Beyond the Mountains | A Warrior Cats Fanfiction

꧁ ✧ Chapter 21 ✧ ꧂

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Willow was falling away from him. Speeding away. Falling, down towards the earth. He was flying, and being pulled away from her. He called out to her, but his throat was being squeezed. He choked, clawing at thin, scabby yet intangible tendons. He cried out, a silent gasping scream as he was tugged away by invisible claws, ripping his body apart as Willow hit the ground. He squirmed, desperate to make sure she was okay. He was twisted, and could no longer look back on Willow. A cold gust of wind blew through his fur, and yet he felt warm and damp. he suddenly felt content yet terrified, and tired. His eyes drooped, and he felt his muscles relaxing. He tried to call for Willow one last time before the sun must have gone down, because he suddenly couldn't see anything, and he was ready to sleep.

Sunny opened his eyes, and saw a shaft of light penetrating the gloom. He sighed,

dropping his head back onto his paws.

It wasn't real. He thought to himself, pinning his ears and yawned. And it won't be real until it is. Willow's head lifted from his shoulder, her anatomy swaying drowsily. She yawned, stretching her paws out over his back, her toes and claws flexing before she purred, resting her head on her outstretched paws.

''Morning.'' He chuckled, pushing his paws down, and raised his figure, sitting up. Her limp body slumped off with an ''oomph!''

Willow rolled over onto her back, purring, she snuggled into his side, her paws curled in the air. She closed her eyes halfway and mrrowed sleepily.

''That's the best sleep I've had in moons!'' She exclaimed, rolling over onto her belly, and looking up at him.

''Yeah, me too.'' He lied, avoiding her gaze. Instead, he looked around at the other cats waking up. they began to groom each other, purring and talking in sleepy but cheerful voices.

He turned his head to Willow, pricking his ears when he realised she was struggling to reach a matted spot on her rump. He spun around, and gently used his head to push hers away as she growled in frustration. He began grooming her, spitting out the small lumps of dirt. He purred, Willow turning her head to groom his ears. They were almost spotless when Stoneteller's voice called through the cave. They turned their heads towards the old she-cat, who sat outside her cave, listing her paw, licking it, then brushing behind her ears, and repeating the process a couple of times before she stretched, and padded back into the cave.

Willow brushed him off gently.

''We need to leave.'' She cooed.

''I know.'' He said stiffly.

''I need to say goodbye to some people... this will... probably be the last time i see them again...'' She stammered, looking sombrely into his warm gaze.

''I know. I'll be alright.'' She dipped her head gratefully and rushed off, her long tail swishing behind her. He lowered his gaze. He wrapped his tail around his paws and sighed. He felt a shadow looming over him, and his skin prickled as he felt breath tickle his neck. Stoneteller stood behind him, ominously.

''I'm sorry.'' She said, her mew rumbling.

Sunny watched Willow dart from cat to cat, grievously saying goodbye to her closest friends.

''Me too.''