Mottledsong yowled and slid down the bank towards Thunderpaw. Ghostface followed, but then he heard Mottledsong yowl again and as a third bolt of lightning flashed, he saw that they were gone from the spot where Thunderpaw was just moments before.
"They're in the water!" Mossclaw said. Without thinking, Ghostface leapt into the rushing stream. Kicking fiercely, he slowly headed towards the two cats. The pale cat heard Mossclaw yowl and splash into the water. Trying to keep his head above the water, Ghostface gasped and kicked. Mossclaw managed to get beside him and together they paddled awkwardly. Water filled their ears and soaked them to the skin. They were continually coughing out mouthfuls of water. Ghostface tried to block out the booming thunder, stinging rain and chilly water that seemed to seep into his veins, freezing his muscles. Instead he focused on trying to rescue the two cats. Every second they were all being swept farther and farther downstream, yet the cats continued to stay out of their grasp. Suddenly a small thought entered his head. Why is he trying to rescue them? They had done nothing to help him. Mottledsong had resented him. Why should he risk his life for them?
"Kick, Ghostface, kick! We're almost there…" Mossclaw shouted, pulling Ghostface from his thoughts. The pale tom obeyed.
Slowly, painstakingly slowly they neared. Mottledsong had Thunderpaw in her paws, but the apprentice was starting to slip. When they were within inches, Ghostface and Mossclaw lunged. Mossclaw snagged the apprentice just as it fell out of Mottledsong's paws. Ghostface hesitated for a split second, remembering her angry comments at the clan meeting. But hadn't she said that her grandsire was Highstar, too? Didn't that make them kin?
Suddenly a flash of lightning came again and he saw the look of terror and desperation upon her face. He grabbed the she-cat by the scruff and began to kick towards the bank. Using his tail as a kind of a rudder, he propelled them towards the bank and suddenly he realized why she had had more trouble swimming with Thunderpaw: it was because she had no tail, only a stub was there. Ghostface's legs were burning from all the effort and his neck was starting to hurt from holding up Mottledsong. Suddenly he hit some ground under his paws. Using it as traction, he walked towards the bank. When he made it he dragged Mottledsong up and glanced around for Mossclaw. The tortoise shell tom was about 100 tail-lengths away, carrying Thunderpaw onto the bank.
"MOSSCLAW!" Shouted Ghostface. The tom looked up and ran over, half carrying, half dragging the apprentice across the rain soaked grass.
Ghostface turned his attention to Mottledsong. She was barely breathing. Placing his paws over her side he pushed down once, twice, thrice. Suddenly Mottledsong fell into a violent fit of coughing. Mossclaw lay the apprentice beside her mentor and did the same.
"Are you alright?" Mossclaw asked Ghostface, squinting through the still-pounding rain.
"Fine, how about you?" Ghostface replied.
"Never better. Actually, I lied, I remember when I was not yet an apprentice and I got green cough." Mossclaw said, his face totally serious. It took Ghostface a moment to realize that Mossclaw was joking.
"Glad to see you're alright." Mottledsong wheezed, sitting up.
Thunderpaw sat up slowly. "Th-th-thank you Mossclaw, for saving me. And you too Ghostface. Where… Where are we?" She said, her voice was weak and shaky.
Mossclaw nodded his 'you're welcome' and looked around. "I'm not sure, but I think we might be in the middle of Marshclan territory." He turned towards Mottledsong, "I'm pretty sure though that we are definitely past the southern path."
Mottledsong ignored him and shook her fur. "We've got to get back soon, anyone of us could catch a cough or a fever."
Ghostface looked around and shook his head; "We can't make it back tonight. Especially in this weather. I think we're just going to have to find shelter."
"What do you know?" Mottledsong spat.
"Mottledsong! He just rescued you and you're going to treat him like that!" Mossclaw hissed.
Mottledsong glared at Mossclaw, then stood up. "Let's at least head upstream. Maybe we'll find a small cave or something."
Ghostface stood and followed her, feeling confused. Why wouldn't she thank him, now she seemed to hate him even more. They were, apparently, related.
"Don't mind her." Mossclaw said, padding up beside Ghostface, "She's embarrassed that she fell into the river, and even more embarrassed that she was rescued by you, especially since she was hostile towards you during our clan meeting.
Ghostface looked away for a moment, then said, "I guess."
"Listen, don't worry, you'll be fine. You're just new. Our clan hasn't had anyone outside of our clan come in since… well probably since Rabbittail, the brownish tabby elder. I heard she came from the Hillsclan."
Ghostface remembered seeing a brown tabby elder with no tail and nodded. Mottledsong was far ahead of them, padding side by side with Thunderpaw. "I… I just don't understand why she's so upset by me."
"Well… you said that Highstar is your grandfather, right?" Mossclaw said in a hushed tone. Ghostface nodded. Mossclaw continued, "Well… He was her grandfather too, and practically her father, because her parents died of green cough when she was but a kit. She knew Highstar better than anyone else. And now everyone will remember you as the grandkit of Highstar."
"At least she got to know Highstar personally. I only saw him once. In my dream…" Ghostface said bitterly.
"Hurry up, turtle legs!" Shouted Mottledsong from ahead, "I found a badger den!" The two cats tiredly dashed over to them. There was a wide entrance that, even with the sheeting rain, reeked of badger, but it seemed stale.
They were all too tired to be suspicious, though, so Mottledsong slipped in, followed by Thunderpaw, Mossclaw and finally Ghostface. The long tunnel opened into a wide den area. It was warm and dry and, except for the stench of badger, was very comfortable. All the cats sat down wordlessly and began sharing tongues. Mottledsong shared with Thunderpaw and Mossclaw shared with Ghostface. The rhythmic feel of tongue over fur made them drowsy. When they were all warm and dry, they laid down. As soon as Ghostface's head hit the sand, he was asleep.