Life 2:9
A rush of wind was felt as a monster came screaming past. Tallstar's ears flattened at the sight. Last time they crossed the Thunderpath was not pleasant. Several cats had near death experiences. They may have been fit now, but several cats including the elders weren't quite as spry as last time, meaning they'd be even slower this time. Before Tallstar could resign himself to ordering the crossing, Snakepaw interrupted him.
"You know we don't actually need to cross that. Wanderers were quite pragmatic and tended to dig paths under the Thunderpath so future Wanderers wouldn't have to. The rumbling of the path probably collapsed most of them, but if you give me some time, I'm sure I can either find one or find one close enough for us to dig it out. Do I have your permission?" Snakepaw queried.
Tallstar considered Snakepaw's plan for a moment before nodding acceptingly. "Very well. Deadfoot, Fireheart, accompany Snakepaw. He may need assistance in clearing a tunnel." Tallstar ordered, getting a begrudging nod from his deputy and a swift one from the Thunderclan warrior.
The trio set out looking for burrow holes that ran the direction of the Thunderpath. There were quite a few. Snakepaw stuck his head in several of them, but shook his head each time saying they had collapsed. They continued on for a couple hours more before Snakepaw pulled his head out of one with a faint smile.
"This one has potential. It goes pretty deep, but I can't see the other side. Something is blocking it. Mind if I check it out?" Snakepaw asked, looking at the two warriors.
Deadfoot gave a small nod, which was all Snakepaw needed to see. He quickly scampered into the tunnel, disappearing into the darkness. Fireheart looked in after him, hearing the shifting of dirt as Snakepaw was clearly digging around in there. After a moment, the sound stopped. Fireheart and Deadfoot heard Snakepaw call from inside the tunnel.
"I can almost get through! Unfortunately, there's a big rock in the way. I could clear it from the other side easy, but that means I have to cross the Thunderpath. Should we go with this one or look for another?" Snakepaw's voice echoed out.
Given how long it had taken to find even one viable one, Deadfoot considered his options. Option one was to chance Snakepaw crossing the Thunderpath to clear the obstruction. Option two was to give up on this tunnel and look for another. Finally, option three was to give up on the tunnels and cross the Thunderpath as a full clan. Ultimately, Deadfoot chose option one.
"Go ahead. We'll use this tunnel if you can clear it." Deadfoot answered.
"Ok. I'm going to expand this tunnel a bit first before I make the crossing." Snakepaw replied before more digging could be heard.
After a couple minutes, a mound of dirt was pushed through the tunnel entrance. Fireheart set to moving the dirt out of the way as Snakepaw began moving another mound. It only took a couple minutes, but the tunnel looked accommodating now. Even Tallstar could walk through it without much effort. There was still the blockage on the other side, but this tunnel was looking to be what they needed. Snakepaw pulled himself out from the tunnel completely covered in dirt but looking happy all the same.
"You are such a messy kit." Deadfoot sarcastically teased.
"At least it wasn't wet. It's never fun digging in mud. Stuff's prone to crumbling. A general word of advice, don't dig in the rain." Snakepaw bantered back, shaking the loose dirt from his pelt.
Snakepaw lined himself up with the edge of the Thunderpath, readying himself to sprint across, but Fireheart cut him off. "Wait! I'll go with you. Going alone is dangerous, and forgive me for saying, but you're quite danger prone."
"You worry too much Heartburn. Just because I know my risks doesn't mean I just choose to be stupid. You can cross with me if it makes you feel better. I'll have you know I died on one of these only three times." Snakepaw teased and boasted.
"Yeah, that's not really settling my nerves." Fireheart replied, worried for his nonchalant friend.
Finally, Fireheart lined up beside Snakepaw at the edge of the Thunderpath, ready to cross. They waited for a decent lull to make their sprint. Things seemed to have gone smoothly, but Snakepaw had to somehow manage to trip over his own paws near the end, flipping into an unseen burrow.
"Snakepaw, are you alright?!" Fireheart yowled.
"I found the other side!" Came Snakepaw's response in a rather cheeky tone.
"You're going to give me a heart attack." Fireheart mewed, his nerves settled knowing that Snakepaw was ok.
"Hey! If anyone should have a heart attack, it's me. It wouldn't keep me down anyways." Snakepaw jokingly responded.
"And now I know why Bluestar hates your sense of humor." Fireheart grumbled with an eye roll.
Snakepaw then disappeared into the burrow, but his muttering could be heard from the entrance. "Here's what's blocking the tunnel up. How'd this rock even get in here anyways? Wait, I think this is a chunk of the Thunderpath. The path must have caved in at some point. Yuck. It tastes fowl, but at least I can get a grip on it."
Scrambling could be heard form inside as Snakepaw was clearly dragging something out. It was the same material as the Thunderpath. Once Snakepaw had it starting to exit the tunnel, Fireheart latched his claws into the edge and helped ease the rock out. It was a large flat piece that was strangely light for being a rock. Fireheart peeked into the tunnel, now seeing light filtering in from the other side.
"Looks like your plan worked." Fireheart mewed, congratulating his friend.
"Any cat could have done it. I know I'm not a smart cat, but I am old. Anyone who knew of the tunnels could have thought this up." Snakepaw dismissed.
Fireheart noted Snakepaw's deflection, but it was out of character enough that he dismissed it as hearing it wrong. Together, the duo ventured into the tunnel to circumvent the Thunderpath. It was successful, but Snakepaw insisted of shoring up a few points and widening the tunnel at some points. They exited not too long after to Deadfoot watching them patiently.
"Took your sweet time." He commented.
"Well, I had to make sure it was good. We don't want a cat to get stuck in there." Snakepaw responded.
"Is it ready?" Deadfoot queried.
"It's good enough. I doubt it'll last a whole season, but it'll definitely hold up for about a moon. It's safe." Snakepaw answered.
With that, Deadfoot sent a signal towards the conglomerated cats of Windclan with his tail. Tallstar may have not noticed the signal immediately, but Windclan warriors were trained to repeat a signal if they spot one before gesturing towards where they saw the signal come from. Tallstar soon joined them.
"This looks good. I'm glad no one had to chance themselves on the Thunderpath." Tallstar mewed.
Deadfoot seemed to have thought this was the time to make a little mischief. "Actually…" He stated, drawing forth a whine from Snakepaw who knew fully well that Tallstar wouldn't take to kindly to him risking himself like that.
"Snakepaw…." Tallstar mewed, fixing the apprentice with an intense stare.
"Come on. Please don't be too mad." Snakepaw pleaded.
"Oh. I'm not mad." Tallstar stated.
"Really?" Snakepaw asked, hope glinting in his eyes.
"Tick duty. One moon." Tallstar answered.
"Nooooooo!" Snakepaw cried, causing Deadfoot to break out into a laughing fit.
"I don't know what you're laughing about. You'll be on it as well seeing as you were in charge of him." Tallstar commanded, silencing Deadfoot who now had a look of horror on his face.