I've been updating pretty fast lately; I guess snow days do that to you. But anyways, before you read, I'd like to make a few notes. First, I'm sorry if the description of the hidden alley didn't come out well, I tried. Secondly, my roleplay-obsessed sister has decided to kick me off the computer so this chapter isn't as long as I want it to be. Enjoy!

Thanks for all my awesome reviewers, you guys rock! As promised, here are the plushies. Special thanks to Birchsong21 (and if I haven't mentioned it before, kacheekyblu2) for commenting on the trailer!

Birchsong21- Dovepaw

Linzerj loves Warriors- Whitewing

Kacheekyblu2- Cloudtail

Loststream- Ivypaw

Anidori-Isilee- Brightheart

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Darkpaw immediately dove into action. Heart racing, she sprinted for the alley, speeding ahead of Owlpaw. Her best friend in the world was in danger, and Darkpaw was terrified.

She skidded into the alley, throwing up a cloud of dirt that settled on her wet fur. "Mothpaw!" Then she gasped, her mouth hanging open in horror. Two huge dogs were leaping and snapping at the silver cat, who was perched precariously on a windowsill.

Mothpaw's turquoise eyes were wide with fear, and her fur was fluffed to twice it's normal size. "Darkpaw, run!" she screeched, shooting her a desperate glance.

It was too late. One of the dogs, a Rottweiler (A/N I actually love Rottweilers, they're sweet dogs, this one just happens to be mean), had caught sight of Darkpaw and Owlpaw (who had just ran up to stand beside her). His small eyes glinted menacingly, and he stepped toward them with a snarl.

Darkpaw turned to flee but a third dog, a sort of German Shepherd mix, was blocking her way. She and Owlpaw were cornered between the two dogs and the brick walls of the alley. Mothpaw was still clinging to the windowsill for dear life, out of the dogs' reach.

"Cats." The Shepherd mix barked the word. Darkpaw blinked in surprise. This beast spoke cat? He growled a low, throaty chuckle. "I love cats. The best prey in town."

Darkpaw's blood froze in her veins. These dogs would slaughter them for fresh-kill. She was so scared, she would rather take on the Alley Cats alone. At least they wouldn't eat her. Gulping, she spit in her fiercest voice. "Leave us alone! We've done nothing to you!"

The Shepherd mix stared at her like she was an idiot. "I don't care," he growled in that strange barking/meowing voice. "Why should I care? Cats are food."

The Rottie behind her woofed something to the third dog, a scrawny female mutt, and she barked a laugh. The Shepherd mix grinned too. "Dino is right. One cat for each of us. Perfect number. We eat well tonight."

Owlpaw, finally finding his voice, gave it a try. "B-but my sister," he said, pointing with his tail to Mothpaw. "Sh-she's very sick. She drank bad water. You'll get poisoned if you eat her-"

"Do not try to trick me, cat! You lie. And anyways, I've eaten worse things than a sick cat." The Shepherd mix began to advance, forcing the two to back up. "Why don't you just come quietly?" he growled.

Darkpaw glared evenly into his eyes. "Never."

The dog lunged, and, following his lead, so did his companions. He flew at Darkpaw, but she twisted out of the way with skill only cats have. She slid out her claws and slashed open his shoulder, but he was so big the scratch wasn't deep.

Massive white teeth snapped inches away from her face. Letting out a shriek, Darkpaw ripped her claws over the dog's muzzle. It was the Rottie, and he yelped and backed up. Owlpaw leaped on its back and bit into its shoulder. Mothpaw had leaped down and was now trying to outrun the female. One more try, then we run, Darkpaw thought. With a battle cry, she began pummeling the Shepherd.

It was a mistake. He swung around in a split second and sank his teeth into her. She was lifted off her paws, and shaken so hard she thought her neck would break. One moment she was being shaken, the next moment she was soaring through the air, and the next she was lying on the ground in a crumpled heap. Pain stabbed through her, but she had no breath to yowl.

Mothpaw screamed again and leaped over Darkpaw's still form, trying to keep the dogs off her. Darkpaw had just enough time to see one of the dogs bowl into Mothpaw when suddenly-

"Hang in there, you three!" Darkpaw stared in shock as Davey slid down the slanted roof of one of the buildings and landed next to them. The rest of the Alley Cats followed behind him. "No cat becomes a meal today! Alley Cats, attack!"

The Alley Cats charged the dogs, who looked equally startled. A full scale battle broke out between the two groups, but Darkpaw didn't have time to watch. Owlpaw threw her over his back and started running, pushing Mothpaw ahead of him. One of the Alley Cats led the way, taking them deeper into the alley. The sounds of snarling and yowling faded away behind them.

They flew around twists and turns, following the splotchy-furred tom. Darkpaw wasn't sure where he was taking them, but didn't have to wonder long. He skidded to a stop in front of a crumbling wooden fence. It completely blocked the alley, and for a moment she thought they were trapped.

"Luna! Open the gate!" he yowled. Seconds later a section near the bottom of the fence was pushed aside to reveal a small opening, just big enough for a cat to squeeze past. The wooden boards were barely attached.

"Get in!" He meowed, nudging Mothpaw through the gate. Owlpaw shrugged Darkpaw off his back, then he and the Alley tom carefully shuffled her through. The broken boards swung shut behind them, as it had been placed so it could be lifted from the inside.

Owlpaw carefully set her on the dusty ground and backed up. Darkpaw glanced around the hidden alley; it was well-kept and open, and dens of garbage bins and cardboard boxes lined the brick walls. So this is the Alley cats camp, she thought. She shut her eyes in exhaustion.

There was a gasp. "What happened?" a strange voice mewed. She blinked open her eyes, wincing in pain, to see a pale cream she cat standing over her, looking down with a shocked expression. "You poor thing!" The she cat said, licking at the blood on Darkpaw's fur.

Confused as to why this strange cat was helping her, Darkpaw rolled her eyes, searching for her friends. They were standing together a few paces away, licking their own wounds. Owlpaw's eyes were on the splotchy-furred tom, who was standing by the entrance to the hidden alleyway.

"What do you want with us?" He said in a low voice, his fur still bristling.

The tom looked surprised. "We're just helping you. You were about to be killed by those dogs."

"Why now? You attacked us the last time we met."

The tom shuffled nervously. He really wasn't that much older than Owlpaw and Mothpaw. "Davey changed his mind. He's sorry for attacking you guys."

"I don't believe it," Owlpaw muttered.

Darkpaw shook herself. She wasn't that badly injured that she couldn't heal herself. Sitting up, she gave herself a once-over. There were puncture wounds from the dog's teeth in her shoulders and sides, and blood was trickling onto her fur. There were a few other scrapes and scratches, but nothing too major. Those teeth marks should heal okay…. If they don't get infected. She winced. Her body still felt like it had been smashed against a boulder.

"What's your name?" she asked the creamy she cat. "Are you an Alley Cat?"

"Yes, I am," she mewed, still licking Darkpaw's wounds. It made the black apprentice slightly uncomfortable. Hollyfrost had never been this motherly. "My name is Luna." So this was the cat who ahs opened the door.

Mothpaw shuffled over just then. Blood was spattered on her face. "Are you okay?" she whispered.

"I'm not dying," Darkpaw said. The adrenaline had faded from her blood, and now all she wanted to do was sleep.

The splotchy tom peered through the slats of the fence. "The rest are here!" he called. Mothpaw stiffened and scooted closer to Darkpaw. Owlpaw sat down beside them, stretching out his bitten leg.

A stocky copper shape slipped through the entrance, triumph glowing in his amber eyes. The blue-gray tom, fluffy gray tabby tom, and red fox faced she cat followed behind him. The splotchy tom pushed the board into place, letting no one in or out. Luna immediately abandoned Darkpaw and ran up to the fluffy gray tom, purring and nuzzling him. Darkpaw guessed that they were mates.

Davey strode up to the three Clan cats. "Well, now, that was some fight you three put up! Wherever you come from, they must teach you well."

Mothpaw nodded, but Darkpaw mewed, "Why did you save us? You wanted revenge, I thought."

"That be true, lass, but we're all cats. We Alley Cats don't let anyone, no matter who they are, get eaten by those mongrels. And, er, I realized we were wrong in attacking you." He shot a look at the fox faced she cat. "I'm truly sorry for that last nasty incident. Please forgive us." He dipped his head.

The three shot each other startled glances, but Owlpaw nodded. "We forgive you."

"Then welcome to the home of the Alley Cats!" Davey grinned.

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Yay Alley Cats! They're nice after all. Of course, I already knew that.

So now you've had your chapter of excitement, the next chapter will be a bit mellower. There needs to a break from all the drama every now and then.

Thanks for reading! Please review.