Chapter 3: The Rescue

It was Low Sun. Rougefoot was tired and hungry, but he didn't want to take a piece from the kill pile, denying other, more worthy cats from their food. He decided to go hunting. He walked out into the forest. His paws instinctively took him to the MoonClan border, hoping to see Icechest. He dragged himself away and to the EarthClan border. On the corner of the border of SunClan a small yellow kit sat wailing.

An EarthClan warrior, Cornfoot, came out of nowhere about ready to attack the kit. Rougefoot slammed into Cornfoot's side, sending him into a daze.

He walked over to the little yellow tom. "Where is your mother little one?" Rougefoot asked the kit.

The kit sniffled. "Over there." He pointed his nose deep into SunClan territory.

"Can I take you home?" Rougefoot meowed.

He kit nodded. His eyes were watery.

Rougefoot grasped the kit firmly but gently in his mouth. He slowly made his way deep into the SunClan forest. The large sugar maple trees smelled strangely to him. He walked into the SunClan camp where several warriors were pacing around anxiously, sniffing every corner of the camp. A very anxious queen was in the middle of a bare stretch of ground covered by indented paw prints.

She caught immediate scent of her kit. She took the small cat from Rougefoot and set him down in front of her. She licked him furiously, but lovingly.

"Don't you EVER do that again do you hear me!?" she meowed sternly.

"I won't mommy. It was scary. A big yellow cat tried to attack me but this cat saved my life." The little kit walked over to Rougefoot and licked his leg.

Rougefoot looked down at the kit happily. He was back where he belonged.

The she-cat stepped up. Her calico coat dazzled in the setting sunlight. "My name is Morningleaf, my kit here is Goldkit. He's pretty rowdy, if you know what I mean. Thank you so much for bringing him back to me."

"You are very welcome Morningleaf." Rougefoot bent down to lick Goldkit on the head. "Now you listen to your mother little one, you were lucky today."

Goldkit looked up at Rougefoot and nodded. Goldkit's other two littermates, Blackkit and Nutkit came out to welcome him home.

"Goldkit said something about a big yellow cat about ready to attack him?" Morningleaf meowed questionably.

"It was Cornfoot of EarthClan." Rougefoot meowed flatly.

"Cornfoot! The most aggressive EarthClan warrior! I'm glad my kit didn't fall into his paws… or teeth…" Morningleaf shivered.

"He's perfectly fine. I think he learned his lesson."

"Thank you again so much." Morningleaf meowed.

"Yes…" An unfamiliar voice meowed. "Thank you." It was a magnificent golden colored she-cat that emerged behind Morningleaf.

Rougefoot knew who it was just by her golden colored eyes. He bowed his head in the deepest respect he knew. "You are welcome Honeystar. It was nothing."

"You saved my grandson from utter destruction." Honeystar meowed. "You deserve a reward. SunClan are in debt to you."

"The best reward of all is seeing kit and mother happy together." Rougefoot meowed.

Honeystar started at Rougefoot for a minute. "You are a wise cat for such a young age."

He looked up to Honeystar's golden eyes. "Thank you."

"No no. Thank you. You are a notable cat. But now it is time for my Clan to settle down for the night, your Clan probably would be wondering where you are as well."

Rougefoot looked up at the moon. It was high in the sky. "Thank you Honeystar. I'll be off."

Honeystar bowed her head. She walked into her den.

Rougefoot walked out of the SunClan camp and back into his own territory. By now his stomach was screaming in hunger. He caught a vole and ate it in a few famished gulps. He caught a magpie and two mice to bring back to the Clan. When he walked in his father was there to see him, with a devious look on his face.