The Surviving Few (Warrior Cats)

Chapter four - like a wildfire rippling through the forest

After a while, when Ryespring had finished his piece of the pink thing and Honeydusk had retreated to her position beside Poppypaw, Leafwillow returned. She carried a huge bird-like creature in her jaws, covered in white feathers. It had a weird red shape on its neck.

Leafwillow dropped the bird at Raindrop and Ryespring's paws. "Chicken," she mewed. "There's enough for everyone. And I promise, it's good. Poppypaw?"

Poppypaw came toward them. Leafwillow ripped of a big piece of the chicken — whatever it was — and pushed it forward, placing it in front of the apprentice.

"You deserve it," was all Leafwillow meowed.

Poppypaw eyes widened; she seemed surprised. "Thank you," she replied, sounding genuinely grateful. Together they finished the the twoleg bird, and Raindrop felt comfortably full. In fact, she had not felt this stuffed in many days, maybe even moons. Her belly ached slightly, though it seemed pleased.

The sun was going down faster than Raindrop had hoped. There were tall sticks standing by the twoleg dens, fences, and hedges, and along the thunderpath further into the twolegplace, that emitted a constant but weak light. It shone onto the ground underneath, forming circles of light following the many paths. Raindrop hoped they would not have to cross any thunderpaths on their way out, even if that meant taking a longer route.

Leafwillow led them from shadow to shadow, not unlike how they had entered. She took no risks. Only Poppypaw seemed relatively sure they had any idea where they were going. She strode just behind Leafwillow, her tail raised high. The fact they were from different Clans seemed forgotten, even to Raindrop. She was glad Leafwillow had taken it upon herself to lead them out. She acted almost motherly, scolding but gentle in her commands. No wonder she had been deputy of WindClan. And her mother had been a noble leader once, too. Now, however, they did not know if she was still alive, if she had survived the final blow.

Raindrop had felt trapped in the twolegplace, but, admittedly, RiverClan territory did not feel much better. The trees were bare, the grass unpleasant, and the ground soaked. As soon as she jumped down from the fence separating the twoleg territory and her own, she felt someone was watching her. It was almost as if said someone had been waiting for them to emerge from the maze of twoleg dens, preparing to attack. Perhaps a rogue, waiting for the right moment to strike.

Honeydusk slowed her pace, falling in beside Raindrop. Ryespring padded close on her other flank, but moved away as the medicine cat approached. Raindrop wished he would come closer instead. She longed for his warmth, his quiet comfort, his endless sympathy and care.

"How are you?" Honeydusk asked. Her voice was soothing, a perfect mix of sweet, soft, and gentle, much unlike her own, hoarser voice.

How are you? Such a generic question. Raindrop was not very okay, or happy, or relaxed, or any of what you are supposed to feel in life. She though none of them were. She was numb, and that was that. She did not see the point of the question. Still, she meowed, "I'm managing."

Suddenly the group halted. It was a rough movement, rippling through the five cats like a wildfire rippling through the forest, almost causing them to stumble into each other.

Leafwillow pricked her ears, her body tense, tail drooping behind her. Poppypaw leaned in to whisper something in her ear.

"We have to get out of Clan territory," Leafwillow stated then. She continued, "Poppypaw suggests we cross the thunderpath border." Poppypaw flattened her ears at this, seeming awkward at the mention of her name.

Honeydusk left Raindrop's side to walk up to her sister. Raindrop guessed she had disappointed her; just like her sisters were better to her mother, Leafwillow was better to Honeydusk.

Leafwillow stood still. Her brown pelt looked dull, soaked from the rain. Raindrop caught her gazing at her and Ryespring.

"This is RiverClan territory," she stated, as if they did not know. "And you are RiverClan. I think it's only natural that you two lead us from here."

The setting sun cast its light upon the tree stems and thorny bushes, outlining them in a dim but noticeable light. Though it was halfway hidden by clouds, it shone. Raindrop thought, if there was a thing that would always shine, it would be the sun. It hid sometimes, but underneath the covering layers, even at night, it shone. Even at the darkest of times, it shone, and something about it brought Raindrop a sudden burst of hope. She quickly pushed it down again; she had already established that hoping would do her no good.

Raindrop padded forward, through the dark grass, until she stood before Leafwillow, Honeydusk and Poppypaw. Ryespring followed. She met Honeydusk's gaze, and saw her own grief reflected in her amber eyes; they both remembered. Not the same memory, of course, but a memory nonetheless, and not a very happy one.

She turned around and began walking forward, toward the thunderpath. A low hissing sound came from the forest behind them. She ran toward the thunderpath. Ryespring, Poppypaw, Honeydusk and Leafwillow followed.