Warriors- Flood Water

Chapter Ten

  Rockpaw crept quietly in the marsh, her eyes locked on a squirrel that had fallen victim to the harsh mud. Rockpaw bent back and leapt forward, the squirrel skidded in the mud and ran for safety. Rockpaw grabbed it by the tail and pulled in back. The squirrel struggled as Rockpaw bit into it's neck. Carrying it out of the mud, Rockpaw ran into Duststripe. "That was really sloppy." He meowed jokingly. "Well, I'm used to hunting in the territory around camp." Duststripe shook his head. "Get used to it." Rockpaw flicked her tail. "I don't have to! As soon as the water in the camp drys up, we'll be right back in there living our normal lives!" Rockpaw picked up her muddy squirrel and padded away. It had only been three days since the flood, it was still raining but it would stop sooner or later. Right? Rockpaw came up to the dead monster, the clan was all out, bustling with excitement. Rockpaw found herself right next to Doveclaw. She dropped her prey. "What's going on? Why is everyone outside? It's still drizzling." "Tonight is the gathering, and everyone is going." Rockpaw blinked at the gray tabby, "What?! Why?" Doveclaw shrugged his shoulders, "Stormstar says that we're going to find a new territory and she wants to go there tonight." Rockpaw shook her head in confusion "Does she even know where she's taking us?! We're much safer here!" Doveclaw sighed, "Not really." He padded away. Rockpaw had more questions and clearly Doveclaw wouldn't be much help. Rockpaw dropped her squirrel off at the makeshift prey pile and headed off to find Stormstar or Sunbreeze. Rockpaw looked over and saw Sunbreeze's golden tabby fur. "Sunbreeze!" Rockpaw called her over. "What is it? Is something wrong?" Rockpaw shook her head. "Doveclaw said that we were leaving, is that right? Is Stormstar really going to put us all in danger just to take us to a territory she doesn't even know exist?" Sunbreeze shook her head. "Clan gossip isn't always very truthful." She meowed. "Than what is going to happen?" Sunbreeze sat down next to Rockpaw. "Well, Thunderclan has permission to stay on the far side of Windclan territory and Riverclan is taking shelter on the island. What Stormstar plans to do is ask Viperstar if he would be alright with sharing the island with us." Rockpaw nodded, "How long though?" Sunbreeze stood up and flicked her tail over Rockpaw's head, "Only Starclan knows how long until the rain stops." Rockpaw shook her fur and stretched out underneath the monster. She felt so uncomfortable. Gazing out at the rest of her clan Rockpaw noticed how weak they began to look. Snowdew's wound had began to heal and form a scar as she lay up against her mother, Ashstream. Doveclaw came over carrying the muddy squirrel Rockpaw had caught. Vinestripe was clawing at some grass and mud, bored as Tanglepaw drank from a puddle. Sunbreeze sat beside Stormstar, speaking quietly to each other. Everyone looked so, messy. Fur ungroomed and dirty. Rockpaw could see Toadpaw and Sandtail coming in from the forest carrying a mouse and a frog. Toadpaw dropped his mouse in the fresh kill pile and bounded happily over to Rockpaw. He slid his black tabby pelt under the monster and laid up against Rockpaw. "I'm so glad the rain is calming down." Rockpaw put her paw over her eyes. "Not for long. The storm clouds are large overhead. We gotta get to the island soon." Rockpaw meowed silently. "Way to be positive about it." Toadpaw grunted. "How's Snowdew doing?" Toadpaw changed the subject. "She looks better, her cut has scabbed up, she's definitely gonna have a scar." Toadpaw nodded "Cool, I wish I had a cool battle scar." Rockpaw turned over to him and jokingly patted his shoulder with her paw. "Oh I'll give you a battle scar!" Toadpaw plopped his head down and laughed. "You're silly. C'mon, let's get out of here, It's cramped." Rockpaw and Toadpaw slid out from under the monster. They began to walk over to Tanglepaw when Berryheart came yowling through them. Berryheart ran straight into Toadpaw, scratching the ground as he got up, Berryheart ran towards Stormstar, yelling her name. Toadpaw blinked in confusion as he stood himself back up. "What was that about?" Rockpaw ran after Berryheart "Let's find out." Other cats began to gather around them as Berryheart meowed anxiously in Stormstar's face, she veered away, clearly uncomfortable. "Berryheart please back up." Stormstar pushed the tabby tom back. "Take a deep breath and speak, what's the matter?" Rockpaw tried to slide through the crowd of clanmates as Berryheart spoke. Tanglepaw was already standing side by side with Vinetail. Berryheart gazed around at his clanmates as he spoke. "I received a prophecy, we need to leave for the island right now, as soon as we get there, climb the thickest of trees for shelter. "What?! We can't climb up the trees! And what are we supposed to eat? Fish?" Berryheart turned around to face Duststripe, "Trust me, I know what's right." Duststripe bared his teeth "Who do you think you are? Berrystar?!" Berryheart swished his tail back and forth, cats began to make room for the two cats to quarrel. "I am suggesting what I think is right! And if you have forgotten, I'm both your medicine cat and older brother, I'm stronger and more important. For you to attack me and wound me would be frowned upon." Rockpaw shook backwards as he spoke, Toadpaw gazed off at the cats. Rockpaw leaned in close to him, "I forgot they were siblings." Toadpaw nodded "Berryheart is ten moons older than Duststripe and Sandtail." Toadpaw kept his eyes on the brothers. Duststripe crouched down and leapt at Berryheart. "Duststripe no!" Snowdew yowled as he landed on Berryheart. The two cats struggled and fought with each other. Rockpaw gasped as blood began to fall onto the damp ground. Duststripe grazed his claws over Berryhearts eye as Berryheart failed to pin him down. "Stormstar! Do something." All the cats watched as a the two sandy toms fought. Rockpaw stepped back as Sandtail and Sunbreeze pulled the two apart. Sunbreeze was the kit's aunt, she had raised Sandtail and Duststripe when their mother had died when they were kits. Rockpaw began to realize the true meaning of the fight. Duststripe was jealous of Berryheart. He had the chance to know their mother and he was more important to the clan than Duststripe. Sandtail groomed Duststripes fur down. "You've barely got any scratches." She meowed quietly, but the whole clan was silent and her voice seemed clear as day. "That's because my brother is weak and can't hurt any cat!" Berryheart pushed away from Sunbreeze and snapped at him. "I wouldn't scratch you because you're my brother! I just can't see how you think it's okay to go and attack a cat that had nothing to do with your destiny!" Duststripe hissed as he tried to pounce at his brother again. Sandtail grabbed him by the scruff and pulled him down. "Duststripe! Berryheart was already medicene cat when we were born, he's the one that kept mom alive for a whole moon! She was weak and she chose not to take the herbs, you know this!" Duststripe fell to the ground and struggled to pull himself up as he clawed the damp ground. Rockpaw took a step forward "Duststripe?" Rockpaw padded up to the sandy tom in an effort to comfort him. Sandtail reseted her tail in front of Rockpaw, pushing her away slightly. "Shh, he's okay." Rockpaw stepped back as Berryheart padded over to Duststripe and groomed the fur on his head. "We have to leave now." He directed his head to Stormstar who sat frozen, stunned by what had just happened, and how she did nothing to stop it. "Stormstar!" Berryheart sounded angry as he helped Duststripe up, pushed him away to walk with Sunbreeze and Sandtail. "C'mon let's go." Berryheart called out to the rest of Shadowclan. Tanglepaw shrugged and followed as Vinetail padded up behind her. Toadpaw glanced back at Rockpaw and padded off to join them. Ratnose led Stormstar out to the rest of the clan as Tendrilfur walked side by side with Snowdew. Rockpaw ran through the crowd of cats, weaving between them, trying to catch up with her siblings.