The leaves crunched under her paws, despite her attempts to step lightly. Moonlight filtered through the tree branches, randomly highlighting her path. In the distance the sound of water rippling over stones could be heard.
"Why are we out here?" Hawkmask whispered.
"I can't tell you. I just… know there's something out here I need to see," Tanglestar answered, slipping through a gap in the bushes.
Hawkmask followed, and both cats stood on the shore of the creek, feeling vulnerable in the moonlight. A cool Greenleaf breeze blew over them, ruffling their fur. Tanglestar closed her eyes and raised her head to the night sky flooded with stars, listening, feeling, and waiting. Hawkmask stood patiently beside her, his black stripes shimmering in the ghostly moonlight.
"We need to go to the brown beast's cave," The clan leader said, her voice grave as she lowered her head and opened her green eyes.
"Are you crazy? We'll be killed!" The warrior protested.
"No… the brown beasts are gone. There's something there, waiting for me," the she-cat replied, taking a step forward towards the shallow creek.
Hawkmask grit his teeth, but followed his leader. He wasn't the kind of warrior to question his leader. If she said there was something waiting there, he was going to trust her. It might be a vision from Starclan, and he wouldn't doubt that.
Both cats trotted through the creek, not flinching as the cold water caused their fur cling to their muscled legs. Once they reached the shore on other side, Tanglestar took off into a run, not even bothering to shake the water off her fur. Hawkmask was on her tail.
Both cats weaved through the forest, the brown tabby she-cat leading the way. She was confident in what she was doing, but it would help to know why she had to go to the cave. She wondered what was waiting there…
"Tanglestar, can we rest?" Hawkmask asked, coming to a stop as they passed through a clearing surrounded by tall trees and vicious brambles.
Tanglestar slid to a halt, turning to face the fierce warrior. "You're tired?"
"We've been running ever since we left camp. We just passed the dead tree pile. Can't we take a short break?" The warrior pleaded.
"Oh… yes. You can try hunting if you want." Tanglestar hadn't realized how far they had run. They had already passed the dead tree pile? She hadn't noticed it.
Tanglestar sat down, and licked her paws as Hawkmask disappeared into the forest, searching for prey. She felt her blood pumping through her body, and a need to go to the dens. Her paws tingled, she was ready to run. Maybe she should leave Hawkmask? He could always follow her scent trail, plus he already knew where she was going. Why not?
Tanglestar rose to her feet, and was about to take off when the warrior appeared from the trees, a frail mouse gripped in his jaws. When he saw the clan leader prepared to run, he dropped the mouse and asked, "Is now a bad time to eat?"
Tanglestar immediately felt bad for even letting the thought of leaving Hawkmask cross her mind. What had gotten into her?
The tom must have seen the regret show in her face, and offered, "I can eat this once we get there. I just needed to give my paws a rest from running."
Tanglestar dipped her head in thanks and trotted into the forest, and her loyal warrior followed.
They were growing nearer to the den; the only obstacle in the way was the Falling Cliff, a dangerous section of cliff where every step you took could possibly be your last.
The trees came to an immediate end, and the dirt turned to stone. The two cats stepped into the moonlight, and began to pick out their way up the cliffside. Small pebbles skittered across the path as Tanglestar walked, and Hawkmask did his best to not slide on them.
Once they reached the top of the cliff, Tanglestar trotted away from the edge where loose rocks lie, and headed for a thicket where she knew a hidden path lay just beyond. The tom was close behind.
"Tanglestar, we need to be cautious, we're on the edge of Mountainclan territory and the Falling Cliff…"
"I know, I'm not an apprentice. I can handle myself," the leader spat, pushing through the bushes. She emerged on a path scattered with boulders, and began to navigate her way down, careful not to step near the edge with was a drop off. After a few steps Tanglestar began running, eager to find out what was waiting.
Hawkmask shook his head and followed, trying to smell the air for signs of danger through the overwhelming scent of fresh mouse filling his nose.
At last, the downward trail came to an end, and there in the shadow of the cliff was the entrance to the rock den. Tanglestar trotted forward confidently, and with a wary look, Hawkmask followed too, dropping his mouse.
"Tanglestar, slow down, we can't just barge in there-" the warrior didn't have time to finish speaking. As they were about to enter the cave, a hiss echoed from inside, and deep growls followed. The two cats weren't alone.
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