Mosskit Book 2: The Journey

Chapter 20

       For a few days they had walked through the ancient SnowClan forest, finding no traces of cats living in it, only a few animal bones and patches of cat fur that had been left behind.

            Today, they were going to spend the night in the ancient SnowClan camp. Mosskit shivered at the thought, thinking that many moons ago, cats were actually living in the abandoned camp. Was his mother living there too? Mosskit hadn't known too much about his mother since he had only lived with her for a short time.

            Mosskit had been catching food for himself for the past few days now. Ginger was right. It wasn't luck. It was skill. He knew SnowClan would be proud of him.

            Mosskit sighed, thinking of SnowClan. Would it really be all great? Snakekit wouldn't be there. Or maybe she would. Mosskit had no idea. If she didn't show up, he would probably never recover and never grow close to any she-cat again.

            "Still thinking about her?" Ginger asked, noticing Mosskit's frown.

            Mosskit nodded, unable to speak.

            "She may return. Has she visited you from StarClan?"

            "No one has," Mosskit sighed.

            "Maybe they'll visit you soon," Ginger suggested.

            "I'm not a medicine cat!" Mosskit hissed. He stopped and sighed, looking at his paws.

            "You don't have to be a medicine cat or leader for StarClan to follow you. They can come to any cat," Ginger said.

            "I guess," Mosskit sighed, not believing Ginger's words.

            Mosskit pricked his ears, hearing a sound from far away. "What was that? You said there were no cats in this forest!"

            "I said 'no clans'!" Ginger yowled. "It might be another animal."

            "HELLO?!" Mosskit called.

            Ginger shoved her tail into Mosskit's mouth. "If it's a vicious rogue, he'll drive us out for sure! I don't want you getting hurt."

            The sound came louder, sounding like a cat groaning and mewing. Ginger stood in front of Mosskit as the leaves and bushes twitched. "Who is it?!" Ginger hissed.

            Mosskit gasped as a black kitten emerged out of the bushes. Her fur was ragged and dirty. She was missing patches of fur. Her tail was stiff. It looked like she hadn't eaten in weeks. And her eyes, her swollen eyes...were green!

            "Snakekit?!" Mosskit gasped.

            "I found you!" the she-cat gasped, running towards Mosskit.

            "What?! Impossible!" Ginger hissed.

            "I survived," Snakekit coughed. "I've barely eaten anything. I found an old bird, but that was it. I can't believe I found all of you!"

            "The whole forest and you find us," Ginger mewed. "StarClan is mysterious."

            "StarClan taught me a lot during those few weeks," Snakekit said. Mosskit tilted his head, seeing her sigh, as if something was bothering her.

            "But I know where my path lies now. I am destined to journey with you until arrival."

            "Good," Ginger smiled. "We'll get you something to eat."

            "Thank you," Snakekit said, relieved.

            What did Snakekit mean about StarClan teaching her a lot? Why did she only say that she was destined to journey until arrival? Surely she would stay.

            Ginger caught Snakekit copious amounts of prey, and Snakekit ate until her stomach was about to bulge.

            "I haven't had a full belly in weeks," Snakekit laughed.

            "You should wash up," Ginger said. "Your pelt is in a disastrous state."

            "I know," Snakekit sighed. "Is there a river nearby."

            "We're nearing into a meadow," Ginger explained. "A river runs through it."

            "Alright, let's go," Mosskit said.

            They padded to the meadow. Nothing stirred within it. Wind brushed at the golden weeds that laid in the ground. A beautiful and burbling river strung through the meadow, twisting and turning in many patterns.

            Snakekit padded into the shallow part of the river, washing the dirt and plants from her pelt. Once her pelt was fully wet, she got out, drying herself in the blissful sun that had begun to set.

            "Should we head to the camp now?" Mosskit asked.

            Ginger nodded. "You can dry your pelt along the way, Snakekit."

            Snakekit nodded, rising from the ground, shaking the water off her thin pelt.

            As Ginger led the way, Mosskit walked alongside Snakekit. "I'm glad your back," Mosskit whispered.

            "I'm glad to be back to," she said, though a bit of sadness was detected in her voice.

            "StarClan spoke to you while you were looking for us?"

            Snakekit nodded. "I didn't realize how powerful the words of StarClan could be. They led me back to you and Ginger."

            "Well, I'm just so glad we'll be able to train together in SnowClan," Mosskit said.

            "Yeah," Snakekit said quietly.

            "Maybe we'll be mates and have kits one day," Mosskit whispered.

            "Woah there!" Snakekit laughed. "A little too early to think about that, Mosskit."

            "I know," Mosskit laughed. "I'm just glad your back," he said, intertwining his tail with hers. Snakekit pushed her tail away, then continued walking, staring at the ground. What was bothering her?

            "We're here!" Ginger said.

            Mosskit gasped as they stumbled upon a small camp with small dens, probably only containing about ten cats in each one.

            "Are all camps like this?!"

            Ginger shook her head. "SnowClan was small at the time. The new SnowClan camp is much bigger. Follow me," she said, padding inside the largest den, most likely the warriors den.

            "This is the warriors den," Ginger explained.

            Mosskit gasped to see nests still sitting in the den, the moss dry and brittle.

            Snakekit sat down in one. "Well this is uncomfortable."

            "Check this out!" Mosskit gasped. "Look! It's some black hair!"

            Some black hairs laid on the moss, most likely from a cat that had once slept in the nest.

            "Interesting," Ginger said. "I'll gather some moss. Stay in here, kits."

            Ginger exited the den, leaving Mosskit and Snakekit alone in the vacant warriors den. No one spoke to each other. The two kits awkwardly sat, looking outside of the den, waiting for the old she-cat to return.

            Mosskit's eyes began to get droopy as the she-cat still ventured out in the woods. With Snakekit beside him, he laid down on the cold floor of the den, falling asleep.