Chapter Twenty-Eight: Rescued

Blueflash had given up all hope of escape. His Clan probably thought he had run off to do something completely normal for his unpredictable personality, and would reappear before long. But it had been four days. Didn't anyone notice he was gone?

"I thought Leopardpaw at least might miss me… No. Why should she? She's pretty and funny, and I'm just the boy next door."

Blueflash didn't remember where he had heard that particular figure of speech, but it seemed appropriate, since his nest had been next to Leopardpaw's before he had become a warrior.

"It's funny. I always thought Leopardpaw and I had something special, but lately… Stupid, why are you thinking about that now? You're probably going to die. Violently."

"Blueflash," someone whispered, "Blueflash, are you awake?"

"Nope," Blueflash said, "Who's asking?"

"It's Campionstripe. You're wanted outside the camp."

Blueflash scrambled to his feet.

"He could be taking me to my death, but…I've got to trust him, he's my only chance."

"I'm coming."

"Good," Campionstripe said, smiling just a little at the young warrior.


Back at FlameClan, a distraught Hazelstar was pacing back and forth outside the medicine den, where he knew Fivefur and Poppywing were tending to Bigstorm and Frostpaw. The entire camp was in an uproar, with the warriors standing around talking quietly in little groups, the apprentices huddled together outside their den, and the queens guarding the nursery so the kits could not escape. If any kits actually did get out, there would be no way to prevent them seeing Shiningfur's body. They were still too young for that. Much too young, especially Echokit and Gorgekit. But they would have to be told.

"Hazelstar," a soft voice said.

The red-fawn tom turned, and for a moment, he saw no one.

"Follow me," the voice persisted, "You cannot speak with me here."

Not quite knowing what he was doing, Hazelstar moved toward the voice to his own den. Once inside, he saw her. The StarClan warrior Violetleaf. She had visited him before, but never like this.

"Violetleaf? Why…"

"There is no time. Go to your meeting place with Campionstripe. He is waiting for you, with the warriors you left behind."


Hazelstar trusted Violetleaf, so he went, but he had not expected the group of cats he found there. Woodpaw and Blueflash were sitting close together slightly behind Campionstripe, and both sprang up as Hazelstar approached.

"You came," Campionstripe said, "I was afraid you might not."

"You know?" Hazelstar asked.

Campionstripe nodded.

"Woodpaw knows as well…but Blueflash…"

"I see," Hazelstar said, "Thank you for bringing them, Campionstripe."

"That wasn't my only motive," Campionstripe said, "The apprentice Frostpaw who was killed today…his brother is my apprentice. I know you've taken a lot of extra kits, but…"

"Campionstripe, two things. First, Frostpaw isn't dead, and neither is Bigstorm. Secondly, any kit you can save from StoneClan, we will take in."

"Thank you," Campionstripe said, "How did you know Frostpaw's name?"

"His mentor told us."

"So that's what they killed him for. What has this Clan become?"

"We should probably go," Hazelstar continued, "My Clan will be wondering where I am."

Campionstripe nodded, then turned to his apprentice, who had fallen asleep on the grass while they were waiting for Hazelstar.

"Badgerpaw," he said, "Wake up."

"Mm?" Badgerpaw mumbled, "Not time for dawn patrol…"

"Badgerpaw, listen," Campionstripe said, "You're going away for a while. You'll have a break from training, and you'll be able to play with some other cats your age. I know you don't know what playing is, but you'll like it."

"Why are you crying?" Badgerpaw asked.

"I'm not! For StarClan's sake, Badgerpaw, just go with Hazelstar!"

"Okay," Badgerpaw said, "Goodbye, Campionstripe! See you soon!"

"Yes," Campionstripe said without conviction, "I'll see you soon."

As the sienna-furred warrior turned away, Blueflash turned to Hazelstar, his blue eyes wide with confusion.

"What haven't you told me?"

"You'll see," Hazelstar said grimly, "Come along."


When they returned to camp, Hazelstar went straight to the medicine den, bringing Blueflash with him, and sending Woodpaw to take Badgerpaw to the nursery, which was where he belonged at his young age.

"Fivefur," he called softly, "May we come in?"

"Yes, Hazelstar," his brother called back, "I've sent Sunkit back to the nursery, since he's mostly better. There's still the question of that leg, though."

"Can you have a look at Blueflash?" Hazelstar said, "He was captured by StoneClan before we rescued you."

"And we thought he'd wandered off," Poppywing murmured, "Come along, Blueflash."

As the she-cat led the young warrior to an unoccupied corner of the den, Hazelstar hovered anxiously over Fivefur.

"How is Bigstorm?"

"Alive," Fivefur reported, "But if this keeps up, I may have to enlarge the den."

"Blueflash will be all right to go after I'm done here!" Poppywing called.

"Never mind then," Fivefur said, "Hazelstar, I didn't think you had to meet with Campionstripe today."

"I never told you I met with Campionstripe," Hazelstar said.

"Oh…you didn't?" Fivefur asked, looking away quickly. "I thought you had."

"You're not the only one who has visions, you know."


After he had been looked over by Poppywing and had his scratched seen to, Blueflash wandered out of the medicine den into the camp. He surveyed the scene in a detached manner, almost as if he was watching it from far away, and was not concerned with the cats that were there. But he was.

"Blueflash," someone said.

"Huh?" Blueflash asked, coming out of his distracted mood.

"You should rest," Woodpaw mewed kindly. "You've been in StoneClan for far longer than I was."

"I…okay," Blueflash agreed. He was too exhausted to argue with Woodpaw.

The young warrior stumbled to the warriors' den and lay down in his nest. He was so tired. So…tired…


As night fell, the cats of FlameClan settled down in their dens. Although they were supposed to be asleep, most of the apprentices were still awake. For Kippaw, it was the first death he had ever witnessed, and it shocked him. As the brown-furred apprentice glanced around the den, he saw his own shock mirrored in the faces of his denmates.

Woodpaw was curled up alone in her nest, staring at the wall. Thistlepaw had been watching her, and when he padded over to her and lay down, Woodpaw pressed against the tom, comforted.

Even the hyperactive Leopardpaw was silent, although not asleep, as Kippaw saw from her twitching tail.

"Are you all right, Kippaw?" Starpaw whispered.

"Yeah," Kippaw replied, "I just…"

"I know," Starpaw said, "You won't get used to it. But you can fight it. That's why we're going to be warriors, right?"

"Right," Kippaw said, "You're right, Starpaw."