Chapter 7

Briarpatch stared in shock at where Pebble had stood heartbeats before then pushed it out of her mind.

"Looks like we get more to eat!" Opalpaw purred, flexing her claws.

"Yes…" Briarpatch turned back to the rabbit and divided it up. Each cat had a much larger share then they had with the mouse. Mallowbelly woke up and gratefully snapped up her food.

"Was that Pebble I saw leaving?" Pricklepaw asked, slipping into the den.

"Yes, eat your prey quick before Streamfang comes in." Briarpatch shoved the prey at Pricklepaw. Pricklepaw blinked in surprise but didn't question, instead she just gulped down her food. Briarpatch knew that if Streamfang saw the extra meat there would be trouble.

"I got some herbs," Pricklepaw meowed brightly, sniffing at some leaves. "Briarpatch, put this on your wounds." She dropped some leaves in front of Briarpatch. "It's not marigold but it has the same taste and look. Just chew it up and smear it on the wounds, make sure you put it on firmly so it stays." Briarpatch nodded and did as Pricklepaw said. The relief to her wounds was instantaneous.

[x]

The next day, Briarpatch woke up to a pile of mice and a rabbit in front of her. Her eyes widened in wonder.

"Some cat decided I had to give each of you your own prey today." Streamfang growled, flicking her paw and sending the prey flying. "Eat, we're leaving at sun-high."

"Where are we going?" Briarpatch asked, pulling herself up.

Streamfang looked at her suspiciously. "The ruby pools," She said reluctantly, flexing her claws. "And then we'll go to our final destination from there." Without another word, Streamfang spun and stalked from the den.

Sighing, Briarpatch plucked up a mouse and trailed its tail over Opalpaw's nose. The black she-cat sneezed and opened her eyes. Her eyes rounded at the sight of the mouse.

"It's all yours." Briarpatch told Opalpaw, dropping the mouse. The talking had woken up the other cats and soon the pile of fresh-kill was gone. Each cat had eaten more then they had the past days combined. With another sigh, Briarpatch filled in all the cats on what Streamfang had told her.

"The ruby pools?" Mallowbelly asked, looking confused. Pricklepaw's herbs had done well and the she-cats' eyes were bright, her pelt looked shinier, and she was acting more normal.

Briarpatch shrugged. "That's all she would tell me. We just have to be ready."

"Yes, so go back to sleep, Mallowbelly, and get completely better," Pricklepaw ordered, her voice sharp.

"You were such a kind, quiet kit." Mallowbelly said, glaring at Pricklepaw half-heartedly.

"Well she's still kind, just not very quiet." Opalpaw purred, flicking Pricklepaw's shoulder with her tail.

"You think I'm kind, do you?" Pricklepaw asked, turning towards Opalpaw. With a purr she jumped at Opalpaw, sending the black she-cat tumbling into Briarpatch.

"Hey, now!" Briarpatch hissed in surprise, rolling away. "This cave is only so big."

"Sorry, Briarpatch," Pricklepaw meowed, not looking sorry at all. "And I meant what I said, Mallowbelly."

"Yes, o' wise medicine cat," Mallowbelly muttered, curling up. She closed her eyes and a moment later her breaths slowed with sleep.

"We should all get more rest," Briarpatch said, yawning. The meal had left her sleepy and she saw Opalpaw's eyes drooping.

"I'll join you in a while, I want to look over the herbs," Pricklepaw crouched over the herbs, nosing them delicately.

"I'll stay up with you for a bit, Pricklepaw," Meadowpaw offered, padding softly over to the medicine cat apprentice. Pricklepaw said something else but Briarpatch was already drifting off into sleep and made no sense of Pricklepaw's words.

[x]

Doveleaf dragged at the back of the group, panting. Toadstrike was just ahead of her, muttering a few words or glancing over his shoulder encouragingly from time to time.

"Hurry up, you feather-brain!" Ivyfang called back from the front of the cats.

"Feather-brain yourself!" Doveleaf yowled back. "I'll take as much time as I want." But as she said that she reluctantly picked up her speed until she was next to Toadstrike.

"Shush, all of you. Or else Ivyfang's cats will hear us. Unless that's what you want, of course," Lionblaze hissed dryly.

"Believe me, Lionblaze, these are no cats of mine," Ivyfang growled at the deputy.

"But they are your cats, Ivyfang. You are their leader—huntress. They are your responsibility. It's your fault that the cats got kidnapped. You should have just led the Nation away when you became huntress so none of us would ever have to see you again. Now, if Briarpatch or any other cat gets injured or killed, it will be completely your fault." Doveleaf spat at her sister, letting her anger spill out. Ivyfang looked stunned for a moment then turned and moved away. No reply, Doveleaf thought rather smugly.

"Doveleaf," Lionblaze snapped, lashing his tail. "Stop wasting your breath and let's go."

"Yes, Lionblaze," Doveleaf meowed, bounding after him with Toadstrike a heartbeat ahead then under her breath muttered, "But crow-food is still too good for her."

Toadstrike, hearing, slowed a bit to run at Doveleaf's side. "She's your sister, don't forget that." The black and white tom murmured.

"She betrayed me," Doveleaf whimpered back. "She was my sister…now I don't know what she is."

"She'll always be your sister, Doveleaf." Toadstrike insisted, slowing himself a bit to talk easier. "One day she will be bound to realize that too, no matter where she thinks her home is. She will need your forgiveness."

"When did you get so wise, Toadstrike?" Doveleaf asked, swiping at Toadstrike. Oops, she tripped. Secretly she wished that the day Toadstrike spoke of would come soon. She wanted her sister back as much—no, more then she wanted Briarpatch back. She wanted to hunt with her sister and race into battle next to her sister again. Truthfully, it was all her fault. If she hadn't gotten stupid and thought joining the Fireclaw Nation would save her sister then they wouldn't be in the mess. It would be Ivystone she would be speaking to right now.

"I've had a lot of time to think," Toadstrike laughed softly. "At one point I thought Ivyfang, when we were new warriors, would be the right mate for me. Now I know there is no cat I would ever want to be with but Briarpatch. Do you feel that way with Snakefur?" Doveleaf nodded, her heart warming at the thought of her mate. "I was surprised that you would have kits so soon, though. I thought you would want to be a warrior longer," Toadstrike continued.

"I've wanted kits…" Doveleaf tried to think of when she had started to want kits. "Well, for a long time. I love watching them grow and though I dislike being stuck in the nursery, I can't tear myself away from them."

"I hope me and Briarpatch have kits one day," Toadstrike whispered, so low that Doveleaf almost missed it. So Toadstrike did want kits! Doveleaf would have to tell Briarpatch once they got out of this mess. "We better keep up," Toadstrike said louder, lengthening his stride to catch up with the rest of the cats.

[x]

They had been walking since sun-high and it felt nice to not be running…except for the rocks. Talon said they were at the end of trail and would be deposited near a cave where they could spend the night. Now they had to clamber over and squeeze around huge rocks in the trail, leaving Doveleaf ruffled and it felt like her claws were being torn out.

"Fox-dung!" Ivyfang shrieked from ahead, balancing on three paws. Slate nosed her raised paw.

"Just a snagged claw," He reassured, "Lick it." Ivyfang reluctantly did so and after a few moments tested her paw on the ground.

"Much better, thanks," She purred, pressing against Slate and twining her tail with his. The time the snagged claw had taken had allowed the rest of the cats to catch up with Slate and Ivyfang. Even the Tribe cats were starting to droop from weariness. They were good at crossing the mountains but they weren't used to running most of the day and then climbing rocks.

"Take a few moments to catch your breath," Talon panted before Ivyfang and Slate could start going again. Happy to oblige, Ivyfang flopped on her side on top of one of the flatter rocks, Slate laying at her side. Doveleaf sat down next to the same rock, leaning against it. It didn't take the Tribe cats long to catch their breath and soon Screech and Splash were padding away. Stormfur and Brook were talking quietly to Lionblaze and Talon. Not long after, Splash and Screech returned.

"We found water!" Splash called, waving her tail.

"Come on, then," Lionblaze ordered, following Talon while Stormfur and Brook stayed beside him.

It didn't take long to reach the water and they only had to scramble over one boulder. When Doveleaf saw it, it was just about the best thing she had ever seen in the world. She stumbled to the water and immediately began lapping it up, nearly falling in her haste. Out of the corner of her eye, Doveleaf saw Ivyfang put her paw in the water. Her snagged claw was probably bothering her.

"Drink," Screech ordered Slate and Ivyfang who weren't drinking.

"We aren't thirsty," Slate insisted.

"In the mountains you must drink when you find water now drink!" Talon growled forcefully. Slate and Ivyfang hesitated then stepped forward and lapped at the water.

[x]

It hadn't taken them long to reach the Ruby Pools. Streamfang and Spruce had shoved them along any time they stumbled, forcing them to go faster.

"Let me put herbs on Mallowbelly's wounds," Pricklepaw pleaded as they passed a clump of plants.

Streamfang glared at her. "Fine. We'll take the time to hunt." She growled, unsheathing her claws. She focused her eyes on all the Clan-cats in turn. "Don't you dare try to run while your hunting, my cats will just track you down and kill you." Then Streamfang spun on a paw and stalked away towards a crevice in the rock.

"Let's see what we can get," Briarpatch sighed as Pricklepaw examined the herbs she had found and Mallowbelly waited uncomfortably. The Clan-cats split up except for Meadowpaw who stayed near Briarpatch, her hazy blue eyes were huge.

"I missed Vinepaw and Acornpaw and Wildstorm and my parents." Meadowpaw whimpered, taking a step closer to Briarpatch.

"I know, I miss my kin and friends too," Briarpatch sympathized, leaning over and rasping her tongue between Meadowpaw's ears. Being from different Clans didn't matter anymore. At first it had caused prickly, awkward silences but now they were like they were all from the same Clan. "We'll be home soon, Meadowpaw, I'll ma—" Briarpatch was interrupted by sounds of a scuffle and yowling.

"Get your paws off of me you filthy crow-food eater!" A cat yowled, not one that Briarpatch recognized. Meadowpaw's ears twitched and suddenly the black she-cat became tense.

"Eagletalon!" She shrieked, bounding forward suddenly. She collided with another black she-cat and the two cats went tumbling. "Quailheart!" She gasped, purring. Briarpatch's eyes flickered around and saw that Streamfang had a gray and white tom, who she recognized at Eagletalon, pinned down. The black she-cat, Quailheart, had her fluffy tail curled protectively around Meadowpaw.

"Spruce, get over here," Streamfang snapped, leaping off of Eagletalon. The spotted she-cat shoved Eagletalon to the now gathered group of Clan-cats. "If any of them get away I'll shred you and feed you to the birds." She snarled when the massive black tom stalked over to her. Spruce dipped in head in consent, herding the cats against a stone wall. He flicked his tail for Moss and Pebble to help him. Briarpatch glared at Spruce and pointedly turned her back to the Nation cats, beckoning the other cats to gather closer.

"Eagletalon, what are you doing here?" Meadowpaw asked. The excitement of seeing her Clan-mates had faded and left the black apprentice worried.

"We—Quailheart, Mottledpelt, and I—picked up the scent of these pathetic excuses for cats. We also scented you. Mottledpelt suggested we send a patrol after you but when I talked to Breezepelt about it he said he would claw off our ears if we went, it was probably what they wanted he said." Eagletalon rushed out the words too softly for the guards to hear.

"Mottledpelt and I insisted that we should go anyways," Quailheart took up the story.

"Yes, apparently they want me to loose my ears." Eagletalon muttered dryly.

"Of course," Quailheart retorted lightly, smacking her brother with a paw. "So we followed you all the way up here. What are they going to do with you?"

"We don't know yet," Briarpatch answered, narrowing her eyes. "Where's Mottledpelt, didn't she come with you?" Eagletalon and Quailheart exchanged an uncomfortable look.

"Well," Quailheart began, lowering her voice even more. "She's actually not far from here. Eagletalon saw Meadowpaw and the rest of you Clan-cats along with the Nation cats and rushed in before we could stop him. I told Mottledpelt to stay while I went after Eagletalon."

"You have to get out of here," Briarpatch hissed.

"What? No! We just got here!" Eagletalon snapped, shuffling closer to Quailheart.

"You have to. If you stay here they will hurt you and you won't be able to get help. You need to get Mottledpelt and go get help—from anyone."

"We don't both have to go," Eagletalon muttered almost inaudibly, his gaze sweeping over all the cats. "Quailheart, you go. You and Mottledpelt are much better on the mountain territory then I am. We'll distract them then go!"

"No, Eagletalon…" Quailheart whispered and a moment later Spruce snarled.

"Stop talking!"

"Go," Briarpatch hissed to Quailheart then padded up to Spruce, holding her chin high. She was quickly joined by Eagletalon. "Are you going to let them go?" She demanded, jerking her head at Eagletalon.

Spruce snorted and beckoned to Moss. "This mouse-brain actually thinks that we are going to let the new arrivals go!" He purred in amusement.

"As if we would allow them to go get help from their pathetic Clan-mates," Moss sneered. Out of the corner of her eye, Briarpatch saw Quailheart slip away. Pebble also saw, Briarpatch realized from the jerk of the spotted she-cats' head. She waited but Pebble didn't sound the alarm, just deliberately looked away and surveyed the area around them.

"Prisoner loose!" Spider shrieked from in point a few fox-lengths away. He hadn't realized that Quailheart had run right away so the black she-cat had a big lead. Spider leaped up and raced after Quailheart, soon joined by Moss. Spruce and Pebble stayed by the guard to Clan-cats.

"Who let that cat escape?" Streamfang shrieked, bounding towards them. Upon arrival she lashed out and raked her claws down the side of Spruce's face.

"I didn't let her go, Pebble did," Spruce hissed and pressed his belly to the ground.

"I was guarding the cats, something you weren't doing," Pebble snapped then said to her mother, "Spruce and Moss were gossiping like rogues."

"It was her fault," Spruce insisted, this time jerking his head at Briarpatch.

"Stop pushing the blame onto other cats, you coward." Streamfang snarled, glaring down at Spruce. She would have continued had Spider and Moss not returned.

"The mouse-dung got away," Spider reported, lashing his tail. "We would easily have caught up with her had someone alerted us earlier," He added, shooting a glance at Spruce.

"Stay out of my fur, you tenderfoot!" Spruce growled, taking a step forward.

"I'm a paladin, now, remember." Spider said smugly, not looking at all nervous by Spruce stalking towards him. "And I'm not the one being hissed at like some dumb sightless."

"Enough!" Streamfang yowled, cuffing Spruce over the ear with unsheathed paws. "Get out of my sight, Spruce, before I decide you are useless to me." Spruce dipped his head and scurried away, his tail between his legs. "Now if any of you want to keep your fur, get your paws moving!"