Chapt 37

Lionblaze walked slowly, to make sure all cats kept up. They followed the river slowly.
"Can we stop? My paws hurt," A kit wailed. Lionblaze had heard complaints all day and decided they should stop for a short break.
"Come on we should let them rest," Lionblaze nudged Leafstar. She nodded, directing her clan towards a small group of trees. The clan settled down. Lionblaze wasn't tired so he decided to go hunting with Sharpclaw and Sparrowpelt. His paws felt cool on the soft forest leaves and mud. Crouching low, he began to creep forward. He could hear the pulsating of the prey's heart, the paw steps on the soft ground, the flicker of it's wings. Pheasant! He had never caught a pheasant, but Cloudtail had once caught one. They were big birds, with a long feathery tail. If he missed this, he'd never forgive himself. Padding slowly forward, he was about three tail lengths away from the fern it hid behind. Careful not to step on a twig or crunchy leaves he was still until her could see the bird's tail. Flicking his whiskers in excitement. He got down low on his haunches and leaped through the air landing on the fern. The pheasant ran, but Lionblaze was faster. He tripped the bird's legs, which sent it tumbling onto the ground. He killed the large bird after breaking its neck. Satisfied, he took his pheasant and buried it. He didn't catch anything else, but the big Bird would feed all the warriors. Carrying it back to the clan, he was greeted warmly by Skyclan. Bringing it over to the make-do fresh kill pile.
"What is that? I've never seen one of those before." Sagewhisker mewed.
"Pheasant, they're not common, but not too hard to catch if you know what to do," He purred. The other warriors were either sleeping, or sharing tongues. Slowly the cats got up and began to eat the pheasant ravenously. This would be the last chance to catch prey before the first snowfall arrived. Looking up to the sky, dark gray clouds warned him that the snowfall would come very soon.
When Lionblaze ate what his full, he looked around fir Leafstar. She was talking to Sharpclaw in a hushed tone. Trotting over, the pair looked up with the same grim look.
"It's going to snow tonight," Sharpclaw mewed.
"Yes, that's what I thought as well," Lionblaze mewed flatly.
"We should keep moving then, we don't want to get stuck in this storm," Leafstar mewed. The two toms nodded and Leafstar stood up.
"Cats of Skyclan, and cats of the lake. We will keep moving. There is a storm brewing, and we can not afford to lose any more time," Leafstar addressed her clan. Slowly the clan stood up in a group.
"Are all cats back from hunting?" When no cat spoke, she nodded. Turning around, she began walking with the clan following her. Following the river once more, Lionblaze took the lead. Remembering how the river bent and came back, he took them away from the river, hoping it would bend back again soon. The pace was slow, and Lionblaze wished he could just run ahead through the trees, like a carefree apprentice before any prophecies. But he knew he could never do that again, at least not until the Dark Forest was vanquished from all clan life. He worried about Cinderheart and his two kits. He hoped Mountainpaw wasn't too upset about being made an apprentice so early, and Leopardkit was angry at her brother. Sighing, he wished he could walk in the dreams of other like Jayfeather. He was so lost in thought, he had stopped walking all together. Cats bumped into him and hissed.
"What are you doing? Keep moving!" Thistlefur spat. Shaking his head, Lionblaze took the lead again and slowly the river bent back to the clan. It was dark, but Skyclan kept moving. Then a white tuft floated down from the sky and landed on Lionblaze's nose, making him sneeze. Snow. Turning the Leafstar, she had the same expression of urgency in her eyes. They need to find shelter, fast. They snow was coming down thicker and thicker, but they were no where near and trees or even a small group of reeds. They were in grassland, with no sign of shelter in sight.
"We must put all kits, queens, and elders in the middle. It will be warmer there," Sharpclaw whispered.
"Sharpclaw, send out some cats to look for shelter. If they can't find any, tell them to come back," Leafstar instructed the pale ginger tom. Nodding, Sharpclaw turned away to explain what they were doing to Skyclan.
"What about me?" Lionblaze murmured.
"I want you to help warm the kits, queens, and elders. Stand around them with a few other warriors, especially ones with think fur like you. Gather some moss if you can find any. But we mustn't lose any cat to the cold tonight." Lionblaze nodded and began to gather some long haired cats like Sagewhisker and Patchpelt. All the cats nodded and curled their tails of the cats. Crowheart was shivering while Leopardspot was lying ominously still. He began to wrap his tail around her, but Thistlefur stopped him.
"No, she's already succomb to the cold." His eyes were glazed with grief.
"Starclan will honor her," Lionblaze murmured. He remembered the blue-gray she-cat with black spots had been excited to meet his daughter, Leopardkit.
"So will her clanmates," Crowheart chattered. Word passed that Leopardspot had passed and before long Leafstar was standing outside the big circle of cats.
"Leopardspot, elder of Skyclan has passed. She was never a warrior, but her wisdom has helped Skyclan in more ways than one. Her generous spirit and kind soul will be welcomed in Starclan." Leafstar's words were full of grief and wisdom. The clan murmured their agreement. Lionblaze would sit vigil for her tonight. Licking her ear gently, he resumed his position around the elders.
"She was a good cat, I remember when she was a loner and had her first kits. They should know she has died." Crowheart mewed.
"How are we going to do that? Travel back to camp and freeze as well?" Thistlefur's barbed words were shallow with grief for his fallen friend.
"No, but when we do get back to camp, after this war. I'll find Birch and Dandelion, and tell them, they deserve to know after all." Crowheart explained confidently. Thistleclaw snorted and circled his nest before pulling his tail over his nose. Crowheart did the same next to her friend. When Crowfeather was asleep, Thistlefur opened one eye and slipped his tail of Crowheart's paws.
"I can't lose her too," He murmured, looking up at Lionblaze. Lionblaze was touched by Thistlefur's compassion. The spiky furred elder was normally very rude and sharp tongued. Lionblaze sat closer to the elders, eventually laying down next to them. Wrapping his own tail around the thin elders, he began to look around the scene. The kits and queens were all snuggled together. A few kits were even under their mother, between the ground and her belly fur, they were very warm. Some of the apprentices were snuggled next to queens. The warriors were all on the outside of the circle, occasionally switching from between the middle of the warriors to the outside. Lionblaze began to close his eyes, but forced them awake for Leopardspot's sake. Thistlefur was now asleep, snoring away.
Finally daylight broke over the horizon. Lionblaze felt as if his paws were frozen to his chest. More cats were waking, but some cats were still sleeping. The ground was covered belly deep in snow. Sniffing the elders, they were both alive. Leopardspot was covered in snow. Carefully wiping the white powder off with his tail, he prodded the two elders. Silently, all three cats picked up Leopardspot's body and carried her towards a place to be buried. They began to dig out a hole, when Thistlefur burst out angrily.
"Why couldn't it of been me, I have no friends no family. No one would have missed me! Leopardspot had kits, friends, and was looking forward to getting to the lake! I should have died, not her," Thistlefur hissed.
"Shut up Thistlefur! Can't you see your my friend now. I would miss you and so would Leopardspot!" Lionblaze knew this was Crowheart's way of caring for her friend. Thistlefur opened his mouth to object, but quickly thought better of it. Quietly they buried their friend.
When the three cats returned to the clan, everyone was awake and moving about.
"How is everyone?" Lionblaze padded up to Heathertail.
"Fine, everyone is okay. We need to start moving though, we should arrive at the lake today or at the most tomorrow. We just need to start moving." Heathertail mewed, looking around the group of cats. Suddenly, Sharpclaw, Sagewhisker, and Tinyfoot hissed and screeched on the other side of the cats. There was a group of six or seven cats, rogues by the look of themselves. They were cowering in front of the big group of cats, but they could not ruin now. Skyclan had surrounded them and Sharpclaw was about to attack when Leafstar bounded in front of him.
"What are you doing here?" She hissed.
"W-we thought you could help us," A frail tawny colored she-cat whimpered.
"Who are you?" Sharpclaw mewed loudly.
"I am Tinder. This is my mate, Sarah." A skinny tom answered, beckoning towards the tawny she-cat, " This is my group." The other cats stepped forward.
"I am Ghost." A white tom with amber eyes stepped forward.
"My name is Sasha," A creamy she-cat mewed firmly.
"This is Cristy and I am Raccoon." A gray and black striped tom pointed to a bracken colored she-cat. There was one cat left. He was squirming slightly. His coat was jet black and his eyes reminded Lionblaze of clear pools of water.
"I am Twilight," He murmured. Lionblaze knew there was something special about this young tom.
"We have lost many cats to a force known as the Place of No Stars. We are dying, and hoped that you will help us." Tinder gazed around the group of cats.
"We too are battling the Place of No Stars. I will have to discuss this with my deputy. Come, Sharpclaw." The two cats bounded away. No cat moved in the clearing, except the she-cat Sasha.
"Deputy? Does that mean you are a clan?" Her eyes glowed.
"Yes we are Skyclan," A kit hollered. The kit was quickly hushed by its mother.
"Skyclan! Then do you know about Riverclan, where it Riverclan?" Sasha's tail quivered.
"I know where Riverclan is. I am Lionblaze of Thunderclan, why do you ask of Riverclan?"
"My son and daughter joined Riverclan in the old forest. When the clans left for a new home, I didn't go with them. Now I am searching for them." She began to peer around the cats, as if looking for them now.
"What are their names?" Heathertail pushed through to stand beside Lionblaze.
"Hawkfrost and Mothwing. Have you seen them?" Sasha mewed. Lionblaze's jaw dropped. This was the terrible Hawkfrost's, mother? A lost she-cat, who looked like she had been a kittypet at one time! Her delicate features and soft creamy fur was tinges with scars and wounds of past battles.
"Come with me, there is a lot to talk about," Lionblaze mewed quietly for only Sasha to hear. She hesitated then nodded, following Lionblaze under a bush.
"What is it, what happened to my kits?" Her voice squeaked.
"They're.. they're both dead." Lionblaze choked out. Sasha's eyes widend and she began to sob.
"How did this happen?" The creamy she-cat whispered, searching Lionblaze's eyes.
"Bramblestar killed Hawkfrost when he found out Hawkfrost was trying to kill Firestar. Hawkfrost lives in the Dark Forest now with Tigerstar," Sasha winced at the sound of Tigerstar's name.
"And Mothwing?"
"I'm not sure. I know she was killed in the battle of the Dark Forest, but I don't know by whom. I could try and find out when we get to the lake," He mewed hopefully.
"No, no. That's all right. I just needed to know how they were." Her voice was hallow with shock. Lionblaze dipped his head and crawled out from under the bush. Sasha didn't follow, Lionblaze knew she took this very hard. When he got back to Skyclan, not much had changed. The group of loners were now sitting in the middle, all the clan cats were visibly seperating theselves from them. Leafstar and Sharpclaw padded back into the middle.
"We have decided you can come with us, If you are fighting the Dark Forest too, then we will need more cats on our side." When no cat objected, Leafstar explained their plan and they set off again.