AN: I bet you thought I'd quit, huh? Well here's the third chapter, not very interesting but it gets better, trust me XD Enjoy!

Current Allegiance

Cats Outside Clans

Dustyhead - light brown tabby tom with a paler brown face

Sageleaf - silver tabby she-cat with bright green eyes; expecting Dustyhead's kits

Brownleaf - brown and ginger dappled she-cat with green eyes

Foxear - brown she-cat with dark ginger ears

Ripplepaw - black she-cat with amber eyes

Stripepaw - tabby tom with dark brown stripes and yellow eyes

Blue - gray-blue tom with amber eyes; rogue

Eagle - brown and white tom with amber eyes; loner

Amber - golden brown tabby she-cat; rogue

Olive - striped gray and silver tabby she-cat with piercing green eyes; kittypet

Parsh - long-haired creamy white tom with amber eyes; kittypet

Sydney - black, brown and gray patched she-cat with amber eyes; kittypet

Chapter Three

"Where will we go now?" Sageleaf asked as she leaned against Dustyhead.

They had been traveling ever since the Gathering ended. Brownleaf had trotted ahead while Ripplepaw and Stripepaw, the two apprentices, lingered in the back. He knew they were worried about what fate lay ahead of them. They had turned their backs on the Clans and the warrior code.

"I'm not sure," Dustyhead murmured. "We need to get as far away from Clan territory as we can."

"With a queen expecting kits?" Brownleaf sounded unsure of herself when she stepped in beside Dustyhead. "I may be a young medicine cat but I do know when it isn't right to travel."

Dustyhead simply shrugged in response. They had no choice. If Thistlestar or Ashstar found them they would be slain on the spot. He couldn't let the two leaders find them, not after everything they had been through.

He was relieved when Sageleaf and Brownleaf dropped the topic. Ripplepaw and Stripepaw had been whispering to one another while Foxear kept an eye on them. The brown she-cat was acting like their mother as she listened to their conversation. For the first time since he'd met her Dustyhead began to understand why Foxear had joined him.

The mountains loomed ahead of them as they reached the abandoned Horseplace. Twolegs once lived here and creatures known as horses used to run all across the open land. Now that they were gone the warriors had the entire barn to themselves. A few kittypets sometimes called the barn their home, but they didn't stay often enough to make it permanent.

"We can rest here for the night," Dustyhead meowed when they reached the barn's entrance.

"Are you sure the Clans won't be searching here?" Brownleaf's voice was filled with anxiety as she looked over her shoulder.

"What other choice do we have?" Dustyhead growled. "The apprentices are getting exhausted."

Ripplepaw was fighting back a yawn while Stripepaw looked like he was ready to fall over. If they didn't stop now the apprentices would be caught in the future.

Eventually seeing the truth in his words, Brownleaf sighed and shook her head in defeat. There was no point in arguing, especially when they could easily rest in the abandoned barn. With so many mice hiding inside the prey would be plentiful for them all.

Dustyhead flicked his tail across Sageleaf's shoulder before leading her into the nest. Her green eyes were filled with exhaustion and wariness as she followed. Dustyhead knew that she needed this sleep now more than ever with kits on the way.

"Our kits will be beautiful when they're born," he promised when he led her to what looked like the softest spot they could find.

Inside the barn was warm and dark despite the sun that was slowly rising. The squealing of mice could be heard around them as they panicked over the new arrivals. Ripplepaw and Stripepaw curled up immediately while Foxear searched for prey.

After ensuring that his mate was safe and sound, Dustyhead bounded after Foxear to see if there was any mice around.

Sure enough the mice were practically asking to get caught by the hunters. Dustyhead raised his chin in satisfaction as he caught two mice for himself and Sageleaf. He knew that this would keep his mate happy while they were on their journey away from the Clans.

Sageleaf's eyes gleamed with warmth when he returned. Prancing alongside her were Ripplepaw and Stripepaw. Both young cats seemed to enjoy the freedom of running around without their Clanmates telling them what to do.

"I hope we can leave before the next sunrise," Dustyhead sighed after finishing the last of his mouse. "Otherwise the Clans will catch up with us."

"Even if we do escape, where will we live?" Sageleaf asked. "We couldn't possibly raise kits without a Clan to protect them."

Brownleaf shook her own head in frustration. This was the question that had haunted Dustyhead since they'd left the island. Dustyhead knew that they would not be able to call themselves a Clan until they had a proper place to live. Even than with so few cats to defend the territory life would be difficult.

"We'll have to make due with what we have," he finally murmured. "For now we should all get some rest."

"I'll keep watch," Foxear announced. Her ginger-tipped tail flicked from side to side when she stood near the barn's entrance.

Dustyhead was too exhausted to complain. Instead he curled up beside Sageleaf, hopeful that she had enough warmth to feel safe. Soon enough their real journey would begin, and they would need to find a safe place to call home. Dustyhead knew that this was the most important task that lay before him.

AN: Yep, the real journey is about to begin, and it will make things interesting between the six of them. You'll find out why soon enough :P