Not knowing how long it would be before Ravenstar pulled himself away from the kits and got on to continuing the journey, Scorchpaw left the scene. He was anxious to keep traveling, but he didn't know if the newborn kits would survive movement. The dark ginger tom settled down with a sigh, keeping the scene in his line of vision. He sent a deep scowl towards Sagepatch. Stupid she-cat, he insulted silently. You have plenty of kits. Now you have to hold us up because you can't stand being a warrior. Selfish piece of foxdung.
Just as Scorchpaw slid down onto his stomach to possibly catch a little more sleep, Ravenstar leapt up onto a large boulder and yowled loudly for SkyClan to gather beneath him. With a huff, Scorchpaw got to his paws and headed towards the black tom with an air of loathing.
"Sagepatch has given birth to two kits," Ravenstar purred once the entire Clan had assembled. "Their names are Haykit and Birchkit." Wow, interesting, Scorchpaw thought sarcastically, rolling his eyes.
"We don't want to risk the lives of the newborns, but we don't want the Clan sticking around in one place for too long until our definite new home is found. Therefore, Sagepatch and Creekstone will select two cats to be their guards while they carry their kits at a slower pace than the one we are accustomed to traveling to," Ravenstar announced. "Creekstone?" He meowed, inviting the tom up onto the boulder.
Creekstone soared in a graceful leap onto the rock, large golden paws landing neatly on the surface. "Sagepatch and I took a little time discussing who we would like to come with us, and we would like to invite Jayspots and Copperspots to join us and our kits," the deputy proclaimed. He made eye contact with first the bright silver tom with two splotches of black on his back and then the tall, sandy-colored she-cat with the darker tawny throat.
Jayspots moved silently over to stand by his parents, while Copperspots dipped her head briefly to Creekstone. "I'd be honored," she promised him before heading over to Sagepatch to meet the new kits.
Re-assuming his place on the rock, Ravenstar waited until the Clan had re-focused themselves and were paying attention once more. "With that being said, let us continue!" he cried enthusiastically.
Scorchpaw waited for the Clan to pass him as usual. It took a little longer since it seemed like every cat wanted to stop and greet the two new kits. Scorchpaw didn't know why. They were hardly interesting. All they were were tiny bundles of fur. Literally. They couldn't see, nor could they make a sound. They could hardly move. They just wiggled around and suckled, from what Scorchpaw could see.
When the rest of the Clan was finally on their way behind Ravenstar, Scorchpaw began to follow. He had to admit he was surprised when Sagepatch lay down, each of her party following suit. Weren't they going to get moving? Or were they going to wait a little for the kits. This is all stupid, he thought angrily. They'll get themselves killed, that lot will.
Ravenstar led the cats back towards where they came the other day. When they reached the end of the rock wall, they made a loop and began up the ridge instead of along the bottom like yesterday. The leader carefully moved a good few fox-lengths away from the drop-off and made sure the Clan did the same to avoid any accidents.
Sagepatch had woken them all up quite early with her screaming, so it wasn't long after dawn as SkyClan trooped along the gorge towards the mountains. Scorchpaw couldn't see how the journey could take too long. From here it looked like the base of the mountains met Highstones, and they didn't look too big to the apprentice. We should be there in a matter of sunrises, Scorchpaw thought with a tiny leap of excitement in his stomach.
The tom was in for a surprise, though, when they reached the highest point on the expanse of rock. Below the group of cats were long stretches of grassy fields dotted with what looked like clouds hovering over the grass. The sun was climbing in the blue sky overhead, creating a scenic view. Scorchpaw could hardly enjoy it at this point. How long could it really take to reach their new home, if everything was so much larger than it seemed?
"Well," Ravenstar meowed. "Let's get going!"
He led the way down the rocky slope towards the fields, placing his paws carefully so they didn't step on a piece of loose rock that would cause him to slip and be sent tumbling down the sharp surface. Scorchpaw did the same, walking slowly not just to stay behind but to make sure he didn't fall ahead.
It was safe to say that everyone was grateful to reach the grass below. Puddlepaw had been smooth enough of let excitement get the better of her and topple down the last few tail-lengths. The fluffy gray she-cat shook herself, not seeming injured. It was a still a bit of a scare to the cats around Scorchpaw from what he could see. He was almost grateful Sagepatch had to stay behind with her kits so she wouldn't fuss over the younger apprentice.
SkyClan were used to the gorge, and Scorchpaw had to wonder why they took so much trouble from a rocky slope. They were better adapted than that, weren't they? How are we ever going to pass the mountains? He moaned inwardly.
Scorchpaw let out a tiny sigh of content as his paws met the springy grass. He felt the urge to bounce on his toes but quickly decided it was beneath him. Puddlepaw felt no shame, bouncing around her sister, Spottedpaw. Spiderpaw was chortling as he trotted alongside the two sisters. Scorchpaw knew he hadn't been so moronic when he was younger, but it still sickened him to watch them. He turned away, curling his lip slightly.
By the time it was sunhigh, Scorchpaw didn't think they'd made much headway. He could still make out the rocks of Highstones quite distinctly behind him, only one or two fields under their paws. He knew this would soon change as they approached a field of tall stalks with yellow cylinders growing out of them.
"Are we going through that?" Scorchpaw heard a cat squeak at Ravenstar. Yes, yes we are, Scorchpaw urged quietly.
"No, we're going around," Ravenstar decided. Mousebrain, Scorchpaw insulted shamelessly.
They filed along the edge of the field. The stalks seemed to stretch on forever, and Scorchpaw was feeling more hate towards Ravenstar than ever. Just as he was about to lose hope, the end of the rows appeared before him. He allowed a tiny smile as they turned the corner, but his face fell as another long expanse of green plants stretched along beside him.
When the end of the row made itself visible, Scorchpaw wasn't nearly as pleased as he had been the last time. The roaring of monsters met his ears, and he groaned quietly. They reached the edge of a busy thunderpath, monsters speeding in both directions along the ground. Ravenstar made some announcements he couldn't hear over a particularly large and loud monster. He'd just cross and see where that got him.
He waited patiently while Meadowpaw, Creampaw, and Willowmist crossed. Those three were followed by Smudgenose and Darkmoon, who were proceeded by Tawnythroat and Gingerflight. Fawnstep crossed with Thymepaw, followed by Bristlehaze, Puddlepaw, Spottedpaw, and Thornstrike.
He hardly noticed Ravenstar beckoning to him. "You're crossing with me, Spiderpaw, and Lionpaw," he instructed.
Scorchpaw nodded, shooting a glare at the leader once he turned away. A pair of monsters raced by, ruffling his fur. "After the next one," Ravenstar meowed quietly as a large monster approached. It whizzed by, and Scorchpaw took off. He heard a shriek.
"Scorchpaw, watch out!"
The dark ginger tom vaguely heard a monster heading towards him. Ravenstar hadn't seen this one. Scorchpaw put on a burst of speed, the monster's roar filling his ears, deafening him. He tried to go faster, feeling like his side was going to explode. As soon as he felt grass beneath his paws he let go, somersaulting into the next field.
"Oops," he muttered before a dark wave rose before him, sweeping quickly over his mind.
When he came to, Scorchpaw could feel jaws around his scruff. He was swinging slightly, paws occasionally bumping the ground. He was reluctant to open his eyes—his paws felt heavy and he didn't want to walk anymore. But he couldn't keep them closed either. He opened them a crack.
He was being carried across a darkening field. Some of the clouds he saw earlier were near him now. They weren't clouds at all, but some sort of smelly animal. Huh, he thought vacantly. He saw a small clump of trees ahead, and he knew they were going there to spend the night. Oh cool, he enthused tiredly in his mind.
Noticing he had come to, the cat that was carrying him set him on the ground. Scorchpaw turned to see his father, Thornstrike, looking embarrassed. "How could you pass out on me?" the tom whispered angrily.
"I didn't try to," Scorchpaw responded with a yawn. "I was about to die, if you didn't notice. If you'd rather I was dead, I could arrange that. You can take over the Clan by yourself," he spat.
"Quiet!" Thornstrike hissed. "Just get to the trees."
The warrior stalked off, leaving Scorchpaw sitting on the grass. The dark ginger tom stood up, another yawn opening his jaws. He padded slowly towards the outcropping of trees, which was nearing tediously slowly. When he finally reached them, he flopped down on a patch of moss surrounded by tall, soft grasses, ready to snore the night away. He let out a groan as a claw poked him.
"I want to join you," he heard a voice murmur urgently.
"What?" Scorchpaw asked, mildly interested. He opened one eye to see Smokestripe standing over him.
"To help take over," the large gray tom told him.
"T-talk to Thornstrike," Scorchpaw dismissed, just wanting to sleep. "He makes the decisions."
Hearing Smokestripe pad away, he rested his head on his paws, slipping off into instant sleep.