The next day seemed to drag by as Pineheart waited to go with Cairn to the Heart of the Sky. Brokensong has been delighted when they had asked her that previous night. She would never turn down an experience such as this.

As the sun was starting to set behind the tall stone walls of the dock buildings, Pineheart watched Cairn step from the depths of his den. Brokensong was laying only a few foxlengths away, her paws tucked beneath her chest.

As he padded out, she stood to greet him. "Thank you for allowing me to join you. Maybe I can gain some new knowledge from your ancestors," she purred as she dipped her head.

"It is no problem at all," he assured her, "I'm sure our ancestors will be eager to share with you."

Blue bounced up, his forepaw still wrapped in cobwebs. "Am I coming to?" He asked excitedly.

"No, you're going to help Sun'ka keep watch over the camp," Cairn replied. Blue's whiskers instantly drooped.

"You should be resting your paw anyways," Brokensong mewed as she turned to the young silver tom. "You remember what I told you to put on it, right?"

"Yeah, goldenrod and oak leaves," he purred.

"Good." she grunted, "make sure to give Falcon those juniper berries if he is still complaining of his belly ache later."

Blue nodded, turning and speeding off towards the small den Brokensong had claimed as her own. "We should be heading out now," Cairn mewed as Pineheart finally stood and padded over.

All three of them turned and started to pad towards the alley out of camp. Pineheart glanced back towards the dens one last time, noticing that almost all of the other cats had already turned in for the night.

My night is only just beginning, he thought excitedly.

The small group entered the passageway, trotting quickly down its length until they came back out to the open. Pineheart relished the tang of the salty sea water on his muzzle. Cairn stopped for a moment, casting his gaze across the heaving waves.

"It's such a clear night. Perfect for sharing dreams with our ancestors," he commented. Pineheart silently agreed. The sky was already turning dark, with tiny speckles of light splashed across the horizon. An enormous full moon hung precariously in the sky above.

After several more heartbeats, Cairn turned and started to lead them along the dock. There were no dockworkers in sight. The usually bustling area practically deserted.

Eventually, another alley came into view. Nestled between two massive buildings, the pitch black opening was quite inconspicuous.

"This is the tunnel to the Den of the Sky. You should stay close behind me," Cairn warned before stepping into the shadows.

Brokensong didn't hesitate as she faded into the darkness behind him. Pineheart's black pelt stood on end as he stared into the alley. He could hear whispers, urging him onward into the dark.

He could hear Cairn's voice ahead, "we will be there shortly. Just stay close behind me."

His voice sounded so far away. In a panic, Pineheart started to run after the lingering scents of Cairn and Brokensong. Thankfully, he slowed before he crashed into the medicine cat's haunches.

"We are almost there," Cairn meowed up ahead. Pineheart squinted, trying to see a break in the dense shadow of the alleyway. Finally, a flash of light appeared at the end of the tunnel.

Pineheart could see Cairn's slender shoulders as he led them into the open. Pineheart couldn't suppress a gasp of astonishment at what he saw. The dock buildings had been arranged to make a large, circular clearing. It was closed around the circumference, except for the alley they had just trudged through.

The ground was mostly grass, but in some spaces the earth shone through the tiny stalks. At the center of the clearing, a massive tree sprouted and reached up with oaken branches towards the sky. It's leaves rustled as a breeze stirred its weakest limbs.

The roots, also equally enormous, broke through the dirt and stretched in all directions. Only near the tips did they disappear into the grass once more. Pineheart stared up at the slick surfaces of the dock buildings, completely devoid of any blemishes, dips, or divets.

"Welcome to the Den of the Sky," Cairn purred.

Brokensong's good eye was stretched wide, completely awestruck at the scene in front of her. Cairn had started to pick his way forward, padding around the patches of dirt that crisscrossed the grass. "Just watch where you step. There's generations of passed on Dockcats under your paws," he mewed, a teasing tone in his voice.

"How do we know where they're at?" Pineheart asked shakily as he took a step forward.

"You don't!" Cairn chuckled, his tail flicking in the air behind him. Pineheart felt Brokensong press close beside him, her sides quivering with excitement.

The pair watched as Cairn jumped up on one of the huge roots, and lay close to the trunk of the tree. "If you'd like to stay on the ground, you can just press your nose to the roots," Cairn offered.

Brokensong leapt forward, extending her neck to sniff the musty bark. "No, I'll come up wit you," she mewed as she reared back on her hind paws. With a short bounce, she came to stand beside him on the jutting root.

Pineheart was perfectly fine staying on the ground. As he grew close, a shadow passed over the moon. The Den of the Sky grew dark, just as black as the alleyways that had led them here.

But his nose was already brushing the gritty bark, plunging him into a deep slumber.

He tried to blink his eyes open, but they were heavy with tiredness. When he finally managed to open them wide, he was surprised to see that he was sitting on the soft tan dirt of the beach.

Cairn and Brokensong were sitting silently beside him, their gazes scanning their bleak surroundings. Behind them, the sand stretched away into the distance. But in front, the ocean spanned across the horizon and disappeared far out of sight.

A thick fog hung above the waves, tainted with the reek of sea fish and salt. "Is this your StarClan?" Brokensong asked quietly.

As if in reply, the fog started to swirl and clear from their view. Surprisingly, a single star studded figure was padding towards them across the water.

Cairn quickly stood and bolted to the shore line to greet the stranger. Pineheart and Brokensong followed more slowly.

"Greetings, my son," the transparent she-cat chimes as she neared, "I see you have brought new faces with you."

"Yes! These are Pineheart and Brokensong," he purred happily, "they are IceClan warriors!"

"Welcome, travelers," the starry she-cat meowed softly. Pineheart almost had to strain to hear her gentle tone.

"We are happy to be here," Brokensong meowed formally as she dipped her head.

"This is my mother, Fable," Cairn explained, "she was the leader of the Dockside Cats before me."

Fable erupted into a deep purr. "I was right to leave the Clan to you at my time of passing," she insisted, "you know you have served our group well."

Cairn's tail started to puff up, the tip flicking self consciously. "But I know still know when to ask you for help," he grunted.

"So it's help that you are seeking?" she asked seriously.

"I have come to see if IceClan are the answer to our troubles," he began, "they outsmarted Cassius; and even calmed one of the Dockworkers."

Fable was nodding her small, tortoiseshell head as he continued. "Their numbers are so small, I fear if IceClan were to carry on they would eventually perish."

Pineheart shot him a look through narrowed eyes. He wasn't aware that Cairn had thought of them as so... frail.

"I wanted to let them stay," he finished, his stare intense as he waited for his mother's response.

She was looking over Cairn's shoulder, her eyes unfocused. "IceClan are not meant to stay on the docks," she mumbled.

A thick covering of gray clouds started to blanket the sky. "But I can not turn them away when they need help," Cairn grunted.

"Cairn, you are such a free spirit. I have no hopes to change your mind if you've already committed to sheltering these IceClan cats.."

Pineheart looked past Fable, into the ocean. The waves were crashing violently, the water turning a murky crimson shade. He could hear Brokensong gasp beside him as the vision began to unfold.

Fable started to whisper something softly. He stared at her muzzle, hearing her words as clear as birdsong in his head. "Beware the paws that have traveled far, for darkness shall surge in their wake. A cloud will follow to shroud the dock in shadow. Blood will spill blood and waves will clash, washing away what remains."

A crack of thunder pierced the air around them. With a blinding flash, Pineheart furiously blinked his eyes and found himself laying on the grass next to the Heart of the Sky.

He pricked his ears as he heard the rumble of a coming storm. Cairn and Brokensong were getting to their paws atop the root. They both hopped down, their faces unreadable.

"Don't tell anyone what you heard," Cairn grunted as padded past, towards the tiny alleyway.

Pineheart exchanged a baffled look with Brokensong before trudging after him. They both had the same question burned in their minds. What just happened?