A Misty Path (A Warrior Cats Fanfiction)

Chapter 18

Mistpaw lifted her head. It was almost sundown, by the dark golden-orange light beaming through a hole in the Twoleg den wall. She narrowed her eyes and inspected the temporary medicine den. Almost everyone was asleep and Mistlefrost was nowhere to be seen. Now. It was her chance to find Mudpaw and Speckledpaw! Slowly, she rose to her paws and immediately fell back down. She hadn't moved in almost two days. Wincing at her wounds, she dragged her way to the closest wall and, leaning against it, managed to haul herself to her paws. Taking a deep breath, she took a step forwards. The strange floor was odd to walk upon and its hard surface irritated her softened scarred pawpads but she ignored it, gritting her teeth. What sort of warrior am I if I can't handle a little pain?

Limping her way to the doorway, she slowly left the den. As soon as she did, she realised how thirsty she was. She hadn't drank since yesterday. Perhaps I should drop by the river for a drink, she thought. It'll be a good place to start searching too.

"Mistpaw?" She winced and turned to see Snowpaw, who had sat up and was staring at her, pale green eyes narrow. "What're you doing?"

Mistpaw's neck fur spiked up. "None of your business," she replied to her kithood bully, turning away.

"You can't just leave!" hissed Snowpaw.

"Well, I am, so -"

"Idiot, where are you going?! You can't leave, you're in no shape to -"

"I'm in good enough shape to walk," meowed Mistpaw coolly. Without another word, she padded away, her head held high. She felt satisfaction. Finally! Take that, Snowpaw! She slipped easily out of the Twoleg den: most well warriors were out hunting or fishing discreetly, trying not to be spotted by the treacherous ThunderClan and ShadowClan warriors who now populated RiverClan's land. Sniffing around, she began to move forwards, towards the familiar moor that was RiverClan.

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It was sundown by the time Mistpaw had reached the river. Many of her wounds had opened, but she kept pushing forwards. When she reached the river, she gripped the bank tightly with chipped claws and bent down, lapping the ice-cold rushing water. She ran her tongue over her lips as the refreshing water entered her system. She sighed. Time to start searching. She was too injured to risk swimming, so she followed the river towards the ThunderClan border, eyes alert for any intruders.

It wasn't long before she heard voices ahead. Without a second thought, she dived into a tall clump of grass. Her wounds protested but she gritted her teeth and forced her fur to lie still. She recognised the scent as ThunderClan.

"Hey, did you hear? Squirrelclaw got in mad trouble with Goldenstar because we drove out RiverClan!" One warrior meowed.

"Well, of course I knew that! Everyone in ThunderClan could hear him yelling at her!" His companion snorted. He let out a hiss. "Goldenstar wasn't happy we kicked out an entire Clan."

"We didn't kick them out, they were too cowardly to stay and fight!" replied the first warrior defensively. Mistpaw bristled at the accusation. Of course we fought! We just couldn't stand up to two Clans! She wanted to leap out of the bracken and tear the pelt off the rude warrior, but she stayed put.

"I guess," mumbled the other warrior. "Hey, where do you think they went?"

"Who cares?" replied the first warrior. "They deserve to get beaten down every now and then, the brats. I bet they've gone to a Twolegplace and become filthy kittypets!"

The second warrior laughed at this. "Yeah, right, Mousefang." After a moment's hesitation he meowed, "Do you think they'll be back?"

"I hope not," mewed the first warrior, Mousefang. "We've never had so much prey! Sorrelheart's kits will be healthy and strong warriors with all this food."

Mousefang's fellow warrior purred. "Yeah, I guess." He scuffed the ground. "Let's get back. We've caught enough."

When Mistpaw was sure they'd disappeared, she emerged tentatively from the grass. Sniffing around, it seemed no warriors were around. Ignoring the stench of ThunderClan, she pressed on, trekking through the moor, making sure to keep inside the taller grass patches. Very soon, she reached RiverClan's border. Taking a deep breath, she took one step and was on unfamiliar land for the first time. As she kept going, the Clans' scent faded and was replaced by a scent she recognised all too well. Mudpaw! Excitement sparked in her terrified heart. Where the other Clans' scent markers had cloaked the young tomcat's scent, now it was clearer than ever; stale and sour with fear, but definitely Mudpaw's. Soon, it was joined by another, Speckledpaw. I have to be going the right way! thought Mistpaw. Ignoring her aching paws and stinging fur, she broke into a run, adrenaline flowing through her. She smiled to herself. This was way easier than I thought. Thank StarClan. But as she prayed to her ancestors, her mind strayed back to her nightmare. Sandpaw, please... tell me that wasn't you!

But as she ran along the strange moorland, something apparent came up. First of all, she noticed how much newer Speckledpaw's scent was, like she'd come this way only a little while ago. But what really chilled her fur were the drops of old dried blood along the ground. She started to piece together the puzzle. After they were chased away by that ThunderClan and ShadowClan patrol, Mudpaw escaped, injured, and ran away. Speckledpaw later went after him.

Finally, she noticed something ahead. A pale tawny-coloured figure was seated on the ground, bent down. Mistpaw's heart lifted at the sight, and, without thinking, cried out: "Speckledpaw!"

The medicine cat apprentice looked up, but Mistpaw barely looked at her. She skidded to a halt, looking around. "Where's Mudpaw?" She looked back to Speckledpaw, and was surprised to see her eyes gleaming with tears, her face torn with grief. Slowly, her heart turned to stone, she looked down to where Speckledpaw was crouched.

Where the dead body of Mudpaw lay, bloody and torn.