"We can keep going." Featherpaw repeated for the umpteenth time, getting to her paws and trying to leave the cave. "I feel fine."
Ravenpaw gave her an almost pitying look. "No you don't." He mewed, putting his tail in front of the exit.
"Yes. I. DO." Featherpaw snarled, her hackles rising. It wasn't true at all. She was sure at least one of her ribs was, if not broken, fractured and every inch of her body throbbed every time she made a sudden move. Her cuts were half healed, but still started bleeding when they came in contact with rough surfaces, like the stone all around them. However they had been stuck in this cave for several days because of her and she was determined not to delay them any longer.
"We leave tomorrow." She meowed defiently. "Otherwise I will go on my own."
Ravenpaw sighed. "Well if there's no arguing with you-"
"There's not." Featherpaw interjected.
"Then I don't see why not." Raising his voice slightly he adressed the rest of them. "We leave first thing tomorrow morning."
Featherpaw gave a satisfied sigh and settled back down, nose resting on her paws. Her thoughs roamed, ending up back home in OakClan. She wondered what Wolfpaw was doing, and felt a pang of longing for her brother. She wished she was home, in her nest next to Ashpaw, excited to become a warrior. The air outside was definitely warmer, and flowers were forcing their way through cracks in the stone. Prey was plentiful, even on the endless rocky mountains. Thinking of how Ashpaw, Wolfpaw and the other apprentices would be getting their warrior names soon, Featherpaw drifted off into a doze.
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The sun streaming through into the cave woke Featherpaw. Sparkpaw was sitting watch, but Ravenpaw was awake. He was lying next to Featherpaw, gently cleansing her cuts. She turned and met his gentle amber gaze. "I love you Featherpaw." He whispered.
Featherpaw swallowed a lump in her throat before mewing, "I love you too Ravenpaw."
They sat, watching the sun rise over the mountains in the distance. Dewpaw began to stir as the suns rays shone more brightly into the cave. Sparkpaw returned from a short hunting trip carrying a mouse to get them started. Then Featherpaw rose to her paws. "Lets go." Lifting her head high, she left the cave, followed by the others. Now their adventure could finally continue.
After a while of climbing however Featherpaw's wounds were aching so bad she could hardly see straight. Her head swam lightly and she struggled forward. With a great heave she leaped up onto a higher boulder. The rocky ground had started inclining upwards, they were at the actual mountain part now, making it even harder for Featherpaw to climb. Ravenpaw leaped up next to her then, with a yowl of shock, slipped off the side. "Ravenpaw!" Featherpaw gasped, skidding to the edge a peering over. He lay, holding his paw oddly. "I think I sprained it." He mewed, as Dewpaw and Sparkpaw scrambled to stand by Featherpaw's sides. "Well we can stop here for the night." Sparkpaw suggested.
"Ok." Featherpaw agreed with an inward sigh of relief. Ravenpaw caught her eye and gave her a significant look. Featherpaw understood, with a jolt of gratitude and surprise that Ravenpaw had faked getting hurt so Featherpaw would be spared of causing them to stop again. They found a small crevice that they attempted to squeeze into, huddling up tightly. Ravenpaw took first watch, allowing Featherpaw to stretch out and rest her throbbing wounds. She drifted off easily without a single dream. Too soon Sparkpaw was waking her for her watch. She got up and carefully climbed past Ravenpaw trying not to wake him. Outside was chilly, but not as cold a usual this early. There was no frost. Newleaf was really on its way. A soft twitter of birds could be heard far, far away. Then a sudden smell hit her scent glands. Other cats. She had just open her mouth to let out a yowl when heavy paws slammed into her back. "Keep your mouth shut and we'll consider sparing your pityfull life." The cat hissed in her ear.
"Featherpaw? Is something wrong?" Ravenpaw came out from the cave, looking tired and puzzled.  One of the cats leap silently towards him, claws outstretched. A burst of energy, so strong that she felt like she might explode, shot through Featherpaw. Pushing upwards so hard that the cat went flying she sprang to her paws. It was as though everything was moving in slow motion. She span, and saw the cat leaping towards Ravenpaw. Saw a flash of fear fill his eyes. Saw the gleam of sharp claws. Claws that could kill. Then she leaped. She flew three times as far as a normal cat could jump and way faster. She collided hard with the cat, sending him flying. Then she landed and everything seemed to resume normal speed. She felt disoriented and dizzy. Ravenpaw was staring at her with wide, half amazed, half horrorstruck eyes. "Featherpaw..." he gasped, mouth gaping. But before he could say anything else the cats came over, fury gleaming in their eyes. "Back to back." Featherpaw ordered and they fell into formation. Side by side they clawed and snarled at the cats, not letting them get close. They moved as one, synchronized as though they had been training for moons and moons. It was like they could read each other's minds. Dewpaw and Sparkpaw came put of the den, looking confused and shocked as they saw the battle. They fell into place, Dewpaw by Featherpaw's side and Sparkpaw by Ravenpaw's side. Side by side, they fought as one. Slowly pushing the intruders away. With a final hiss, the intruding cats turned and ran. The four cats ran after them a bit, leaping up onto a boulder. Shoulder to shoulder they stood and watched them leave.