Rise of Our Clans: Book 1: Parting Gift

5

  Valley River didn't want to leave her home, she wished that Mossy Oak didn't leave. And such a large group.
  Valley River walked right behind her mate, rocks grazed her paws, and she could hear Starry Night chattering like a sparrow to her mother. "I can't believe we're leaving the mountains! What do you think we'll find?" She mewed excitedly.
  Valley River wished desperately she could share the young cat's enthusiasm. They plod on seemingly forever. Following the path of the river, the clear water was swollen with snowmelt.
  As they walked on, the current grew more rapid, and the sound of a waterfall up ahead made Valley River nervous. Mossy Oak stopped at the edge of the cliff, and his eyes scanned the gorge for a way down, the ground was hidden by mist from the churning water. "How far are we going to follow the river?" Little Pool piped up from the rear of the group.
  Mossy Oak turned his head to look into Little Pool's blue eyes with his green ones. "Until we find the ideal home." He said with a swish of his tail. "I think I see a path down the cliff!" Eagle Flight meowed, racing to the edge of the cliff. "Really?" Valley River looked where Eagle Flight was pointing. She felt concerned as his claws skidded over the wet rocks
  There was a tumble of rocks that didn't look too slippery or loose, they were held together by the roots of the grasses and trees growing around the river. But the passage was narrow, they would have to travel in single file.
  Narrow Cliff voiced Valley River's thoughts as though she could read her mind. "The passage is narrow. But it's doable." She grunted. "I'll take the front!" Mossy Oak said. It made sense that he took the front. He was the one leading them to their true home. But my true home is the mountains.
  "I should be in front, I discovered the passage." Eagle Flight argued. "But I'm the leader!" Mossy Oak argued back. Valley River decided to try and settle this argument. "Eagle Flight, Mossy Oak knows what he's doing. Just let him take the front." She tried to console him.
  "Fine." Eagle Flight backed down, flattening his ears. "I'll take the rear to make sure that nobody falls." Little Pool offered. Soon the cats had an order. Mossy Oak, Valley River, Eagle Flight, Rabbit Scar, Narrow Cliff, Hawk Dive, Starry Night, and Little Pool got into line, and Mossy Oak began leading them down.
  Valley River watched with anxiety as Mossy Oak climbed confidently down the stones. He made it down easily and without slipping very much, but whenever he did slip, Valley River tensed thinking he would fall.
  "I'm okay! Alright Valley River, it's your turn!" Mossy Oak called up at her. "Alright." Valley River sighed in relief when she saw that Mossy Oak was okay. She easily climbed down after him. Eagle Flight also joined the two.
  "Wait for me!" Starry Night jumped down excitedly after them. "Be careful!" Rabbit Scar yowled to her kit. Starry Night landed hard on her paws beside Eagle Flight. "I'm fine!" Starry Night blinked her heather colored eyes. Rabbit Scar frowned as she also climbed down. "You scared me, don't do that again!" She scolded. "She's fine, she didn't hurt herself, did she?" Mossy Oak asked. "I suppose not." Rabbit Scar looked away from him.
  Narrow Cliff, Hawk Dive, White River, and Little Pool then climbed down as well. "It's getting late, we should find some place to rest and hunt." Narrow Cliff looked at the sun, which was sliding west.
  "Fine. Valley River, Little Pool, and Hawk Dive will find a cave to sleep. The rest of us will go hunt." Mossy Oak decided. "What? But I want to hunt!" Hawk Dive bristled. "Why do you get to be leader anyways? It was White River's idea to leave!" He growled.
  Valley River gave her littermate a questioning look. White River avoided eye contact with Valley River. "Mossy Oak is more charismatic. Besides, it was him who actually spoke up about leaving." White River frowned. "Alright. Hawk Dive. You can go hunting, but White River, you'll find a place to rest with Little Pool and Valley River in his place."
  "Yes!" Hawk Dive visibly brightened. The four cats going hunting set off, and Valley River looked at White River. "How long conspiring to leave with Mossy Oak and the others? And why you didn't tell me?"
  "Of course I talked about leaving. Me, Little Pool, Hawk Dive, and Mossy Oak had agreed to leave long before today." White River confirmed Valley River's fears. "Is this true?" Valley River turned to Little Pool.
  He blinked at her, surprised by the gray tabby's brashness. "Y- yes." Valley River was hurt that White River talked about leaving without telling her. What if they just disappeared, leaving me alone?
  "Look, we weren't going to leave you behind!" White River tried to convince Valley River. The anger fizzled out of Valley River, she was just tired now. "We have a job to do. Let's go find a cave."

...

  By sunset, Little Pool had found a nice cave big enough for the nine of them, and the hunting party managed to catch enough for them to eat.
  "This is a brilliant rabbit, Mossy Oak." Valley River purred, rubbing her head against his brown and cream fur. "Thank you." He purred back. This first night wasn't so bad. Hopefully tomorrow was better.
  Valley River pressed against Mossy Oak once again, feeling sleepy and warm. As she sank into sleep, a strange dream came to her.
  She stood on the crown of a grassy hill, staring down a flowery moor, more beautiful than she could ever imagine. Several kits played at the bottom of the hill, splashing in a brooklet and throwing water at each other.
  A queen who must be their mother meowed softly at them, and they moved toward her before she moved them away into a thicket of gorse, the six cats disappearing through a gap in the bushes. A surge of protectiveness filled Valley River, thinking of her own kits playing in that brook. My own kits.

...

  Valley River groggily opened her eyes. She felt like she was going to be sick. I think I ate too much last night.
  The cave was empty but for her, Little Pool, and Eagle Flight. Little Pool and Eagle Flight were in the midst of conversation. They cut off when they noticed that Valley River was awake. "Oh, good morning." Little Pool meowed. Valley River let out a grown of pain and tiredness, too nauseous to respond.
  "Are you feeling okay?" Eagle Flight lowered his ears nervously. "I'll be okay. I guess the rabbit from last night disagreed with me?" Valley River brought herself to her paws. "Where are the others?"
  "They're scouting out the route ahead and doing a little hunting, we were left behind to watch you until you woke up. They should be back soon." Eagle Flight explained. "Are you sure you're okay? You're usually the first cat awake." Little Pool began sniffing Valley River's cheek. "Yeah, I'm fine."
  The three dropped the subject and talked until the patrol returned with prey. Once they had all eaten and groomed, they set off on their path down the river once more.
  While they walked, Valley River twined her tail with Mossy Oak. "Mossy, can we talk? In private?" She questioned. Glancing back at the rest of the group, he looked again at his mate. "Right. Of course," he mewed softly.
  "You all continue to follow the river, Valley River and I will be back shortly!" Mossy Oak called to the group. White River grinned at Valley River with an amused look. The gray tabby smiled back at her sister.
  Valley River and Mossy Oak trailed away from the river but still traveling down the rocky slope. The young huntress led her mate to a nearby clump of ferns and lay down. "Mossy Oak, I have something important to tell you." She said softly.
  "Yes?" The brown tom had a confused look on his face, laying next to Valley River. "I think I'm expecting your kits. I'm not entirely sure, but I had a dream last night, where I saw kittens playing in a stream before their mother called them back. And then I woke up with an upset stomach." She explained her reasoning. "Really?" Mossy Oak blinked, surprised by her news. "Yes, I believe so." The gray she-cat nodded.
  Mossy Oak placed his wide cream colored paw onto her stomach gently, and for a moment she thought he would cry. "Thank you for telling me, Valley River. Now, let's get back to the group before they travel too far ahead."