What's up, guys? :D
So, here I am with a new chapter. I was going to post it yesterday... but then something happened...
;)
Enjoy!
A Not So Happy Reunion
Ashheart
Once we were able to talk sense into Creampaw, we started on the course again. But this time, I was leading. Creampaw said that she wasn't sure what would happen if she snapped again. Oh, and Flowerstep got really banged up by her. I wonder where all her training went when the apprentice started pummeling her with attacks.
I had a couple of things on mind:
1: I was hoping that I would be able to lead them through the terrain.
2: I was thirsty.
3: The stalker cat
4: I was thirsty and hungry.
5: Flowerstep probably needed medical attention.
6: I was extremely thirsty and hungry.
I was extensively happy that my stomach hadn't growled. I don't think I'd be able to live it down if it did.
When we started to climb the mountain, the land was flat and littered with numerous rocks like the one that I had tripped over. Imagine the oh so many possibilities of me falling flat on my face again. Fortuantely, I didn't trip again.
The higher we climbed, the path became more treacherous . Rocks seemed to shoot out of the ground. We had to weave around them, but even then it was difficult. At times there were sharp rocks attached to them, leaving us no choice but to get scratched by them. By the time we had weaved across a couple of them, we were all covered with blood and bruises.
I'm pretty sure we all looked like Birdsong did when we had that little chat with StarClan. The reason I say this is because Birdsong's appearance seemed to be reduced to that. The only difference was that it wasn't because of some weird message.
Skypaw's complaining wasn't helping one bit. ''Ugh, I'm hurting all over! My fur is ruined! I'm all bloody and...'' His eyes slid to Pinetail, who was glaring daggers at him. He stopped his jabbering.
''Do us all a favor and just be quiet until we reach some place to rest,'' said Birdsong coldly. Skypaw's eyes went wide. He nodded numbly. ''Good.''
Two cats that can keep him in line? Is this a miracle?
''You know, we should find a place to rest. I don't think that we can go on like this much longer. We have to find a cave or something like that. We're all tired and worn out. Heck, I'm plenty sure we all want to complain like Skypaw. '' Ravenwing gave us a Don't lie face. ''Other than that, I bet that we're thirsty and hungry. How long has it been since we last ate? I'm starving!''
After her inspirational speech, we started to look around for a place to settle down. It took a while, but it was totally worth it. It was cozy alcove. It was spacious, big enough to fit a couple more cats. The rock with smooth with a dull shine to them, leaving me with the feeling that it was timeless. The best part? The entire place was covered in moss.
''This place is awesome!'' squealed Creampaw. She plopped herself on the moss. ''And it's so soft!'' Her brother laid down beside her. Then, he curled his tail around his nose and closed his eyes. His sister did the same. I looked at them for a bit and felt a flash of pain. Seedfall and I would have done something like that when we were younger. I would curl up in his stomach, just like I used to with my mother.
My mother. I miss her.
I probably got glassy-eyed because Flowerstep asked, ''Are you okay?''
''Oh, uh yeah, I'm fine. Just...'' I trailed off. I wasn't sure if I could tell Flowerstep. It would probably make me look weak, which was not something I personally wanted to look like.
Flowerstep inched closer to me. She was so close, our pelts were touching. ''Is there something on your mind? You know, you can tell me. I won't judge you.'' Her amber eyes would have left anyone mesmerized. Except me.
''Look, Flowerstep, I think you should worry more about your wounds than me right now.'' I looked over at the slash across her paws and right flank. I wonder how she let herself get bet up so easily. And by a RiverClan apprentice no less.
She surveyed the damage. ''I suppose. Do you know anything about healing?'' I shook my head. All I knew, was that you could put cobwebs on wounds and the names of a couple of flowers to heal someone.
''But, you spend so much time looking at medicine cats. How can you not know?'' Her voice held an accusing tone.
''Meh, I just like watching them work. I don't really bother trying to memorize anything that they actually use.'' I shrug. ''Just sit down and wash yourself. I'll see if anyone can treat the wounds.'' One good thing about Flowerstep being madly in love with me, is that she usually does whatever I tell her. She sat down and started to lick herself clean from the blood.
''You should clean yourself too. Your pretty pelt is all messed up.''
Like I give a mouse tail about my pelt!
I just smiled in response. If I was messy, I'd clean up later.
''Well, I'll go check out the area. See if there is any prey.'' Birdsong stretched. Her pelt was still splattered with blood, but it was obvious she had tried to lick it off. She looked over at everyone. ''Anyone else up for exploring?''
''I'll go,'' replied Ravenwing. She trotted up to Birdsong. She nodded in acceptance.
''I guess I'll go too. I'm the leader, so it'll be good if I see where we are. Maybe try to find a landmark in case.'' It seemed reasonable to everyone. Except Flowerstep. But she didn't say anything. All she did was scowl.
''Alright then. We'll be back as soon as possible.'' I looked over at the two sleeping apprentices. RiverClan cats were trained to use the water, not land. It must have been tough for them. ''And hopefully bring some food back.''
Since I was leader, I had to lead Ravenwing and Birdsong in the exploration. We found some really neat places. There was this place that had an underwater spring with a waterfall. There was one had a bunch of bats that attacked us. (Okay, that was really scary, but still sorta cool.) We also found a stone that looked all shriveled up. I joked that it probably stood in the rain too long. Ravenwing had laughed, but Birdsong gave me a look that read you really are crazy.
But, we found no food.
Ravenwing sniffed the air. ''I can't catch any prey scent, which is funny. There has to be at least some sort of food around these parts! I mean, cats and other animals live here, right?'' Her stomach growled. ''StarClan! If I'm like this, the rest should be famished!''
''What do you mean by that?'' I asked.
Ravenwing grinned. ''Oh, I just don't get very hungry. I can go a while without food. I need water. That's all really. Hey, maybe I could just live off water, but who knows? Has any cat done that before? Maybe I could be the first! But, I might miss rabbit too much... Hey! Where are you going?''
Birdsong raised her tail for silence. Her ears were strained with concentration. Her blue eyes slitted in fierce determination. She was balancing herself on her haunches. This could only mean one thing: She had found prey!
Birdsong opened her mouth, drinking in the scent. As lightly as possible, she ran to where the food was located. Ravenwing glanced over at me. I shrugged and went in pursuit of Birdsong. The female warrior followed me a little later. Even though I got a head start, Ravenwing quickly passed by me.
Grrr.
We stopped near the opening of a cave. The outcroppings here, though high, didn't seem as treacherous as they were from where we came from. I made a mental to remember how we got here, so that we could travel through here instead.
Behind one impressively big rock was Birdsong. Her entire concentration was on a small mouse. It wouldn't even be enough to feed the apprentices! But I guess that didn't matter to Birdsong.
And it didn't matter to me either. In fact, I was salivating at the idea of having a little bit out of it. Ravenwing seemed more immune to it than me, but she still made a face that showed that she was hungry.
I looked up at the sky and noticed that there was an eagle flying around. Do eagles taste good?
Birdsong launched herself. However, the eagle did the same at the same time. I snapped out of my trance to discover the inevitable. An eagle was diving towards the same mouse that Birdsong had been aiming for. ''BIRDSONG!'' I gasped. I quickly ran down the cliff, ignoring the fact that I was too far away to be of any help to her. Ravenwing also snapped and went after me. She probably had a better chance to reach Birdsong than me.
''LOOK UP! LOOK UP!'' shrieked Ravenwing as she pelted past me with ease.
Grrr.
Birdsong captured the mouse and looked over at us. She cocked her head as though asking we were so agitated about her. ''LOOK UP!'' And she did.
Time slowed down. It was like one of those crazy nightmares that when you woke up, you thought it was real. But this was real. I feel every single thing that my paws touched. I could see widen slowly, as though the idea of what was to happen was just dawning on her. I saw her trying to escape. She dropped the mouse and ran towards us.
I skidded, every single scrape against my pads felt like a mountain. Birdsong was trying to get away. But the eagle was no longer diving for a mouse. It was diving for an even bigger piece of prey. The sliver she-cat that was desperately running for her life.
And then all to suddenly, the inevitable happened. ''Birdsong!'' I managed before the massive bird landed on top of her. Her bright eyes widened in desperation. She opened her mouth. Slowly, of course. Remember, time as magically slowed down because this a NIGHTMARE!
And all to quickly, Birdsong was gone. She was buried under a bird. Man, it's gotta suck to be killed by something you're named after. But that's beside the point.
''No,'' whispered Ravenwing as she stared at the eagle. She shivered. ''No!'' she said more forcefully.
I look down at the floor. I was responsible for this. Since I'm leader, not being able to save a comrade, well, I guess... it's my fault.
''Whoa, there! That was a big one!'' said a voice. I stopped wading in my puddle of self pity and looked up.
I'm going to say this right off bat; I'm not interested in my gender as a mate. Seriously. But the tom in front of me was... handsome. He had a dark brown pelt with light brown tabby stripes. His eyes were a deep shade of amber that resembled a lot to Flowerstep's eyes. It was obvious that he had lean and supple muscles beneath his pelt. Did you remember that thing I told you before? Please apply it to the description I have given you.
Since my tongue was frozen by the mysterious cat, Ravenwing spoke first. ''Hi! My name is Ravenwing! And that over there is Ashheart. We're Clan cats!'' This girl has no discretion at all.''Anyways, you took that thing down?'' He nodded. ''Well, you see, we have a friend that just might be suffocating under that bird. So, if you could please, uh, I guess pick it up so she can come out? Looks heavy though. If you need help...'' But the dude lost her when she said there was a she-cat beneath the eagle. Probably one of those guys that likes to save girls and then flirt with them.
He effortlessly flipped the eagle over (What the heck? Doesn't that thing weight like... a lot?!) Fortunately, it seems that Birdsong hadn't been crushed by the eagle. Shakily, she managed to sit up.
''You okay...'' The brown tom trailed off. He stared into Birdsong's eyes. Their noses were just a mouse length away.
Birdsong slitted her eyes. ''Oh, it's you,'' she said coldly. Even that was a little mean for Birdsong. She stood up, brushed her fur, and walked towards us.
''W-w-wait!'' The tom looked like she had slapped him. ''Birdpaw...''
''It's Birdsong now,'' she replied in her icy voice. So, they knew each other as apprentices? I shot a glance at Ravenwing. She gave me a I have absolutely no clue look. So it was decided that we would stick to the side lines and wonder what was happening.
''Oh... you... you got your warrior name? I should have known. It's been... awhile...'' he replied shyly.
Birdsong had a blank look her face. ''Yes, it's been a while.''
He tentatively took a step forward. ''I've been thinking of you non-stop since then.'' His amber eyes shone sincerely. ''I've been hoping to see you again.''
''Me too,'' said Birdsong. Though her voice was sweet, her face was still blank. She turned to him. ''To say that you are a liar, cheater, and that I hate you.'' Ouch. His face fell. Birdsong turned back to us. ''What are you doing here, anyways?'' she sniffed.
''Oh... um...'' he shifted his paws. ''I... live here.''
Almost instantly Birdsong whipped around and shoved her face into his. ''What?!''
''Birdsong...''
''So, another lie?'' she hissed. ''Anything else you lied about, you piece of fox-dung?'' It wasn't a question. It was strict command.
''The other one...'' he admitted. He looked like he was on the verge of breaking down. ''Birdsong...''
Birdsong was seething in rage. She seemed to be unable to talk without it coming out like crazed gibberish. She turned her back away from him and ran up to us. ''I'll be going back to the others. See you later.'' With that, she swiftly sprinted up the rocks and disappeared into the cave.
I turned to the tom, who looked like he would chase after her. Instead, he held his ground. ''She... she changed,'' His voice trembled. He then seemed to notice me and Ravenwing sitting awkwardly at the side. ''I'm sorry. I didn't introduce myself. My name is Stone that Shine at Dawn. Just call me Stone.''
''Are you a member of the Tribe?'' I asked. In the stories, they had weird names like that.
He looked a little agitated. ''Well... I was... but...'' He shook his head. ''No, I'm not.''
It didn't seem nice to pry into it, so instead I asked, ''Do you know how far we are from them? We need to get there soon.''
Stone cocked his head. ''Well, You're around a couple of day's hike to get there. Depending on the weather, of course.'' He bounced up to a rock and pointed his tail to the east. ''Go that way. If you need any help, I'll be here.''
''You're actually going to stay here to see if we need your help?'' I asked, aghast.
''Uh, no. I live here.'' Face paw. Stone grins. ''It's alright. Well, see you around.'' He paused before adding. ''Hopefully.'' And with that, he jumps of the stone and disappears from sight.
D: Birdsong! No need to be so mean! Poor Stone...
So, here it is. Hope you guys liked it!
