed with anger. "It's not nonsense! In fact, it's the exact opposite."

     "That doesn't give me an excuse to believe you!" Blizzardpelt snarled. "I have always known you to do things like this. Cats never change."

     What are they talking about? What happened before this? Dovesong wondered.

     Moonclaw curled her lip, obviously deeply offended. "You're right. Sometimes they don't change. I haven't changed one bit."

     "I told you!" Blizzardpelt announced arrogantly.

     Moonclaw held up a paw to stop him. "But I was never evil. Not like this. Just yesterday was the first day I ever used my ability willingly," Moonclaw explained.

     "I won't believe you until I have solid proof," Blizzardpelt growled.

     The yellow she-cat stepped in between the arguing cats. "Let's not fight. Not when Dovesong-the cat who was the first one sent on this journey-is hurt. Great StarClan, I thought you two had more sense."

     "I have more sense than you," Blizzardpelt snapped at her. "You trusted this cunning cat immediately. And look what she's done!"

     "I have done nothing," Moonclaw mewed calmly. "Perhaps Luna knows how to help."

     "Oh, sure. Let's do more of the things that made Dovesong forget everything!" Blizzardpelt agreed exasperatedly.

     "It's not the same," Moonclaw snapped at him. Then she stalked out of the clearing.

     "What just happened?" Dovesong asked. "What happened to me? What does she have to do with it?"

     "Everything! She's the cause of all of this!" Blizzardpelt's eyes were blazing angrily.

     "Well, if she's going to get help, she must not be," Dovesong pointed out.

     "Don't listen to him," the yellow she-cat told her. "He's just a grump."

     Blizzardpelt shot a glare at her, but he quickly changed the subject. "Can't we try to help her while Moonclaw is away, Goldenheart?"

     "I guess we can try . . ." Goldenheart looked at Dovesong and then at Blizzardpelt doubtfully. "What do you suggest we do?"

     Blizzardpelt glanced at her and stepped forward. "Dovesong, do you remember what happened before you forgot everything? Try really, really hard to remember."

     Dovesong returned his gaze suspiciously, then looked away and closed her eyes, trying to concentrate. She tried to think back to before all of this. But she only remembered what happened that day. She looked at Blizzardpelt and Goldenheart apologetically. "I don't remember."

     Goldenheart sighed heavily, and Blizzardpelt's gaze became distant, as if he were trying to think of another way. "Do you remember the Clans?" Goldenheart tried.

     "Clans? No," Dovesong responded. "Do I come from one?"

     "Yes. You and Blizzardpelt come from FrostClan. He's your father. And I come from ThunderClan," Goldenheart explained. "Can you remember anything?"

     "I already said I can't." Dovesong paused. "You said we're on a journey. What for?"

     "It's a long story. But you got a prophecy a while ago, it sounds like. A prophecy that told you to go on this journey." Goldenheart's voice sounded sad. "I can't believe this is happening. What will Mousetail think? Oh, and she's your sister," she added quickly when Dovesong looked at her questioningly.

     "Where is she?" Dovesong asked.

     "Back at the Clans. There's six Clans, with so many cats in each of them, but it's only you, me, and Blizzardpelt that came on this journey. We just met Moonclaw and Luna on the way," Goldenheart explained.

     "Huh." Dovesong's thoughts whirled. This was so much! Was that what her life was like? Suddenly she wasn't sure if she wanted to get her memories back.

     The gorse shook and Moonclaw emerged, but she was alone. "Luna says there's nothing she can do," she told them sadly, with a wistful glance at Dovesong. "But she says that finding your old Clanmates will help. And visiting the Moon Springs, too. You two probably don't remember the Moon Springs. It's just where we used to share with StarClan, like the Moonpool."

     "That's not good enough," Goldenheart complained. "She knows-or used to know-what we're here for. It's useless if she doesn't even remember!"

     "I know everything about it. The vision, where you're going." All three of them looked at Moonclaw curiously. "I could come. But there would still be complications."

     "If they don't welcome you, we'll make them," Blizzardpelt decided.

     "We have to avoid solving our problems with violence as much as we can," Moonclaw countered. "There's enough violence and death as it is."

     "You think we don't know that?" Goldenheart muttered.

     "Are we just supposed to wait until we're there to bring Dovesong's memories back? I hardly think if she doesn't have her memories, she'll be of any use," Blizzardpelt conceded, a tinge of sadness in his voice.

     "We'll have to deal with it," Moonclaw told him sternly.

     "Let's get back to the cave," Goldenheart suggested after a breath of silence. Even Dovesong felt sad; she didn't really know what was going on.

     "Good idea." Moonclaw dipped her head. "The water should be almost gone by now."

     When they were walking back to the cave, no one spoke. Dovesong avoided each of the cats' gazes, not wanting to see the never-ending sadness in them. She didn't understand it. She didn't know these cats. At least, she didn't think so. It sounded like she was important. The thought filled her with pride. But if she didn't remember, then she wasn't important anymore. All these possibilities were so weird, and they made Dovesong's head ache even more than it already did.

     When they reached the cave, Dovesong was surprised by how wet and messy it was. What happened here? She couldn't help but wonder, even though part of her didn't want to know. Moonclaw had said that there was a flood, and she hit her head and lost her memories during it. It definitely wasn't pretty.

     Dovesong followed the three cats into the network of tunnels to a large den. It was messy with debris from the stone cave and damp and useless supplies for nests. This must have been the sleeping den. A pretty light gray she-cat with white spots was in the corner of the den in a new makeshift nest, curled around her kits as they slept.

     "Luna, are there any more supplies for nests?" Moonclaw asked the she-cat, padding toward her.

     "I believe so, yes. There were some dry materials in the storage den," Luna responded.

     "Good. I'll get some now for our nests. If there's enough. Goldenheart, Blizzardpelt, can you come with me?" Moonclaw asked the two cats.

     The yellow she-cat and the white tom nodded and they followed Moonclaw out of the den. Dovesong was alone with Luna.

     "So, Dovesong," Luna began, "what happened back there? Or do you know?"

     Dovesong turned to the gray she-cat. "All I know is there was a flood. And I hit my head."

     Luna nodded. "That is what I heard. I am sorry about that. About you, and that I couldn't help. I hope you can get them back soon. Porbrecita." She looked at Dovesong with genuine sympathy in her eyes.

     "I hope so, too. They seemed really sad. Do you know why? I mean, was I important to them?" Dovesong asked.

     Luna nodded. "Very. Moonclaw seemed most devastated. She really cares about you."

     "She did seem really sad about this. More than the other two. I mean, she showed it more," Dovesong observed.

     "We found nesting materials!" Goldenheart came rushing in, with Blizzardpelt and Moonclaw behind her. "Enough for the four of us." She put down her materials, and so did the other two.

     Quickly they made nests.

     "I want to go hunting," Goldenheart announced when they were finished. "My belly thinks my throat's been torn out!"

     "Good idea. But take Blizzardpelt with you. Luna and I need to stay here with Dovesong," Moonclaw told her.

     Goldenheart nodded. Blizzardpelt gave Moonclaw an exasperated look before he reluctantly followed Goldenheart out of the den.

     When they were gone, Luna asked, "Moonclaw, what have you all decided to do?"

     "I'm going on this journey with them," Moonclaw told her. "Dovesong was the only one out of those three who knew about the prophecy and where we're going. But I know, too. I have to go. I'm also the only other one that knows about herbs."

     Luna nodded. "That is a good idea. I will not stop you."

     "But they need to stay here for a few days. Dovesong's wound is really bad, and I would like her to rest before she goes on. I also need to find herbs around here," Moonclaw told her.

     "You are an excellent healer. You delivered my kits," Luna agreed with a fond look at her sleeping kits. "Confío en ti."

     Dovesong was confused by the fact that Moonclaw seemed to know exactly what Luna just said. She couldn't even start to guess what Luna said. "Thank you. And speaking of being an excellent healer, Dovesong, you need to rest. Wounds heal better when you do," Moonclaw instructed.

     "But I just did," Dovesong argued.

     "Don't argue," Moonclaw said. Her voice was gentle with concern.

     Dovesong nodded and settled into her own nest that Goldenheart said she specifically made for her. She almost instantly fell asleep.

     When she opened her eyes, she was in a vast expanse of green land. Confusion immediately settled in. She wasn't even awake. What was this? She looked around, and she saw a dark tabby tom begin to come into view beside her. She flinched. "Who are you?" She hadn't seen or heard of this tom before, but he had kind amber eyes that immediately made Dovesong interested.

     "You don't know?" The tom's eyes glittered with deep sadness, deeper than the sadness in Moonclaw's eyes earlier.

     "Should I?"

     "I would think so . . . but I know what you've been through. I shouldn't be so surprised," the tom concluded, his voice thick. "I'm Foxclaw. Does that help at all?"

     Dovesong shook her head. "I'm just curious . . . who were you to me? Before I lost my memories?"

     Foxclaw stiffened. "You love me. And I love you. I wanted to come here just so I could see you, in case something happened and . . ." He trailed off.

     I don't doubt it. I can tell why I liked him, Dovesong thought, feeling warm inside.

     Foxclaw continued. "I thought you were going to die. I was so scared. And now . . . I don't know if this is worse."

     "It's not bad," Dovesong told him. "I mean, not as bad as dying. If I died, that would be . . ."

     "Bad? Definitely. Maybe if you get your memories back, then you'll appreciate this break. I know you struggled a lot after I died. I would-"

     Dovesong cut him off. "You're dead? Then how am I talking to you?"

     "You're not awake. This is a dream," Foxclaw told her gently. "I'm in StarClan. Don't you remember us?"

     "I don't remember anything! That's what everyone else is acting like, anyway." Why was everyone asking her if she remembered things when obviously she didn't? "But thanks for visiting me."

     Foxclaw dipped his head and touched Dovesong's cheek with his nose, sending warmth all through her. She could tell right then that he really did love her, and suddenly her heart ached. She needed to remember so she could remember him. He acted like they had so many good-and maybe bad-memories together. "Even if you don't get your memories back, I won't stop loving you."