Beyond the Mountains | A Warrior Cats Fanfiction

꧁ ✧ Chapter 33 ✧ ꧂

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Willowpaw bent, reaching to the lowest part of a stem she could, and pulled out a horsetail plant.

''Is hiss ood?'' She mumbled around the frizzy leaves, angling her ears at Ravenshade, who was just standing up with a bunch of marigold. Ravenshade nodded, understanding and padded back to her, dropping the herbs at her paws.

''Perfect. I just need to find some goldenrod, and then we can head back.'' Ravenshade seemed tense, and Willowpaw wondered if it had anything to do with how Sandwhisker was acting. Willowpaw gathered enough courage to ask her.

Ravenshade sighed as green leaves whirled around, the sun winking out behind a cloudy sky.

''This isn't to be repeated, though I believe most of the clan is guessing it, but Sandwhisker isn't doing too well.'' Willowpaw nodded slowly, taking in her words, ignoring the sudden cold air washing through her pelt.

''She's just become.. strange.'' She continued as they slowly walked through the trees, bright evening light blasted them and warming their pelts.

''Like, almost unconscious. Making strange decisions, arguing with simple things with no explanation, like back at camp. I can't figure out the problem, and I feel like I'm failing the clan.'' Ravenshade mewed sadly. Willowpaw looked at her in alarm, pressing her shoulder gently to hers as they walked.

''You're not failing the clan. You're doing all you can to help her, I'm sure.'' She tried to reassure the black she-cat. Ravenshade looked unconvinced but grateful.

''Maybe..''

The wind picked up suddenly, and Ravenshade peered up at the sky, a skeptical look in her green eyes.

''A storm's on its way. A big one.'' She meowed urgently. The sky, at her words, seemed to roar, and a drizzle began. Ravenshade flattened her ears, hissing at her.

''Gather your herbs, quickly!'' She lowered her head to reach her plants, but jerked it up again a moment later. Her eyes widened as she stared blindly at the sky. Lightning flashed, once, twice, thrice, and a fourth time, and as Willowpaw watched, her pupils didn't shrink. Without warning, the sky blasted icy rain onto the earth. Willowpaw darted forward, head-butting her. Ravenshade's pelt shook as she stood tense, while the wind whistled past them, blowing their fur the wrong way. Ravenshade gasped, crouching with a scared look.

''Ravenshade, we have to go!'' She cried, the wind almost pushing her over. Ravenshade turned to squint at her.

''When sand is carried on by the blue storm, the sand will become the rainwater, and at dawn, Willow will catch the breath of wolf.''

Willowpaw awaited her response, the wind howling terribly, both their pelts thick and heavy with water.

''An omen.'' She meowed darkly, her eyes clouded.

''But a prophecy.'' She stared brightly at Willowpaw as dug her claws into the earth, as the wind roared in her ears. Ravenshade seemed unaffected by the turbulent weather.

Finally, she came about her surroundings, and yelled.

''We have to go! Quickly, before it's too late!''

Ravenshade gathered her herbs, and galloped back towards camp. Willowpaw rushed after her, tilting her head towards the worst of the wind. They raced back to camp, leaves and small branches whipping them, Willowpaw squinted, feeling sharpness sting her eyes.

Is that sand? She thought, opening her mouth to taste the rain. Closing her mouth, she felt the gritty texture crunching between her teeth. The sky a dark, swirling grey and blue river, and a dirty yellow-brown rain, making the air thick. Trees creaked, crying out at they were battered by the storm, unable to run for cover. They burst into camp, the wind shoving them inside. They ran past the warrior's den, seeing the the warriors and apprentices huddled, apprentices in the middle, warriors on the outside. She ran past the empty apprentice's den, and ran towards the medicine cat's den, to drop off the herbs. She dropped the herbs into the den, which were held down by rocks just small enough for them to push over to hold the piles down. They both burst out, and headed for the warrior's den to join their classmates. As they passed the nursery, a voice called out to them.

''Willowpaw!''

She slewed to a halt, squinting and peering around for the source of the sound. Movement in the nursery caught her eyes, and she darted forward, Ravenshade following close behind. The entered, escaping the worst of the wind and rain. She brought her eyes open the queens and their kits, and Tansyleap! She dipped her head, pressing her nose to Tansyleap's, glad she was ok.

''We were in here when it got bad, and everyone rushed into the warriors den. We're tried and tried to get their attention, and I can't leave because the kits will freeze.'' She angled her ears at a cuddled bundle by her belly.

''Got it. Me and Ravenshade will stay here until the storm's over.''

Dawnheart peered down at Wolfkit, who was sleeping by her paws. A burst of wind blasted into the nursery, pushing Wolfkit closer to her. Dawnheart closed her eyes and sneezed from the sand, blocking Wolfkit's way into the dip of the nest. With a grunt the small kit fell backwards with his paws flailing, landing on his back and rolling over, close to the entrance where the wind was screaming terribly, rocks and branches darting in and out of view.

He scrambled to his paws as Dawnheart and Willowpaw got to their feet, too late to jump up to save him as he was sucked out.