AN: Hey! Chapter 5! Back to Sunpaw's POV. Sorry, I've had this one ready for a awhile but I've been busy with school starting soon.
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Sunpaw raced on, she was almost to the mountains! She reached the foot of the mountains by nightfall, and looked up at the towering rocks.
How can any cat hunt in there? She thought, I'd better get used to it, if the Tribe is still there. She padded on, into the mountains. She looked around for a place to shelter for the night, and found a rocky outcrop.
She settled down in the outcrop and curled her tail over her nose. Soon, she thought, soon I'll be a tribe cat, if I can find them. She drifted off to sleep, happy with what she thought would be her future.
Sunpaw woke to a small pool, reflecting all the stars in the sky. Slowly, the stars came down from the sky, and formed the shapes of cats. They were flickering, as if they could only just manage to see her.
"Sunpaw," one, a white tom, said," Please, go back to the clans, they need you."
"Why would they need me?" Sunpaw retorted, she didn't know these cats, but they weren't going to make her go back," They all think I'm a rouge at heart."
The tom shook his head," They can't help it, Sunpaw. It's not their fault."
Sunpaw looked at the tom, and saw sadness, she was tempted to go back. No, she thought, I will not, they are no longer my family.
A gray she-cat stepped forward," Sunpaw, please go back."
Sunpaw glared at her," No! I won't go back, I'm going to live with the Tribe now."
The cats started to fade, and the dawn crept over the horizon. The tom tried to say something, but faded away too soon. Goodbye, Sunpaw. May the Tribe of Endless Hunting watch over you now, Sunpaw heard a voice say in the wind.
Sunpaw jerked awake. She shivered, remembering her dream. I'm going to live with the Tribe now, she thought, nothing can stop me. Her belly rumbled, and she went out hunting. When she came back, belly full, she headed out again.
She trekked over many rocks, over steep drops, and padded until her pads were cracked and dry. Sunpaw stopped by a small cave to shelter for the night. When she went hunting the next day, she ran into some cats.
"Stop!" a lithe grey she-cat called.
Sunpaw lifted her head, the limp body of a mouse in her jaws.
"How dare you hunt the Tribe's prey?!" she hissed.
A bulky brown tom crouched down, preparing for a fight.
"I-I'm sorry!" Sunpaw said," I'm looking for the Tribe!"
The brown tom got up and cocked his head," You are looking for the Tribe?"
The grey she-cat relaxed too," Well, you've found them," she reached out one paw," I am Willow That Hangs Over Creek."
The tom reached out one paw too," And I am Branch That Reaches High."
Sunpaw dipped her head," I am Sunpaw."
"What do you want with the Tribe?" Willow asked.
"I wish to join you, and become a to-be," Sunpaw said.
The Tribe cats looked shocked," Why would you want to do that? Aren't the Clans good enough?"
"No, they think I'm a rouge, they've all forgotten me," Sunpaw mumbled.
The Tribe cats stared at her," Branch, what do you think?" Willow asked.
Branch looked at her," I think that we should talk to Stoneteller about this, she'll know what to do."
Willow nodded," Come, Sunpaw, we'll talk to Stoneteller."
Sunpaw bounded eagerly after them. They crossed some ridges, and went through a passage. Sunpaw heard a thundering sound, but the sky was clear. The sound grew louder, never stopping. Finally, they reached a huge waterfall, flowing in to a pool.
"It's amazing," Sunpaw whispered.
"If you think that's amazing, wait till you see our camp," Branch said.
Sunpaw followed him down a path, then over to the waterfall.
"It is time to walk the Path of Rushing Water," Willow said, then padded on a small pathway behind the waterfall.
"The camp is behind the waterfall?" Sunpaw said.
"Yes," Branch said," Now, be careful. It's very slippery."
Sunpaw padded up the path and found the entrance to a cave," Wow," she breathed.
The camp was filled with activity, she saw two kits play-fighting outside of a small passage that lead to the Nursery. Over on the other side of the cave, some cats stood in a huddle next to some dips in the ground, watching two cat's battle with skill. Next to them, there were two sections of dips, with two huddles of cats talking, one huddle was full of lithe, sleek cats. While the other one was full of bulky cats. Near the entrance were some old cats that were obviously Elders.
Sunpaw was frozen in place with awe. She jumped when she heard Branch's voice.
"Welcome to the Tribe of Rushing Water, Sunpaw" he said.
AN: She made it! But at what cost? Will they accept her?
R&R,
Sunheart
