Okay FINALLY here's Chapter 14!
CHAPTER 14
A russet-colored muzzle poked through the bushes, and then an explosion of the fox's orange fur burst into the clearing. Immediately, Rocktail leaped on its back. He dug his claws deep into its fur. Letting out a yowl of pain, the fox shook him off and Rocktail landed on the ground with a thud, stunned for a few heartbeats.
When he got up he saw the fox was standing over Cherrytail, who was bleeding from a long scratch on her flank. fear lit up her amber eyes. It looked as if she was in too much pain to move away. Foam specked from the fox's mouth as it lunged for another blow. "No!" Rocktail yowled as he lunged for the fox. It spun around, snarling. Rocktail fixed his teeth into the foxes throat. Blood gushed into his mouth, but he held on. The fox's growls of defiance soon became cries of pain as it scratched at Rocktail's pelt.
Suddenly, the fox collapsed, and didn't get up. Rocktail let go, gasping for breath. He spit to get the taste of the fox's blood out of his mouth. Then he looked at the fox. To his horror he realized the fox was dead. He had killed it.
The clan was staring at him, eyes wide with shock, and to his surprise, awe. Legs trembling, he padded over to Cherrytail, who was lying on the ground. "Cherrytail? Cherrytail, are you okay? Please be okay!" He added when she didn't respond, voice trembling.
Suddenly, she stirred. Her amber eyes rested on him, pain, then happiness lighting up her eyes. Silently thanking StarClan, he layed down next to her and licked the wound on her flank. To his relief it was long, but not deep. It had alreay stopped bleeding.
She let out an unsteady purr as he licked the wound. She soon rested her head on Rocktail's flank. Trying to ignore the creeping dread of the dead fox next to them, he soon fell into an unsteady sleep.
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He woke in a sunbathed clearing. He saw that Cherrytail and the rest of the clan was gone. Instantly he knew he was dreaming. Then he saw Skywatcher pad up to him with a dark orange cat next to him. For a secong he forgot how to breathe. It was Firestar! He dipped his head to them, shock freezing his limbs. Skywatcher touched his nose to Rocktail's head.
"Rocktail," he mewed. "You remember Firestar, correct?"
"Of course. Greetings, Firestar."
"Greetings," his deep voise breathed in his ear. Rocktail met Firestar's bright green eyes, and trying not to look away he mewed, "Have you come to tell me how to get to your new home?"
"Yes, but first Skywatcher has to tell you something very important." He glanced at Skywatcher, and he saw respect in his eyes. "Yes," mewed Skywatcher. "You will soon meet a cat. Welcome him into the clan. His paws are already set on the path to you. He dreams of StarClan, just as Echosong did. He will be your next medicine cat."
Rocktail's mind raced with questions, but he kept silent. Firestar looked at Rocktail. "You must go upstream of the river. You will soon find the clans' old home." He saw Firestar's eyes darken. "Then you must go over the mountains. You will meet tribe cats there. They should will welcome you. Then go through a small band of trees, and you will reach the lake." Firestar and Skywatcher vanished, and and the vision dissolved.
Rocktail woke to see sunlight streaking through the trees, warming his pelt. Careful not to wake Cherrytail, whos flank was plastered with cobwebs, he got up and stretched. he saw that the dead fox was gone. The clan was gathered around Leafstar. "What happened yesterday shows that we can't settle here." she mewed. "We must find the other clans. We leave at sunset tonight." The clan broke into muttering groups
"Rocktail," a weak, rasping vioce sounded behind him. He turned around to see Cherrytail standing behind him. "Careful," he warned. "Don't over work yourself."
"I'm okay," she mewed, stronger now that she was fully awake. "I just wanted to saw thank you for saving me from that fox. I've never seen any cat brave enough to kill a fox." Rocktail met her eyes as she continued. "I've been trying to figure out how to say this for a long time, and now I finally know how to say it."
Rocktail's pelt prickled with uneasiness. Was she rejecting him? She pressed her muzzle against his. He breathed in her sweet scent, suddenly knowing where she was going.
"I love you, Rocktail," she whispered. Rocktail felt his fur prickle with happiness. "I love you too, Cherrytail. That's why I was so scared for you when that fox hurt you. I-"
His mew was cut off as he picked up a strange cat scent. Cherrytail did too, for she bristled next to him. A baige cat with a black tail, black face, and white paws and nose padded into the camp. He padded to Rocktail. "Rocktail," he mewed. "I have been scent to look for a large group of cats, and to talk to a black cat." His light blue eyes landed on him. "My name is Jazz, and I dream of starry cats."