Larkpaw had had a restless night. She had tossed and turned from one position to the other many times. The moss and feathers that served as a nest cushion were suddenly uncomfortably scratchy and even the smallest noise prevented her from falling asleep.

Now that the sun was falling through the ferns, Larkpaw felt incredibly exhausted. She didn't even know if she had slept for a moment.

"You were quite noisy last night," Lakepaw greeted her.

"But really!" Birchpaw agreed, who was just giving his brown and white fur a morning wash. "You were meowing all the time. That was pretty scary sometimes."

Larkpaw froze in shame and didn't know what to say to that at first. She hadn't even realised that she had been meowing. Apparently last night had been worse than she remembered.

"That's no wonder," Reedpaw said, who was already standing at the exit. "After all, Fernpool was mysteriously attacked yesterday. Who wouldn't keep the whole den, if not the whole camp, awake with their meowing?" With a dismissive flick of her tail, she stalked out of the den.

For a heartbeat, silence reigned between the stunned cats. "Was there a thorn in her nest or what?" Elderpaw murmured with a purring undertone.

"She was so strange yesterday," Lakepaw agreed thoughtfully.

Larkpaw dug her claws into the edge of her nest when she heard that. You must not know your own littermate!

As the young she-cat stepped out into the faint warmth of the rising Greenleaf sun, all the memories of yesterday slowly came flooding back. She was supposed to undergo her first rating, which didn't happen in the end. Her hunting partner Reedpaw had said some nasty words about Fernpool and pulled her claws over Larkpaw's muzzle in her anger. Only a little later, Sunbrook had sent her back to camp, and he, Larkpaw and some other Clanmates set off in search of Fernpool.

Involuntarily, the image of her injured mentor reappeared in Larkpaw's mind, and she looked anxiously towards the medicine cat's den. When she had gone to her nest the previous evening, Fernpool had still been breathing, but she had neither spoken nor reacted to being touched.

Just then, Aster slipped out of the medicine cat's den. She opened her mouth into a yawn and arched her back. Her gaze swept across the clearing and lingered on Larkpaw. She lumbered towards her, but kept her distance.

Aster's and Fennel's injuries hadn't been as serious as Flutter's, but they still had to spend the last few nights in the medicine cat's den because some cats objected to them sleeping in the warrior den. Larkpaw wondered if this mistrust wasn't a little too far-fetched. Letting them stay in the medicine cat's den is even riskier! I doubt that Fruittail learnt any battle skills as a medicine cat and Fernpool is obviously not able to fight at the moment.

But none of the rogues seemed to have had bad intentions, as it seemed.

"Good morning." Aster's voice was formal. "How did you sleep?"

Larkpaw knew what she was getting at. "How am I supposed to get any sleep after yesterday's events?" she hissed back more gruffly than she had intended.

Aster backed away. "I'm sorry if I upset you," she replied quickly. "I still don't know much about all your... Clan customs, but it's easy to see that Fernpool is important to you."

Embarrassed, Larkpaw licked her white chest fur. Of course Aster was just trying to be nice. I shouldn't have been so rude. "It's alright."

"No problem," Aster replied.

Larkpaw breathed a sigh of relief. She wasn't particularly keen on getting into trouble with any more cats. "How's Fernpool doing?" She waited anxiously for Aster's answer.

"Just like yesterday." Aster scratched her paws in the grass. "Fruittail, Fennel and I took turns keeping watch at her nest, but there were no problems."

Thank StarClan!

"But her eye," Aster continued, "can't be saved. If she... when she's well again, she'll have to figure out new ways to perform her warrior duties. The ability to see is incredibly important to survival. "

Larkpaw thought of Heatherleap, who had lost both of her eyes. She also wondered how she should have continued. But now she had joined StarClan, and Larkpaw fervently hoped that she would be freed from her suffering there.

Palestar called a Clan meeting. At that moment, Larkpaw noticed that a conspicuous number of cats were still in the camp. Strange, the patrols should have left long ago. But then she remembered that there was supposed to be a meeting to discuss the mysterious attack. Yesterday, Palestar had only said that she was increasing the night watch from two to four cats and that no one should leave the camp alone.

The RoseClan cats had gathered in front of the Roserock faster than usual. This was largely due to the fact that they had already been waiting.

Larkpaw pushed her way through the crowd and settled down next to Amberpaw. The red-golden she-cat shyly avoided her gaze. "I'm really sorry about what happened to Fernpool," she whispered.

"You already said that yesterday," Larkpaw pointed out to her, but she was a little glad that Amberpaw was so empathetic. At least she was doing that right.

"Cats of RoseClan," Palestar meowed. Even from the very back, Larkpaw could see that the grey and white leader was stiff. She is afraid. A leader shouldn't be afraid, even in situations like this. "Yesterday Fernpool was found badly injured in the forest. Would you be so good as to tell the Clan all the details?" The last words were addressed to the patrol that had brought Fernpool home.

At first, no one raised their voice, causing Larkpaw to shift nervously. She would rather jump into a patch of stinging nettles than voluntarily remember yesterday's events.

In the end, Pinefur was the one who got up and trotted forwards. "We were looking for Fernpool because she didn't show up for Larkpaw's rating, and we found her above the River Ravine by the cliff tree." The young she-cat broke off, her fur bristling as she stared at the grass between her paws. "There... there were no strange scents or tracks there."

"Thank you, Pinefur." Palestar flicked her tail, gesturing for her warrior to retreat back into the ranks. Turning to the whole Clan, she continued, "Without any clues, it will be hard to find the culprit or culprits. For this reason, I want no cat to leave the camp alone and be accompanied by at least one other."

Larkpaw felt a small sting in her chest, and without thinking further about her actions and the consequences, she jumped up and yowled, "Two cats can still be attacked!"

At the same time, all the cats turned to look at her. There were various expressions in their eyes, curiosity, anger, but also annoyance. Larkpaw felt as if she was being crushed by a large stone. If Fernpool could see that!

Palestar meowed calmly, "What do you mean?"

"Have you heard about what happened to Heatherleap?" Larkpaw asked the group.

She seemed to have triggered something, because the cats exchanged dubious glances. "Heatherpaw," someone whispered in an improving tone, but Larkpaw didn't care about this cat's ignorance.

"She was with Mapleblossom," Larkpaw explained eagerly, "and she was attacked anyway. I think..." She took a deep breath, "that it's better if we move outside the camp in larger groups."

Now that she had presented her idea, she did feel a little mouse-brained. How could she, a fresh apprentice, think of giving orders to the Clan?

Dawnbreeze turned her head back and shook it warningly. Larkpaw unsheathed her claws. It's for the good of all of you!

But Palestar didn't seem annoyed, on the contrary. She looked down at the cats thoughtfully. "Oh yes, I remember Fruittail telling me about it. Truly a tragedy. In that case, death was the only salvation for Heatherpaw."

That can't be! Why does everyone call her by her paw-name? Did they do that because they thought that Heatherleap had not received her name rightfully according to the traditional rules?

"Alright, you've heard Larkpaw," Palestar called. "From now on, you only leave the camp in groups of four or more. All apprentices may be accompanied by at least two experienced warriors."

Larkpaw could hear soft protesting. Looking around, she saw how Reedpaw was whispering something in Mottlepaw's ear. Those rules also apply for you!, Larkpaw thought, annoyed.

"Before I'm going to dismiss the Clan, there is still a task for me to do." Surprised, Larkpaw turned her ears forward. I wonder what Palestar is planning. "Since Fernpool is unable to complete her duties, another cat must train Larkpaw."

Right, I totally forgot that! Larkpaw jumped onto her paws. Who would be her new mentor?

"Poor Larkpaw," Kestrelpelt commented somewhere in the crowd. "Never before have I experienced a mentor-change this early."

Palestar symbolised Larkpaw to come forward. On trembling paws, Larkpaw obeyed her order.

"Your new mentor will be Silversky," Palestar announced.

A grey tom with thin, black stripes trudged to the Roserock. Before today, Larkpaw had never really interacted with him. The only thing she knew was that he was part of the Hunters' Circle and, together with Reddapple, from Lightshine's first litter.

"I entrust you with the training of Fernpool's apprentice and hope that you will continue her work conscientiously," Palestar said to Silversky.

Silversky lowered his head. "I will do my best." He gave Larkpaw an uncertain look from his light green eyes.

She could understand him. After all, she hadn't been able to get used to the fact that she had now started her training as a warrior and already needed a new mentor.

"The meeting is over," Palestar announced, jumping down from the Roserock and sitting down with the warrior council.

Meanwhile, Honeyclaw was organising the patrols. For the first time, Larkpaw noticed how nervous her Clanmates were when they were assigned. Patrols were the order of the day in the clans and shouldn't upset anyone, but in the current circumstances most cats would probably prefer to stay in camp.

"For now, it's probably best if we keep our distance from the cliff tree and the area around it," Honeyclaw meowed.

Reddapple, who had been standing there with ruffled fur and a tense expression, visibly relaxed.

Heatherwing straightened up. "Will that do any good?" the grey she-cat asked challengingly. Larkpaw was startled for a moment, but then she remembered that the cats-in-command had an authority similar to that of a deputy. "I'm sure the place was just a coincidence. It could have happened anywhere!"

"It's more about the fact that there are cats here who associate bad memories with this place," Honeyclaw explained without moving a whisker. "I think I speak for all those affected when I say they're better off not being reminded of it."

Yes, that's true, Larkpaw thought. She would inevitably have to think about this fateful moment for the next few moons, but if she stayed away from the cliff tree, she might find it easier to come to terms with it.

A gentle push against her shoulder startled Larkpaw. Silversky stood in front of her. "We've been assigned to patrol the SnowClan border," he meowed.

He's different from Fernpool. That was the first thing Larkpaw noticed about her new mentor. Fernpool wouldn't have said that so... so nicely. Filled with hope, Larkpaw padded towards the Birchtunnel. Maybe training with Silversky would be a lot more fun.

Larkpaw glanced appraisingly over her patrolmates. Besides her and Silversky, Fawnpelt, Duststripe, Flareblaze, Mottlepaw and Reedpaw came along.

Larkpaw suddenly remembered that Reedpaw hadn't been punished for her offence yesterday. The scratches on her muzzle began to burn whenever Larkpaw thought about them. Her hatred for the brown she-cat was overwhelming. But at the moment there were more important problems than a small fight between apprentices.

Better not to worry about Reedpaw at all. Larkpaw blinked, taking in the already familiar scents of her territory as she strolled at the end of the patrol.

"How are you?" Silversky dropped back to walk beside Larkpaw.

What should I say to that? Overwhelmed, Larkpaw only twitched her whiskers.

Silversky seemed to be satisfied with the answer. "This is your first patrol," he stated unnecessarily.

"I was so looking forward to my first patrol," Larkpaw sighed. "And now it's taking place under such conditions." She swallowed uneasily. "I wonder if we'll come across... whoever did that to Fernpool."

"That shouldn't happen," Silversky meowed as he scanned the surroundings with his eyes. "We'd better stay close to the others."

The two of them hurried to catch up with the rest of the patrol. Fawnpelt was already waiting for them, his tail tip twitching irritably. "The territory is no longer safe at the moment. Be careful not to stray so far away."

The rest of the way, Larkpaw concentrated on watching out for any warning signs. But there was nothing conspicuous. It was as peaceful as ever. The birds chirped cheerfully in the green treetops and the roar of the river could be heard in the distance, otherwise there were no sounds.

Out of the corner of her eye, Larkpaw saw Mottlepaw and Reedpaw walking close to each other. Even though she knew it wasn't nice to eavesdrop on other cats' conversations, she couldn't resist the urge.

"I wish I could see SnowClan's camp for myself one day," Mottlepaw enthused.

"I've heard they live in some kind of cave," Reedpaw interjected sceptically. "Not very inviting, I think."

Flareblaze, who must have overheard their conversation, explained, "Actually, it's not a real cave. It's not something that formed here naturally."

Now Larkpaw's interest was piqued, too, and she casually approached the three of them to listen better. After all, she hardly knew anything about SnowClan, except that they didn't get a name until they were four moons old.

"It looks something like a long, whitish tunnel, and it's in the middle of SnowClan territory," Flareblaze meowed.

"Isn't that too conspicuous?" Reedpaw interrupted him. "You could see it tree-lengths away!"

Flareblaze shook his head. "No, it's completely overgrown by now. Which is good, because part of this tunnel is destroyed and full of holes. Without the overgrowth, foreign paws could get in without any problems."

Some kind of unnatural tunnel in the middle of the forest is supposed to serve as a camp? That seemed suspicious to Larkpaw. Where did it even come from if it was as strange as Flareblaze claimed?

Duststripe turned to face them. "The SnowClan cats claim that it once fell from the sky. But no one ever witnessed that."

"From the sky?" Mottlepaw tilted her head thoughtfully. "Where else would it come from? It's certainly not half-broken for no reason."

Duststripe had already turned away again. "That will probably remain a secret forever. But we shouldn't care. We're not SnowClan. "

But I do care! The conversation had made Larkpaw curious. Would she ever get to see the camp? She couldn't imagine anything from the descriptions.

Turning to Silversky, she whispered, "Have you ever been there?"

"Not yet," the silver-black tom replied, "and I'm not particularly keen on it either. Why would they make something whose origin they don't know a camp? But the SnowClan cats seem to be very strange."

"Strange? How so?"

Silversky sighed. "They have all sorts of unusual customs... Did you know that, with a few exceptions, they never speak?"

Larkpaw listened in surprise. "That is new to me."

***

After a long march, the patrol reached the border. Several branching streams ran through the forest here.

"Some of them flow to the River Ravine," Silversky explained to Larkpaw. "These are the waterfalls you must've seen back then. The rest of the streams end in the border river."

Larkpaw stared expectantly across the border, wondering if they would encounter a SnowClan patrol. Beyond the streams, the forest seemed much denser and the trees taller.

"Their morning patrols were probably already here," Silversky meowed. "We're pretty late today."

Fawnpelt ordered Larkpaw, Silversky, and Mottlepaw to mark the border downstream, while he, Flareblaze, Duststripe and Reedpaw took on the upper half.

While Larkpaw followed the example of her older Clanmates and rubbed the plants near the streams with her scent, an overwhelming feeling settled inside her. She kept glancing furtively over the border and felt a dark foreboding, as gloomy as if a black storm cloud was hanging over SnowClan territory and would soon be unleashed.