Sky Falls | | A Warrior Cats Story | | Book One

~6~

Eclipsepaw woke up in a strange place. The trees were thinned out and leaf-less, so she assumed she was by the river. However, she got up and a foul stench filled her nose. Uh, not dogs again!  But she turned around and instead found a long, awful-smelling path of black stone.

The Thunderpath! Wow, it's more interesting in person! Eclipsepaw got up and started over to it. She had never been in this part of the forest, she had only stayed in IceClan territory. Aw, fox-dung! Where am I? I need to get back! Gleamstar is going to be so mad! 

Right after the thought that, Eclipsepaw heard a sharp Mrrow!! behind her. Her neck fur bristled, and she slowly turned around and saw a black and white spotted she-cat with hostile green eyes.

"What are you doing on my territory!" The she-cat hissed. Eclipsepaw's eyes were wide open with shock. 

"I-I don't know! I- one second I was being chased by dogs and the next-" Eclipsepaw was interrupted by a snap coming out of the forest. It was a black tabby tom, with huge paws and sinister eyes.

"What is happening here?" The tom asked. The she-cat turned to face him.

"Well, Darkstar, this IceClan apprentice thinks it's a good idea to waltz on another clan's territory!" She snorted. 

Darkstar un-sheathed his claws and said "Well, Dovefang, why don't you teach this apprentice a lesson?"

Dovefang curled her lips back in a snarl. Eclipsepaw shrunk back into a bush, thorns scratching at her fur like a dozen claws. "I think I will, Darkstar!"

Eclipsepaw's eyes were wide with terror. Dovefang crouched down, ready to launch. 

Eclipsepaw ran backwards at the last moment, into the bushes. The thorns brushed against her fur, and she was bleeding. The blood was pounding in her ears.

Dovefang was getting closer. Eclipsepaw's tiny paws couldn't go that far, especially in the thorns.

Eclipsepaw bursted into the open, the FireClan cat not far behind her. Eclipsepaw ran to a nearby tree.

Come on, you can climb. You climbed the vines in the nursery, you can do this. Dovefang was getting closer. Eclipsepaw had no other choice, so she leaped up the tall oak tree and climbed into its leaves.

Fox dung! Her claws weren't strong enough and were slipping. Eclipsepaw thrusted herself up into a low branch.

Dovefang glared at her up in tree. "Get down here right now flea-brain!!!" Eclipsepaw wiped the blood from her eyes.

"What, scared of a little tree?" Eclipsepaw taunted her. Dovefang growled at her then leaped up the oak, claws scrambling against the bark. Eclipsepaw jumped up to the next branch.

"Missed me!" She teased. Dovefangs eyes turned to small, angry slits as she leaped after Eclipsepaw up the entire tree. When they got to the top, Eclipsepaw was balancing on a small, wiry branch.

"I've got you now," Dovefang hissed. She was stalking towards Eclipsepaw, claws unsheathed. Eclipsepaw looked around. She saw IceClan territory, only a few fox-lengths away. Another tree was right beside her. There, she could leap onto that pile of stones and....

The wind started picking up, rattling the branch. Dovefang was close to losing her balance and falling, but instead jumped down a couple tail-lengths to a branch below her. Eclipsepaw stood in place, bracing herself for the jump. Dovefang annoyedly stared at her, then made her way down the tree, as Eclipsepaw jumped.

She landed on her stomach, squirming around. Eclipsepaw got up on her paws, then hopped down to a pile of stones. Loose pebbles flew around her paws, daring her to fall, but she got to the ground safely.

Eclipsepaw started running back to camp, the scent of dogs still fresh. She was still bleeding, and her paws were getting sore.

As the trees started thinning again, Eclipsepaw heard the sound of rushing water. Not long after, the river and IceClan camp came into sight. Eclipsepaw saw a small white cat laying near the edge- Darkpaw!

Eclipsepaw leaped over the river and Darkpaw lifted his head up. "Eclipsepaw! You're back! Where have you been?" he started, getting up onto his paws.

Soon after, Dawnpaw, Minnowpaw, and Leopardpaw walked out, with surprised looks on their faces.

"I thought you were dead."