This chapter is going to be the first of a few that are much different than the rest. Thanks for your reviews, and I hope you enjoy.

Nightstorm: Destiny doesn't own Warriors.

Chapter Nine

He watched them. Alone he sat, watching them. He was there, and at the same time, he wasn't. He was experiencing the world about him, seeing and hearing the things that moved actively around, but they could not see him. They did not know he was there. They hardly ever knew he was there, him or anyone.

Beside him, was another tom. His jaw was tight, his ears flattened, but his fur was somehow laid flat against his body, and when he spoke, his voice was calm.

"Not a clue."

The words slipped out so easily, he almost didn't hear them. "That's a problem."

The other tom turned to look at him. "We can't force these things, Hailblaze."

"I know, but they'll have to find out soon. And look, as you said they don't have a clue!"

"They're still quite young. Do you really think that these inexperienced, seven moon old kits can really imagine what's going on? This is beyond an old tale the Elders have told them." The tom chuckled. "Besides, they're much too wrapped up in each other."

"How are you not getting this?" Hailblaze demanded. "Shadewhisker, that's the issue. They can't be enemies. You know what kind of things have happened before. That's why I sacrificed the respect I have long received, so they can have their second chance. This can't all be wasted."

"Hailblaze, you're acting much too worried," Shadewhisker said. "Their relationship will mend itself as they mature."

"Tell me, did that happen all those moons ago?"

"The circumstances are different."

"So the outcome remains unpredictable!" Hailblaze cried. "We don't know what can come out of all of this. Their relationship is damaged as it is, and there aren't any signs of improvement. What if they just progressively get worse? You know what that can do, Shadewhisker. We've seen it countless times before."

"We can't risk getting involved," Shadewhisker meowed calmly. "At least not anytime soon. They don't understand the importance of their lives, so we can't go and just tell them the whole story. It's too much to take in, and anything that comes after will either be confusing or fake to them."

"And what if they don't ever understand? How could they understand if we don't explain it to them? They can't walk into this alone, especially when there is no one who has any idea of what is happening. They will need guidance," Hailblaze argued

"Which is why we have sent them those dreams," said Shadewhisker. "Just trust me Hailblaze. We cannot get directly involved anytime soon, not until something happens that requires our assiduity."

"I don't suppose you personally know anything about them," Hailblaze scoffed.

Shadewhisker sighed. "I get that your nervous about this situation. You have to let things happen. They need to build a natural relationship. We can't meddle in something as delicate as this, we just can't, Hailblaze."

He didn't reply. Shadewhisker was right, but he couldn't shake his need to get involved. It felt like they were low on time for some reason. Hailblaze wasn't able to place it.

A light brown tabby sat on the Highledge, overlooking the activity of the camp. Hailblaze remembered her leadership ceremony. He stood in the back of the crowd of StarClan warriors as they greeted her and congratulated her on her new lives. He recalled chanting her name in unison with the rest of StarClan. Usually, fading cats like him didn't attend the leader's ceremonies. The ancient warriors stayed behind to watch over the other Clans, because after all life goes on simultaneously, but the great leader Bramblestar requested he come by. This she-cat had a very strong connection with StarClan, stronger than any normal Clan leader. So why did it strike him as odd when she stopped to stare directly at the place he and Shadewhisker would be standing?

Hailblaze looked back at her, and then nudged Shadewhisker. "I think Fernstar senses our presence here."

Shadewhisker followed his amber gaze to where the ThunderClan leader crouched along with her deputy, who remained oblivious to the situation. "That's strange, aren't we blocking our connection?"

"I am," Hailblaze replied.

Shadewhisker watched her. He flicked his tail.

Fernstar flicked hers back.

"She does know we're here," he confirmed. "But the only way she could have seen us is if she was looking for us. Hailblaze, you have been on alert right?"

"What do you mean?"

"All this time you spent obsessing over them, have you been so wrapped up in their situation that you have failed to sense the strangeness in StarClan's air?"

Hailblaze said, "You say that I've not a clue what has been happening. Of course its been odd among the star forest. You know that the other ancestors are upset with our commitment to Frozenleaf and Lionfire."

"You're missing the point. There's something different going on. It's not a personal distaste over our decision. It has felt dark for seasons. Why, this peculiarity has only been getting stronger even since Frozenleaf first passed," Shadewhisker meowed

"If you are talking about the rising darkness, than it's nothing to worry about. Hasn't it been annihilated in the Great Battle?"

"Darkness never dies, Hailblaze. You should know this. All we have done after the Great Battle is secure the borders to keep the darkness from merging with StarClan and weakening them. That doesn't mean it doesn't get stronger." Shadewhisker paused. "In fact, I don't even think it is the same darkness as has been the near destruction of the Clans. StarClan has noticed something different, something that we can't predict the source of, something that goes beyond what the Clans stand for."

Hailblaze bristled, eyes wide. "And no one bothered to tell me?"

"I expected you knew. It's been like this for long. The atmosphere has been shifting. Besides, no cat is speaking of it anyway. We don't know what to speak about," meowed Shadewhisker, looking down at his flexing claws. After a moment he gazed back up at Fernstar, who still stared unblinkingly at them. "She must sense it as well. Don't you see, it's everywhere!"

"Do you think it has something to do with..." Hailblaze murmured, "with them...?"

"Of course not," Shadewhisker snapped. "Hailblaze, you're missing the big picture. Something strange is happening. While you're all caught up in these originally long dead siblings, the rest of us have been pondering this darkness."

"But you said that it began after Frozenleaf died," he argued. "It could have-"

"Shut up!" Shadewhisker hissed, silencing Hailblaze. "You need to focus. It is not the time to worry about these two right now, alright? You need to let what happens happen. This is the second chance you gave them, and whether you like the outcome or not, this is what you're going to get. Now quit being a mouse-brain and concentrate on what actually matters."

"I'm keeping my promise by doing this," Hailblaze growled, hurt. "I have something to stand for even though I'm long dead. I have to do this."

"Only you think that," hissed Shadewhisker. "Please can you get them out of your head for two heart beats?"

Hailblaze bared his teeth. "It is my duty to help them. It has always been to destiny, and I have led my life in order to fulfill it. You know very well that it was not the path I wanted to follow as you guided me through it all. But here I am."

Shadewhisker sighed, forcing his fur flat against his bony body. "I don't want to argue with you, Hailblaze. If this...darkness, whatever it is exactly, turns out to be dangerous, then the last thing StarClan needs is division between any cat." He gazed back up at Fernstar, who by that point had looked away from them, but she still looked uneasy.

With a deep breath, Hailblaze replied. "I'm sorry. Even I thought that by this time I would have let it all go, but there's been something tugging at my fur for a long time."

"If only we could see inside your head."

Hailblaze chuckled.

The dark gray she-cat known as Ambereyes, passed right in front of them, carrying a bundle of herbs in her mouth. Right before she entered the medicine den, however, she froze, ears flicking. She turned her head and looked in the direction if the two of them. Her eyes stared unblinking, and after a moment, it seemed like the sunlight shifted, because a spark flashed past in her gaze. The ThunderClan medicine cat shook her head and vanished in her den.

"They really do sense it," rasped Shadewhisker. "We must emanate the energy of our worry. It's passing into the living world."

"Something bad really is going to happen," Hailblaze murmured.

"I need you to listen to me," Shadewhisker suddenly said. "I have done my part with your little mission, okay? You must understand that you'll be alone unless anything calls for desperate measures. The rest of us will be on alert of this growing eeriness. If push comes to shove, then perhaps a new prophecy will arise."

Hailblaze flicked his tail. "Look who you're talking to, Shadewhisker. I was a medicine cat once to, and now, like every other, I am a warrior of StarClan. I understand. It's probably best I carry on with this alone anyway. I'm sure that everything is going to be fine."

Shadewhisker nodded, but on the inside, he wasn't so sure.

Well there you have it! These chapters will tend to be shorter in length but are all very important. I hope you enjoyed.

I basically imagine StarClan kind of witnessing everything down on the living world that's kind of like an invisible hologram. They see what is happening, but no one can see them, except Ambereyes and Fernstar of course. :P

Leave your reviews please! It will be nice to know what you think of this chapter, especially since it's from the point of view of StarClan warriors. I'll try my hardest to update soon, but our second semester just got started. It might be difficult, but keep an eye open!

~Destiny (and Nightstorm)