A Moonlit Path by Chocolatemeerkat (good story books to read .txt) 📕

going to get some prey for Longstripe and Cloudeye. Do you want to come?" He asked the little kit.
"That would be great!" Honeykit exclaimed happily, bouncing up and down. Her tail then drooped. "But will they like me?"
"Of course they will." Eagletalon assured her. "The elders love it when the kits visit them. I think you kits visit the elders more than any cats in the Clan!"
The gold and white warrior led the light ginger kit over to the fresh-kill pile, digging his teeth into the hare's scuff. He then dragged it over to the elder's den, taking care not to sqaush the delicate little kit.
As Eagletalon and Honeykit entered the elder's den, Longstripe poked his head up. "Is that rabbit I smell? I hope you're giving that to the elders." He grumbled from his nest.
"Hare." Eagletalon corrected him. "And yes, it's for you and Cloudeye. But I've got a vistor for you too." He stepped aside to reveal Honeykit, and Longstripe let out a rusty purr. "There haven't been any kits here for a while. Who are you?"
"I'm Honeykit." The light ginger she-kit introduced herself politely. "I'm Dawnsong's and Runningbreeze's daughter." Longstripe purred again at that. "I'm Longstripe. I am Dawnsong's father. Welcome to the Clan, little one."
I forgot that Longstripe's a grandfather now. Eagletalon realised. He must be really proud.                           As Eagletalon turned to leave, he heard a cry. "Honeykit! Where is she?"
"Time to go, little one." The gold and white warrior told the kit. "Your mother is looking for you."
Saying a final goodbye to Longstripe, Honeykit followed Eagletalon out of the elder's den. Eagletalon had been right, Dawnsong was franticly looking for her kit. "She's here." He called.
"Thank StarClan!" Dawnsong rushed over and gave Honeykit a few quick licks behind her ears. "Where did you find her?"
"Honeykit found me, actually. She helped me take some prey to the elders." Eagletalon purred in amusement. "Longstripe and Cloudeye are very fond of her."
"You make a better parent than me." Dawnsong told him, wrapping her tail neatly around her paws. "Willowstream was a lucky cat to have you fathering her kits."
Eagletalon felt a chill go down his spine. He had taken the young she-cat for a mate not long after he became a warrior. She had given birth to his three kits: Leopardpaw, Moonpaw and Clawedpaw. However, when the three became apprentices, Willowstream was slaughtered by a unknown cat. The gold and white tom still grieved, but he had to continue his life and put the past behind him, as an old friend told him once.
"I'm going hunting." Eagletalon decided. "I'll see if Gorgepaw will come. He needs to learn some hunting techinques to catch up with his sister." ~13~

Echopath pushed her way through the bracken, following Lionclaw and Pebblestep. Toadpaw followed closely behind her, having a bit of trouble keeping up with the older warriors. The silver warrior looked behind her shoulder and purred sympatheticly. "You're really having problems with this, aren't you?"
"Yes!" The apprentice cried with a wail. Echopath spun round and grabbed Toadpaw's scuff, but forgot how muscular he had become since starting training. She dropped him and he fell down with a yelp.
"Let me take him." Lionclaw grumbled, picking up the dark brown apprentice. Echopath followed the tall golden tabby warrior out of the bracken before picking up a strange scent. It smelt like death, frightening her, but it finally became reconisable.
Two pairs of eyes then appeared in the bush, behind where Lionclaw and Toadpaw were standing. One pair yellow, the other blue, but both showed hatred.
"Watch out!" Echopath screamed, darting over and shoving Lionclaw away, just as the two pairs of eyes leapt out. The silver warrior's instincts had been right, the pairs of eyes had belonged to cats.
"Why are you here?" Pebblestep snarled, lashing her tail. The smallest of the two stepped forward, his yellow eyes flickering back and fourth at the ForestClan cats. Echopath noticed he carried many scars from past battles, and his long claws were coated with blood at the tips.
"My name is Claws." He introduced himself gruffly. "This is Fear." He then flicked his tail to his companion, a black and brown tom. Their pelts were streaked with water.
These are ReedClan's rogues! Echopath realised. They reek of fish!                                                          "You don't belong here." Pebblestep growled, her claws sheathed and ready to strike. "I recommend you leave this territory, or we will attack."
"Sure." Claws looked bored. "Go ahead. Attack us."
With a furious and unexpected yowl, Toadpaw flung himself at Claws, digging his teeth into the rogue's scuff. Echopath tried to stop him, but Lionclaw stood in front of her, shielding her from any attacks. "You saved me, now I save you." He told her calmly.
"But Toadpaw is my apprentice!" Echopath protested. "Poppyfoot will never forgive me if he dies!"
Before Lionclaw could reply, Pebblestep rushed forward and scored her claws down Fear's hind leg. Fear raked his claws across Pebblestep's face, leaving a long line of blood trickling down her face. The young warrior stumbled back, slightly shocked, while Fear leapt forward and sank his teeth into her neck.
"Nooo!" Toadpaw wailed, darting over as the silver she-cat collasped, making loud gurgling noises as blood welled out of her neck. The apprentice spun round to face Echopath. "Do something!" He begged desperately.
"There is nothing I can do." Echopath told him with a sigh. "StarClan are calling for her. She will be safe there, and among lost Clanmates."
She padded over, just as Pebblestep let out a cough that racked her whole body. Echopath touched her nose to her friend's shoulder, not wanting to show too much grief in front of Fear and Claws.
"You died the bravest death of any warrior." Toadpaw told the dying she-cat. "ForestClan will honour you, I will make sure of it."
"Thank you." Pebblestep murmured weakly. "I will watch over all of you. May StarClan light your path, and may it be bright."
The silver warrior let out another raspy cough, then allowed the last breath to leave her body. She went motionless instantly.
Pebblestep was dead.
"No!" Toadpaw yowled in sorrow and fury. "Why?!"
Echopath spun round and glared at Fear, who was murmuring away to Claws. Her eyes were filled with hatred as she looked at Pebblestep's murders. I swear that I will get my revenge on you snake-hearts. She vowed privately. I will give everything to make sure that you don't lay a claw on another cat, not ever. And that is a promise.

>14>

Swiftpaw settled down beside a treestump, watching Outcasts and ForestClan cats alike share their final goodbyes. Today was the day that the apprentices and Brokenheart would start the long journey home.
Glancing over to the cave, Swiftpaw watched Future and Clawedpaw murmur away quietly, obviously not wanting anyone to hear what they were discussing.
This must be really hard for Clawedpaw. The black and white apprentice thought to himself. Him and Future were close.                                                                                                                                       Legend padded over to Swiftpaw, his green eyes bright. "Four of us will guide you home." He told the apprentice cheerfully. "The others will be needed back here in case the dogs attack."
"Which cats are coming with us?" Swiftpaw enquired curiously. Legend looked behind his shoulder. "Arrow is one, Vulture is another and I'm not quite sure who the other two will be."
"Maybe Future will go." Swiftpaw suggested. "She will want to be with Clawedpaw."
"I don't think your friend will be leaving." Legend groaned, flicking his tail over to the cave. "Look over there."
Clawedpaw was sharing a owl with Future now, but he was standing so close to her that their pelts touched. Future didn't really seem to mind, which was normal.
Joy then motioned for everyone to come over to her. Swiftpaw followed Legend, waving his tail in greeting to Bear, who was talking to Vulture and Arrow. The Outcast tom returned the greeting, but then flicked his tail towards Featherpaw, who was looking a bit lost. Realising that, Swiftpaw left Legend's side and approached his friend, giving her a quick lick on the shoulder. "Hello." He greeted her politely. "Good sleep?"
"Fine." Featherpaw told him quickly. "Really good. Just great."
"Are you sure?" Swiftpaw asked, narrowing his eyes. "You don't sound truthful."
Before she could reply, Joy silenced the crowd. "As you all know, our friends from ForestClan leave us today. I am sure you will all agree with me when I say this, but I can say that no Outcast could have fitted in with the confidance that you all had. In my mind, you will always be honoured for seasons to come. You have taught us so much and we will use these skills well. Yet your parting will be like loosing family, for here we are all a family, and you somehow joined us like lost realitives. On behalf of my family of Outcasts, I thank all of you."
A loud yowl went up from the crowd. Swiftpaw and Featherpaw exchanged a look of pride, their eyes filled with delight.
"To accompany on your journey home, I have selected four cats to journey with you. This will probably be the last you will see of us, but I hope we'll see eachother again soon." Joy continued. "Arrow, Vulture, Bear and Future will go with you. These four carry skills you will need, and I feel they know you better than any of us."
"Future only knows Clawedpaw best!" Featherpaw hissed in annoyance. "I'm going to die with her on the journey!"
"Legend knew us well." Swiftpaw added with a sigh. "I guess we won't see him ever again. I'll really miss him."
"He left you a scar to remember him by." Featherpaw pointed out, touching Swiftpaw's ear with her tail. "I'm sure that will jog some memories when you're an elder."
While the two apprentices continued talking, Bear plodded over to them. "Come on, we're leaving now. Say your final goodbyes and let's get going. With luck, we'll get to your territory in two days."
Saying farewell to their Outcast friends one last time, Swiftpaw and Featherpaw followed behind their Clanmates as they started the huge journey home.
I can't believe it! Swiftpaw told himself privately. We're really going home!