Chapter 38
Bramblestar's POV
"Cats of the Tribe, I will have to leave to go on a journey with the Clans. The Tribe of Endless Hunting has told me so, and I will follow their command," Stoneteller announced.
Bramblestar looked up at him as he made his announcement. He noticed that all the other Tribe cats looked at him, worried.
"Are you sure?" Snow asked. "What about my kits?"
"Yes, the previous Stoneteller told me so," the current Stoneteller replied. "Your kits will be fine, as the whole Tribe will look after them as their own."
The Tribe settled into silence, digesting this new, shocking information. Bramblestar understood how sudden all of this was. His own Clanmates reacted just like this.
"Flower That Grows on Mountain will be in charge while I am gone," Stoneteller said, "and Stormfur will help her."
Flower looked shocked at the news, her eyes wide, "But Stoneteller, I believe I am not ready yet."
"You will have to be ready one day, Flower," Stoneteller replied. "I won't be here forever. Stormfur will be there to assist you, as well as the whole Tribe. Take care of all your Tribemates. I believe you can do this."
"I will do my best then, Stoneteller," she replied, holding her head high.
Stoneteller scanned the crowd of cats, "Rain and Flight will come with me on this journey."
Rain That Passes Quickly and Flight of Startled Heron stepped forward as Stoneteller headed for the cave entrance.
"I must depart now," he mewed. "I don't know when I will be back, but I will be. Have faith in me; this is for the good of all catkind."
Bramblestar and the rest of the Clan cats headed towards the cave entrance as Stoneteller finished his announcement. Stoneteller took the lead as he lead the cats out of the Tribe's camp.
"Safe journeys, Stoneteller!" Bramblestar heard Flower meow behind him, "May the Tribe of Endless Hunting watch over you."
The rest of the Tribe wished Stoneteller a similar farewell. Their voices gradually faded as the group headed farther away from camp.
"Which way, Bramblestar?" Stoneteller asked.
Bramblestar looked towards where the tree sign had come from, "This way," he said as he took the lead. The group followed close behind.
Bramblestar remembered when he was journeying back towards the Clan to warn them of the Twolegs's destruction of their old home. Squirrelflight, Squirrelpaw then, Crowfeather, Crowpaw then, Stormfur, and Tawnypelt had bonded on the journey. He remembered the exact path they had walked, even though it had been many moons since he walked in his old pawsteps.
They journeyed well into the night, stopping only to hunt and relieve themselves. None of the cats complained, not even Rowanstar, as they scrabbled down cliff faces and jumped over wide, gaping gorges.
As the sun set and the moon rose into the sky, Bramblestar could see the Thunderpath that led to the old forest. The stars shone brightly, and Bramblestar could feel that even here, somecat was watching, guiding them, keeping them safe.
"Let's settle for the night," Stoneteller said.
Bramblestar felt a wave of exhaustion. Traveling on the mountains made his paws sore and his legs ache. He quickly followed the others into an alcove of rocks that sheltered them from the cold outside, and curled up with his Clanmates. He spotted Dovewing, who seemed to be sitting a bit close to Tigerheart, but shrugged it off, as the alcove didn't provide much room for personal space. He rested his head on his paws, shut his eyes, and fell asleep, dreaming of a certain flame colored, dark ginger she-cat.