Final chapter
Orangestar raced into the clearing panting for breath. He looked around at moon clan, some of them looked back at him and others were walking around. Luelight and his kits were playing in the nursery. He smiled as he looked around before he jumped up to the high ledge.
"Every cat who can leave camp alone gather under the high ledge for a clan meeting." A few cats began to whisper in excited hisses but Storm tail shook her head and they immediately fell quiet.
"I have called this meeting to tell you some good news." The apprentices smiled to each over "more prey," He heard Bushpaw gasp. Vapour cloud hissed at her until she fell quiet. "I have, on Brackenbridge's last request, visited the old woods. Ice clan and Owlclan have let us go back. It is of course up to you to decide. The cats who want to go stand by the warrior den, the cats who don't, stand over by the nursery."
Orangestar waited for the clan to get into place and started to count. There was a vast majority of cats by the warrior den... They were going home! "The majority of you have gathered by the warrior den, this means that we shall return to the old forest where Finchwing has kept our territory safe." Hard tail grinned, "I remember him being my apprentice, good cat 'e is."
Olive patch began furiously making travelling herbs, she had wanted to stay. Once every cat had eaten their share they began to set off.
"Orangestar, I'm scared for our kits, they are too tired and small to make such a journey." Luelight whispered meekly. "They will be alright, I promise. " Orangestar agreed.
...
Luelight and Orangestar held their kits gently by the scruffs of their necks, careful not to bite the flesh. They followed Stormtail who was leading, to the first Thunderpath. The group waited for the first monster to come roaring past before Stormtail allowed them to go. Orangestar then let the second group go (which included Luelight.)
The next few groups went uneventfully until they came to Vapourcloud's group. Vapourcloud leapt onto the thunder path and suddenly, when she reached halfway, she stopped. The roaring of a monster sounded in the distance. "VAPOUR run!" Cried Bushpaw. They watched in terror as the monster cane rushing round the corner. Vapourcloud shook her head and screamed, "Featherpaw!" The apprentice was deaf, what was she thinking...
The monster came closer and closer, oblivious to Vaporcloud. As Bushpaw closed her eyes, Featherpaw leapt onto the path, pushing Vapourcloud out of the way, getting trapped under the monster. "No!" Vapourcloud screamed, eyes widening in a sudden rush of terror. "It's to late Vapourcloud." Orangestar walked out grabbing the wheezing apprentice.. This was just like Brackenbridge... Orangestar had promised it wouldn't happen again and now... He shook his head sadly.
Orangestar dragged the body to the end of the Thunder path and allowed Vapourcloud and Bushpaw some time alone.
"Look after our kits Vapourcloud." Orangestar kept going, he didn't want to hear the apprentices final moments... But kits? Vapourcloud was going to have kits. "And Bushpaw, I'm sorry I never got to hear you speak, never got to see us as warriors." Orangestar heard the apprentice gasp and saw out of the corner of his eyes, the body go still. "Goodbye," He muttered.
...
Every cat had been shaken by the apprentices sudden death, a lot of the younger cats wanted to go back, after all, they had never seen how much better the woods were, how much more territory they had, how much better the camp was. Olive patch stayed with Vapourcloud, comforting her after the loss of such a beloved apprentice... Of course she didn't know that Featherpaw was so much more then that, he was Vapourcloud's mate.
They crossed many bridges and many other Twoleg thunder path. The closer to the woods they got, the less frequent the monsters were and each cat was heartened. Orangestar had decided to avoid the village and go the slightly longer way to be safe of the fighting cat. "I'll get to see Finchwing again," Luelight told Orangestar excitedly.
They walked on, their paws growing heavy and stiff but Orangestar didn't call for a rest. They kept on going, walking, running, collapsing. Pebble and Goldkit seemed fine by the end of the journey, they fell asleep.
...
"Here we are," Orangestar finnially sighed, "home."
...
So that's it, I'm going to make an epilogue and that's the end. Thanks for sticking with this fic