above: thunderfish. he's supposed to have green eyes, though. 

chapter 6

. . . 

Twigflame's ears were flattened to the sides of her head in fright. "What do we do?" she cried over the roar of the water.

I lashed my tail. "Stay here!" I called back.

Stormywind hurried to my side as I inspected my surroundings. The fence ran up to the back then took a narrow turn, away from us and along the riverbank. Then the river narrowed, and it would give us enough space to walk. But it was getting to that wide part that was making me nervous. Any cat could slip and fall, and they would be swept along with the river and down the waterfall. I shuddered.

"Alright!" I cried, returning to my Clanmates. "We should be able to cross here, moving in between the fence and the water. Who's first?"

No one said a word. FInally, Redgaze spoke up. "I guess I'll do it."

Nodding appreciatively, I watched carefully as he squeezed into the narrow space. He kept himself pressed against the fence as he put one shaking foot in front of the other. Once, his paw slipped, and he wobbled for a bit, before pressing himself against the fence once more. ONce the ground widened, Redgaze broke into a trot and stood on firm ground.

I cheered. "Great job! Who's next?"

My Clanmates exchanged nervous looks before Twigflame stepped up. The brown molly's was were shaking as she flattened herself to the fence. She crept along fine. When she reached the part that Redgaze had wobbled at, she stayed along the fence and suddenly stopped.

"What's wrong?" I called.

"I'm stuck! There's something on the fence - it's holding me!"

Redgaze carefully wiggled back to her and began working on it. Since he alone wasn't enough, I placed my paws on the narrow bank. My paws threatened to slip and I nearly lost my balance as I crept closer to the pair.

The knot was almost free when I heard Thunderfish let out a high pitched yowl. "Watch out!"

My head snapped up to see a large wave coming forward. I tried to scramble back, but the water splashed over my body. I was knocked into the rapids and swept closer to the roar of the waterfall. I heard two splashes, indicating Redgaze and Twigflame had plunged into the water as well. Water submerged me fully. It rushed into my nose and I held my breath, thrashing my paws. My muzzle broke the surface and teeth clamped my scruff.

"Stormywind, you lifesaver," I spluttered, my paws finding the shore as my brother dragged me out. As soon as my eyes opened and i could breathe, I looked around. Thunderfish was dragging Redgaze out of the water, and Goldenfern was struggling to hold on to Twigflame. They were dangerously close to the edge of the waterfall.

"Help them!" I cried, getting to my paws.

Beetleclaw was on it like a shot, racing forward and leaning in to grasp Goldenfern's scruff.

The golden molly tried to help him, but she was so water clogged that her eyes were starting to droop closed and her grip on Twigflame was loosening.

I tres myself forward, pulling Beetleclaw back with a snarl. Goldenfern tumbled out with him, but her grip on Twigflame has slipped.

"Heeeeelp!"

The cry echoed in the gully as the brown she-cat was swept to the waterfall and disappeared over the edge. Thunderfish released Redgaze and ran to the edge. The drop was enormous. No cat would survive that.

"She's dead," Stormywind mewed blankly.

"No!" Thunderfish stared down to where mist was rising.

I felt grief and responsibility crush my shoulders. My eyes flitted to Goldenfern. Redgaze was sniffing her, making sure she was alright. Just a little while ago I had been stubborn and did not go through the Twolegplace. Now we lost a Clanmate because of my stupidity. Great.

I opened my mouth, about to suggest that we should go home, when Thunderfish raised his chin. "We will not let this stop us. It's already dusk, so I say we camp around here for the night and cross the Twolegplace in the morning."

My ears flattening, I nodded. "I think we should divide responsibilities," I choked out, my tail low. "Stormywind and I shall take care of nests, Redgaze, you can keep an eye on Goldenfern and watch for intruders, and the rest of you go hunt."

Stormywind dropped his tough guy act as soon as the others were out of sight. "That was terrifying," he confessed as we went to find a spot. "I thought you and Redgaze were going to drown - along with her."

As I nodded I felt a pang in my chest. Even though I didnt really like Twigflame, she was my Clanmate and I had failed in my job to protect her.

Stormywind angled his ears to a bracken bush.

Squirrel! I know we're not supposed to hunt ... but..

My brother leaped, flattening the squirrel and sinking his teeth into it's neck. I smiled softly, not wanting to scare any other prey.

Stormywind lifted his tail proudly, and grabbed the squirrel as we continued. Not too far away we found a sheltered small clearing with ferns and bracken under the protective trees. Stormywind dropped his squirrel in the middle as I began to make nests with the ferns and bracken.

"I'll get the others," Stormywind announced. "Then we'll finish making camp."

I nodded, my paws flattening another fern to the ground. After I had made six nests I heard pawsteps and warm chatter. Stormywind led my Patrolmates forward, their jaws carrying prey. Troutprickle dropped his rabbit, Beetleclaw had gotten a few voles, Goldenfern seemed to be feeling better as she pattered along next to Redgaze. Thunderfish hoisted a pigeon and a mouse. The presence of a fresh-kill pile seemed to lift everyone's spirits. Despite the fact that it was starting to drizzle, my Clanmates cheerfully filled the space with warm chatter and sharing tongues. Thunderfish finished the last nest while Beetleclaw sat down to take guard. Soon the sun began to dip behind the trees and I flicked my ears to rid them of water.

"We need shifts," I announced, pointing at Beeteclaw. "I'll take the next shift, then I'll wake you one of you, and so on."

Thunderfish nodded, got up with Troutprickle, and with quick shakes of their pelts, padded into the makeshift den. The others soon followed, but I stayed outside, watching as the night sky filled with stars. I missed the chatter of apprentices, the warm feel of eyes on me, kits running around. What if I never got to experience that again?

I did not know how long I stayed up, but soon Beetleclaw was next to me. "My shift's done, I was going to wake you, but you didnt go to bed.."

I pressed my cheek against his. "Don't worry about me. Go to sleep, and I'll wake the next cat in line."

I padded to his spot after he mewed his goodnights. The ground was still warm and after I sat down I fluffed out my fur, feeling the chill of the night wind.

As my gaze fluttered around the camp, my mind wandered and I let it. I imagined what the rest of my Clanmates were doing, I thought of the dangers we would face tomorrow.

Twolegplaces had never seemed so scary until I was the one in charge of the cats going in. My chest heaved as I sighed, my eyes closing for a heartbeat.

In that exact moment I heard a rustle in the leaves behind me and I spun around to be met with snarling jaws.

don't kill me. im sorry that they lost twigflame on the first day, but i never liked her anyway, so eh. she had no kin anyway. no ones gonna miss her.  *shrugs*. don't i love torturing you guys with cliffhangers, though?