Dewpaw was allowed to take the lead through MapleClan territory. The marshy ground oozed around Featherpaw's paws. "Yuck yuck yuck!" She hissed under her breath.
Up ahead Dewpaw trotted confidently through the soaking mush. Ravenpaw seemed to have no problem with the soggy ground but Sparkpaw shared her disgust. He lifted a muddy paw and frowned at it. "This will take moons to wash off." He grumbled sourly. They had been walking along the river for a while now, and the first traces of dawn were arriving in pale, orange streaks across the deep, navy blue sky. "We're going to pass MapleClan camp soon, stay in the reeds." Dewpaw ordered, lifting her tail. "When I say run, run as fast as you can to the bottom of the Highstones."
Featherpaw nodded, pressing further into the reeds, glad to be off the marshes.
"Run!" Dewpaw hissed. The four cats shot forward. Featherpaw dashed through the reeds. They whipped at her face as she ran. Finally, after a decent bit of running they left the MapleClan scent markers behind them and began to arrived at the Highstones. "Our adventure has begun!" Featherpaw announced, taking the lead again.
The stones were hard, and slippery after the rain that had fallen earlier. The four apprentices struggled over the stones, slipping and sliding as they struggled onwards. Featherpaw leaped neatly up to a large boulder. "Hey look! A cave!" She exclaimed, sniffing aroung the small crevice.
"If thats a cave then I'm a mouse." Grumbled Sparkpaw.
"We can stay here for the night" Featherpaw suggested.
Ravenpaw leaped up after her, sniffing the cave as well. "We should fit if we all squeeze together." He decided.
Featherpaw pushed inside, curling up. Ravenpaw followed her in and curled next to her. "Wait, shouldn't we keep watches?" Featherpaw mewed suddenly, remembering that they weren't safe out here and raising her head.
"I can take first watch." Sparkpaw volunteered.
"Thanks." Featherpaw sighed, exhausted. "Wake me next." She managed to mew before falling into a welcoming sleep.
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Featherpaw woke abruptly by the sun shining into the cave. Sitting up abruptly she realized she hadn't sat her watch. Leaving the cave she found Dewpaw sitting atop the rock, looking out over the stones. In the distance high, towering mountains peaked, some looked like they could reach the clouds. "Why didn't anyone wake me for my watch?" She asked Dewpaw.
"Ravenpaw took your watch." Dewpaw replied shortly, wrapping her fluffy tail around her paws.
"Ravenpaw?" Featherpaw exclaimed.
"Yeah. Said he could take it and not to wake you right after you fell asleep."
"But...he didn't need to that!" Featherpaw protested, feeling her fur rise slightly.
"You should be happy." Snapped Dewpaw. "It was an act of kindness mousebrain." She turned her back to Featherpaw.
Feeling distinctly irritated by Ravenpaw's coddling, she tasted the air. Picking up the small of mouse she stalked lightly over the smooth rock. She found the mouse scuffling around, looking for food. Pouncing she caught it. Sitting up with a purr of pleasure Featherpaw realized that she couldn't bury her prey out here. Before she could come up with a solution however a shadow crossed overhead and Featherpaw felt her paws leave the ground. With a wail of terror Featherpaw twisted in the great birds grip amd felt its talons dig into her side, climbing steadily higher. With a yowl of pain as well as terror, Featherpaw managed to get ahold of a paw full of it feathers and jerked it out. It was the birds turn to screech in pain but it kept climbing higher. It loosened its grip on Featherpaw, allowing her to twist around and dig her claws into it. However, this caused the bird such pain it released Featherpaw from a very high height. With a wail Featherpaw plummeted towards the stone below. She closed her eyes, conjuring up a picture of Ravenpaw. That was the last thing she wanted to see. However another screech caused her to open her eyes. "Featherpaw!" Ravenpaw streaked over the ground so fast Featherpaw wasn't sure if it was real. He leaped incredibly high and before she could comprehend what had happend she crashed onto Ravenpaw's slim body with such force it was a wonder his spine didn't break. She crashed, hard into the side of the boulder. But not nearly as hard she would have is Ravenpaw hadn't broken her fall. Her head swam and blood streamed heavily from her cuts. Ravenpaw looked about as dazed as she felt. He staggered up. "Featherpaw. Are you ok?" He gasped.
"I'm...I'm fine." Featherpaw groaned. Pain was throbbing every bone in her body.
"Guys! Are you ok!" Sparkpaw hurled over the gap that Ravenpaw had jumped. "Featherpaw! You're hurt!" He gasped, seeing the blood.
"It's nothing." Featherpaw panted. She struggled to her paws causing her head to throb harder and the world to spin faster. Sparkpaw caught her, guiding back to the cave. Dewpaw came shortly after, dragging the giant bird and helping Ravenpaw. Ravenpaw seemed better, just slightly dazed. "See if you can find any cobwebs." He ordered Sparkpaw. "I saw some marigold earlier, see if you can find that too."
Sparkpaw nodded, getting to his paws and leaving the den with aflick of his orange tail. Ravenpaw crouched down next to Featherpaw and began lapping the blood from her wounds. Featherpaw let out a faint whimper, jerking away.
"Shh." Ravenpaw mewed soothingly. Sparkpaw returned, carrying several leaves and some codwebs. "Great! Put it here." Ordered Ravenpaw. He began chewing the herbs and spitting it onto Featherpaw's wounds. Then he gently patted the conwebs over it. "Don't have any poppyseed, sorry. Try and have a sleep." Featherpaw was to exhausted to argue.
"Amazing catch." Dewpaw added, flicking her tail towards the bird. "Stupid really. But good catch all the same."