Squirrelpaw, Primrosepaw and Brambleclaw dropped a meaty rabbit and a plump vole by the sides of their companions.
"It was good of you to go hunting." Crowpaw said, mouth upturned at the sight of rabbit.
"You shouldn't have." Feathertail purred.
"You're dead on your paws!" Squirrelpaw replied.
"And you aren't? You're the ones who decided to get battered by the waves!"
"Doesn't mean we can't hunt. I'm fine, Feathertail."
"Well, at least claim your share of the spoils."
"Can't say I object." Brambleclaw nodded, before beckoning Squirrelpaw closer. "We'll leave them to the rabbit, if you don't mind sharing the vole?"
"Of course." She said in a lilting purr.
"Rabbit for us then." Primrosepaw said, tearing off one of its hind legs. They ate in companionable silence until only the bones were left, which Feathertail and Crowpaw buried.
"Had enough, young warriors?" Midnight rumbled.
"Yes. Thank you for the rest and the message."
"Not to mention the burdock." Tawnypelt added.
"Is no problem. Travel well." She drew aside, letting them pass before she let down her own prey from her back.
"Oh, and one more thing." Midnight called. "Go by jagged rocks this time." They nodded, moving out of the den as one.
The chill morning air was invigorating after their easy rest; Squirrelpaw, for one, thought she could run forever.
"Guide your passion." Tawnypelt teased. "We don't need you falling into a hole or something."
"For the record, it was Brambleclaw who fell."
"And it was you that decided to jump in heartbeats after." Crowpaw replied.
Squirrelpaw huffed, setting her eyes on the trail. They didn't stop moving until the salted tang that permeated the air dissipated; until a lump of ragged brown fur was visible against the treeline.
"I thought I wouldn't see you young'uns again!" He called.
"No, we're back." Primrosepaw mewed.
"And you. Yes, you, Crowpaw. Did you finally act on your feelings for this one?" He asked, humour dancing in his gaze.
"Yes." Crowpaw's fur grew warm as he lowered his head, leading everyone to laugh.
"Oh, laugh it up!" He snarled.
"You have to admit it's kind of funny," Feathertail said. "A cat who knew us for a few days could figure out our feelings."
"I guess."
"And you two, have you acted?" He turned his gaze to Squirrelpaw and Brambleclaw.
"What do you mean- no!" She cried.
"Pity." Purdy led them in. "So, back to the streets, huh?"
"No." Brambleclaw told him. "We were told to go to the mountains."
"You can't go there!" Purdy yowled. "What about the haw-"
"Danger is part of this journey." Tawnypelt told him. "We need to get home as soon as possible."
"Well, I'm sorry to say this is where we part again, then. My old bones can't handle the cold, much as I'd like to help."
"We won't forget you." Crowpaw promised.
"Thank you. Without you we would've been dead in that Twolegplace." Primrosepaw added.
The others said their goodbyes, and then they were off, climbing the hill which led to the stone paths of the mountains.
After a while, the grass under their paws thinned and melded into coarse dirt which quickly turned to hard, gray stone.
"Ow!" Brambleclaw examined his scraped pads. "Squirrelpaw, Feathertail, how can you live with this?"
"We've been walking with these stones since birth. We're used to it, remember?" Feathertail reminded him, briefly lifting her paw to show her scarred, grayed pads.
"Well, alright." Crowpaw muttered. "Hope I get used to it soon."
"You will." Squirrelpaw assured him. "Dad used dock when he was getting used to the rocks, but I don't s'pose any grows here."
"Cold numbs pain a bit, doesn't it?" Tawnypelt asked.
"You're right!" Brambleclaw yowled. He veered off course, placing his pads on a patch of fresh snow. "Better already."
"Well, move over, furball!" Primrosepaw replied, placing her paws on it as well. Tawnypelt and Crowpaw joined them, leaving Squirrelpaw and Feathertail to watch amusedly as Crowpaw gave an exaggerated sigh of relief.
"We'll need to leap on some rocks from here." Feathertail observed.
"Whoop de doo." Tawnypelt muttered, bunching her legs to jump the offending boulder. Slowly they made their way across the bouldered sea until they got to a flat plain.
"We're safe." Squirrelpaw breathed. At that moment, as though StarClan had decided to mock them, a large, tawny bird swooped down.
"Feathertail!" Squirrelpaw yowled as the talons veered close.
"Oh no, you don't." Brambleclaw growled, leaping at the bird. It let out a screech as it was attacked by the six of them, before managing to wing its way free and take off, cawing in terror, towards the sky.
"Why did we listen to Midnight, again?" Primrosepaw asked.
"Because we're idiots?" Squirrelpaw replied as they carried on.
After sheltering in an overhang for the night, Tawnypelt, Feathertail and Crowpaw returned laden with fresh-kill.
"It was our turn." Crowpaw said. "Dig in."
They ate with gusto, leaving only bones on the hard rock as evidence that they'd been there.
Thin rain soaked their pelts as they pressed on.
"We're barely able to see!" Primrosepaw hissed.
"We need to keep going." Squirrelpaw reasoned. "We need to find shelter."
"We've survived thus far. We can do it again." Brambleclaw added.
They kept their eyes below them, steadfastly surveying the ground.
"Do you hear that?" Feathertail asked.
"It sounds like the waterfall at the gorge!" Squirrelpaw yowled.
"Well, it's as good a place as any to rest." Tawnypelt eventually said. They followed the roar until they could see the towering waterfall.
"There's a cave behind it!" Crowpaw yowled, racing ahead. The others hastened to follow, soon finding themselves trudging down a rock slope into the cave.
They paused at the bottom for a minute, until the lean shape of a cat peered from darkness, followed by another.
"The silver cat has come at last." The lead cat's tone was dreamy as he stared at Feathertail. The other five formed up around her, shooting distrustful looks toward the cat. The second cat stood beside her companion, looked for a while, then nodded.
"Um... who are you?" Feathertail asked.
"I am Crag, and the Tribe of Endless Hunting has foretold your arrival."
"But-" Brambleclaw started.
"No buts. You are to rest. We have much need of you, brave warriors."
Travellers: Hey
Crag: Hey!
Travellers: WHAT