Insight

[:c a i:]

Quiet intensity was clear in Shadestripe's troubled eyes. He had spent enough time pacing his den, reflecting on what little insight he had been gifted with on the previous night in his dreams. He still did not understand. Shadestripe had replayed the three StarClan messengers' words through his mind dozens of times, yet still he could not decipher their meaning. A Great Split? So ambiguous. But the words of StarClan always were, thought Shadestripe with a sigh. A great number of things could be split. But what scenario would be relevant to RiverClan? And why had it come now, in a time of peace? But he remembered: The calm before the storm. It had only just begun.

He had arrived at Willowstar's den now and stood, silhouetted against the morning sun, reliving the force of the wind and thundering water from his dreams. It made him shut his eyes briefly, praying to StarClan that nothing so destructive would ever come to being. The river itself had been split; the ground shaken by its power. New paths were forged through the force. Was that what StarClan was trying to show? Mind whirring, Shadestripe tried to relax his mind and think clearly. Finally, he spoke up, hailing the leader.

"Willowstar." He meowed solemnly. "StarClan has spoken." It was time to share the ominous prophecy with the leader. Perhaps it would mean something more to her. Moving further into the den, he watched her carefully before he proceeded. "I dreamt last night, but I have only theories about what it could possibly mean."

[☆ Y e l l o w ☆]

Willowstar still lay in her nest, her light gray paws stretched neatly in front of her. Holding her neck up high and her tail curled behind her, she looked curiously as Shadestripe came into her den. The medicine cat didn't appear to be pleased with the news he brought. StarClan. What were they trying to say now? Could they be trying to tell her something already, just from after the Gathering? Whatever it was, she knew she might as well find out. "What did you dream?" She asked as she invited him to come in. Maybe she could figure out what it meant.

((Short-ish post. e.e))

[:c a i:]

A pause stretched out while Shadestripe thought about how best to tell his tale. He moved closer, coming to sit a short way from the leader. "I dreamt of a storm; a storm which raged and disrupted the calm river. And then I saw three cats of StarClan and the storm subsided, but they told me the worst was yet to come." Shadestripe proceeded cautiously, not wishing to alarm Willowstar.

"After this, one told me something was coming, yet before they said what was coming, all the water in the river rose up into a great tower; bigger than any tree in the forest." Green eyes glazed over somewhat as the medicine cat drifted into reliving the scene yet again. "It was loud and tumultous. Dangerous. And then the water tore itself into two parts before it fell in a great torrent. When it seeped away, there were two paths diverging in the soft earth and the two paths forked into two directions. The StarClan cats told me "The Great Split approaches. From the death which follows springs new life. " He finished his retelling, snapping back to reality and looking intensely at Willowstar. "I've thought long and hard about this since before dawn. I was in two minds about telling you straight away, since I cannot tell what StarClan is showing us. Not exactly." He looked out into middle distance, sighing heavily.

"Of course I have had my thoughts about what this entails." He admitted. "But there seems no clear meaning. Only that something is going to split and from that there will be two very separate paths."

[☆ Y e l l o w ☆]

Willowstar listened to Shadestripe's description of the dream and was shocked by the vivid details he remembered. As she thought through what it could have meant, she tried to pick apart what the details meant. What was the storm, and did the three messengers mean something? The water rising up to being larger that the forest- did that mean RiverClan was destined to be the strongest Clan or the most devastated Clan?

StarClan was certainly being as mystic and uncertain as ever. Her eyes traced lines on the ground as she thought about what it might mean. With a prophecy like this, she found it hard to believe that all of the Clans wouldn't be affected. She didn't want to think that something like a 'Great Split' would happen to her Clan. After a while of silence she cautiously spoke her own guess about the dream. "...Does the water represent RiverClan? Does it mean RiverClan will be split?"

[:c a i:]

Shadestripe allowed a long pause to stretch out before he replied. He studied the roof of Willowstar's den, seemingly seeking some kind of wisdom from it. How he longed for wisdom now. He could not afford not to be able to understand StarClan's message now. Not when the possible consequences could be devastating to the entire forest. Shadestripe could not remove that memory of the fearsome power shown to him. He could only hope that between him and Willowstar, something would be figured out. He brought his eyes down to look at the leader steadily as he formed his reply.

"It certainly seems that this "Great Split" could be within RiverClan. Water is, after all, our defining symbol. StarClan must have chosen the vision of the splitting river for a reason." Shadestripe sat back contemplatively. "But I have other theories. This vision was presented to me just after the Gathering in which Specklestar made her demands that Rivermist split her kits. It seems a strange coincidence that this should be so. One possibility is that the Split refers to the kits. If so, it seems that StarClan has forseen the division of Rivermist's family. But that does not explain why RiverClan would be implemented." Shadestripe paused again, before continuing in his calm, wise voice.

"The quarrel over the kits is between ShadowClan and WindClan, no? But perhaps not. It was said explicitly at the Gathering that the kits have roots in all Clans. I am not certain about any of this, Willowstar, but perhaps StarClan has forseen the kits being split between the four Clans." Shadestripe needed to be cautious. He did not wish to make false presumptions. Especially not when the consequences could be extreme - A false move and the four Clans would be at war.

"Unfortunately, such is StarClan's way that we cannot be sure what the message means." Shadestripe sighed. "It could be absolutely nothing to do with Rivermist or her kits. The ambiguity of the prophecy makes me feel that something new all together is coming, not something that has already begun." Unfortunately, that meant any number of things could happen to split the Clans. "I'm afraid the only thing we can be sure of is that RiverClan is going to play a part in this Great Split." He finished gravely. "Beyond that, your guess is as good as mine."

[☆ Y e l l o w ☆]

There were many different possibilities for the meaning of the prophecy. She thought them over quietly as she sat in her nest. The Great Split could mean the splitting of RiverClan, for one. The water splitting in two could mean a division in the Clan, but over what she had no idea. Having her Clan split was the last thing she wanted, and she decided to try to keep RiverClan together, whatever the cost. StarClan likely wouldn't give them any more hints than they already had, so the only thing Willowstar could determine was that she wouldn't let her Clan be split.

Then there was the splitting of the WindClan kits. Willowstar had considered claiming some of the kits for her own Clan, but did StarClan approve? She found it hard to believe their warrior ancestors would support the splitting of kits into different Clans. Then again, ShadowClan had made it apparent they were prepared to fight if WindClan refused. A full-out war could erupt if they were not given what they wanted. Either way, Willowstar was going to do what she thought best, whether that meant listening to StarClan or not. StarClan had always been vague and unhelpful, while she was here trying to make her Clan strong. Whatever StarClan wanted, they sure weren't being clear about it. What was she supposed to do, ponder over their meaning while she let ShadowClan get even stronger? The smarter thing to do would be to make sure RiverClan benefited and that ShadowClan didn't continue to grow.

"I can't help but think it has something to do with Rivermist's kits." she started, looking at Shadestripe. "It's too much of a coincidence that StarClan sent the message right after the Gathering. It's almost as if they're urgent in their warning. But I can't tell for sure. Whether the issue will divide RiverClan or not there's no way of knowing." Willowstar knew that many of her cats might not agree with her wanting to take some of the kits for their own. Having them go to ShadowClan was bad enough, but four ways? She tried to overlook it. If her Clan were loyal and willing to be strong, they would do whatever it took. That was how she saw it.

[:c a i:]

Willowstar was considering demanding some of Rivermist's kits come to join RiverClan. Shadestripe was fully aware of this. The prophecy could very well make her mind up too, since it seemed very strange that a vision about a split would come just after discussion over the splitting of the eight WindClan kits. Perhaps it really was destined that the kits divide into the Clans. Yet something told Shadestripe that they were staring at the obvious answer, not necessarily the only correct one. No, there had to be something more. If the prophecy was only a symbol of the kits being split, then why would the symbol of the river be used? Everything seemed to implicate RiverClan in this "Great Split", but Shadestripe simply could not figure out how.

"This is your call." Shadestripe fixed a level gaze upon Willowstar. "You can interpret this as a sign that RiverClan too should demand the splitting of Rivermist's kits, or you could choose to ignore it. You must be aware that if RiverClan and ShadowClan are calling for a share of the kits, then there is every chance that ThunderClan, weakened or not, will also claim a right to two kits. Negotiation will be difficult and if it fails, the Clans will be at war." Shadestripe's job was not to honey-coat the truth for Willowstar, it was to advise her as well as he could. And the truth was that the forest was in a time of high tension; a crisis could spring from anywhere.

"I can only tell you theories. I have no solid explanation for this, but I cannot help but think that something more is coming. Something which truly will divide RiverClan. StarClan showed us the river splitting and forging two separate paths. This could very well be a symbol of RiverClan's future. Perhaps we are on course to be divided and our Clanmates will set their paws upon different routes."

[Amber]

Ivypaw had just nodded at Puddlepelt, and hoped the she-cat wasn't hurt too badly. When she had mentioned going back into the den, Ivypaw wished she could have helped, if Cloverpaw were here she would tell her to stop second guessing herself and just help the warrior out. But Cloverpaw had not been here, she didn't know where her sister was. At least she knew Hollykit was safe, she was with Skunkkit. Even though she didn't know Skunkkit too well, Ivypaw still would trust her little sister's judgement, hoping she would be alright. There she went second guessing herself again. How did Shadestripe put up with her? She was just so pathetic! Only when Spottedfur had said something did it actually click in her brain that she needed to get moving. She nodded swiftly to the warrior and ran toward the leader's den.

The apprentice sighed before stopping just outside. She heard Willowstar and Shadestripe discussing something, and waited until she didn't hear anything before stepping inside. "I'm sorry to disturb you two, but we have a problem." she mewed padded toward her mentor. "Puddlepelt caught her paw in a twoleg trap and is waiting for you in your den." she felt her fur bristle a little at the thought of she had just interrupted something. Ivypaw really felt horrible for interrupting, but like Spottedfur had said this was a pressing matter. "I would have helped her, but I didn't want to mess up." she added in a quieter voice.

[☆ Y e l l o w ☆]

Willowstar had already thought about this; the possibility that the weak ThunderClan would see the same chance in the exchange of the kits and want to claim some of the kits for themselves. In fact, she had taken this into consideration from the beginning, when she stated at the Gathering that the kits belonged to all four Clans. Honestly, Willowstar wasn't concerned if ThunderClan wanted some of the kits. Two more wouldn't make much of a difference in the small Clan, but four more for ShadowClan would make an enormous difference. The lesser of two evils, in a way.

It could be about something more than the splitting of Rivermist's kits, but if it was, she was out of luck. She was not psychic, nor could she see the future. It was impossible to know what the 'Great Split' would mean if it was about something else entirely. What was StarClan thinking then, sending a message about something she had no clue of? It couldn't hurt to keep an eye open around her Clan, but she was skeptical.

The silvery-furred leader turned her attention to the medicine cat apprentice as she came into the den suddenly. Flicking her ears, she wondered what had happened, and thought with concern about Twoleg traps on their territory. How bad was Puddlepelt's injury, and when had traps been placed in their land. "Go check on Puddlepelt," she told Shadestripe, getting to her paws.

[:c a i:]

Shadestripe's attention was diverted when his apprentice cut in and he offered her a solemn smile in greeting. With his usual unshakeable coolness, Shadestripe rose, instinctively running through the list of things he would have to do to treat a wound dealt by a twoleg trap. It was unfortunate that Puddlepelt had arrived when he was not in his den, since it was better by far to see to things like this immediately. Nonetheless, Shadestripe nodded calmly at Willowstar and gestured with his tail that Ivypaw should follow.

So. His apprentice was still insecure about her skills as a medicine cat apprentice. Of course she still had plenty of time to refine her abilities and make sure she was absolutely sure of what she was doing, but it was about time she gained the confidence to react to urgent situations without him having to tell her what to do. It was not yet a serious concern, but Shadestripe made a mental note to work on Ivypaw's self-confidence. It was no use having a medicine cat apprentice who was afraid to treat her Clanmates.

Shadestripe headed for his den, absorbed in a thousand different thoughts with his medicine cat hat firmly on. Time to treat the patient...

((Continued in his den. ^_^))