Chapter Six

Shadowpaw landed on the dogs vicious muzzle, snapping the dogs jaws shut. "Run!" he gasped as the dog threw him off.

He watched as Spot ran back toward the hazel bush where they were going to sleep for the night. The dog had its front half lowered to the ground and Shadowpaw's haunches wriggled with anticipation, waiting for the dog to strike. Suddenly, the dog lunged forward and Shadowpaw leaped up from the ground just in time, missing the dogs vicious ivory teeth by a mouse length. The dogs muzzle and face crashed into the snow, making a shallow hole. The dog whimpered then howled. It whipped around with rage burning in its brown eyes. Shadowpaw waited again, until it was about to strike. It began to charge forward. It's mighty paws kicked up snow and it's head whipped back. Shadowpaw leaped up again, but this time, landing on the dogs back. He ran down the dogs spine and leaped off the dog before he reached its tail. The dog turned, clearly exhausted, for it was panting hard now. Seastar's defensive trick was working on a dog! Shadowpaw, then, knew exactly what he had to do. He charged forward with claws extended. He lashed out at the animal and clawed its snout. It howled and yelped. Shadowpaw watched triumphantly as the dog turned tail and ran back to the twoleg place. Blood spotted the ground from the dog's wound, making the snow turn red. Shadowpaw shook out his bristled and snow covered grey fur and turned to pad back to the place where Jet and Spot were.

When he neared the hazel bush, he saw the shocked emerald gaze of Spot staring at him through the hazel bush. "How are you not hurt?" she gasped as she and Jet stumbled out of the bush.

Jett's eyes were wide and before Shadowpaw could reply Jet spoke. "He used Seastar's defensive trick." he murmured.

"How did you know that? You weren't there." Shadowpaw meowed as he cocked his head.

"Seastar taught me that move himself when I came to the Clans with Barracuda. Seastar was my mentor." Jet meowed.

Shadowpaw remembered his sister. She was probably well ahead of training since he was gone. He hissed to himself when he remembered Seastar complimenting her losing. "Yeah, well my mentor is Lionfish. I was with Seastar and him in a training session." Shadowpaw meowed plainly.

Spot sat close to him and stared into the darkening sky. "It's pretty, isn't it?" she whispered.

Shadowpaw fixed his deep blue gaze into the sky. Lush colors of purple, pink, and orange danced across the sky. Silverpelt was beginning to show its stary bands across the darkening sky. "Yes, it is." he murmured as he looked down at his paws.

Silentkit, he thought, she probably misses me. I need to get home. He stood as Jet meowed, "The burrow is ready. Come on, let's get some rest."

Shadowpaw nudged Spot to her paws and watched her stumble sleepily into the burrow. Jet went next and then Shadowpaw followed. The burrow was cramped, but cozy. He settled down and quickly drifted off into sleep.

Bushes crackled and Shadowpaw snapped his eyes open to see a pinkish-grey she-cat standing over him with bright green eyes and silver paws. Shadowpaw leaped to his paws and fluffed up his fur. "Who are you?" he hissed then looked around at the luxurious trees that stretched high into the sky.

Large leaves of orange, yellow, red, and brown littered the forest floor. Tall grasses curled around his large grey paws and the strange she-cat meowed, "It is not important who I am. I'm here to tell you that you should be honored to have a sister who has such a great destiny. You're being selfish for running away and hating her for something she can't control."

"Get away from me! I don't know who you are or where I am, but I will not allow you to tell me that I am being selfish for being treated like fox dung!" he snapped at the strange she-cat.

"Then you will continue to be treated like fox dung! You need to learn how to control your temper." she sighed then began to vanish.

Once out of sight, he saw a grey-cat lurking from the shadows of a tree. The cat smirked and every hair on Shadowpaw's pelt stood on end. He knew exactly who that cat was. The forests and cat began to smear and disintegrate before him.

His eyes suddenly snapped open to see the burrow once again. His heart beat hard against his chest. Why was that cat there? He crawled out of the den to see that a fresh layer of snow decorated the ground. Spot and Jet followed him out of the den. "I'm hungry." Spot whined.

"We can't eat now. We must hurry." Shadowpaw meowed then looked at Jet, "Get us to the TreeClan border now."

Jet nodded and began to run to the forest line. Shadowpaw followed with Spot hard on his heels. For a house cat, she was in shape and ready to do anything it took to become a OceanClan apprentice. Jet suddenly stopped then panted, "I'm..afraid..this..is where..I..leave you two.."

"Father, are you okay?" Spot asked as she ran to his side.

"Yes, Spot. I'm just not as young as I use to be." he rasped then licked her cheek.

"Be careful on your way back to the barn." Spot meowed as she turned to pad into the forest.

Shadowpaw padded up to Jet and meowed, "Thank you for your assistance. And thank you for helping me. I've learned a lot being around you and Spot."

Jet dipped his head. "It was a pleasure to serve my former Clan. Please protect my daughter." Jet meowed with a sudden sorrow filling his gaze.

"With my life." Shadowpaw meowed with a respectful dip of his head.

Shadowpaw turned to dash into the forest to find Spot. He saw he cowering below a dark golden tom. Shadowpaw's fur bristled. "Wait! Don't hurt her, we're just passing through." he yowled.

"Just passing through? I'm afraid loners don't pass through Clan territory." the dark golden tom sneered.

"Brackenfang! Stop!" a voice sounded.

Shadowpaw felt sudden relief when he saw the familiar pelt of Gentlewhisper. "Gentlewhisper!" he called.

"Shadowpaw? What are you doing here?" she asked with a cock of her head.

"I'm just trying to get home." he meowed as he tried to sound pathetic and lost.

Gentlewhisper's green eyes filled with sympathy. "Of course," she began then glared at Brackenfang, "I'll take them to the OceanClan border."

Brackenfang rolled his amber eyes then backed away from Spot. "Fine." he sneered.

"Sorry about that, come on." Gentlewhisper meowed.

Shadowpaw followed the golden warrior with Spot following close behind. The sweet familiar scents of OceanClan filtered into his nostrils making his fur quiver. The scent of fish from the lake made his mouth water. "Here we are. You two be careful. I heard that wolves have been lurking around our borders." Gentlewhisper meowed.

"We will!" Spot replied with a flick of her tail.

Shadowpaw watched as Gentlewhisper dipped her head and then disappear into the dense undergrowth of TreeClan territory once again. He turned to face his familiar territory and the familiar brown and white pelt of Eagletalon appeared over a hill. He took a deep breath. I'm home. Finally.

A/N: There's Chapter Six! Who were the cats seen in Shadowpaw's dream? Hmm.. Only one way to find out! REVIEW! Thanks:)

-Nightwish