Featherstars curse

Chapter seven

I watched the shimmering water slip peacefully down the river. An orange leaf swirled down breaking the surface. It sent circling ripples across the water. Birds sang around me, chorusing to each other. Warmth spread over my pelt as the sun glared down. I watched as a shadow danced under the water. It twisted and turned bobbling beneath the surface. A shimmering grey fish leaped soundlessly from the water. It sent droplets flying in all different directions. The world seemed to slow as its body arched, the water still clinging to its scales. The blue sky reflected off the water. It landed back in the river with a splash. Dragonflies buzzed in circles around the reeds. As I lay there the sun warming my pelt I heard the distant hum of chatter. I sat up alert. The reeds swayed peacefully in the breeze. My eyes intently scanned the long grass to spy any signs of cats. I swear I heard something, it might be coming from behind me? I thought as I bounded swiftly, in a few graceful leaps down the cluster of rocks. I searched my heart racing. I looked behind each rock as though I expected there to be an army of cats ready to leap out at me. I heard the chatter again but closer. This sent me quickly darting behind a rock in attempt to hide myself. I peeked over so far I thought I might topple over. I scanned the reeds. Still nothing. All my ears picked up was the familiar sounds of buzzing insects, croaking fogs and the bird calls that surrounded me. The reeds showed no sign of disturbance, proving impossible to make out any cats. "Featherpaw!" I heard from behind me. I whipped around to find Foxpaw racing toward me. " what are you doing? Looked like you saw a cat from starclan! " she exclaims laughing. " for starclans sake, will you just shut up!" I mew under my breath. She walks slowly toward me and crouches behind a rock, I regain my position staring into the reeds. " so we are spying on dragonflies then," she whispers. I don't answer her straight away. Another fish has leaped from the water and the chatter has resumed. " cats of course." I respond. This Sparks foxpaws attention and she looks across to the reeds intently. My eyes frantically try to search in between the strands of reeds but this too, proves impossible. We crouch there for what seems like moons. My hindquarters have lost all feeling and my front paws ache. Foxpaw gets up and starts stretching out her legs, "We shou-" she get cut off by a flash of silver pelt in amongst the reeds. Our eyes both widen in anticipation. The reeds show little signs of disturbance but the chatter proves that there are cats inside.

My heart thumps in my chest and I wait for any sign of movement. The reeds part revealing and ginger and white tom. He walks down to the riverbank and gracefully dives into the water. It takes what seems like minutes before he resurfaces. A big brown Tom parts the reed and enters the water with a splash. "Great now we are watching riverclan hunt for fish." Foxpaw mews. "Let's go then" I reply. I get up and almost topple over, my legs numb, " I thought we were too old to become elders, " Foxpaw chuckles. "Oh shut up" I mew stretching out my legs.

The familiar leaves crunch under my paws and the forest is alive with bird song. I want to at least catch a mouse so I don't turn up empty handed I think to myself. I wasted almost half the day spying on riverclan hunting, frustration fills my pelt. A starling jumps down in front of me. I quickly pounce completely unprepared and the bird flutters off sounding the alarm, mocking me, this makes me even more angry. I expected Foxpaw to make a smart remark but only bird calls fill the forest with sound. I turn around and see Foxpaw staring out to the sunning rocks. I look out to the cluster to find the two cats we saw before, stretched out atop the rocks. " quickly! We need to go warn firestar!" I mew, turning around. " no featherpaw, look!" Her tail indicates to the reeds. Cats of every different colour pouring into the river, water flying everywhere creating a sea of chaos.

We race through the forest, I feel as though my feet don't even touch the ground. We leap over brambles, under branches, over roots and across the forest floor. We shoot through the bramble entrance and shout in unison. "INVASION!"