Chapter 9: Mountaineers
The mountains were high above the two cats, towering over them like the Sky Oak in ThunderClan territory. Fawnfur gazed happily at the stony gray cliffs. They were almost there, she could feel it.
Fawnfur and Spidersilk had been traveling for the past three days, sleeping during the day and running through the night. Each time Fawnfur had closed her eyes the familiar voice of Firestar had greeted her, praising her efforts and warning her of places to stay away from on their path to her family.
And now, finally, Fawnfur felt that their traveling was coming to an end. The bright star didn't move anymore, it stayed in the same place in the sky and hung over one of the crags in the mountain. Fawnfur was directing all her energy to that destination, certain her mother and father would be there, waiting for her.
"Fawnfur, are you feeling okay?" asked Spidersilk, breaking Fawnfur's concentration.
She nuzzled her mate's cheek, swiping her tongue between his ears.
"I'm fine," she replied.
This wasn't completely true. Over the past few days Fawnfur had been feeling much more tired than usual. Her appetite was strangely irregular as well; she didn't eat as much as she used to. Fawnfur found herself waking up in the middle of the night to throw up the food she had consumed earlier. She fretted silently over her condition, afraid that it might be a fever or worse, greencough. Sometimes the change of weather brought about the sickness. Fawnfur hoped it was just a passing cold. The one thing she didn't want to do was infect Spidersilk or be hampered from finding her family.
"Well then let's stop staring at this hunk of rock and start climbing it," the black tom scowled, shaking his head.
Fawnfur smiled and nodded her agreement, staring up into the deep blue sky once again, admiring the dappled patches of stars.
I wonder if StarClan is watching us right now, Fawnfur thought.
Feeling more hopeful than she had in moons, Fawnfur trotted over to the jumbled heap of stones that marked a steep but secure-looking path up the mountainside.
"I bet if we follow this, we'll get there in no time," remarked Fawnfur, stepping on to the path.
"We better," grumbled Spidersilk, "my paws are killing me."
xxx
The two cats stopped at a shallow cave carved into the side of the cliff. It was small, the two of them made a tight fit. Fawnfur's back was aching from the steady upwards climb. It was nearly dawn and their guiding star was beginning to fade from the sky. Fawnfur thought that she knew where it had hung but she didn't want to take any chances and get lost. They'd wake at sundown and continue on with the light of the bright star showing them the way.
Spidersilk breathed out heavily as he positioned himself next to his mate. Fawnfur felt him shiver; the air was much colder up in the mountains and she had found her thin, greenleaf pelt not much help against the brisk winds that buffeted them.
They had been traveling all night and the both of them were tired. They had already scaled half of the mountain and Fawnfur was finding it harder and harder to look over the side of the cliff and glance at the ground that was suddenly so far away.
The boulders and stones that lined the path were sharp and pointed and Fawnfur had a strange feeling that she had heard of this place before.
"Fawnfur," Spidersilk said, "can't you move over any more?"
Fawnfur mewed resentfully and squashed herself up against the smooth rocky wall.
"Better?" she snapped as Spidersilk wiggled around the cave, trying to stretch his long legs.
"Loads, thanks," replied Spidersilk, his words laced with sarcasm.
Fawnfur turned her head towards the walls, trying to contain her anger. The two cats had spent three whole days together without being apart and they were starting to tire of each other. It didn't help that neither cat had eaten since the previous morning.
"Let's just try and get some sleep," suggested Fawnfur half-heartedly.
Spidersilk muttered his assent and Fawnfur saw him shut his eyes. She yawned, her pink mouth opening wide. She was so tired that she easily slipped off into a deep sleep, grateful at least for a warm pelt besides her.
The moment Fawnfur closed her eyes she was running up the mountain slope, faster than would ever be possible in real life. She tried to look around for Spidersilk but she was going too fast. Fawnfur pressed her paws into the ground, trying to stop but she seemed to be dragged along by an invisible force.
"Firestar? Hello? StarClan? Is anyone there?" called Fawnfur as she was dragged towards a bowl-shaped rocky clearing in the side of the cliff face. Suddenly she was thrown to the slippery stone floor as the invisible claws released her.
Fawnfur picked herself up, confused, and looked around hesitantly. A flowing waterfall cascaded down the side of the hollow, splashing into a pool of water that gave birth to a little stream. Rainbows sparkled in the moonlight reflected on the water from the falls. Fawnfur gasped at the beautiful sight. She had never seen such a large waterfall before. She couldn't tear her eyes from it.
Suddenly she felt another cat's presence besides her. She inclined her head and saw the pale outline of a well-muscled tomcat sitting next to her. She squinted a little and found that she could make out the color of his fur: orange.
"Firestar?"
The tom turned to her and Fawnfur noticed that while the rest of his body was pale and faded, his green eyes were as brilliant and clear as the moon in the black sky.
"You are very close to what you seek," Firestar said softly, "keep following the path you're on. When you come to this waterfall, you'll know what to do."
"Firestar, I feel like I know this place somehow," Fawnfur mewed, "how is that possible?"
Firestar stared at her warmly. "You know this place through the stories of the Great Journey," he said.
Fawnfur gasped. "Of course! The elders say that this was where the Tribe of the Rushing Water lived. The Clans passed through here when they made the Great Journey!"
Firestar nodded, stars beaming like pinpricks from his eyes.
"But that means..." Fawnfur thought out loud.
"We led you here for a reason," Firestar said, "we told you we'd lead you to your parents."
Fawnfur's heart seemed to slow. The puzzle was falling into place.
"That means that..."
Firestar simply smiled and then, without warning, disappeared.
"Don't you dare! Come back Firestar!" screeched Fawnfur, scrambling to her paws, looking around wildly for the ancient ThunderClan leader.
But it was useless. The tom was gone and Fawnfur was beginning to wake up.
Only this time, she knew who her parents were.
