Ashwings legacy

Chapter 9

It was a cool morning, clouds covered the sun as Firesoul made her way to the medicine den. Ashwing and Owlnose would be arriving soon, and Mothwing was preparing traveling herbs for the three of them. Firesoul still couldn't believe she was chosen to go on this journey. And with Ashwing...
Her thoughts lingered on the white and silver tom but she suddenly cringed as she remembered the night before. I can't believe I ran away like that! I'm such a mousebrain!
She told herself not to act like that in front of him again. As she enters the medicine den, she finds mothwing rummaging through her herb store. "Hey mothwing, what are you up too?" She asked.
"Oh! Hello Firesoul, I'm getting the traveling herbs ready for you and the others." She says, quickly nodding at Firesoul before going back to finding herbs. "You'll be able to travel for a long while without needing rest."
She wondered just how long they would be traveling and where to. We never really talked about that... Now that she though about it, she had no idea what their actual mission was. Before she could think further, she heard pawsteps from outside the den and turned just as Ashwing and Owlnose entered. "Hey Firesoul!" Ashwing greeted her with a big smile and happy waves of his tail.
Something about seeing him so happy, made her forget about her concerns. "Hello Ashwing, good to see you!"
She turned to Owlnose and saw the brown tom in full for the first time. He was a little smaller than her and had shorter fur. She noticed that he seemed anxious by the look in his eyes. "Hello to you as well Owlnose, I look forward to traveling with you!" She said, trying to lighten his mood with her cheerful tone.
But Owlnoses anxious face remained. He avoided eye contact as he replied. "Yea, hey..." he said, his voice low.
Firesoul glanced at Ashwing and the silver tom only shrugged, tilting his head in confusion. She guessed Owlnose had been this way since last night at the gathering. Ashwing stepped forward towards Mothwing and looked over her shoulder. "Are those our traveling herbs?"
"Yes they are, and they're just about ready for you." Mothwing turned around and nosed three little bundles towards them. Then she went and grabbed more herbs, three small leafs, one for each of us. "Eat these leaves before you leave, then eat the rest of the bundle when you stop to rest. That way you can travel for as long as possible without tiring." She explained.
Ashwing dipped his head. "Thank you Mothwing, we appreciate it." He said.
Ashwing turned to her and Owlnose. "Well, are you two ready to go?"
Owlnose replied first. "Yea."
Firesoul looked at the tom, a hint of surprise on her face as she noticed he had a more determined expression now. "I'm ready to go also." She said.
Ashwing ate his leaf and picked up his bundle before leaving the medicine den. Firesoul and Owlnose did the same. Almost all of riverclan had gathered to see them off. She smiled and waved her tail in goodbye to her clanmates. Soon Firesoul caught the gaze of Mallownose and took a moment to say her goodbyes to him. "Goodbye Mallownose, I'm gonna miss you." She said, giving him an affectionate lick on the cheek.
   He returned the gesture and smiled at her. "I'll miss you too. I know your mentor would be proud of you Firesoul."
   Firesoul grimaced slightly at the mention of her mentor, she didn't like to think about him, or rather what happened to him. She quickly shook away the thought and nodded to Mallownose before catching up to the others, who were already out of camp.

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   The trio walked up the side of a large hill as the clouds cleared and the sun reached the top of the sky, signaling that it was sunhigh. Firesoul had never walked this much and yet didn't feel tired at all. Those herbs really work, and we haven't even eaten the rest of the bundle yet!
   She felt the ground start to even out as they neared the top of the hill. Suddenly, Owlnose broke the silence. "Ashwing, you never actually told us where we're going, or what we're supposed to be looking for. What's your plan?"
   Firesoul glanced at him, she couldn't deny the question had been on her mind also, she was just relieved he had been the one to ask it. She also noticed that he seemed more relaxed since they left. "I'll show you,  just gotta get to the top of this hill first." Ashwing replied, keeping his gaze forward as they marched on. Owlnose didn't seem satisfied with that answer but didn't press further. Firesoul caught him lashing his tail in irritation. They finally reach to top of the hill and Ashwing halted. Firesoul stopped beside him and looked out into the distance. She gazed in awe of the sight before her. A giant twolegplace went all the way to the horizon with a small forest between them. "That's where we're going."
   Owlnose seemed awestruck as well, but he looked at Ashwing with a hint of skepticism. "That still only answers half of my question. What about our goal? What are we looking for down there?"
   Firesoul noticed Ashwing stiffen a little at the question. "The truth is, I don't know exactly what we're looking for, but Starclan said I'd know it when I find it, so we just have to have faith in them."
   Firesoul wasn't exactly comforted by that answer, and she knew that Owlnose wouldn't be either. Owlnose sighed and started down the hill towards the forest. "Alright fine, let's just get this over with so we can get home."
   Firesoul walked beside Ashwing, and Owlnose stayed a few paces ahead. She glanced over at the silver tom, his emerald eyes shining in the light of the sunset. She thought back to when they first met in the medicine den, she recalled his impossibly soft pelt and immediately thought about moving closer to him, just to feel his amazing fur again. She felt her heart pounding as she made her move. Come on Firesoul! Be bold! She told herself as she moved closer to him. Their pelts brushed against eachother and she felt Ashwing flinch a bit but she didn't dare look at him, fearing she would melt from embarrassment. He said nothing and didn't try to move away, giving Firesoul hope that maybe he reciprocated her feelings.
   They walked until nightfall when Owlnose gruffly suggested they stop and rest for the night. They found a small clearing and made makeshift nests underneath the brush. Owlnose had went strait to sleep, curling up with his back turned to the other nests.Firesoul stared at the rising moon before going to her nest. She thought about Ashwing and what a life with him would be like. She imagined him confessing to her and becoming mates, she imagined starting a family with him, raising amazing kits and spending every minute of every day with him by her side. She shuddered with happiness as she daydreamed, until she heard Ashwings voice behind her. "Hey umm, Firesoul?"
   She turned to see him in his nest under her brush and realized he'd been watching her the whole time. Her pelt suddenly burned with embarrassment as he continued. "Would you like to move your nest closer to mine? So we can be beside each other?" He asked, his eyes hopeful.
   Firesoul could hardly believe her ears. He wants to sleep... beside me?
   "Umm y-yea I'd like that..." she says, trying to keep her voice steady. She moved her nest closer to his and curls up in it. She soon feels the warmth and softness of Ashwings pelt against hers and her heart quickened. "G-Goodnight Ashwing..."
   "Goodnight Firesoul." She heard him respond in a whisper. She closed her eyes but her heart was beating too fast for her to fall asleep immediately. She took deep breaths and let thoughts of home sooth her as she eventually fell into a deep sleep, her dreams filled with the handsome silver furred face and beautiful emerald eyes of Ashwing.