Starlight/Chapter 10

==Chapter description==
:Leafpaw and Cinderpelt had found a rocky overhang, and Cinderpelt warns that this den couldn't permanently be the medicine cat den, but it would be okay for that night. Leafpaw pads in after her mentor, and finds a dry place for the horsetail. Cinderpelt advises her that she should get a good night's sleep, for they would be busy tomorrow. Leafpaw asks if this was the place StarClan had meant them to be, and Cinderpelt replies they would know when StarClan is ready to tell them. Cinderpelt drifts off to sleep.
:Leafpaw wonders where StarClan was, and one or two lonely stars glimmer in the night sky. Leafpaw feels as though StarClan is too far away to watch over her Clan. She opens her eyes and notes she must've fallen asleep. She is standing on a hillside, looking down. The glitter of Silverpelt is reflected on the lake surface. The island shines with moonlight, each tree in a silver glow. Leafpaw feels as though the place is calling to her, but reminds herself she couldn't go because she can't swim.
:A breeze picks up, ruffling her fur. Leafpaw feels a surge of hope, though her ancestors do not speak to her. However, Leafpaw is not afraid. StarClan had been silent since the journey through the mountains, and she had learned that sometimes a cat could only rely on their inner strength. Everything would be okay as long as they made it so. They would make their camp there; explore the entire woods until they are familiar with it as they had been with their old territory. It might seem strange and daunting right now, but they will eventually do it, pawstep by pawstep.
:As she stands looking at the surface of the lake, the water steadily turns redder and redder until waves of scarlet lap against the shore. Surprised, Leafpaw looks up into the sky that is still dark. The water seems thick and slow, surging against the pebbles. Leafpaw knows the lake isn't filled with water after all. It is filled with blood, fed by streams that pumped out blood like a gaping wound. A gust of wind blows against her again, but this time, it is hot and dusty, a stench of crow-food coming along with it. Shaking with terror, she hears a voice speaking into her mind. Before there is peace, blood will spill blood, and the lake will run red.
:Leafpaw wakes up to Sorreltail calling for Cinderpelt. Leafpaw asks what had happened, prodding Cinderpelt in the flank. Sorreltail informs them that Mousefur is having belly pains. Leafpaw states that they would need watermint and juniper berries, and asks if she could fetch some from near the lake. Cinderpelt, looking serious, tells her that if they needed them before daylight, she would have to go back. They follow Sorreltail across the hollow to where Mousefur had made her nest. When they reach the brown warrior, Mousefur is lying on her side, her body twisted with pain, and lets out another anguished yowl.
:Cinderpelt crouches down beside Mousefur, and asks if she knew the cause. The warrior replies she didn't, and Leafpaw beckons Cinderpelt aside to share her thoughts of the cause. Leafpaw informs her mentor that Mousefur must've drunk some of the water Mothwing had found, and says that it might've been tainted, since it smelled bad and because there had been a dead rabbit in the pool of water. Cinderpelt lets out a exasperated sigh, and asks Sorreltail if she knew of any other cats that had drunk the water. The tortoiseshell warrior shakes her head, and goes to check Goldenflower and Longtail at Cinderpelt's orders.
:Mousefur asks if they had some herbs she could take. Cinderpelt replies that they hadn't had the time to look for anything. The brown warrior begins to retch, and Cinderpelt takes this as a good sign. Leafpaw agrees with her mentor, feeling utterly helpless, and states she would share water mint and juniper berries with the other Clans. Cinderpelt's eyes widen in surprise, and she adds persuasively that at least WindClan should be checked, since their cats are the weakest. Cinderpelt nods, and Sorreltail appears. She reports that Goldenflower's bellyache wasn't bad, and Longtail was asleep so she hadn't woken him. Cinderpelt thanks the tortoiseshell.
:Leafpaw murmurs that Mothwing had meant to be kind. Cinderpelt states any cat could make mistakes, then her eyes darken and she adds that Mothwing would be the first to admit she had much less experience than other cats, since Mudfur was dead. Cinderpelt hopes that for RiverClan's sake, Mothwing doesn't make this type of mistake too often. 
:Mousefur is weak, but comfortable after her vomiting, and manages to fall asleep. Sorreltail stays to keep an eye on her with Cinderpelt's instructions to come fetch her if there is a problem. The sky is turning gray, and Leafpaw feels exhausted, for there would be no point in going into the makeshift den to sleep once again. The two medicine cats go look for Firestar. A wind had sprung up, rattling trees, and pale sunlight slants into the hollow. The cats that hadn't been disturbed by Mousefur's illness awoke in the hollow, and Leafpaw hears them calling cheerfully to each other. Birchkit is playing with a dead leaf, and Leafpaw's heart lifts, and she sends silent thanks to StarClan. She forces the terrifying bloodstained dream to the back of her mind. They find Firestar in an open space around the middle of the hollow, and their leader had already gathered some of his warriors around them.
:Dustpelt meows that they need to mark their boundaries before WindClan or ShadowClan claim them. Sandstorm points out that the woods could be crawling with badgers or foxes. Thornclaw adds that hawks would also be in the woods, and Sandstorm agrees, and offers to see to the hunting patrol if he liked. Firestar gratefully accepts, and Leafpaw feels a stab of pride since her mother is one of the best hunters in the Clan. Dustpelt states he will take charge of guarding the entrance and take some apprentices to see what he could do. Firestar orders Brambleclaw and Brackenfur to take charge of the boundaries. Firestar tells Cloudtail to take a patrol and check out the area around the camp. 
:Cinderpelt limps forward and explains about Mousefur's bellyache and asks if they could take some herbs to WindClan. Her mentor adds that they couldn't leave WindClan to suffer. Firestar agrees, and states Thornclaw will go with them. They go check on Mousefur. Sorreltail, Longtail and Goldenflower had joined them. Longtail greets the two medicine cats, and Sorreltail scrambles to her paws and states everything is probably all right. Cinderpelt bends over the two cats, sniffs them, and listens to their heartbeat. Cinderpelt thanks Sorreltail and tells her that they will be fine. The young warrior races off, and Cinderpelt asks the blind warrior if he had a bellyache. Longtail replies that only a bit, and says he thought the water smelled a bit odd. Cinderpelt meows that mistakes happen, and informs Longtail they would go searching for herbs. Longtail wishes them good luck, and the medicine cats go back to the center of camp.
:Leafpaw spots Brambleclaw heading purposefully toward Squirrelflight, but Ashfur gets to her first, and informs her Sandstorm wanted her for a hunting patrol. Squirrelflight replies yes, she would go, and there is frustration in Brambleclaw's eyes as she pads away. Leafpaw sighs, not knowing what is going on between Brambleclaw and her sister. Cinderpelt prods her, and states Thornclaw is ready. Dustpelt is giving orders to Spiderpaw and Whitepaw. Dustpelt says he doesn't want even a mouse to get in and out. Spiderpaw cheekily asks not even cats, and Dustpelt sighs they will leave a tunnel. Leafpaw pushes her way into a patch of ferns, and she stops at the center. On the other side, the unknown forest lay waiting. No, ThunderClan's new territory lay waiting.
==Characters==
===Major===
===Minor===
===Mentioned===
==Important events==
*Leafpaw receives the Blood will spill blood prophecy
==Notes and references==
fr:Nuit étoilée/Chapitre 10
Category:The New Prophecy arc
Category:Chapter subpages
Category:Starlight