Warriors Fanfiction: Super Edition-Owlflight's Path

Chapter Fifteen

RippleClan camp was settled in a snug clearing, bordered by grasses, cattails, and on one side, a small pond. A few beech trees served as a natural canopy shelter, but other than that, the camp was fairly open. To the far left of the entrance, Owlflight could see kits and queens laying just outside the shelter of a wide huckleberry bush, presumably the Nursery if the woven brambles told her anything.

In what appeared to be the center of camp were several scattered fairly large rocks, and to the right of those was what looked to be the prey pile, dotted with a few plump-looking fish and birds. Not far off, under a fallen log, was a small burrow that likely served as another den, but other than that, Owlflight could barley make out where the rest of these cats would sleep. The camp is so much more open than even WindClan's she thought.

Several cats hushed their conversations as the patrol returned with strangers, and a large russet and white tom made his way toward them. "Wetfoot," he greeted the warrior, "What's going on?" He wasn't hostile, just a bit wary, and his voice held authority.

"Robinegg," Wetfoot greeted the tom, "I found these cats at the border, they say they're from a distant Clan, and wanted to speak with Nightstar." Robinegg nodded.

"Thank you Wetfoot. How was the rest of your patrol? Any sign of those rouges?" The brown warrior shook his head.

"No." Robinegg nodded again.

"Very good, you all may do as you will the rest of the day, I'll take charge of entertaining our guests," he dismissed them with a flick of his tail, and turned to the three she cats, "I'm Robinegg, deputy of RippleClan. So you've come to speak with our leader then?" He asked guardedly, and Owlflight could feel Bloompaw step closer to her.

"Yes," the mottled brown she cat met his gaze, "We've arrived from a distant Clan only a few sunrises ago in the Twoleg town and heard from a couple loners that a Clan was settled here." Robinegg snorted.

"We, as you can see, there is very much a Clan living in this wetland. So you can leave now if you'd like," he swept his tail towards the entrance. Owlflight was about to reply when Buzzardwing huffed

"Hey now," she said with a high amount of sass, "We have only come to ask your leader a question, not to steal prey or join your Clan! So you can at least humor us that!"

"Buzzardwing, hush!" Owlflight said with horror, startled by her friend's outburst, and gazed apologetically at Robinegg. The russet tom was quiet for a moment, before he burst into a booming laughter.

"You're a warrior alright!" He guffawed, sitting back with amusement, "Well, I guess you can wait for Nightstar to return from her hunting patrol, but don't say I didn't—"

"What is going on?" A cool voice said from behind them, and Owlflight turned to see a regal, black she cat with white flecks in her fur dropping a large bird at her feet as she turned her narrowed hazel gaze on them. Robinegg stood.

"Nightstar, how was your patrol?" He asked kindly, and the she cat merely flicked her tail to
her prey and the rest of the patrol's.

"It went well," she murmured, her gaze still on the three visitors, "Who are these cats, Robinegg?" She asked airily. Robinegg turned to Owlflight, beckoning her forward to introduce them. Owlflight took a deep breath, and stepped forward.

"Hello, I am Owlflight. These are my Clanmates Buzzardwing and Bloompaw," she flicked her tail to each cat, and they dipped their head respectfully to the leader. "We have come from a distant Clan on a quest from StarClan, and we heard about your Clan here, and came to speak with you?" Nightstar was about to reply when another, slighter, she cat appeared.

"Wait! Did you say you're on a quest from StarClan?" The white and silver tabby panted as she came to a halt before them. "Do you bring news of the prophecy I've—"

"Lakeheart!" Nightstar hissed, "These cats are still strangers, we cannot share Clan secrets with them until we know we can trust them."

"But Nightstar! There are no secrets when it comes to StarClan. Under them, we are one!" Lakeheart protested passionately. She turned to Owlflight, "What did they tell you?" She asked almost desperately. Nightstar sighed, and turned to Owlflight with a nod of encouragement.

"Well," Owlflight began tentatively, "We come from a distant lake where there are four Clans settled, and a medicine cat from another Clan told us a prophecy. She said, "You must find thunder in the wind and travel to the rising place. The owl will bear the morning star on its wings and the leaf will rise." Owlflight finished with a shaky breath. Lakeheart nodded thoughtfully.

"I had a vision recently, of a leaf rising. But I hadn't known what it meant. I'm sorry, I don't think I can help, StarClan speaks in too many riddles," the white and silver medicine cat said. Nightstar stood.

"There, just as I said, you've found nothing here," She meowed haughtily. "Ottersplash, Duckfoot and Frogleap. Please escort them off our territory." Lakeheart looked at them sympathetically, but lowered her head as the she cats were led from camp. Owlflight gazed at the impassive leader a moment longer before following her friends out of camp. As they padded along the marsh, Owlflight was faintly reminded of home.

"I'm sorry you didn't find anything here," a light brown and white she cat said, her blue eyes sympathetic.

"Ottersplash," the white and brown tom said, his green eyes warning. She stuck her tongue out at him.

"I'm allowed to care about other cats problems, Duckfoot!" Ottersplash snapped. The gray tom, Frogleap Owlflight assumed, rolled his eyes. Ottersplash smiled at them.

"Don't mind them, they're stuck up to their flanks in the mud," she flicked her tail at Duckfoot's disdainful gaze, "I'm Ottersplash, by the way." Owlflight smiled.

"I'm Owlflight," the brown she cat said, and Buzzardwing popped her head up.

"And I'm Buzzardwing," she purred in greeting, hissing slightly when Bloompaw pushed her way between the two.

"And I'm Bloompaw," the apprentice said proudly. Owlflight flicked her back.

"Should've called you Gnatpaw.. or maybe Chattypaw," Owlflight teased, earning a pout from Bloompaw. Ottersplash giggled, and even Duckfoot smiled faintly.

"Well," Ottersplash said, "It's a pleasure to meet you. I'm sorry you had no luck with your quest here." Owlflight sighed.

"It's alright. I just wish I knew why StarClan brought me so far from home.. I do have a question?" She asked tentatively. Duckfoot raised his head.

"Was that not one?" He smirked. Frogleap swatted him.

"Don't be smart about it, Duckfoot," the gray tom said, earning a grin from Buzzardwing. Ottersplash nodded to Owlflight to continue.

"What does your Clan do for the full moon if you don't have Gatherings?" Owlflight asked, bewildered. The full moon was so sacred to the Clans, and she couldn't imagine not having a peaceful night between the four Clans. The RippleClan warriors exchanged uneasy glances.

"Look, each place is different," Ottersplash said uneasily, flicking her tail skittishly. She nodded to the river island, "We're here. I hope your travels are safe. Goodbye." She withdrew from them and led her patrol to the top of the crest, where they waited for the three she cats to leave. Owlflight felt so bewildered.

Ottersplash has seemed kind and open. What made her shut down?