Warrior Cats #1

Chapter Seventeen - Mistysun?

The rain had completely soaked the forest, also leaving Sparrowpaw with her pelt sticking to her skin and dripping wet. A light breeze whistled throughthe trees and moonlight flooded through the trees, lighting the path for the young, adventurous paw'.

~

Sparrowpaw trudged through the mud, lifting her heavy paws and dragging her fur across the floor. She casted out her senses, Mistysun was darting through the forest nearby. Sparrowpaw could sense fear radiating from her silver pelt. She sighed and focused on where she was walking as she carefully stepped over a root twisting up from a puddle of mud and lieing on the path.

She sat herself down on a damp branch, hanging low after it had been blown from a tree in the strong gusts and was pulled onto the path. As she sat, she sent her senses out again. She scanned the forest, until the wild image of dogs flashed in her mind, then Mistysun running. Sparrowpaws stomach did a flip and her heart pounded. Mistysun is being chased by dogs! She told herself. And her own clan, Wolfclan, isn't helping? The she-cat was heading straight for Beachclan.

Sparrowpaw quickly set off to the top of Beachclan territory, scrambling as fast as she could over the slippery mud and over roots. She fell in a few times, and by the time she reached her destination she was muddy and exhausted. Sparrowpaw waited, then scrumpled up her nose as her senses reached out. Mistysun was heading towards her, fast!

The apprentice waited, until howling and growling echoed around the forest. Sparrowpaw flattened her ears just as Mistysun emmerged. In fright, Sparrowpaw lept sideways and sunk her claws into the soft bark and climbed into a tree. Mistysun looked up at her in fear. Sparrowpaw could tell hoe much she hated being in another clans territory. Mistysun clambered into the tree and leaned her head on Sparrowpaws shoulder in relief, breathing heavy. Sparrowpaw silently sighed in happiness to see the tabby OK, but then she almost plopped from the tree as two ravenous dogs apperead under-paw.

"Mistysun are you OK?" Sparrowpaw mewed quietly to the she-cat.

"Yes, but..." Mistysun studied Sparrowpaws face for a name. "Oh, Sparrowpaw, i musy get these dogs from your camp!" Mistysun meowed quietly, a determined tone in her voice as she glanced at the two dogs. Sparrowpaw instantly sensed where Mistysuns loyalty lay.

"But what if they kill you!" Sparrowpaw asked. She was honoured to be with such a brave cat but horrified on how much Mistysun could loose.

"It's better than letting a whole clan suffer!" She insisted, then her eyes became dull as her orange ones met Sparrowpaws. "If i join Starclan, make sure my clan sets me in the river at dawn." She mewed quietly. Sparrowpaws heart sank as Mistysun gave a 'farewell' smile, then hurled herself from the tree.

Sparrowpaw didn't dare to look. She heard a thud and the snapping and growling of dogs as Mistysuns yowl pierced through her eyes. Sparrowpaw felt tears well up in her eyes as silence struck through her heart like a dagger, then the pounding of paw-steps faded away.

She gave a small glance from the tree. Mistysun lay lifeless on the floor, blood soaked in her pelt. Sparrowpaw jumped from the tree and looked at the warrior. Sparrowpaw hadn't knoen the warrior for long, but rued her death.

"How could you take a young warrior!" Sparrowpaw howled in fury. She stamped her paw down on the muddy floor and looked up at the sky. "She should've never gone like this, take me instead!" Sparrowpaw yowled in despair as she gave another glance at the dead warrior at her feet.

Her heart sank even further as Streamwhisker and Robinstar ran through a bush. They both froze and looked at Mistysun.

"What happened?" Steamwhisker whispered to her apprentice, trying to respect the lifeless warrior a fox-tail length from her paws.

"Dogs." Sparrowpaw whispered back. She felt a tear creepout her eye and down her brown fur.

"Oh Starclan. Why such a young warrior?" Robinstar said quietly, looking into the sky. A moment of silence passed over, but all Sparrowpaw could hear was the plee from Mistysun.

"She wants to be set into the river." Sparrowpaw mewed gently, looking down at Mistysun.

"Did she say why?" Streamwhisker asked with confusion in her voice. Sparrowpaw shrugged her shoulderd and Robinstar sighed. She gave Sparrowpaw a awkward glance and there gazes met.

"Streamwhisker, inform Wolfclan and Sparrowpaw-" Robinstar softened her voice, "-I'd like a word."