Chapter 20

Hey guys!

So, where we left off, Jaggedscar had escaped from the Twoleg nest, and is headed back to Thunderclan territory. Wonder what kind of reaction he'll get!

I ran back to the forest, leaping over the fence with ease. I didn't look back, for fear that the people would somehow have heard me. However, I had come to trust Fluffy, and do knew she wouldn't let me down. I sped across the forest floor until a powerful smell hit my nose. It took me seconds to remember that it was Thunderclan scent. I breathed it in with appreciation. Soon I was able to recognize certain areas of the forest, but I wasn't able to find my way back to camp until I spotted the old Twoleg nest.

"Hey, halt!" I spun around, hackles raised as a Shadowclan patrol came up behind me. I felt a small fear creep up in my throat. I wasn't completely sure that Shadowclan would let me go, since they had abandoned Starclan and the warrior code. I tried to get away, but the Shadowclan cats stepped forward menacingly. I swallowed nervoulsy.

The Shadowclan warrior who had spoken looked me up and down. "So, one of Thunderclan's rogues, eh?" I fought the urge to fight. I wouldn't fight an enemy unless they stepped on our territory.

I bit back a sharp protest about the rest of his Clan, and growled. "What do you want? I haven't crossed the border."

The patrol leader snarled. "You're close enough. What are you doing here this late?"

I snarled back. "I could ask you the same question."

One of the Shadowclan cats, an apprentice, puffed out his chest. "We're the night patrol," he mewed enthusiastically.

I tilted my head to the side. "Why does Shadowclan need night patrols?"

The apprentice suddenly shrank back. "Well... That's Shadowclan business."

I gave the patrol a hard look, and started continuing on my way. However, the Shadowclan cats seemed to have other intentions. They quickly surrounded me, on Thunderclan territory!

I struggled with the thought of ripping their throats out. The patrol began closing in menacingly. I was close enough to the leader, Snaketail, to smell his hot breath.

"I'm going to make you pay for that day," he snarled. I realized he was talking about when the Thunderclan and Shadowclan patrols got in a fight. The day I had pinned Snaketail down. I could still remember the rage in his eyes.

Snaketail kept on padding around me. "I'm going to make you suffer, rogue." He moved behind me. "I will hurt you."

By now I was scared, and I could tell that the rest of Snaketail's patrol was getting uneasy. If I could get farther into Thunderclan territory, then maybe I could get help from my Clanmates.

I was about to make a run for it when I heard a rustling sound in the bushes, and a Thunderclan patrol bounded out. I let out a sign of relief when I saw that Lionblaze was leading it. If he was surprised to see me, he hid it well. Behind him were Sandstorm, Hazeltail and Berrynose. They faced the Shadowclan patrol with obvious hostility.

Snaketail looked flustered. "What do you Thunderclan fleabags want?" I could see that Snaketail's patrol had begun to back looked embarrassed by the behavior of their patrol leader.

Lionblaze walked up and put out his tail to bar Snaketail. "I want to know what you're doing on our side of the border." Sandstorm and Berrynose moved up to support Lionblaze, while Hazeltail stared at me like I was back from the dead. Which, in their eyes, I was. No one ever came out of a Twoleg nest.

Snaketail snarled, backing down. "Fine, we'll go. Take your rogue with you. And make sure he doesn't stray into our territory." With a flick of his tail, Snaketail and his patrol slithered back into the Shadowclan forest, leaving as if they had never been there.

Lionblaze stared into the forest for a moment more, then shook his head. He turned around and stared at me, looking me over.

"Well," he meowed, sounding surprised. "I didn't expect to find you here."

I shrugged. "I didn't expect you to find me yet." Hazeltail bounded up from behind me.

"You're alive!" she meowed, bouncing up and down with little bounds. "We thought we would never see you again."

I looked at Sandstorm curiously. "You had them thinking I was dead. What did you tell them?"

She looked at me. "I told them that a Twoleg child had kidnapped you. Then some rumors began flying around camp that they would kill you."

I wanted to laugh. Most human should never kill a cat unless they needed to. I shrugged it off. "Well, I'm alive now. Let's go home."

Lionblaze nodded in agreement, and began to pad towards the camp. I fell back until I had stopped next to Berrynose.

"What were you doing out here, anyways?" I asked curiously. "When did Firestar start night patrols?"

Berrynose nodded. "After you were... taken, Firestar ordered that a patrol should be set up near the fence that borders the Thunderpath."

I nodded, but I sensed that Berrynose wasn't done. Whatever he wanted to say seemed to be difficult.

"And...?" I muttered.

Berrynose looked me in the eye. "Hollyleaf was first to volunteer. She said their might have been a chance you got away. But by the next day, most of us thought you wouldn't be coming back. Even Hollyleaf."

I felt bad. I was just one cat, and yet I had cause all this uncertainty and grief. I didn't know what to say.

"This is awkward." My catchphrase seemed to slip out of my mouth without me noticing.

Berrynose laughed. "You know, I missed you, Jaggedscar."

"Really?" I joked, and as we laughed I felt a warm feeling bubble up in my chest.

I missed this place too.