The squirrel was so close Magpiepaw could practically taste it; her paws didn't make a sound as she ghosted across the soft pine needles, this was going to be a perfect catch. She crouched, head low and hind quarters bunched, ready to spring. A hot breeze ruffled her fur bringing with it a scent that definitely wasn't squirrel. A loud roaring sound filled her ears, scaring away the squirrel, turning to the source of the noise the apprentice found herself looking into the bright eyes of a monster.
"Magpiepaw!" She heard her mentor call, but it was too late.
Frozen with terror, the young she cat could only watch as her death sped towards her. Ducking her head she braced herself for the deadly impact, the lights bore down on her; the roaring became unbearably loud.
Then she was flying, a curious feeling of weightlessness filled her small body as she was thrown to the side by the silver beast. The last thing she remembered was the pain as she hit the ground; white-hot fire filled her side as she hit the edge of the thunderpath. Then everything went black.
Magpiepaw woke up wishing she were dead, the pain in her side was almost unbearable. Actually scratch that, she couldn't bear it, why couldn't Starclan have taken her then?
At least she was safe in the Shadowclan medicine den, or that's what she thought. Scenting the air Magpiepaw realized that her current place of residence didn't smell like the Shadowclan medicine den. Instead of dry, musty herbs she could smell wet stone and a faint scent of decay.
Maybe they couldn't get me as far as camp and decided to put me in the abandoned twoleg nest instead? The theory sounded plausible, after all the twoleg nest was close to the thunderpath than the camp. Opening her eyes to see if any of her clanmates were around, hopefully with some food and water, she found that Starclan had decided to be mean today.
Wherever she was it certainly wasn't in Shadowclan territory, or anyplace she was aware of at all. She was lying in a nest of dirty twoleg pelts inside a box of some kind. From what she could see through the opening of said box she guessed that she was in twoleg place. Pushing herself up so as to gain a better idea of her whereabouts Magpiepaw felt intense pain lance through her side, forcing her back down into her nest.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you."
Magpiepaw turned to face the entrance of the box, at the end of the alley stood a cat. The cat was nothing but a dark silhouette in the mouth of the alley, the Shadowclan apprentice could see a pair of green eyes glowing in the dark.
"Who, who are you?" Magpiepaw stuttered as the stranger approached.
"I'm Mittens, welcome to my alley." The she cat, Mittens, had reached the box now.
Magpiepaw could now make out that Mitten's had a black and white pelt, much like her own but with more black than white.
"I'm Magpiepaw. Where am I?" The younger she cat asked.
"Magpiepaw? What kind of a name is that? Seems like a bit of a mouthful, please tell me you have a nickname."
"Where I come from Magpiepaw is a perfectly normal name, a very nice one in fact. Also you haven't answered my question."
"You're in an alley, in the city, not much else to tell." Mittens said, sitting down by the box.
"Do you know the way back to the forest?"
"Of course I do, how do you think I got you here?"
"Can you take me back there?"
"Yes, also a little gratitude would be appreciated considering I saved your sorry life."
"Sure, thanks, can we go? I'd like to get home as soon as possible." Magpiepaw said, once again attempting to rise.
"No can do Magpie." Mittens shrugged, watching the younger she cat wince in pain and lie back down. "You're in no condition to walk two steps, let alone go all the way to the forest."
"My name isn't Magpie, it's Magpiepaw. It's a warrior's name, though I suppose a loner like you wouldn't understand that." The Shadowclan apprentice growled, her coat fluffing out.
"I may be just a loner but you are currently in my alley under my roof, I make the rules here. Understood? I couldn't care less about your warrior names and your clan pride, right now you are going to stay here and rest." Mittens countered, her voice cold and authoritative.
"Fine, I'll play by your rules." Magpiepaw muttered. "Now about me going home..."
"Like I said you can't travel right now, you're going to have to wait until your wounds heal before I can take you home. From what I can tell that'll be at least another moon, assuming you don't do anything stupid."
"A moon? I can't wait that long, what about my friends, my family? I was about to become a warrior, I want to go home now!" Magpiepaw wailed.
"Look, I'd love to send you back where you came from but I can't. You're severely injured and frankly it's a miracle you survived at all. I'm taking you in out of the kindness of my heart, I could easily have left you in that ditch to die, but I didn't. Instead I carried you all the way to my box in my alley, I've given you the best medical care I could. I'm prepared to share my hard earned food and water with you even though I have barely enough for myself. So shut up and be grateful or I might not feel so charitable!" Mittens growled, nose to nose with Magpiepaw.
Magpiepaw shrank back from the angry she cat, huddling in the corner of the box, her injuries forgotten. Mittens turned and padded out of the alley and beyond Magpiepaw's field of vision.
Turning around as best she could the apprentice put her head on her paws and allowed comforting blackness to take her once more.