Okay, last Disclaimer for entire story. It goes for all chapters. Disclaimer: I own only what was not in the books
Chap 6 : The Mountain
"We searched the bodies before we left, Lord. There were no cats of the markings you described." The huge wolf watched the old black cat carefully as his deputy, a white, ginger splotched, tom translated. The tom with the gift of tongues. Dogheart he was called. The one who had brought the proposition to them, knowing he was the only cat who would not be torn apart on the spot.
The black tom snarled and Dogheart turned toward the wolf and growled unsympathetically, "He says find them. Find them or he will throw you to the Beast. Take a party of wolves and cats. Don't return until they are dead." The cats eyes, unlike his masters wrathful ones, were cold and blunt. His face was smooth as stone, compared to his masters shaking limbs.
The wolf's eyes widened and he trembled with fear. "Not the Beast! Please! I will kill them! Just... just not the Beast." The deputy translated and the old tom nodded before turning to limp away into shadow.
Dogheart turned to the wolf. "See that it's done," he ordered. The wolf nodded a trembling head and hurried away.
Dogheart sneered cruelly. He almost never smiled. But this event deserved celebration. The more that the old mouse-brain of a leader thought about the cats, the more unhinged he became. Hearing that they had gotten away would smack him harder than any other blow so far. He hasn't even realized our Clan is not in danger. The Clan they were foretold to destroy was their own. The more deranged he became the easier it would be to kill him. Chuckling ruthlessly he followed Screave out of the alley.
Thunderfoot struggled against the wind. It blew back his fur and force him to crouch low, ears pinned against his head. Windheart, light-footed, ran up to him, sinking only a tiny bit into the snow. "We've been traveling for hours Thunderfoot! We need a place to rest!" She had to shout to be heard over the wind.
"I know! I volunteered for scouting so I could look for something! Tell the others we will travel only a little farther, then, if no shelter is found, we will sleep against the cliff!" Windheart nodded and disappeared back into the blizzard. Thunderfoot continued. A flicker of movement caught his eye and he whipped around. He could have sworn he'd seen the shadow of a cat framed against that cliff! The thin air must be making him light-headed. He pushed on.
Windheart returned. "The Elder from your Clan isn't going to make it much longer! We have to stop!" Thunderfoot hesitated, glancing at the path ahead of them. He felt that if he just pushed a little farther, a warm cave would come into view. He sighed. He couldn't risk the lives of the cats. "All right. We'll shelter against the cliff until the storm blows over." Windheart nodded and went to fetch the others.
Shadowpelt settled himself down, back to the cliff. He was keeping watch. Not that there was anything to watch for. Nothing else was crazy enough live on the mountain. This was a stupid idea, he thought. We'll never survive the mountain!
As if to prove this, several cats stepped suddenly out of the swirling blizzard. Shadowpelt leapt to his paws and yowled the alarm, hissing at the intruders.
They seemed to float on the snow, their huge, wide paws keeping them on top of the drifts. Thick fur, which added another inch to their already huge bodies, glistened as melted snow dripped off of the waterproof pelts. Powerful hind legs and broad chests were perfectly adapted to the harsh conditions. "We come only to help, Cats of the Low Lands." The leader spoke. He was a powerful white tom, tinged with gray.
Shadowpelt blinked as he realized all the cats pelts were grays, whites, or browns so they would blend perfectly with the mountain. Thunderfoot, the small apprentice Mouse beside him, Riverstripe, Windheart, and the healthiest Soldiers and Hunters hurried forward to stand by his side. "We need no help," Riverstripe growled. The tom looked amused. "Well then, you should know better than to let cats sleep in the cold. They will die. We came to invite you to spend the night in our camp."
Windheart narrowed her eyes. "Who are you? Why do you want to help us? We're trespassing on your territory!"
The tom shrugged. "We are the Clan Atop the Mountain. The cats of the High Lands. No cat should have to spend the night in the cold when shelter is open to them." Shadowpelt weighed his options. At least they had a chance if they went with the cats. "My cats will happily accept this invitation. We thank you." Thunderfoot hesitated, then nodded, followed by Windheart and Riverstripe.
Riverstripe followed the mountains cats, their huge forms blocking the wind, powerful chests breaking a path for the Clan cats. All but the two scouts worked to create a clear trail. Before her Thunderfoot put his broad shoulders to use and helped. The Clan cats stringed out behind them, Windheart and Shadowpelt bringing up the rear.
She shuddered as the cats lead them to the edge of a cliff, refusing to look down. She hated heights! Behind her the young Hunting Cat apprentice, Mouse, stumbled and fell. She sighed, pausing to help her up. She couldn't let these simple things distract her! Suddenly, the huge cat in the lead yowled over the howling wind, "We are almost there, just up this cliff path!"
Gulping, Riverstripe realized they were at the top of the mountain. Well, almost. A small path led up the side of a cliff as the wind carried the scent of many cats down to her.
Shadowpelt was the last to squeezed into the small cave behind the outcropping of rock. As his eyes adjusted to the dark, he blinked. Warm and welcoming, the cave had a small stream running through it, to keep thirst quenched during blizzards. Cats of all sizes, from the size of their rescuers to apprentice sized, bustled around. Leafy branches, he had no idea where they had come from, hung off rocky ledges, covering dens. The stone floor was hard, but warm and he could see moss in the dens.
But what shocked him he most was what lit up the cave. Fire. Small piles of twigs and leaves were scattered around, kept carefully out of the reach of kits by the stalagmites on which they rested. "What…" Thunderfoot's voice trailed off as he stared around himself. Shadowpelt didn't blame him. The big cat purred. "The large cats, like us, are Storm Treaders, the smallest ones are Rock Climbers, and the medium ones are the Prey Hunters. We also have Seniors, the old ones, Novice's, the young ones, Queens in the Birthing Den, a Healer behind that fern curtain, and a Blacksmith and Forger. They and their Novices are in charge of the fires. Follow us. Our Leaders will want to see you."
Leaders? Shadowpelt thought, They have more than one?
He followed them toward a hole in the back wall, only to be stopped by a huge gray tom and an equally large orange tom. Both smelled pleasantly of smoke and their coats had permanent soot stains on them. Rather than making them unattractive though, these marks seemed to add to their character. The gray tom spoke in a booming voice, obviously used to having to speak over roaring flames. "What have we here, Frost? Low Landers from the forest?"
The white tom, who didn't seem as big now, compared to the cats beside him, answered, "Found them trying to sleep out the blizzard beside a cliff."
The orange tom spoke this time. "Even kits know not to try that. What were you doing on the mountain in a storm in the first place"
"We didn't know a blizzard was on its way. We started out from the base of the mountain eight days ago." Shadowpelt studied them carefully as Thunderfoot spoke. Were they making fun of them for accidentally starting out in a storm?
"Kits know how to tell a storm is coming, even from the bottom of the mountain too," he purred. He seemed to be laughing with them, not at them. Shadowpelt relaxed.
"Only those in charge have to go see our leaders. The rest can come get warm and have something to eat in our den." Shadowpelt groaned. The others got to eat and get warm while he and the rest of the leaders had to converse with unknown cats who would decide their fate. Windheart nodded. "Very well. Thank you." The toms dipped their heads and started off, the Clan cats at their tails. Shadowpelt heaved himself to his paws and followed Frost.
"We've heard their story and now we must judge their fates. What say you, Lords of the Mountain?" Windheart watched, muscles tense, as the oldest of the four leaders spoke to the others. The Elites had been inside the den for over a half-an-hour.
At last a brown tabby she-cat spoke. "They have suffered enough. What have they done to deserve punishment? Only tried to find a new home for their Clans. It would kill them to throw them out in the blizzard. I say let them stay."
The white she-cat spoke this time, voice gruff. "It would be a waste to needlessly kill off such warriors. I agree with Snow. Let them stay." The first tom to speak, a large gray tabby, nodded. "I too, say let them stay. But I cannot decide for Snake. What do you say? Can you change my mind?"
The last tom, a slinky black thing with suspicious eyes that were constantly darting around and a greasy pelt, growled in a whiny voice, "I say we kill them. They trespassed on our lands Crag! They had no right and they should die! Fate obviously meant for them to pass on this day. They simply cheated death! And what if they are being pursued? They could lead the wolves to us! But my decision doesn't count as three have agreed to let them stay. My word doesn't matter."
Crag studied him. "Your say does matter. You know that. You could change my mind. Even if you didn't, your opinion could open up things we haven't though about, alert us to hidden dangers."
Snake simply glared at them and stalked out of the den. Frost shook her head. "Excuse Snake. He is rude and can jump into things to fast without thinking, but he is extremely loyal and tries to do only what is best for the Clan. He is also the greatest military mind in memory."
Riverstripe nodded. "What will happen to us?" They all, the leaders and Elites, looked at Crag. As oldest he had the final say. "Snake's words have shown me things I overlooked. Give me an hour to decide."
Short, I know... sorry... I want to update my other story, but its taking a million years because my friend jumped on my hand at school and (accident) and hurt them... anywho, please read and review