Beyond the Mountains | A Warrior Cats Fanfiction

꧁ ✧ Chapter 31 ✧ ꧂

Don't forget to vote please! It really helps <33

A heartbroken wail interupted her meal, and the warriors and apprenences around the clearing, stood, their ears flattened and hackles raised. Willowpaw's eyes were wide, and she looked omniously to the gorse tunnel, her heart pounding. Forestpaw, Rainpaw and Tulippaw emerged with their mentors, Goosefern, Brambleheart and Cloudstorm. And another cat, who lay limply upon the warrior's shoudlers. It was Featherdust, an elder. Willowpaw gasped in shock, and rushed forward, along with the rest of the clan. Mothlight, a queen, gently pushed her kits back into the nursery, her fur fluffed out. A warrior rushed up to the highrock like a lizard scuttling across sand, and disappeared into the leader's den. Hazelstar, Stormclaw and Sandwhisker appeared quickly, rushing down the ledge and approaching Goosefern.

''Featherdust...? What happened?'' Hazelstar demanded, flicking her tail for the warriors to lay her on the ground. Senior warriors began to push the crowd back, which was made up of mournful cries and anxious mews.

Ravenshade rushed over, immediately assessing the elder's body. Willowpaw squinted and tried to peer over the the warriors shoulders, but to no avail.

''Come on.'' Pouncepaw meowed to her. ''We'll find out later, Hazelstar will call for a clan meeting when they figure out what happened.'' She nodded, and the apprentences crept into their den, anxiously waiting as the clearing died down, and the elder was moved into Ravenshade's den. The other apprentences burst into conversation, but Willowpaw didn't join in after a glare from Rainpaw. Pouncepaw caught it, and after giving Rainpaw a scolding glace, shuffled closer to her.

''Ignore him. He's just downright grumpy, its not you.'' He turned to look at Rainpaw, who rolled his eyes and turned around, curling up.

''Thanks, Pouncepaw. You've always been so nice to me.'' She mewed, flicking her tail at the younger cat.

''No worries. I mean, you're like, twice our age sooo...'' He chuckled and she laughed.

''True enough, but you've been here longer then I, so I try to keep the peace with everyone.'' He nodded.

''Good idea.'' He replied, crouching down into a loaf, his eyes slitted. She took the hint and rested her chin on her mossy nest.

''All cats old enough to catch their own prey, gather beneath the highrock for a clan meeting!'' Hazelstar's saddened but determined voice rang around the clearing, rousing her from her dreams.

Her fur bristled as she wondered if they would find out what happened to Featherdust.

Stormclaw's head popped through the entrance, his gaze somber, yet pleased to see her.

''Come on. There might be good news too.'' He winked, and his stormcloud-like fur disappeared from veiw.

She stood, her legs tingling as the blood began to flow through them again as she stretched them out. She emerged from the thorny branches of the apprentences den, stepping out into the clearing to find most of the clan already gathered around Featherdust's body, her lifeless fur groomed by her relatives. She joined the crowd, sitting at the back, looking easily over the other apprentences's heads, and some of the warriors. She was slightly larger then most of the warriors. She had guessed tribe cats were and needed to be bigger then forest cats.

''Ravenshade has assessed Featherdust's body, and has revealed the way in which she died.'' The clan waited silently, a small sob coming from a warrior near the front.

''Featherdust was attacked.'' Gasps spread throughout the clan, but awaited more explanation.

''Before she died, she was fighting. Last night, she had gone out to use the dirtplace, and didn't return. We think Featherdust was ambushed, and fought bravely. There was grey fur in her claws, so we have that evidence, but unfortunately we can't distinguish the scent. However, Ravenshade suggests the reason for her death, is being struck by the falling tree, and the ambusher fled.'' Wails echoed through the clan as cats called out her name in distraut, followed by angry screeches.