Warrior cats: Path of a warrior #1 A Clan's Journey

Chapter 4

"So what are we doing now?"

Sunpaw looked up at Mothpelt who was putting the leftover herbs away. Sunpaw had asked to learn some of the herbs. It made her feel proud.

"Do you want to go and practice hunting?" Mothpelt asked. "Yes!" Sunpaw leapt to her paws excitedly.

Another moon had passed and Mothpelt's kits were now 6 and a half moons old. Brackenpaw had been apprenticed to Jace while Sunpaw was given to Mothpelt. She focused on training Sunpaw from what she knew, sometimes thoughts of Stormkit crept into her mind.

I couldn't save him.

The thought stuck in her head all the time. She was being crowded with those thoughts. It was irritating to Mothpelt.

Clearing her mind she followed Sunpaw who was already out of the den. Walking to the small clearing they used as a training area, Sunpaw stared wide-eyed at the other end of the forest near the twoleg place. 

Suddenly Jace and Brackenpaw ran through the undergrowth past them. Mothpelt could hear the crackling and bitter fragrance of smoke.

"Fire!" Sunpaw raced past Mothpelt and after the others. Mothpelt ran as the flames took over the forest. She found the other 3 in the den. "We can't stay here!" Mothpelt's eyes were thick with fear, "The fire will come into the den."

She didn't wait for an answer but ran from the den. The fire was coming fast now. The 4 cats ran from the fire as it flickered behind them. They didn't have a clue on where to go. As long as they escaped it would be fine. Mothpelt saw the expression on Jace's face, he was horrified. He was still a kittypet, scared for his life. Mothpelt felt sorry for him, he had been dragged into the chaos. Mothpelt abruptly stopped. Stormkit!

She didn't know where he was. He could be trapped in the fire. He could be dead!

The smoke entered her lungs and she collapsed onto the ground as the flames engulfed her. "Keep going Mothpelt," Sunpaw urged her on and tried to nudge her to her feet. Sunpaw was scared, everyone was scared. 

Two strange cats appeared and told Sunpaw to follow the others. They were both dripping wet and tried to help Mothpelt up.  After a few tried they successfully got her standing. The fire had now grown closer to them and Mothpelt grew tired from the smoke and her thoughts of Stormkit. 

The blueish-grey tom flicked his tail over onto the other side of the small river that ran through the forest. The brown she-cat nodded in agreement and led Mothpelt to the edge of the rive, boosting her with their shoulders.

Mothpelt noticed how both cats had sleek builds of Riverclan cats, especially the she-cat. The tom wasn't as sleek but looked stronger.

Jace, Brackenpaw, Sunpaw and a misty young tom were huddled together near the river. The flames hadn't fully reached there yet. Mothpelt felt the heat on her flank as the two cats carried her along. 

"Sea, get them across the rover now!" The blue-grey tom yelled over the sound of the flames. The young tom nodded and began to lead the others across, Sunpaw and Jace flailed around while Brackenpaw hadn't yet entered the water.

Brackenpaw wasn't so enthusiastic about getting her paws wet. Sunpaw stifled a laugh from the other side as Brackenpaw hissed at the water which lapped at her paws. "Hurry up!" Sea shouted.

"Reed, you get that one across." The older tom flicked his tail to Brackenpaw. The fire was surging closer and closer. Mothpelt hung back, too fearful to cross the river. But she was shoved into the water from behind.

"Splash! Hurry up." Reed paced around frantically as Splash slowly brought Mothpelt across he river. Brackenpaw was crouching down and staring into the forest which was now orange flames. Sunpaw and Jace were sitting next to each other, a puddle of water surrounded them.

There was nothing under Mothpelt's paws as she was pushed along by Splash. She tried to swim as if she was running on land. "Stop doing that." Splash meowed through gritted teeth.

Mothpelt snorted and felt the bank of the other side under her paws. Relieved she fell into her side, the water lapping at her hind legs.

Splash emerged from the water and shook his pelt. The water droplets sprayed Mothpelt's face but she didn't move. All she could manage to think about was Stormkit and how he could be trapped in the fire.

Mothpelt coughed, the smoke she had breathed in clung to her throat.

He was my memory of Stormtail. Stormkit was so much like him. 

Yeah yeah, I know I never mentioned a river before but who cares. I needed a way for them to survive xD