ForestClan Adventures - Chocolatemeerkat (Echopath) (primary phonics txt) 📗

The Outcasts had led the ForestClan cats through the forest and into a massive cave, made of rocks. A curtain of lichen hung over the entrance and moss grew on the rocks.
Near to the rock, there was a moderate size lake surrounded by long grass and wild flowers. Prey was plentiful here, especially with the forest behind the main camp. No wonder why The Outcasts were so strong, with the amount of food to feed them.
Swiftpaw did get a decent sleep, and the next day he was out hunting with Featherpaw at dawn. The two young friends hadn't had much time alone since they had been captured, so this was the only time they had before everyone else woke up.
"I wish we lived here." Featherpaw sighed. "Our clan wouldn't starve, and they could easily raise a family here." She let out another sigh. "I can't imagine how happy everyone would be living in this wonderful place."
"We wouldn't have to worry about CourageClan or ReedClan, that's one advantage." Swiftpaw pointed out. He then caught the delicious scent of rabbit, which made his mouth water as he took it in. The young rabbit hopped beside the lake, so Swiftpaw quickly dropped to a crouch and started to stalk his prey. When he got close enough, he waited and then pounced, giving a swift death blow to the rabbit's neck. It shortly laid limp on the ground. Proudly, Swiftpaw picked up the dead rabbit in his jaws and trotted back over to Featherpaw.
"Nice catch." She complimented. Swiftpaw nodded his head and dropped the rabbit on the ground.
"Do The Outcasts have any kits?" Featherpaw suddenly asked, changing the subject. Swiftpaw shook his head. "I think I heard Legend telling Brokenheart about their lack of kits. We'll find out when we meet the rest of them today."
"Chickenpaw told me yesterday that you liked Rainpaw. Is this true?" Featherpaw questioned, lowering her voice. Swiftpaw shook his head again, looking rather angry. "Chickenpaw has bees in his brain. I was fond of her as a younger apprentice, but Leapthroat likes her."
"Oh." Featherpaw shuffled her paws, embrassed. "Sorry. It's just my brother has been difficult."
"I know." Swiftpaw comforted her. "I heard what he said to you yesterday, I felt awful when I heard that you were arguing about me."
"It's not your fault." Featherpaw murmured gently. Her ears then pricked up. "I can hear pawsteps."
Swiftpaw instantly jumped in front of Featherpaw, snarling. "Come out, coward!"
The grass rustled as the pawsteps got closer and closer, louder and louder. Swiftpaw could feel Featherpaw shivering behind him, which made him shiver too. They didn't know what was out there, and if it was friendly.
"What are you doing?" A voice asked curiously. Before Swiftpaw could reply, a young cat appeared. She was defintely one of The Outcasts, but it wasn't a cat Swiftpaw or Featherpaw had met before. The young she-cat was massive, which was perfectly normal for any Outcast cat, with white fur, black paws, black stripes and bright amber eyes which shone in the early sunlight.
"Are you of ForestClan?" She questioned, her voice soft and gentle.
"Yes, we are." Swiftpaw told her. "Who are you?"
He watched as the young she-cat sat down and lifted her head slightly. "My name is Future. I am the youngest member of The Outcasts."
"I'm Featherpaw, and this is Swiftpaw." Featherpaw said, sitting down beside Swiftpaw. "We've been hunting for a bit."
"Ooh, I love hunting!" Future exclaimed, her eyes sparkling. "Can I come?"
Well, there goes my time with Featherpaw.

Swiftpaw thought grumpily.
"Of course you can." Featherpaw meowed, smiling. "Come on."


After a while, the three cats were back in the cave. They had brought back plenty of prey, but Swiftpaw got attacked by an owl because he had accidently woken it up. He had a couple of minor scratches. However, Future knew how to hunt owls, so she managed to kill it with a couple of blows to it's neck.
"Thank you." Arrow told them when we got back. "Once all of your friends have woken up and eaten, you can meet the rest of The Outcasts."
"Cool." Swiftpaw mumbled.
"Hey," Featherpaw nudged her friend with her paw playfully. "don't be such a grumpy furball!"
Who said I was grumpy?

Swiftpaw thought to himself. He picked up a mouse and sat down on a smooth, small rock, away from everyone else. He needed some well-deserved food to keep his belly happy.
In complete silence, the black and white apprentice tucked into his mouse, enjoying each taste as more juices flowed into his jaws. It felt as if he was back at camp, surrounded by cats he knew and trusted. Swiftpaw had hated every moment since being captured and attacked, despite he still felt guilty about Featherpaw's injuries which had been his own fault.
He was then joined by Brokenheart and Rainpaw, who were possibly the smartest cats in the little group that had been captured. They had sharp ears, yet sharper tongues.
"I want to thank you for looking after Featherpaw while she is still weak and injured from the attack." Brokenheart told Swiftpaw. "She is very thankful for what you did." Swiftpaw just nodded, seeing as he was halfway through eating his mouse at the time.
Two cats stalked across the cave, their pelts dripping wet with water. One of them Swiftpaw reconised as Legend, but the other cat was a tom with a black pelt, a white bushy tail and piercing amber eyes. Legend instantly reconised Swiftpaw and flicked his tail over, signalling for the apprentice to join him.
"This is Vulture." Legend meowed. "He is a talented hunter and taught the rest of us how to hunt owls and other birds of prey."
"Your skills saved my life earlier. Thank you." Swiftpaw said to the older Outcast, remembering his incident with the owl. Vulture just snorted. "You outsiders should learn how to protect yourselves."
He's grumpier than Tigerpelt!

Swiftpaw realised, trying his best not to snigger. If they had a contest, Vulture would win!

"Vulture is not fond of outsiders like you." Legend murmured once the grumpy tom had stalked off. "He likes it when it just Outcasts here, not strangers. Don't get on the wrong side of him or you will regret it."
"Alright." Swiftpaw nodded, turning away. "Would it hurt if you showed me and Featherpaw around, and introduce us to the rest of your Outcast friends?" Legend gave a little nod, but he looked uncertain. "Make it only

you two. I am breaking the strict orders I was given, if I'm found out then there will be trouble. Understand?"
"Of course, Legend. You can trust me."

Echopath awoke to the sound of loud wails of grief and despair. With a soft groan, she rose to her paws and plodded over to the entrance of the warrior den, taking care to not wake Spiderleg, who had stayed up all night greiving for Icebound. He couldn't sleep long, seeing as he took on Heatherpaw as an apprentice not long ago now.
Remembering the wails she had heard, Echopath stepped out of the den and drew her attention to a small group of her clanmates, Dawnsong being among them. Her eyes were clouded with sympathy.
"What happened?" Echopath asked, the sunlight warming her pelt up. Dawnsong just shook her head and sighed. "Blazekit is dead. Poppyfoot is terrified of loosing any more of her kits."
Echopath gently pushed past her friend and gave a little gasp when she saw Blazekit's motionless body on the ground, covered in scratches and bites. Poppyfoot was wailing in grief, while her mate Rabbitleap just looked at his son with terror in his eyes.
This must be really hard on Poppyfoot, loosing her brother and then her own son. I just hope that Featherpaw and Chickenpaw return safely.

Since the apprentices going missing, most of the clan had been terrified of loosing any more cats. Bramblestar had been one of those cats, as the clan had never been so close to destruction before. He blamed himself for everything that had gone on, making the rest of the clan terrified for the future.
"Echopath?" A voice called from the leader's den. "Can I have a word?"
The silver she-cat turned away from Poppyfoot and bounded across the clearing. She skidded to a stop at Bramblestar's den and calmed herself before padding into the den.
"Welcome, little one." Bramblestar meowed, sitting up. He was sitting on a ledge. The leader's den was underneath a tree, with the roots acting as the walls. A curtain of ivy vines dangled down in the entrance.
"Why have you summoned me?" Echopath questioned, dipping her head respectfully.
"I have sent for you for a simple reason." Bramblestar told her, jumping down from the ledge. "You are friends with Dawnsong, correct?" Echopath nodded her head, and Bramblestar let out a soft sigh. "I am a little worried about her. Silverleaf told me that she was having nightmares. Has she told you anything?"
"No, I was unaware of this." Echopath said, sounding suprised. "Was this last night?"
"Yes, but it has been going on since she was told about her kits." Bramblestar's eyes narrowed. "Was she shocked knowing?"
"Not that I am aware of." Echopath meowed truthfully. Bramblestar sighed. "I would like you to keep a close on her, please. Inform me if anything odd happens." He then flicked his tail towards the entrance of the den. "You may leave. Sandtail is organising patrols, so you should be out there."
Echopath left the den swiftly and joined her clanmates, who were gathered in front of their deputy.
"I want Tigerpelt to lead a border patrol around ReedClan. Take Floatingcloud, Spiderleg, Foxtooth and Pebblestep." Sandtail meowed. "I also want a border patrol around CourageClan. Lionclaw, can you lead that?"
"Of course." The golden tabby replied. "I'll take Runningbreeze, Frostear and Spottedlark."
"Thanks. Rabbitleap, you can lead a hunting patrol. I will lead another, and Eagletalon can lead the last one. Gather up some cats, both of you. I will take Otterswim, Echopath, Ghostfire, Twistpelt and Leapthroat."

The patrol trekked through the forest, Sandtail and Otterswim in front. Echopath walked along side Twistpelt, who had been her old apprentice.
"Do you think Otterswim and Sandtail are keeping a secret?" Twistpelt suddenly asked the silver she-cat. "I mean,