Chapter 3

                Despite Thistletail’s warning, nothing disastrous occurred in horse-place. They spotted a dog but steered clear of it. No Twolegs were seen. None of the rogue cats living in the barns attacked, although there was a close call. A fierce black-and-white tom with a nasty scar across the right side of his face stopped them and wanted to have the other cats attack but with Willowstorm’s assistance, they were able to persuade them that were only passing through and meant no harm.

                The traveling cats squeezed under yet another fence and found themselves in the midst of a bunch of animals that were like white fluffy clouds with legs. When they reached the other side, it was no longer a wooden fence with gaps in between each bar but a wall woven from strands of a shiny silver material. Fortunately, it was short enough to jump over.

                Minnowstream took a massive leap and was able to get a decent grip. She remained perched on top of the fence to help the others get over.

                Goldenshine grabbed one kit and craned her neck upwards to pass it to Minnowstream before retrieving Emberkit. The silver-furred she-cat gently placed Crowkit on the fence beside her and wrapped her tail around the dark gray kit to make sure he wouldn’t fall. She then took Emberkit from Goldenshine, who immediately sprang up onto the fence after Minnowstream’s teeth had met the kit’s scruff.

                The sound of a dog’s bark traveled across the field. The sheep ran around in a panic with the dog snapping at their heels. The cats that still remained in the field hurriedly jumped onto the fence to avoid being trampled under the terrified sheep’s hooves.

                Minnowstream felt the fence wobble slightly beneath her paws and warmth against her side. She looked over to see Streamwhisker and she leaned into him gratefully, purring loudly. “Thank you for coming with us,” she whispered.

                “Thanks for what?” the tom chuckled. “How could you think I’d ever even consider staying behind since you were leaving?”

                Streamwhisker gracefully leapt down and Minnowstream was about to follow. But suddenly, Roseflower slipped and the silver she-cat swiftly reached down to haul her back up.

                Roseflower nodded with gratitude, eyes still wide from terror. We are lucky not to have lost any cats so far.

                They didn’t go far before they saw a strip of rough gray stone, appearing to stretch endlessly in both directions. Minnowstream had never seen a Thunderpath before now but she’d heard many dreadful things about them in the elders’ tales as a kit. There was no sign of the infamous monsters but she decided to be cautious anyhow. “Don’t go until I tell you to!” she ordered.

                Minnowstream looked twice in both directions and warily stepped onto Thunderpath. Nothing happened. The stone was scorching hot though and burned her paws, so she stepped back onto the grass at its edge. Let me check one last time and then we can cross…

                Minnowstream looked to her right and saw a distant shape rapidly approaching. Straining her ears, she heard a soft sound and imagined the deafening roar once it was close. “What are we waiting for?” she heard Ratpaw whisper to Littlepaw. “Let’s go!”

                The two apprentices dashed out onto the Thunderpath. “No!” Minnowstream screeched. “Littlepaw, Ratpaw, get back here!”

                The pale light of sunset faintly glinted against the monster’s unnatural pelt. Blinding light shone from its eyes and the brothers, panicking, tried to run faster. Although smaller than the monsters at RiverClan’s camp, it was still much larger than cats and its rotating black forepaws could easily crush the apprentices. It was also much quicker as well.

                Minnowstream nearly gagged on its stench and the ground began to shake beneath her paws. She sank her claws into the ground and stared in horror at the two apprentices, who had no chance of outrunning the monster. Ratpaw leapt at Littlepaw, who tumbled safely out of the way into the bushes on the other side. His brother was less fortunate though. He crashed onto the Thunderpath, still directly in the monster’s path.

                Minnowstream closed her eyes unable to watch. There was sickening wail from Ratpaw that made her blood run cold. She cringed at the sound.

                The she-cat hesitantly opened her eyes. Ratpaw’s body laid lifeless on the Thunderpath and Littlepaw let out a cry of grief and regret.

                Minnowstream was too stunned to feel anything but surprise. She half-heartedly gave a brief glance in both directions before racing across the Thunderpath. The Clan numbly followed their leader as she dragged Ratpaw’s body to the other side.

                As the warriors hastily buried Ratpaw’s body, Minnowstream’s doubts that she pushed to the back of her mind resurfaced. First my Clan is scattered in the field with the yellow monsters, then we make a narrow escape from the dog and the sheep in horse-place, and now Ratpaw has been killed on the Thunderpath. What if StarClan doesn’t approve of this journey? Perhaps Thistletail was right. Although they spoke nothing of it and this seems to be the death we will witness, what if there will be more casualties before our arrival at our new home? Or maybe StarClan does support this journey but they do not wish for me to be the leader?

A/N: This is almost exactly the same route as Salmonkit took in Salmonstar's Fate but I plan to be more descriptive with more action. Hope you enjoyed and please tell me your thoughts! :D