Chapter 6: The Journey Begins
They had left Graystripe and the rest of ThunderClan behind them as they journey throughout the forest heading toward Sunningrocks, when Spottedleaf looks at Firestar who had a clear sense of direction where they are going. "Which way first" She asked.
"The SkyClan leader to me that his Clan fled up stream, so I am guessing that we follow the river." Firestar stated.
Spottedleaf nodded to that, "How far?" Spottedleaf notice that he was unsure how far this will take them. And he gave her an honest answer in replying to her question.
"I don't know, Speckles. I suppose StarClan will show us or maybe it'll be obvious." Firestar stated. "Maybe your great-great grandmother or something will help us."
Spottedleaf gave a half smile to his remark. From Sunningrocks, Firestar led the way, along the RiverClan border, until the Twoleg bridge came into view on up ahead. Firestar then pauses for a moment, to taste the air. Spottedleaf did the same, as the RiverClan scent filled their nostros with foul taste. The RiverClan markers were strong, but it gave no sign that a patrol was nearby. Firestar looks to her, and then tilted his head for them to keep going.
Both Spottedleaf and Firestar cautiously made their way down the slope, dodging between the smooth boulders, and clumps of gorse, and made sure they were both unseen by an RiverClan cats. From there they made their way upstream, along the top of the gorge. Firestar pauses for a brief moment as he stares into the white foaming water that was below them He had a shiver running through his body, as a bit of sadness rushed over his face.
Spottedleaf looks at him, "What is it?"
"This is where Bluestar, saved me from the pack of dogs." Firestar meows. "She hurled herself over this exact cliff, to save me." Firestar closes his eyes to the memory, as if it had just happened a day ago.
Spottedleaf moves over to where her mate stood and looks down at the flowing water. "She was a great leader, she always puts the Clan before herself, that is what makes her so great. And I am sure, she was greatful of saving you, even if it meant the cost of her life." Firestar looks at her, then a gentle smile but sad came over his face. Then Firestar turns away from the edge of the gorge, and continues on with their journey.
After walking what seemed like forever, Firestar and Spottedleaf made their way to where the RiverClan territory, meets with WindClan. The wind here was strong. It was so strong it felt like it was about to push both Firestar and Spottedleaf right into the river below. The swift wind also carried the scent of fresh WindClan cats with it.
Firestar meows to her, "There could be a patrol about. Stay close."
Spottedleaf meows back, "If we hurry, we might avoid them."
"Keep your eyes peeled. Especially behind." Firestar stated back.
They headed across the border. And with barely setting a paw in the WindClan territory Firestar stopped dead in his tracks, as he spotted a young rabbit streaking across the moor plain with a WindClan warrior hard on it's tracks. Firestar hissed to his mate, "Get down!" Both Firestar and Spottedleaf and crouched as low as possible, since being in WindClan territory, meant there was no place to hide. Spottedleaf and Firestar's only hope was the WindClan warrior, will miss them. Both of them remained silent and unseen by the warrior, because he was too intent on his prey.
Firestar watches as the warrior was far off in the distance before he slowly rises to his paws, "That was close." Spottedleaf slowly rises to her paws. Firestar then found a spot on the edge of the gorge where the ground had crumbled away. "Quick, this way."
He and Spottedleaf made their way over to the spot where Firestar saw. Firestar helped his mate down the cliff face, and into the shelter of an overhanging rock that rested a tail-length away or so. Firestar had just enough time to pull his tail in the hiding place then both Firestar and Spottedleaf heard voices from their hiding place.
"Good catch!" a tomcat stated.
Firestar looks at Spottedleaf and she looks back at him. Firestar peered out just a bit to get a glance at the WindClan cats. He knew one of them was Onewhisker, because of the soft tone from his voice. Then a young voice meowed as he stated, "You know, I swear I can smell ThunderClan scent, but I can't see any cat."
"They'd better not set paw here." A second voice chimed in. This tone was more aggressive and bitter. Spottedleaf knew it belong to Mudclaw, the WindClan deputy. "If I catch them, they'll wish they'd never been kitted."
"Maybe some cat is going to Highstones, Mudclaw," Onewhisker suggested.
"This isn't the way to Highstones, you fool." Mudclaw growls.
Firestar pulls his nose back into the cover of their hiding place, and presses himself close to Spottedleaf. Spottedleaf looks at him, and sees his worries. She also knows he doesn't want anyone to know about this mission. Firestar and Spottedleaf remain in their hiding place until the hunting patrol of WindClan was far gone. Firestar looks at his mate, and in a soft voice spoke to her, "I will go first to see if they had gone, then I will come and get you." Spottedleaf nodded.
Spottedleaf waited in the safety of their hiding place, until she spotted her mate coming to get her to make sure it is safe. "They are gone, it is safe to come out my dear."
Spottedleaf climbs out of the hiding place as bounded up the face cliff until she is standing next to Firestar. "Let's keep going quickly in case they come back." Spottedleaf meows. Firestar nods, as they continue on.
It was past Sunhigh high when Firestar and Spottedleaf made it out of WindClan territory. They both sighed a relief when they had crossed the final markers, as they left the moor plains and into the farmland, as small fields divided by the Twoleg path and hedges. Firestar led the way down a narrow track between a hedge and a filed of wheat.
Firestar sniffs the air, "You smell what I smell, honey."
Spottedleaf sniffs the air too, and then hunger pains growls in her stomach. "Mice. Lots of them."
"You thinking what I am." Firestar meows.
"We traveled a long way, I guess we could stop and rest. Besides I am really hungry." Spottedleaf meows.
"Same. You need me to catch some for you?" Firestar meows.
"I may have been a medicine Firestar, but I can still hunt for my own food. Besides, that is how I feed myself, on all those missions as being a medicine cat." Spottedleaf smiles, and turns and flicks her tail at him. Spottedleaf then disappears in the undergrowth of the field as she goes and stalks down her prey.
Spottedleaf spotted a mouse a few rabbit hops from her, as she crouches down into a stalking crouch. A few silent steps forward, she was in tail reach of her meal. In one sprang she landed square on the mouse, and bit into it, and killed it with one blow. Spottedleaf then carried the limp body over to the edge of the small field where she began to eat her meal.
Moments later and Firestar joined her as they both ate their catches. Neither both Firestar nor Spottedleaf would take prey from another Clan. So they both forced themselves to ignore their hunger pains, until they were out of the forest. When the last bit was eaten, Firestar arches his back in a long stretch. Then Spottedleaf made a suggestion, "Firestar, let's rest for a bit."
Firestar looks at her, "But I we still have awhile to go."
"I realize that, but if we wait until sunset, there won't be too many Twolegs out and about. Besides, my paws are aching from all the climbing in the moor land. We made it this far, and the SkyClan cats can wait a few hours or so." Spottedleaf stated.
Firestar realize she does have a point. His paws ache too. Then he lets out a sigh and then curls down next to her, underneath the shaded tree in the tall grass for protection from Twolegs and or their dogs. Spottedleaf curls her silky spotted brown fur in a small patch of sunlight, as she felt the warmth of Firestar's body next to hers. Spottedleaf looks at him, "Do you think our kits will forgive us for leaving them in their time of need?"
"I hope so." Firestar meows.
"What if they don't? I don't want another repeat of what happened with…with.." Spottedleaf couldn't finish the sentence, as Firestar knows whom she is referring to.
Firestar puts his paw on his mates, "Our kits, will forgive us. I'm sure of it. They are nothing like, him. You know that. They have no bitterness or hatred inside their souls, only love. And love, my dear Spottedleaf, trumps out hatred."
"How can you be so sure? I mean I thought Tigerstar would have changed, and become a great warrior." Spottedleaf meows.
"Because our kits, has no power greed in them. Yes, they have their moments, but what kit doesn't. I seen who they are, Spottedleaf, and they put their Clan before themselves, and respect others. That is the difference between our kits, and you know who." Firestar purrs. Spottedleaf gave a faint smile to his words, and felt him kissing her neck, and then nuzzling her to reassure her. Spottedleaf then puts her head under Firestar's chin and then sleeps in his chest. Firestar soon does the same as the two of them sleep in the early greenleaf sun.
A few hours has past since Spottedleaf and Firestar found a place to rest their sore paws and aching bodies. All of a sudden Firestar was jolt awake by loud voices coming from up head. Spottedleaf heard it too, as she too sprang to her paws, and fur on end. Firestar then orders, "Quick, into the hedge!"
Spottedleaf scrambled in the hedge as thorns tugged at her fur. Each torn dug into her fur, as pain surges through. But she didn't care, all she wanted was to get high up as possible and away from that dog. She was now forced to quit climbing as the branches in the bush crisscrossed so thickly, that she couldn't go no further.
Spottedleaf saw in terror, as the dog forced it's self into the gap in the hedge, as it whined and growled at her. Spottedleaf hissed at her mate, "It's found our scent."
Firestar felt the terror in his own chest, as the dog was tail lengths away from Spottedleaf's hind legs. He wanted to be there to battle the dog, but there was too many pokey branches that separated them. Spottedleaf felt the branch snapping underneath her, as the dog's jaws gripped the branch trying to drag it to the ground. Spottedleaf clung to the branch, as Firestar tried desperately to make it to his mate. Just in the neck of time, Firestar saw a Twoleg paw reach in, and grab the dog by it's collar, and force the dog away from the hedge. The dog in protest barked, and the Twoleg yelled at it.
Just then the branch snapped and Spottedleaf fell to the ground in the bush. Firestar prey to StarClan that the Twolegs never heard it. In a small glimpse he saw them walking away but the dog still barked and yelped at the hedge. When the coast was clear, he sprang down from his branch to his mate, who was thankfully unharmed, just shaken up. "You okay?"
"Yes." Spottedleaf meows softly.
"That was a close call. I thought I lost you there for a moment." Firestar meows. "If that Twoleg hadn't come.."
"I'm fine Firestar, even if that Twoleg hadn't reached it, I will still be fine. The branch protected me, but having the thorns stick outward. I thank StarClan for that." Spottedleaf meows. "I think they have gone, we should get going before they come back." Firestar then moves out first to make sure they are gone, then he singled with his tail to say it the coast is clear.
For the next two days, they continued to follow the river through the fields of wheat that had stretched as far as they could see, on either side of the river. On the third day, they move out of the fields, and slid through a gap in the hedges, and onto a rough grass that sloped gradually down to the river. The wind picked up blowing hot gusts on the two of them. Firestar drew closer to the water's edge as he sniffs the air for prey. He picked up scents of voles, and waterbirds, and heard small creatures rustling among the stems of the tall grass.
The sun was beginning to set, as it did, it turned the water into a burning flame. Firestar looks on up ahead as he sniffs the air, "There are a Thunderpath up ahead."
Spottedleaf sniffs the air too, as she looks at him, "Then we'll have to cross it." Spottedleaf tilts her head to one side, "There might not be so many monsters out now, that the sun is disappearing beyond the earth."
Firestar scans the horizon and the sees the line of trees, which were black against the scarlet sky. The setting sun cast unnatural colors on the fast moving pawed mothers. Rounding the bend in the river, he caught sight of a Twoleg bride made of stone, with monsters hurling across it.
As they approach the bridge and saw the monsters rush over it, with light beams casting out from it's eyes. Spottedleaf didn't like this idea at all. She meows to Firestar, "I don't like this Firestar. It's not safe to cross."
"Then how do you suppose we cross, swimming?" Firestar meows back. "We have to cross, it is our choice."
"Yes, but we'll be much safer underneath. I don't know about you, but I don't trust this at all. Not much give here, and I don't want to be crow-food." Spottedleaf advises.
Firestar was about to protest when another monster approached with is beams shining bright. Spottedleaf sprang out of the way and back onto the soft grass. Firestar knew his mate was right, there was no, leave way what so ever. Either get crow-food, or swim, or not even cross at all. Firestar turns to go stand beside her. "All right. Let's do it your way. Lead on, Speckles."
Spottedleaf lead the way underneath the bridge. The stones were damp and smooth, as water dripped from the archway into the rushing river. From the depths of the shadows, Firestar spotted light beams of another monster approaching fast along the Thunderpath above them. Spottedleaf stopped on a smooth stone as the roar of the monster boomed overhead, as it echoed from wall to wall of the stones and the water. In a bolt, Spottedleaf dashed out with her tail bristling, as she jumped from rock to rock to the other side.
Firestar did the same as they both came out from underneath the bridge with fear still in their eyes. They kept running until the bridge was far off from them, and they couldn't hear any more of them monsters.
Spottedleaf saw Firestar in pain as he slowed his pace to a coming stop as he panted in the reeds of the cool reeds of the river. "Are you okay?"
"I thought we were crow-food for sure. And I feel I've lost every scrap of skin from my pads, scrambling over them stones back there. I don't know if we'll be able to go much farther tonight." Firestar meows as he tried to make his fur lie flat.
Spottedleaf smiles. "Wait here."
Firestar looks up and she was gone. "What… Spottedleaf where are you going?"
A moment and two and Spottedleaf reappeared with dock leaves and found some root. "Here maybe this will help out." Spottedleaf places the dock leaves out then with a root, she unsheathe her claws to break open the plant some. Then with one paw she squeezes the juices out of the plant onto the dock leaves. Then she carefully took hold of her mate's paws, and gently stroke the dock leaves over his sore paws.
Firestar looks at his mate in amazement and for her healing touch. "wow, I forget how truly amazing you really are."
Spottedleaf smiles, as she gazes up at him, "Would be better back home, but this I was told takes care of the soreness, and the river root, will help coat the wound, from infections."
"It is a good thing, I have you with me then." Firestar puts his head to hers.
"You know, Cinderpelt told me before we left home, that she didn't like the idea of us going off into StarClan knows what, but she felt more secure knowing you were traveling with a former medicine cat that can help you out in times like this or worse." Spottedleaf smiles.
Firestar looks at her, then gives his mate a small kiss to her lips. Spottedleaf kissed him back, as they kissed for a moment more. Firestar pulls out of the kiss as he stares up at the skies. Silverpelt was shining through the dark sapphire sky. Spottedleaf looks up with him. Then sadness came over her. Firestar picked up her sudden change of mood, and moves to stand behind her. "You miss your sister don't you."
Spottedleaf nods, "She was the only sibling I had left."
Firestar looks at a bright star that was shining through. Then he points with this tail to the brightest star. "Look at that star over by the jagged teeth of rocks. I am guessing that star, is Willowpelt, watching over her kits, and you."
Spottedleaf followed his gaze. The sight of the jagged teeth was the hillside of Highstones. Then in a soft voice she spoke to him, "It seems so far away from us. Our homeland."
Firestar looks at the mountain rage too. He too missed ThunderClan, and the forest, the world he had known. They both stayed like that for a moment more gazing at the backside of Highstones. Then Firestar stood up and nuzzles his mate, "Come on, we have a mission to fulfill. We got to keep going a bit farther."
Spottedleaf put some of the homemade medicine on her paws too, as followed after Firestar. Casting one last look upon the mountain rage of Highstones. The breeze dropped, although the sun had gone, and the night was hot and muggy. Clouds began to gather in the sky, covering the moon and stars, which had threatening to bring rain. Spottedleaf then decide to call it a night, "Firestar, my love, I think we should call it a day of traveling. We have no light from the moon, and I sense there could be rain."
Firestar looks at her and can see only the glow of her beautiful amber depths. "I suppose I can't argue with that. If we keep going we will find ourselves walking into the river." Then he looks to her, "You go find a place that is dry, and safe, while I hunt."
Spottedleaf nods to this. She may not be as skillful as Sandstorm was, but she figure Firestar had more experience of finding found in the dark then she could. Spottedleaf found a spot near the river that is dry, and sheltered from the rain, when it comes. She pulls some river reeds into the small den like and made a large nest for the two of them to sleep in. Firestar then appears with two voles in his jaws. "Well at least we won't starve. There is plenty of prey around here."
Spottedleaf smiles to his comment, as they settled down in the small den that Spottedleaf found. "It may not be your den back home, but at least it is something to keep us dry from the rain." She looks to him as he started to groom her after they both ate their voles. "You know it has been forever since you and I did this."
"This is for helping me out with my pads." Firestar purrs.
Spottedleaf can't complain too much. She purrs, as he gently and tenderly cleaned her silky clean fur. The night grew on, as a light greenleaf rain flowed over this strange land.
Spottedleaf was then awaken by Firestar who was a bit startled when he started to here something. Spottedleaf drowsy looks at him, "what.."
Firestar then quickly covered his tail over her lips, "Ssshh. Twolegs." Firestar then peered out from the entranced of the small den like cover, as he sees three male Twolegs walking up the river bank with long thin like sticks, which are used to catch fish with for the Twoleged world. He remained silent and still for a while until the Twolegs had passed. Then he turns to Spottedleaf, "Let's get out of here."
He and Spottedleaf ran lightly along the bank in the shadow of the reeds until the Twoleg scent faded from their noses. Then Firestar paused to catch his breath as he looks anxiously up at the sky. The could hung thicker than last night, and had a yellowish grey to them, as they hung low, low enough to touch the tops of the trees. He turns to Spottedleaf as she searches the sky, "There is a storm coming, my dear. And a very dangerous one."
"Have you seen anything like this before?" Firestar looks to her for weather guidance.
"Yes. When I was an apprentice one time in newleaf." Spottedleaf looks at him. "It was very bad, destroyed half of camp."
Firestar nods, "Then we better keep moving as fast as we can, before it breaks lose on us."
"We got to find a sturdy shelter if we don't want to get stuck in it." Spottedleaf advises him.
They traveled a long time until both of them became exhausted with the heat and very thirsty. Firestar wanted to keep going, but Spottedleaf urges him to drink water, to keep him from becoming really dehydrated, and pass out. When Firestar looks up from the river he scans ahead of them. "Spottedleaf, look."
Spottedleaf raises her head from the water as she stares into Firestar's direction. It was an old Twoleg's nest just up ahead but it looked abandon. Just then there was a rumble of thunder in the distance and a strong wind gust promising to be a strong storm. If Firestar and Spottedleaf don't find a strong shelter soon, they would be victims to the fast approaching storm.
"It's a Twoleg's nest Firestar." Spottedleaf meows.
"I know, but it doesn't look to be in use." Firestar meows back.
"I don't know." Spottedleaf stated.
"It is worth a shot. Come on." Firestar meows as he trails off and trots off to Twoleg home. Spottedleaf follows after her mate, as they crept closer to the home of the Twoleg folk. We they arrive at the house, it looks to be not in use. There was no scent of dog, Twoleg, or kits of the Twoleg's. The only scent belongs to the house was nature, as well as mice. Lots and lots of mice. But still Spottedleaf stepping foot into a Twoleg home was not her idea.
The door to the Twoleg nest was sagged open, and the square holes in the walls were dark and empty. Spottedleaf notice to the right what once was a wooden fence that held a garden, but most of the fence was rotted away, while the garden itself turned wild and overgrown. Spottedleaf looked at Firestar as he approaches the door. Spottedleaf stayed down on the soft ground, still uncertain of going inside. Her mate notice her absence as he turns back to go to her. "Come on Spottedleaf. There is nothing in the nest of the Twolegs, just a place to settle down until the storm passes. Plus there is food we can feast on. I know you are starving."
Spottedleaf still doesn't looks convince, "I still don't like this idea, Firestar. I never in my been this close to a Twoleg nest before, and I never was inside of one."
Firestar sighs, "I know you don't trust it, but I promise you there is no Twolegs. This nest has been abandon, for some seasons ago. Trust me."
Spottedleaf closes her eyes, as she started to back away, but then lightning danced across the sky, with a loud crackling sound followed closely behind. Spottedleaf jumped at that, then bolted up the small steps and into the nest. Firestar had a smirk on his face at his mate's reaction. Once inside he looks at her, "Well, if nothing will convince you to come into a Twoleg's nest, then I guess a bolt of Thunder would. " Spottedleaf swatted dust at him, for teasing her. Then Firestar came over to her and gave her a comforting kiss. "This will keep us safe from the storm, then once the storm passes we will get out of here. I'll go find some prey for us to eat."
"And leave me here?" Spottedleaf meows. Even though she meows quietly it echoed off the hallow walls.
"I'll only be gone a few minutes." Firestar meows back. Then he disappears into the dark of the nest. Spottedleaf padded from room to room. She often wondered what it must have been like to be a kittypet. But the forest was all she ever known. She made it to a room where the ground felt cool upon her pads. The wind howled and shook the nest as if this place was made of a pile of twigs. But the good news is she was dry, and safe from the horrible storm. Spottedleaf found a place by a broken square hole, as she watches the storm.
She then turns around when she heard pawsteps behind her. She turns around to see Firestar approaching with two very plump mice in his jaws. He drops one beside her then drops his catch a few mouse lengths away. "These mice are fat compare to the ones back home."
Spottedleaf smiles as she and him ate their mouse. After they finished eating Firestar looks outside as sharp rain pelt the nest, as the wind shook it's foundation. As much as Firestar wants to continue and move out of this nest of a Twoleg, he knows Spottedleaf won't want to be out in this mess. Spottedleaf looks at Firestar as she senses his past haunting him. "Firestar, I know this place haunt your past, but we can't go on in this weather. Not when it is this bad outside."
Firestar knows she is right. But something in him, made him restless. "I know, but I can't stay in here. I need to be out there. If we were back at home, we would be outside surviving this weather."
"True, but back in ThunderClan, we had shelter to keep from being soaked and blow off our paws., in harsh weather, like this one." Spottedleaf remained him. "I hate it as much as you do to be in here. But what choice do we have now. The storm is upon us, and we can't fight it. Besides, the river will be twice as high by now, to continuing following it. " Spottedleaf meows to him. Then in the most soft and gentle way she added in, "Plus I don't think our mission is to come all this way to be killed, by the river. Please my love; just listen to me, and stay where we are sheltered from this horrible storm. I would love to go back home and be with our kits when this is over."
Firestar looks at his mate, and knows she is pleading with him. He gave a heavy sigh, "alright." Still he did not venture very far from the opening to the hole that lead to the wild outside. Spottedleaf convinced him to stay, but only because she reminded him of their lives, and a promise the ThunderClan and his kits, of returning home. Plus leaving this sheltered place would be suicide when trying to go against the storm.
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***Author's Note: I'm sorry i neglected this story. I was preoccupied with my life, of trying to pass Trig, which i did :), as well as my work has been crazy, and physically drained me from updating. Plus i also been battling some family issues. Needless to say, my life has been taking over my creative side. But now that i am done with college for the summer and NO MORE HARD MATH! I am free to write, more scenes out of this new warriors story. I am skipping a bit out of Firestar's Quest, of all the drama that he and Sandstorm has, and the long not needed journey from their homeland to find the cats of SkyClan. More will come soon, i hope. Just try and be patient for updates, takes a long time for me to sit and write each chapter to this.***
