Chapter 38
"Lionblaze, when can we catch something to eat? I'm starving!" Turtlepaw rasped quietly, the desperation of her hunger clear in her voice. Jaysong gave a sympathetic purr, her stomach growling with hunger as well. The last time the Clan cats had eaten was before they ventured into the mountains and Jaysong had shared her squirrel with Turtlepaw, not knowing the hunger that was coming there way. Squirrelflight and Lionblaze had been wiser and each had a couple of mice before they continued their journey. Turning around from his position beside Squirrelflight, Lionblaze growled, "If you can't deal with the hunger then you shouldn't have come!"
"I think Turtlepaw is right, Lionblaze. We haven't eaten since dawn and it's almost sunhigh," Squirrelflight meowed in agreement to Turtlepaw's words and Jaysong felt the tortoiseshell apprentice perk up from beside her. Going on, Squirrelflight ordered, "Okay Lionblaze you'll hunt with me. Jaysong, will you take Turtlepaw out?" Jaysong dipped her head, knowing exactly what Squirrelflight was doing. If Lionblaze and Turtlepaw hunted there would probably be more arguments than full bellies. "Okay, now we're all meet back here at sunset. I don't want any cat hunting after dark."
Jaysong flicked her tail to Turtlepaw and the two of them raced in the opposite direction of Squirrelflight and Lionblaze. The strange scents of the mountains confused Jaysong, but soon she was able to smell familiar herbs and running water. There was also the scent of prey in the air. Instantly dropping to a hunter's crouch, Jaysong got Turtlepaw's attention with a wave of her tail and nodded towards a vole who was nibbling on some fallen seeds. Turtlepaw shrugged, indicating that Jaysong could have the first kill. Putting all weight on her haunches, Jaysong sprang forward, her claws already meeting with the vole's thin body. The prey fell limp in her paws and Jaysong turned to Turtlepaw, calling, "Hunting in the mountains is so similar to hunting in the forest."
Suddenly an eagle screeched from above them and sharp talons gripped at Jaysong's fur, pulling her off the ground. From below Turtlepaw yowled in terror, but Jaysong could only hear her pounding heart. Snarling, Jaysong turned and raked her claws along the eagle's chest and in surprise the giant bird let go of her. Watching the ground come closer, Jaysong thought she saw a dark brown tabby shape below her. Thinking it was Turtlepaw, Jaysong warned, "Turtlepaw, look out!" Jaysong crashed down on the cat's back and felt the cat snarl in surprise as the golden brown warrior scrambled off of them.
"Trespasser!" The dark brown tabby cat snarled and Jaysong realized that the cat was not Turtlepaw. For one thing, the cat was a tom and his fur was much darker than Turtlepaw's. The scent that clung to the tom's pelt reminded Jaysong of RiverClan warriors with water soaked in their pelts. When Jaysong didn't say anything, the tom growled, "Are you deaf, flea brain?! You're tresspassing on the territory of the Tribe of Rushing Water and we don't take to kindly to visitors!" Jaysong blinked. So this was a Tribe cat. From Sorreltail's stories of them, Jaysong thought they would have been a bit more friendly.
"Talon, what is it?" A voice called and the tom whipped his head around. Pushing through a clump of ferns, a pale gray tabby tom appeared, flanked by a gray-and-white she-cat and a dark gray tom. His fur lying flat at the sight of his friends, Talon hissed, flicking his tail in Jaysong's direction as he spoke, "This cat was invading our territory. I was about to rip her fur off when you came." Jaysong felt her fur bristle with anger. She was invading their territory?! A eagle picked her up and dropped her! Did the Tribe cats consider that to be an attack when a cat was defending itself from a bird?!
"Talon, remember that not every cat is a threat!" The pale gray tabby tom growled sharply, padding over to Jaysong and Talon. "Greetings, I'm Gray Sky Before Dawn or Gray. Behind me is Wing Shadow Over Water or Wing and Crag Where Eagles Nest or Crag. The cat that you 'attacked' is Talon of Swooping Eagle or Talon. I know it may be hard to believe, but Talon can be good fun some days!" Talon spat, but Gray ignored him, continuing, "Who are you? You smell familiar, but-" Gray's meow was cut off by a loud yowling. Jaysong's ears perked up as she recognized Turtlepaw's shouts.
"She fell over here! She fell over here! And- wait the she is! She's being attacked!" Turtlepaw snarled, crashing through some ferns to lung at Gray. Squirrelflight and Lionblaze- who had been flanking Turtlepaw- gasped as they recognized the Tribe cats that were circling Jaysong. Lionblaze flew after Turtlepaw and sent his daughter spiraling to the ground. Growling loudly, Lionblaze gestured the the Tribe cats, meowing, "Mousebrain! These are the Tribe cats and you almost attacked them! Great StarClan, Turtlepaw when will you realize that not every moving thing is a threat!"
"Gray? Talon? Wing? Crag?" Squirrelflight gasped, racing over so that she stood beside Jaysong. "Great StarClan, I thought it would take days for us to track one of you down! I see you are still keeping up the patrols." Gray dipped his head nervously as though he didn't really believe that Squirrelflight was standing in front of him. Unlike his friend, Talon didn't seem as lost for words. Snarling, Talon glared at Squirrelflight, "What are you doing here, Squirrelflight? Hasn't the Tribe of Rushing Water learned enough from the Clans? We're not a kit who needs it's paw held all the time!"
"We aren't here to talk to you," Turtlepaw spat from underneath Lionblaze's paws. Lionblaze growled at Turtlepaw, but his daughter continued, "We need to talk to Stormfur!" Turning his glare to Turtlepaw, Talon snarled, "I see you Clan cats are as rude as ever! I remember that one Breezepaw! Someone needed to show that cat some respect! And anyway, what if Stormfur doesn't want to talk to you! He won't listen to your persuasions about bringing him back to the Clans! Brook just had his kits a couple moons ago and she wouldn't leave them for anything! I bet even Stormfur!"
"Brook had kits? That's great!" Squirrelflight purred and Gray, Wing, and Crag all joined in. Lionblaze let go of Turtlepaw and padded over to the cats, his daughter hard on his heel. In a voice that wasn't a purr, but wasn't a snarl, Lionblaze meowed, "That's good news for both Stormfur and Brook. You must be happy too, Talon. After all, these kits are your kin." Talon spat on the ground, but Jaysong could see a glimpse of pride in his gray eyes. "Now we aren't here to try and persuade Stormfur to return to the Clans. We wouldn't even dream about seperating him from Brook. We bring terrible news instead."
"What-" Gray started to ask, but Jaysong stepped in, shaking her head as she mewed, "This news should be shared with Stormfur first." The Tribe cats glanced at each and then nodded.
