Journey

Paw-by-paw Bigpaw crept out of the cave with a heavy heart. He was turning his back on everything, everything that meant something to him. It's the only thing to do. He had to find whatever he was looking for, no matter what it took. Silverpaw already has been through a lot, she would only slow him down.

"It would be safer," he murmured as he padded straight at the cave entrance. "If she stays here the Caveguards would protect her." Looking back at the Tribe for one last time Bigpaw couldn't help but remember looking back at ThunderClan. He was leaving, yet another home. The same fire burned in him as he looked at the Tribe curled up in their dens.

Bigpaw turned his back for one second when a meowed made him jump. "Bigpaw?" Silverpaw meowed. "Where are you going?"

Forcing himself look at Silverpaw, Bigpaw couldn't help realize she was worried. "Um...I'm just going for a walk."

"Can I come too?" Her eyes still looked wary as Bigpaw became uncomfortable.

"Sorry, I just want to go alone…" Silverpaw nodded her head but looked slightly hurt. She knew he wasn't telling the truth. Right before she turned around Bigpaw called her back, "Wait, you can come!"

Silverpaw bounded beside Bigpaw happily. "I thought you were going to leave," she sighed. "But-"

She stopped talking as Bigpaw put his tail on her muzzle. He didn't move his tail as he looked at her eyes. Soft and kind, he couldn't lie to her. "I am," he confessed.

Silverpaw's green eyes widened with shock but she said no more. Bigpaw lead the way out of the cave with Silverpaw following slowly behind. Once they were outside, Silverpaw spoke, "So you're leaving me behind."

Before Bigpaw answered Silverpaw spat at him. Her fur was bristled to their tips as claws flashed, "Well forget it! I didn't leave the Clan just because I heard of Stonestar's plan! I came because I wanted to be with you. I won't be left behind this time."

Instead of being nervous or worried Bigpaw's heart leaped. He tried to convince himself not to bring Silverpaw but Silverpaw wanted to come with him, wanted. He couldn't tell her 'no', he wanted her to come too. "Well, I guess there's no stopping you," Bigpaw purred. "Let's go."

Together, side-by-side, Bigpaw and Silverpaw headed off to wherever their paws led them.

xoxoxo

"Great StarClan," spat Silverpaw as she looked out into the never-ending tangle of ThunderPaths that swerved right at their paws. "Are we supposed to past that?" Bigpaw was already tired; they passed through the mountains and passed a long, endless path of twoleg nests. However, he didn't want to stop. His heart would only rest if he past whatever was beyond the tangled path.

Silverpaw lend on to Bigpaw's side, she was tired, but didn't complain. It has been a full moon since they left the Tribe. Both of them had grown strong to the harsh traveling life, but have grown closer together.

Bigpaw licked her ear soothingly as she looked at the tangle of monsters. "We're almost there," he meowed softly. "Just past this."

"Has StarClan told you this," Silverpaw muttered.

He paused.

"No," Bigpaw growled darker than he expected. "They abandoned us."

Silverpaw moved away from Bigpaw, stunned. "Abandoned?"

A loud thunderous roar rang their ears as a huge monster with more paws then they could count stormed by. "What was that?" Bigpaw yowled. Silverpaw said nothing as she padded toward the edge. Bigpaw quickly followed.

When the roaring died away they both dashed safely to the other side like they have some many times before. Row by row Bigpaw began to think it would never end. "How many mor-"

Silverpaw stopped Bigpaw before he could say another word. She bristled as a cat as big as Stonestar padded closer to them. "I think it's a loner," she whispered. "A friendly one I hope."

However, another cat bounded after the first and another quickly followed. They saw them and ran over, circling Bigpaw and Silverpaw. "Look," spat a she-cat as she sat down. "A couple of strays wondered in our land."

"Let's take them to him," purred the big tom as he looked back at the she-cat. "He said he was expecting somebody."

"Take us," Bigpaw spat. He glanced a quickly look at the bewildered Silverpaw. "I want to see him!" The three cats looked just as stunned as Silverpaw but lead the way. The tom looked annoyed at being ordered by a cat the size an apprentice but he had no choice. "Who are you by the way?"

"I'm Kazaree of BloodClan," purred the she-cat. Bigpaw and Silverpaw stared stunned and the longing in Bigpaw's paws subsided. He made a mistake. BloodClan wasn't just a kit's story. It was true, and now they were as good as dead.

"Glider," the big tom meowed smoothly. "That's Wind." He flicked his tail to the smaller tom. "He can't speak."

A flicker of compaction for the small tom flickered in Bigpaw but quickly passed. It wasn't his problem.

When they all passed the rest of the ThunderPaths a twoleg dump slowly came into view. The three cats padded straight into it. Cats were everywhere, some huddled together, others whispering about them. Every head turned as they padded by though.

When they reached the end of the dump a large pile of two-leg thrash gathered together created a shadow beside it. A small tom hidden in the shadow hissed for them to stop. "Who are you strangers? Wait." The tom's voice rang familiarly in Bigpaw's ears but he didn't say anything. "Are you Bigpaw?"

The small tom stepped forward; his pelt gleamed blue-gray with icy-blue eyes. This was the cat in his dreams, this was the cat in the lake reflection, and this is where he wanted to be. "I'm sorry, I'm Blueclaw, leader of BloodClan."

Dun, Dun, Dun!