Warriors: Feather's Path

Chapter 8

Feather looked at Hawk as the tribe gathered to say goodbye. It was the day after Rain's kitting, and she had done it successfully, having one kit, in which her and Leaf named Moss That Covers Stone. The tom-kit had the exact markings as Rain except gray instead of black, and had Leaf's green eyes. 

"I can't believe you're actually leaving." Seed meowed.

Stoneteller nodded. "Even with the Time of Frozen Water coming. But you'll be at the clans by the time snow falls though."

"Of course." Feather mewed. The sun was just beginning to rise when the she-cat glanced behind her. Looking back to Hawk once more, the dark golden tom nodded. 

"It's time we go." Hawk announced, and turned around, followed by Feather.

"Goodbye!" A cat in the back called.

"Let the Tribe of Endless Hunting light your path!" Stoneteller called, but her voice was muffled by cats calling farewell. 

The two cats began to pad down the trail, the cool morning air ruffling their fur. "Stoneteller said to follow where the sun rises." Feather meowed. "That's how we know where we're going."

Hawk nodded. "Right." He meowed. "I still don't see why we need to go all the way to the clans."

"Well that's where Dust... Dustpaw, that's it, that's where she lives." Feather murmured. "And it's what the Tribe of Endless Hunting wants."

Hawk flicked his tail. "Well let's hope we find good places to hunt and sleep while we travel."

"Yup." Feather mewed.

Feather's stomach growled. It was two days after her and Hawk had left, and they were almost out of the mountains. Coldness scorched their fur, and they hadn't found much prey. The sun was going down, and both cats were unbearably tired. The two cats dared to not take the rout near the rouges, as for they would be outnumbered, and had no idea of what would happen.

"Maybe we should stop for the night." Feather meowed. "My pads are sore, i'm hungry, and I think I accidentally trod on a thorn."

"You're right." Hawk meowed. "Let's find somewhere."

The two cats padded on, and Feather spotted a large stone jutting out, protecting a small dip in the ground, in which roots of a tree surrounded it. "How about here." Feather mewed. "It looks comfortable enough." The small she-cat padded closer, as the orange light the sun set across the mountain deepened.

"I'll check for any sign of danger." Hawk mumbled. "...While you look for any sign of prey, or something to make our sleeping place more comfortable."

"Okay." Feather murmured as she touched noses with her mate. "Don't go far."

Hawk had begun to look through a patch of bramble, and turned around. "I wont." 

Feather watched as the large tom sniffed the spiky branches, and pushed through to the other side. Turning around to to the other way, she immediately saw a gleaming pair of yellow eyes. 

Oh no...

The sent of fox filled her nose, and before she could call for Hawk, the young lean red pelt launched. It knocked Feather down, and she had no choice but to fight back. Lashing out, she grazed the muzzle of the cub fox, and blood sprayed her face.

"Hawk!" Feather yowled as the fox bit down on her shoulder. Kicking furiously with her hind legs, she batted and clawed the fox off. Jumping up, she faced the yellow-toothed creature, just as Hawk bounded back through the brambles.