Chapter 11

"StarClan, help me!" Cloudpaw yowled in terror as she scraped her claws against the rocks of the mountainous river. She glanced around wildly for something sturdy to grab on to: a branch or a log, as long as Cloudpaw's head didn't go under. Her eyes wildly searching, she spotted Sandfire standing on the bank, watching her struggle in the roaring water. "Sandfire, help me!" But Sandfire didn't do anything. He just watched until he got to his paws and disappeared from sight. "Sandfire, come back!" Cloudpaw's head went under and this time the weight of the water was pushing her down and down. Great StarClan don't let me drown, Cloudpaw pleaded with her warrior ancestors, but she heard nothing as she sunk deeper and deeper into darkness.

Suddenly Cloudpaw felt herself be pulled up and as she moved her feet in an attempt to swim, she was thrown onto the ground. Coughing up water and shaking her soaked pelt, Cloudpaw looked around for her savior and spotted the familiar gray pelt: Grayleaf! Cloudpaw padded towards her friend, realizing for the first time that she was dreaming. Grayleaf looked different than the cat she had known in life. His eyes were brighter, less worry in their depths, and his fur seemed thicker. Cloudpaw realized this must have been the Grayleaf before SkyClan was attacked by the rats. How much a single disastrous event could change a young cat into one full of anxiety and fear.

Grayleaf opened his mouth and was meowing something, but Cloudpaw couldn't understand. It was as though he was speaking to her from far away. That's when Cloudpaw realized something. Grayleaf was in StarClan now and while Cloudpaw still looked to her warrior ancestors for guidance, she was in the Tribe of Endless Hunting's territory. Cloudpaw padded forward to her friend and meowed, "Grayleaf, I can't understand you! Please be clearer!" Grayleaf cocked his head to one side as though he couldn't understand her and soon his body began to fade away. Cloudpaw sprang forward and mewed, "Please! Grayleaf, don't leave! Tell me what you are saying!" But Cloudpaw's paws touched empty air and she tilted her head back, letting out an angry yowl. "Great StarClan what do you mean!"

"Cloudpaw, Cloudpaw, Cloudpaw," Cloudpaw's eyes flew open as Waterpaw poked her and her sister growled, "Finally Cloudpaw, do you know how much noise you were making? Yowling like that?" Sandfire stalked towards them and- remembering her dream- Cloudpaw scrambled to her paws. Waterpaw teased, "Where's the fire?"

"Is everything alright, Cloudpaw?" Sandfire meowed and Cloudpaw looked away from him, remembering her dream. She was positive it was a sign from StarClan and her imaginary Sandfire had done nothing while she was struggling in the water. Did that mean that StarClan was trying to tell her that Sandfire could not be trusted? Or was her dream only spawned from exhaustion? After all, she had gone on a evening patrol with Waterpaw the night before to help thank the Tribe for allowing them refuge in their camp. Sandfire cocked his head to the side and asked, "Cloudpaw, are you okay?"

Cloudpaw stared at Sandfire, his green eyes soft with concern and shook her head. Sandfire was the cat who had selflessly gone on the perilous adventure to search for aid for SkyClan. He was also the cat who befriended Cloudpaw even though they came from different Clans. And he was the cat who had tried to save Grayleaf, but failed. He was also the one who took the gray deputy's death the hardest, missing his friend. No. Either the dream was just a dream or StarClan were wrong. Sandfire was one of the most trustworthy cats Cloudpaw had ever met. "Thanks, Sandfire, I'm fine. Probably just working too hard."

"Well, I've spoken to Stoneteller and he has shown us another path to get out of the mountains. We can go tonight," Sandfire meowed, "I know that some of the Tribe cats believe us to be taking advantage of them so the sooner the better. I don't want to trespass on their territory for any longer than necessary."

"But what about Darkshadow and Airpaw? And Birdheart?" Waterpaw asked and Cloudpaw again remembered that they were missing three of their friends. "If we leave now, they may stay in the mountains searching for us. We can't abandon them!"

"We can't stay for-" But Sandfire broke off as an angry yowl sounded. All the cats' heads snapped in the direction of the entrance where four Tribe cats- Dust, Fire, Lion That Comes From Heart, and Tiger Who Claws At Night- were circling a small group of invaders. Cloudpaw could tell by Dust's bristling fur and Fire's snarls that the cats were unwanted. Stoneteller hurried forward and the three Clan cats followed. A black tom was guarding a smaller brown she-cat, growling protectively while a tiny brown tabby flung himself at Lion. The Tribe cat snarled and the brown tom's eyes flashed and Cloudpaw gasped as she recognized the invader.

"Airpaw!" Airpaw's head snapped towards Cloudpaw and he sprang apart from Lion, who was still snarling angrily. Cloudpaw hurried forward, flanked by Sandfire and Waterpaw, and gave Airpaw a sniff. Behind him, Darkshadow and Birdheart were relaxing as they recognized their friends. "Great StarClan, where have you three been?"

"Where have we been? Where have you been?" Darkshadow growled angrily although Cloudpaw noticed his eyes were soft with relief. There was something else she noticed. Darkshadow was standing protectively in front of Birdheart, their fur brushing gently. When had they gotten so close? Cloudpaw remembered spying on Darkshadow and Lakesky back home in JayClan, how close the two of them looked. Now what was going on with Birdheart? "We looked around for you guys forever!"

"Wait, you all know each other?" Stoneteller hissed.

"These four are kin," Sandfire growled, flicking his tail to Cloudpaw and her littermates, "And Birdheart is my Clanmate. They're the cats I told you about. Who we lost when we fell in the river?"

"Ah yes," Stoneteller meowed, "Now I remember."

"Stoneteller, these cats attacked us," Lion snarled, "I demand punishment."

"You are not fit to make demands of me, Lion," Stoneteller growled, "Sandfire, now that you have found your missing cats, will you be leaving?"

"Now if you wish," Sandfire meowed.

"Good," Fire snapped.

"Then thank you, Stoneteller," Sandfire meowed, dipping his head, "Come on. We must head back to SkyClan."

*

Cloudpaw skipped beside Airpaw and Waterpaw, glad to have them both at her side. Birdheart had accepted the news of Grayleaf's death hardly at was bringing up the rear along with Darkshadow who never left the brown she-cat's side. Sandfire was bringing up the front and everything seemed to be going okay. They had left the Tribe at sunhigh and now it was a little past dusk. Cloudpaw's stomach was full because of the hawk and mouse she had shared with Airpaw and Waterpaw when Sandfire allowed them to hunt earlier. But because of all these good things, they made the last one even better.

"I don't believe it," Birdheart had meowed in wonder.

"We made excellent time despite our little obstacle," Sandfire had agreed.

"It's amazing," Airpaw had mewed, Darkshadow and Waterpaw nodding in agreement.

Cloudpaw was speechless. No word could explain how glad she was to be out of the mountains.

The moor spread out below them, the low setting sun staining the grass red.

"We're almost there," Birdheart purred, sounding for the first time truly happy.

"SkyClan, here we come!" Waterpaw meowed excitedly.

The mountains were behind them. The rest would be easy now.

Author's Note: Not much to say. Please review.