Hey guys! I hope I still have some readers XD sorry for the wait, here is Chapter 2! I am going to keep doing this in first person, but I will probably change sometime soon. I felt it was better for you to feel the emotional roller coaster Sparkpaw is going through in her point of view.

Chapter 2 – Rescue

It was like a predator, waiting to make a kill. I was the prey. I knew it was there, and what was going to happen, but I couldn't do anything to stop it. As soon as Rose said those words, it struck. Horror and realization filled me and I fell into a world of darkness and pain. I heard a wail in the distance. I'm not sure who it was, it might have been me. My legs were weak, and I collapsed. I closed my eyes, trying to escape it all. I felt a paw prodding my side and I let out a whimper.

"Sparkpaw! What's wrong with her?" I could hear Willowpaw's despaired mew.

"She's just in shock" Petaldance must've come over. I felt something tickled my nose, and quickly identified poppy seeds and thyme by the scent. "Eat these, please."

I didn't think anything could ease the pain but I lapped up the herbs anyway. Surprisingly, I began to feel better as a new wave of energy swept over me. I slowly got to my paws just as the rest of the patrol came through the river tunnel.

"What happened?" Fadedstar asked his deputy.

"When we got there, Dawnshine and Silverfire were badly outnumbered. I ordered Sparkpaw to take them back to camp, and Wolfpaw stayed behind in case we need to bring back more injured warriors. Soon, another SolarClan patrol came, but it was only a small one. Bloodrose was one of the cats." Xenoclaw reported, slightly emphasizing the name Bloodrose. "I saw Bloodrose creeping towards Wolfpaw with one of our very own stealing techniques. He grabbed Wolfpaw from behind by his scruff and dragged him off with two more SolarClan cats helping. I jumped after them, but they had already crossed the tree."

"I didn't think that would stop you!" Fadedstar mewed teasingly.

"It didn't," Xenoclaw replied. "Their cats quickly fled, because we were beating them even when we were outnumbered slightly. I led our patrol over the border to try and get Wolfpaw back, but we stopped. We were tired and injured, and there was no way we would have won a battle in their camp."

I was shocked. "No!" I mewed, my strength flowing back into me. "You can't leave Wolfpaw! I need my brother! I can't live without him…" The tears I fought so hard to keep back fell from my eyes.

"We won't, don't worry. In a few sunrises, I will lead our strongest warriors to get him back." Fadedstar tried to calm me. "Those cowardly mange-pelts, how dare they try and take our land, and when they fail, claim Wolfpaw as a hostage! Especially Bloodrose! I thought he was a spy loyal to us, and here he is using our own techniques against us!"

"We should challenge her when we go!" I heard Silverfire's yowl. "See whose side he is really on!"

I blocked out the yowls of my angry clan to sulk again as I padded to the apprentice den. I placed my paws over my ears and my tail tip over my nose.

He's really gone. I have no one. Wolfpaw, my littermate, is no longer here. More tears. The only one I could share my thoughts and feelings with, the only one who always stood up for me, gone, just like that. More tears. I thought we would be together all the time, forever littermates, forever friends. But now he's gone. Tears still flow.

I hate myself. I should have been the one to stay, the one to be stolen. Wolfpaw should be the one here in my nice warm nest, not me. Where ever he is, he must be scared. I felt a cat lay down next to me and start to groom my fur. The tom licked my ears, and I let my paws off them.

"It's alright." It was Forestpaw. Not even the rush of excitement prickling my fur could cheer me up.

"No it's not! Wolfpaw is gone, and the clan doesn't even care enough to rescue him!" I wailed, brushing closer to Forestpaw, yearning for comfort. His pelt didn't feel like Wolfpaw's. Wolfpaw's pelt was soft and thick. Forestpaw's pelt was medium length and comfortable, like moss and feathers even though his lean muscles were harder underneath his fur.

"The clan does care! They will rescue him sooner or later." Forestpaw kept grooming my fur.

"They must rescue him now! I can't be without my brother! We need each other, now more than ever!" I cried.

"Think about it. Fadedstar made the right choice. Would you rather go now and try and rescue him with half a healthy clan, or later with a whole healthy clan?"

"Now!" I mewed.

"You're just saying that. You know that Fadedstar made the right decision." Forestpaw touched his muzzle to mine.

I gazed into his gray eyes. No, they aren't gray, they are silver; silver eyes filled with concern. At that moment I realized he did care about me. I wasn't sure if it was in the same way as I cared about him, but that didn't matter. What mattered was I wasn't alone. I had Forestpaw… and Willowpaw, to some extent.

As the moonshine reflected in his shining silver eyes, I closed my dark blue eyes and fell into a deep sleep.

It was the night of the rescue. Over the past couple days, Xenoclaw and Dawnshine worked together to teach me some basic battle techniques. I learned some defensive moves and some fighting moves, but I still won't be able to battle a full grown warrior.

"You have to be faster! Try again!" Xenoclaw was drilling me on the moves she taught me. Again.

I dashed under Willowpaw's belly, and struck her belly with sheathed claws. Before she could drop down on me, I flitted out from under here, hitting her legs as I went by.

Willowpaw turned and lashed out at me, but I moved to the right and unbalanced her with my shoulder. She fell on the ground, and I placed a paw on her chest triumphantly.

"Good job. Let's go, we are leaving soon. Get something to eat for your strength." Xenoclaw praised.

I was so happy I was going to help rescue Wolfpaw! Fadedstar had chosen Xenoclaw (obviously!), Silverfire, Echodawn, Cherryfrost, Soulrunner, Forestpaw, Dawnshine, Scartalon, and me to come on the raiding party.

Magpiefeather, Willowpaw, and Eclipsefur had to stay behind and protect the camp. If they were attacked, Lightdapple, Rose, and Firepoppy could fight too.

Scartalon touched noses with his mate, Poppyfern. "I'm glad Fadedstar left good protection here for you and our kits." He mewed affectionately.

"Yeah, I wouldn't put it past SolarClan to attack us when we're weak. Please come back!" Poppyfern licked his ear.

"Don't worry; we're going to crush them! They won't see what them!" Scartalon's eyes blazed with determination.

"LunarClan, move out!" Fadedstar led the way through the trees.

Excitement pulsed through me, and the determinations gave me energy, along with the squirrel I ate. We finally made it to the Sandy Beach. Blood still stained the sand.

"Alright, here's the plan. We will surround their camp, but not blocking the exit. We will quietly take out their guard, and then silently enter their camp. Then we will split into two groups. Xenoclaw?" Fadedstar mewed.

"Yes. I will lead one group, and Fadedstar will lead the other. Silverfire, Cherryfrost, Soulrunner, Forestpaw, Dawnshine, and Sparkpaw will come with me. Echodawn and Scartalon will go with Fadedstar." Xenoclaw explained. "The objective of my group is to locate and rescue Wolfpaw. We will break into small groups and then search the camp."

"My group will come with me to attack Lilystar and make sure they know not to mess with us." Fadedstar instructed. "Remember, you have to be as quiet as possible! If they do wake up and they do attack us, GET OUT. We will regroup and go with our second plan."

"What's our second plan?" I asked.

"You will see if we need to use it. Oh, and try and steal a kit or two if you can." Xenoclaw replied.

"All right, let's go." Fadedstar took the lead.

We jumped onto the tree bridge and moved into SolarClan territory. We ran across the moor, keeping low so we would look like moving grass. We reached a small forest with little undergrowth and small trees. The stench of SolarClan was getting stronger; we must be near their camp.

We came to a dip in the earth where the undergrowth was thicker. We slowed down and stopped. This was their camp. Excitement surged through me as I realized we were about to start our mission.

I noticed a big lump of fur outside their camp, which was surrounded by brambles. The lump must have been the guard, who was sleeping.

"He must have figured that we would be too scared to attack!" Forestpaw whispered in my ear. "He was wrong, dead wrong!"

Fadedstar flicked his tail at Cherryfrost who nodded. It all happened in the blink of an eye. Cherryfrost rolled the guard over onto his back. She then placed a paw over his mouth and pressed against his chest, pinning him to the ground. The guard was awake by now, but when he tried to yowl, he could make a sound. His eyes were wide open with surprise and worry.

After Fadedstar gave the signal, we entered through a small rabbit warren that leads to the hollow and opens up in the camp. We split up into our groups. Scartalon and Fadedstar disappeared into an owl den high up in one of the trees, while Echodawn clung to a branch right outside. Xenoclaw's group spread out around the camp.

Dawnshine and I slunk around in the shadows of camp, my white and black pelt blending in with the grayish shadows. Dawnshine's cream pelt was more visible than mine, but it wasn't too conspicuous. We pricked our ears and quietly crept up to a big shrub with brambles surrounding it. I peered in through a gap in the brambles.

"What can you see?" Dawnshine's voice was barely audible.

I could just make out the gray body of Stonepaw and a golden brown apprentice I didn't recognize. I saw what looked like a big rock, and I shifted over to get a better look, but mistakenly stepped on a dry leaf, which crunched. Suddenly, Stonepaw sat up, and I realized that he was never asleep.

"Brackenpaw! Did you hear that?" Stonepaw prodded the other apprentice with his paw. "I think someone is outside the den."

Brackenpaw opened his eyes, his lids drooping heavily, and opened his jaws in a wide yawn. "It's probably just Applekit and Hopekit. Go back to sleep." Brackenpaw put his tail over his nose and closed his eyes.

"Stay awake! We're supposed to be guarding Wolfpaw!" Stonepaw hissed. "This was an important task Lilystar gave us, we can't blow it!"

At that moment my gaze flicked to a small lump of gray which I though was the rock. I noticed the slight rise and fall of Wolfpaw's body.

"Lilystar asked us to guard him because LunarClan would never come into our camp, dreadfully outnumbered, just to take back a careless apprentice!" Brackenpaw snapped, his eyes still closed. "It's probably just the kits, like I said."

"Fine, if you think it's the kits, then go look. They need to be in bed now, anyway."

I quietly crawled back to Dawnshine on the other side of the den when I heard Brackenpaw getting out of his den, grumbling.

"They were awake, Wolfpaw is in there, and Brackenpaw heard me and is coming out!" I hissed to Dawnshine.

Dawnshine nodded, crept away, and disappeared behind a holly bush. What was she doing? Was she leaving me alone to face Brackenpaw and Stonepaw by myself, or giving me back up? Or was she hiding from Brackenpaw, and expected me to follow?

She reappeared with Soulrunner. "Forestpaw went to tell Xenoclaw and Silverfire you found Wolfpaw." Dawnshine explained. Soulrunner and I will hold down Stonepaw and Brackenpaw while you get Wolfpaw out."

"What's going on? Who are you?" Brackenpaw's voice came from behind us. He was wide awake now, his eyes open with terror.

Soulrunner jumped on him and he let out a squeal before Soulrunner managed to get his paw over his mouth. Brackenpaw put of little of a fight and fell limp.

I knew Stonepaw was behind me before I saw or heard him. Brackenpaw's squeal alerted him. I ducked and rolled away as Stonepaw lunged at me, and when he went past me, I rammed into him with my shoulder. But he was bigger and heavier than me, and was barely unbalanced. He did wobble just enough for Dawnshine to easily roll him over and cover his mouth. He shot Brackenpaw a glance that said I-told-you-so!

"Go and help Wolfpaw out. We'll keep these too busy." Dawnshine mewed grimly.

Scuffling sounds were coming from tree Echodawn was guarding. Fadedstar must have surprised Lilystar.

I entered the den and rushed to Wolfpaw's side and rubbed him with my paw. "Wolfpaw! Wolfpaw, are you alright?" I analyzed him: his fur was matted and clumped and he had a few small scratches, but he seemed well fed and in overall good health. They must have treated him well. I guess Lilystar isn't that cruel, like all the stories say.

Wolfpaw sighed. "Let me sleep, Stonepaw, come on." Wolfpaw growled. "Remember what you said, I sleep all day like a badger!"

I snorted. "Wolfpaw, it's me!"

Wolfpaw sat up and blinked open his eyes. "Is that Sparkpaw's familiar snort I hear? Yes it is you!" Wolfpaw sprang up to his paws and rubbed his muzzle along mine purring. "What are you doing here? How did you find me? Where are Brackenpaw and Stonepaw? Are there others?"

"I'm here to rescue you, silly mouse brain!" I stopped. Yowls were coming from outside. SolarClan had woken up; I knew the silence couldn't last long. "The questions can wait until later; we have to go, NOW!" I mewed anxiously, the yowls getting louder.

By the time we got out of the den, cats were filling the camp, letting out yowls and screeches and launching themselves at their attackers. I noticed Dawnshine fighting a silver tabby and wondered where Stonepaw was, before I saw him laying at the edge of the clearing. Only the rise and fall of his flank told me he was alive.

Suddenly a dark brown tabby started running towards me. Could I fight him? He looked like a young warrior. There was no way I could fight him. I pushed Wolfpaw ahead of me and turned to face the tabby. He was on me now, and I reared up and slashed his ears. Blood sprayed in his eyes and he was temporarily blinded. I used the extra second to push Wolfpaw ahead again, who was moving slowly.

"Hurry, go faster!" I encouraged Wolfpaw.

The dark brown tabby recovered and leaped for Wolfpaw. I shouldered Wolfpaw to the side, closed my eyes, and waited for the blow that would end my life. When it didn't come, I opened my eyes to see Forestpaw fiercely slashing my attacker. He bit down on his neck, not hard enough to kill him, and wouldn't let go. The dark tabby finally fell to the ground and surrendered.

"Oh Forestpaw!" I mewed. "Thank you!"

Forestpaw licked his wounds, and walked over to Wolfpaw and me. He nudged Wolfpaw to his paws, who was on the ground from when I pushed him. Forestpaw and I both pressed our shoulders against his to support him.

We moved faster now. We had to dodge fighting cats and cats lying on the ground. No one else tried to stop us. I realized that LunarClan was pushing towards the exit, like we planned earlier. We were almost to the exit, when a loud yowl stopped us in our tracks.

"Stop! What is the meaning of this?"