Smokepaw gazed down into the medicine den, perched in the willow. The sky was gray, sunlight blotched out even though it was roughly sunhigh. Her paws were steady, tail raised to keep herself balanced in the boughs of the tree. Tree climbing is not my forte at all. It's not fun, it's not second-nature, and it's frustratingly simple. She looked down on the cats below her. Finchwing, Nightfreeze, Collieheart, and Thymeclaw were all back in the den for a check-in; they had been released to warrior duty two days previous. The other cat that had nearly died from Smokepaw's own patrol was the only cat medicine-den bound.

"Alright, Smokepaw, looking good! I think you're all back in shape. Climbing the willow was the final test, and you've clearly passed." Leopardnose purred. Smokepaw gave a small grin, pride welling in her belly. Climbing is the worst. But, I'll do it all day if it means I'm not stuck in the medicine den with Leopardnose pestering me and Kiwipaw talking all the time. She walked her way down the branch back to the main limb, scaling down the side to the trunk and then to the ground, passing Miststar's nest on the way down.

"So I'm cleared for all activities now?" Smokepaw rocked on her charcoal paws, hazel eyes trained on Leopardnose. The golden and dark spotted tom chuckled and nodded.

"Yeah. Yeah, you're clear. If you have any problems, come see me, though." Smokepaw nodded and dashed out of the den, right as Kiwipaw realized what was happening and tried to call after her. Nope. Nope. I've spent five sunrises in that den with that fur ball and I've learned one very important thing: she never shuts her mouth.

Main camp was quiet; most cats weren't hanging outside with the humidity thick in the air. Cold, bitter winds swept over, cancelling out the sticky heat, but giving a chilling vibe to the day. Smokepaw padded out of camp, her heart racing with excitement. The meadow below camp welcomed her, and she purred. It had been too long since she last step out of camp-- only five sunrises but I felt like too long. I have somewhere to be. Miststar left not too long ago. If I'm fast enough, I should be able to catch up with her.

She streaked through the tall grasses and lush trees of RiverClan territory. The river bent around with her, and soon she could make out the treeline where ThunderClan territory was. The scent of rain was becoming more and more heavy, but she was able to make out the scent of Miststar. Finally, she could see the pale pelt of the leader, along with three others.

She took a a heaving breath, her breathing heavy already from running, then called out as loud as she could. "Miststar!" The rest of the patrol was easy to make out now that she had spotted the gray point leader, who turned her head at the sound of her name. She held up her tail, halting the three cats around her, and Smokepaw finished the several-fox length distance.

"Smokepaw, all healed up I see?" Miststar meowed, her tail lowering. Smokepaw heaved for air, nodding.

"Yeah-!" She replied between breaths, swallowing. Smokepaw recognized Flurrypaw, who was on the patrol, and could only barely place the names on the other two warriors, Olivestripe and Murkyripple. Actually I remember Murkyripple pretty well. She's louder than thunder.

      "How can I help you then, since you ran all the way here?"

      "Please, take me on the patrol with you!" Miststar's eyes slightly widened at the request. "I'm all cleared by Leopardnose, I can fight perfectly fine. All my wounds are healed enough so that they don't hurt too bad and won't rip open ."

      "Why should I? I already have a small, unintimidating patrol with an apprentice and only two warriors. Why would you be a good addition to my meeting?" Smokepaw thought a moment. I don't know. I just... I just wanted to come. I wanted to protect Miststar. I want to know what ThunderClan wants.

      "I... I want to be there. I want to know. I want to protect RiverClan." Miststar paused, and turned to Flurrypaw.

      "What do you think?" The gray and white she-cat seemed shocked the leader considered her but her eyes lit up, and she opened her mouth.

      "Oh-- I think Smokepaw would be a good addition. If things go sour, I mean." The gray masked leader blinked and looked to Murkyripple for a heartbeat, who gave a tiny nod.

"Alright. Smokepaw, you're on the tail." The dark mottled apprentice nodded quickly, taking the end of the patrol position and they started moving. Miststar was quiet as they moved, Olivestripe talking loudly to Murkyripple about how she fought an air rogue before, who gave faint nods and "sure"s when it seemed appropriate. Flurrypaw padded alongside the talkative brown tabby, eyes bright with interest as she listened.

"Hey, Miststar, when's Smokepaw becoming a warrior? I can't wait to see her leading other apprentices instead of being dragged through training all day." Murkyripple cut through Olivestripe's rambling in an attempt to stop her loud, annoying story. The tabby shut right up, ears pricking and looking to the slender leader. Smokepaw trained her eyes on Miststar as well, interest sparking.

      "I was actually thinking, if all goes well, possibly tomorrow at sunhigh." Smokepaw felt her heart jump, and her tail raised high.

    "Really?" Her voice came out higher than expected, but she calmed herself down. Miststar cast a bright look and nodded.

     "Lucky. I won't be a warrior for at least another few moons," Flurrypaw grumbled. Smokepaw looked to the gray patched she-cat, but pushed down the annoyance that was swelling up. I've been waiting way longer than the usual apprentice in the first place and she's-- Whatever. Whatever. It's okay. It's okay. No big deal. Smokepaw breathed out. When I become a warrior I'll be better. Tomorrow I change. I get my name, my title, a new den, new jobs. I'll be a whole new cat out the outside, and I want to be a whole new cat on the inside. Rosecall expects it from me, the clan needs it from me, Miststar sees it in me. It'll take a little work, but I should start now.

"We all have to put in our time," Smokepaw meowed, choosing her words carefully. Or, at least, I hope those are the words she wants to hear. Flurrypaw huffed, but flicked an ear.

"I guess. But I want to be a warrior now. Didn't you feel that way? When you were a younger apprentice?"

I felt like I was already qualified to be a warrior, and that being an apprentice was a waste of my time, actually.

"Sure, something like that...," the dark gray she-cat meowed. Olivestripe laughed and nodded.

"Yeah, but being an apprentice was so fun!! You were learning cool things, and you could do anything. Now I'm always on patrol and really tasked with feeding the whole clan!" The dark brown tabby purred, her black striped tail waiving behind as she spoke. The trees grew thicker, the river feeding them rich health, and the undergrowth denser. The other side of the border was popular ThunderClan land, often hunted on and patrolled by the forest clan. The patrol tread with caution, though Miststar seemed calm and at ease. Smokepaw could feel her fur prickle as they neared the border. She felt her eyes widen at the sight of a group of five cats on the ThunderClan side.

      "Is that--" Flurrypaw started, eyes trained on a cream tabby tom, but Murkyripple shoved her long-haired tail in the apprentice's mouth.

      "Yes." She hissed quietly. Olivestripe's eyes were huge. Smokepaw pressed on, breaking formation to stand at Miststar's side. The leader gazed down at her through sapphire blue eyes as the grew closer

       "Are you scared?" She murmured, her eyes picking back up ahead, her held high. Smokepaw took a deep breath.

"I think so. Yeah."

"It's understandable. I'm sure you must feel lots of confusion, having all the power in your claws but not a drop of real experience. You're scared because you don't know if you can do it. I get that. I do. But don't forget where you come from. Never forget that you're RiverClan. You have all of us at your side. So don't be afraid, because you're not alone." Smokepaw narrowed her eyes.

"What about when I am alone? What if nobody else is there--"

"You're never alone, Smokepaw." Miststar cut her off. The border was drawing closer and closer, the cats more and more visible. "No matter what. Even when you're in the middle of unknown territory, even when you're in the heart of the rivers, you're never alone." I don't get it.

"Miststar. I see you came here yourself, and with the most ragtag patrol to crawl out of the river." As he spoke, the cream tom stood up. His long, pale, sandy ginger fur was glossy and bushy, his tail high and green eyes sharp.

"Pearstar. Thank you for coming." Miststar's voice was cool. Pearstar. I saw him at that one Gathering I got to go to, but he's so much bigger this close. Good thing he can't swim... I heard his poison could nearly kill a cat if they're not treated promptly. She gazed down at the river lapping between the two leaders, suddenly yearning for the comfort of the cool water around her paws.

"I mean of course, but you do realize the full moon is tomorrow? There's really no reason to meet now, we could've talked tomorrow," he blinked.

"This couldn't really wait. I see you have a problem with my border patrols, and you've been trying to reach into my territory for the past few days."

"Not just trying, actually. We've been pretty successful." Pearstar purred, and a pale brown she-cat at his side gave a small laugh.

      "What do you want, Pearstar? I don't have time for your games, I have a clan to run and you've been like burrs caught in a thick pelt." She sighed.

      "It won't be for much longer." Pearstar' gaze drifted through the patrol, landing on Flurrypaw. "What is this, a kit?" He curled his lip, then shrugged nonchalantly. "Whatever. You do you, Mist. Oh, yeah, what do I want. Ah, mm. Hm. You, giant smoky fuzzball." He nosed the air in Smokepaw's direction. She narrowed her eyes.

      "What?" She could feel the bitterness creep back into her veins. New outside new inside can wait.

       "What do you know about poison?" She felt her pelt grow hot. Does he know I was poisoned? It must be a total guess that I've been poisoned, he couldn't possibly know.

     "It can kill you," she answered, blinking slowly. He smirked.

     "Yeah. And how does it kill you?" Smokepaw looked to Miststar, who didn't let her gaze fall from the ThunderClan leader. "It spreads through the body. It spreads and kills and takes over and then you're dead. If you were to survive miraculously, there's always something that dies. Whether it's physical, or mental. The poison destroys. The poison kills." Flurrypaw was whimpering, ducking behind Murkyripple. Smokepaw's eyes were wide. Miststar held her tail high, a gust of air billowing her long hair.

      "What are you planning, Pearstar--" she cut herself off, her eyes widening. The gray point she-cat looked around, pelt standing on end, and the ThunderClan leader let out a laugh. Smokepaw narrowed her eyes in confusion, before she felt it. The ground rumbled. Earth elementals maybe? No, nothing is ripping through... it's.... She scented the air, and her fur bushed out. The scent of dozens and dozens and dozens of cats reached her nose, too many to count. Miststar swept her body in front of her patrol, and Smokepaw looked out across the border from behind the leader's haunches. She could see them, the undergrowth rustled and dark shapes moved about in the darkness of the woods. Finally they burst through, lining the river. As soon as their paws stepped out of the bushes, roots shot out of the earth, winding around and bridging across the water. That's practically all of ThunderClan! We can't hold them all off! She looked to Miststar, panic in her hazel eyes. We can't do this. There's five of us versus literally all of ThunderClan.

       "Miststar...," Murkyripple started, her olive eyes sizing up the situation and chocolate fur on end. Flurrypaw cowered behind the dark warrior, Olivestripe cautiously crouched down as well.

      "Olivestripe--" Miststar started, but the ThunderClan warriors started crossing the root bridge. And ran. They ran right past, not bothering to swipe claws or bite or anything. They ran right into RiverClan territory, silently like shadows, the ground rumbling as they swept over the land. Smokepaw found herself clinging close to the medium-long haired leader as they rushed past. Her fur billowed, and she shut her eyes. She pushed away from the leader in a daze as the last of the warriors departed.

      "We have to warn them!" Murkyripple shouted, eyes wide as she looked out to where RiverClan lay, but Miststar raised her tail.

      "We don't have time," murmured. Across the river, Smokepaw looked, was Pearstar and four warriors.

       "I'd love to stay and chat some more, but I have somewhere to be. And, currently, you are the only cats to know how weak ThunderClan camp is right now, so...." Pearstar unsheathed his claws, and a root bridge slowly crept out of earth as a pale brown she-cat summoned it.

He started crossing as it grew. "Thank you Ocrehawk. Now. Who should I start with?" He cracked open his jaws, revealing bright purple tinted saliva dripping down from his sharp teeth, running out of his mouth and streaking his square jaw. "Any volunteers?" His eyes swept across the RiverClan cats, landing on Flurrypaw. "I think it best to take out the youngest. I wouldn't want her to have to watch everyone die, that's just cruel." He started to spring forward, but Miststar raised her tail.

"Olivestripe, now!" She barked, eyes narrow and fierce. Smokepaw watched as, without hesitation, the dark brown tabby slammed her pass on the ground.

It was instantaneous.

Everything was whited out as an impossibly thick fog coated the whole riverside, visibility at a solid zero.