A Misty Path (A Warrior Cats Fanfiction)

Chapter 7

Perchscale spun around, his intense green eyes narrowed and observant. "Where? Where?"

Mistpaw twitched an ear, her eyes scanning the RiverClan landscape. "I don't know, but I can smell it."

"How?" Jayclaw wondered. "It's not hot or dry enough, and there's no lightning that could've caused it!"

"Oh, it's nothing." Mossypaw meowed. The others turned to stare at him. Scoffing, Mossypaw angled his ears towards the river. "Look." Curious, Mistpaw gazed across and saw smoke billowing up from the dense ThunderClan forest beyond the river. Mossypaw licked one paw and leisurely drew it over his ear. "It's ThunderClan's problem. Not ours. Let's keep going."

"You fish-brain, get back here!" snapped Mistpaw as Mossypaw strolled along the border, not casting a second glance at the blazing fire inside the neighbouring territory. "We have to help them, lives are at stake!"

"Idiot!" roared Mossypaw, halting and whipping around to glare at her. "Do you fancy risking your life to help dumb ThunderClan? Because I don't."

"Enough!" hissed Perchscale, and both fuming apprentices fell silent. The dark gray tom nodded at Mossypaw. "I agree with Mossypaw. This isn't our business, and risking RiverClan lives to help another Clan isn't tactical. What's more, there's a slim chance we could do anything anyways, so there's not much point." When Mistpaw drew herself up indignantly, he added, "But we shouldn't just leave it. If the fire spreads, RiverClan will be in danger too." He nodded at Mistpaw. "You and I will stay to watch the fire and make sure it stays on ThunderClan's side of the river. Jayclaw, Mossypaw - go alert Palestar."

Mossypaw scowled. "Can I grab something to eat first? I'm starving!"

"And who's fault is that?" growled Jayclaw impatiently. "Let's go, Mossypaw."

Mossypaw scowled. "Why? What do you need me to do? I can stay..." His voice trailed away as the two toms hurried back to camp.

Mistpaw and Perchscale sat side-by-side, silent as they watched the flames, bright orange within the dark green leafy depths of the forest. Her pelt prickled. "Are you sure we shouldn't do anything?" she asked her mentor uncertainly. "I mean, what if cats die because we sat to the side and didn't help?"

"We need to wait," responded Perchscale evenly. He looked down at his apprentice. "If Palestar says we should help, then we should. But if he refuses, then we cannot. The leader's word is law in the Clan. Don't forget that." The dark gray tomcat narrowed his eyes at the smouldering trees down at the ThunderClan riverbank. "It's getting really dangerously close."

Mistpaw suddenly heard the thundering of paws. She turned to see Mossypaw and Jayclaw, followed by Palestar, Iceshine, Mistlefrost and Sandycove. "Whoa!" Mossypaw gasped. His eyes were alight with awe. "Look how cool that is!"

Scowling, Mistpaw batted the young apprentice on the ear. "It's not cool, Mossypaw," she scoffed. "It's dangerous."

Mossypaw sneered, "What can it do over there? I don't know if you've noticed, but we're on the other side of the river. It's not gonna spread over here, you idiot."

Eyeing the riverbank trees, which were now blazing with hot fire, Mistpaw snapped, "You don't know that - hey, get back here!"

Mossypaw had strolled over to the edge of the river, and was prancing around excitedly. "Oh, noo, its so terrifying! I'm so scared of the heat and the smoke and the - "

Without any warning, Mistpaw heard a crack above her. Looking up instinctively, she was suddenly yanked backwards by her scruff by Perchscale. One of the river-side trees, alight with orange flames, came crashing down. Immediately fire spread from the burning bark and shrivelling leaves onto the RiverClan moorland grass. She let out a gasp of terror. Iceshine cried out in horror: "No!"

Mistpaw looked up to see where the tree had fallen, and yelped. "Mossypaw!"