The story is almost over! What will go on between Runningstar and Hurricanestar? Will he find his Clan? What about RiverClan? Find out!!!!
The scent of Runningstar's Clan was getting stronger and stronger. Surprisingly, it was leading him straight for Sunningrocks. What was ThunderClan doing there? Hiding, was Runningstar's first spiteful thought.
When he and Trailclaw burst through the ferns to the clearing, he found that ThunderClan was hiding. It was all as he had seen in his nightmares for the past nights. Them losing.
But, he realized, they were only resting, and sharing tongues once more before they all met their imminent deaths.
He spotted Cloverleaf's tabby pelt and felt his heart begin to rekindle itself. Warmness spread all over him, and he felt like yowling with joy at seeing his mate again.
Cloverleaf turned her head. She must have caught his scent. "R-Runningstar?" She mewed, her green eyes growing wider and wider. "Runningstar! It's you! You're alive!" She leaped to her paws and ran for her mate, happiest to see him in her life.
Runningstar collapsed into Cloverleaf's fur. For a few heartbeats the two just sat there, murmuring words intelligible to others. Runningstar didn't think he could feel any better right now, just standing here, right beside his mate.
"I'm so glad you came back alive," Cloverleaf whispered. "I was afraid Gorsestar would catch you."
"Same here," Runningstar mewed. "Wait…Gorsestar?"
Cloverleaf nodded solemnly. "Yes. When Hurricanestar invaded our camp, we asked him if you were alive. He said it was up to Gorsestar. I think that that monster set a trap for you."
"He did," Runningstar mewed. "And I fell for it." He hung his head sadly, holding back tears. "Some leader I turned out to be! You should probably just hand the leadership over to Starfur. He'd do a much better job."
Cloverleaf's eyes glimmered with sympathy. "Runningstar," She murmured, burying her muzzle in his fur, "Nobody else could do a better job at being leader than you. Starfur would be just like you, new at the job."
Runningstar's eyes widened. "Starfur!" He cried, snapping from his cloud of happiness. "Where is Starfur? Is he okay?"
Cloverleaf squirmed uncomfortably. "Actually…um…well, he's at the crack in one of the rocks. Go find him there and see."
Runningstar wondered what Cloverleaf meant. Was poor Starfur going through something worse than death itself? He gave Cloverleaf a tender but hurried lick on the nose and frantically started searching for Starfur's scent, or any trace of the crack that Cloverleaf was talking about. Images of death ran through the leader's head.
Suddenly, he came across quite a sight- Starfur was there, sitting by the fracture in the rock- and he was sitting across from Otterstar, a worried and ashamed look on his face. "I shouldn't have let him go," Runningstar could hear him murmur.
Runningstar wondered what this was all about, why Otterstar and the rest of her cats-
Realization hit him. Then surprise. Then relief. Runningstar ran for Starfur as fast as he could, being careful not to knock either of the cats over.
"Runningstar!" Starfur cried. "You lived! I can't believe it!"
Runningstar skidded to a halt beside Starfur. "I can't either," He mewed gruffly. "But I'm glad to be back."
"How did you know?" Asked Starfur.
"Weavepaw received a sign telling us to go back," Runningstar admitted. "It wasn't really me. You have Weavepaw to thank."
Starfur looked down at the ground. "Are you, uh…angry that we're here?" he asked, pawing at the dust.
Runningstar growled. "Well, I have to say I'm not happy with it. But I'm glad that you came to meet Otterstar." He leaned closer to Starfur, whispering in his ear. "What is she saying?" He asked.
"We're forming a deal," Starfur assured Runningstar as he looked at Otterstar ordering her warriors. "She'll fight with us. But she wants just one thing."
Runningstar frowned. "What is that?" He asked, thinking about how Hurricanestar wanted more of their territory.
Trailclaw sighed. "Huh. She wants a little of our prey. She says that the river has been going down in the winter, and the Twolegs have been coming around more often. She needs it to reform her Clan even more than we do."
Runningstar shrugged. "You're right," He mewed in defeat. "Otterstar needs the most support she can right now. At least we have a new camp."
He mewed farewell to Trailclaw and padded cautiously over to the RiverClan leader. She looked gaunt and scrawny, and her ribs stuck out like they were trying to break out of her body.
"Runningstar," Moaned Otterstar. "You finally returned."
"Yes," Runningstar mewed solemnly. "You want some of our prey?"
Otterstar's matted fur bristled. "In return for my help," She hissed. "So, are you up for it?"
Runningstar took a deep breath. "ThunderClan needs all the help it can get. In the beginning, just one Clan was going up against two. I would be delighted if you would help us."
Otterstar dipped her head, her dull amber eyes starting to gleam. "Anything to wipe out that fox-hearted freak, Hurricanestar," She spat.
Runningstar let out small purr of amusement and gratitude. "Thank you so much," He mewed. "ThunderClan shall be in your debt."
"No need," Otterstar mewed simply. "We'll be fine without having to harass another Clan about what we need from them."
Runningstar purred. "So when are we leaving tomorrow?" He asked.
"We need to leave soon," Otterstar mewed grimly. "We can give our warriors a small rest, but remember that Hurricanestar wanted to meet you this morning. Perhaps, maybe, tonight would do?"
"Fine," Runningstar agreed. "At sundown, we'll leave for Fourtrees."
"May StarClan be with you," Otterstar mewed in farewell.
Runningstar nodded to her and trotted back to Sunningrocks where the rest of his Clan was waiting for him, his heart heavy. He was putting so many cats in danger. It was inevitable that cats would die, and it would be all his fault. He wished he hadn't gotten into this dilemma with Hurricanestar in the first place. But then that pile of dog dung wouldn't be brought to justice! He tried convince himself.
He curled up beside Cloverleaf, trying to push thoughts of the coming night aside as he slept his cares away beside his mate, the one that would always be with him, no matter what.
Runningstar had trouble waking up since the night sky was dark. The only way that he got up was because he didn't feel Cloverleaf's warm pelt against his. He heard hisses outside the den. His fur bristled. Was ShadowClan attacking already?
He leaped to his paws and rushed outside, the snarls growing louder and louder. There was no blood on the air, but the scent of Cloverleaf was very strong.
Suddenly, he came straight across her tabby pelt, but it wasn't bleeding or covered in scars. She was standing in front of four little kits, both hers and Summerheart's. He purred at his two daughters, testing out their claws on the matted grass.
Suddenly, a loud yowl was heard, real this time, and even Cloverleaf and the kits turned around to see what was going on. Runningstar felt his heart shoot up into his throat.
He could hardly make out the ginger shape in the distance, carrying something big on its shoulder. Another younger cat was trailing behind it. When it got closer, Runningstar made out the scent to be Weavepaw's. But who was the cat she was carrying?
Suddenly, Runningstar felt joy flare up in his heart. It was Skycloud. And he was alive.
"Skycloud!" Cried Runningstar. "Y-you're alive! I can't believe it!"
Weavepaw growled as she came up to him with Rainpaw at her heels. "He isn't doing too well," She murmured, "He has major scratches, and he has a huge wound on his front leg, but otherwise, I think he'll survive."
The only way any cat could tell that the tom was alive was his green eyes, open and glimmering. Runningstar felt like going up to Skycloud and getting into an affectionate play fight, like they always used to do when they were apprentices, but the poor warrior was very hurt. Weavepaw was right- it would take time for him to heal.
"I'm so glad he's alive," Runningstar mewed. "But why did you bring him over if he was this injured? Don't tell me you're going to make him fight?" Runningstar felt his stomach do flips at the thought of his friend hardly standing a chance against the enemy warriors hurling themselves at him in battle.
"I brought him because I knew that there was nothing left," Weavepaw explained. "Runningstar, when you got back and saw your ravaged camp, with Skycloud's bleeding body, you were utterly defeated. Not long after you left, I was going to my den to get herbs for the fight, when I heard Skycloud whimpering and kicking. He was dreaming. Therefore, he was alive. I knew you would have done the same for me, so I asked Skycloud if he was up for the trip."
Runningstar felt dazed. He felt like biting at his paws to make sure that he wasn't dreaming right now. Slowly, the strength was returning to him. He felt good, like he could destroy Hurricanestar with one swipe of the claws.
With Skycloud, Cloverleaf, his kits, Weavepaw, and Trailclaw by his side, Runningstar felt unbeatable against the looming threat.
Aww, such a warm fuzzy moment!! Plz review and tell me how I did! It would be a big help!