DOVESONG TRIED TO ignore the rain that soaked her pelt uncomfortably. It was just barely starting to rain, and it was already pouring. They had been traveling for a quarter-moon, and she began to understand why her Clanmates were so worried about this journey. It was a long and treacherous journey. "Can't we stop to rest? Just until the rain stops?" she asked Blizzardpelt.

"We can live through the rain," her father replied. "We've been traveling for a quarter-moon. We can't stop now."

Dovesong hated to admit it was true. But she was doing this for her Clanmates. All of them. Not just the ones that were in the camp, but the ones that were lost. The ones that were gone. She couldn't stop now. "Okay, fine." She flattened her ears against a gust of wind that hit them. She was shivering, and she could feel Blizzardpelt shivering slightly beside her. But the strong warrior didn't admit it. "Are you sure? It's cold, and it's raining hard."

Blizzardpelt paused for a moment, looking up at the sky. "A worse storm is coming," he murmured. "Sure. Let's find somewhere to stay for the time being."

Dovesong glanced up at the sky too. Dark gray clouds covered the entire sky and lightning lit it all up, followed by the deafening roar of thunder. She followed Blizzardpelt toward a forested patch of land. They found a mostly dry area under some bushes. "Thank StarClan for this dry spot!" Dovesong exclaimed. "Hopefully the rain stops soon."

"I doubt it. It's getting really bad," Blizzardpelt muttered.

I can always rely on you to dampen my hopes. Dovesong gave her father an unappealing look when he wasn't looking. "Maybe. But however long it takes, we can stay here." But Dovesong didn't really believe her own words. The rain was looking terrible already, and it only just started. How were her Clanmates holding up?

Dovesong craned her neck to look over her shoulder when she heard mud squelching loudly. "Who's there?" she asked.

A tuft of yellow fur was caught on the bush behind them. Then a yellow she-cat emerged from behind the bush. "Great StarClan, it's so wet here, I feel like a RiverClan cat! Oh, hi!" She looked at Dovesong and Blizzardpelt, her eyes shining with greeting. "What are you two doing all the way out here?"

The rain had washed away most of the she-cat's scent, but Dovesong was fairly certain that this was Goldenheart, the young ThunderClan warrior who had helped save her and Moonclaw from the prison the first time. "What are you doing here?" Dovesong asked instead.

"Oh, that's a long story," Goldenheart laughed. "But we have time! I heard that you two were going on this journey at the Gathering a quarter-moon ago, and I wanted to come! Oh, and I'm Goldenheart."

"We know. Go back where you came from," Blizzardpelt growled.

Goldenheart inhaled sharply, but in a sort of mocking manner. "Ooh, I'm scared! But sorry, it's a bit too late for that." Her eyes shone with excitement.

Dovesong swallowed back a mrrow of laughter at Goldenheart's mockery. She glanced at Blizzardpelt, who was bristling with indignation. "Fine," he decided after a long pause. "But don't get in the way," he added when Goldenheart gave an excited jump.

"I won't, I won't!" Goldenheart promised. "Can't we go through the rain?" she asked suddenly. "It's not that bad!"

"There's a storm coming," Dovesong reminded her. "We figured we would wait it out."

"Oh, that doesn't matter a whisker!" Goldenheart responded. "Running through the rain is fun! I might not be a RiverClan cat, but I have to admit that I do like water."

She's special, Dovesong thought. "It's dangerous. If danger is here, it'll be hard to know if it's coming, never mind fight off whatever it is."

"That doesn't matter. I doubt there's even anything here," Goldenheart pointed out with a disapproving scowl.

"We can't take any risks," Blizzardpelt told her. His bored-sounding tone told Dovesong that he already wanted Goldenheart gone.

"Sure we can," Goldenheart persisted. After Dovesong and Blizzardpelt both gave her a look, she sighed. "Fine. At least let me hunt. I know some animals like to come out when it's raining."

Dovesong and Blizzardpelt exchanged glances. "Fine," they both said in unison.

"Yay! You won't regret it!" Goldenheart turned and slipped into the undergrowth.

"Of course we have to go on this journey with that featherbrained warrior. She doesn't even act like a warrior should," Blizzardpelt grumbled.

Dovesong would've said the same, but Goldenheart reminded her of Mousetail before they left their old territory. They were only kits then and left a day after they became apprentices. Mousetail was so much like Goldenheart then: reckless, mocking, energetic, enthusiastic. Of course, she was still those things. Sometimes. But when they were in their old territory, her personality seemed . . . stronger. "I think she can help us a lot. She might be a mouse-brained furball, but she can be useful."

Blizzardpelt let out a huff. "Fine. No going back now, I guess."

"Help!"

Dovesong pricked her ears when she heard Goldenheart yowl. She got to her paws in a flash and followed the sound of Goldenheart's voice. She heard Blizzardpelt follow reluctantly; the squelching of mud under his paws gave away everything. She was very aware of mud squelching loudly under her own paws. Whatever danger there was, they would be alerted of their arrival. "Goldenheart!"

When they reached a clearing, they saw Goldenheart standing in a clearing, looking over her shoulder at them. "Oops, sorry, false alarm."

"Don't do that!" Blizzardpelt snapped. "You could have been hurt."

"No, I really thought there was something!" Goldenheart exclaimed. "Hey, stop!" she yowled. Her eyes were wide with alarm and her damp fur was bristling.

"Who are you talking to?" Dovesong asked, narrowing her eyes suspiciously.

"L-look behind you!" Goldenheart instructed.

Dovesong gave her skeptical look and began to turn around, but before she could see what Goldenheart was talking about, she was knocked to the ground by a heavy, muscular cat with unsheathed claws that dug into her flesh. She let out a yowl of alarm. She could see other warriors coming into the clearing and attacking Blizzardpelt and Goldenheart. Their scents, too, were washed away. But she was sure that MoonClan had followed them yet again. Perhaps they knew what they were doing and wanted to stop them.

Dovesong raked her claws across her opponent's face, causing her to let out a yowl of pain and stagger back, letting her slip out of the way and get an advantage over her. She turned halfway and slipped under her opponent, slicing through the soft flesh of her belly. She gracefully got back to her paws. I'm fighting a ShadowClan warrior who's obviously working with MoonClan, she reminded herself. I'm a FrostClan medicine cat. There's no way I'm going to defeat her.

She turned around and prepared to jump back into the undergrowth, but was rounded on by a warrior who Dovesong never saw before, but she guessed she was Blackstream of ShadowClan. The black she-cat had healing scars on her face and flank that told Dovesong she was recently in a fight. No wonder. She is always in a bad position with someone from what I've heard. Blackstream leaped at her and pinned her down, one unsheathed paw on Dovesong's throat. Mud and rainwater seeped into her fur.

"Give me one good reason not to kill you right now," she hissed, her yellow eyes flashing with menace.

I don't have a reason that would be helpful to her, Dovesong thought in dismay. "I-I . . ."

Dovesong braced herself for a painful blow, but instead Blackstream looked up and, as if alarmed by something, she let Dovesong go. Dovesong stared after her as she ran off into the undergrowth. But when she was leaving, Dovesong thought she could see Blackstream's yellow eyes glazed over like a curtain of mist. What happened? Dovesong wondered with fear.

Goldenheart and Blizzardpelt seemed just as confused as she was. The other two cats, MoonClan warriors, were retreating, with the same look in their eyes as Blackstream did. A shiver passed over Dovesong. Who did this?

Yet in her fear, Dovesong watched in pure confusion and horror as the MoonClan cats ran into the stormy day. She turned to her companions, who were recovering from the attack. A trickle of blood ran down Goldenheart's shoulder and ear. Blizzardpelt stared after them, his blazing blue eyes wide with fear.

"What happened?" Goldenheart questioned, gazing at Dovesong worriedly.

"I don't know," Dovesong gasped. "But something . . . someone is here. And they did something to those cats."

"Obviously," Blizzardpelt growled.

Then Dovesong twisted around to look at the bushes when she heard the squelching of mud under a cat's paws. A cat she never thought she would see again emerged, her eyes wide with fear and regret. The most fear and regret Dovesong ever saw in a cat's eyes.

"StarClan forgive me! I shouldn't have. . . ." Moonclaw gasped. She didn't sound like she was talking to anyone visible. Dovesong, Goldenheart, and Blizzardpelt exchange surprised glances, but they didn't interrupt Moonclaw. The she-cat didn't seem to notice they were there. "But I did. I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry. . . ." She crouched low and put her nose on her paws, her eyes closed. Then she took a deep breath and stood up again.

"Moonclaw . . . ?" Dovesong murmured cautiously.

Moonclaw's eyes flashed with alarm. "Long time no see," she purred. It was obviously a forced purr. "What are you three doing here?"

Blizzardpelt growled, and Moonclaw seemed to shrink under her pelt. "The question is, what are you doing here?"

"This is my territory! Well, mine and Luna's, but still," Moonclaw told him boldly.

"Luna?" Goldenheart echoed, eyeing the gray she-cat skeptically. "Is Luna a Clan cat? Or was?"

"No. I've been staying with her ever since I ran away. She's really kind. Perhaps you three should come visit our cave," Moonclaw offered.

"Maybe," Dovesong conceded. "What happened with those MoonClan warriors?" she asked, changing the subject since Moonclaw obviously wouldn't do it herself.

Moonclaw stiffened. "I'd rather not talk about it."

"Did you use your powers?" Dovesong persisted.

Moonclaw returned her gaze, unwilling to share anything. But Dovesong knew that she had used her powers. The regret in her eyes betrayed that. They held each other's gazes for a long time before Moonclaw sighed. "Okay, I did. And I'm really sorry for it!" Her voice was raised angrily, but Dovesong found mostly shame behind her unusually sharp tone.

That's what it looks like. An icy shiver colder than the storm's breeze made its way through Dovesong as she glanced toward the stormy horizon, where the MoonClan cats had left.

"How do you know she's not lying?" Blizzardpelt snarled. Dovesong glared at him. But Goldenheart was nodding.

"Because I was stuck in a prison with her, for StarClan's sake!" Dovesong exclaimed exasperatedly. "She's okay. She's on our side."

"Am I really?" Moonclaw asked, her voice low. "Do you really think of me that way, after everything I've done? After all the cats I hurt?"

"Of course," Dovesong meowed. "I know it was never your fault."

Moonclaw looked at her with a grateful gleam in her eyes. "Thank you."

Dovesong glanced at Blizzardpelt and Goldenheart and saw that they were exchanging suspicious looks. "Come on. She's not going to do anything."

Moonclaw dipped her head. "That was the first time I did that willingly and knowingly," she mewed. "I won't do it again."

"The first time?" Dovesong echoed.

Moonclaw nodded. "If I ever use it again, it would be for an event like this one."

"With MoonClan warriors?" Goldenheart asked. Then she inhaled sharply. "Prepare to use it a lot."

"No," Moonclaw replied, making all three cats look at her with surprise. "Events like this one where cats I care about could get hurt. It's especially special because I don't . . . I don't care about other cats much these days." She let out a mrrow of amusement toward herself. "It's ironic since I'm a medicine cat."

Dovesong looked at her in surprise. "That's really sweet," she told her.

Moonclaw returned her gaze steadily. "Back to what I was saying: what are you three doing out here, anyway?"

"Oh, it's a long story," Dovesong told her. "We're on a journey."

"To where?" Moonclaw asked.

"Remember the prophecy about something that is lost that will have answers?" Dovesong asked.

"Of course. Is that what this is about?" Moonclaw

"Yes. We were hoping we could find our missing Clanmates. Do you know about them?" Dovesong asked. "Since you were a MoonClan cat once, and they have to have something to do with it."

"Missing Clanmates . . . ?" Moonclaw tipped her head to one side. "Sorry, but I don't know about your missing Clanmates. I left MoonClan before the two Clans left the old territory."

Dovesong sighed in disappointment and looked at her companions, who were both still eyeing Moonclaw suspiciously. Dovesong looked at Moonclaw again. "Can you come with us? Perhaps more cats can be more useful."

Moonclaw held her gaze for a long moment, then shook her head quickly. "No, I can't. First, I doubt I'll be of any use to you. Second, if we do find these missing Clanmates, I don't think it'd be a pleasant start if I was there. It would take a while for them to actually trust me. And third, I don't want to just leave Luna like that."

"Fine. That's fine. I get that. Should we go to Luna's cave? It would be nice to wait out the storm," Dovesong suggested, shooting a look at Goldenheart and Blizzardpelt, threatening them so they would agree.

"Luna will be delighted to have new visitors," Moonclaw said.

"I don't know . . ." Goldenheart muttered. "It's not exactly smart to trust a stranger."

Dovesong turned to Goldenheart, impatience burning in her chest. "Moonclaw is not a stranger. Not to me, anyway. Come on, you two, it'll be a good way to rest and wait out this storm," Dovesong told her.

"Haven't you heard the stories?" Blizzardpelt asked with a doubtful look at Moonclaw.

Dovesong rolled her eyes. "The nursery tales, yes, but Moonclaw told me her side of the story. She's not bad at all! Come on, guys, just trust us."

"I think it sounds fine," Goldenheart mewed after a breath of silence.

Blizzardpelt looked at each of the she-cats in turn. "Fine. But if it gets too suspicious, we're leaving."

"Right. You get to boss us around because you're a senior warrior and super important," Goldenheart muttered under her breath.

"Sounds like a deal to me," Dovesong conceded.

"Great! You three can follow me." Moonclaw flicked her tail and they began to follow her out of the forest. Dovesong could still hear Blizzardpelt muttering his doubts under his breath beside her.

It'll be fine. It's just until the storm gives out, Dovesong told herself.

It wasn't long until they were at a large cave. Moonclaw led them inside. Blizzardpelt and Dovesong shook water from their pelts. Dovesong looked at Goldenheart skeptically. The yellow she-cat didn't seem to care how wet she was. She's weird, Dovesong thought. There was plenty of water outside, but here the water level seemed to go down a bit. Did the cat who lived here leave because of the storm? Or did they find a way to live here and stay dry?

"Luna!" Moonclaw called into the caves.

A light gray she-cat with white dapples came into the main cave, carefully making her way through the water. Her green eyes shone with a warm welcome. Her flanks seemed to sag; Dovesong guessed she just kitted recently. "I see we have visitors. Hola. Welcome. I apologize for the flooding. The storm is getting bad. What are your names?"

"That's okay I'm Goldenheart, and these cats are Blizzardpelt, my father, and Dovesong, my friend. We were hoping we could stay until the storm ceases," Goldenheart explained, addressing each of her companions with a flick of her tail. "Moonclaw is my friend, too."

"Well, it is a pleasure to meet you all." Luna dipped her head politely. "You three can stay as long as you like. I do not mind visitors. Moonclaw, would you like to show them to the sleeping den?" the gray she-cat asked, turning to Moonclaw. At that moment Dovesong decided that this cat was probably not that bad after all.