With each passing day, I hoped that the situation in ThunderClan would improve, but it only seemed to spiral downhill.

Dustpaw had been coughing non-stop for the past few days, even though he seemed fine during our hunt together last quarter moon.

Featherheart and Blackfur also joined the sick cats in the medicine cat den. It was then Aspenfern confirmed that they had whitecough - in Treewhisker's and Ripplesnow's case, it was the dreaded greencough.

I glanced in the direction of the Twolegplace. It was a source of catmint, a cure for whitecough and greencough. The solution to our problem was right there, but they made sure to protect it with dogs.

In no condition to fight, we would have to look for alternatives.

I felt my blood boil in anger. Why do the Twolegs even grow catmint for? Is it just for the sake of growing?

"Frostpaw? Frostpaw!"

I snapped out of my daze and turned around. Streamripple was frowning as she padded towards me.

"I was calling you so that we continue on your battle training," she meowed with a sigh.

"Sorry-"

My mentor held up a paw to silence me. "Later. We can't afford to waste anymore time. Got it?"

I nodded. The best I could do for the Clan was to train and improve my skills.

Without another word, Streamripple led me towards the deeper part of the forest. "We will be practising on how to use the surroundings to your advantage. If it comes to that situation where ShadowClan invades our territory."

I slowly looked up and gulped. "Do you mean tree climbing?"

"It is an important advantage we have over the other Clans," she responded, as if it was obvious. "We usually use it to quickly get to another part of the territory without being delayed by enemy warriors, but silently doing it is difficult."

"Have you thought of dropping from the branches to ambush enemies?" I asked.

"Yes, but it is too dangerous for inexperienced apprentices and warriors," Streamripple meowed. "Enough talk for now, we need to get started."

"I am going to attack you, and you have to find a way to defend yourself and knock me out, using the surroundings. Is that clear?"

I nodded absentmindedly. Should I use a tree truck to-

Barely a heartbeat later, I was pinned down by my mentor. Realising my mistake, I cursed under my breath. I had just broken one of the first rules of battle.

"Are you ready now?" Streamripple asked, letting me get up.

I got up, shaking leaves and snow off my light grey tabby pelt. "Yes."

"Good."

Streamripple charged towards me again. I dodged narrowly, barely a hair length away from her.

In that brief moment, I thought I was safe, but Streamripple reacted quickly. It was clear that she expected what I was about to do.

Another heartbeat later, I was pinned again.

"Use your surroundings," Streamripple emphasised.

In my next attempt, I tried to lure her towards a tree. I planned to jump over her, but it fell short of my expectations and I was pinned for the third time that day.

"Good try," she commented. "However, you should try something that I don't expect."

I tried again and again, each with different tactics, but I was pinned each time. Needless to say, I was terrible.

"One last time, before we head back to camp," Streamripple mewed, glancing at the darkening sky.

I was panting hard, with thoughts of giving up, but I was eager to impress my mentor and prove something to myself. I can do it.

Like before, the brown and white she-cat charged straight towards me. I jerked to the side such that a tree was only a few mouselengths away.

I jumped, my paws finding a grip on the tree truck, but it was not my plan to climb. With my remaining strength, I pushed myself off the truck.

My hopes were crushed as I miscalculated the jump and fell flat onto the snowy ground.

Streamripple helped me up, with a small smile. "Don't worry about it. If you work hard, you will get it someday," she encouraged. "Let's head back to camp."

I was miserable. All those attempts, I didn't manage to outwit my mentor. Am I really that weak?

No, I mustn't give up, I thought, remembering Stormpaw's commitment and diligence during those nights, even though his mentor became sick.

I finished my prey and stood up. If I want things to change, I must act immediately.

Not willing to run into Stormpaw, I decided to head towards Snakerocks. The moon's light shone on the stones, giving it a strange light glow.

I stiffened as I noticed an unfamiliar grey cat sitting on one of the stones. As I walked closer, I realised that their pelt gave off stars.

"Who are you?" I asked.

The unknown cat turned and I found myself staring into blue eyes quite like my own. With an expression like stone, the cat responded.

"Raincreek."

When I heard that name, I remembered the story Kinktail told me some time ago. While I was gaping, Raincreek strolled towards me.

"Hello," she greeted politely.

"I... I," I spluttered.

"Come and sit with me," the StarClan warrior invited.

I sat down and looked at the view in front of us. The stars that made up Silverpelt twinkled, far from reach. Below, ShadowClan territory laid in silent darkness.

"It's been a long time since I came here," Raincreek spoke, almost wistfully, but I could be imagining things.

"Can't you visit from StarClan?" I asked curiously.

"StarClan's power is dependant on the faith of the Clan cats. It weakened as more lost faith in StarClan, and it became difficult for StarClan residents to enter the living world," Raincreek explained.

I blinked. "How did you come here?"

The light grey she-cat smiled. "Because of you."

"Me?"

"There is a strange link that exists beyond StarClan. Even as StarClan's power weaken, the link would still be there. It connects a StarClan cat to a cat from the living world. It is quite peculiar," Raincreek mewed.

"That's amazing," I gasped.

"I know a patch of catmint outside the Clan territory, which can be accessed by any cat. I could tell you the location, but you must share it with the other Clans." Despite her words, the StarClan cat seemed almost indifferent.

"Even ShadowClan?" I shifted my paws uneasily.

"Yes."

The fact that I even considered withholding information from ShadowClan disturbed me.

The innocents in ShadowClan do not deserve anymore suffering.

I agreed to Raincreek's offer.

"It was nice to meet you," Raincreek meowed after revealing the location of the precious herbs, about to leave.

"Wait!" I called.

Raincreek stopped and gave me a questioning look.

"I heard that you are a great warrior, and I was hoping that you could teach me. I want to improve my skills to contribute to my Clan."

There was a slight hint of a smile on Raincreek's face. That was all I needed to know her answer.