Mosskit Book 2: The Journey

Chapter 18

            For weeks they had gone through the mountains, rarely taking breaks. Mosskit tried to keep his mind of SnowClan and the future ahead, but he couldn't. He kept thinking of Snakekit and how she could be dead or alive. Odds were that she was probably dead by now if she had survived.

            Mosskit sighed as he was woken up by Ginger. He missed Snakekit waking him up in the morning. It wasn't fair. StarClan had killed every cat he loved or cared about. But why? Did they hate him? He shook the thoughts away, knowing he wasn't supposed to think of StarClan that way.

            "Our expedition through the mountains is coming to an end," Ginger said. "We'll reach the forest again today."

            "Can't wait," Mosskit groaned as he slowly got up from his nest.

            "Stop acting like that," Ginger growled.

            "Like what?!"

            "Like a grumpy, old cat. You're only a kit, Mosskit. Quit acting all snooty," Ginger growled.

            "Well, sorry! I'm sure you wouldn't be annoyed if StarClan decided to kill every cat you cared about!" Mosskit hissed, anger spiking his pelt.

            "It's not StarClan's fault, Mosskit! This is your destiny!" Ginger hissed.

            "You don't even believe in StarClan!" Mosskit hissed, his claws unsheathing.

            Ginger's anger faded. "You're right. I don't. But I'm sick of this attitude. Figure out if you want to go home or not because I'm fine just leaving you here."

            "Ginger, I didn't mean it that way," Mosskit sighed.

            "Of course you didn't. Watch your words, Mosskit. Do you want to go home?" Ginger asked.

            "Yes," Mosskit said.

            "Then quit with the attitude. Let's go. We're already running behind schedule," Ginger said.

            Mosskit let out a small groan, following behind the old she-cat. She trudged up the hill with Mosskit slowly trailing behind.

            Mosskit sighed, looking into the sky. Was his mother and father watching him from there? Was Snakekit watching him too?

            "She's got to be alive," he whispered.

            Ginger turned around. "Did you say something, Mosskit?"

            Mosskit shook his head quickly, not wanting to tell Ginger the truth.

            Ginger shrugged and continued to walk, not paying any attention to Mosskit as he slowly trudged behind her.

            Three. There were only three cats that he had cared and loved. Sure, Tooth and Fang were his friends. Maybe Charlie counted too, but he hadn't gone mad when they had left him somehow.

            Mosskit sighed. StarClan really hadn't taken away everyone. Just three cats. Yet again, those were the only cats he was close to.

            I'll meet new cats at SnowClan he thought.

            But it wouldn't be the same. It would never be the same.

            "Keep up," Ginger snapped as Mosskit began to fall behind.

            "Can I eat something?" Mosskit asked. "I'm not like you who barely eats. I need food!"

            Ginger stopped, facing the kit. "Quit whining and I'll find you something," she growled.

            Mosskit nodded, sitting down for a small rest while Ginger looked around for some type of prey in the mountains.

            Mosskit sat for awhile, waiting for Ginger to return. "Ginger?" he called, noticing that he hadn't seen her in awhile.

            Oh no he thought. Has StarClan taken her too? He was about to yowl for her when Ginger emerged, carrying a large bird in her mouth.

            "WHAT IS THAT?!" Mosskit gasped.

            Ginger dropped the bird. "Hush. You'll scare every piece of prey out here away. This is an eagle."

            "How did you catch that thing?!"

            "Simple. When it landed on the ground, I was waiting for it. I pounced and sunk my claws into its wings, making it unable to fly. Then I proceeded to kill it," Ginger said.

            "Wow!" Mosskit gasped. He immediately dug into the bird. It filled his stomach fast, unlike the other prey that Ginger had caught.

            Ginger ate the bird too, eating more of it than Mosskit. Mosskit realized that he had never really seen Ginger eat before. Was it possible that she went that long without eating? She must've eaten when Mosskit was doing something else.

            "I'm stuffed," Mosskit said.

            "Me too, but we must continue," Ginger said. "We'll leave the bird here. Maybe some lucky animal will find it."

            Mosskit continued his journey, slowly walking behind Ginger, frantically looking for Snakekit, even though he knew that she wouldn't come.

            "Are we almost there?" Mosskit groaned as the sun began to set overhead.

            Ginger rolled her eyes. "Yes, we are almost there. It's just this hill we have to go up."

            "Finally!" Mosskit said, relieved that his weeks in the mountains would finally end.

            Minutes passed and Mosskit was exhausted. The hill was steep, providing Mosskit with little spots to rest.

            As the sun finally began to be replaced by the indigo sky, Mosskit gasped, finally making it to the top of the mountain. It was a beautiful view indeed. Meadows and forests laid ahead of the tom.

            "It's beautiful," Mosskit said.

            "We're going down the hill tonight," Ginger said.

            "Tonight? I'm tired, Ginger. Can't we wait until tomorrow?" Mosskit asked.

            Ginger rolled her eyes. "I'll carry you, Mosskit."

            "Really?" Mosskit asked, excitement flooding through his body. No more walking for him!

            "Yes. Now climb on my back and hold on tight," Ginger said.

            Mosskit nodded, easing onto her back. He dug his claws in her fur and suddenly Ginger took off at a fast speed.

            Despite the rapid pace she raced at, Mosskit was tired and exhausted. He somehow found peace in the rushing wind that lapped at his fur. Yawning, he closed his eyes, the world fading from him.