AN: Sorry for the long wait. I wanted to take a temporary break from Blood Kin to work on other stuff. Currently I'm in the process of revising an old story that I found stuck in my files. It's gonna be another long one like Darkened Spirits, but hopefully better and with more characters involved. The main character may turn into a Mary-Sue (hopefully not), so you may want to stay away...

Chapter 12

( ( Very Short Chapter ) )

It felt as though moons had passed before she spotted a familiar face. She'd traveled towards the farm, where she knew Panda would be. She knew that Kiel would be less than welcoming, but this was the only other safe place she could think of. If Panda found her first, than she knew she'd be safe from Kiel's sharp tongue.

She dropped to a crouch when a pair of amber eyes gleamed through the tall grass. It wasn't until a gray and white head popped out that she rose to her paws. Panda's whiskers twitched in surprise when he realized who he spotted. The plump farm cat moved forward, belly swaying against the grass when until he reached her.

"Shadow?" he asked. "Or do you have a Clan name now?" She winced when she realized that he never knew about what had happened in WindClan. Part of her longed to tell him what had happened. Yet another part of her told her that it was dangerous to get him involved. He was an innocent cat, and had helped her in the past. The last thing she needed was to make another enemy, especially when she needed a place to stay.

"No," she replied calmly. "I…I need a place to stay," she murmured after looking down in embarrassment. She hated admitting that she was weak. It was like opening herself up to an attack.

"Kiel won't mind," Panda said cautiously after noticing how uncomfortable she looked. "She's nursing her kits."

Shadow's eyes widened in disbelief. "She had kits?" Her voice came out in a squeak.

Amusement gleamed within Panda's eyes. "Of course, what do you think we do all day?" he purred. "Besides, she's been dreaming of becoming a mother."

The black-furred she-cat shook her head in embarrassment. She should have known that Panda would take a mate. Why did it make her feel so upset than? The feelings that clenched in her belly made her feel uneasy as she followed him through the undergrowth.

They passed the cows that continued to live on without a concern. One brave younger cow made its way towards the cats, but a single hiss from Panda sent it running back to its mother. Shadow glanced at the cows warily, knowing very well that they could be trampled within heartbeats. All of her training would come in handy if that had ever happened. Panda wasn't in shape to run from the cows, so she said nothing that could send them in alert.

Silence fell upon them once they reached the barn. Shadow could already hear the mice scuffling about in the hay. Her ears pricked forward for the sounds of kits that could be mewling about. When Panda glanced over his shoulder, she knew that she would have to wait until Kiel was warned of their visitor. She sat down beside a strange looking structure that held water inside it. Panda loped ahead and disappeared inside the barn, where the sounds of larger, heavier paws sounded. Shadow's ears were pricked in alarm for sounds of the Twolegs that could come at any time. If any were to come, she would flee before they spotted her.

Her pelt was standing on end by the time Panda emerged from the barn's entrance. When he lifted his muzzle, she bounded after him.

I have a new home, she thought as a bundle of kits knocked her over in their excitement. I am no longer a WindClan cat…

AN: Well, there's the last chapter. Shadow is gonna be a main and someone else is too in Masked. That book won't be coming out until next month, since I will be working on the story I found for the next few weeks. Anyways, thanks everyone for your wonderful reviews!