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With the sun beginning to rise over the hills, Lynxpaw emerged from the empty elder's den where they were assigned to stay. Her muzzle twitched as she blinked rapidly, attempting to fight off the stinging rays of the sun. She shook her dusted pelt and adjusted herself outside the den, sitting and drawing her tongue over her ruffled pelt.

Normally, the apprentice would remain on high alert, never pausing to ease her messy pelt. The confines of HeathClan felt safe though, for as the cats emerged from their dens and borrows they all shared an amiable dip of their heads with Lynxpaw. They were benevolent and respected the former RidgeClanners, which didn't shock Lynxpaw at all. It was a reality she could have predicted, but still she found it impossible to be a reality she would adore.

Before she could ponder on the her mixed emotions, her ears angled back towards the elder's den. Lynxpaw peered sideways to watch as Pebblestep and Mottledpaw emerged, the mollies grinning as the harsh rays of the sun warmed their stained pelts. Pebblestep yawned and leaned forward, outstretching her forepaws as Mottledpaw turned to acknowledge Lynxpaw.

"Oh, Lynxpaw! Nightfrost told me to tell you that he'd be with Robinwing in the medicine cat den," Mottledpaw chirped, flashing the molly a delicate grin. "Robinwing himself is a great medicine cat. He treated our words so quickly last night I was still able to catch some rest!"

She seems happier, Lynxpaw noted, her ears twitching. "Thanks, Mottledpaw," Lynxpaw replied, dipping her head to the calico.

"No problem," Mottledpaw purred, before she whirled around on her paws to face Pebblestep. "Let's wake the others and see what patrols we can help out with around here!"

Pebblestep nodded, casting Lynxpaw a glance and a friendly smile before she followed Mottledpaw back into the den. They all seem a little lighter on their paws already, Lynxpaw thought, clenching her teeth. I want to feel that way, but it feels weird. Why try to not worry when there's so much to fret about?

Lynxpaw swallowed her thoughts and turned to scan her gaze across the camp. Through the clearing now littered in waking cats, she could spot the medicine cat den close to the mound where Mousestar made announcements. Her tail flicked and the spotted molly padded forward, easing her way through multiple cats with a light murmur to excuse herself.

Approaching the medicine cat den, Lynxpaw inhaled a quick breath. Usually she would need to adjust her mind for serious conversation, threaded in talks of peril and the future, but now with just a few days of absolute bloodshed, it felt entirely normal. Her ears folded against the back of her head and she could feel her heart ache, as if it was swelling and throbbing, barely able to pulse correctly. There was only so much her growing brain could handle, but with many losses and terrible events webbed to her brain she was walking with heavy shoulders and thorn-embedded paws.

The molly entered the den, uplifting her ears that angeled towards Nightfrost and Robinwing's presence. The two were conversing quietly as Robinwing organized herbs. A serious expression was printed over her mentor's face, while Robinwing's eyes were glossy with worry and anxiety. The medicine cats crooked their heads instantly to spot Lynxpaw, Robinwing forcing a friendly smile over his face.

"Lynxpaw! Nice to see you again!" Robinwing purred, twitching his curled ears.

"I'm glad you're awake. Mousestar should be here any moment to talk to us," Nightfrost informed, his news banishing the smile across Robinwing's face. "We'll be telling her everything. She needs to know everything so the chances of HeathClan assisting us grows. Lynxpaw, will you be willing to tell her about your... your vision that predicted Marshleap's death?"

Lynxpaw's fur instantly rose at his question as the two medicine cats glued their gazes to her. It felt as a massive insect was lodged in her throat, buzzing and flicking its wings to and fro. She remembered the menacing sight of the poisoned mouse rising from the earth, its eyes like a void staring into her and entacting a curse to her presence. Lynxpaw had only briefly mentioned the vision to Nightfrost, and the tom had no clue about the other one she had witnessed. Exhaling a heavy breath, the spotted molly finally nodded and broke through the silence hanging over them like a chilling fog.

"Yes, I am," Lynxpaw murmured in response, Nightfrost casting her a hopeful grin at her agreement.

Robinwing sighed and peered sideways at Nightfrost, almost as if he was disappointed in the other medicine cat. The tabby stepped over to Lynxpaw and gently pressed his muzzle to her ear, the sudden contact nearly startling Lynxpaw. The molly was shocked to feel a wave of comfort flourish within her though, easing the fur along her spine and her spiked heartbeat. Robinwing then pulled away and granted the apprentice a light purr.

"Don't worry, Lynxpaw. Everything will be okay. I know the things you can see may be startling but just remember that the Star Realm left this ability in your paws for a reason," Robinwing reassured, lifting a paw and prodding her shoulder. Lynxpaw felt her lips twitch into a faint grin at the tom's words. "Maybe the Star Realm sees a hero in you, and stars I can't imagine how jealous that would make your companions!"

Lynxpaw snickered at the tom's words, Robinwing quickly following. She couldn't help but peer over the medicine cat to eye Nightfrost though, who watched the two through narrowed eyes. Usually, her mentor would not be so opposed to a few jokes and lighthearted conversations. The corners of her lips tucked into a small frown at the abnormal behavior from her mentor. He seemed to be the only one isolating himself from the idea of enjoying their time amongst HeathClan.

Robinwing then turned from her, him and Nightfrost sharing a glance. It was as if tension had suddenly sparked between the two, and it shocked Lynxpaw to even think about the two holding their claws over eachothers' throats. The curly-eared tom then shifted his paws to face back towards his herb storage, humming as he peered over the cobwebs and marigold.

"I hope I'm not interrupting anything."

Lynxpaw whirled around on her paws, fur rising across her spine at the voice from behind her. She settled as soon as her gaze locked onto Mousestar, the leader's gaze widened at the behavior from the medicine cat apprentice. The spotted molly glanced away, but Mousestar's honey coated voice quickly comforted her.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to frighten you," Mousestar murmured, stepping to Lynxpaw's side as she turned back around. The leader flashed Lynxpaw a reassuring smile before she eyed Nightfrost and Robinwing. "Was I actually interrupting something? Should I wait until later?"

Nightfrost parted his jaws slightly to answer but Robinwing retorted first. "No! I was just organizing a few herbs, that's all."

Lynxpaw nodded to backup Robinwing's answer, Mousestar eyeing her from the corner of her gaze. The leader then dipped her head, a shadow weaving over her face as she spoke up again. "I guess it's time I hear everything then," She began, sitting and tying her tail around her front paws. "So with Cottonstar... was there any signs of why he had made such a bloodthirsty change? Was there any warning?"

Lynxpaw stared down at her paws as Nightfrost responded to Mousestar. "I've heard another warrior mention how he seemed a little harsher with his tone before the death of Marshleap, but I myself heavily believe that the loss of Marshleap set off something inside of Cottonstar. It's so hard to believe but... I have no other possible explanation for it."

Something flickered in Lynxpaw's mind, the apprentice's ears springing up and her gaze turning swiftly to Mousestar. "There was something I noticed before he killed Heroncall," Lynxpaw started, her heart drumming wildly in her chest. "He said something about Marshleap being a brother, yet growing up alongside of him he should have known that the tom was the only kit of his litter."

"Memory loss?" Robinwing suddenly suggested. "Cats especially once they get older can suffer from it, and it can have other mental effects on them as well. Cottonstar isn't that old but it could still be a possibility."

"Or it was just a slip up," Nightfrost countered in a murmur. "He doesn't care for what he's saying. All he obviously cares about is revenge and destruction."

Robinwing didn't acknowledge Nightfrost's argument, instead his gaze remained glued to Mousestar. Lynxpaw slipped in a quick inhale, prepping herself for the next questions. Nightfrost instead cleared his voice though, beckoning to Lynxpaw as he addressed Mousestar.

"My apprentice has something I thought would be very important to share," Nightfrost mentioned, Mousestar glancing towards Lynxpaw in a heartbeat.

Dear Star Realm! What if she thinks I'm making this all up? What if she blames me for all that happened in RidgeClan? Lynxpaw thought as their gazes stuck to her like a cricket that hopped onto a spider's web. I never spoke up to RidgeClan about what I saw. I could have saved them.

Shoving her thoughts away, Lynxpaw nodded but her gaze wandered, avoiding any eye contact as she spoke. "W-Well, when I visited the Moon Realm a former HeathClanner named Galeflower warned me of danger arriving for our Clans. She told me my dreams are reality crying for my help, and before the Moon Realm I had a vision about a poisoned mouse weakly crawling towards me," Lynxpaw gulped, anxiety threaded through her voice. "That's when I knew that I forsaw Marshleap's fate. We arrived back home and he was dead... and we discovered a deathberry in the mouse he ate. Then I even had a vision about standing on Tall Stone with blood dripping beneath my paws. A voice then warned me that... malice shall corrupt reality, and turn blood on blood
for a rotting wait of revenge."

All of their eyes stretched wide, shock rippling through the atmosphere around them. Nightfrost managed to catch her gaze, the tom shocked by the mention of a second vision. Lynxpaw held her breath and quickly turned away, anxiety crawling over her skin like a swarm of ants. There was little to no time to tell him before, but she could only imagine what may have happened if she warned him or any other cat of an impending disaster. It was as if she was a hero sent from the Star Realm itself, yet she strayed away from her destiny and allowed RidgeClan to falter in her paws.

"A deathberry? If Hawkpaw had not commited the crime, then the cat who planted the deathberry must have been open to it falling into any cats' paws," Robinwing pointed out, Mousestar nodding in agreement.

"I believe so. It sickens me to say it but I think whoever planted it wanted Marshleap's death to stimulate RidgeClan to fall apart," Nightfrost stated with a sigh.

Mousestar tilted her head to eye Lynxpaw, who froze under the she-cat's gaze. "Are you saying that the Star Realm granted you the ability to see visions that predict the near future?"

"Yes," Lynxpaw breathed out in reply, as if she was fighting for air.

Mousestar's ears fell and something wavered in her gaze similiar to Robinwing's before her arrival. Was she concerned for Lynxpaw's wellbeing? The ability had been very stressful to handle, feeling as if the future was all in her paws, and she could easily crush it or revive it. Lynxpaw swallowed as Mousestar's tail wandered over her's for a short moment.

"You have a great responsibility, Lynxpaw, but know from now on that it is of your best interest to notify us of any further visions," Mousestar mumbled to her softly.

Lynxpaw only nodded in response to Mousestar. The molly was correct, and Lynxpaw should have taken her advice so long ago. What if she could have helped prevent Marshleap or Heroncall's death, or maybe even the division of RidgeClan? Her mind pondered on the thought, possibilties flickered through her thoughts like stars flitting across the night sky.

"Is the rest of RidgeClan still loyal to Cottonstar?" Robinwing questioned.

Nightfrost sighed, shrugging as he replied to the other medicine cat. "I'm sure some of them only stayed behind because they were terrified of what would happen to them if they did. I have no doubt that there may be some who agree with the terrible way Cottonstar handled the situation though."

"Did Cottonstar or any other cat know that you would be coming to us?" Mousestar swiftly asked, and Lynxpaw could nearly envision the nervousness falling from her lips like rain drops.

"I told no cats aside from the ones with me now," Nightfrost responded, sharing a reassuring glance with the leader. "Cottonstar could still suspect that we are staying here but... but..."

Nightfrost trailed off, and Lynxpaw knew all too well why. The only way HeathClan could properly avoid contact with Cottonstar and his followers now was if they sent the runaways off of their territory to live on their own. Lynxpaw understood that Nightfrost was desperate for HeathClan's aid, whether it was for permanent shelter or assisting in battling for RidgeClan back. Nightfrost was tugging at his limitations, for HeathClan had their own worries to fret about and their own battles to pick.

"Don't worry, Nightfrost, I will keep you all safe," Mousestar spoke, her words leaving an ounce of hope easing into Lynxpaw's mind. "I cannot promise you permanent shelter here in HeathClan but you are welcome to stay until you have decided your next step or until I say otherwise. I know it may be of your interest for our aid in other ways but for the safety of my Clan, I will not risk a bloody battle with RidgeClan."

She has every right to not devote her entire Clans time and lives to us, Lynxpaw noted, glancing over towards Nightfrost. The tom seemed merely disappointed in Mousestar's reply, but respectfully dipped his head to her regardless. Nightfrost should still be thankful for what she's doing for us. She could still be risking her own Clan.

"We thank you so much for your generosity," Nightfrost purred, Lynxpaw quickly nodding to Mousestar in agreement.

Mousestar's lips curled into a tiny smile as she stood to her paws. "You're very welcome," She meowed before she turned to eye Lynxpaw. "Why don't you go enjoy yourself with the other apprentices for the rest of the day? I heard talk of Cherrypaw showing your friends around camp at sunhigh. You can still make it if you hurry on over now!"

Lynxpaw wanted to object and continue discussing the situation with them, but she knew all too well that she had enough stress stacked on her shoulders. The spotted molly flashed Mousestar a considerate grin before she turned and exited the medicine cat den. Hopefully they could figure out more while she was absent, and for once she was praying for a vision that would aid her in seeing the path ahead.

Would their stay in HeathClan go smoothly? Where would they go once Mousestar decided it was time for them to leave and RidgeClan was still unsafe? The questions scurried through her mind like disease infested rats, and a shiver crawled over her body.

Scanning her gaze across the camp clearing, she spotted Redpaw, Hawkpaw, and Mottledpaw with two HeathClan apprentices. She recognized Cherrypaw in an instant, the russet molly the oldest of the two. She remembered the apprentice being announced at her first gathering alongside her brother, Hedgepaw. He was stripped away from her so quickly after the gathering though, for it was announced at the next that he had fallen to an unknown illness that burdened him since his early kithood.

The other apprentice Lynxpaw managed to recognize after a few tail flicks as Webpaw. The black and white tom was the smallest amongst the group, a younger apprentice who was known to be hyperactive and amiable. Lynxpaw kept low as she approached them and the other RidgeClan apprentices, but she was quickly recognized by an observing Cherrypaw.

"Lynxpaw!" Cherrypaw called, beckoning the medicine cat apprentice closer. Lynxpaw grit her teeth as she joined the group, standing beside her brother. "So happy you could join us right on time!"

Hawkpaw glanced sideways at Lynxpaw, granting her a faint smile. "Cherrypaw is going to show us around camp."

"It is my heavy honor to show you all around our lovely camp," Cherrypaw flaunted, her head held high with Webpaw chuckling at her side.

Does HeathClan slip catmint into their apprentices' prey? Lynxpaw asked herself, stifling back a scoff at the dramatic HeathClan apprentice.

"My mentor suggested that I do this so you all are comfortable during your stay. In case you didn't know, my mentor is Dawnfire, one of the fastest runners amongst HeathClan! She is smart and a joy to be around. I'm sure you would all agree with me once you meet her," Cherrypaw mewed, pride swelling in her voice.

The RidgeClan apprentices glanced to each other, obviously perplexed by Cherrypaw's constant need to wander off-topic. Webpaw picked up on it in a blink of an eye, turning to direct Cherrypaw back to her objective. "Last time I checked, they didn't come here expecting to hear your life story," Webpaw noted with a toothy grin.

Cherrypaw rolled her eyes at her companion while the RidgeClan apprentices chuckled. Lynxpaw remained silent though, glancing to her brother was laughed on with such ease. She was shocked that he had grown so resilient, as if he had shoved all the traumatic experiences from the last few days aside as if they were merely crowfood. How was he able to laugh without feeling so guilty? How was he able to be so amused without remembering similar memories from within RidgeClan?

As Cherrypaw began the tour, Lynxpaw's ears were perked but she drowned out all of their voices. She was trapped in a wave of her own thoughts. How were all three of the RidgeClan apprentices at her side now snickering along with the HeathClan apprentices as if they had been here for moons? They had so much to worry about, yet Mottledpaw painted a smile over her face, Hawkpaw's throat cracked as he laughed at Cherrypaw and Webpaw's jokes, and even Redpaw broke a smile at the events before him.

Then Lynxpaw remembered her visions. She remembered how Star Realm had tied her to the events taking place now, and she was stuck stressing on the possibilties that she could forsee. None of the other apprentices had visions that stained their mind like a pernament burn mark and no medicine cat duties to tend to as well.

They were not linked to catastrophe like she was.