I'm planning on changing this story's name. I just don't like the title. Maybe next upload I'll change it to Foxpaw's hope until we get her warrior name, and then I'll make a better title.
Chapter 11
A cold breeze blew through the air, winding through the trees. The sound of light paw steps could be heard if one listened hard enough.
A small patrol was searching for prey for their clan. A rabbit hung from one of their jaws, a catch that was a stroke of luck.
A mouse would have been with them as well, but it managed to escape.
Foxpaw shivered, searching for prey, as frost crunched quietly under her paws.
Up ahead Yarrowpaw stumbled over the rabbit he caught. He lifted his head a bit higher, the rabbit barely lifting above the ground.
Quillfeather leaped to the top of the slope he was climbing, looked around, and then froze, his fur bristling.
What could he have possibly seen to get that reaction, Foxpaw had no idea. She hurried her paw steps, stealth forgotten.
Snailsplash made it there before her, not that it was much of a surprise, her being the closest behind her mentor.
" What's wro-" she never finished her sentence, though it was easy to tell what she was planning on asking, her gaze shifting down to whatever Quillfeather had seen.
Her reaction was a bit more different. It took her a few seconds to process whatever was down there, before her body tensed.
" My kit!" She wailed, disappearing from Foxpaw's vision.
Yarrowpaw dropped his rabbit, and pelted after her, fur spiking.
Foxpaw broke into a run, stopping at the top of the slope as Yarrowpaw finished racing down it.
Seconds after reaching the top, a bush rustled and the sound of quick paw steps sounded behind her. Foxpaw spun around, ready to attack, lashing her tail. Quillfeather did the same, a growl starting in his throat.
Sleekwhisker paused, a mouse hanging from her jaws. She dropped it, a worried look in her eyes.
" What happened? I heard a wail. " she asked, her tone matching the look in her eyes, joining them on the slope, mouse forgotten.
" See for yourself." Quillfeather said, nodding towards Yarrowpaw and Snailsplash. He sounded shaken.
Sleekwhisker padded forward, stopping next to Foxpaw, who finally looked down the slope.
Leafpaw laid by the bottom of the slope, accompanied by the smell of blood. Snailsplash nudged her, saying something that Foxpaw couldn't hear.
Yarrowpaw pressed his head against Leafpaw's fur, seeming at a loss for words.
She felt Sleekwhisker pause beside her, taking another sweep of the scene. A few seconds of silence passed before Sleekwhisker headed down.
Snailsplash looked up as Sleekwhisker's paws crunched on the frosty leaves. She stumbled to the paws, gazing around.
Sleekwhisker paused, looking at Yarrowpaw, who hadn't moved from his spot. She padded towards her apprentice, sitting down beside him.
Snailsplash seemed to have gotten distracted by something else, tasting the air. She started heading in another direction, lashing her tail with a low growl.
Foxpaw tried to go down the hill, only to be stopped by Quillfeather. Sleekwhisker appeared in front of Snailsplash, who let out another growl.
" Snailsplash, whatever killed Leafpaw could get you next if you try to find it. I don't think Yarrowpaw- '' Sleekwhisker tried to reason, only to be cut off by Snailsplash.
" I'm finding whoever did this and I'm going to rip their throat out. Don't tell me what you think is best. " Snailsplash snarled, pain evident in her voice.
Yarrowpaw looked up, not saying anything. Foxpaw thought he looked worried.
" Snailsplash think about Yarrowpaw. What if you died too? I don't know how he would deal with losing you too. " Sleekwhisker said, her gaze softening.
" Don't tell me what's best for my kits- " Snailsplash paused, shaking a bit before correcting herself. " kit, until you have your own. Now get your useless tail out of my way. " she hissed, lashing her tail.
Sleekwhisker flinched, her gaze unreadable. Foxpaw took a step forward, narrowing her eyes. The nerve this cat must have. Sleekwhisker was only looking out for her and Yarrowpaw.
" Foxpaw." Quillfeather said, stopping her again, gaining him an annoyed look.
" Snailsplash just found out that something killed one of her kits. She's trying to deal with her grief, in not an ideal way, I'll add, and Sleekwhisker is stopping her." He continued after he got her attention.
Foxpaw snorted, looking away.
Snailsplash pushed past Sleekwhisker and raced away, following whatever scent she caught, Sleekwhisker watching helplessly. Yarrowpaw stumbled to his paws and took a few steps forward towards where Snailsplash had disappeared.
" Yarrowpaw, just let her go. She'll come back. " Sleekwhisker said, shaking her head.
She didn't look like she believed what she said. Sleekwhisker walked over and grabbed Leafpaw's scruff, Yarrowpaw following.
*
The ferns rusted as Sleekwhisker and Yarrowpaw brought Leafpaw's body into camp.
Quillfeather appeared behind her, holding both the rabbit and mouse. He dropped the prey he had ran back to get, pausing for a breath of air.
Foxpaw picked up the mouse and turned around to enter camp, ferns brushing against her pelt, never in a welcoming way.
Sleekwhisker and Yarrowpaw had placed Leafpaw's body in the center of camp.
Her paw steps slowed as she scanned camp. Yarrowpaw sat next to Leafpaw, watching the camp's entrance. Whiteapple padded out of the warriors den, yawning. A few warriors huddled in a group, exchanging worried looks. Sleekwhisker led Swiftstar out of the den, talking in hushed tones.
Foxpaw dropped the mouse in the fresh kill pile, shaking herself. Quillfeather dropped the rabbit, before heading towards Whiteapple, who had seen her apprentice's body.
She turned around to head towards the center of camp, head low.
" What happened? I heard that Leafpaw-" Thistlepaw asked in a panic tone, materializing beside Foxpaw.
" All cats old enough to catch their own prey, gather around tall tree for a clan meeting!" Swiftstar's voice called, cutting off Thistlepaw.
*
Two cats padded quietly through the forest, not really paying attention to any of their surroundings.
Dried blood clung onto the shorter one's paws.
They were in the middle of a hushed conversation.
" And no, I won't roll in any of the questionable liquids you find. " the taller one growled, twitching his tail.
The shorter cat twitched their ear, before leaping on a small, abandoned toy from the city.
" What better way to lose our scent by rolling in another one that hurts to smell? Aw, don't be a coward. " They replied cheerfully, a purr in their voice.
" I'm not a coward. I'd just rather not deal with the possible effects that might come with it. " the tom replied, rolling his yellow eyes. " Maybe they won't even follow us if we head through the city first. " he added.
" Maybe. " they replied boredly.
She leapt off the structure and shook their brown and white fur, before dropping and rolling in the grass and dirt.
" Almond, we shouldn't just hang around one place, what if someone finds us? " he grumbled, glaring at the she-cat.
" Right. We'll head towards the city, roll in the first liquid we find, and head to our destination. " Almond said, getting to her paws and nudging the tom.
The black tom muttered something under his breath before following Almond towards the city.