NO ESCAPE. THE RUNAWAY

CHAPTER 5

A dark-furred she-cat leaped over the fence, opening her mouth to drink the air. Another scrappy-furred black and white she-cat bounded next to her.

"Did you do anything about those intruders?" The she-cat growled.

"No...they weren't causing any harm...plus they were technically on their own territory...But I would be careful...Have you and FlyingFox keep watch...if they get too close for comfort...confront them..." The dark-furred she-cat ordered.

"Got it..." The she-cat nodded and bounded off to where the fluffy black tabby tom was napping.

"Right...Attack me..." OtterTusk ordered MountianPaw. MountianPaw nodded with a smirk. MountianPaw disappeared into the trees, hiding from OtterTusk. The mentor was oblivious as he leaped down off his hindquarters and down onto pinning him to the ground. OtterTusk was surprised and a bit impressed.

"Nice sneak attack...but if- " He got interrupted by DawnPaw smacking MountianPaw off OtterTusk, playfully pinning him to the ground.

"CougarPounce..." OtterTusk bowed his head.

"I thought I'd let DawnPaw have some fun after her taking care of the elders all morning..." CougarPounce smiled. The two apprentices were playing in the shallow river, splashing around playfully. OtterTusk leaned his head on CougarPounce's shoulder. CougarPounce flushed red but smiled softly and laid his head on the tom's head. OtterTusk lifted his head and smirked, playfully smacking his paw lightly on the side of Cougar's face. OtterTusk bounded away, flying into the trees with Cougar on his tail. CougarPounce caught OtterTusk, the two tumbled onto the forest floor, CougarPounce was laughing playfully rolling his eyes as OtterTusk rasped his tongue along the tom's face with a soft smile. CougarPounce looked surprised as OtterTusk bounded off into the water.

"Bet you can't catch me!" OtterTusk laughed as Cougar pinned him down in the shallow water.

"Pinned ya!" He smirked. OtterTusk rolled his eyes. The two stood off with a low growl. A rustle was heard in the bushes. "Come out!" Cougar snarled. Creek emerged from the bushes with wide eyes.

"Oh! Creek...What are you doing all the way at Mossrocks?" OtterTusk asked.

"Marble wants to see you...meet her at MotherMouth with BlackBird and CrowStar..." Creek bowed his head, without waiting for an answer he disappeared into the bracken. OtterTusk took the apprentices back to camp with CougarPounce. He reached his head under the lichen that hung over his den.

"CrowStar?" OtterTusk called.

"Come in!" The leader responded.

"Marble wanted me to get you and BlackBird to meet Marble at MotherMouth she wants to have a word with you..." Otter bowed his head as the group of warriors padded out of camp. MountianPaw and DawnPaw was among them as well. The group of cats, with WolfSpider too, padded across the thunderpath.

"You made it..." Marble bowed her head. OtterTusk whipped around to see HareFlight and her apprentice HollowPaw. He snarled before DawnPaw shouted out of the crowd.

"Mom!" DawnPaw purred and bounded up to her mother.

"Listen...QuailSpots has returned...and he's too strong for just us along to stop us...We're living at the barn because he stole our home at MotherMouth...I wanted to bring warriors from each clan to see if they would help us on this journey..." Marble bowed her head.

"QUAILSPOTS!" BlackBird snarled, his tail slashing from side to side.

"Who's with him?" WolfSpider asked as BlackBird moved to the other side of the crowd away from WolfSpider.

"QuailSpot's is the leader, ThymeSight, WoodenSnarl, BadgerStripe, DarkenedWhisper and a few others." Marble answered. BlackBird, shaking his head.

"Very well...I think we'd all be willing to..." CrowStar nodded and turned BlackBird who finally caved and sighed. For the clan, he decided as he turned to RidgedIce of SunsetClan. The tom was shaking his head deliberately.

"No way! SunsetClan is safe from enemy's and that will stay that way!" He shook his head.

"Now RidgedIce...that would not be polite...we may be safe, but the other clans are in danger...We'll help..." HopeStar nodded.

"Great! Thank you! All of you! And...I need a few apprentices from each clan...MountianPaw, HawkPaw, HollowPaw, VampirePaw, and TurtlePaw...Come with me...The rest of you keep watch..." Marble smiled. The five apprentices bounded away, DawnPaw following with. The apprentices were brought to the MoonStone, the bright stone gleaming across the stone walls of the cave.

"Each of you...touch your nose to the stone...StarClan will put you to sleep." Marble nodded and padded out of the cave without another word.

"But why? Are we apart of some prophecy?" DawnPaw raised a brow. MountianPaw touched his nose to the stone and was brought to sleep. As he drifted, he was brought to a large open plain, beautiful sunset, and a huge waterfall in the middle. His eyes widened as SwampyStar landed towards him.

"MountianPaw...You have done well in your training...Dusk, Dawn, Sunrise, Sunset, and the Morning will come together and shake you and the forest to its core...everything will be changed...forever...Follow it." SwampyStar whispered then disappeared, leaving a confused and bewildered MountianPaw.