The Sky's Rise
Chapter 21
"Who are they?"
"Where did they come from?"
"I thought all the rogues left."
"Why do they smell so funny?"
Questions buzzed around Sunmist as Wave led them into the cave, Badger following as he pulled a hawk to the freshkill pile. "Stoneteller! We have visitors!" Wave called into another cave. Sunmist tilted her head, but didn't question it. Slowly, a dark gray tom padded out of the cave.
"Speak your names," He ordered as he neared.
"I'm Nightclaw," Nightclaw was the first to speak, holding his head high as he stood protectively close to Sunmist.
"Ah, yes, Clan cats. The Tribe of Endless Hunting told me very old friends would visit," Stoneteller mewed.
"Well, I am Sunmist, and this is Moonshadow," Sunmist mewed, noticing Moonshadow staring around at all the Tribe cats.
"Well, I am Stoneteller. Tell me, which clan did you come from?" The old tom mewed.
"ThunderClan," Nightclaw replied. Stoneteller's ears flicked and his eyes wondered around.
"ThunderClan. Yes, I had old friends there. Tell me, how is Featherpool?" Stoneteller asked, a hint of long-living emotion in his voice.
"She passed away," Nightclaw answered slowly. Stoneteller winced, his eyes finally locking onto the ThunderClan tom.
"How?" Stoneteller asked.
"Battle," Nightclaw answered.
"Featherpool was a brave cat," Stoneteller murmured.
"She died by the name Featherstar," Nightclaw mewed.
"She became leader?" Stoneteller's eyes widened.
"Yes, and she was a wonderful one," Sunmist mewed.
"It must've been quite some times since I saw her last if she's lost all her lives," Stoneteller mewed.
"I didn't know she'd ever met you," Nightclaw mewed.
"She came a long time ago with a couple cats named Flintclaw and Mapletwist," Stoneteller replied.
"Flintclaw and Mapletwist died moons ago. Elkstep and Poolgleam have been our elders for moons," Moonshadow finally spoke.
"Did Featherstar ever have anyone to take over for her? Like, kits?" Stoneteller asked after a moment.
"Me," Nightclaw replied slowly. Stoneteller looked at Nightclaw with hidden emotions.
"You seem like a strong cat. She must've been proud," Stoneteller mewed. Nightclaw blinked and nodded once.
"Stoneteller, are they allowed to stay with us until the rain let's up?" Wave asked. Stoneteller looked at her.
"Any cats coming from ThunderClan can stay. They have always been our friends and helped us in times of need. This is the least we can do. Silver, Mouse, Wolf, and Star, I want you on a hunting patrol. Thunder, Snow, and Wave, you may help Nightclaw and his companions to nests and prey, but first, I'd like to speak with Leaf and Rock," Stoneteller mewed. A light brown tabby and a gray tom padded forward. Stoneteller began talking with them quietly as Wave padded up, followed by a beautiful white she-cat and a dull yellow tom, the gray patches on his fur matching the billowing clouds outside the cave.
"Are you all hungry?" The white cat asked.
"Of course they are! Look at this one, nothing but fur and bones," The yellow tom chuckled, gesturing to Moonshadow. Moonshadow opened her mouth in shock and protest when Sunmist spoke.
"We are a bit hungry actually. We haven't eaten all day."
"Thunder, go get them something, will you? Snow and I will help them make nests," Wave mewed. The tom nodded and trotted away, his muscles flexing as he walked. Wave led the clan cats to the wall farthest away from the waterfall.
"So, how long are you three planning on staying?" The white cat asked.
"Well, we actually have a few questions. We're on a journey and aren't all too sure which way we're suppose to be going," Sunmist mewed.
"We'll help all we can. I'm Snow that Falls from Clouds, but you can call me Snow," The she-cat purred, her amber eyes flickering with happiness.
"Pleasure to meet you, Snow. I'm Sunmist, this is my sister Moonshadow, and my mate Nightclaw," The tortoiseshell replied with a smile. She flicked her ears and glanced around Snow and Wave as a dragging sound echoed in her ears.
"Here we go," Thunder said gruffly as he pulled a large bird over.
"Oh my StarClan! What is that!" Moonshadow exclaimed. Thunder chuckled.
"This is what you're going to eat to get some meat on those bones," He mewed. Moonshadow huffed.
"I eat," She retorted.
"Yeah, mice," Thunder said with a grin.
"What's wrong with eating mice?" Moonshadow asked.
"You look that thin," Thunder answered with a larger, charming smile.
"Just because I'm not as big as you doesn't mean I'm not healthy," Moonshadow mewed.
"She looks healthy," Thunder gestured to Sunmist.
"That's because she's a warrior. I'm a medicine cat. I don't train to fight, I train to heal," Moonshadow cooed coolly.
"A warrior?" Thunder asked, tilting his head.
"A warrior is a cat that hunts and defends the clan. Medicine cats heal the injured and sick," Sunmist explained.
"A warrior hunts and fights?" Snow asked. Sunmist nodded.
"We have prey-hunters and cave-guards. Like, Wave and Snow are prey-hunters, so they catch food for the Tribe, while I defend the Tribe and protect the prey-hunters while the hunt," Thunder mewed.
"Protect them from things like that?" Moonshadow asked as she flicked her tail to the large hazel bird at Thunder's paws.
"Yeah. That's one of the many things that threaten us," Thunder mewed.
"What else shows threat?" Nightclaw chimed into the conversation.
"Wolves, rogues, hawks, falcons, eagles. Even a stray adder can show up," Wave answered. Sunmist blinked in awe.
"And you protect them from things like that on this huge mountain?" Moonshadow exclaimed.
"Sure. Where else?" Thunder answered.
"Our land is prey flat. Though we worry about foxes, badgers, dogs, Twolegs-"
"Twolegs?" Wave asked, interrupting Nightclaw.
"Yeah. The furless things that walk around on two legs," Nightclaw mewed.
"Never seen something like that," Wave mewed. Nightclaw blinked in surprise.
"They crawl all over our territory during greenleaf," Sunmist mewed. This time, Wave blinked in surprise.
"I wouldn't want to live with the clans, than," Wave mewed.
"Nor would I," Thunder mewed.
"Seems scary being anywhere other than here," Snow added.
"It seems scary being anywhere other than the forest for us," Sunmist mewed.
"Than why did you leave?" Wave asked.
"Because StarClan told us to," Sunmist replied.
"StarClan?" Snow asked, tilting her head.
"Our ancestors that have died," Sunmist mewed.
"Oh, like the Tribe of Endless Hunting?" Snow asked. Sunmist assumed the Tribe of Endless Hunting was the Tribe of Rushing Water's ancestors and nodded.
"You know, I like you clan cats. You're nice," Wave mewed.
"The Tribe seems kind as well," Sunmist mewed. Just then, a yowl sounded.
"My Tribe, please gather around me," Stoneteller mewed. Wave tilted her head and padded over, Thunder and Snow following. Sunmist looked at Nightclaw and Moonshadow before sitting where she was. "I have spoken with Leaf and Rock, and they have agreed with me that it is time for Frog and Stream to join Moth in the to-be cave," Stoneteller mewed.
"Yay!" A small silver she-cat was bounding up and down. The Tribe chuckled.
"Stream that Guides Fish and Frog that Sits on Lily Pad, please come to me," Stoneteller mewed. The silver she-cat padded forward with a lithe brown tom beside her. "Stream, Frog, after talking with Leaf and Rock, I have decided you shall both follow the path of prey-hunters to provide for your Tribe. Rain the Drips off Leaf, you shall show Stream the way of a prey-hunter. Silver Feather that Falls from Sky, you shall show Frog the way of a prey-hunter. I pray you shall both teach them to the best of your ability," Stoneteller mewed.
"Of course, Stoneteller," A blue-gray tom mewed.
"I'll do my best," A stunning silver she-cat purred as she licked Frog's head. The blue-gray tom did the same to Stream.
"I know. And now, for those of you who do not know, we have Clan cats in our midsts. Sunmist, Nightclaw, and Moonshadow have traveled from ThunderClan to be here," Stoneteller mewed. Eyes shot to them, and Sunmist felt her pelt prick. "I wish for them to be treated with respect, as if they belonged with the Tribe, while they are here," Stoneteller mewed. Heads bowed in respect and agreement.
"Thank you, Stoneteller. And I promise we will not stay too long," Nightclaw mewed. The dark gray tom nodded. With another yowl, the Tribe dispersed and went their separate ways.