Beyond the Mountains | A Warrior Cats Fanfiction

꧁ ✧ Chapter 28 ✧ ꧂

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Willow started awake, shaking and panting.

It was just a dream.

She rose to her paws, stretching luxuriously. A warm prey-scent emanated from the trees, making her mouth water. She got up, and groomed her pelt, spitting out small dried blood mangled with fur. She shook out her pelt, dust floated from it, residue from her mountain's sheer crumbling peaks. She continued to wash her fur, until it was soft and glossy once again. She sat beside the tree, peering into the forest with undisguised curiosity. Her tail twitched in annoyance.

Why was she so afraid? This could be her new home!

She allowed determination to overwhelm her, and she padded slowly into the forest. A cool breeze welcomed her, and she looked up, dazed by the dappled light sprouting through the trees. Birds sang harmoniously, and the ferns brushed against one another with gracing tenderness. She padded forward, new smells engulfing her with a passion. She breathed them all in, and somehow, knew this was to be her new home.

She had walked for a long time, and was now growing tired. She had caught the plumpest mouse she had ever seen, and ate it gratefully. It was just past sunhigh, and the sun breathed warm air onto all it's light touched. She found a sunny spot upon some rocks by a river, and settled down on one of his flat surfaces. She stretched out, enjoying the warmth soaking into her cold bones. She allowed herself to purr, the rapsy sound reverberating across the rocks, and closed her eyes.

She was awoken only an hour or so later, disturbed by a small group of cats.

''Hey! Theres a cat over here!'' A shout roused her, and she lifted her head sleepily. She saw three shapes bound over to her, two inquisitive, one furious.

''What do you think you're doing here?'' Said a dark red-brown tomcat.

Willow stumbled to her paws, unnerved by the cat's hostility.

''Hey, take it easy, Redleaf. She looks hurt.'' Said a calico she-cat with amber eyes.

What a strange name. She thought to herself.

''It doesn't matter. She's on our territory!'' He snarled stepping forward with a threatening glare.

Willow scrambled back, fumbling around with her legs still half asleep. The third cat leaped forward, stepping infront of Redleaf.

''Poppysun's right. We should take her back to camp, and see what Hazelstar has to say about this. Don't rush into a fight you might regret later.'' The she-cat eyed Redleaf, giving him a look that had a deeper meaning. A meaning Willow didn't know, and that she didn't care about.

''Fine.'' Redleaf growled. ''But you can explain to Sandwhisker why we didn't attack, as we're meant to do, Tansyleap.''

Tansyleap rolled her eyes. ''You know Sandwhisker doesn't care for rogues. Plus, she's probably in Ravenshade's den again, she's always catching whitecough that cat, even in spring!'' Tansyleap went silent. Poppysun pressed her nose into Tansyleap's neck for a heartbeat.

''Your mother is fine, Ravenshade always takes good care of her, doesn't she?'' She pressed, smiling. Tansyleap smiled.

Redleaf groaned, flicking his tail.

''Are we going to stand here like moonstruck rabbits, or are we going to take this rogue to Hazelstar?'' He looked crossly at the two she's. They rolled their eyes, but dipped their heads.

Willow stared at them, bewildered.

''What are you going to do with me?'' She stood up tall, puffing out her fur. Redleaf snorted, walking away.

Tansyleap stepped forward with a reassuring glance at her.

''Don't worry, we won't hurt you. We'd like you invite you to our camp, so we can know more about you.'' She mewed with a sympathetic eye at her hindquaters, which had faint blood streaks.

''Yeah, don't worry! Most of Thunderclan's nice!'' Poppysun leaned forward, pricking her ears at her with terrifying confidence. Tansyleap groaned, pushing her back.

''Will you come? I mean, Redleaf will probably come and drag you if you don't come on your own...''

''uh, okay then. What's his problem anyway?'' Willow asked.

''Oh, he's just grumpy. Its not you. Everyones a bit grumpy after leafbare, they can't wait for newleaf.'' She stated, beginning to walk in the same direction as Redleaf had gone, and Willow followed his scent.

''I see...''

Poppysun burst forward. ''Well, your lucky we found you, not Riverclan.'' She shuddered.

''Whats that?'' She asked, tilting her head. Poppysun burst into laughter, and Tansyleap shoved her.

''Hey, it's not her fault.'' Tansyleap turned to Willow. ''There are five clans, Thunderclan, where we live, Riverclan, Windclan, Skyclan and Shadowclan.''

''Oh.''

''Yep, we eat birds and mice and such in Thunderclan. Windclan eat mainly rabbits, they live on the moor. Skyclan also have forest, downriver, and eat the same things. Shadowclan has the marshes and pines, they eat frogs, lizards, mice, birds. And riverclan is just across the river we were by, and they eat just fish.'' Poppysun pretended to vomit silently. Willow eyed her, before turning back to Tansyleap.

''So... your like a tribe?'' She querried.

''Umm, kind of. Do you have a clan, or a.. tribe?'' She asked as they continued walking. Willow paused.

''Uh, no not really. I'm on my own.'' She replied quietly.

''Oh.'' Tansyleap didn't press, and she felt a gradual friendship growing.

Tansyleap continued to tell her all about clan life, about their ancestors, Starclan, which was very similar to the Tribe of Endless Hunting. The warrior code and more. They approached a gorse tunnel, guarded by a senior dark brown tomcat with golden eyes.

''Appletooth.'' Tansyleap dipped her head at the warrior, returned by the same greeting from him. When he lifted his head, golden eyes pierced hers, and she looked away.

He knew i was coming. She paused infront of the gorse tunnel. Tansyleap gave her a reassuring glance, and she followed her inside. It was dark for a moment, before a blinding light shone out of the exit, and she emerged, surrounded by light, engulfed in it, swimming in it, breathing it.

The light died down as she turned her head, squinting. When her gaze returned, she saw a large sandy clearing, full of cats, all different shapes, sizes, colours. Tansyleap turned to her slowly, angling her head with a proud smile.

''Welcome to Thunderclan.''