WARRIORS (Path of the Wild) Book 1: Forest of Rain

Prologue

River water slapped the shoreline in BrookClan territory. A black cat splashed through the water. "Heavyfall, wait for me!" A white and grey apprentice squeaked, dashing after her mentor. Heavyfall looked back at her with sunset-gold eyes. "Calm down, Streampaw." Streampaw caught up to her mentor and looked around with wide eyes. A bush rustled. She spun around, startled. "What...What was that?"

Heavyfall glanced over his shoulder. "It's probably just wind. Come on, do you want your assessment or not?"

Streampaw fell back into step, but the bushes kept rustling. Her ears twitched in annoyance. It was impossible to ignore. She spun around again and looked back. This time she caught a glimpse of russet fur. "Eveningplum?" She mewed, walking towards it. Heavyfall curled his tail around her. "No, there's nothing there. It's just wind. Let's go."

When they, at last, reached the edge of BrookClan where a massive waterfall was, Streampaw crouched down. She opened her jaws to taste the air. Prey scent hung in the air and she followed it to a foresty patch. Dead leaves, twigs and pebbles were scattered around and she spotted a tree stump nearby. The plump shrew was rooting in the ground, finding things to nibble at. Her jaws flooded with water, but she ripped her gaze away from the shrew to justify her leap. She tucked her paws in tight and sighed. If she jumped over the debris, something would happen. She just knew it. She looked over to the tree stump.

I have no other choice. . .

She leaped, motioning her paws before landing so that it wouldn't make even the slightest thump. She leapt again for the vole and nipped down on it's spine. She scraped earth over it before continuing. Her ears swivelled around as she heard a low growling. She spun around and spotted Heavyfall and a fox battling. "Stay back, flea-bag!" Heavyfall yowled, slashing at it's eyes. Streampaw took a step forward, but Heavyfall called back. "Stay there, I'll deal with it."

Streampaw whimpered softly as she watched them both fight. Blood was flecked everywhere by the time they stopped. The fox was on it's back, belly exposed. Heavyfall reared, at the edge of the waterfall, aiming to bring his paws down on it's stomach.

But the fox was fast.

It kicked out weakly, with just enough damage to knock Heavyfall off the waterfall. "Heavyfall!" Streampaw screeched, running towards the edge. She tried to grab his scruff, but he was already falling. Streampaw watched him hit the bottom, the waves covering his face, filled with the dread that she would never see him again. She looked over to the fox, too grief-stricken to care that it was dead. She looked back down the waterfall. Her breath caught in her throat and she felt like she couldn't breathe. "No. . ." She choked the words out. "I failed you. . . . Please come back."

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Thanks for reading! Ch.1 coming soon!
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