Chapter Eight

I dont own warriors )

Shadepaw opened her eyes and at first could not remember where she was. Instead of the usual apprentice den inside the safe ThunderClan camp, she felt like she was in a musty tunnel. Shadepaw blinked her eyes, hoping to get a better look at her surroundings. She tried to feel her way out of the tunnel. She nearly tripped over something. It was Littlepaw.

"Littlepaw!" Shadepaw gasped. Littlepaw sat up in a second and flicked his tail.

"Shh!" Littlepaw said warningly. "Dont let the guards here you."

"Where are we?" Shadepaw asked, shivering slightly.

"Those ShadowClan warriors brought us to their camp. We're in a hole, several foxlengths underground." Littlepaw said bitterly.

A hole! Shadepaw thought. How will we get out of here? Then a thought struck here. "How come you know where we are, and I dont?" she asked.

Littlepaw gulped. "You went out cold before they brought us here. You didnt wake up at all yesterday. I," Littlepaw stopped, and stared at his paws in embarressment. "I thought you weren't gonna make it."

Shadepaw swatted him playfully. "Stupid furball." she smiled. Littlepaw grinned sheepishly. "Now, how are we gonna get out of here?"

"I've been thinking about that." Littlepaw said bracingly. "I followed this tunnel, and all it does is go up to the surface. I want to keep looking, but I tripped and tore my claw."

Shadepaw winced as she saw blood trickling out of Littlepaw's paw. She bent down to lick it. "The only way to get out is to know our surroundings." Shadepaw said, pausing in her licking. "I'll go up and explore."

"But you just woke up! Shouldn't you rest for a while?" protested Littlepaw.

"I slept all day." retorted Shadepaw. "Look, you rest your paw, and I'll be back before nightfall."

"How do we know when nightfall is." muttered Littlepaw.

"Try to find a cobweb or something while I'm gone. I'll look too." Shadepaw said getting to her feet. Her belly growled with hunger. "When do they feed us?" she asked tensly.

Littlepaw shrugged darkly.

"Be carefull." he called as she retreated down the tunnel.

Shadepaw smiled.

"""""""""""

"We are here to pay respect to our lost warrior and friend, Coldwater." Goldenstar said rythmically. The Clan was essembled around him, and the blueish gray mass of furr that was Coldwater. Icefang was grooming her brother, with Commettail beside her. The queens eyes were drooped and her expression, blank.

"StarClan, you have a new warrior to hunt with tonight." Goldenstar continued. His gazed flicked up to the heavens. "May you except Coldwater with honor, and may he watch over us in death as he always did, in life." The Clan were silent now, all gazing at the Silverpelt, which now had Coldwater.

Goldenstar now looked back to them. "To Coldwater." he said.

"Coldwater!" Icefang cried.

"Coldwater!" Commettail said hoarsely.

"Coldwater." Jetspeed choked.

"Coldwater! Coldwater!" the Clan chanted, as thought they were accepting a new warrior.

Jetspeed glanced down yet again at Coldwater's unmoving form.

I was too late for you, Coldwater. he thought with misery. But I'm not to late for Shadepaw.

""""""""""""""""

Shadepaw finally saw a light that indicated then end of this dark tunnel. She sighed in releif as her pelt felt warmth from the sun for the first time in days.

She stuck her head lightly outside the hole, looking around and taking in her surroundings. They were definatley in the ShadowClan camp. She saw some elder cats gathering at a stump. Across the field, some kits play fought.

"Take that Goldenstar!" One of the kits purred.

Shadepaw was shocked to hear the kits speak of her leader like that. She definatley wasnt in ThunderClan anymore.

She glanced around. The fresh-kill pile was only a few rabbit-lengths away. She quickly glanced around, and then flung out of the hole.

She scooped up a raven a dashed back to the to the hole, hoping that no one saw her. She stumbled down the tunnel and soon found herself at littlepaw's feet.

"You brought lunch!" Littlepaw moaned.

"Hey, this is my lunch. Go find your own." Shadepaw said turning away from Littlepaw. She saw that his face looked astonished. "Kidding!" she laughed, turning back to her friend. "You should've seen your face." she purred.

Littlepaw shot her a glance but was too hungry to complain. Without further conversation, they stuffed their faces with the tastey raven. it was gone in a few famished mouthfuls, but it tasted like a delicosy to Shadepaw.

Shadepaw licked her lips when she finished and sighed, grooming her soft fur again.

"So," yawned Littlepaw. "Whats our next step in escape?"

"Now that we're fed, (thanks to me), we should try and tunnel out." she replied.

"Tunnel out? You want to tunnel out of here!" gaped Littlepaw.

Shadepaw smiled. "Why not? If they can tunnel us in here, we can tunnel ourselves out. Its the last thing they'll expect." she raised her eyebrows and nodded enthusiastically.

Littlepaw looked slightly like he doubted her sanity. Then, he nodded. "But one thing; we have to be sure to not tunnel right into ther ShadowClan camp. That would be bad."

"No, really." Shadepaw said sarcastically.

"I cant believe we're making small talk while being ShadowClan captives." Littlepaw blurted out.

Shadepaw purred. "Well, it could be a lot worse; We could be in the ShadowClan camp."

Littlepaw shuddered. "But being underground makes me feel like a rat!"

"You smell like one too." Shadepaw giggled.

Littlepaw swatted her on the ear.

""""""""""""

Meanwhile, our desperate ThunderClan warrior was thinking about the tourment that his apprentice must be going through right now. If only he knew that at that very moment, the two young cats were laughing and joking about rats.

He paced around the camp. It was all he had done for hours. He had hunted several times, and had brought back half the forest. He had been on three patrols today. And now, in the dead of night, he had offered to guard the camp.

A twig snapped behind him. Jetspeed turned, every muscle tense. He saw nothing. He could hear something moving in the trees. Something was watching him, in the edge of the darkness.

"Is that the one?"

Jetspeed hear the voice, echoing over the silent camp. It was a quiet, moonlight night, with no wind to speak of.

"Yesss."

The hissing voice turned Jetspeed's blood to ice. Reckless hatred grew within him. It was the rogue who had killed his father.

"I know you're out there!" he yowled. "And if you wish to leave with your life, turn away now!" he spat boldly.

He heard laughter.

"Say one more word, and she dies."

"Who?" Jetspeed trembled.

He heard more laughter. Then, a soft, quiet voice called out to him. It was not the voice of the enemy, but it still made his heart stop.

"Jetspeed?" it said softly.

His heart thudding in dread, Jetspeed recalled the voice of Commettail.

Dun dun dun.. Sorry for the wait folks! Another chapter will be up soon!

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