Lighttail's Courage (A Warrior Cats fan fiction)

Chapter six

The words rang through her ears as Lighttail ran across the field. It had been two sunrises since she had run away from Ravenflight and Barkfur, too blinded by sorrow and shock to realize how stupid and mouse-brained her plan was. She had no idea where she was, where she was going, and what she was going to do. The only thing that kept her going was the anger at Ravenflight and fear inside her. What else is he hiding from her? Are her sister's dead? Her father? She knew deep down inside that she shouldn't be mad at Ravenflight and that he was just trying to "protect" her. 

But I don't need protecting! What does he think I am? A kit? Barkfur too! Not telling me anything or being secretive and concealed. Never seeing them again would be too soon! Letting out a sob of despair, Lighttail let a wave of regret wash over her. How dumb am I? I have NO IDEA where I AM! It doesn't matter. Rosefur's dead. All you can do is find Thunderclan. Raw determination rushed through her. I'll find Thunderclan and prove that I can go by myself and that I'm not a kit. Her determination was replaced as sadness pulsed through her. They haven't even followed my scent trail. With a sigh, Lighttail shivered as a terribly cold wind rattled through her. She was starving, she hadn't ate since yesterday morning.

 She had felt so numb with grief she didn't want to eat. Memories of her mother had wreathed around her all day, making her heart ache with longing for her. Letting out a sob, Lighttail's knees buckled as she tripped over a snow-bank, falling face first into the slush. Flurries were falling from the sky, making the large fields in front of her seem even more bleak, and she never had felt so lonely. Dragging her to the edge of the field she collapsed. Hours seemed to go by as Lighttail lay there, weak with hunger. As she did, the sun began to set, and the night became unbearably cold. Shivering, Lighttail licked her fur to get warm but stopped as a fox barked hungrily in the distance. An owl let out a screech and a wolf howled. Lighttail was alone in untouched land, full of dangers. As she recalled this, a rattling wind brushed snow onto her muzzle. As it did, something whispered into her ear.

 "I will always be with you. You have a destiny to fulfill. You must go on without me." To Lighttail's shock, the sound was her mothers. She looked up and saw the faintest trace of a cat, outlined against the snow. Lighttail's mother's scent wreathed around her, and Lighttail got up, racing towards the outline, only to find it disappear. "Follow to where the river falls and there you will find a stone that strikes,and there hope will rise. But be careful love, for a betrayal is on the horizon." The words echoed in her ears. I must do what she says. It might be Thunderclans only hope. Lighttail pushed herself up. I will do anything to fulfill the prophecy that was given to me. I must obey my mother's word, and I will be careful of this betrayal... I wonder where this stone and river is? But I'll find it, even if I must walk alone.

"Alright. First I should hunt." But as the words came out of her mouth, another terribly familiar scent gripped her. Fox! Fear gripped her heart. She would never be able to fight a fox alone, let alone two or three or how many there were. A fresh wave of terror hit her as she saw two dog-foxes appear from the trees, eyes glittering with hunger. I'll fight until the end. I can't outrun them, for they'll just catch me. I'll die a fighter if that's what it comes too. The first fox snapped his jaws at her, and Lighttail barley avoided the blow. Hissing, Lighttail clawed his muzzle, dodging the other foxes attempt to bite her neck. It went on like this for how long Lighttail didn't know. She was growing exhausted and tired and the foxes knew it. They circled around her, closing in. No! It can't end this way. I have to find the river and the stone that strikes! 

Mustering up her strength, Lighttail jumped on the first dog-foxes back and held on as it tried to turn around and snap at her jaws, but whenever it tried, Lighttail would rake her claws down his back and roll over, dodging the blows, all well holding on. Bucking and howling the fox turned to its partner, who was letting out cries to other foxes, to Lighttail's despair, were answering. The reek of fox was so overwhelming, Lighttail slipped; as she did the second fox gripped Lighttail and flung her a couple fox lengths away. Lighttail's eyes swam with stars as pain hit her in terrible waves from her flank. She saw that a huge scratch was torn down it, blood staining the snow around her red.