Emberstar's Journey

Chapter 4

The next few days were dull and gray for Emberpaw. It was as though he lost whatever spark he had. He was kept in the camp for the day after the Island incident and now he was out with Deertail half-listening as she explained BreezeClans territory the cats you'll find there.

He stared at his paws before a tap on his shoulder made him look up into Deertails golden eyes. "Emberpaw come on, don't you care anymore? Used to listen so passionately to when I spoke, don't let a small accident keep you down in the shallows." 

Emberpaws tail lashed, "Easy for you to say, you only watched as I completely humiliated myself." He growled, looking away.

Deertail flinched before sighing, "Emberpaw-"

"I don't care!" He growled harshly, standing as he charged off, "This way to StormClan right?" He asked, tossing his head back at her.

Deertail eyed him in sorrow before she sighed, standing. "Yes, come on." She led the apprentice off, guilt coming off her in waves.

Emerpaw bit his tongue, keeping the apology inside of him even though it desperately wanted to come out. He kept inside, not willing to dig himself into a hole that he couldn't have gotten out of and followed silently. 

He hated this.

He let out a shaky breath as he forced himself to not cry for once and froze.

"What's that smell?" They couldn't have been near Sunningrocks already, the scent was earthy and strange but not unpleasant necessarily. 

Deertail seemed to snap out of whatever sorrow-ridden trance she seemed to be in, ears perked and eyes wide. 

"Emberpaw-"

"Attack!" Shapes leaped from the bushes that led into the forest part of the territory that later ran into Sunningrocks. He backed up in fear.

"Run!" Deertail yowled.  Turning tail as she bolted but Emberpaw was not following suit. 

He was frozen in place as foreign cats rushed at him, howling in anger with claws unsheathed. 

"Young one! Run!"

He gasped as energy surged through him before he glared at the cats. A bigger brown tom rushed towards him and he jumped out of the way, lashing out a claw to his shoulder before he turned tail, flying next to his mentor. 

His heartbeat echoed in his head as he ran for his life before he skidded to a halt. "The rocks!" He nodded to the Fallen Rocks. "The hunting party was going to hang around them because mice like to make burrows around them!" 

Deertail shook her head, "They're probably long gone!" She wheezed, "And the StormClan cats won't let up! Jump over them and keep running!" She ordered. 

Emberpaw turned and saw that the gap between him and the opposing Clan wasn't that vast and let out a yowl as he rushed forward, leaping over the boulders before he skidded, hearing yowls behind him.

"DeltaClan! Attack!" Lynxstar! 

He noticed that the hunting patrol was hiding behind the rocks so the enemies were drawn closer and felt a flash of admiration for his leaders cunningness. He tensed as he noticed that only Swiftwhisper, Eagleeyes, Darkrunner, Thunderjaw, and Rumblethroat accompanied the leader as she rushed into battle.

"She won't make it!" He gasped, even though the best fighters of the Clan were fighting, StormClan seemed to have brought any cat able to fight!

Emberpaw jumped on the rock, "We have to help them!" He called to Deertail who came behind him, eyes scouring.