CHAPTER THIRTY EIGHT

"Hey, Stormshadow, what do you know about the Tribe of Rushing Waters?" Spruceleaf asked as the group carried on through the mountains. She knew that the elders used to tell stories about the Tribe, but, she never heard them herself. WindClan didn't have much to offer in terms of telling stories, especially since Icestar was going mad with power.

"I'm not sure," Stormshadow meowed, looking at her in confusion. "I remember one of our elders used to mention that they had a leader known as Teller of Pointed Stones... or something like that. And they all have weird names like that."

"They were never aggressive before," Oakfire put in as he joined them. Spruceleaf glanced at Flamestrike and Reedriver, noticing how the two toms seemed concerned about their path ahead than anything else. "Which leads me to wondering why they attacked an entire Clan without reason."

Spruceleaf flinched as she caught Birdpaw's expression. She knew that SkyClan had suffered a brutal blow when the Tribe attacked them. The fact that Birdpaw and a few other apprentices made it out alive should have said something. But, Spruceleaf was beginning to doubt that things would get any easier for poor Birdpaw.

They carried on in comfortable silence. Spruceleaf wondered what everyone was doing back at WindClan. Her heart ached to know that everyone was fine. Once again, guilt suddenly weighed down on her shoulders as she thought of what the Clan was going through. While her Clanmates hadn't entirely suffered at the claws of Icestar, she knew that they would eventually.

I wish there was something I could do to free them, she thought bitterly. So much had happened over the last couple of days that her mind was still spinning. Spruceleaf hadn't missed how nervous Birdpaw was. The younger cat flinched at just about everything that moved. It was like she was expecting the worst out of this next confrontation.

"Your Clan is in as much trouble as mine." Spruceleaf flinched at the sound of Birdpaw's voice. There were times when she found it was hard to believe Birdpaw was just an apprentice. She was young, probably the youngest out of all of them, yet, she held on a brave voice. She sounded more like a full-grown cat at times.

"Yes," she replied, dipping her head formally as if she would an elder. Birdpaw's whiskers twitched in amusement as she caught the gleam in Spruceleaf's eyes.

"I'm sorry... it's just hard, sometimes," she sighed, looking up towards the formidable mountains, "I miss my family. My mother was everything I had."

Spruceleaf nodded in understanding. She knew what that was like, now. Her own family was left behind because of this journey, because of Icestar. Larksong shouldn't have had to die because of her mistake. It wasn't until feeling Birdpaw's nose on her shoulder that Spruceleaf glanced at her.

Of all the cats surrounding them, Birdpaw understood her the most. And suddenly, Spruceleaf understood why this was so important to her. Rescuing the Clan and bringing them back meant more to Birdpaw than she would ever let on. They had to do this, not just for the Clans, but for StarClan as well.

"Are you two just going to doddle there all day?" Stormshadow's yowl broke the uneasy silence.

Both she-cats flinched at the sound of his voice. Neither were expecting to see him standing at the top of a boulder, looking rather bored. The fierce wind that picked up ruffled his fur, sending shivers of unease through Spruceleaf.

She knew that climbing the mountain would be difficult. But, it had been done before. With their group of seven cats, she knew they could get through this. It was just a matter of willpower and pushing forward to accomplish any goal that they finish their task.

"Relax, Stormshadow," Oakfire rolled his eyes when he reached him, with Flamestrike and Reedriver close behind, "It isn't as if we're burning daylight. We can also travel with the moonlight as guidance."

"It's going to be colder..." Birdpaw murmured, glancing at the others uneasily.

"Not to mention, I am unfamiliar with the herbs, up here," Blizzardwind added, eyes raking Oakfire and Stormshadow. "I know that you don't understand the importance of finding herbs out here, but, I need to see in order to figure out which ones are which."

Relief swept through Spruceleaf when neither tom could argue against that. Having a medicine cat with them had proven more than useful, as far as she was concerned. Acorntail stood close behind, narrowing his eyes slightly as he noticed how uncomfortable everyone else looked with the fierce wind billowing past them.

"Alright," Stormshadow sighed as he jumped off his perch.

"We should find shelter for the night..." Oakfire's voice drifted off in the wind as Spruceleaf noticed how annoyed Flamestrike looked.

Oakfire is his father, she reminded herself. It only makes sense that Flamestrike would want to have the chance to prove himself in front of him. She turned to the ginger tom, hoping that this would help alleviate whatever stress he was facing.

"Flamestrike, did you have a den in mind?" she asked curiously.

"As a matter of fact, I did," he replied without missing a beat, shooting Oakfire a glare.

Amusement swept through Spruceleaf as she noticed the cold exchange. Oakfire was a brave cat, there was no denying it. She just hoped they didn't let their competitive nature get the better of them. Exchanging a quick look with Blizzardwind and Birdpaw, she supposed that all toms were alike, in that sense.

It didn't take long for them to reach a small raised hill. Just above loomed the mountains where they would soon be making their assent. A shiver ran through Spruceleaf at the thought. She wondered what it would be like up there. Birdpaw had described the mountains as cold and hostile. Yet, that hadn't stopped the Tribe from calling it home.

"It's big enough for all of us to spend the night in," Flamestrike explained as Spruceleaf squinted her eyes.

She noticed with a start that it reminded her of the small dens that were made up in WindClan's camp. It felt strangely like home, as she found a spot beside Reedriver. The silver-furred tom seemed oblivious to her sudden approach, until she nearly bumped into him.

"Watch where you're going," he hissed, flattening his ears in annoyance.

"Sorry," she grumbled under her breath.

Why was he always so grumpy? At least Flamestrike tried making a point and keeping himself in a good mood. He seemed to get along fine with Birdpaw and Acorntail. Oakfire, on the other paw, was a whole different story. Spruceleaf could tell that he was trying to prove himself to his father, one way or another.

"Acorntail, Stormshadow, why don't you see if you can collect some prey out there?" Oakfire suggested, ignoring the fact that he once again blatantly took charge.

"I'm not used to hunting woodland prey," Acorntail muttered, but, he didn't bother arguing as Stormshadow led the way.

Spruceleaf found herself sinking to the ground as exhaustion swept over her. She hadn't realized up until than just how tired she was. A combination of hunger and exhaustion was slowly beginning to get to her.

"I still don't get how this whole thing works," Flamestrike sighed as he sat down beside Birdpaw. "I mean, everyone's going to expect us to know what to do when we get back."

"We'll figure something out, Flamestrike," Birdpaw mewed, keeping her voice steady.

If we don't, all five Clans might suffer the consequences, Spruceleaf thought bitterly.

It was strange, thinking that the future of the Clans was shaped by their paws. Spruceleaf almost wished she could forget about the prophecy that seemed to hang over their shoulders. Yet, there was no denying the fact that Icestar had taken over WindClan, and so many other challenges stood in their way.

"Do you remember what your old camp looked like, Birdpaw?" Blizzardwind suddenly asked. She was curious... heck, they were all curious.

SkyClan wasn't well known within the other Clans. Spruceleaf had a feeling that because the Clan had been forgotten so long ago, few cats would remember it. But, bringing them back to the four Clans only felt right. They had already suffered enough.

"I was just a kit when they left the gorge," Birdpaw admitted, shuffling her paws a bit in embarrassment. "Emberstar thought it would be a good idea to make me an apprentice early, so I could learn everything along the journey."

"You seemed a bit young to be out on your own," Spruceleaf commented, noting that Birdpaw still had a bit of kit-fluff fur covering her ears and back. Birdpaw ducked her head, as if she was suddenly intimidated by the way everyone looked at her.

"Yeah, well, a lot of good that training did me," she whispered, the bitterness in her voice taking everyone by surprise. "I want my Clan back, more than anything else."

"We'll find a way to get them back," Flamestrike reassured her.

"And it would feel good to claw the ears off of those mangy Tribe cats," Reedriver added with a firm nod.

Typical tom. Spruceleaf almost laughed at the expression Blizzardwind was giving Reedriver. He seemed to be itching for a fight, but, she knew that would only end in disaster.

No, they needed to find a way around this without starting a fight with the Tribe. Spruceleaf realized with a start that their group might be small, but, they made up for it in spirit. As far as she was concerned, nothing would stand in their way.