Rise of Our Clans: Book 1: Parting Gift

4

  "Do you think it had cubs?" Valley River overheard Little Pool talking with White River. "I hope not, it could find camp looking for shelter." White River responded.
  Before Valley River could overhear more, Mossy Oak placed his large tail on her shoulder. "Why hello, what are you doing?" He purred down at her. "Oh, nothing much. What about you?" Valley River tried to keep her voice from trembling. She thought of sleeping in his nest last night, pressed into his warm fur. It felt wonderful, and she would be happy to feel that way every night with him.
  "You know, maybe the mountains aren't the safest place for kits to be raised. I mean, White River was right. If that sharptooth hadn't been injured, you would have been slaughtered." Mossy Oak told her. "Are you suggesting we leave the tribe?" Valley River pulled away. Mossy Oak looked slightly disappointed at her skepticism. "I don't know. Can you meet me at the tallpeak this evening, you know, where the grass does not reach?"
  What an odd request. But Valley River knew better than to say no. It was an opportunity to bond more with Mossy Oak, and she wasn't going to pass it up. "Of course. Get me when the time comes." Valley River said.

....

  The two cats pushed up the mountain through gravelly dirt and short tough grasses. Even though the ground was thawing into life-weather, the very top of the mountain still carried the coolness of ice-weather. "Right up here," Mossy Oak settled onto a boulder near the very peak.
  From here, Valley River could see the whole territory, and she could see the sun setting the sky ablaze. Even after the territory ended, the mountains continued on until they blended into mist, seemingly never ending. A wide river cut through the mountains, eventually fading into the distance. "We are going to follow that path, cut into the earth by the river." Mossy Oak meowed proudly. "What?" Valley River blinked in confusion.
  "We should leave the mountains, Valley River. I want you with me, when we go to explore new frontiers. We will find a place to raise our own kits, a place that is safe and warm year round." His eyes glittered with love for the smaller she-cat. Conflicting feeling bubbled in Valley River's chest. "Just let me think on it for now." She said. Mossy Oak nodded to his mate. "Alright."

....
 
  Mossy Oak climbed up the tumble of rocks onto the ledge where Starseer made announcements. "All cats of the tribe, gather here to hear my words!" He yowled like he was the healer.
  "What's going on?" "Is he allowed to call a tribe meeting like that?" "Is something wrong with Starseer?" Several cats growled and murmured at the surprise meeting. "Don't tell me he's just going to announce you're having his kits." Frosted Wing grumbled. "No, that's not what this is." Valley River shook her head. Confusion filled her, what was Mossy Oak doing?
  Narrow Cliff, Hawk Dive, Little Pool, and White River stood in the front of the crowd as Mossy Oak began his speech. "Yesterday, a patrol found a dying sharptooth. If that sharptooth was healthy, it would not have hesitated to slaughter the entire patrol. The only reason why it was injured in the first place was because of a rockslide which would have instantly killed any cat. The tribe is a dangerous place. Nobody except the smallest kits can say they've never felt the hardships of an empty stomach or the cold harsh winds of the mountains.
  "I implore you, leave with me. I will find a place for us to live where there is plenty of prey, and where it is warmer. I'm doing this for the sake of all of you!" Mossy Oak declared. Valley River felt betrayed. She thought Mossy Oak just meant him and her? Not the entire tribe!
  Little Pool joined him. "He's right, and we can't always find enough herbs to cure our sick or injured clanmates, every season, some cat may die of a preventable infection, a curable illness, or a kitting gone wrong," Fire Stripe looked uncomfortable at that statement, "simply because we don't have enough resources to cure them."
  Cats started considering this now. "Maybe they're right?" Starry Night whispered. Narrow Cliff went into the clearing as well. "We must find a land that's not plagued with sharptooths and eagles. My mother was killed by an eagle, and now the mere sight of one fills me with more rage than you can ever imagine!" She yowled.
  To be fair, when are you not filled with rage? Valley River thought in her head. Hawk Dive spoke up. "And the mountains are boring when we're not in mortal danger. It's just rocks and snow and stuff. When's the last time any of you saw something more beautiful than a sunrise?" He inquired.
  "Soaring Falcon was more beautiful than a thousand sunrises." Tangle Tooth said, earning him a glare from both Reed Flower and Narrow Cliff. "And now she's dead, and this horrible place killed her!" Narrow Cliff sneered.
  Starseer approached behind Mossy Oak, and he nearly fell from the cliff when he realized she was there. "What's all this ruckus?" The old she cat asked. Little Pool looked cowed, but Mossy Oak puffed up his chest even more as he met the healer's gaze. "We're leaving the tribe. Me, and anyone who wishes to join me." Valley River could feel the pressure of her tribemates to stand by her mate and her sister, but she just couldn't.
  Valley River wanted to hide deep in her nest until this was over. But she couldn't turn away. "Fine, go. The tribe has no need for cats who do not wish to stay. May you find your promised lands, and may you live in peace, but may you never forget the tribe you left behind." Starseer warned.
  There was a moment of silence, most cats were probably shocked by Starseer giving them permission to leave. "But if you ever wish to return, you will be unwelcome. You left the tribe behind, and I cannot so easily let you back in after such a betrayal." The white and black she cat promised.
  A few cats were perturbed by the threat and hung back. "Thank you, Starseer. Does anybody else wish to join us?" Mossy Oak scanned the crowd. "Me!" Eagle Flight joined the five. "I also wish to go." Rabbit Scar decided. "Rabbit Scar? You can't go! You're needed here!" Gray Leg argued. Rabbit Scar had a conflicted expression as she turned to her mate.
  "I don't want to stay in the mountains. We've had two litters together, a litter of two and a litter of four. Only three from the second litter are still alive. I don't want to stay in a place where three of my kits have died because there wasn't enough to eat." Rabbit Scar swished her tail. "I'm coming with you!" Starry Night ran up to her mother.
  "Fine, leave if you want, but I'm staying!" Gray Leg hissed at his mate. Weasel Face stood by her brother, who also seemed determined to stay. "That's enough, don't take my entire tribe with you." Starseer twitched her tail. "Let's go then. Come on Valley River." Mossy Oak looked straight at Valley River. She felt put on the spot. I don't want to leave.
  "Alright, I'm coming." Valley River reluctantly joined Mossy Oak. "You can't both go! You're my kits!" Dawn Star wailed. "They stopped being kits a long time ago, Dawn Star. It's their choice to leave." Moss Pelt stared after them, his amber gaze unreadable. "I just hope it's the right choice." He murmured.
  Valley River forced herself to look away as they left the cave so that she wouldn't have to see the hurt and betrayal of her tribemates. Former tribemates? Valley River hoped she could return someday, maybe when Mossy Oak realized leaving the mountains was a bad idea. No cat had been outside the borders of the mountains, who knew what lay beyond them.
  As though sensing her discomfort, Mossy Oak pressed against Valley River once outside the cave. "Don't worry, Valley River. We'll find our home." He promised. "So, Mossy Oak, which direction are we going?" Eagle Flight questioned with a flick of his tail.
  Mossy Oak straightened up, his brown and cream fur glowing in the rising sun. "We go this way." He said, beginning to race toward the river, the cats who chose to leave following behind.