'Kay, so I'm just reposting these until I get to chapter 13 again. Review if you wish.

Chapter 10: Hostage!

Several days had passed since the Gathering. Sorrelpaw, Tawnyclaw, and Ferncloud were out on a hunting patrol. Sandstorm, Sorrelpaw's mentor, would have been out with them, but she had given birth to Firestar's two kits the day before. Both she-kits, one was dark ginger and the other was a light brown tabby with white paws. They had been christened Squirrelkit and Leafkit. Since Sandstorm was still tired and nursing her daughters, Tawnyclaw and Ferncloud had offered to take her apprentice out to hunt.

Poor Sorrelpaw wasn't getting much attention though. The two warriors were much too busy gazing dreamily into each other's eyes to pay attention to the tortoiseshell apprentice. Sorrelpaw tried tapping Tawnyclaw's ear with her tail - no response. She slapped Ferncloud gently with her claws - nothing.

After almost ten minutes of tapping, poking, slapping, and yeowling, "SHADOWCLAN'S ATTACKING!" three times, Sorrelpaw had nothing but a sore throat and the horrible feeling of being ignored on purpose. She hissed in frustration and growled, "I'm outta here. You mouse-brained idiots do what you want; I'm going to hunt, like we're supposed to." The tortoiseshell stormed off in a huff toward Twolegplace, muttering nasty remarks.

"Just because they're all lovey-dovey is no reason to ignore me! Well, I'll show them. I'll bring back enough fresh-kill for every cat in the Clan, all by myself. But they won't get any. They'll have to go out and hunt their own." Sorrelpaw slipped into a daydream abou what Firestar would say when she brought back a giant pile of fresh-kill.

enter daydream sequence

"Sorrelpaw, ThunderClan and StarClan honor you. You have brought back enough fresh-kill to feed us through leaf-bare. I am going to take over your apprenticeship and teach you everything I know." Firestar dipped his head in a respectful gesture.

"Sorrelpaw! Sorrelpaw!" chanted the ThunderClan cats. She glowed with pride. She, Sorrelpaw, an apprentice, had brought back more fresh-kill than any other cat ever had!

end daydream sequence

Sorrelpaw shook herself suddenly. "Oh, I should get going if that's really going to happen!"

"Yes, you should, shouldn't you?" snarled something behind her. "But I'm afraid you won't get the chance!"

The ThunderClan apprentice whirled around in panic to see Darkheart behind her, flanked by Blackfur and Stormwind. "Wh...What...What are you doing here?" she whispered fearfully.

"Well, we're here looking for hostages. And you came along at just the right time, didn't you?" hissed Darkheart menacingly. "Get her, boys!"

Blackfur and Stormwind jumped forward and surrounded her before Sorrelpaw could even cry for help.

"You're coming with us!" growled Blackfur, and shoved her forward with one huge paw.

"No! No, I'm not!" meowed Sorrelpaw desperately. "Please, you can't do this!"

"Ah, but you're wrong. I can." gloated Darkheart as his henchmen forced the tortoiseshell apprentice farther into the forest. "And don't even try to call for help - none of your pitiful friends can hear you!" He laughed evilly and followed them.

Sorrelpaw knew she was in huge trouble. She didn't know if Tawnyclaw or Ferncloud could hear her, but she had to try. "Help, help, help!" she shrieked at the top of her lungs.

"Silence!" yeowled Darkheart, cuffing her roughly on the shoulder. She was able to scream one last "Help!" before one of her captors slapped her again and everything went black.

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Ferncloud started suddenly. Had she heard something - someone calling for help? "Tawnyclaw, did you hear that?"

Swiveling his ears to scan the forest, Tawnyclaw shook his head. "No, I...wait." He leaned forward slightly. "It sounds like...someone calling for help.

"Sorrelpaw!" Ferncloud's green eyes widened. "Where is she?"

"Oh no! Darkheart and his henchmen are loose in the forest! I hope he hasn't found her...Sandstorm and Willowpelt will kill us!"

"No they won't. We'll find her." mewed Ferncloud reasurringly. "Come on, let's go!" She tore off into the forest, towards where the cries for help had come from. Tawnyclaw followed her, bursting into a clearing seconds later.

"They were here." meowed Ferncloud anxiously. "And they went...this way!"

The two ThunderClan warriors followed Darkheart's scent trail until it led them to the river, where they caught sight of him and his two henchmen resting and guarding Sorrelpaw. Ferncloud gasped when she noticed that Sorrelpaw's eyes were closed and that she wasn't moving - was she dead? Were Darkheart and his henchmen really this cruel?

"Relax." murmured Tawnyclaw. "She's not dead, just knocked out. We'll get her back." I have no idea how, he added to himself, but we will.

"Come on, we need a plan." whispered Ferncloud. "Pretty soon those brutes will leave. We've got to rescue Sorrelpaw!"

Tawnyclaw thought for a moment, then his eyes grew serious. "Okay, I have an idea." he said softly. "Now, whatever happens, don't make any noise and don't show yourself. I have to do this."

Suddenly Ferncloud realized what he was going to do. "No!" she gasped. "Tawnyclaw, you can't! They might kill you!"

"I have to." repeated Tawnyclaw. "For the Clan, for the forest, for Sorrelpaw, for you." He rubbed his fur against hers, and they touched noses for what might indeed be the last time. Then Tawnyclaw turned toward Darkheart and prepared to fulfill whatever destiny was his.