Ravenpaw's farewell

"Do you think we can go down?" Barry meowed.He began to push away the blackberry bushes in front of him.

"Wait a minute," Ravenpaw ordered, "there should be a path here." He groped along the slope until he found a gap between two bushes. "This is it." He hesitated for a heartbeat, He wondered what kind of memory was waiting to take him with him.The past can't hurt me anymore.He ducked his head into the opening, curling his tail so it wouldn't touch Blackberry.He could hear Barry following behind.

Ravenpaw grew more and more familiar with the slope beneath his feet.Here are some half-hidden sharp-edged rocks; here are small ravines where streams once flowed.valley!He hadn't been here on every return visit he'd made since the Clan left.The howling of the monsters was already very faint, and Ravenpaw could hardly hear it. For a while, he was still wondering why Firestar abandoned his homeland.There's still room for ThunderClan to survive!

But Mars wants to save the four major races.Only one Clan's life is a struggle, Firestar had told him once in the quiet surroundings of the barn.Something in his words urged him to ask Firestar; as if Firestar knew all too well how difficult life for a pack could be.And that reminded Ravenpaw of one of the most legendary stories he'd ever heard: a vision that sent Firestar and Sandstorm on a journey to save a long-forgotten Clan.Ravenpaw wonders if SkyClan can survive without the protection of other Clans.In his mind, he seemed to be able to see the canyon full of yellow sand that Mars had described to him many years ago.

Barry shook Ravenclaw to bring him back to reality.The black-and-white tom had gone ahead, and together they walked through the remains of a long-blighted bush—the entrance, I think, Ravenpaw recalled excitedly—and now they were standing In a crowded open space, it was not as big as the nest they made.

"Is this the camp you used to be?" Barry asked in surprise.

Ravenpaw looked at the thick blackberry bushes, a pebble lying beside a frail bracken, and a larger rock half hidden by ivy. "Yes," he gasped, "yes, this is where we used to be."

He turned, and in his eyes the blackberry bushes were gone, the whole camp bristling with neat nests, and the rich green vegetation leading to the Yellowfang herb store.He saw Bluestar leap to the top of the high rock, her blue fur rich and lustrous in the sun, her voice calling the pack clear and powerful.

"All cats big enough to catch prey please gather here!"

"What did you just say?" Barry, who was sniffing the bushes with thornberry, turned half-turned after hearing his words.Ravenpaw was supposed to be the nursery, but he wasn't sure.

"It's just a memory." He meowed.To his relief, there was nothing in the camp that reminded him of why he had left the forest.And he was thrilled, as energetic and out of control as he was when he first became an apprentice: "Did I tell you about my first hunting lesson? I tracked a scent all the way to Sunstone, and there was one Twoleg and his dog! Dustpaw told me to attack them, but Graypaw said Tigerpaw would be pissed off seeing my "unprecedented" kill piled on the pile!"

Ravenpaw opened the moss under his feet, and more memories unfolded in his mind like leaves: "Once, when I was cleaning the nest of the elders, a flea jumped on my nose. Graypaw had to Sit on me until Spottedleaf smears it with rat bile! That thing is disgusting!"

He stopped because he noticed that Barry was looking at him strangely: "What's wrong?"

Barry flicked his tail: "I'm glad you're reminded of those good times with the Clan. But...but don't forget why you left. If you don't leave the Clan, Tigerclaw will kill you. He knows you Saw him kill Redtail."

Ravenpaw was taken aback by the emotion in Barry's words.He ran over and rubbed his shoulder against Barry's warm side. "Don't think I'll regret leaving the forest!" he hissed. "Firestar and Graystripe brought me to you to save my life. Since then, I've wanted to be by your side all the time, nowhere. Go. It's just... I just never thought I'd be able to come back here and reminisce about the good times I had in ThunderClan. If it would get rid of those bad memories, I'd be glad of course." Barry licked He licked Ravenpaw's forehead: "I will be very happy too. Where do you want to go next?"

"I don't know either. Let's go see where it ends!" Ravenpaw took one last look at the high rock before climbing back up the steep slope.A few drops of rain trickled down the branches, so he decided that it would be better to stay under the tree than to take the path of Sunstone.He didn't want to see the path covered in greenery, like the familiar things he had just seen; he preferred to imagine them as they were in a dream: a perfect vantage point with a clear view of the entire boundary.

They trotted side by side along the path, which was dotted with the footprints of fawns and the occasional fox that passed by.Pines had replaced the trees of the forest, and Ravenpaw could see through their orderly branches the rows of fences that marked Twoleg territory.As they approached, the pungent Twoleg Den, the black smoke of monsters and the smell of pet cats hit their faces.

"They're still not deep in the woods," Ravenpaw commented, stopping by a stake to examine the kitty mark.

Barry glanced over his shoulder at the intricately woven jungle: "I don't think it looks any more attractive to cats than it did when the Clan was here. Pet cats get everything they want from Twolegs, don't they? Things , shelter, companion, effortless."

Ravenpaw glanced at his friend beside him. "Kind of like us," he teased.

Barry's neck hair stood on end: "At least we caught our prey ourselves!"

Ravenpaw made a grunting sound. Although he was relaxed on the surface, the pain in his stomach was always reminding him to pay attention to his diet.The barn provided plenty of game, but he couldn't be sure that every one was fresh.

They walked side by side through the long grass on the inside of the wooden fence.Ravenpaw felt very comfortable stepping on the grass, and he remembered that he hadn't walked such a long way in a long time.Life on the ranch had made him much weaker!Suddenly, there was a neighing sound above their heads.

"Hey! The next two! What are you doing?"

Ravenpaw and Barry looked up.A shaggy brown tabby was crouching on top of the fence and staring at them.From the wounds on his nose and ears, it can be seen that he is not afraid of fighting at all.

"Just passing by." Barry replied, "Don't worry."

Suddenly the tabby jumped from the fence and blocked their way.His tail is stretched out straight. "What I should worry about is my business, thanks," he growled.He poked his neck out and sniffed: "You are not regulars here. It doesn't smell like a pet cat, and it doesn't smell like a forest. Which road are you from?"

"We live on a farm," Barry was about to start, but Ravenpaw cut him off.

"Calm down. We're not trying to hurt anyone," he meowed.

The tabby pursed his lips. "I don't like the way you look," he growled. "This is my home"—he nodded at the Twoleg den on the side of the fence—"this forest is where I hunt. I don't welcome."

But you're also making trouble for no reason, Ravenpaw thought.But he was very tired now, and his stomach hurt, and the cat wanted to fight again. "Let's go." He whispered to Barry, "Go."

They started to go around the pet cat, but he followed, paws out. "You don't think you'll be able to slip away like this, do you?" he growled, and in the space of a heartbeat, faces suddenly appeared on the fence.

Ravenpaw glanced at them warily.Pet cats, um, but there are also two greedy and skinny-looking cats who probably don't have Twolegs.

"I think we should get out of here," he whispered to Barry.Barry nodded.

"There's no need to fight," Barry announced. "Let's go."

Ravenpaw and Barry set off again, but some cats from the wooden fence jumped down and followed them.

"Run!" Ravenpaw yelled, and they ran along the edge of the forest without looking back.Ravenpaw felt his chest was hot, and every time he took a step, the pain in his stomach became more intense.A few of the cats had given up, as could be heard from the noise behind them, but the remaining cats were able to put up a fight with them.Gone are his days of fighting; all he wants now is to get out of here, back to the shelter of the barn.

They ran along the arc of the fence until the forest disappeared behind them and the ground opened up to the stinking Reggae Road.They were running now on a narrow path between a high fence on one side and a cliff on the other.The barn was in the other direction, and Ravenpaw was beginning to wonder if they could still find their way back.

Ravenpaw felt his legs begin to loosen, and Barry beside him slowed down. "Go on, Ravenpaw!" he gasped.There was an excited growl behind them, as if the tabby had seen his prey finally weary.

"What's going on?" A scream from the fence ripped through the air as an orange figure leaped onto Ravenpaw's heels.He staggered and turned around, her slit-like pupils burst into flames of anger.

"Violet!" Barry gasped.

Ravenpaw blinked.That's Barry's sister!

"Barry!" cried the orange she-cat.After a heartbeat, she turned to face the cats that were chasing her. "Stand still, Madridco!" she ordered.

To Ravenpaw's surprise, the brown tabby slammed on the brakes.Two other cats almost ran into him. "Go away, Violet," he growled, "these cats have crossed the border!"

"Nonsense!" Violet spat. "This is my brother, Barry, and his friend Ravenpaw. They're welcome everywhere, understand?" She dropped her ear at the tabby tom: " anywhere."

The tabby neighed, but flicked his tail to signal to the cats following him. "Come on," he growled, "I don't think they'll bother us anymore." He narrowed his eyes at Ravenpaw. "

"You don't have enough skill here, old cat." He laughed and said, "Go back to your den."

Violet walked up to him. "Enough!" she snapped.The cats with erect neck hair gave a final growl and returned angrily.Violet tilted her head to one side, and looked at Barry and Ravenpaw: "Well, you two are much better than the last time I saw you."

Barry shrugged. "Our bones are a little old for this kind of thing," he admits.His eyes flickered, and he rubbed his head against Violet's cheek: "It's been a long time, sister! How are you?"

"I'm fine!" she responded, "I want to show you something!" She led the way to a hole under the fence.Before going into the hole, she glanced at Ravenpaw. "Are you okay? Did a cat hurt you?" Ravenpaw shook his head, but he still hadn't recovered.

Through the small hole they came to a closed area, thick with the smell of bushes beside the smooth green grass.Ravenpaw felt his hairs stand on end.Where he ends up is a Twoleg lair.

"It's okay," Violet meowed, as if she could smell his hesitation: "We won't go in, and my Twoleg* isn't home either."

She skipped across the lawn and leaped onto the wooden platform that led all the way to the other end of the red stone nest.At the other end of the nest is a tuft of floppy, shiny hair.Crowpaw leaned forward and found that the hairs were shaking slightly. He smelled a smell that he hadn't smelled for a long time...

"I'm back, little rascals!" cried Violet.

Several small faces poked out from the fur.Cub!Ravenpaw's thoughts soon came to the nursery: the smell of mother's milk lingered on his fur, and he could vaguely see the vague figure of his mother.

"Oh, wow." Barry held his breath as he watched the small, robust bodies gather around him, meowing, while tugging at his fur with tender teeth.

"This is my brother, Barry," Violet announced. "With his friend Ravenpaw. Be polite, Bella!" A pale orange she-cat climbed onto Ravenpaw's shoulder and dug its claws into his ear.

Ravenpaw broke her off with his front paws and put her back where she was.Big green eyes eyed him curiously.She looks like Mars!

"Do you and Barry have kids?" he meowed.

"Uh, no," Ravenpaw replied.

She tilted her head to one side. "Where do you live? What do your Twolegs look like? Why didn't you come to see us before?"

"Too many questions!" Violet scolded, circling her daughter aside with her tail: "Ravenpaw, this is Bella. She was the first of these kids to talk, and I'm not sure she'll stop." .” When she looked down at the orange she-cat, her voice was warm and loving.

Ravenpaw felt something tug on his tail.A gray tabby tom plays with the tip of his tail between the soles of his feet.Ravenpaw flicked its tail, and the cub rolled.He almost rolled onto the wooden platform when Violet jumped forward to stop him.

"Oh, Riley," she sighed, "can you stop being so fussy?"

"It's my fault." Ravenpaw quickly answered.

"Good fight," he said of Riley, as the kitten crawled toward his tail again.Ravenpaw pictured Graystripe being almost the same color when he was younger, except his eyes were amber, while Riley's were piercing, bright blue.

Barry tried to move the two cubs overhead.

"Lulu, Spot, come down!" Violet ordered.She shot Ravenpaw an angry look. "I'm sorry, I thought they were a little excited about your visit."

"We should be leaving now," Barley said. "It's a long way back to the farm."

"Farm?" Bella repeated. "What's that?"

"Where we live," said Ravenpaw, "it's quite far away, on the other side of Reggae Road. There are sheep and cows there, and a large grassland."

Riley raised his head: "What are sheep and cows? What is grass?"

"We'll visit them," Violet promised, nodding his dark gray ears with the tip of her tail.

"Now go take a nap." She gathered the pups together and urged them back to the fur.

"But I don't want to sleep at all." Ravenpaw heard Bella complain.

Violet coaxed them, and after a while they curled up together like little fur balls.She turned and came back to Barry and Ravenpaw. "It was great seeing you," she meowed. "Come back anytime. Or I'll visit you!"

"We'll welcome you too," snorted Barry. He stepped forward and pressed his chin on his sister's forehead. "You're a great mother. I'm so proud of you."

"Thank you." Violet looked back at her cubs wriggling in the nest: "They mean everything to me. Have a safe trip and don't go the way of Madrido again. I dare say he just He can meow, he can't fight, but I still don't believe him."

"We're not going that way," Ravenpaw promised.He brushed the tip of his tail against Violet's flanks. "Goodbye, don't let those cubs tire you out!" Then he turned to Barry.The soles of his feet were sore and sore, and his stomach still ached, but the desire to go home gave him strength.

"We have enough adventures today to talk about all our lives! Come home."

The season of bald leaves pulls the last leaves from the trees, and puts another coat of silver on the earth.Ravenpaw and Barry watched the dense white dots tumble and fall silently from the horizon.They still had plenty of rats to eat, and there was less and less hay in the barn, and few hiding places left for the game.

The pain in Ravenpaw's stomach has become a common occurrence, and sometimes it will be more painful if he eats a lot or sleeps in a cold place.But usually he doesn't care about it.Worse than a tummy ache was getting off with Barry jumping up and down in the barn once and twisting my shoulder.Ravenpaw slipped and fell from the grass onto the stone pavement the length of several foxes.Barry jumped to his side in a heartbeat, licking his side, keeping him stiff.

Ravenpaw twisted his paws one by one, and opened his eyes: "I'm not dead yet, and I never will be," he muttered.But when he stood up, his shoulders were on fire, and he could barely get the soles of his feet to bottom.Barry helped him back into the nest, and curled up beside him, soft and comfortable.

Ravenpaw sighed, "I'm getting old."

"Mousehead," Barry purred eagerly, "I've seen two more bald seasons than you, and I'm not old!"

Ravenpaw gradually closed his eyes: "Accompany me when I sleep?"

"I'm not going anywhere," Barry promised, burying his chin deep in his black fur.

Me too, Ravenpaw thought.

The author has something to say: *: Housefolk is used in the original text, usually it should be twolegs, but the publishers are not separated, so just use one translation.