Runningspirit woke with a start. The acrid stench of smoke still clung to her fur. It'll be a moon before I rid my nose of this horrible smell! She got to her paws and stretched. Sleeping in the hollow, damp tree had made her muscles sore and achy. I could sleep forever! Runningspirit pushed the thought away. She had to hunt, the elders would be hungry.

Careful not to disturb Fiercestorm, who was curled up in a tight ball near the back of the tree, Runningspirit quietly bounded out of the den. The fresh air felt good on her fur, and the stench of smoke had almost vanished. The trees dripped with water, but luckily, it wasn't raining any more.

Runningspirit scanned the temporary camp for a hunting partner. She spotted Goldenspirit licking a burn on her tail."Hey, Goldenspirit! Want to go hunting?"

The she-cat leaped to her paws, "Sure! Let me get Swiftpelt, he said he wanted to go hunting." The golden warrior trotted over to a fern bush. A few heartbeats later, Swiftpelt appeared, his pelt ruffled.

I guess no one got much rest in this damp cold weather. Especially without proper shelter.

"Ready?" Swiftpelt mewed. Runningspirit nodded, then beckoned with her tail for Goldenspirit to take the lead. The golden she-cat's eyes lit up in surprise, then she bounded ahead.

Runningspirit ran alongside her clanmates, trying to warm up her freezing muscles. Though it was only leaf-fall, it felt as cold as leaf-bare. The sky was barely visible between the thick limbs and leaves, but it was beginning to turn a dark grey color.

Runningspirit shook her pelt, trying to block the icy wind. She looked longingly at Swiftpelt's thick, long fur. He didn't look nearly as cold as she was. Runningspirit shivered, then caught up with Goldenspirit.

"Stop!" Goldenspirit hissed, her tail in the air.

Runningspirit edged closer to the she-cat, "What? What is it?"

Goldenspirit pointed ahead with her tail. Runningspirit held back a hiss. Four Windclan cats stood on their territory, each holding a mouse.

Those filthy prey stealers! I'll shred them!

Swiftpelt slithered forward next to the other  two warriors, "We need to attack! " Goldenspirit nodded in agreement. Runningspirit studied the Windclan cats. She could probably take down two of them, since they were completely unprepared.

Runningspirit turned to Goldenspirit, "If the fight goes awry, you'll have to go and get more warriors." Runningspirit lashed her tail. She knew this new warrior would want to stay and fight, "Okay?"

Goldenspirit looked as if she might protest, but then nodded. Swiftpelt's whiskers quivered with amusement, "A little young to be giving orders," He whispered to Runningspirit.

Runningspirit felt hot with embarrassment. Swiftpelt had been her mentor, he was much more experienced than her. Runningspirit shook her pelt and shrugged,"A good warrior must always be prepared."

Swiftpelt rested his tail on his former apprentice's shoulder, "I trained you well." Runningspirit's heart swelled at his praise, then her ears perked, "Listen!"

She could hear the murmuring and complaining of the Windclan warriors, who were getting closer.

"Ow!" A voice yelped. Runningspirit recognized the voice belonged to Deerchase. The long legged she-cat must have stepped on a thorn.

Mousebrain! That's what you get for trespassing!

"Shut up would you? We have to move the marker before a patrol comes around. Stupid Wolfstar is probably to weak to check the borders after the fire."  A deep voice scolded.

Swiftpelt slid out his claws, "Waspclaw." Runningspirit had never liked the arrogant warrior. There were rumors that he would become a deputy someday. He was strong, but way too proud.

"How much longer? We don't have until moonhigh!"

Runningspirit growled at the voice. Hollowfang. There was at least three Windclan cats on her territory. She had to drive them out!

Swiftpelt pressed closer to the other two warriors, "Ok, when I flick my tail, we attack. Alright?" Runningspirit and Goldenspirit both nodded.

Swiftpelt bunched up his haunches, looking like he was about to leap. Runningspirit watched the Windclan trespassers, wanting to sink her claws into them.

In a short heartbeat, Swiftpelt flicked his tail. Runningspirit exploded from her hiding place and hurled herself into Hollowfang.

The unprepared tom crumpled to the ground; his stolen mouse flying through the air.  Without hesitating, Runningspirit plunged her claws into his flank, wincing as the tom let an ear splitting screech.

Runningspirit leaped off of the tom, landing neatly on all four paws. She saw Swiftpelt bravely battling Waspclaw, while Goldenspirit was fiercely driving Deerchase into the ferns.

Runningspirit snarled as teeth clamped around her tail. She yanked it free, causing blood to stream out of the gash. She let out a hiss, and barreled into Hollowfang once again, this time going for his soft belly.

Hollowfang dodged a powerful blow, and slid towards Runningspirit's shoulder, only to trip on a tree root. Using this as an opportunity, Runningspirit charged into the tom, sending him sprawling. She swiped her claws across his nose, then pounced on top of him.

"Why are you here, trespasser?" Runningspirit growled, pinning the bloodied tom to the ground.

"I don't answer to a piece of fox dung!" He retorted.

He'll pay for that!

Runningspirit began to dig her claws into his flank, even more. She saw fear glitter in the tom's eyes for a moment, then he answered, "Just let us go and we won't trespass again."

Runningspirit snorted, "You really think I'm going to believe that?"

A voice sounded behind her,"Let him go. His clanmates have already fled."

Runningspirit nodded to Swiftpelt, and removed her claws from Hollowfang's skin. The tom let out a hiss, then pelted into the  trees, leaving a trail of blood behind him.

Runningspirit turned to Swiftpelt, he only had a few scratches on his creamy fur. Goldenspirit only had a bite on her shoulder and a nicked ear. "Well, that went well," Runningspirit mewed, breaking the silence.

Goldenspirit purred, "Yes it did! I can't wait to tell everyone!"

Swiftpelt rested his tail on the young warrior's shoulder, "Now, now, there's plenty of time to talk. Let's just get back to camp."

Runningspirit dipped her head. She suddenly felt exhausted. All she wanted to do was get back to their real camp and sleep.

That won't be happening! It's not even sunhigh, and there's so much to be done!

"Are you coming?"

Runningspirit jumped at Swiftpelt's voice. She flattened her fur then answered, "Yeah, I'm coming!"

Runningspirit limped after them, wincing as a bramble caught her wounded tail. Mousedung! She pulled it free, leaving a tuft of fur on the thorns.

She bounded towards her clanmates, who were far ahead now. The leaves crunched under her paws; and the cool breeze ruffled her matted fur. The leaf-fall air felt good, but there was a scent of more rain. "That's the last thing we need." Runningspirit thought to, herself as a drop of rain rolled off of a leaf and landed on her nose.

Finally, Runningspirit padded into the temporary camp. The elders were scrunched together, sharing a soggy looking mouse. Wolfstar was talking in a hushed voice to Dappleleaf. Snowstorm was talking to Swiftpelt,"Probably telling him about the attack," Runningspirit thought aloud.

Dewpaw and Dustpaw were practicing battle moves. Dustpaw sighed, "I miss Flamepaw." Dewpaw stopped fighting, and sat back on his haunches, "Me too."

Dustpaw tore at the ground with her claws, "Why did she have to die?" Dewpaw licked his sister's ear comfortingly, "She died saving Mudkit. He would be dead if it wasn't for her." Dustpaw didn't respond, she just padded away from her brother slowly.

Runningspirit looked at her paws, recalling the fiery apprentice. She remembered the day she went out exploring as a kit, and the scars the badger left her. She was too young to die.

Runningspirit slowly made her way to Goldenspirit, who was talking excitedly to, Fiercestorm and Hawktalon  "Then, I clawed that she-cat until she begged for mercy! Those scrawny rabbit-eaters won't be back in a hurry!"

Fiercestorm lashed her tail In agreement, and Hawktalon let out a snarl of defiance. Runningspirit was about to agree with the new warriors, when she saw someone watching her.

She narrowed her eyes and saw Shadowheart.

* * * * * * * *

Runningspirit settled into her damp nest in the hollow tree. The wind outside was howling, bringing the rain clouds closer with every heartbeat. "I just want to get back to our real camp." She whispered to herself.

The tree sheltered cats from rain, but it did no use of blocking out the wind.

Runningspirit curled her tail around her nose, and pressed closer to Bluestream, who was beside her. Runningspirit let out a shiver, then after what seemed like a moon, she finally fell asleep.

~   ~   ~

A once beautiful she-cat greeted Runningspirit as soon as she opened her eyes. Runningspirit jumped back in surprise, then shook her pelt, making her fur lie flat once more.

"Sorry I frightened you." The she-cat mewed. Runningspirit's mouth dropped. Greycloud! That means... I'm in Starclan!

Runningspirit leaped to her paws and touched noses with the lost queen. "Why have you come to see me? I'm just a warrior, I'm not important!"

Greycloud twitched her whiskers, "Oh Runningspirit, you are more important than you think."

Was it just her, or did Greycloud look... beaten? Runningspirit couldn't believe a Starclan cat could actually look this way! Something is wrong. Very wrong.

Runningspirit stepped forward a few paces, "W-What do you mean?"

Greycloud's voice suddenly become solemn, "The Flame still burns with its dwindling might. A battle must be fought, to bring back the light. The darkness comes forth, bringing tides of blood. Shadows shift, releasing the flood."

"What are you talking about?" Runningspirit nearly wailed. Why was this cat talking to her? Shouldn't she be speaking with Dappleleaf or Wolfstar?

Greycloud flicked her ears, "A flame can only be destroyed by water. " She took a shaky breath and continued, "If the flame goes out, we have no hope."

Runningspirit shook her head, "You have the wrong cat." She paced around Greycloud and mewed, "Maybe you should have gotten Wolfstar or Snowstorm, not me."

Greycloud shook her head, "No Runningspirit, we chose you for a reason. Your destiny will either destroy, or save us."

Runningspirit's eyes widened in disbelief. What in the name of Starclan was this cat talking about?

"You can't change your fate." Greycloud whispered. Runningspirit looked into her blue eyes, darkened with sadness. Runningspirit could guess what she was thinking about.

Greycloud shook her dull pelt, "Runningspirit, you have a destiny like no other. Will you flee from it, or face it?"

Runningspirit took a deep breath, knowing the right choice, even if it was difficult, "I will face it."

Greycloud looked relieved, "Very well. Then be prepared."

Runningspirit dug her claws into the hard ground, "What is it I must do?"

The grey queen rested her tail on Runningspirit's shoulder,"You must find the source of darkness and defeat it."

Not knowing what she meant, Runningspirit answered anyway,"I will."