Valley Cats: Of Sky and Stone 3- Golden Fire

Chapter Four

 Several years ago...

 When Fernpaw unscrunched his eyes as he waded out of the conifer needles, he found himself staring in shock as he lingered at the edge of the foliage. Even though only a few cats from each Clan were supposed to be here, there was nearly an entire Clan's worth on the island. What did you expect? he mentally grumbled. Quagmirecreep told you everything, like, ten times tonight. Just ignore everyone else and get what you came here for. Information.

 The spotted tom sliced bold strides through the thick grass as he practically shoved full-grown ConiferClan and DeltaClan warriors out of his way. On the high end of the island, the seven leaders of the Valley Clans sat on whatever in the mourning maculated moon they called the big gray thing. TreeClan, FieldClan, and MarshClan leaders seemed to sort themselves, and it wasn't long until the young apprentice inferred the grayish-brown pelt to be Pumastar. Below him sat the recognizable, almost electric-orange tom. It was the mighty deputy Orangeflame of ForestClan.

 "Sir."

 "Huh?" the deputy had to look down to see Fernpaw below him. "Oh, hello, little one. Are you looking for your parents? Did you follow them h-" 

 "Greetings, Orangeflame. I'm Fernpaw, Quagmirecreep's apprentice. I was sent to inquire upon the bush of Badgerbelly's Berry promised to RockClan at the last darknight meeting."

 "...Um," Orangeflame looked around, caught off guard. "I... You... Ravenflight could help you with that, little buddy."

 "Little buddy?" Fernpaw grunted, upgrading to his tiptoes. "Who are you calling 'little buddy'?"

 The mighty Orangeflame looked puzzled for a heartbeat, then shook his head and angled his tail towards the edge of the clearing where Fernpaw recognized Ravenflight from the last darknight meeting. The apprentice ceremoniously bid him farewell, then turned quickly and marched off towards the black tom, who was mingling with a few healers he didn't recognize. Since Clans like GroveClan and ConiferClan were so far away, it was extremely rare to find them all the way at the Moonpond. Gatherings were the few opportunities they got to share news.

 "Sir."

 "Ah, Fernpaw! Did you come all the way here from RockClan? Good for you!" Ravenflight praised gently as he turned away from his conversation with Mallardwhistle, the ConiferClan healer.

 "Greetings, Ravenflight. I'm Fernpaw, Quagmirecreep's apprentice. I was sent to inquire upon the bush of Badgerbelly's Berry promised to RockClan." Fernpaw stated.

 "Oh. Yes." the black tom nodded. "When will he be here?"

 Fernpaw narrowed his eyes, internally bristling. "You mean my mentor?"

 Ravenflight risked a tiny laugh. "Why, of course. How would you carry the entire bush back on your own? It's like, twice your size. See it for yourself! My apprentice Twistedpaw has it on the shore."

 "Yes, sir." Fernpaw nodded firmly before swiftly trekking directly past the healers who had congregated at the edge of the clearing. He valiantly squeezed his eyes shut, shoving his way through leaves and needles until a jarring moment when he stepped on something long and thin. Snake! his mind exclaimed. His head shot up and his eyes sprang open, only to find an arm of needles injected directly into his face.

 "Gah!" he roared, staggering wildly. He burst out onto the pebbly shore, hissing and clawing at the paw-long needles that now decorated his muzzle.

 "Watch it!" he heard a cat snap unceremoniously. When he could see clearly again, he blinked furiously at a skinny grayish-brown tom who was crouched in a hostile stance in the sand. "That's my tail!" he spat.