Warriors: The River's End Book #1: Escaping Danger

Chapter 1

Chapter 1

                Minnowstream stared in shock at her brother.

                “What?”

                “Where will we go?”

                “This is RiverClan’s home! We mustn’t abandon it!”

                “Silence!” Pebblestar screeched.

                Every voice quieted except for one. “What if we don’t want to leave?” Cherrystorm, the oldest, and the grumpiest, elder hissed.

                Pebblestar glared at her. “I will stay behind with those who wish to remain here. The rest of you will leave for a place Tawnystar said my mother stayed as a kit. You will be lead by Minnowstream, if she accepts, of course.”

                All heads snapped towards the RiverClan deputy, who shifted uncomfortably on her paws. She pictured the rushing river, the beautiful camp, and the peaceful lake. This is my home.

                Then she recalled the roaring of the ferocious monsters, and the words of her brother describing the destruction of the camp. But my home is gone now…

                Minnowstream lifted her head and met her brother’s eyes. “I am willing to lead my Clan to a safer home as long as I am given directions to this place you speak about.”

                Pebblestar dipped his head, relief sparkling in his clear blue gaze. “Thank you. Now, you must make your decision to leave or stay by tomorrow at sunrise. In making your decision, remember that it’ll more than likely be safer to go with Minnowstream, as there’ll be a stream in her territory. Anyhow, we needn’t worry about border patrols, only for today. Hunting is of more importance, since we can’t use the river and we have many mouths to feed. Willowstorm, will you organize the patrols? I need to speak with Minnowstream.”

                Minnowstream waited as the RiverClan leader padded over to her. “The place Salmonstar stayed is far away from here,” Pebblestar warned. “You’d have to travel through horse-place and cross the first Thunderpath you see. When you reach the second one, head towards the right and follow it until you reach a forest. Stay there for the night and then continue on. You’ll reach a Twolegplace and have to ask some worthless kittypet for directions to a valley with a stream.”

                Minnowstream nodded. “And what do we do once we arrive?”

                “The valley would make a good camp, since it has a river in it. One side faces Twolegplace while the rest of it is surrounded by forest. You can claim some of the forest as your land,” Pebblestar replied.

***

                The next morning came quickly. Minnowstream was starving. Despite the fact that every warrior had left on a hunting patrol, they’d only returned with a scrawny shrew and two mice. She’d chosen not to eat, deciding that the rest of the Clan needed it more. A half-eaten rabbit laid in the center of camp and as the tempting aroma wafted over to her, she could barely resist.

                 Minnowstream shook her head and tried to push her hunger to the back of her mind. She looked around at her home one final time and then walked over to sit beside Pebblestar. “What is RiverClan going to do when we’re gone? You have no camp and no river, so you’ll have to hunt land prey. And the monsters may come closer…”

                Pebblestar gave her a weary look. “I believe you have your own problems to worry about,” he murmured. “Neither path will be easy. It will be difficult to settle the Clan in a different place.”

                Before Minnowstream could respond, Pebblestar leapt to his paws and summoned the Clan. “The cats who are staying here, stand up!” he yowled. “If you wish to travel with Minnowstream, remain seated.”

                Minnowstream scanned the cats. To no one’s surprise, all of the elders stood with Tigerstep on her feet beside them. Briarstorm, one of the Clan’s senior warriors, was also staying. The only other cats that had made the decision of trying to survive on the last bits of RiverClan territory were Vineleaf, Lionpelt, Leafclaw, and Silvershade. Minnowstream felt a ripple of unease pass through the Clan. Of the small group that had chosen to continue life by the lake, almost half were elders. And although Tigerstep was an efficient medicine cat, she wouldn’t contribute much, if anything, to the fresh-kill pile.

                Reedstream looked hurt when he noticed Silvershade standing. “Why aren’t you coming with us? Don’t you want to be with me?”

                “Of course I do!” Silvershade purred. “But I can’t come on such a long, perilous journey because Reedstream, I’m expecting your kits!”

                Reedstream’s face brightened. “I’ll stay with you! Our kits will be beautiful! But…Minnowstream, can we come join you later if we want to, once our kits are old enough?”

                Minnowstream nodded. “Of course!”

                “Goldenshine, are you sure you wish to go with Minnowstream and the traveling cats?” Pebblestar asked. “After all, you have kits!”

                “Yes,” the she-cat replied. “My kits are only a half-moon away from being apprenticed. They can walk for most of the way and if necessary, I think they’re still small enough to be carried for a short amount of time.”

                Pebblestar sighed. “Is everybody certain that this is the path you wish to take?”

                “No!” a high-pitched voice, belonging to Deerpaw, wailed. “I’m sorry Littlepaw, Ratpaw, but I can’t leave RiverClan!”

                Littlepaw and Ratpaw sorrowfully said good-bye to their sister and went to join the cats who were waiting at one side of the clearing.

                Minnowstream hurried over to Pebblestar and touched noses with him one last time. “May StarClan light your path.”

                A lifetime’s worth of regret glistened in her brother’s eyes. “And yours.”

                As Minnowstream trotted over to the cats she was now in charge of, she was met by Thistletail. “Minnowstream, in case you didn’t notice at the meeting, I will be accompanying you to the valley,” the russet tom meowed. “The Clan will need a medicine cat.”

                Minnowstream dipped her head respectfully to the medicine cat, who had been Tigerstep’s apprentice. “Thank you.”

                And so the journey began. As they neared the place that had once been their camp, Minnowstream cast one last glance over her shoulder. She saw Pebblestar, who was staring dejectedly at the ground, looking utterly defeated.

A/N: Minnowstream is officially leaving the camp! This story is going to be in her POV, it was only Pebblestar POV for the prologue. 

Anyhow thanks for reading and please share your thoughts with me!