AN: Sorry this chapter is a little boring. But it does bring on a big surprise near the end :P I think you'll know what I mean when you actually read it. Again, thanks everyone for your wonderful reviews, I'm glad everyone is enjoying it!
CHAPTER TEN
Early predawn sunlight filtered through the small cave that Birdpaw and the others were currently sleeping in. She had to fight back a yawn as she realized that they would begin moving again once the others were awake.
The dens they were currently sleeping in were small and cramped compared to what she was used to. She wasn't fond of sleeping around so many cats, but she knew she would have to get used to it. Darkflower had warned her that even though she was an apprentice, she was still the size of a small kit. Her size was a disadvantage, and Birdpaw hated that.
It isn't as if I asked to be made an apprentice too early, she thought angrily. Even though I'm happy about training early, it also means I have to work twice as hard as the other apprentices.
She glanced at the larger forms of Ebonypaw and Driftpaw warily. The two siblings were always sleeping together, even when they were in a cramped den like this. Resentment swelled within Birdpaw as she wondered for the first time what it was like having siblings. There were times when she wished that she had a brother or a sister. Having someone to look up to was something she had always wanted, and when she asked Darkflower why she didn't have any siblings, her eyes just rolled in annoyance.
Now, Birdpaw understood that some things couldn't be changed.
She shook her head at the thought as the Clan began their assent once they'd eaten enough fresh-kill and regathered themselves. The journey ahead wasn't going to be easy. Her stomach churned at the thought of what lay ahead of them once they did reach the other side of the mountains.
Birdpaw's tail flicked from side to side when they reached rocky terrain. When Birchpelt warned her that the ground underpaw would be rough, she wasn't expecting it to be this difficult. She was suddenly thankful that SkyClan cats had become adapted to living on rough terrain. Generations and generations of living in the gorge had given their pads the chance to toughen so that they wouldn't get scraped by rough terrain.
Beside Birdpaw, the other apprentices gaped at the enormous mountain with huge eyes. Even Ebonypaw, the most stubborn apprentice of all, looked appalled at the thought of climbing the mountain. Birdpaw tried to remind herself that this was just another part of her training. Climbing the mountain would make her stronger in the end.
As she thought of those words she began following the rest of the Clan. The elders had to be kept in the middle of the group while they were protected by the strongest warriors. Ivyclaw and Bouncestep were a bit annoyed at the thought of needing protection. Goldenpelt simply ignored the wary looks she received as she padded along the trail that led higher into the sky. Anxiety churned through Birdpaw's belly as she looked up at the dangerous path.
She followed Ebonypaw up the path, tripping over several rocks and boulders that stood in their way. A few stones fell onto the ground that loomed below them. Birdpaw's stomach nearly dropped when she peered over the ledge.
"Don't let down." Birdpaw yelped in surprise when someone nudged her from behind. She tried looking over her shoulder, but she failed miserably. "I'll stay with you," Birchpelt murmured.
Her voice was sympathetic as she followed Birdpaw further into the trail.
I can't make myself look weak, Birdpaw thought as she heeded Birchpelt's advice. She tried not to think of the overwhelming sense of fear that began to course through her. If she started acting afraid now her mother would never let her live it down. She could already imagine Darkflower scolding her for not being more careful. It isn't as if I'm not trying to be more careful, she added silently.
She knew the mountains were full of danger. Darkflower had already warned her that there were times when she would feel as if there was nothing she could do while they were making the climb.
Unease swept through her as she thought of how many lives could be taken during the journey. Maybe going over the mountains hadn't been a good idea after all. Even if she did have a choice in the matter, Birdpaw knew this was for the good of the Clan.
The only reason they were climbing the mountains in the first place was so that they could find the lake territories. She couldn't wait until they did manage to reach the lake. She could already imagine what it would be like once they arrived, and how the other Clans would react upon seeing them for the first time.
"There's a sheer drop on the other side," Mothflower, a tawny colored she-cat, announced above the howling wind. "I'll go first." Birdpaw had just reached the crowd to see that they were peering over a ledge. Her eyes widened in panic when she realized that the drop was several fox-lengths down. A fall from that height would likely kill a cat. With one graceful leap Mothflower managed to reach the other side of the ledge. "Let the elders jump first, I'll help them up!" she called out.
One by one, the Clan jumped onto the other side. Birdpaw and Birchpelt were the last ones to jump. Birdpaw peered over the ledge once more and stared at the stretch of abyss in terror. Mothflower hadn't been joking when she said that it was deep. Not only was she smaller than the others, but her legs weren't as lanky as theirs. And that gave her a major disadvantage when it came to jumping.
I won't make it! she realized. My legs are too short!
Without warning, Birchpelt grabbed her by the scruff. Birdpaw had been trembling the whole time as she looked over the ledge, she hardly even noticed. Birchpelt leaped onto the other side with ease, even though she was carrying Birdpaw by the scruff as well.
"I'm sorry," Birdpaw finally squeaked when the ordeal was over.
"Every cat feels fear every now and than," Birchpelt told her. "When you learn to overcome your fear, that is what makes you a true warrior."
Her tail flicked comfortingly over Birdpaw's shoulder before she joined the rest of the patrol. Ebonypaw glared at Birdpaw before joining Wrenpaw, Brightpaw and Driftpaw under a crevice. The crevice itself kept them safe against the cold winds that lashed out at them.
Birdpaw looked down at the ground as she realized just how much weaker she was compared to her denmates. Because she was younger she was smaller, making her more vulnerable to predators and objects that a bigger, older cat could overcome.
"Why did I agree to becoming an apprentice early?" she wondered out loud to no one in particular.
It didn't matter who heard her. She was an apprentice now, and she needed to make decisions that would help the Clan. And one of those decisions was to make herself stronger in the end.
"Birdpaw, I know that being an apprentice is difficult for you, but it is necessary." She flinched when she heard a murmur from nearby. Birdpaw turned around to see that Emberstar had been watching her. He had somehow past the other warriors and was sitting on the top of a high boulder. "If I had kept you as a kit you would always be mothered by Darkflower. You need to learn the path of a warrior now, before all is lost."
Confusion swept through Birdpaw as his eyes became cloudy and distant. Before she could ask what Emberstar meant by those words, he jumped off of the boulder and approached her. Birdpaw's ears flattened in alarm when he looked at her.
"Get some rest. Tomorrow we begin moving again at dawn," he meowed as if nothing had happened.
With that, the SkyClan leader stalked away and joined Birchpelt near the edge of the sleeping Clan.
Birdpaw tilted her head to one side, unsure of what to say to those words. Instead of contemplating on the possibilities, she curled up beside Driftpaw. Wariness crept over her until her eyes closed in sleep.
…
Claws scraped against the cold surface as a lean figure moved along the rocks. The figure came to a halt as it reached the roaring sound of a waterfall. With the moon shining overhead, the waterfall was bleached a silvery white color, along with the strange cat's fur. The cat padded along the edge of the waterfall, keeping well enough away from the thin ledge that fell into nothing. He had done this several times before, and was used to the struggles of living in the mountain.
The silvery gray tom was greeted by mewls of alarm. Almost at once eyes peered open, gleaming in the darkness of an open cave. The century had been keeping an eye on the cave entrance for what felt like seasons until he returned from his hunting trip. Unfortunately, it hadn't ended the way he was hoping.
His tail lashed at the thought. What he discovered could lead to disaster if his theory was true. And Stoneteller was sitting around doing nothing about it. The Tribe needed what help they could get, and he knew it.
"Where is Stoneteller?" the tom demanded as a tortoiseshell she-cat approached him.
"He is in his cave," she rasped. "What is wrong?"
"I need to share some news with him," the tom replied without missing a beat.
With a dip of his head he bounded through the darkness. His eyes had already adjusted as he scanned the cracks in the cave walls. Their camp was nestled behind the waterfall. Thanks to their large open cave, there were many smaller caves that wound through the mountain. The Tribe Of Rushing Water had learned to use these caves as a haven against the coldest parts of leafbare.
Soon he reached one of the caves that held a familiar scent in them. His fur brushed against the narrow passage until it opened into a wider, more open space. The sound of water dripping from tooth-like structure at the top of the cave echoed around him.
The tom's eyes narrowed into tiny slits as a shaft of silver light poured from an opening above. Standing near a pool where the water gathered was an elderly looking brown and white cat. His fur was so matted that the tom barely recognized him. Stoneteller had aged since they'd last met.
The last time they met was when he'd just been a young hunter. Stoneteller used to visit the caves often to see which cat held the most promise. But over the last few moons, he had begun to distance himself from the rest of the Tribe. The Tribe cat was fully aware of the dangers that loomed ahead unless something was done about it. And Stoneteller's arrogance was going to cost them dearly. His claws sheathed and unsheathed at the thought.
"Teller Of Pointed Stones." The tom called out to the strange looking cat. The brown and white stranger turned around at the sound of his name. "I need to speak with you."
"Yes, it seems you must." The silver gray tom was startled by how smoothly this cat spoke. It seemed as if Stoneteller had been practicing his speech, despite spending so much time in his little den. He nearly rolled his eyes at the thought. He wouldn't have been surprised if that was the case. "The stones have been whispering to me," Stoneteller suddenly rasped. "A time of great darkness is coming, and we cannot stop it."
"I just… You sent me on that patrol moons ago to explore new territory," the silver gray tom meowed. He tried to keep calm as anger churned in his stomach. Moons of frustration had led to this single confrontation. "I spotted a large group of cats making their way towards our territory. They're two-days away from the waterfall."
"And this should worry me why?" Stoneteller demanded. "They are passing by, not trespassing. If they spend more time in the mountain they will die."
More frustration swelled within the tom's chest. He hated Stoneteller. He hated the way Stoneteller treated cats, and the way he ignored signs or messages. Something needed to be done about this, and he knew of only one way.
"Stoneteller, I am afraid to say that your time is coming to an end," he snarled. The brown and white tom stared at him in confusion. Without warning the silvery gray tom sprang forward with his claws unsheathed. Stoneteller let out a startled, choking cry when the silvery gray tom pinned him to the ground. "You are an arrogant fool. You always have been, and you always will be, even in death. Say hello to the Tribe Of Endless Hunting for me."
Before the brown and white tom could respond, the silvery gray tom clamped his jaws around his leader's neck. Stoneteller let out a gurgling cry that was cut short. Thanks to the hollowed walls, no cat would hear of the deed the silvery gray tom committed.
"And I will rule the Tribe Of Rushing Water," he announced after dropping Stoneteller's body into the pool of water.
He cleaned off his own paws in order to wash away the evidence. By now most of the Tribe had accepted that their leader was on his way out anyways. This was his way of ensuring that the Tribe wouldn't look weak after their leader's death.
AN: Bet no one saw that coming. Yep, the Tribe is included for many reasons... but I won't say why. And the silver-gray tom is distantly related to Stormfur and Brook, from many, many generations ago :) So yeah, there's the next chapter, and the following should come out within a week or two.