Sorry for the long wait, I really do appreciate all of the support, but as of posting this chapter, I am very very busy working as a full-time overnight camp counselor in New Hampshire and it completely throws off my normal writing schedule. Once I am back in New Mexico I will have more time to write.
Seaman109 The story is still young. Plenty of time to find out what horrible CATastrophe awaits.
Applepen101 All aboard!
Guest I'm excited too!
Xalixcs I am also excited times two!
Snowcyrstal of Thunderclan Don't try to understand Erin Hunter's logic. Most of the time she's just picking names out of a hat.
whalee You should be happy for her, she's going to find her one true love.
WyldeClaw I hope on giving Ivypool more of a significant role this time through so expect her as a pov soon.
TheSouthStar OMG I DIDN'T REALIZE I MISSED THIS REVIEW WHILE I WAS POSTING THIS CHAPTER. IT WAS ONLY AFTER I CAME BACK TO EDIT THE STORY LIKE A YEAR LATER THAT I NOTICED MY HORRIBLE MISTAKE. It shall be an interesting story. :)
MistLion you are picking up on lots of the little things I leave here and there and it makes me very happy :D
The soft earth pressed against the bottom of Jayfeather's pads as he waited low behind the cover of a wide moss-covered root. The slight breeze that whisked over his fur was cool and hinted rain in the distance, but smelled pleasantly of aspen bark and fresh grass. He listened to the unmistakable nibbling of a mouse nearby, the grumbling of his stomach reminding him that he hadn't eaten in the two days since leaving ThunderClan. He needed to make this catch so he sat patiently, only creeping forward while the mouse was eating and freezing as soon as the foraging stopped. He was almost within striking distance but after failing so many times already that day, he couldn't be more careful.
The sounds of scurrying returned and he padded silently forward across the springy pine needle-strewn ground. He pinpointed his prey and bunched his hindlegs beneath him. He only had one chance so he made sure every movement was perfect. With a strong leap, he flew through the air and landed in the leaves. He slapped a paw down on the spot where the mouse had been, but it shot to the side at the last moment. "Mouse-dung!" he spat, but he wasn't going to give up this time without a chase.
The tiny creature zipped away from him and he raced after it, stumbling over twigs and exposed roots, but he focused on the sound of its tiny feet. He pursued relentlessly as it fled between the trees, almost getting close enough to landing a killing blow, but it escaped into a hole in the ground and disappeared. "Fox-dung!" He sat down and gave his ruffled pelt a few furious licks. He didn't know how much longer he could comfortably go without eating, and if he wasn't able to catch something today, he might have to turn back and return to the Clans. He really didn't want to go back, not only because it meant giving up on his destiny, but also because he didn't know how his Clanmates would react. He had abandoned them and the warrior code and they had the right to be disappointed with him- even refuse him.
His ears pricked suddenly as he heard a faint scuttling and realized the mouse was still down in he hole just a whisker-length away. A new idea sprang into his head and he carefully and quietly rearranged himself so the entrance was within his reach and got comfortable. Eventually the tiny critter had to come out and when it did, he would eat well. Satisfied with his new position, he waited in silence. It wasn't like he was in a hurry to be anywhere so he could stay for as long as he had to. He had never been taught to hunt like this, but then again, he had never been taught how to hunt at all.
I wonder how my Clanmates are doing without me, he thought as he waited for the mouse to reappear. Leafpool might have forgotten how to make poultices since she hasn't been a medicine cat in so long. What if the Clan gets sick and I'm not there to cure them? But he realized how foolish his fears were and quickly dismissed them. Leafpool would be fine without him. The Clans were healthy, happy, and at peace. What was the worst thing that could happen?
And what about Briarlight? He hated how his thoughts kept harking back to her but he couldn't get the friendly she-cat out of his mind no matter how hard he tried. Was she missing him? Should she miss him? Should he miss her? He had barely spent a moment thinking about Lionblaze or Leafpool since he left, but he missed them for different reasons and it didn't feel like a betrayal. His brother already knew and would probably relay the information about Jayfeather's motives to their mother. Jayfeather couldn't give up on his destiny just to be with one cat, right?
He had traveled so far already and the thought of going back now made him want to chew bark. He had by-passed WindClan's territory, stalked over the rocky hills, traversed open cow fields, and even crossed a couple thunderpaths already. He impressed himself with how far he had come alone, and so far he remembered the way to the mountains well. He still had many days until he was with the Tribe of Rushing Water, but he believed he could do it.
He focused on the patch of ground in front of him as he detected the tiniest trace of scuttling beneath the earth. Most cats would have missed it, but tiny paws were cautiously pattering up towards the mouth of the hole he was guarding and he readied himself for the attack. He prayed his growling stomach didn't give him away. You aren't escaping this time, little mouse!
A tiny body crawled hesitantly out into the open, sniffing warily, but Jayfeather was downwind. As soon as it was in range, he lunged forward and smacked his paw down as hard as he could. He let out a growl of satisfaction as he felt his claws tap against its tiny bones and it squealed in terror trying to free itself. But he bit into its spine before it could make another sound and the body went limp. He didn't hesitate and ripped eagerly into the fresh-kill. The fat creature was juicy and warm and he could already feel his strength returning as he swallowed the last few morsels. I have to agree with Lionblaze that prey you worked hard to catch yourself always tastes the best.
A long rumble of thunder boomed in the distance, reminding him that the rain would soon be upon him and he needed to find a place to stay for the night.
He licked the blood from his lips. That meal would keep him on his paws for a few more days until he found something else to eat, but now it was time for him to find shelter against the storm and prepare for the next leg of his journey. If his memory was correct, past the trees was a thunderpath and beyond that was a twolegplace. He didn't fancy traveling straight through since he knew he would get lost within a day. Instead, he would circle around the edge of the twoleg border until he was on the other side. He could reach the mountains from there. It would take longer but he had plenty of time.
He stood up and stretched his legs which had grown stiff from sitting. He was about to head off when there was another rustling sound in the nearby ferns. Was it another mouse? He instinctively dropped back into a hunter's crouch, but realized whatever was approaching was much bigger than a mouse. Was it a cat? Had one of his Clanmates followed him? If you've come to take me back to ThunderClan, I'm not going!
Jayfeather opened his jaws to breathe in the smell, but instead of the scent of cat, something foul hit the roof of his mouth. His blood turned to ice as he recognized the creature and took a step back in dread.
The fox emerged from the bushes, a low sinister growl emanating from its mouth as it spotted him. Flashbacks of his kit-hood flooded his head as he remembered being chased by the fox cubs after he and his littermates had escaped camp to find them. He didn't have his Clanmates to protect him this time.
He arched his back and hissed, but as soon as he moved a muscle, the fox leapt. Searing pain erupted from his shoulder as the beast sank its teeth into his flesh. With shriek of agony, he flailed his unsheathed claws in defense, aiming for the creature's head. Fire burned beneath his pelt as the sharp teeth tore into his fur and for the first time in a long time he felt true terror.
But his claws must have met their mark because the fox suddenly yelped and sprang backwards. Jayfeather didn't waste a moment and bolted as fast as he could in the opposite direction, his paws slipping on the leaves. He didn't know which way he was going and his injury throbbed with every frantic step he took. He picked up the acrid reek of the thunderpath nearby, and used its location to guide his paws. He couldn't afford getting turned around.
He wove through the trees trying to throw the creature off his trail, but every time he shot around or beneath a bush, the fox would just smash right through it and somehow be even closer. The hungry beast was gaining on him fast and Jayfeather could feel his own paws start to get heavy as blood gushed from his wound and spattered the ground. He didn't think he even have the strength to climb a tree at that point.
The fetid smell of twoleg monsters washed over him and the soft springy soil suddenly changed to harsh hard twolegpath. He hadn't realized he had reached the twolegpath and now he could feel his pads tearing as the rough stone slashed at his paws. Without even waiting to make sure it was safe, he sprinted onto the path just as the earth began to tremble. He was almost knocked off his paws by a chilly gust of air. A monster was churning up wind as it roared towards him. He closed is eyes waiting for the end.
There was a heavy thud and a shriek behind him but he kept running as the billow of hot foul air flew by. The monster had missed him and moaned past. Only once the stone turned back to dirt beneath his pads did he slow down. He stumbled to a stop and pricked his ears. The fox wasn't chasing him anymore and the monster was already stomping away into the distance. He turned and limped back over to the edge of the thunderpath. The crushed body of the fox lay limply in a puddle of hot blood. The monster must have killed it but tossed it away for some reason. Perhaps it hadn't been hungry or maybe it just killed for fun.
But he was in no condition to celebrate since the world began to spin and he stumbled to the ground. The rain started to patter around him, slowly at first, but soon collapsed into a roaring downpour. It lashed horribly against the unnatural stone and stung his open shoulder wound, but he didn't have the strength to find something to hide under.
The pain grew to a throbbing climax and if his chest hadn't felt like it were full of thorns, he might have called for help. Instead, he just relaxed his aching body and let the blood, and his consciousness, wash away with the rain.
