"They were arguing." Stormfeather told her. "Sandblaze got made at Hawkpaw and now he is cleaning dens."

Swiftstep nodded.

Dawnfrost chuckled, "I bet I know how Hawkpaw feels about that!"  She then asked another question.  "What were they arguing about?"

Spottedstar sighed, then flicked her tail to dismiss Swiftstep.  "You may go. We'll have another talk later to discuss this issue further," she said.  Don't we have enough problems with the Clans having been split?  We only have half the amount we used to.  Now, some unknown "Shadow" is going to extinguish us completely unless we find three cats that can defeat him, but we have NO IDEA WHO THE FOX-DUNG THEY ARE!  Spottedstar thought.  She was weighed down with responsibility, it felt.  She could only imagine what Swiftstep and Poolpaw felt like..

Hawkpaw finally found all the moss he would need, and all the moss he could lug to camp.  Grumbling furiously, he went back to camp.  Going in the apprentices' den first, he saw Sparrowpaw.  "Move it, mouse-brain," he growled.

"Don't be so angry," Sparrowpaw meowed.  "There is no reason.  You did something bad, this is your punishment. Now you must face it."  With that, Sparrowpaw left the den, tail swishing back and forth.

Hawkpaw grumbled some more, then started to replace all the beds with fresh moss.

Songfern left to go hunting.  She started by scouring the forest for scents.  A faint whiff of Starling was off in the distance.  She padded onwards, the scent getting stronger every pawstep.

Swiftstep padded back into the medicine cat den, wondering about the prophecy. What was the shadow...who were the three?

"Hawkpaw was calling Sparrowpaw a furball." Stormfeather told her.

"Swiftstep," Poolpaw said, "Do you want to...talk about the prophecy?  Try to figure it out?"  She shuffled her paws.  Poolpaw was thinking very hard on who the characters were in this prophecy, but she knew she'd need Swiftstep's help, as Swiftstep was older and wiser than her.

"Ah. And that's why he has to clean all the dens? Soudns like a harsh punishment to me," Dawnfrost meowed.  "Sandblaze seems to have messed it up.  No offense to her, though, she's a fantastic deputy!"

"We probably should. First, we need to figure out what the Shadow is." Swiftstep replied

"She has to be harsh on Hawkpaw. It's the only way to make him listen!" Stormfeather looked at her.

"Still, all he did was call Sparrowpaw a furball. It's not that bad.  I call other cats mouse brains and furballs, too, but I don't get punished, do I?" Dawnfrost shot back.

"But... I have no clue. It could be a rogue or loner," Poolpaw said.  "The only way to find out is to wait, but if we wait too long, the Clans might die before our eyes.  So waiting isn't really the best option.  But I don't know how to find out otherwise!"

"I suppose not..."  Bluefeather said.

 "Just...see if anyone's acting...strangely." Swiftstep told her. "That's the best we can do for now."

Poolpaw sighed.  "Alright.." she meowed.  "In the meanwhile, do you have any other jobs for me?"

"Then, do you see my point now, Stormfeather?" Dawnfrost meowed.

Stormfeather nodded. "Yes, I do."

"No. this is by far the most important." Switstep meowed.

"Oh...ok.." Poolpaw mewed.  "But if somebody's attempting to kill off the Clans, they wouldn't show it, would they? How will we find them then? And what if it's a rogue or loner?"

"Good," Dawnfrost meowed.  "Now what do we talk about after our little... 'dispute'?"

"We need to watch out for clan members first. Just keep your eyes open." Swiftstep said. I wonder if Hawkpaw is the shadow...it would be just like him...

"uhh....sure." Stormfeather said.

"Sure to what? I didn't say anything with the possible answer of 'sure'," Dawnfrost said.

"Oh..Ok," Poolpaw mewed.  "Do you have an idea of anybody that could be the shadow?"

Stormfeather blinked. "I apoligize. I was spacing out there for a mintute."

"Hawkpaw?" Swiftstep suggested.

"Foxblaze is my brother!" Swiftstep hissed. "How dare you accuse him!"

(You never said Foxblaze was your brother in the bios. You should have put that there.)

"Sorry, Swiftstep! I'm just guessing! He's always fighting with Onestrike, and he rolled his eyes at Spottedstar.  I saw, Swiftstep.  I'm sorry for accusing him..." Poolpaw whimpered.  "Maybe it's Onestrike.."

"That would be more beleiveable. Keep an eye on him."

(sorry)

(S'okay....

I guess...:| )

"N'kay," Poolpaw replied.

Poolpaw began to sort herbs, all the while thinking about the prophecy.

Songfern was merely tail-lengths from the Starling.  She crept forwards in a hunting crouch, her paws not making a single sound. Her muscles tensed, and she crouched just a bit lower...

Then she leapt forwards, propelling herself through the air, and landed right on the bird. Securing her claws into it, she sunk her teeth into its puny neck.  The Starling soon was limp and lifeless. Taking her catch in her mouth, the triumphant Songfern started to go back towards camp.