Clans of the Forest:1: Stone and Silver (COMPLETE)

Chapter 11

Stonepaw struggled as the world went dark. She faded, sinking and sinking . . .

Strong teeth gripped her scruff. She was being hauled upwards. She relaxed. Suddenly, there was bump. She was being hauled onto stone, wet like all of the other stone she had been near. She was dropped. 

Where am I?

The intensity in the air was like nothing she had ever seen before. And so was the place she was in. It was dark, but stars sparkled near the ceiling. The floor was damp and starlight and glowworms reflected in the water.

"Hello!!!" She called. "Who saved me?!?" 

There was no reply, instead the starlight continued to flicker in the water. She padded closer to one of the puddles and leaned in for a sniff. 

There was a splash behind her. She turned, but she didn't need to. Cats were all around her. They looked solid, but there was the reflection of the stars in their eyes, and water seemed to flow in their fur.

"You're not StarClan, are you?" She asked, fascinated. One of the water cats shook his head. He was a silver tabby, but his markings looked blue due to the surroundings. He was tall and skinny with a distant look of sadness in his eyes, which look like a swirling mix of white, blue, and purple. 

The spirit cats were staring at her as though she had just turned into a hedgehog.

"Who are you, then?" She asked, hoping not to offend any of them. The silver tom behind her shook his head again, and the water pulsed from his fur tips stronger than ever.

"No. We are the cats that have failed," His gaze flicked for a moment, and for a moment Stonepaw thought he was going to cry. He continued. "all of us," He waved his tail at the other cats. "all of us are here because we died here, or died on our way to find the unknown. The waterfalls have stopped us. Stopped us from joining StarClan. We are trapped here." 

He turned away.

A brown tabby she-cat padded to her. Her eyes were filled with sorrow. "We need to get you out of here," She mewed, "I not not want you to suffer the same fate." 

Stonepaw dipped her head to acknowledge her and followed the she-cat. The brown tabby paused and lifted her head.

"There is an opening up there," She said softly, "We cannot escape. But you can." She dipped her head and padded back into place. 

Stonepaw stared. High above her, moonlight shone through a hole. I'll never get up. She thought of her Clanmates, worried for her. 

"Okay. I'll do this," She mewed to herself. 

She dug her claws into some outcroppings on the wall. Hauling herself up onto a ledge, she was able to get a good start. She stretched her front paws up and grabbed the next overhang. She sunk in her claws gritted her teeth, and pulled. StarClan be with me!  Her body flung upwards with a jerk, and she nearly lost her balance.

Heart pounding, she righted herself and, more slowly, repeated the process. By the time she got to the top, dawn light was filtering through the hole. Stonepaw was exhausted. She groggily reached for the hole to pull herself through. Suddenly she stopped. It would be fox-hearted to not say thank you to the water cats! 

But when she turned, she saw that the cats were gone. I still have to thank them!  She raised her voice, and called, "Thank you for your help! I won't forget you!" 

She pulled herself out of the hole and into the dawn. She paused to sniff the air for danger, and then dashed, excitement pulsing through her. It was so great to be back in the forest!

Now . . . which way home?

Stonepaw turned around in a circle, and parted her jaws to taste for scent. Nothing! Where have they gone? She walked a few pawsteps forward and lifted her head, trying to spot any landmarks. There were none in sight. I wonder where I am?

She stalked off into a bramble bush, and sniffed where the scent might be more preserved. There was no scent. Beginning to panic, Stonepaw considered turning back. And what, climb that whole thing all over again? She wasn't giving up yet! 

Drawing herself out from under the bramble, she walked further into the forest. The scent of mouse drifted by her nose. Finally! Something to eat! In her desperation, to get home, she hadn't realized how hungry she was. 

She scanned her gaze through the undergrowth until she spotted the little creature scuffling under the dried oak leaves. Should I bring some back for Powersnow?  She was immediately distracted as the mouse moved around more. 

Stonepaw dropped into the hunter's crouch, lowering her tail enough to keep out of sight, but just enough above the ground as to not warn her prey. She slowed slid across the forest floor and stopped in front of the mouse.

She sprung.

Leaves scattered and the mouse darted down a hole in surprise. Stonepaw did an on land bellyflop.

"Fox dung!" She hissed, kicking the ground frustration. She'd missed her only meal!

"Fox dung? Where?" Came a voice from behind her.

Stonepaw turned to see a tall, pale ginger-brown tabby she-cat standing behind her wearing a look of concern. She looked well feed and stank of Twolegs.

"Are you a kittypet?" Stonepaw asked immediately. The she-cat looked amused.

"If that's what you call us, then yes." She padded up to Stonepaw. "Are you lost?" 

How does she know?

"Y-yes," Stonepaw stammered. "What's your name? I'm Stonepaw."

"I'm Janese," Responded the she-cat. She didn't look remotely frightened. Stonepaw had thought that all kittypets were scaredy-cats. 

"Hi, Janese." She mewed. "How can you help me?"

Janese sniffed her pelt. "You are a Clan apprentice?" She asked.

How does this kittypet know about clan life?!? Stonepaw was shocked. And spooked.

"Uh . . . yes?" 

"What is it like where you live?" Janese mewed.

"Um, lots of tall trees, some good undergrowth . . . lots of prey . . . " Stonepaw trailed off. She couldn't give away too much, kittypet or not.

"Ah, there is a Clan there," Janese nodded her head. "Your leader is Blue Star, yes?"

"Yes," Stonepaw admitted. "Can you show me the way back there?"

Janese nodded and padded confidently ahead. Isn't she scared of being so far away from her Twolegs? How does she know about the Clans? And Bluestar? 

"Um. . . what is like where you live?" Stonepaw asked, trying to start conversation.

"Mmm, just lots of housefolk stuff," Janese responded without looking back. "Not nearly as interesting as the forest. 

"Do you-?"Stonepaw started, but Janese put her tail over her mouth.

"Shh," she mewed. "I scent squirrel." 

Janese dropped into what look shockingly like the hunter's crouch. She slipped forward, carefully not rustling ant ferns on the way. As she stalked, Stonepaw spotted the squirrel she was stalking. It was sitting out in the open. An easy catch.

Janese pounced, killing the squirrel in one leap. Stonepaw was awestruck. "Brilliant catch!" 

They settled down to eat.