Chapter Five

                                    

                                          
"It's so good to see you, Fernstar and Talontwist," Shadowspark purred. "I'm glad to see you both happy in StarClan."
	Just the mention of StarClan made Shadowspark feel a little bit uncomfortable. Not many cats believe in StarClan anymore, these days. But I do. I have full faith in them. I'm sure that this is a vision, not a dream. Of course, as a medicine cat, this is my duty, she told herself as she convinced her mind not to feel too proud.
	"It's good to see you, too," Fernstar answered, looking distant. After all, she didn't know Shadowspark well; it wasn't like she'd been the ShadowClan leader.
	Talontwist nodded. "I'm glad you still believe. Few cats still believe that we exist."
	"Well, I'll try my best to convince every cat I can to believe." Shadowspark looked at the two StarClan cats reassuringly. "I won't ever lose faith, no matter what," she promised. "I'm a medicine cat, and a good one."
	"At least most medicine cats know that StarClan still exists," Talontwist commented. 
	Fernstar still looked far away, like she wasn't in StarClan cat all. Her mind was racing, and she suddenly felt dizzy with thoughts. ThunderClan is the Clan that believes in StarClan the least. Cometstar doesn't even pretend to believe; he thinks StarClan is ridiculous. He's a shame to the Clans! That makes Flowerfur and Hawkpaw the two medicine cats that don't have any common sense. Not that it's my place to judge them.
	"It's good to visit you," the brown StarClan warrior went on, more briskly. "But the real reason why we came to you is because we had a prophecy to deliver... an important one."
	Fernstar nodded, snapping back into reality. "Are you ready for this, Shadowspark? This is going to be hard on you."
	"If you don't think you're the right cat, you don't have to risk your life for your Clan, all four Clans, and StarClan," Talontwist told Shadowspark. She still had doubts about this young ShadowClan medicine cat that she barely knew herself.
	But Shadowspark nodded without hesitation. "Yes, Fernstar and Talontwist, I'm ready. I'll do anything to follow StarClan's wishes."
	"I'm glad to hear that," Fernstar meowed, dipping her head. "Okay... so..." She licked her chest fur a few times nervously before going on. "The sky will darken, Shadowspark, darkened by a danger that lurks even beyond the darkest shadow. Only the bravest, most loyal warrior will be able to save the Clans. Not even StarClan can control this," she admitted. "We cannot interfere with the choices of the living. All we can do is guide you, and help you make the right choices. But in the end, it's your choice what you really do."
	Shadowspark nodded, grateful for Fernstar's supporting words. "I won't let you down," she promised.
	"I really hope you don't." Talontwist's mew was meant to be a light joke or tease, but Shadowspark stiffened. I didn't mean to put pressure on her, the warrior thought nervously,
	The black medicine cat's blue eyes twinkled in the starlight, but her voice was tight. "I hope so, too. The fate of everything rests in my paws... and I don't know what to do with it," she confessed, her eyes boring into a faraway star. She didn't know who would answer her, Talontwist or Fernstar. But she didn't really care.
	It was Fernstar who replied. "You don't need to know, for now," she meowed. "I know it's a tough burden. But I know you can do it, no matter what others say."
	"Even your own Clan and kin may doubt you, at times," Talontwist agreed. "But you must never doubt yourself. Remain faithful, and trust that everything will be okay in the end. And trust that there is no end."

Shadowspark woke up in her own den, and she almost purred with relief that she was back in her moss-lined bed again. She may have to save the Clans one day, but not now. Not today. Today, she could heal her Clanmates like a good medicine cat.
	And she would do that, just that, nothing else.
	"Shadowspark!" a cat gasped, limping into the young medicine cat's den. Shadowspark's black fur bristled instinctively, but flattened again when she recognized one of her Clanmates.
	"Hi, Snowpaw," she greeted the small apprentice. Snowpaw was the leader's apprentice and the deputy's kit. I hope nothing's wrong.
	Snowpaw held up her left paw with a ginger expression. "I got a thorn stuck in my paw pad," she complained. She limped over to get closer to Shadowspark.
	Shadowspark frowned. "Um... Snowpaw, is that all? I thought you got attacked or something. Not that I didn't notice that you... well, didn't have any scratches on you." She sighed and started lapping Snowpaw's paw until the thorn was almost out. "Get ready, Snowpaw, I'm getting ready to pull it out."
	Snowpaw braced herself and squeezed her eyes shut. "Okay, but please, be gentle!" she whimpered.
	You've been an apprentice for a few moons now. Stop acting like a kit, Shadowspark thought disdainfully. She suspected(much to her annoyance) that she was only gruff because she had saw that unsettling vision. Was it really real, from StarClan? she wondered now, but immediately felt guilty for doubting it. Of course it's real. I don't have any doubts in StarClan.
	"Eeeeeeek!" Snowpaw screamed. "It hurts!"
	"Calm down, annoying cat whoever that is please be quiet," mumbled Shadowspark's apprentice, Bluepaw, who was still sleeping.
	I should make Bluepaw do this! She's always causing trouble and is SO irritating. Shadowspark sighed. "Don't be loud and yowl," she told Snowpaw. "It's okay. You're not being attacked by a badger. But ShadowClan doesn't know that. You might make Emberstar worried about you."
	Hearing this, Snowpaw immediately fell silent. "O-okay, Shadowspark," she agreed. "I don't want to make Emberstar worried."
	"Good." Shadowspark kept on licking Snowpaw's paw.
	"I think I'm good now," Snowpaw announced. "Can I go train with Emberstar, Shadowspark?"
	The medicine cat gave the white-furred paw a few more times, then raised her head back up to nod at the apprentice. "Sure. Emberstar won't want you to miss out on any training sessions, anyway."
	"Thanks." Snowpaw shot her a grateful look and ran off.
	Shadowspark herself was surprised that a mere thorn had distracted her from the prophecy. Maybe if I keep healing my Clanmates, I won't worry as much.
	But even if I do worry, she promised herself, I'll believe that StarClan has this under control. It's all okay. Even if it's not now, it will be, in the end. And I might have moved on to StarClan by then; but, that's okay, also. I'm just content for what I have now. Thank you, StarClan.