Flamepaw's Quest

Chapter 13

            The day's journey towards Moonstone was long, causing Flamepaw's weak muscles to ache even more and causing her to gasp for breath as altitude increased. After leaving the RiverClan border, she had become aware they could be caught by other clans and get in huge trouble.
            Though this worried her, Rosepettle seemed to show no sign of concern. She happily trotted past WindClan territory up the side of the mountain, Neko struggling to keep up but always finding a way to eventually.
            After a full day's journey with almost no breaks, the three finally found Mother-Mouth, home to Moonstone, when the green-leaf stars were lighting up the sky. Too exhausted to walk any further, they had all curled up nearby the cave, finding a quiet sleep.
            It was Flamepaw that awoke first the next morning, stretching her aching muscles and trying to ignore the rumble of her stomach. She needed food, and though they had been eating mice and such, she longed for the sweet taste of RiverClan fish. Squirrels weren't all that they were made up to be.
            She sighed and rested her head on her paws, hoping Goldstar would be found soon. This would be her fifth day away from RiverClan, and though she longed to find Goldstar, she also wanted everything to return to normal.
            Gingerkit had not appeared to her with any warning or information since, making Flamepaw wonder if Goldstar was actually still in danger.
            Neko let out a murmur and opened his eyes, his gaze fixed on Flamepaw.
            "Morning," he mumbled, letting out a large yawn. She had to admit, even if he was a kittypet, he'd been a fun part to their expedition, even if Rosepettle seemed to only enjoy teasing him.
            "Morning," Flamepaw responded, turning towards Rosepettle. The white feline was still curled up asleep, her feathery tail draped across her pink nose.
            "I'm hungry," Neko complained.
            "Me too," Flamepaw sighed. "Maybe there's some prey around."
            "I wish I could catch prey," Neko admitted, gazing down at his spotted paws in a sorrowful manner. "I don't feel very helpful."
            "But you have been," Flamepaw pointed out. "You led us through that twoleg neighborhood to avoid trespassing clan borders, and you have always been right to suggest we eat or rest."
            "But that's it," Neko sighed. "I'm not a warrior like any of you."
            "Just because you're not a clan cat does not mean you aren't helpful," Flamepaw assured him. She smiled warmly at the tom. She'd grown very fond of him in the past few days. His presence gave her a warm feeling in the chest.
            "Rosepettle sure likes to tease me," Neko admitted.
            "She teases everyone," Flamepaw explained.
            "You're just being kind."
            "I'm telling the truth," Flamepaw reassured him. "I'm going to look for prey. Want to come?"
            "I think I'll stay here in case Rosepettle wakes up," Neko decided.
            Flamepaw nodded, her heart sinking a little bit. She left Neko and wandered farther into the woods, making sure the cave was in the distance. She didn't want to lose Rosepettle and Neko. If she did, she wouldn't be able to find her way back!
            She padded through the woods, the faint sounds of birds and the buzzing of bugs audible. Pricking her ears, she heard a faint squeak, turning to see a mouse crouched by a plant. The gray mouse did not spot her, and Flamepaw smiled, licking her lips. Her stomach growled, and she crouched down, leaping.
            The mouse nearly leapt out of her paws as Flamepaw dug her claws into the thing, killing it. She happily took her prey in her jaws and trotted back to where Neko and Rosepettle rested. When she found them, Rosepettle was awake, chatting and laughing happily with each other.
            "I caught breakfast," Flamepaw said, dropping the mouse near them.
            "That's not enough," Rosepettle observed. "You eat the mouse. I'll see if I can find a squirrel for Neko and I."
            "Okay," Flamepaw agreed, though she sighed. She, like Neko, sometimes didn't feel very helpful to this quest either.
            As Neko trotted after her, Flamepaw took a bite of her mouse, wishing it was the slimy flesh of fish instead of this dry flavor. She gobbled the mouse up anyway though, knowing a good meal would be important.
            When Rosepettle and Neko returned, she held a full rabbit in her jaws, and the two shared it.
            "What's the plan?" Flamepaw asked when the two had finished their meal.
            "We look around. Maybe Goldstar did go to Moonstone," Rosepettle suggested.
            "But she would've returned!" Flamepaw protested. "Maybe we should go farther."
            "We'll just get a quick scent and see if we pick up on anything," Rosepettle explained.
            "It wouldn't hurt," Neko agreed.
            Flamepaw nodded, and the three split up, sniffing around the large cave. Flamepaw sniffed for Goldstar's familiar scent of fish and salty water, but she found nothing except the smell of the forest and faint traces of prey.
            "FIND ANYTHING?!" she yelled to Rosepettle on the other side.
            Rosepettle shook her head. Neko, meanwhile, also sniffed around, but he could not detect scents as well as the others, leaving him to sniff around uselessly.
            "Flamepaw, come here!" Rosepettle called minutes later after Flamepaw examined another part of the forest. Flamepaw quickly trotted to Rosepettle, hope fluttering through her.
            "Get a scent?" Flamepaw asked.
            Rosepettle shook her head, standing near the opening of Mother-Mouth. Instead, she glanced inside. Flamepaw turned her head, gasping in amazement. It was just like the stories she'd been told.
            A round blue stone sat in the center of the cave, its blue lights shimmering through the darkness. It looked like a place blessed by StarClan, and Flamepaw was drawn towards it.
            "Hey, what are you guys doing?!" Neko called, rushing towards them. As soon as his eyes caught onto the magnificent flame of blue, he stood in awe.
            "Wow. What is this?" he asked.
            "Moonstone," Rosepettle explained. "It's used to communicate with StarClan," she explained, wandering further into the cave.
            Flamepaw followed behind her, unsure of what she was doing. Goldstar's scent could not be detected here either. Searching in the cave was useless.
            "Rosepettle, what are you doing?" Flamepaw wondered as Rosepettle approached the stone.
            "This is a place blessed by StarClan. Maybe they'll help us!" Rosepettle suggested.
            Flamepaw shook her head. "You know as well as I do that only leaders and medicine cats can use that stone."
            "But come on, Flamepaw! Gingerkit spoke to you! It's got to work!" she urged.
            Flamepaw shook her head. "No, it won't. Let's get out of here."
            Rosepettle frowned but agreed, following Flamepaw and Neko out of the cave. With one last sniff around the territory, it was obvious that Goldstar was not here.
            "Where now?" Neko asked.
            "We head further into these forests. We can't stop looking for Goldstar!" Rosepettle declared.
            Flamepaw nodded, and the three ventured off even further into the woods. The thought of Moonstone still remained in Flamepaw's head though as she padded through these unfamiliar woods. What if Moonstone could've worked? What if StarClan had given them an answer?
            No, StarClan would've visited me in my dreams. I have to do this myself. Moonstone would not have worked, Flamepaw repeated to herself.
            "You okay, Flamepaw?" Neko asked. "You're awfully quiet."
            "I'm fine," Flamepaw replied.
            "It's pretty boring wandering out here," Rosepettle sighed. She touched the tip of her tail to Flamepaw's ginger shoulder shouting, "Tag! You're it!"
            Flamepaw, glad to play a game, laughed and ran towards Neko, touching him.
            "TAG!" she shouted.
            "Oh, no you don't!" Neko called, chasing her around. He approached Rosepettle now, touching her with the tip of his tail.
            "Tag!" he called.
            Rosepettle giggled, running after Flamepaw again. Flamepaw laughed like a young kit as she ran around an oak tree, Rosepettle fast on her heels.
            "I'm going to get you!" Rosepettle called.
            "I'll save you!" Neko called, leaping in front of Flamepaw.
            "Tag!" Rosepettle shouted, tagging Neko.
            They played like this for a few minutes more before crashing onto the ground in laughter. Flamepaw's chest ached from so much joy. She hadn't laughed or had this much fun in moons...not since she was a kit in the nursery playing with Mothwing.
            Her heart longed for Mothwing. Was she safe as well? She had gone after Goldstar before Flamepaw. Perhaps she had found her by now.
            They all laid on their backs, watching clouds stroll through the blue sky.
            Rosepettle grinned toothily, staring at Neko, and then Flamepaw.
            "That sure does pass the time," she remarked.
            Flamepaw nodded.
            "Come on. We've got a leader to find!" Neko exclaimed, standing up. Flamepaw stood up after him, Rosepettle the last to stand up. Grinning, they continued their quest, a bit more joyful and excited as they wandered further into the woods.