Chapter 14:

We started to climb the steep mountainside. There was a small path that we walked on to help go faster. My tail dragged against the ground in the effort it took to climb. The jagged rocks cut into my paws and the moon stood over us.

The mountain rocks were red with age and there were few trees. There were a few shady spots under overhanging rocks.

"How long is this going to take?" I grumbled, annoyed.

"Darkblaze, chill out. There is this cave here. It looks like nothing's living in it." Flamewing pointed with her tail. The cave was small, but it could fit all of us because Tinypaw and Lily. "I'll stand guard tonight." Thornfrost meowed to Flamewing and the others.

"Fine by me," Tinypaw murmured. "I'm tired."

"Me too," Flamewing agreed. Lily sighed then laid on Brightstorm lap. "I don't think Lily can go on any farther," Brightstorm whispered. "She's so cold, frozen even." I shivered, trying to warm my paws then meowed gruffly, "Get her into the cave. It might be a little warmer."

"It will protect us from this wind too," Flamewing added. Brightstorm picked Lily's body up gently and disappeared into the cave.

I sniffed checking for any animals, just in case. I smelt nothing, only the strong scent of cats. I slowly padded in and sat next to the shivering Lily. The cold floor was smooth and cool. Lily glanced at me and mewed, "A-a-are you okay?"

"Me?" I meowed, surprised. "You should look at yourself!" Lily licked her pelt, trying to flatten it. "I'm f-f-fine," She shivered. I snorted. "No, you're not!"

Lily let out a light purr and she laid down her head on her paws. Slowly, she closed her eyes and tucked her fluffy tail over herself. "I never knew I would make it this far," Lily murmured. "I thought I would be killed." I let out a small forced purr as slowly, Lily fell into sleep. I stood and padded a little farther into the cave. The small icicle-like stones were everywhere. There was a little pool of water in the back of the cave. I decided to have a drink so I bent down, sniffed the pool and lapped up a little of the water. I felt drowsy so I laid down and waited for sleep to come.

Flamewing sat on the ground waiting for something to happen. A small tabby, covered with beautiful stars, appeared in front of me sitting on a thin branch of a tree. The branch swayed slightly as he jumped off of it. "Wetstar?" I whispered. "What is it?"

The tabby padded up to me, his eyes looking grave. "Flamewing," he sighed. "I do not have much time. I must tell you something. Come," The brown quickly padded away into the trees.

I glanced back at the cave then I followed him towards a cliff. It had a tall rock that was bigger than Highrock hanging just over the edge. As my eyes adjusted to the dim light, the ground suddenly began to slope upward. I slipped on a damp leaf and scrambled at the slick stone. "Here," The tom whispered. He gracefully leaped on top of the rock and held up his chin. "There is not much time for you to get back to the forest." The tabby paused as I meowed crossly, "Where is Wetstar? Why can't he tell me?" I felt a wail rise in my throat as my mind spun with thoughts. What had happened? Where is Wetstar? Who is this cat that replaced him?

The small tom sighed and meowed carefully, "I see you are nervous. Wetstar is not in harm's way. My name is Addertooth." Addertooth looked up at Silverpelt. "I know, I'm going as fast as I can." He whispered. Was he talking to his Clanmates or to himself? I wondered. Addertooth looked back at me. "Wetstar just spoke to me," he mewed. My heart lept. What did Wetstar have to tell me? "He has told me that you must hurry to return to the forest."

"How much longer do we have?" I meowed, interrupting Addertooth. My heart started to pound against my chest. The moon began to rise above the clouds as Addertooth mewed quietly, "You have exactly one moon to get to the sun-drown-place." The world began to shiver as thick snow began to fall. Adderfang started to fade until I could see the smooth stones through his starry pelt.