The stars that had covered Dawnstrike flew off as she and the Dark Forest cat disappeared. Silverpool stared at the moonlit ground, watching as dew covered the thin blades of grass in rapid speed. A small noise made her ears prick and turn on two paws, ready to fight.

Dawn was stretching above the trees, milky waves slicing through the sky in rolling colors of red and blue. Larkpaw stood, watching the warrior. The two RiverClan cats stared at each other for several moments, until the ginger tabby lowered his head to her.

Why is he bowing to me? Aloud, she asked, "Larkpaw— what are you doing?"

His solemn yellow eyes met hers, secrets swimming through them. "Aspencloud told me everything before she—" his voice was ragged and he drew in a hoarse breath—"before she died."

Silverpool's eyes strayed to her apprentice's body. "Why has StarClan abandoned us? None of these cats did anything to deserve to die!" Her blue eyes snapped back to Larkpaw. "Why? You're our medicine cat now— tell me!"

The fur on the even-tempered cat's shoulders rose. "I may be the medicine cat, but you have more connection to StarClan that I ever will. You're entire life has been mapped out by them. You were born to save both StarClan and the Clans, Silverpool!"

"She told you all of that?"

A thin ray of sunlight burst past the trees and cut like lightning into the clearing. Larkpaw nodded solemnly.

"I need to go tell Minnowstar." He breathed in raggedly. "And then I must get back to my patients." All of the fire diminished, the young cat's tail fell limp and dragged in the dirt as he slowly padded to the leader's den.

Aspencloud. A sudden pang of loss enveloped her. Even though Silverpool had never been fond of the medicine cat, she had served her Clan for many seasons— and she deserved to be morned throughly by her Clanmates.

The silver she-cat made her way to the juniper bush that housed Larkpaw and the sick cats. A huddled lump of orange and black fur was visible through cracks in the branches. Darting through, Silverpool wrinkled her nose at the stench of sickness that hit her. She took Aspencloud's scruff in her jaws and gently pulled her across the ground, surprised at how light the she-cat was. Hardly more than a trout, she easily pulled her out of the den and into the clearing.

Many of her Clanmates had woken and were preparing to help Stonepad burry Rushpaw. When seeing Aspencloud's motionless, limp form in Silverpool's jaws, Bramblefang darted forward and took the medicine cat in his own. The two young warriors carried their Clanmate to rest next to Rushpaw's.

Silverpool gazed at the still bodies, not even caring that Bramblefang's warm, fluffy pelt was pressed against hers.

How many more will die before peace will come to the Clans?

But the wailing and yowls that came from the throats of RiverClan cats had no answer for her.

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Thank you for reading until the very end of Shadows Unveiled! Please vote and comment below, and I would really appreciate if you have any criticism or encouragement for myself and lynxkitten65. Meanwhile, keep a look out for the forth book: The Last Stars!