Chapter 17
Stonesight's eyelids felt weighted down from his extraustion his tail dragging behind him and he was having trouble keeping himself awake; Shadow also seemed tired but was doing a better job at hiding it. Stonesight glanced over to his brother Amberpelt was carrying Leafpaw as well as Mosskit and Piper; Stonesight felt a ping of jealousy that his brother was so much stronger and larger then himself. Stonesight sighed, doing his best to keep himself from falling asleep on his paws; Shadow walked ahead of Stonesight leading the ragged group back towards where the rest of their clan was waiting on the heavy rains. Stonesight could hear the loud thunder above them sounding like a snarling beast, Mintkit gave a little shiver from the loud thunder coming from the sky. Stonesight felt a wave of sympathy for the young kit in his jaws "they have been through so much the last hour… They must be so terrified." thought Stonesight thinking of the kits he and the others had rescued; Stonesight sighed softly, his ears began to ring as a second boom rang out from the sky. Stonesight's ears flattened to try and muffle the noise around him, Stonesight picked up his pace wanting to get to the rest of his clan as quickly as possible. Amberpelt began to walk alongside Stonesight his green and yellow eyes sparkled with clear worry Amberpelt got right up beside Stonesight fur brushing against one another. Russet against gray; "are you alright?" asked Amberpelt his voice soft and low, Stonesight glanced at his brother, their gazes locking. Stonesight winced as a searing hot lighting bolt of pain shot up his bad leg up to his shoulder; Stonesight gave out a long breath through his nose stirring the fur atop Mintkit's head. He kept his eyes on his brother's "I… I am just a bit sore is all." he mumbled trying to reassure his brother that he was okay; Amberpelt gave a sweet encouraging smile, his eyes shining with brotherly love. Amberpelt gave out a low purr, "we'll almost there then you can rest!" Amberpelt's voice was soft and gentle giving Stonesight a small boost of energy at the prospect of being able to rest soon enough. Stonesight smiled a little bit "Amberpelt has always known the best way to cheer someone up no matter how bad the situation is." Stonesight's thoughts made him smile even more to the point that the cold water on his pelt didn't even seem to be that bad. Shadow began to go up an extremely muddy and slippery looking slope; making Stonesight shudder at the idea of going on such muddy ground. Stonesight took in a long breath through his nose before looking at his brother who chuckled "well time to get muddy!" jokes Amberpelt as he waited for Stonesight to go first; so Amberpelt could walk behind Stonesight in case he fell while climbing. Stonesight took a deep breath and climbed the muddied slope, his claws digging into the soupy soil below him; Stonesight panted as he reached the top of the small slope, his whole body screamed at him for a rest. Stonesight glanced behind to make sure Amberpelt would make it; though he knew the huge russet tom would be able to make it up such a small slope. Stonesight's tail tip twitched as he thought about how much stronger Amberpelt was compared to himself. Amberpelt winked at Stonesight as he reached the top standing beside his smaller brother; "how much farther?" Amberpelt's voice traveled to where Shadow was ahead of them. Shadow turned her head around her cool green eyes showing her fearlessness and bravery; "not much farther!" replied the black she-cat as the wind howled around them. Stonesight's ears pricked as he realized that the rain was slowing down, "it's stopping!" Stonesight's heart swelled with hope. At that very moment a familiar scent drifted on the wind into Stonesight's nostril's Stonesight's fur fluffed out as he recognized the strong potent scent of a Hollyclan patrol. Stonesight's head whipped around to where Amberpelt stood beside him; Amberpelt's fur was also ruffled up and it was clear by the look on his face that he had also scented the Hollyclan patrol. Stonesight glanced to where Shadow was, to his surprise the she-cat's head was held high even though Stonesight realized with cold dread that they had by mistake crossed the Hollyclan border. Shadow walked to stand beside Stonesight, her scent bringing slight comfort to Stonesight easing his worry a bit. Shadow glanced at the kits and Leafpaw; "we have to get the kits and Leafpaw back to be checked on by Swanhollow!" Stonesight's claws buried themselves into the marsh-like floor below. Stonesight steeled his nerves, focusing his mind on a way to get back to the others without starting a fight with the Hollyclan patrol that was quickly approaching. At that moment Stonesight spotted the patrol that was coming to greet them; the deputy Rainrunner, a dark silver and gray tortie she-cat led the patrol alongside her was Sagespring and Ghostbloom. Their expressions hiding their thoughts and emotions; Stonesight kept himself grounded and his head up not wanting to look like they had been up to something. Stonesight's ear twitched and his paws itched from the mud covering them, Rainrunner reached where Stonesight and his companions were. Her clear green eyes giving away nothing, Rainrunner dipped her head to Stonesight and Amberpelt making it clear that she didn't see Shadow worthy of her respect; making Shadow's ears flatten and her hackles rise. Stonesight and Amberpelt dipped their heads to the deputy of Hollyclan; making the she-cat give a slight shadow of a smile. Sagespring stood beside the deputy, her moss colored eyes showing worry; "we saw the flooded river, is your camp flooded?" asked Sagespring her voice tight with slight worry and fear. Stonesight glanced at Shadow then too, his brother unsure if he should tell the truth; it may make it sound like Blossomclan was weakened. Amberpelt stepped forward giving an answer "yes it is….. That's why we were trespassing, we didn't mean too of course but, well the kits got out of camp during the panic and me as well as my brother and Shadow went to bring them back." Amberpelt quickly explained glancing to where Leafpaw was on his back. Stonesight frowned looking at his brother: Leafpaw's sides raised and fell but it was shaky and ragged. Ghostbloom gave a huff but said nothing while Rainrunner frowned clearly worried at Amberpelt's words; she nodded to Sagespring flicking her tail in gestures "I had heard a rumor that Rainrunner couldn't speak… But this is my first time actually seeing it!" Stonesight thought curiosity spark inside him. Sagespring nodded clearly, understanding the tail flicks and paw motions Rainrunner was making in rapid succession. Sagespring smiled at Stonesight and his company "Rainrunner says we will help assist you and the others back to your clan." explained Sagespring making relief swell inside Stonesight's chest. Rainrunner nodded at her fellow Hollyclan warrior's words; Amberpelt smiled and nodded his eyes sparkling with thankfulness. He dipped his head, lowering his tail in respect, "thank you! The whole of Blossomclan thanks you for your assistance!" Stonesight smirked, proud of his brother; who was always good with words and knowing what to say. "Come to think of it, Amberpelt would make a good deputy someday…." Stonesight couldn't help but fully smile at the thought. Rainrunner dipped her head, flicking her tail back and forth, then sweeping her paws through the mud to form a wave-like symbol Sagespring nodded to the motions Rainrunner made. Stonesight looked over the odd symbol wondering what it meant "I want to learn what the symbols and the gestures mean!" thought Stonesight curiosity pricking his interest. He glanced at Leafpaw knowing his brother would have also wanted to learn everything about the motions and symbols Rainrunner made. Stonesight came to stand beside his brother's side, "Rainrunner says that of course we will help, Hollyclan is a respectable clan that wishes to help clan cats who need it." meowed Sagespring glancing at Shadow as she made a point on clan cats. Shadow's fur bristled at the clear insults being thrown at her; Stonesight glanced at Shadow and he went to Shadow's side. He gently nuzzled her cheek; he whispered to her "it'll be okay… You'll prove yourself to them…" he murmured, stirring her fur around her ears. Making her blush slightly; he smiled lovingly at her, Amberpelt came padding over to them as the Hollyclan cats began to walk on the sides allowing the Blossomclan cats to stay in the middle. Stonesight huffed as he walked alongside both Amberpelt and Shadow; Stonesight's tail swung behind him, his paws dragging slightly. He noticed Leafpaw shifting a lot on Amberpelt's back and a glimmer of hope entered Stonesight's heart that Leafpaw could wake up soon; Stonesight had no idea how long they had walked for seemingly in auto plot mode until he heard his mother's yowl "Stonesight Amberpelt!" Brightstar ran towards her son's tears falling from her face she shoved her muzzle against her son's cheeks. Stonesight felt tears fall from his cheeks as his mother embraced her sons, she then noticed the kits hanging in their jaws. Brightstar's eyes shined with relief; she smiled "you got the kits!" meowed Brightstar tears of relief falling. Stonesight nodded, setting Mintkit down who quickly ran to her mother's paws; "listen Brightstar Leafpaw got hurt while rescuing the kits, he needs to be seen by Swanhollow right away." meowed Amberpelt. Brightstar nodded suddenly very serious; Amberpelt set down Mosskit and Piper while Shadow set down Stormy. Stonesight turned to the Hollyclan warriors, Brightstar hadn't noticed them due to the joy of seeing her kits were safe. Stonesight was well aware that it was only him left outside of the small crevice Blossomclan was sheltering in; he dipped his head to the cats in front of him. "Thank you for your assistance back to our clan." his voice straight with seriousness and truthfulness; Rainrunner smiled kindly gesturing with her front paws to him then herself then she drew in the dirt a small heart. Sagespring nodded with a slight smirk, "Rainrunner says that it was no problem and that she's happy your group returned safely." Sagespring's words brought warmth to Stonesight's shivering body. "Well we'll let you get dry goodbye." said the gruff voice of Ghostbloom speaking up for the first time this whole journey home. Stonesight nodded and watched for a bit as the three cats slowly vanished back into the soaked territory. Stonesight turned around to enter the small cramped space the clan was staying in. Meanwhile within Leafpaw's mind he was in a shadow space….