After a great drought destroyed much of ForestClan, warriors are low and they fear for their survival. But the cousins Silverpaw and Stonepaw are determined to become warrSiors, no matter what it takes.
The herbs tasted sour on Stonepaw's tongue. But she forced herself to swallow them down.
Tonight they were travelling to the Moonstone, an apprentice tradition. Stonepaw was excited, but still overwhelmed with guilt. What if she saw Greenmoon? She shook herself. If Greenmoon yelled at her, she deserved it.
Barkpaw finished gulping down her herbs. That meant it was time to go. Moonbeam, Firefly, Rivereye, and Bluestar stood outside.
Powersnow was teaching Wishpaw hunting and fighting ever since Greenmoon died. His death was Stonepaw's fault. She dipped her head in guilt. She had ridded him of his mentor.
The group left the camp, walking in the fresh layer of snow. Morning Glories and Nightshade poked their way through the white blanket. Birds chattered and frogs croaked. Dew was at their paws as the cats walked and walked and walked.
Sometime around noon, they stopped for a break around A large grassy meadow. Then they set off again. It was nighttime by the time they reached Highstones. It was huge, looming above everything else.
They started towards it, walking cautiously, alert for dogs. Moonbeam led them up some rocks and to a cave.
"This is Mothermouth," she explained. "The Moonstone is right inside." She padded in a little. "All of you will go in, but only one will get to see the Moonstone." she led the cats inside. Stonepaw shivered when she stepped in. She didn't like the feeling of knowing that something could jump out and attack her at any moment. She felt trapped, and the stale air didn't help.
After what seemed like moons, Moonbeam stopped them with her tail. "I'm taking Silverpaw." she mewed. Stonepaw listened to their footsteps vanish farther down the tunnel. She sat on the cold floor, thirsty. The other cats had spit up, but with Rivereye staying near the place where Stonepaw was.
She lay down, parched. She felt too guilty too eat, but she still drank sometimes. She leaned against the wall, and gasped with surprise. She could hear rushing water! Relieved, she cautiously stepped into another tunnel. Placing one foot in front of another, she eventually became confident enough to walk causally.
She glanced back to make sure Rivereye hadn't seen her. To her relief, he wasn't there, and neither was anyone else. She edged along the wall, keeping close to the cold stone. Stonepaw flicked her ear. She could hear something from up ahead. She froze. Tiny footsteps came closer to her, and-
She jumped. A tiny salamander scampered past her feet. Heaving a sigh of relief, Stonepaw continued her way along the wall, keeping her ears pricked for any thing. The distant rush of water came closer and closer . . .
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She stalked along the corridor and paused, sniffing the musty air. The rocks were smooth beneath her paws, as though some giant cat had washed it over and over. The sound of rushing water roared louder and loader. Stonepaw broke into an excited run. Her pads stabbed painfully against the hard stone.
Stonepaw skidded to a halt in front of a large boulder. Not thinking, she scrambled up the rock and scratched her pads painfully before falling down again. Hissing, she unsheathed her claws and scratched her way up, wincing in pain. As she heaved herself on to the top of the rock, there was a splash.
Stonepaw slipped off of the wet rock and hit water.
A rushing, tearing current, and Stonepaw immediately was swept away, water crashing over her face. Salt stung her eyes as she gasped for breath before ducking underneath the surface. A wave of water splattered over her face and she was yanked downward. Stones scraped her pelt as she unsheathed her claws and waved them around desperately. Her head bobbed above the surface for a split second before she was trust underwater again.
Stonepaw had always praised herself as a good swimmer, but this wasn't anything like swimming in Prey Stream or Long Lake. The currents were fatal, and she was spinning in circles, tumbling and twisting and hitting her head on slick rock. She trust herself towards the surface but was dragged downward, pushing until she couldn't hold her breath anymore . . .
Stars filled the edge of her vision and the world started to go black. Suddenly, the shape of a thick-furred gray cat appeared on the edge of her vision.
"Greenmoon?" she whispered.The she choked because salt water got in her mouth.
The cat swirled around her and Stonepaw started feeling light-headed. She started to fade . . . .
Stonepaw collapsed on wet stone. She coughed up the water, spitting out over the slick, smooth, rock beneath her. She heaved in gulps of air and collasped in exhaustion. Her breathing slowly came back and she had never felt so grateful in her life.
She glanced up. Water was dripping from the ceiling. She seemed to be in some sort of underground cave. It was damp and mossy.
Struggling to her feet, she began to walk around. She padded to the end of the cave. There was a pile of rocks. What was behind it?
This was absolutely the wrong time to even think about seeing what was beyond the rocks It would be a terrible idea! Stonepaw was lost and thirsty! And frightened for her life! And missing her Clan! Everyone was probably very worried about her! She should turn back!
She began to wriggle through the rocks.
Stonepaw gasped.
On the other side, there were waterfalls pouring in each direction, splashing into a large whirlpool. She stared down in amazement.
