Hey, had a nice break from my story?

time to get back on track!

Chapter 5

Scarclaw couldn't distinguish the voice coming from the bushes, but without looking back at the fox he plunged into the gorse not daring to look back. As he ran he found a white tail streaming in front of him. Guessing that was the cat from the undergrowth he followed it. Fear and disappointment coursed through himself from nose to tail tip. Scarclaw winced in pain as he felt blood run down his forelegs from his shoulder where the fox had bit him. The firey pain was almost great enough to make him stop and lie down on the soft grass. But he knew that the fox would follow his blood scent and eventually find him.

Scarclaw began to think of the cat who he is following, by the sound of the cats voice from the bushes it was a she-cat. A flash of horror shook his mind, since what happened with Frostclan, Scarclaw wasn't sure he could trust anyone anymore. He was captured before, For all I know, I could be lead into an ambush As he began to catch up to her, he began to wonder about her identity, she could be a loner, a kittypet, or a rouge leading him back to her pack. Thoughts roamed his mind, and as each heartbeat went by he began to think the worst. Soon they had made it to the river that split Lightningclan territory. The she-cat crossed the river with ease, but when Scarclaw took a leap he landed awkwardly on his side. Biting back a yelp in pain he stood up quickly and raced through the undergrowth again.

After a while the mysterious she-cat slowed down and eventually stopped. By this time Scarclaw was limping, and the pain on his shoulders grew. As the ginger Lightningclan warrior caught up to the she-cat, he saw that she was a white and black tortoiseshell with deep blue eyes and a very well groomed pelt. Looking around at where they were, Scarclaw didn't notice anything about the small clearing that they were in. It had a few bushes at the edge and rocks littered the grass. Scarclaw realized with a jolt that he wasn't in Lightningclan territory anymore! Memories of himself being captured flooding his mind, he looked around cautiously and crouched low, as if expecting other cats to burst through the gorse and attack him.

After he was positive that there was no other cats around the rocky clearing, he turned his focus to the white and black tortoiseshell who was waiting patiently with her tail curled around her paws.

"I'm alone" She said calmly, as she licked her paw and drew it over her ears.

"Who are you?" Scarclaw demanded, narrowing his eyes.

"I could ask you the same thing" She meowed getting to her paws, "But what I really want to know is why would you dare to face a fox alone?"

Scarclaw shuffled his paws, not wanting to mention his ability.

When he didn't answer the white and black tortoiseshell continued, "I watched you from the moment you turned around to fight. You were already battered and scratched," At that moment, Scarclaw looked at his scratches from the battle a few days before. He had told Honeycloud that he wanted to go last to be healed, but right now Scarclaw wish he hadn't said that. The she-cat began to walk around the clearing. As she paced Scarclaw noticed a large scar, that seemed to have never healed, along her right side.

The wind blew hard in the small rocky clearing, Scarclaw had to dig his claws into the soft ground to keep him from being blown away. After a few long heartbeats, the she-cat turned around and faced him with a curious gaze in her deep blue eyes.

"The name's Muffy by the way" The white and black tortoiseshell explained.

"Scarclaw" The ginger warrior replied, still reluctant to trust the cat. Wanting to get more information out of Muffy Scarclaw asked, "Are you a kittypet?" Her pelt was way to smooth to be a rouge, and she looked well fed, unlike a loner.

"Well, I used to live with some housefolk if that's what you meant" She answered beginning to pace around the small clearing again.

"Used to live with housefolk? What happened?" Scarclaw meowed his mind curious.

"Well several days ago, my housefolk just left took all their belongings, and didn't come back" Muffy meowed looking down at her paws as she walked about the rocky clearing. "So I figured I had to live on my own, and so far I'm not doing so well. As you can see here" She turned around showing her long scar, "I have to compete with a few other stray cats for food. I used to have a friend who would teach me how to hunt, but he disappeared about the same time my housefolk did, and now I can't remember any of his lessons".

Even though Scarclaw still couldn't trust Muffy, he couldn't help but feel sorry for her.

Her gaze brightened up as she continued, "I did hear about these so called clan cats living in these woods, but I didn't realize that they would be so mouse-brained as to fight a fox head on alone".

Wind whistled through the trees buffeting both cats, and some leaves began to fall to the ground. Clouds were beginning to build up, creating a large puff of gray, promising of rain to come. Looking up at the sky, Scarclaw noticed that the sun was now starting to fall down to the horizon. I need to get back to camp soon, or else they'll send a search party. A sudden shock of alarm hit him like a pair of badger claws. He still didn't know where Stormpaw was, and he had lost Flamestorm earlier! Either of them could be getting chased down and attacked by the fox right now!

"I really need to get back to my clan" Scarclaw meowed his eyes widening with a sense of urgency, "Which way back to the clearing you found me in?" he demanded.

She pointed with her tail to a small entrance, "If you got through that and keep going straight you'll be back in your own territory"

Dipping his head in thanks he raced through the entrance and began to head in a straight direction. within heartbeats the ginger warrior was soaked Scarclaw winced as he felt more pain in his shoulders where the fox bit him. He was exhausted, and right now all he wish he could do is curl up in his nice mossy nest and fall asleep. Soon he began to recognize the land around him, he was back in Lightningclan territory! Scarclaw felt the fur on his pelt be torn off by bramble thorns as he charged through the undergrowth heading for the camp.

Please let Flamestorm and Stormpaw be safe at camp!

Rain began to slowly drop down, soon it gradually turned into a downpour. Within heartbeats Scarclaw's pelt was soaked. Tired and in pain, Scarclaw ran as fast as he could to the camp entrance which was now in sight about a few fox lengths away.

When he reached the thorn barrier and slid easily inside. As he did so his eyes widened in shock, he couldn't believe what he saw.

You guys must hate me right now.

Thanks to my friend for giving me his cat to use in the story (I'm being forced to say this)

well see you guys next week

remember to review!