Chapter 21.

StepStorm

The three OceanTide cats and two ForestRose toms left immediately. StepStorm didn't think they noticed it but the tribe cats walked separately, like they weren't in the same group and on the same mission.

"You she-cats are really slow you know that," snapped MintFang after what seemed like forever in silence.

ScarletLight didn't say anything but LongClaw lifted her head and glared at the gray tom. "Well excuse me," she snapped, "But we are from OceanTide. We're used to openness, not close off areas with trees."

MintFang rolled his eyes and continued on the pathway. "If it weren't for you OceanTide cats we could already be running through the trees and get there already," he grumbled.

"That's enough," said SharpRock. "Fighting won't help us get out faster."

MintFang looked like he was going to snap at SharpRock but he seemed to think against it and he continued to walk silently. SharpRock on the other paw just sighed in relief and shot a sorry look to the two she-cats.

StepStorm wondered why he was being so nice to them now. Before he was like all the other ForestRose cats, hostile. Now he was being nice. It was odd in a nice way. "What is it?" asked SharpRock, directing his voice to StepStorm.

StepStorm jumped. She glanced up at the ragged tom. "Well, I'm just surprised about how nice you are being to us. I mean…" She trailed off and looked away. Would it sound rude?

"Of course," he replied. "We are currently on a mission together. Before we were rivals and now we are working together. That is all."

StepStorm didn't get it at all. "But…"

MintFang suddenly stopped in his tracks and looked up into the trees above. His large ears flicked as he seemed to hear a sound that no one else could hear. Scratch that. SharpRock was doing the same thing.

"What is it?" asked ScarletLight. She also followed the toms lead and was looking up into the trees herself. "What is it you toms see?"

"Snake," hissed SharpRock.

StepStorm looked up but she couldn't see anything in the trees. Only dark shadows. Wait. What was that? Something was sitting in one of the trees. Something that was looking down at them.

"So," said LongClaw. "This one of those famous snakes that kills cats huh?" Her brown eyes glinted with amusement.

"Don't even think about it," said ScarletLight. "That snake could probably kill you before you could do anything about it."

"I killed a shark," pointed out LongClaw. "A little snake doesn't scare me."

"You killed a shark?" said MintFang in surprise.

"All by myself."

Now MintFang looked impressed. Oh great. LongClaw's ego was going to get bigger. StepStorm and ScarletLight shared a knowing look. They wouldn't hear the end of this one for a while.

"Come on," said SharpRock. "You three stay down here. This is something that ForestRose cats do." He gestured to a clump of fern plants. "Just sit down over there and wait for us."

For once LongClaw didn't complain or ask to join the toms. Instead she followed ScarletLight and StepStorm to the ferns. The three she-cats crouched down and watched as the two toms began climbing the trees on either sides of the snake. Stepstorm noticed that their big paws with extra long claws were useful in gripping the surface of the tree. The snake lifted its head and seemed to focus on MintFang who was climbing closer to its tree than SharpRock was.

"Hmm," said LongClaw. "We should remember how they do this. It'll be good for OceanTide to know a few of ForestRose's tricks."

"Oh LongClaw," sighed ScarletLight.

StepStorm on the other paw was mesmerized as the toms pushed off with their back legs and smashed into the snake's body, their long powerful claws dug deep into the snake's skin. The snake didn't have any time to fight against them as the toms ripped their claws out and the snake fell from the tree and hit the ground below. It was clearly dead.

"Impressive," commented LongClaw as the three she-cats walked out of the ferns.

SharpRock and MintFang ran down the trees faster than they had climbed up. It was impressive to watch them run down the trees like they were running on a flat surface.

"Well, the forest will be much safer for the kits with one less snake," spoke MintFang.

"We'll leave it behind for our tribe to pick it up," said SharpRock. "Okay with you OceanTide cats?"

"Fine by us," replied ScarletLight.

The five cats continued on their way through the forest. The two ForestRose cats in the front to lead the way with the three OceanTide cats in the back. StepStorm was impressed with the toms. Now she understand why their paws and ears were bigger. They could pick up more sounds from the trees and those big paws helped them grip and climb the trees. She knew both tribes would not admit it but both were special in their own ways.

Unlike her.

In this world StepStorm was nothing compared to them. She couldn't fight like them or hunt like them. Sure she could climb palm trees well but it was nothing like how these ForestRose cats could. She flattened her ears.

"There it is," spoke SharpRock. "The edge of ForestRose territory."

The cats picked up their pace. The trees thinned out and the only thing the cats could see for miles was tall grass. In the distance was a huge piece of stone. "Mountain," thought StepStorm, remembering that word from her kithood with her mother.

"Can we make this quick?" snapped MintFang.

LongClaw smirked at him. "What? Too open for the like of you?"

MintFang glared at LongClaw.

StepStorm realized it probably was true. The ForestRose cats were probably uncomfortable with this much openness.

"Come on," said ScarletLight. "We need to find the unlikely source."

This was it. They were here. It was time to find the unlikely source. "I will find it," thought StepStorm. "And I will return to OceanTide with it."