Recruiting Help

Breezepaw's POV

"Ivyclaw I think the twolegs took her to the twoleg place on ShadowClan territory."

I could hear the heartbeat of every member in our patrol momentarily cease in blind panic. If I was right that meant that not only would we have to get ShadowClan's permission to cross into their territory but we would also have to deal with the two hostel kittypets that resided in that twoleg place. Just dealing with ShadowClan would be enough to make any cat's fur stand on end. We all looked to Ivyclaw since he was the leader of this rescue mission.

"We'll stay here for the rest of the night and wait for the dawn patrol. Then we'll ask their permission to recover Shadowpaw from the twoleg nest," he ordered sensibly. "Everyone catch some fresh-kill if you wish, I doubt Blackstar would give us permission to hunt on his territory if any of our bellies should rumble, and get some rest. We have a long day ahead of us tomorrow." His order was met with a series of respectful nods before we broke up to either hunt or rest.

"Hey Breezepaw care to come hunt with me?" a smooth voice asked from behind me. I turned to see the sleek black pelt and dark gray eyes of Reedwhisker. My fur bristled at the audacity of his request.

"I'd rather not," I declined what I hoped was politely. I saw the hurt look in his gray eyes and a felt my chest tighten. I would normally jump at the chance to do any task with Reedwhisker but tonight I just couldn't bring myself to.

"Have I done something to upset you?" he asked softly staring at the ground beneath his paws. Torn between admitting the truth or sparing his feelings I nodded.

"Reedwhisker you admitted not only to me but to the entire clan that you don't at all care for Shadowpaw. She's my best friend and more than anything I wish the clan treated her better. You've shown me today that you can't look past where someone was born and see the cat they truly are. If all you see when you look at Shadowpaw is a kittypet what makes me and my brother any different?"

"Breezepaw you're so much more different than anyone else in all the clans. You're kind, wise, loyal, and beautiful. Just being near you makes me feel like a better cat. That's what you do, you make others feel better about themselves with your kindness and understanding. That makes you so much more different than Shadowpaw or anyone else," he responded. My cream muzzle felt like it was on fire. My turquoise eyes met his burning gaze and I was at a loss for breath.

"Reedwhisker that's so kind for you to say," I stuttered, "but my mother was a kittypet that sought refuge with RiverClan in order to peacefully have my brother and I. That makes me practically the same as Shadowpaw and if you can't respect her then you shouldn't be around me." I saw the hope that flared in his eyes falter. I felt his despair as if it were my own and it made me want to do no more than comfort him. But I did not regret my words and I would not change my mind. Until Reedwhisker learned more respect for those who weren't pure RiverClan I would not let the feelings that stirred in my chest for him develop anymore.

"Hey Breezepaw I've caught this huge fish," Mudfoot called from a short distance, "would you care to share it with me?" I looked between the two toms that I cared for so much not wanting to hurt either of them by looking as if I was favoring one and being cruel to the other. They were both some of my best friends aside from Shadowpaw and my brother and the last thing I wanted was for them to get jealous because of a misunderstanding.

"No," I replied remorsefully, "I'm not very hungry tonight." I solemnly padded off towards one of the two pine trees that sat near the small thunderpath that marked ShadowClan territory. There I lay with my head between my paws. The feeling of utter loneliness and despair that had engulfed me after my confrontation with Reedwhisker magnified tenfold now that I was actually alone. I was so absorbed in my thoughts that I didn't here the soft squish of the ground caving slightly under the weight of a cats paws coming from behind me.

"Breezepaw would you like to talk about it?" a kind voice asked snapping me out of my mental trance. I looked up from my paws to see the light and dark brown pelt of my mentor. Concern shown in his light green eyes.

"There's nothing really to talk about," I muttered. "I'm just worried about Shadowpaw," I half-lied. He raised the fur above one eye accomplishing a look of disbelief. I huffed stubbornly, "really."

"Breezepaw I am your mentor," he stated, "and more than that you are very important to me. So I don't appreciate your lying to me." I winced at his words. "Now will you tell me what, besides your friend having been captured, is bothering you?"

I sighed knowing I was going to have to admit my feelings one day. "It's what Reedwhisker said back at camp," I started, "It's just that what he said about Shadowpaw being a kittypet really got to me because my mother was one and that makes me one." I was startled as I heard a laugh eliminate from the brown warrior. I looked up angrily only to have that anger evaporate as I saw the amused yet concerned look that lit in his green eyes. "What's so funny," I muttered what I hope sounded somewhat angrily.

"Breezepaw even though your mother was a kittypet it doesn't mean that you are any less of a RiverClan cat. You were born into the clan and you have been raised and trained in the ways of a warrior just like the rest of us," he reasoned. "The same goes for Shadowpaw. Even though she spent the first six moons of her life as a kittypet she still turned that life away and is on the path to becoming a warrior just as any RiverClan apprentice would. I know a lot of the clan still hasn't gotten over her being a kittypet before she became an apprentice but they will soon enough." I smiled up at him taking comfort in his words as well as his presence. "All that matters is that you, your brother, and Shadowpaw are all training as hard as any clan born cat would and Leopardstar and Mistyfoot both see that. You will all make great warriors for the clan." He bent his neck giving me an affectionate lick between my ears.

"Thank you Mudfoot," I smiled. He met my grin giving me one that took my breath away in return.

"You don't have to thank me for showing you something you already knew in your heart," he responded. Then as suddenly as the mood had turned solemn it turned light and somewhat cheerful "I don't know about you but giving speeches are tiring," he joked playfully hitting my ear with his tail "I think its time we got some rest so we're ready to get Shadowpaw back in the morning." I nodded my agreement and curled into my tail. I felt Mudfoot settle down beside me and begin gently grooming my head. I suddenly realized how tired I actually was stretching my mouth wide with a yawn of pure exhaustion. I curled deeper into both my tail and Mudfoot until I was comfortable and warm. I let the heavy weight of exhaustion take over my body and lost myself in the warm comforting feeling of Mudfoot's rhythmic tongue strokes. Before I could twitch a whisker I was fast asleep dreaming of simple times hunting and training with my friends.

I felt a sharp prodding in my side as I sat sharing a huge juicy fish with my brother and Shadowpaw. "Bengalpaw stop poking me," I muttered irritably. The prodding sensation refused to go away as I tried to eat my portion of the fish in peace.

"I'm not doing anything to you," he shot back hotly.

"Well then who is the fish?" I retorted. My brother was always being mischievous and teasing me.

"I don't know maybe you made it angry," he joked. He stuck his tongue out like a kit earning a swipe on the ears from Shadowpaw.

"Stop being a mouse-brain," Shadowpaw ordered, "fish that are dead can't feel anything let alone be angry for someone eating it. Also if the fish was angry at anyone it would be at you for defiling it with your dirty muzzle." Bengalpaw glared at the tabby apprentice but dared not mutter a word. Satisfied she had put the red-brown apprentice in his place Shadowpaw returned to eating thing fish.

"You know Shadowpaw," I started getting the gray she-cats attention, "I had this strange dream that you had been captured by twolegs and Bengalpaw and I had to come rescue you with Ivyclaw, Reedwhisker, and Mudfoot."

"Oh that wasn't a dream," my best friend informed a surprised me, "and you need to wake up so you and this flee bag can actually come rescue me." I jolted upright snapping out of my dream and back into the waking world.

"It's about time you woke up," Bengalpaw said ceasing the abuse his paw was doing to my side, "the dawn patrol is almost here so we'll be able to cross the border soon." I sighed in relief. As soon as we got permission to cross ShadowClan territory we would be able to go rescue Shadowpaw. "Here eat this," Bengalpaw said pushing a half eaten fish towards me, "we won't have time to stop and hunt after we cross the border." I nodded and greedily sunk my teeth into the oily meat of the fish. I no sooner finished the fish and was cleaning the scales from my paws and muzzle did three ShadowClan cats near the border where our patrol sat. I recognized the dark ginger pelt of Russetfur- the ShadowClan deputy- the ginger pelt of Rowanclaw, and the tortoiseshell pelt and green eyes of Rowanclaw's mate Tawnypelt. Ivyclaw padded forward to meet them just over the border.

"That's close enough Ivyclaw," Russetfur mewed briskly, "what are you doing trespassing on ShadowClan territory?"

"We have come to request ShadowClan's permission to retrieve one of our apprentices that was taken by twolegs to the twoleg place on your territory," he said respectfully.

"Why should we help you?" Russetfur spat spitefully.

"Because if you don't StarClan help you because I won't care how many of you mangy crowfood eating excuse of warriors I have to go through to get her," he threatening menacingly. His reply was met with a series of hisses from the two ginger warriors making the fur along my back rise in fears of a fight.

"Rowanclaw, Russetfur I don't think now would be a good time to get into a fight with another clan," Tawnypelt soothed. With everything that had happened to ShadowClan these last few moons it was probably very risky for them to be fighting. At this realization the two remaining ShadowClan warriors backed down. I sighed relieved that we didn't have to fight.

"Fine we'll take you to Blackstar and let him decide whether or not we'll allow you to trot all over ShadowClan territory to rescue the apprentice that was mouse-brained enough to get herself captured," Russetfur sneered. Ivyclaw dipped his head, visibly gritting his teeth to keep from replying to Russetfur's antagonizing. The three ShadowClan cats turned their backs to us padding towards their camp. We followed in suit sticking close together in the unfamiliar territory. Thankfully we didn't have too long to go until we reached the small clearing in the pine trees that was the ShadowClan camp. We were met with hostile glares and a few low growls as we entered the camp. I cowered slightly into the fur of the nearest cat which so happened to be Reedwhisker. I was met with a comforting lick on the head and a tail stroking soothingly down my back. I took momentary peace in the comforting gestures before we were met with the angry yellow eyes of Blackstar.

"Russetfur why have you brought such a large RiverClan patrol into the camp?" he asked bitterly.

"They have requested audience with you Blackstar," she replied respectfully almost adoringly.

"Well you have it so get on with explaining why you're hear bothering my clan," he muttered to Ivyclaw.

Ivyclaw dipped his head again visibly irritated with the attitudes of the ShadowClan cats, "One of our apprentices was captured yesterday by twolegs and we believe she has been taken to the twoleg place on your territory."

"So you would like my permission to go snooping around ShadowClan territory?" Blackstar inferred interrupting Ivyclaw.

"Yes," Ivyclaw replied simply. Knowing how famous Ivyclaw was for his temper I was surprised he was taking talking to Blackstar and Russetfur so well focusing only on getting to Shadowpaw.

"If she is there then she is probably with StarClan by now," Blackstar stated matter-of-factually, "the two kittypets that reside there are not known for their tolerance of other cats."

"We won't even know if we can't go there to find out!" Ivyclaw finally snapped.

"You may go retrieve your apprentice's body if that is what you wish but I have conditions to be met first," Blackstar replied unfazed by the warrior's outburst. Ivyclaw sat his bobbed tail flicking back and forth unhappily. "Two of your warriors must stay in the ShadowClan camp while you are retrieving your apprentice."

"But that will put us down two warriors that we would need to fight off the kittypets in case they attack," Ivyclaw hissed jumping up in frustration.

"I and Rowanclaw will accompany you to replace the two warriors you will leave hear as well as to make sure you don't decide to tour ShadowClan territory once your apprentice is retrieved."

Ivyclaw's stub of a tail twitched once again but he only dipped his head in agreement. "Reedwhisker and Mudfoot you will stay behind in the camp," Ivyclaw ordered.

"Ivyclaw I have to object," Mudfoot said, "I don't feel comfortable leaving my apprentice to face two hostile kittypets alone."

"She won't be alone Mudfoot I'll make sure she stays unharmed," Ivyclaw reassured his friend. Mudfoot begrudgingly agreed then padded over to me. "Stay sharp and don't fight unnecessary battles and please for the love of StarClan come back to me," he whispered achingly. He nuzzled into the fur on the back of my neck making my chest pound until he reluctantly pulled away. He was met by a series of intense stares from our patrol and one harsh glare from an unhappy Reedwhisker.

"Don't worry Mudfoot," I laughed trying to ease the sudden tension, "I'll prove to you yet that I'm ready to be a warrior." He chuckled sending an intense heat onto my cream muzzle. He gave me a quick lick on my head and padded over to where Reedwhisker sat still glaring.

"If you and Rowanclaw are ready we can leave now," Ivyclaw said eager to get going. Blackstar nodded and took up the head of the patrol. The rest of us on the rescue party followed behind the air thick with tension and unspoken nervousness. Quickly we trotted through the thick pine forest to the twolegplace. No one spoke, no one had any words to say. Silently we trudged on, silently we made our way to go rescue my best friend, Ivyclaw's apprentice, and my brother's crush all of us wanting her back for so many different reasons and all of us wiling to risk our lives to do so. 'Don't worry Shadowpaw we're coming to get you.'

A/N *Shadowpaw irritably from the twolegplace* "You think that you mouse-brains would've gotten me within two chapters."

*Ivyclaw irritably* We didn't expect ShadowClan to be such flee pelts about us crossing the border."

*Bengalpaw shocked* "Wait if you can talk to us here then you must be alright!"

*Shadowpaw with a smirk* "Or maybe I'm dead and speaking to you from StarClan."

*Breezepaw thinking out loud* "I don't think its that. I think that because we are in the author's note that the rules and regulations from the story world temporarily don't apply to us here."

*Shadowpaw with a shrug* "Maybe or maybe not either way we need to acknowledge our wonderful readers and tell them to Read and Review so that UltimateKuranQueen and MelodyStarrWH don't feel like they are writing a horrible story."

*Bengalpaw smirking at Shadowpaw* "Seems like you've already done that so now we don't have to."

*Breezepaw smacking Bengalpaw's head with her tail* "Be nice," *to the readers* "please read and review and we will see you next week for the update."