He practically fell over panting after hoisting Bluestar onto the pipes using nothing but his neck and teeth. Fireheart looked at Bluestar who was licking her fur down into place and trying to remove the water from her fur.

"G…great now we can… get a move on and stay dry," he said in between pants and Bluestar paused her licking for a moment and looked at him.

"Oh stop being so over dramatic I am not that heavy, and besides you're a strong young warrior who should be more than able to lift my small amount of weight," she said with a slight amount of humor that was clearly hidden under what she was saying.

"You didn't give me any warning before you made your jump or any time to recover after I had made mine. And wait a moment you needed my help to get up here in the first place," he said trying to defend his self but not truly knowing why he even bothered. Bluestar licked her paw ad used it to flatten down some of his fur.

"We are both up here and out of the water that is what matters. Now then I think we should wait here for a moment and try to dry up," she said and as she did a breeze made its way through and chilled both of them to a shivering point. The two cats grew closer to each other within seconds and their fur intertwined helped to provide warmth for them both. The pipes below them were cold and uncomfortable but at least they were dry and over time the pipes that made most contact with pad and fur took on some warmth to where at least it wasn't as uncomfortable as it had been before.

"Bluestar I think we should get moving soon so we can find a more suitable place to camp. I have a fear that if we sleep here not only would we be as stiff as an elder jaggedly carved from a nonmoving boulder but if we aren't careful one of us could fall back into the water in are sleep or get a paw broken in between the pipes," he said with all shivering gone as he focused on the matter at hand… paw.

"Very well, lead the way but please do be careful, if any sudden stops were to occur then who knows what accidents might stem," she said and Fireheart nodded before taking a step forward and stretching. Each paw step was almost that of ice as his paws made contact with the pipes and their cold metallic surfaces. They trekked across the metal, rounded and dizzying path for a long time, they didn't say much though if they had it might have made time go by faster but there wasn't much to say in either of the cat's minds. The one goal was that of finding a way out, or that is, that was the main goal, a much closer goal was that of finding a place they could use as a camp. After walking for what seemed an eternity the two finally came to a place that was much wider opened and at the edge of the water there was a little bank that seemed big enough for at least the both of them, if not a few more, if they weren't alone.

"Bluestar do you see that?" He asked, his leader looked forward and off into the distance until her eyes fell upon the bank and her eyes then widened.

"That looks like a good a place as any to stay," she said and Fireheart nodded. Though getting there could have been as easy as jump and swim that would have meant the drying process would have had to start all over again and that wasn't good for either of their bodies seeing's that there was no medicine cat around. They further scaled the pipes until Fireheart was able to jump across and roughly landed on the dirt. Bluestar followed and landed with a little more grace than he.

There was a sound now. A roaring one and it brought fear to both of them. There was a trash and a crash but as it went on from time to time the cats came to realize that it was no beast but instead the storm that they had been running in outside.

"We must be near an exit if we can hear the rain. Though I think it would be in our best interest to stay here until it clears and to make sure the dogs can't find us," he said and the mention of the dogs brought fear back into Bluestar.

"But what if those dogs find us again," she asked nervously, from the shaking of her body he could tell Bluestar was uncertain and scared.

"Then I will defend you with my life," he said bluntly and with as much confidence he could muster. She looked at him.

"Thank you Fireheart I don't know what I'd do without you," she said. 'Never let me go through that,' she thought to herself. Fireheart listened to the rain and look for light to show signs of the outside. Several holes gave them that light. The rain was still coming down but it was hard to tell if it was any worse than from before.

A drop of rain hit him on his muzzle, causing him to jump back and he wiped it away with his paw quickly. He heard a weak laugh and purr coming from the tunnel.

"You just reminded me of when you were an apprentice, you were a lot cuter then, I wonder where it went," she said to him jokingly. He rolled his eyes.

"Not to say you didn't become a handsome tom," she said and that embarrassed him again, a purr snuck from his throat and she let out a small chuckle.

"Do you remember the day we found you hunting?" She asked him and Fireheart nodded, it was a life changing event.

"How could I not, it was the day I changed my life for the better, the day I met my best friend, the day I became a clan cat… and ruined Longtail's good looks," he finished with a laugh to himself. They were both purring now at simpler more innocent memories and both were enjoying each other's company. Fireheart most of all was enjoying having his old leader back, it might have had something to do with being away from the clan and surviving on their own reigniting her warrior spirit.

"They seem so long ago," Bluestar said quietly and Fireheart agreed. Both cats were drained and it was best to rest while they had the chance.

"We should get some rest," Fireheart said and then laid next to Bluestar, their fur intertwining blue and orange, fire and ice.

-Travis Waltz