Authors note: hey everyone, sorry bout the delay. I had a huge case of writers block but that's all cured now. Anyway, I want to say that from now on all chapters are gonna be extra long now that I got the juices pumping so enjoy.
Chapter 13
The badger and four cats continued on their journey. They soon came to the sharp peaks Firepaw saw earlier. Twilight guided them threw a part in the clustered peaks, following her threw a twisting trail that lead deeper into the mountains.
Then the passage opened and Firepaw gasped in astonishment. They now stood on a cliff that overlooked a vast canyon that stretched our before them. The canyon was so deep it was lost to darkness. But what Firepaw noticed was the silence, a deathly vale of silence that made the place seem dark and forbidding.
"Come no" Twilight said "we must follow path". She pointed to a narrow ledge that was cut into the huge canyon face.
"A-are you sure there's no other way?" Waterpelt stammered, obviously shaken by the place.
"Must go" Twilight said "must go, must follow path".
"Don't worry Waterpelt" Stripepelt said walking next to her "everything will be fine". Waterpelt nodded, having seemed to calm down a bit.
"Come on, lets go already" Rockclaw said in agitation. Twilight then began on the path, Rockclaw behind her, Firepaw in the middle, and Stripepelt and Waterpelt in back.
It was treacherous crossing. The path was extremely narrow and it was a long way down to the bottom. Gust of winds buffeted them on occasion causing Firepaw to grip the stone in desperation.
Rockclaw nearly slipped as a piece of rock crumbled beneath him. He quickly sprang back, tail puffed up.
"Careful" hissed Twilight "all cats not careful enough shall fall to death to join dead ones".
Rockclaw grumbled something and then started off again. The path never seemed to end, an endless stretch of earth that overlooked a bottomless pit. It was so quiet Firepaw thought.
They finally came to the end of their treacherous journey and stopped at another small ledge, a large cave yawning before them. The sun was now beginning to sink below the mountaintops, and the cold began to set in.
"See?" Twilight said "not hard".
"I am so glad that's over with," Firepaw said.
"Me too" Stripepelt said "a few times there I thought I'd fall clear over".
"We rest here for night" Twilight said as she buckled down. Firepaw welcomed the idea and began to make herself comfortable. Stripepelt curled up next to her and before long everyone was asleep.
Firepaw was still awake, her mind swimming with thoughts. She was thinking about the place Twilight described, about Firestar, Thunderclan, everything. It all seemed too much for Firepaw. Then, she curled up and soon sleep came to her.
When she awoke, she found herself in the middle of a forest glade. Then the familiar sweet scent filled her nostrils and she turned to see Spottedleaf sitting next to her.
"Spottedleaf!" Firepaw exclaimed "its so good to see you!" but then Firepaw remembered Spottedleaf telling her how if she stayed away to long from Starclan, she'd be lost. It was the reason why she left in the first place, so why was she back all of a sudden?
"Why are you here?" Firepaw said, now anxious to hear what she said.
"Firepaw, I don't have much time so listen carefully," the she cat said in a hurried voice "you are not safe. You must be careful now more then ever, watch you paw steeps, for someone follows you".
Then Spottedleaf began to fade away "no, wait!" Firepaw exclaimed "Spottedleaf!" Firepaw awoke back on the ledge, the huge canyon stretching away.
Spottedleaf's message still rung in her ears. Someone follows you she said. But who? She thought surly no one could have followed them into the Divide? Right?
Chapter 14
Shadestar had been following their path intently; their scents still fresh as they made their way threw the mountains. Darkclaw was behind him, his fur on edge. Shadestar had left Treelimb in charge while he and Darkclaw were gone. He was a bit thick headed but he will do Shadestar thought.
"This is a bad idea" Darkclaw said "real bad, we should turn around right now".
"Stop acting like some scared kit Darkclaw" Shadestar said, "I know very well what I'm doing". He went back to sniffing out their scent, his mind forming almost a mental picture of their passing.
He could scent all four cats but there was one foreign scent among them. Badger most likely he figured. Why would they need the help of some blundering badger? He thought. This just keeps getting more interesting by the paw step he thought.
"Shadestar, come on" Darkclaw insisted, "This is pointless and dangerous. So what if we lost a couple of cats? We got plenty more were they came from. I say we let the mountains have them".
Shadestar turned onto Darkclaw, his eyes fierce "no one runs away from my clan" he hissed "no one". He then went back to sniffing out their scent.
I will deal with them personally he thought first, I will personally kill the cat who started this little trip, slow and painfully. The Creeper can have the rest he thought.
They small group got up the next morning and followed the caves path threw the mountain. It was just like the previous one, dripping with moisture and very tight corners. They eventually made it out, the sunlight a welcome relief to Firepaw.
They found themselves in a small ravine devoid of barley any plant life, dotted with rocks, pebbles, and grasses. Firepaw also sensed a feeling of dread that hung over the area. This is a bad place she thought horrible things have happened here.
"Where have you brought us badger?" Rockclaw hissed, his claws extending.
"Hurry" Twilight said "we make speed, now". She began to lumber off without waiting for the others to follow.
"Wait Twilight!" Stripepelt exclaimed as they quickly caught up with her "why the sudden rush?"
Waterpelt was trailing in back, causing Twilight quickly grunt "stay close she cat! Stay close!"
"Wait Twilight" Stripepelt said "pleases slow down and talk. Why is it so important we hurry threw this place?"
Twilight slowed down to a modest trot "they says monstrous bird nest in these peaks. Creature of such size it blots out sun, so fast it can outrun swiftest of cats, and so strong can lift adult badger like it was cat new born".
"W-what?" Waterpelt said, her voice rising in anxiety.
"You are certain badger?" Rockclaw asked.
"Oh yes" Twilight said "most sure. Creatures of mountain tell of the bird, a thing of terrible power". The last statement hung in the air like a death wish.
Firepaw felt herself fill with anxiety and she glanced to the clouded sky, praying to Starclan that such a thing didn't exist.
"That not only thing that says to haunt these mountains" Twilight said in a grim voice.
"You mean there are others?" Waterpelt said, now panicking.
"Hush Waterpelt, its all right" Stripepelt said pressing against her flank "I won't let anything hurt you, including this monstrous bird".
"What do you mean others?" Rockclaw asked.
Twilight sighed, "there be reason why your clans fear this mountain range so. It is a gathering of the weird, horrid creatures of this earth".
She paused a moment "along with bird, they say that pack of terrible wolves roam the mountains. A pact with such a thirst of blood, you see it in eyes. Once they find you, they hunt until prey caught, until then they will never stop the hunt"
She paused again "but there is one creature most fearsome of all. They call it the Vag. It is badger language, in cat you would now it as killer".
Firepaw felt her paws go cold "it is terrible mountain lion" Twilight continued "as big as boulder, as swift as lighting, and nothing rivals it".
Twilight turned to the four cats "that is why when cats enter this mountain, they never come out".
"Then how is it you managed to cross safely?" Rockclaw asked.
"Because I know secret ways" Twilight replied, "to avoid terrible fates. But we are to hurry; it won't be long before one of these creatures catches scent. And it will be us who will become the hunted".
Chapter 15
The cats made there way cautiously threw the narrow ravine, always keeping lookout for this bird Twilight spoke off. Personally, Firepaw couldn't believe a creature of that size could exist. It seemed so…impossible.
Waterpelt was constantly on edge, jumping at the slightest of sound whether it be the tumble of rocks or the sound of the wind and it was always Stripepelt who would comfort her. Firepaw saw the way her friend looked at the silvery blue cat, it was pretty obvious she was special to him.
As for Rockclaw, he remained as quiet as ever. An emotionless tom that kept only his eyes forward. Twilight was always a few steps ahead of them; their guide threw this treacherous territory.
Sunhigh soon approached and the cats were hadn't seen anything besides the barren ground of the ravine.
"How much further?" Rockclaw asked.
"Not far" Twilight replied "but best keep moving. We lucky so far but luck only get cats so far". Firepaw's stomach growled with hunger. It had been awhile since any of them last ate, prey nowhere to be seen in this harsh environment. We better come upon some prey soon she thought otherwise we aren't going to make it any further.
Firepaw had also been cautious about looking over her shoulder. Spottedleaf's warning was still fresh in her mind. However, Firepaw hadn't detected any scent since they'd been traveling. Maybe Spottedleaf was wrong she thought, somewhere inside her she knew it was wrong to not heed the warnings of a dead cat but…it just didn't seem like no cat would be foolish enough to follow them into the Divide.
Then all of a sudden, a monstrous shadow fell over Firepaw. She stopped and then the shadow disappeared.
"Guys" Firepaw said, "Did you see that?"
"Quick!" Twilight hissed, "Find shelter, we've found!"
Instantly, all the cats began to scramble for a hiding place. But none was to be found in this open wasteland.
"There's no where to go!" Waterpelt wailed.
"No, under there!" Rockclaw exclaimed. He was pointing to a large rock with an opening beneath it. They quickly scrambled over to the entrance, Firepaw instantly diving in. the place was cramped but at least it provided shelter.
The others quickly scrambled in, Twilight the last to arrive. Then, Firepaw peered out of the opening into the now deserted clearing. At first, she saw nothing. But then, the shadow reappeared. It slowly began to descend, the sound of large wings flapping, until it landed.
It was just like Twilight had told them. It was a huge, terrible bird. The biggest Firepaw had ever seen in her life, so big that not even a full-grown hawk reached its size. It had jet-black feathers all over its blocky, muscular body. Fearsome looking talons scraped at the ground but it was the head that terrified Firepaw.
A large plume surrounded its neck; beak was black and curved, and fearsome looking. And its eyes…the eyes were nothing but huge milky white orbs attached to its head. The thing is blind Firepaw realized.
The bird swiveled its head, the feathers of its plume twitching, talons needing at the ground. It then bent over, almost like it was smelling the ground. It continued this for a few moments longer, before straightening up and swiveling its head again.
Then, it opened its mouth and gave a blood-curdling scream. It sounded like the screeching of a thousand dying cats, the hairs on the back on Firepaw's neck standing up in fear.
Then, the bird stretched out its enormous wingspan and began to flap off the ground. When it began to hover, it then gave a final thrust and was off in the air in a flash.
"W-what was that?" Stripepelt said in astonishment.
"That be the bird of which I speak" Twilight whispered.
"You mean a thing like that actually exists?" Rockclaw said. Twilight nodded.
"What do we do?" Waterpelt said, her voice choked. Firepaw could smell her fear scent.
Twilight didn't speak "I not sure" she said "the thing knows of our scent now".
"But it is blind" Rockclaw said, "We could easily outmaneuver it".
"No, foolish cat!" Twilight hissed, "Scent is how creature sees. Once it has scent of prey, it will hunt you. It is almost like it has extra sets of eyes. You step out there and creature will get you". This silenced Rockclaw.
"Then, what do we do then?" Firepaw said, "How do we escape it".
Twilight shook her head "there no way. The creature knows of prescience and now it will hunt us till it succeeds".
