CHAPTER THIRTY FOUR

A stench filled Birdpaw's lungs as the small group reached what she guessed were the outskirts of Twolegplace. Already she could make out small nests and Thunderpaths surrounding the area. Her pelt bristled with unease as she tried figuring a way out of this mess. Last time she managed to avoid going through Twolegplace at all. But Sky had told her this was the fastest way to reach the mountains with large groups of cats.

She knew that every cat in the group was questioning why she had taken them here. They didn't trust her. She didn't blame them.

I'm in over my head if I think they'll follow me blindly, she thought sadly.

"So, what is your Clan like?" Birdpaw looked at Spruceleaf in surprise as the wiry she-cat stepped beside her. They had just crossed a Thunderpath, this one smaller than the one Birdpaw had first crossed on her way to the lake. Now they were traveling along the skirts of rough looking grass and the edge of Twoleg nests.

"Well, we love climbing trees," Birdpaw explained sheepishly. "I've never really had the chance to learn, but... I'm sure my mentor will teach me once we're all together."

Birdpaw didn't miss the look of pity within Spruceleaf's eyes. She ignored it and tried to think of what they would do once they reached the Tribe. She had no idea how to deal with them or what to expect. The leader of the Tribe had seemed ruthless when he spoke to Emberstar. There was no telling what they would do upon seeing more Clan cats.

They began moving in and out of the shadows as the sun started to sink. Luckily none of them had run across any kittypets, loners or rogues. What scared Birdpaw the most was running into a dog that might be running loose.

"Wait." One of the ThunderClan cats stopped in their tracks. "I thought I heard a dog barking."

Birdpaw stiffened at the sound as she realized they were right. She had never encountered a dog before in her life, but she had heard plenty of stories about them. A few heartbeats passed as the group came to a stop and listened to the intense volley of barks. Birdpaw kept still as stone as she listened, and than heard a Twoleg shouting in the distance. Soon enough, the barking died down, and Birdpaw let out a sigh of relief.

"We need to keep moving,"

Just as Reedriver had said that, the sound of pawsteps approaching alerted everyone. Birdpaw's eyes widened in horror when the dog nearly caught up with the large group. Reedriver and Flamestrike had to leap out of the way, Spruceleaf's fur stood on end with terror.

"Attack it from all sides!" Foxfur snarled as he leaped at the dog with his claws unsheathed. "If we fight as one, we should be able to scare it off."

"And if that doesn't work?" Birdpaw asked fearfully, her eyes falling on the dog's foaming mouth. She had never faced a dog before. She certainly didn't have the experience of a fully trained warrior. It was painfully obvious that she was outclassed and outmatched in every way.

"Then we retreat," Stormshadow growled.

Birdpaw watched on in amazement as they maneuvered around the dog. The ThunderClan cats were actually working alongside RiverClan cats, keeping the dog confused and frustrated. Their claws landed pretty nasty looking marks along it's muzzle and legs. It tried snapping it's jaws around Acorntail, who squirmed out of the way and retaliated by leaving a deep wound on it's muzzle. The combined attack of every warrior was more than enough to scare the loud, obnoxious dog away.

If she hadn't been there to watch the whole thing, she would have never believed herself. The dog had run away with its tail between its legs, whimpering in pain from the scratches it received. Once the dog was gone, everyone regrouped by a Twoleg den to make sure everyone was accounted for.

"That was amazing!" she exclaimed once it was over. "You guys actually fought together."

"Well, I suppose we wouldn't have done so well if the RiverClan warriors hadn't helped us," Foxfur grumbled irritably. Oakfire ducked his head in embarrassment when Acorntail and Stormshadow shared looks of amusement. Only Blizzardwind was checking to make sure that no one had received injuries. "I'd rather fight an enemy warrior than a dog any day," he added resentfully.

"Stop acting like such a mousebrain," Oakfire muttered with a roll of his eyes, earning a look of surprise from Flamestrike. Birdpaw shuffled her paws warily as she noticed that the tension between everyone had died down. Oakfire only spoke in a halfhearted tone, acting as if it really wasn't a big deal. But she could see the pride in his eyes as he looked at the ragtag group of warriors and apprentice.

"Come on, we should find a place to rest for the night," Reedriver suggested as the sun began to sink. Birdpaw hadn't even realized that it was getting so late out until he mentioned something. Her heart was aching to return to her Clanmates and make sure they were all safe. But he was right about them finding a place to rest.

There's no point in going when we're all exhausted, she reminded herself.

To her relief, they didn't argue with Reedriver's logic as they searched for a place to camp for the night. The one good thing about Twolegplace was, there seemed to be an abundance of dens. Birdpaw noticed that there were small, makeshift dens littered along the Thunderpaths. They didn't look very stable, but they would keep everyone dry and warm if it rained. Once she had found a spot comfortable enough, she curled up and listened to the senior warriors talk among themselves.

"... Still say this is a crazy idea," she heard Acorntail murmur under his breath. "I mean, we're not only going into unknown territory, but it could potentially lead to dangerous enemies as well." Birdpaw's ears pricked forward as she realized Reedriver and Flamestrike were among them.

"The dream I had was too much of a coincidence," Flamestrike meowed pointedly. "StarClan would have wanted us to take the risk."

"Besides, you heard the way she spoke the other day," Blizzardwind added. Birdpaw flinched when she realized they were talking about the way she had defended herself in the barn. Even she wasn't sure what had happened. It felt as if someone had spoken through her, and she had known the others could see it as well. "If she is a spirit sent by StarClan, than we must pay extra attention to her, and make sure nothing happens to her or SkyClan."

Neither Acorntail or Foxfur seemed too thrilled with Blizzardwind's idea. Birdpaw suddenly felt uncomfortable as she realized they thought she was some kind of spirit warrior. Even if that were true, she highly doubted they would trust her so easily. On top of it, she would have been able to rescue her Clanmates without a second thought.

"Are you okay?" Birdpaw almost jumped at the sound of Spruceleaf's voice. She looked at the pale brown she-cat before letting out a sigh.

"Honestly, I'm just really worried," she admitted guiltily. "I don't even know if they're still alive or not... and I feel so responsible for letting this happen in the first place." Spruceleaf sighed and laid down beside her. Birdpaw glanced at her in surprise as Spruceleaf gazed at what little stars they could see above Twolegplace.

"I know how you feel," she murmured, her voice so soft that Birdpaw could hardly hear her. "I never realized how... dangerous Icestar was, until it was too late. I feel like there's something that could have been done to stop him. He killed my mother, and my father."

Birdpaw blinked in surprise when she said that. She hadn't known much of what had happened to Spruceleaf, but she knew that the experience was horrific. Birdpaw couldn't imagine what sort of cat Icestar was, but she knew he wasn't any good for the Clan.

"We'll get through this, together," she whispered, closing her eyes as she realized how true that was. She wasn't going to let anyone take advantage of her or her friends. If they tried, they would answer to her claws.

ALLEGIANCES

ThunderClan

Leader: Petalstar - light gray she-cat with white paws, belly and muzzle; has blue eyes

Deputy: Hawktalon - light brown tabby tom with amber eyes

Medicine Cat: Dusknose - gray tom with a darker gray nose

Warriors

Oakfire - ginger-brown tom with tabby markings along the tip of his tail

Stormshadow - dark gray, almost black tom with yellow eyes

Feathermist - gray and white she-cat with feathery-tipped ears

Robinwing - brown and white tabby tom with amber eyes

Roseclaw - ginger and white she-cat with green eyes

Shademask - gray tom with a darker gray, almost black face

Timberleaf - slender brown she-cat with pale green eyes

Foxfur - dark ginger tom with green eyes

Hazelwind - tortoiseshell she-cat with amber eyes

Kestreltalon - light brown tabby tom with amber eyes

Flamestrike - ginger tom with faint brown stripes along his tail

Lilypool - pale ginger she-cat with amber eyes

Shrewfang - light brown tom with darker brown stripes along his legs and tail

Apprentices

None

Queens

Heatherpelt - pale gray she-cat with yellow eyes, mother of Dovekit and Stormkit

Elders

Rockfur - dark black tom with a white-tipped tail and pale amber eyes; partially blind

Daisytail - black and white she-cat with amber eyes

Kits

Dovekit - light gray she-cat with yellow eyes

Stormkit - darker gray she-cat with amber eyes


ShadowClan

Leader: Russetstar - brown tom with dark ginger paws

Deputy: Grayshadow - gray and darker gray tom

Medicine Cat: Scorchheart - dark ginger tom with green eyes
Apprentice: Ravenpaw

Warriors

Cloudfall - white she-cat with patches of gray along her fur; has blue eyes
Apprentice: Snowpaw

Sageleaf - gray and white she-cat with green eyes

Barktail - light brown tabby tom with amber eyes

Talonclaw - pale tabby tom with yellow eyes

Briarheart - brown, white and black she-cat with amber eyes
Apprentice: Smokepaw

Sleetstorm - very pale gray, almost white she-cat with pale green eyes

Nightclaw - black tom with yellow eyes

Mousefang - light brown tabby tom with amber eyes

Snowstorm - gray she-cat with amber eyes

Ravenflight - darker gray she-cat with yellow eyes

Apprentices

Smokepaw - dark black she-cat with piercing green eyes

Queens

Poppyfur - brown and ginger she-cat with green eyes, mother of Longkit, Bramblekit, Marshkit and Newtkit by Talonclaw

Thistlepatch - spiky-haired tabby she-cat with amber eyes, expecting

Elders

Pineclaw - dark tabby tom with amber eyes; former deputy

Kits:

Longkit - pale brown she-cat with green eyes

Bramblekit - light ginger tom with amber eyes

Marshkit - tortoiseshell she-cat with pale green eyes

Newtkit - pale ginger tom with amber eyes


WindClan

Leader: Icestar - white tom with gray paws

Deputy: Rowantail - gray and ginger dappled she-cat with a tabby-striped tail

Medicine Cat: Furzewhisker - light brown she-cat with unusually long whiskers

Warriors

Harewhisker - gray tabby tom with white paws and yellow eyes
Apprentice: Antpaw

Leafshine - tortoiseshell and white she-cat with green eyes

Ferretpelt - short-haired tabby tom with yellow eyes
Apprentice: Olivepaw

Whitebirch - white she-cat with brown spots along her back leg

Twigfur - dark brown tabby tom with amber eyes

Berrystripe - brown and ginger tabby tom with amber eyes

Owlflight - silver tabby tom with green eyes

Sootfall - dark gray tom with amber eyes

Apprentices

Antpaw - brown tabby tom with yellow eyes

Olivepaw - brown and white she-cat with amber eyes

Queens

None

Elders

Redstripe - dark ginger tom with stripes along his legs

Sparrowsong - very old brown tabby she-cat with amber eyes; Larksong and Leafshine's mother

Kits

None

Deceased

Larksong - tortoiseshell she-cat with amber eyes

Mosskit - gray-brown she-cat with yellow eyes


RiverClan

Leader: Minnowstar - light brown tabby she-cat with amber eyes

Deputy: Mintwhisker - gray tom with amber eyes

Medicine Cat: Blizzardwind - silvery white she-cat with pale green eyes
Apprentice: Scarletpaw

Warriors

Watertail - gray-blue she-cat with amber eyes

Ashfang - silver and gray she-cat with amber eyes
Apprentice: Redpaw

Cinderfire - dark ginger tom with green eyes

Foampelt - silvery gray she-cat with blue eyes

Pricklefur - long-haired dark gray tom with yellow eyes

Blossomwind - tortoiseshell and white she-cat with amber eyes

Eagleclaw - brown and white tom with amber eyes
Apprentice: Firepaw

Ambertail - brown she-cat with a ginger-tipped tail

Pebblepelt - fluffy gray and white tom with yellow eyes
Apprentice: Dawnpaw

Acorntail - golden brown tabby tom with amber eyes

Reedriver - long-haired silver tom with pale blue eyes

Hollycloud - black and white she-cat with amber eyes

Larchwing - gray and white she-cat with amber eyes

Willowsong - gray she-cat with yellow eyes

Apprentices

Scarletpaw - dark ginger she-cat with green eyes

Redpaw - light ginger tom with green eyes

Dawnpaw - dark ginger and brown she-cat with amber eyes

Firepaw - ginger tom with amber eyes

Queens

Foampelt - silvery gray she-cat with blue eyes

Elders

Ripplecloud - silver tabby she-cat with blue eyes, mother of Blizzardwind, Watertail, Ashfang and Mintwhisker

Sandfang - pale ginger tom with green eyes

Kits

None


SkyClan

Leader: Emberstar - ginger tom with darker ginger ears

Deputy: Birchpelt - silver she-cat with light ginger markings
Apprentice: Birdpaw

Medicine Cat: Dewspots - gray and darker gray spotted she-cat with yellow eyes

Warriors

Thorntalon - smoky black tom with pale yellow eyes
Apprentice: Wrenpaw

Mothflower - tawny colored she-cat with amber eyes
Apprentice: Brightpaw

Hollowstorm - dark brown tabby tom with amber eyes
Apprentice: Ebonypaw

Lightningstrike - black tom with green eyes
Apprentice: Driftpaw

Darkflower - black and white she-cat with green eyes

Frozenfoot - gray she-cat with darker gray paws

Specklewing - tortoiseshell she-cat with amber eyes

Apprentices

Wrenpaw - gray-brown she-cat with amber eyes

Brightpaw - tortoiseshell and white she-cat with bright green eyes

Ebonypaw - dark black she-cat with amber eyes

Driftpaw - pale gray tom with darker gray paws

Birdpaw - white she-cat with gray patches of fur and dark blue eyes

Queens

None

Elders

Goldenpelt - golden ginger she-cat with amber eyes

Ivyclaw - dark gray she-cat with yellow eyes

Bouncestep - long-legged tabby tom with amber eyes

Kits

None


Cats Outside Clans

Frost - white and dark gray she-cat with pale green eyes, mother of Smoke, Luna and Dusk by unknown tom

Luna - dark gray she-cat with yellow eyes

Dusk - smoky gray tom with green eyes

Pinion - spiky-haired tortoiseshell she-cat who lives near the abandoned horseplace

Wildheart - mottled brown and ginger tom with amber eyes; Former WindClan warrior

Palemist - pale gray tabby she-cat with yellow eyes; Mother of Wildheart's kits, Gorsekit and Harekit; Former WindClan warrior

Gorsekit - gray and ginger dappled tom with amber eyes

Harekit - gray and white tom with amber eyes

Spruceleaf - slender pale brown she-cat with amber eyes; Former WindClan warrior


AN: I'm sorry it's been so long since my last update. Two months was definitely too long of an update. I wanted to thank everyone for reviewing, and being so patient with me. Next chapter will hopefully not take as long, but I'm not making any promises.