Warriors: Sounds of the Forest

Chapter Thirty-Six: Riversong

I had been with the tribe for several sunrises, the cave which they used as a camp was beautiful; and I had to admire it even if I was a prisoner until I could explain myself. 

They didn't treat me unkindly, though I could tell they shot glances of fear at me every time my back was turned.  

And they had a good reason, I had been sent here by the dark forest, sent here by the murderers whom had been outcast by all others.

"Riversong." a lithe silvery grey Tom said as he padded up to me. "Stoneteller wishes to speak with you in her den."

I stood and nodded politely as I followed him to Stonetellers cave.

"The Clan cat is here." he called into the cave from where we waited outside.

"She may enter." a shrill she-cats voice called back.

Glancing at the Tom that had brought me here I watched as he nodded for me to do as the Stoneteller had said, so I did.

I padded cautiously into the small cave. A small amount of moonlight trickling in through the celling made it so I could see a sleek she-cats body outlined in the darkness. 

"I'm sorry for coming." I said quietly as I reached the she-cat who sat looking into the moonlight as it reflected off a small pool of water at her paws.

"We were told of a she-cat that would come, led here by those who will try to destroy us." she said as she looked up, her vibrant brown eyes glowing in the darkness "'The River will be led to a new by the darkness of the forest around it. It's last Song will be played or the Forest will fall.' I don't yet know what this means other than something has been sent here by darkness and that something mystery pay in order to save us."

"Why are you telling me this?" I asked as prophecies where mostly meant to stay with those they where meant for.

" I don't know... What is your name once more?"

"...Riversong."

"And you are from a group called Thunderclan?"

"I am..."

"Did the darkness send you here?"

My heart thudded in my chest as I realized I could not lie ".... I was tricked by the darkness... Yes I was sent by them though..."

Her ears perked "They did send you?"

"Yes, but I was tricked by them."

"How"

"They posed as my clans ancestors and told me that my destiny was here and that you would send me back when the time came."

Stoneteller looked again into the pool of water her eyes shining as she thought over what she had just learned. After a few moments the moon struck the surface of the water, causing it to glow pure white.  

It was then that I realized that this was the same as the moonstone, the place where the tribe spoke to their ancestors.

"The tribe of endless hunting has spoken..." the she-cat murmured as she broke her gaze from the glowing water which turned her pelt silver with tis light. "You will lead our savior to us and then you can return."

"you mean a member of my clan has come looking for me?" I gasped

"Perhaps," she sighed "This is all I have been told, for now I must tell my tribe that you are welcome and you have been meant to come here by our ancestors.

~~

Another few days had passed since I had become fully welcomed into the tribe, and they had begun to train me as a prey-hunter; as apparently the tribe separated their duties and the Stoneteller was to be the only healer.

So now I was out hunting with a couple of the others in the tribe, Rush; the toe that had first found me who was a cave guard, Fern a prey hunter, otherwise known as Fern that Sways in Wind, and Moon; also a prey hunter, known as The Dark Nights Moon. 

With the sun bright overhead we had begun to return to camp, Fern Moon and I each carrying our prey in our jaws as Rush kept his sences alert for hunting eagles. 

Suddenly Rush's ears pricked setting down my prey I listened to know what it was he had heard.

Then the sound came again. It was the scrabbleing of claws on the rough mountain stone.

"Come out where we can see you!" Rush hissed as the Scrabbling sounds continued to get closer.

When I saw the toms eyes widen as a shadow covered the ground near me I turned around.

"Oreo?" I gasped as the Tom stepped closer, his black and white fur ragged and jaws parted in a pant.

"Riversong?" he panted, a joyous note entering his voice just as his legs let out from underneath him.

"Are you ok?" I asked as I rushed over to his side "Is Tobby with you?"

Looking up at me Oreo replied with a slight nod as another shadow approached from behind a rock.

"Yes, I'm here as well. We couldn't leave you without knowing what happened now could we?" the brown tabby tom panted, his amber eyes showing how tired yet happy he was.

Turnning around I met the eyes of the tribe cats, "It's ok, these cars are friends from my journey."  

When the three cats stroll looked slightly confused I continued "We need to bring them to the cave, can't you see they need our help?"

After a few more seconds of silence Fern spoke up, "Right, Stoneteller would want us to help them."  

At that Moon and Rush nodded and padded over to the two toms, helped them up, and we began to carry them back to the cave as well as the prey we can caught earlier.