Beyond the Mountains | A Warrior Cats Fanfiction

꧁ ✧ Chapter 24 ✧ ꧂

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They continued for the rest of the morning, the eagle's screeches growing, and so was Sunny's nerve, it seemed.

Why is he so agitated?

She mused to herself, looking sideways at him. She had begun to notice him constantly looking at the sky and behind them. His nerves were rubbing off on her.

He caught her looking at him and dipped her head guiltily at his guarded expression. They padded on in silence.

Sunny drew in a sharp breath, his body tense.

''What is with you?'' Willow rounded on him.

''You've been weird since we left.'' She spoke softly.

''What's wrong?'' She asked him, her eyes pleading.

''I'm just...'' He seemed to be considering lying, and she raised a brow. He glanced at her apologetically.

''I'm just nervous. I've never been to this side of the mountains.'' She took a step forward, purring softly.

''You'll be fine.'' She promised. He smiled, his eyes narrowed slightly.

''Come on, lets get down to the lowlands, yeah?'' She smiled, her breath whisping around her muzzle like a holy wreath. He nodded and padded forward, his eyes closed, and he breathed out slowly as he walked beside her.

She looked in concern at him, but before she could say anything, a piercing screech tore through the air, sending chills down her spine. Before she could react, a massive shadow swooped down from above, talons snatching him away.

''No, Sunny!'' Willow's desperate cry echoed in the mountainous expanse as she launched herself into the air, claws outstretched. But another eagle, silent and swift, swooped down and seized her in its formidable talons.

"Willow, fight! Don't let it take you!" he called, his voice strained with fear and urgency.

As they were borne high into the sky, the mountains blurred beneath them, and the world spun with terrifying velocity. Every beat of the eagles' wings brought them closer to an uncertain fate, the wind roaring in their ears amidst their desperate cries. He yowled, struggling in the eagle's grasp. She held onto Sunny's eagle's legs, while her own eagle dug its claws into her rump, slicing into her thighs. She cried out, holding on fiercely. Looking into his pained, but determined eyes, she stared desperately at him. She could feel her own cold blood slowly seeping through her fur down her back legs, as the eagle gripping onto her hind with long talons tightened its grip, while Sunny's blood dripped from his pelt at an alarming rate.

''Let go, Willow.''

''What? No!'' She gripped tighter to the eagle's legs, and it squawked angrily, reaching down to bite her. She leaned her head backwards, narrowly avoiding its sharp beak. It snagged a tuft of fur on her throat, ripping it out viciously. She cried out as her head was yanked forward again.

''Willow,'' He winced, squinting at her through the pain. ''You have to let me go. You have your whole life ahead of you.''

''And you have yours!'' She screeched at him. ''I can't lose you.'' She struggled as her claws were slowly ripping the legs of the eagle that was pulling Sunny away. Her claws would soon come loose, she knew this. She closed her eyes for a moment, and when she opened them again, she saw Sunny and realised how much she loved him and needed him.

The beating wings of the birds battered them violently, and they squabbled above their heads.

Sunny leaned forward as much as he could and licked her wet cheek. He then pressed his forehead to hers, and she could feel his tenseness as pain wrecked his body, his nerves on fire. His short, pained panting.

''I can't let you go, you're all I have.'' She sobbed into his bloodied chest. ''Please, try for me...''

I said I wouldn't let her see me die. I'm keeping that promise. He ignored her plead, knowing if he were to get away, he'd never survive his injuries. Or the fall, which she might just survive if she were to escape soon, as the eagles were slowly gaining height.

''I love you.'' He said.

''I love you too'' She stared into his eyes.

''Then please... forgive me.''

Before even a mild confusion could set in her mind, Sunny growled in agony and determination. He lifted his paws to her shoulders and snarled as he used the last of his energy in a huge shove which sent her flying from the eagle's grip, and her claws sliced through his eagle's legs, feathers snagged in her claws, bleeding from the strain.

''Sunny! No!'' She screamed, falling fast towards the earth. The last thing she saw before hitting the ground, was his soft, promising gaze, tearing her heart apart before she hit the earth, and her eyes closed.