StarClan isn't real..

Chapter 19

Finchpaw headed off across the moor, happy that she didn't need to train today. Applestar had sent out cats to warn the other Clans of the possible attack. Finchpaw had been chosen for SkyClan, and her brothers, and Stormcloud, were off to warn the other Clans.

She was quite glad that she had been chosen for SkyClan. Finchpaw didn't like walking for long periods, especially through dense overgrowth and marshes. She had never crossed the thunderpath before- that would be a slight pet peeve- but it was fine if she got hit by a monster or didn't.

Funny how Ryepelt thought the Clan would believe him, Finchpaw thought. He really is a fool. I can't believe Palemask chose him.

She thought of the Dark Forest warrior, and wondered what happened to him. She guessed that Willowmist had killed him, but she didn't need to care. Palemask had nothing to do with her, or Ryepelt, or Specklebird... or the others.

Haven't seen Brindlescar in a while... or Newtpaw.

She remembered the SkyClan cats she had trained with; she didn't care about them, but it was always nice to have someone in other Clans you could rely on for favors. She wondered if Darksong had changed his mind and started his training... but the tom was pretty much useless, so it didn't matter if he did.

Reaching the thunderpath, Finchpaw crouched, waiting for a monster to speed past. The ground began to shake, and she tensed, preparing for the flash of color.

The monster sped by, sending a cloud of smoke in Finchpaw's face. She spat and pushed out from under her, sending herself bounding across the thunderpath. It had an acrid scent and rough, hard ground, which raked against her paw pads with every step. Finally, her paws touched the warm, soft grass, and she heaved a sigh of relief.

Turning to the hills that edged the long slope leading to mothermouth, Finchpaw headed that way. The hills were the SkyClan border; after Twolegs had destroyed the old territory, they had moved to the moorland near mothermouth, although from what Finchpaw had heard at gatherings, there were still patches of forest.

Reaching the foot of the hill, Finchpaw sprang, digging her claws into the steep edge. She began to haul herself up, wondering how difficult it would be to get down, or if any SkyClan warriors had ever fallen off.

As she was about to reach the edge of the hill, a yowl sounded from the top.

"Hey! What are you doing here?"

Looking up, Finchpaw saw a pale ginger she-cat, who she recognized as Jayspirit. Behind her, a light colored tom named Webhawk appeared, followed by a solid gray she-cat named Birchwillow, and a silver she-cat called Quickpaw.

Finchpaw hauled herself onto the top of the hill. "Um. I have a message to pass on to SkyClan," She mewed.

Webhawk pushed her to her paws. Finchpaw hissed and lashed her tail. "Don't touch me," She snapped, but the warriors didn't seem to hear her.

"Come on." Jayspirit mewed. She led the way across the moor, while Finchpaw and the rest of the patrol followed. Webhawk took a place beside her, with Birchwillow on the other side, and Quickpaw at the rear.

Great, so I'm a prisoner now? Finchpaw thought.

She felt annoyed as she was led between a clump of gorse, into a shallow hollow. In front of the entrance was a hollowed out log, which a warrior named Brindlescar laid on, his flank rising and falling as he slept. Maybe he's with the others right now, Finchpaw thought. Across the camp was a massive stump where Echostar called Clan meeting, and under it was the deputy, Applemask, a huge, pale ginger she-cat with a lovely dappled coat.