On cautious paws, Larkwing climbed over a large branch that had broken off a neighbouring tree. In front of her, the young she-cat saw the bushy, dark reddish-golden tail of her littermate, elegantly weaving her way through the undergrowth.

Larkwing noticed how quiet she was. Despite the dense plants in this part of RoseClan territory, Amberhaze made no sound. With this talent, it was no wonder she had become such a good hunter.

In contrast, Larkwing stumbled awkwardly after her. She gritted her teeth in frustration and stifled a hiss as she got caught in a small thorn bush.

Amberhaze turned to face her. "Are you alright?"

Hot with embarrassment, Larkwing yanked herself out of the bush a little too jerkily, leaving a few thorns caught in her pelt. Clumsy mouse-brain!

"Wait, you've got thorns in your fur." Amberhaze's eyes shone with worry.

"As if I didn't know." Snorting, Larkwing turned her head away and tried in vain to pull the little troublemakers out.

Amberhaze stepped closer to her. "You can't do it like that. Let me help you," she ordered.

So Larkwing could do nothing but stand there and wait until Amberhaze had freed her from all the thorns, similar to a mother cleaning her kit after a wild game.

"Done," Amberhaze announced after a while. Her whiskers twitched in amusement. "Better watch where you're stepping."

With ruffled fur, Larkwing put a few tail-lengths of distance between herself and the thorn bush. The whole situation was terribly embarrassing for her. "I don't know how I missed it," she grumbled dismissively.

Amberhaze hurried after her. "You've been so distracted all day."

"Am I?"

"You're nervous about tomorrow, am I right?"

Larkwing wrinkled her muzzle. "I'm not—" she wanted to protest, but then broke off abruptly.

It was true, she was nervous. So nervous, in fact, that she was getting tangled up in briars, even though she could normally cross the forest without a problem.

Sighing, Larkwing lowered her gaze. There was no point in denying anything. "Yes, I am nervous," she confirmed. "Perhaps I should've insisted that another cat take on this task instead. But it's too late now, I guess."

Purring, Amberhaze rubbed her muzzle against Larkwing's. "I'm afraid for you," she admitted softly. "Still, I'm quite sure you'll make it."

"Really?" Larkwing's fur prickled with warmth.

Amberhaze stepped back, a glow of pride in her dark amber eyes. "You've always been the braver of us, and more importantly, the better fighter. No matter what you face tomorrow, I believe in you."

With these last words, Larkwing felt a wave of happiness wash over her. Why couldn't we have been so close when we were kits?

"Thank you." Her voice came out as a croak. "I do this for the good of all the Clans. That's exactly why I can't fail."

"And you won't," Amberhaze vowed.

The two sisters continued on their way. Neither of them had a specific destination in mind, they just wanted to enjoy the faint rays of the sun. High above their heads, an occasional bird chirped or a squirrel chittered in one of the treetops, but they didn't feel like hunting at the moment.

It was so wonderfully peaceful that the events of the last few moons almost seemed like a ridiculous nightmare. Here in the peace and beauty of the Forest Mountains, Larkwing had the feeling that all her worries would disappear like morning mist.

"I put my stone in your hollow, by the way," Amberhaze said after a moment of silence. "I wasn't sure at first, but now I know it must have been the right choice."

"Why doesn't that surprise me?" Larkwing replied, amused.

Her gaze fell on a small patch of white flowers that were hanging their heads downwards. Snowdrops.

Amberhaze slid to her side. "They look beautiful, don't they?" the young, reddish-golden warrior purred as she stuck her muzzle out and sniffed at the blossoms. "The first sign that newleaf is finally returning. I can hardly wait. The last time we were kits."

Suspiciously, Larkwing narrowed her eyes. "They look to me more like they don't want to bloom," she remarked.

Amberhaze shook her head, snorting. "Don't think so negatively."

"That's not negative thinking, that's logical reasoning." Larkwing puffed herself up, then turned around. "Let's go back to camp."

***

The piercing, reproachful looks were the first thing Larkwing noticed when she entered the camp. It seemed as if everyone had been waiting for their arrival.

She stepped uneasily from one paw to the other. "Why are they looking at us like we've done something wrong?"

"I think they're just looking at you," Amberhaze whispered worriedly.

Silversky trotted over to them. "Apparently, some cats want a new vote," the silver and black tabby tom informed them.

Even without an explanation, Larkwing immediately realised why. Annoyed, she twitched the tip of her tail. "But I was clearly chosen! It's too late to change that anyway."

I've already been given an important task, she added in her mind. I'm definitely not going to back down.

"Try to explain that to them. They won't change their minds," Silversky explained, rolling his eyes.

Anger flared up in Larkwing. She had received by far the most votes; how could it be that there were suddenly cats against it?

Snorting, she stomped in front of the Roserock. "Listen!" she meowed loudly. "I've decided to be part of the reconnaissance patrol, and I've accepted that I've been chosen. So why don't you do the same?" Tensely, she unsheathed and retracted her claws.

But this only earned her more venomous looks. Dawnbreeze joined her and for a brief moment Larkwing hoped that the tortoiseshell she-cat would side with her.

"Of course you want to prove yourself," she purred, "but you mustn't forget that you're far too young. Palestar shouldn't even have allowed you to be part of the selection process. That was foolish of her. You've hardly had any experience!"

Larkwing just glared at her silently, burning with anger. If you knew what I've been through, you wouldn't be so overprotective.

Relief flooded through her when Fruittail pushed through the assembled cats and stood in front of her like a protective barrier. "It's Palestar's job to decide on new elections, not yours," she meowed, almost a little reproachfully. "Leave Larkwing alone until Palestar comes back and we can discuss the problem."

It was obvious that some cats, especially Dawnbreeze, Kestrelpelt and Birchpelt, were not pleased to be reprimanded by the medicine cat in this way. Nevertheless, no one dared to disagree out of respect for the young, yet highly honoured she-cat.

"Thank you," Larkwing whispered.

"No thanks at all. It's just my duty to prevent conflicts."

Larkwing tilted her head thoughtfully. She would have liked to know whether the long-furred torbico she-cat was for or against her. However, as a medicine cat, she was obliged to remain neutral.

At that moment, Lakepelt returned to camp, and as if they had forgotten what Fruittail had told them a few heartbeats ago, some cats hissed at the sight of him.

Lakepelt padded over to Larkwing, an expression of confusion in his ice-blue eyes. "Are they trying to stare me to death?" he scoffed snidely.

"Kind of," Larkwing replied. "Apparently some cats have decided they think I'm too inexperienced for the reconnaissance patrol — probably you, too, judging by their reactions — so they're calling for a new selection."

Lakepelt's fur bristled. "They're rather late to think of that."

That's how I see it too. Larkwing kneaded the dry earth nervously with her claws. Until Palestar returned, they had no choice but to wait.

Only when the sky gradually turned orange did Palestar return, along with the border patrol she had led. Without wasting time, Fruittail hurried to her and whispered something to her. The longer she listened, the more sceptical Palestar's expression became.

Then she climbed the Roserock and opened a Clanmeeting with the typical call. "May all cats gather!"

Faster than usual, the RoseClan cats settled down in front of the rock. Pairs of green, amber, yellow and blue eyes were fixed on the leader. Here and there, a tail or an ear twitched. It was easy to see that they would have liked to make their displeasure known immediately, but they remained silent.

"Fruittail has just told me that you are unhappy with the choice of cats for the reconnaissance patrol," Palestar meowed energetically. "Do you want to explain why?"

Complete silence fell over the clearing, as if the cats were suddenly too intimidated. At least until Kestrelpelt stood up.

"It's true. Some of us insist that the selection be repeated," the brown tabby elder explained. "It was mouse-brained of the others to vote for the youngest cats in the Clan. They shouldn't even have been allowed to participate!" Her voice became shriller and more accusatory with the last words.

Shocked and hurt by her statement, Larkwing flattened her ears. "How can you say such a thing?" she protested, "I thought you were at least on my side."

Kestrelpelt gazed at her long and piercingly from her amber eyes. "I'm sorry, Larkwing, but I can't let you put yourself in such danger."

Larkwing trembled with anger. She would have liked to simply scream now, to express her frustration at not being taken seriously, but in order not to encourage the others in their opinion that she was too immature, she remained silent.

"I'm of the opinion that new elections are absolutely unnecessary," Rainsplash spoke up. She coolly let her blue gaze wander over the assembled eyes. "Why don't we just trust these two with this task? They are no longer foolish kits. They know how to look after themselves."

Liar! Pathetic liar! Larkwing had to pull herself together to stop herself from growling. I'm sure she's not saying this because she thinks we're brave, but because she really wants Lakepelt to stay in the patrol. There will be great dangers ahead of us and she knows it. Because of this, she hopes that Lakepelt will die — her own son! How depraved can a cat be?

Slowly protests began to swell, whether they were directed at Kestrelpelt's statement or Rainsplash's was impossible to tell. With every heartbeat that passed, Larkwing felt more and more uncomfortable.

And what if they end up being right about me being so young for this task? She felt cold with unease.

"Hear me out!" Palestar's call drowned out the cats' meows by far, causing some of them to flinch in fright. As soon as calm had returned, she continued, "I can understand your worries. Nevertheless, nothing will change unless Lakepelt and Larkwing expressly wish for it themselves. Remember that there has already been a meeting of the reconnaissance patrol. Changing the members at such short notice would only cause stress."

Larkwing felt as light as a feather when she heard that. How lucky they were to have Palestar as their leader. She simply always knew how to handle conflicting situations. Larkwing couldn't remember a time when Palestar had done wrong — except when she had chosen Tendrilbranch as deputy, but that was long in the past.

It seemed that Palestar's words had had the effect that no one wanted to contradict her. Embarrassed, Kestrelpelt ducked her head and scurried away. Even though she was against her, Larkwing felt a little pity. Kestrelpelt only wanted to protect her, her kit's kit. However, she seemed to have disregarded the fact that Larkwing was now considered an adult and could shape her own future.

"That concludes this meeting," Palestar announced, then she leapt elegantly from the Roserock.

Like leaves caught in a breeze, the cats scattered around the camp and continued with their tasks. Larkwing, on the other side, stayed where she was for the time being. Sighing silently, she closed her eyes.

The soft sound of pawsteps over grass caught her attention. Palestar was coming towards her.

"Are you all right?" she enquired, sounding more like a worried mother than the universally respected leader of a Clan.

Larkwing hesitated. How should she answer that? So many thoughts were raging inside her and yet her head seemed empty at the same time.

"Well, I had already figured there would be protests," she finally said, though she wasn't even sure if she had ever thought about it.

Palestar straightened up. "That's why you have to show them what you've got, Larkwing, understand?" All at once, a fire of determination burned in her narrow blue eyes. "Prove to them that age doesn't matter. I see great potential in you that you absolutely must realise. You will surely succeed in your quest and bring the clans a great step closer to victory over the Shadowless."

Hearing this, however, did not evoke a sense of pride in Larkwing. Instead, her fear only grew, like a giant oak tree reaching ever higher into the sky, its branches keeping all other trees at bay. Nevertheless, she tried not to let it show.

I will do my best. She knew she had to say these words, but her mouth felt as if it was riddled with thorns.

"Take care of yourself, will you?" Palestar blinked, then trotted off.

Now Larkwing rose to her paws as well and shook her pelt.

There was no turning back. The hope of all the Clans lay in the paws of the reconnaissance patrol. They could not afford to fail.

Heart pounding, Larkwing let her gaze wander over the RoseClan camp — her home, her safe place. At the upper edge of the low rock walls, the bushes that served as a camp wall rustled in the wind. Fresh and cool, the stream cascaded into the camp, ending shortly afterwards in the pool. Wavesplash lay on the bank with her paws outstretched, motionless, only the tip of her tail gently touching the surface of the water, creating tiny ripples. Beneath the waterfall, Bramblepaw and Blossompaw played, splashing water at each other with exuberant joy.

Larkwing's gaze travelled on in a wide arc until it caught on the nursery. Ever since Blossompaw, Nettlepaw and Owlpaw had been apprenticed, the den behind the briars had been empty. Admittedly, it felt strange in the camp without kits who were constantly running in front of one's paws and who randomly began to meow heartbreakingly at night.

How much longer would this camp be so quiet and peaceful? Larkwing tensed her claws. She couldn't place it, but an ominous feeling told her that their problems with the Shadowless would soon become more extreme.