Chapter Five

Taken

The Next Morning

Cinderpelt sets up the patrols for the day while Stonepaw is grooming himself preparing for his Naming Ceremony along with his littermates Sandpaw and Shiningpaw. Tigerheart heads into the Nursery to see the newest additions to the Clan.

Nursery

"Snowfur, how are they holding up?" asked Tigerheart.

"They are doing wonderful. However, I think it's time for Nightstar to give them their Clan names." Nightstar pads into the den.

"Indeed it is. From this forward until you earn your Warrior names, you will be known as Mousekit, Poisonkit, Stripekit, Eaglekit, Rainkit, and Pebblekit." Sydvicious looks up at Nightstar.

"Nightstar, my Kits are ready to become Apprentices." Nightstar looks at Sydvicious.

"I will hold the Ceremony tomorrow."

Camp Clearing

Jaykit, Hollykit, Lionkit, Mousekit, Eaglekit, Pebblekit, Rainkit, Stripekit, and Poisonkit are playing in the early morning sunlight just outside the Nursery. The dawn patrol returns with a yowl of despair. Topazshine goes over to the patrol.

"Where is Blackstone?" asked Topazshine.

"Blackstone was captured by a Human and brought into one of their homes and one of the Humans had a she-cat with them!" screeched Nightwing.

"Lightheart and Lightfoot lead Lightwing, Cloudfur, and Shadowfur to the Human house and see if you can locate Blackstone!" instructed Nightstar.

"What about the she-cat?" asked Mistypaw.

"She is probably the Human's HouseCat," said Lightwing.

"And if she isn't?" asked Firekit. Tinykit pounces on Firekit's tail.

"Then we will bring her to the camp if she wants and then get her a mate," said Nightstar. Lightwing nods his head and leads his patrol out of the camp.

Shiningpaw, Sandpaw, and Stonepaw look down in despair.

"Don't worry, young ones, your Naming Ceremony will take place after this dilemma has been taken care of," said the elder Brindlefur.

"Brindlefur is right. Do not worry; we will have your Naming Ceremony as soon as possible."

"All right."

"We understand."

"We will wait."

Outside a Human's House

Lightwing's patrol is standing outside a garden fence. "Lightfoot, do you remember anything about the she-cat?"

"She had the smell of milk on her as if she is going to have Kits soon. She has black and white fur and is small for her size."

"That makes this mission all the more urgent," said Cloudfur. Lightheart jumps to the top of the fence.

Garden

"The door to the house is over here," said Lightheart. The rest of the patrol follows Lightheart. Inside the garden, the patrol finds the small black and white she-cat sitting on the stoop, her belly round with Kits. The HouseCat looks at the patrol and her fur stands on end.

"What are you doing in my garden?" asked the female HouseCat.

"We are looking for Blackstone; he is a friend of ours. He is a black cat with white paws, chin, and underbelly," answered Shadowfur. Pollen's fur slowly lies flat again as she remembers something.

"My Humans brought a strange black tom into the house earlier today. I saw him while my Human was holding me. Why?" said Pollen slowly.

"Some Humans do not know how to take care of cats; some of us end up badly hurt or even dead because of their carelessness," said Cloudfur.

"Dead?" Pollen asked.

"Yeah, not a very pretty sight… I saw it happen before…" said Shadowfur.

"What happened?" asked Pollen.

"My sister Morningglow was killed by a Human a few moons ago."

"I am sorry for your loss."

"Thank you and I know she is still watching over me somewhere in HeavenClan."

"I will help you get your friend back if you take me with you too."

'Very well," said Lightwing.

"The black tom should be the only one to follow me since my Human's house is dark." Lightwing nods his head. Shadowfur follows Pollen. Shadowfur and Pollen go into the house through the cat door.

Human House: Inside

Shadowfur picks up Blackstone's scent right away. "Where did the Human bring Blackstone?"

"They brought him to the kitchen."

"Lead the way please."

Kitchen

Pollen leads the way to the kitchen and the nest that she now shares with Blackstone. Blackstone picks up Shadowfur's scent.

"Shadowfur, you came for me!" said Blackstone happily.

"Of course we came for you, you stupid furball!" replied Shadowfur gruffly.

"Blackstone, are you ready to go back home?" Pollen asked.

"Yes, but I twisted one of my paws trying to get away from the Humans."

"Can you still walk?" asked the battled-scarred tom. Blackstone stands up, keeping his twisted left forepaw off the ground. As Blackstone stands, Shadowfur gets a strong whiff of blood. "Why do I smell blood? Blackstone, are you bleeding?"

"Y-yes…" said Blackstone nervously.

"How?" asked the black and white she-cat.

"I tried leaving the house before, I accidently knocked over something, it broke, and I cut my left side on it."

"You broke what Humans call glass. It's very sharp when broken. My mate, Wind, died from a deep wound from glass." Shadowfur's eyes open wide in sheer horror.

"Come on, we need to get out of here quickly!" The three cats leave house as quickly as Blackstone's twisted paw will allow them.

Garden

Outside the house, the three cats meet up with the rest of the patrol. "I smell blood. Why?" asked Lightwing.

"Blackstone cut himself on something Pollen calls 'glass'," answered Shadowfur. Lightheart sniffs Blackstone's left flank.

"We need to get Blackstone to Tigerheart as soon as possible," said Lightheart. The patrol jumps over the fence with Cloudfur in the lead. Lightheart and Lightwing are supporting Blackstone between them. Slowly the patrol makes their way back to the camp.

CloudClan Camp

Medicine Cat's Den

Lightheart and Lightwing support Blackstone on either side and lead him to Tigerheart's den. "Tigerheart, you have your first patient," said Lightwing. Tigerheart pads from his nest, blinking away sleep, he yawns.

"Who is hurt?"

"Blackstone twisted his left forepaw while running from the Humans and then he cut himself on something sharp," Lightheart answered.

"Okay, lay him in the empty nest and then leave the den."