Warrior Cats: Into the Unknown.(1/3)

Chapter 8

When Fernpaw woke, the clan was already busy and buzzing like a bee's nest. She padded yawning out of the apprentices' den. Sandstorm's and Blossomfall's bodies had been carried out by the elders. Pigeonpaw and Acornpaw were hurrying out of the camp after their mentors, while Frogpaw bounded after them. "Wait for me!" He yowled. Fernpaw flicked an ear. Frogpaw wouldn't be so excited for anything except battle training. Swiftpaw and Willowpaw were patching the nursery with leaves and twigs. Badgerkit and Smokekit watched intently as their mother, Daisy, and Rosepetal and Cinderheart helped the apprentices. Thornclaw, Brackenfur, Cloudtail and Brightheart were dragging large brambles over the clearing and stocking up the barrier. Timberpaw and Oakpaw were circling each other in the clearing, their tails lashing. Squirrelflight was talking to Icefeather and Bramblestar under the highledge, while Cloverpaw was talking to her mentor Sparktail. Berrynose was leading Mousewhisker, Flamingheart and Snowbush into camp, their jaws laiden with prey. Whitewing led Lilyheart, Hollytuft and Poppyfrost into the tunnel entrance, noding to Lionblaze's patrol as they passed. Fernpaw felt anxiety rising up inside her. The clan was getting ready for battle. She closed her eyes for a moment. "Have you gotten enough sleep?" She jumped when Ambermoon's voice sounded behind her. It wasn't warm, but expressionless and a little distant. Fernpaw nodded uncertainly. "Good, because there's something I need to show you." She murmured as she brushed past her. Fernpaw trotted after her when her mentor flicked her tail to beckon her to do so. "I'm taking Fernpaw out. We'll be for a while, but we'll be back my moonhigh. If we're not back by then, then you can send a patrol to find us." She mewed to the leader. Icefeather glanced at her suspiciously. Bramblestar nodded with a rasping laugh. "Always out and about, Ambermoon." The ginger she-cat dipped her head before beckoning Fernpaw to follow her. After they'd entered the tunnel, Ambermoon sprang away. Fernpaw bolted after her, stretching her stiff limbs. She dodged trailing branches and leaped over trailing ivies. She kept her gaze firmly on Ambermoon's tail as she streaked ahead of her. Fernpaw's paws pounded on the ground as she fought to keep up with her mentor. She gasped and skidded to halt as Ambermoon dashed across the border and into the unknown forest. "Ambermoon!" She yowled after her mentor. The ginger she-cat scrambled to halt. "Be quiet or I'll claw your ears off!" Ambermoon snapped as she strode back to her. Fernpaw crouched in fear. "I'm sorry, but I'm not sure we should be crossing the border." She whispered. Ambermoon sighed. "I'm taking you across the border for a reason, now get to your paws and follow me." She growled before whipping around and trotting away into the forest thicket. Fernpaw sniffed. A few stale ThunderClan scent marks dotted the trees, and beyond them, no ThunderClan scent at all. Her heart began to pound as she followed Ambermoon across the scent line. It felt like stepping off the edge of the world. They trekked away from the lake, pushing deeper into the woodland than she had ever been. The forest floor became unfamiliar beneath her paws. The broad oak and beech leaves, so smooth on her pads, gave way to small, scrunched-up hazel. Fernpaw couldn't even scent the lake anymore, and the woodland became denser. Smaller trees clustered closer, and the two she-cats had to weave along a winding path. The soft foliage of ferns and berry bushes gradually petered out, and the smell of prey became fainter. Twigs scratched her pelt. The land was sloping steadily upward, and Fernpaw could smell mountain air drifting down through the trees. There was no arguing with Ambermoon. After a while, Shadowclan scents washed over her like a wave, mixed with another scent unknown to her. She wrinkled her nose. She sped up to match her mentor's fast pace. "Where are we?" She asked. Ambermoon flicked an ear but kept her gaze firmly on ahead without answering. Fernpaw groaned inwardly. She stopped when a weird, straight wooden barrier rose up a tree length away, and behind that stood large, red boxes. Twolegs. "I don't want to go there." Fernpaw mewed as she backed away. Ambermoon didn't stop walking. "Are you disobeying my orders?" Her voice was cold as ice and sent a shiver along Fernpaw's spine. She bounded after the ginger she-cat. They stopped in front of the wooden barrier and gazed up at it. "Do it like me." Ambermoon mewed before bracing her hind legs under her. She stared up before springing off the ground. She landed delicately on top of the barrier. "What's it called?" Fernpaw asked as she crouched. "A fence." Ambermoon mewed as she gazed into the gardens behind her. Fernpaw braced her hind legs under her belly before pushing off the ground. Her front paws hit the top, and her hind legs dangled helplessly behind her. She clawed frantically at the wood as she tried to haul herself up. "Help me!" She mewed to Ambermoon, but the she-cat just watched her. "Are you going to give up?" She asked. Fernpaw felt a surge of anger inside her. She scrabbled at the wall with her hind paws before finally managing to haul herself up. She glared at Ambermoon as she found her balance. "Don't be angry. You'll have to learn that giving up is not an option." She mewed before turning around and walking along the fence post. Fernpaw trotted after her, focusing on her balance. "These are twoleg gardens. They use it to mark their territory." Her mentor mewed as she veered of the main track. Fernpaw hurried after her. They passed two twoleg nests before Ambermoon sprang off the fence. Fernpaw leaped after her and let out a hiss as pain shot through her. She had grazed her pads as she landed. She dabbed at the hard stone ground. "I don't like this." She muttered as she followed Ambermoon. A dog barked in a distance, and she shrank back. Monsters were crouched beside the twoleg nests, waiting to spring. "Are we safe?" She whispered to her mentor. She nodded. "Perfectly safe." She mewed. The ginger cat led her through the twoleg place, weaving in and out of paths that led here and there. Fernpaw felt exhaustion dragging at her paws as she followed. "Where are we going?" She mewed. Ambermoon didn't answer as she stopped in front of a thin tendril. The tendril went on about two tree-lengths from each side of the two she-cats before veering. Inside was a long stretch of grass, dotted with bushes. In the middle stood a small, dense forest, but it looked as there was another clearing in the middle. She took in a deep breath. Many cat scents hit her nose, and she shivered. "Come on." Fernpaw didn't mistake the fear in her mentor's voice as she spoke. Fear scent rolled off her in waves, making Fernpaw even more nervous. Ambermoon leaped over the thin tentril, and Fernpaw followed her close behind. The two she-cats bolted across the grass toward the small forest, only consisting of around twenty-thirty trees that were woven around each other and lay thickly together. In the middle stood a huge oak, with gnarled branches and roots that stuck out of the ground all around it. Ambermoon skidded to halt in front of the trees. "Be quiet." She murmured to Fernpaw before letting out a yowl. Fernpaw couldn't resist but pressing herself up to her mentor. Her eyes widened when a few cats dropped out of the trees or stepped out of the undergrowth from inside the forest. One of them was a huge, fluffy, golden tabby tom with amber eyes and a red collar. Another one was a grey and white tom, who stepped out of a small holly bush. A skinny, scrawny, brown tabby tom with yellow eyes followed him. A lithe white she-cat dropped from a branch of a young oak. Her eyes were blazing yellow, and she had small neat paws, and was not much bigger than Fernpaw herself. Fernpaw felt Ambermoon slacken beside her. "Ambermoon." The large golden tom mewed. His voice was deep and calm, but still held an edge of an authoratitive tone. Ambermoon dipped her head. "Big Red." She murmured. Fernpaw's eyes widened. Ambermoon knew these cats? She tried to relax her muscles, but she was stiff and scared. The grey and white tom trotted toward them and touched Ambermoon's nose with his. "Good to see you well again, Flick." Ambermoon purred. Fernpaw stared at her mentor. The Thunderclan she-cat felt more comfortable around rogues and kittypets than her own clan! "Come on in." Big Red mewed and sidestepped. Ambermoon dipped her head as she stepped inside. Fernpaw followed her uncertainly. "Who's that with you?" The scrawny tom asked. There was no fear or hostility in his voice, only curiosity. "This is my apprentice, Fernpaw." She mewed and stopped. Flick gasped while Big Red's eyes widened. "Is she...?" Flick's question was cut off by a furious hiss from Big Red. "Quiet, you fool." He growled. Ambermoon nodded before trotting on. Fernpaw felt foreboding and uneasiness rising inside her. What was going on? Her eyes widened when she saw a huge oak tree, with long, gnarled branches. The trunk was short but wide. Roots jutted out of the ground, where a few cats sheltered under. Fernpaw followed her mentor, close by her side as she gazed around herself. In the bushes that dotted the area around the oak, were cats slipping in and out. She flicked her ears when she heard tiny mewling of kits. Three cats were practicing fighting a little way off. Many other cats were crouching or just walking on the branches of the oak. "Welcome to the Renegades." Ambermoon whispered in her ear. Fernpaw felt her heart racing. Some cats had already seen her, and had stopped whatever they were doing. A long limbed black tom leaped from one of the oak branches and padded toward them. Ambermoon stopped and waited for him. "Greetings, Oscar." She mewed, dipping her head. "Ambermoon." He muttered in greeting. Fernpaw wanted to snarl at him. He was so rude somehow. "Who's this with you?" He asked, gazing into Fernpaw's emerald eyes. Ambermoon touched her shoulder with the tip of her tail. "My apprentice, Fernpaw." She mewed, looking from Fernpaw to Oscar. The black tom's eyes widened and he shot a glance at Ambermoon, who nodded slowly. "Where's Renegade?" Ambermoon asked. Oscar gave Big Red an uncomfortable glance. "We think the Strikes have attacked a group of kittypets not far from here. So she went to investigate." Oscar mewed. Big Red nodded. "Yes, she took many of our best fighters, so we're a bit vulnerable." He murmured worriedly. "Who did she take?" Her mentor asked. "Leo, Simba, Percy, Rhea, Tucker, Lady, Melody and Sandra." Big Red answered. Ambermoon pricked her ears. "I'm surprised she didn't take Mickey or someone else instead of Sandra. She's still just in training and still has to prove her loyalty to you." She pointed out. "She's almost one of us." Oscar mewed, his tail tip twitching. Ambermoon nodded slowly, lost in her own thoughts. "Can we have someone show Fernpaw around?" Ambermoon then asked. Oscar nodded and beckoned a grey tom. He trotted toward them, his ears pricked. "Go find James and Sebastian." He murmured. Ambermoon stepped forward. "I don't think that's a good idea. They're way too hostile." She mewed. Oscar glared at her before murmuring something in the grey tom's ear. Then he nodded and raced off to the cats that were tussling on the ground. "Any new cats?" Ambermoon asked him. "Yes, three. One of them is in great danger, and we don't know if he'll survive. His name is... Murdock, if I remember right. He was hit by a twoleg monster, but our healers are trying their best to heal him." Oscar mewed. "Then a kittypet came the other day and asked to join us. She's right there." He added and flicked his tail at a nearby bush. "Her name is Mercy." He murmured. She was a light tabby and white she-cat, a bit small too. "We also came across another she-cat, Pearl, was her name. She asked to join, and she stayed here for a few days before disappearing." Oscar mewed before nodding. "I'll leave you to it, then." He mewed before trotting away. Fernpaw sat down nervously. "Who was that?" Fernpaw craned her neck to whisper in Ambermoon's eyes. "That was Oscar. One of the deputies." She mewed. What? "One of the deputies? What do you mean?" She asked in astonishment. Before Ambermoon could reply, the smokey grey tom was back with three other cats behind him. Fernpaw realized that they must be around a young apprentice's age. They all dipped their heads briefly, excitement shining through their eyes. "This is Coal." Big Red mewed and flicked his tail at a pitch black tom with bright yellow eyes. He had long limbs and a thick fur, and Fernpaw suspected that he must be Oscar's son. "Alex." Big Red nodded at a large ginger tom with green eyes. "Nice of you to choose the biggest troublemaker." Ambermoon muttered amusedly. "And Diesel." Big Red flicked his tail toward a black tom with a white chest and green eyes. "Hi." Fernpaw croaked awkwardly. She had always been taught to show aggression and hostility to unknown cats, but if Ambermoon was comfortable around them, then Fernpaw hoped that she had nothing to fear. "What's your name?" Alex asked eagerly. Fernpaw felt the fur rising along her shoulders, and she felt uncomfortable. But she forced her fur to lie flat again. "I'm Fernpaw." She mewed, lifting her chin. The three toms stared at her. "Pfft, what a weird name." Diesel purred. "Hey! Don't be rude." Big Red growled and cuffed him lightly around the ears. "Smokey said that we're supposed to show Ambermoon's friend our camp." Coal mewed delightely. Fernpaw nodded once, uncertain. "Well, come on then!" Alex mewed and bounded away. Fernpaw looked at Ambermoon, but her mentor was already padding away with Big Red by her side. "Come on, we don't bite." Diesel mewed. "Hard." Coal added teasingly. Fernpaw felt her heard brighten. Maybe these cats weren't so bad after all. She bounded after them and slowed when she reached Diesel's side. "So, you are Ambermoon's apprentice?" Coal asked. She nodded. "How long have you been one?" Diesel asked. Fernpaw felt a little taken aback by all their questions. "About a moon." She murmured. "Really? Diesel and I have just started our training too! Although Alex has been for a bit shorter." He added, cocking his head to the tom who was talking to a white she-cat with yellow eyes and a pink collar. "There are so many kittypets here." Fernpaw mewed. Coal looked at her sharply. "There's nothing wrong with being a kittypet." He mewed with a hint of aggression in his voice. "No, no, I didn't say so. A lot of kittypet blood runs in my veins. My father was born a kittypet, and my mother's father's father was also born a kittypet." She mewed quickly. "Anyways, tell me about your camp. Isn't that what you were supposed to do?" She pointed out. Diesel and Coal nodded. "This is the prey pile." He mewed and flicked his tail toward a pile that consisted of rats, a few mice and squirrels and other twoleg rubbish. She wrinkled her nose. "You eat twoleg food?" She asked. Coal nodded. "Occasionally. We bowl over those shining boulders, and often we can find food in it. But Renegade also sends us into the forest sometimes to hunt mice and squirrels and such. Although the Renegades are not the best hunters ever." He then added with a mutter. Fernpaw flicked her tail. "Oh, there's the trinity." Diesel mewed and flicked his tail toward three, massive, fluffy white she-cats. They were sharing a plump squirrel in front of a holly bush. Alex bounded up to them. "Sorry for how late I was. Chloe wanted to talk to me." He mewed. Fernpaw nodded. "It's alright." She murmured while Diesel chirped teasingly. "You're always late." Alex growled playfully at them, but continued walking beside Fernpaw. Alex followed her gaze and moved closer to Fernpaw. "The trinity." He shuddered. "Don't ever pick a fight with them. They're mean and dangerous." He growled, baring his teeth. Fernpaw flicked an ear. They just looked like some pampered kittypets that she had heard so often about in the elders' tales. "What are their names?" She asked. "The blue-eyed one is Sparkles, and the green-eyed one is Twinkle and the yellow-eyed one is Pixie." Coal answered. "They're three of our best fighters and most dangerous cats. Don't pick a fight with them." He added as they passed them. To Fernpaw's relief, the three she-cats didn't even look up at them. "There's old Toby." Alex mewed and flicked his tail toward a scrawny, ragged, mangy dark brown tabby and white tom who lay in the shelter of a gorse bush. "He's very grumpy, and his tongue is as sharp as his claws." Coal muttered as they stopped a few fox-lengths away from Toby. "Come on." Diesel mewed and trotted ahead of them toward the Oak. He leaped off the ground and fastened his claws into the rough bark, before scrambling upward. "Do you want some help, Alex?" Coal offered, stepping forward to stand beside his friend. "No, of course not!" Alex snapped with a growl. Then he sprang off the ground and dug his claws in. He scrabbled at the trunk with his hindpaws and tried to heave himself upward. Diesel and Coal exchanged worried glances. With a yowl, Alex dropped back to the ground. He managed to twist himself in the air and landed on four paws. He staggered, and Fernpaw shot toward him to steady him. Alex quickly regained his balance and shrugged her off. "I'll just wait here." He muttered as he sat down. Coal and Fernpaw exchanged worried glances. "You first." Coal mewed and stepped back. "Thanks." Fernpaw purred before heaving an enormous leap. Digging her claws into the rough bark, she quickly clawed her way up. Diesel stepped aside to make room for her and together they waited for Coal as he scrambled up. The black tom then led the way as the trio padded along a long, crooked branch until they came to a thick canopy of leaves. "This is where a few of our cats sleep." Fernpaw followed Coal as he pushed his way into the thicket, but immediately bumped into his hindquarters. She opened her mouth to ask what in Starclan's name he thought he was doing until she lifted her head and saw one of the biggest cats she had ever seen, towering above Coal. He had huge, curved ears, a short tail, snaggly teeth and long curved claws that stuck out of his paws. He had a bulky, heavy body, long fur and a white chest and front paws. Fernpaw's eyes widened when he stared down at Coal. "What? Why have you stopped?" Diesel's irritated mew was cut off as he bumped into her hindquarters, and now three pairs of eyes stared up at the massive tom. "Who's your friend, Coal?" Fernpaw flinched and her heart leaped when the tom spoke. But her mind went blank with surprise and astonishment. His voice was rasping, but it was not harsh, but curious and happy. "F-Fernpaw." She stammered as she gazed up at him. "Ah, you're one of those forest cats? I might have guessed." He purred. When she didn't reply, his hunched his shoulders. "Look a bit scary, don't I, eh? Don't worry, I won't bite." He purred as he stepped aside to make room for them to pass. Fernpaw gazed at him with wide eyes as they padded past him. "Who was that?" She asked as a shiver ran through her. "His name is Mickey. He was born a kittypet, but he doesn't look anything like it." Coal answered as he nodded to two black she-cats, one with green eyes while the other one had amber eyes. "Zora, Cora." He greeted them. "Honestly, I've always been a bit scared of Mickey." Diesel muttered in her ear. Fernpaw could understand why. He looked far more dangerous than any warrior she'd seen back in the clans' territories.

By the time they had finished touring the huge oak, the sun was beginning to set, and Fernpaw felt weariness dragging at her paws. She leaped down from the trunk, and Coal and Diesel soon joined her. Alex was tucking in a small mouse while a dark ginger tom was mewing something to him. Fernpaw stepped aside when a large ginger tom padded toward them and clawed his way up the tree. "Renegade is back." Diesel murmured into Coal's ear as he looked up after the tom, and Fernpaw wasn't sure if she was supposed to hear that or not. "Who's Renegade?" She asked, flicking her tail. The two toms stared at her in astonishment. "She's our leader." Diesel snorted. "Well, I'm sorry I didn't know. I just came here." Fernpaw snapped, her fur bushing up. "Calm down." Coal mewed to the two cats. "She's sitting with Ambermoon there." He added and flicked his tail to where Ambermoon sat with Mickey, Big Red and three other cats Fernpaw hadn't seen. "Who are the other three cats?" She asked them. "Renegade, Rhea, and Simba, Mickey's brother." Diesel replied. Fernpaw flicked an ear. She might have guessed. They had the same build and the same ears. "They two other brothers. One of them was named Disney, but he was a bit smaller than them. Then there was Bambi. The four brothers were the best fighters of the Renegades." Coal's mew ended with a sigh. "What happened to Bambi and Disney?" Fernpaw asked carefully. She didn't want to make him uncomfortable. "When Disney, Bambi, Koda and Mia were patrolling, the Strikes ambushed and killed them all." Coal choked out the words, and the fur along his spine rose. Fernpaw could feel her own fur rising, and her eyes widened. What cat could be so cruel? "Who are the Strikes?" She asked, as she touched his shoulder with a tip of her tail as Diesel trotted away to crouch beside Alex. Coal straightened himself. "Our biggest, sworn enemies." He growled before stalking toward Renegade and the others. Fernpaw trotted after him, nervousness gripping her heart like icy talons. Renegade murmured something and nodded before rising to her paws. "So this is Fernpaw?" She asked, her tail tip twitching. Fernpaw nodded hesitantly. "I'm Renegade. But I suspect that Coal, Alex and Diesel have already told you about me." She mewed, her voice calm and deeper than most she-cats'. "They did." Fernpaw murmured. Ambermoon padded toward them. "I promised we'd be back by Moonhigh, so we'd better be getting back." She murmured to Renegade. The russet she-cat nodded. "Yes, but keep your eyes open. The Strikes are still lurking out there." She growled, her face grim and serious. "We'll be back soon too." Ambermoon mewed. "Good-bye." She mewed to Mickey and the other cats, and they dipped their heads as the ginger she-cat led Fernpaw away.