Chapter 8

Only on the Pine's strong shoulders may peace be found in the mountains

Those were the words repeating in Pinefoot's mind as he set out, after saying goodbye to Wishwind, he had set off in the direction of the mountains, not knowing where he was supposed to go, he thought, that going to the mountains would be a good start.

If they were the wrong mountains, he wasn't sure what he would do, but he would go to the mountains he could see, he wasn't sure how long he would be gone, or what he was supposed to do, but if Lionheart had given him the prophecy he was sure, that he was the Pine that would bring peace to the mountains.

He had to be careful, crossing the other clans' territory, he successfully avoided patrols and didn't hunt until he was out of Clan territory, over the journey he thought about Wishwind, Lakefall, Mousefur, and all the others he left behind to fulfill this prophecy.

He was so consumed in his thoughts he didn't realize where he was walking, and he walked right into another cat.

"Ow! Watch where your walking!" the other cat snarled

"Sorry! I was absorbed in my thoughts!"

"That's no excuse." He said as he stalked off

"How rude." Pinefoot muttered as he set off again

When Sundown came Pinefoot went to hunt, he found nothing, he sighed and climbed onto a low branch, when he woke up the next morning he was staring at Wishwind's face.

"WAHHH!" Pinefoot screamed

"Shhh! Be quiet!" she quieted him

"What are you doing here?" he questioned

"I wanted to help you."

"I told you I had to do this myself!"

"I know, I heard I just didn't want you to be alone." She protested

"Your family needs you!"

"No, you need me more."

"Fine just don't slow me down." He agreed

"Slow you down? I caught up with you, didn't I?"

They set off and almost immediately Wishwind asked, where they were going

"I got a prophecy from Lionheart."

"Oh really!" she exclaimed, "What is it?"

He thought

I better tell her, or she won't stop pestering

"Only on the Pine's strong shoulders may peace be found in the mountains."

"Really, so we're headed to the mountains?"

"Yes, couldn't you see that?" he replied grumpily

"Gee, we really need the old you back."

He just scowled, they walked for a little while longer, until Wishwind spoke up.

"Are you hungry?"

"A little."

"Then let's hunt

She walked off, leaving him behind, he stood there for a second, shook his head and followed, he even allowed a small smile.

They caught a rabbit and shared it and set off again, after a while Wishwind asked him, how he got to be so grumpy, they climbed a hill and then he answered.

"I guess, it's Hareleap's fault, I began to meet him at the border, and he told me things… things I'd rather not repeat." He looked away

"What did he say?"

He looked at he and then looked away again.

"I'd rather not say."

"If you keep your anger bottled up inside you'll never be free!" she argued

"Fine, He said that you, Hawkheart, and Spottedpelt were never my friends, and that cats still talked about me being RiverClan behind my back."

"We are your friends, you have to see that, and no one resents you for being RiverClan, they respect you."

"I… just don't know, he said walking away from her