Beyond The Mountains

Chapter 8: Larkpaw

Larkpaw squeezed his eyes shut, a shrill ear-splitting screech rang around him. His blood went cold. Snowpaw was crossing!  He thought, his heart ran wildly in his chest, he waited for the bitter smell of blood to rise into his nose but it never hit him. Perhaps the stench of the monster was too overwhelming? Was he going to have to turn back and go to Thunderclan saying that he couldn't even cross the Thunderpath? Guilt and shame made his fur go cold, he slowly opened his eyes. The first thing he saw was the body of the monster, it was completely still, maybe it was eating the body of the killed apprentice? His eyes traveled to the bright eyes of the monster then dipped down to its paws, expecting to see a limp body. But Snowpaw was there, crouched, her fur bristling and spiked, almost three times her original size, her eyes with terror,  and her body shook so fiercely Larkpaw wasn't surprised she hadn't moved, her mouth was open and she only let out short gasps. "Snowpaw!" Thrasherpaw yelled, rushing to the Riverclan apprentice's side, their small fight long forgotten. The Windclan she-cat sniffed Snowpaw's fur and nosed her, trying to nudge her out of the way. Snowpaw barely moved a whisker, her blue eyes still stuck on the monster's paws. "Larkpaw! Help me move her!" Thrasherpaw hissed to him, snapping him out of his own shock. Suddenly a snap sounded from the monster. Had it realized it didn't catch it's prey?  Larkpaw looked back to see a twoleg step out of the monster's side. The light brown tom watched as the twoleg walked in front of the monster and picked Snowpaw up with one of their paws, Thrasherpaw let out a hiss and unsheathed her claws. She sprang at the twoleg but landed heavily on the Thunderpath. The twoleg stumbled before stepping over her, Larkpaw watched with wide eyes as the twoleg placed Snowpaw down. Snowpaw looked at the hairless creature before rushing over to a nearby bush, the other remaining apprentices rushed over the Thunderpath ( thankfully, that seemed to be the only monster so they got over somewhat safely). Larkpaw stopped at the bush and Thrasherpaw pushed herself through the brambles, Larkpaw followed and turned back, watching as the twoleg clambered back into the monster. The larger creature gave a low growl and ran off with the twoleg inside it's stomach. The tom turned back to Snowpaw and Thrasherpaw, who was comforting Snowpaw in a hushed voice giving her ear small, tender licks. Larkpaw blinked at the sky, stars glistened back at him. 

Perhaps this was going to be harder than he expected.