A/N: I could have updated yesterday but I only got 4 reviews. I have been writing like crazy, so please could anyone that reads this just drop a review? I finally hit 100, yay! Wow I never would have thought that I would have 3 stories going at once and all of them have over 100 reviews. Thanks all of my loyal reviewers for staying by me, even if I may not update my other stories every day.

I am going to try and update my other stories during the month of November, but Zodiac will be my main priority. I figure if I write one chapter a day, each chapter will be about 1, 800, then I should be able to finish by November 31st. At least Terra will be done by then! Who knows I may even post Terra: Blood Moon. Please review everyone, can I get 6 reviews please?

~Leo~

CHAPTER 20

Moonclaw led the small patrol across camp back into Flintstar's den, keeping a wary eye on Dovepaw and her companions as they entered. Dovepaw immediately knew they were going to be to late to warn Riverclan.

How were they supposed to escape when the leader and deputy were only fox-lengths away, already knowing their intentions?

"Flintstar, we have a problem" Moonclaw growled as he entered the small cavern.

The ShadowClan leader lay in the depths of darkness, the moonlight that flooded into the den lit his curved eyes a dark silver. Looking from the two guards Moonclaw ordered to keep ahold of Aspenroot and Firesky, Flintstar immediately turned to his deputy.

"What is the meaning of this? Why are they being held against their will?" Dovepaw could probably answer the question, although now probably wasn't the best time to speak out of turn.

"I caught them sneaking out the Furze-Tunnel towards RiverClan, I bet they were trying to warn those fish-breaths!" he growled while lashing his tail angrily. Flintstar stared at the group for a short moment, then sighed.

"Aspenroot tell me where and why you were going, is what Moonclaw says true?".

The tortoiseshell queen seemed unsure of what to say, her green eyes flickering from Firesky to Dovepaw.

Come on! Couldn't Aspenroot think of something clever, after all she was supposed to be the smartest cat in the clan!

"No it isn't true" she meowed slowly, "Moonclaw had no right to stop us and treat us like traitors, I was only bringing my kits and mate into the forest to tell them something important."

Flintstar rose his head, "And what is so important that you had to sneak out of camp?".

The tortoiseshell held her leader's gaze for a short moment, "I'm expecting kits and I wanted to tell my son and daughter alone, Firesky needed to know as well."

"Then why was Gempaw following you?" Moonclaw snarled making the small black apprentice flinch in the corner, "I don't believe a word of this fox-dung Flintstar, and neither should you!".

Dovepaw immediately moved towards Gempaw, this wasn't any of her fault, she was just dragged into this!

"Stay where you are" a large mass that was called Thunderbolt moved to stop her, making the white apprentice un-sheathe her claws.

"You remember the last time you did something stupid don't you Thunderbolt?" she growled as the gray toms yellow eyes grew wide, "And I have been sharpening my claws for an occasion just like this."

Dovepaw would like nothing more than to slash her claws across Thunderbolt's face, but in this moment it was all intimidation.

"Stop!" Flintstar commanded from the back of the den, his gray spotted haunches coming into the moonlight. "Moonclaw leave now and take the patrol I assembled to RiverClan".

The gray and white deputy sheathed his claws, and with a sharp glare at Dovepaw's patrol, exited the den to assemble the battle patrol. Flintstar turned to follow his deputy out of the den, but for a brief moment he stopped to look Dovepaw straight in her blue eyes.

"What your doing is wrong" she told him while her eyes burnt like blue fire, "You have to know that if you let this happen, It'll cause more destruction then you realize."

Flintstar's eyes flashed for a moment, maybe he'll rethink this madness! But then the leader simply blinked at Dovepaw and rose his head to look at the moon.

"I'll think I take my chances" and turning to the rest of the patrol, "Bloodpool, Thunderbolt guard them. Make sure they don't escape, this group is smarter than the both of you combined."

And with that the leader of ShadowClan exited his den, perhaps making the worst decision committed in the lake home in moons.

How can I warn Emberpaw now? With Bloodpool and Thunderbolt guarding them, there was no way they could escape and warn RiverClan in time!

The dark ginger she-cat named Bloodpool was watching the battle patrol leave outside the entrance, the she-cat was young, but had claws sharper than stone. Noticing Thunderbolt was distracted as well, Dovepaw inched closer to her mother and the others.

"Any plans?" she whispered to Thistlepaw and Firesky who were the closest. Her brother shook his head, and soon Firesky did the same.

"I do" a quiet hiss came from Aspenroot who kept her eye on the guards, "I'll distract them, and when I do, Thistlepaw and Firesky pin them down. That should give Dovepaw and Gempaw enough time to escape."

The cats nodded, although the white apprentice didn't know how her mother could distract them.

"You have to run as fast as you can" Firesky instructed, "If your going to beat the patrol to RiverClan, then take the route along the lake."

Dovepaw simply nodded slowly, not liking taking instructions from him. Slowly moving towards a very scared Gempaw, Dovepaw quickly explained the plan. In a matter of moments a moan came from Aspenroot, and before Dovepaw knew it she collapsed onto the floor.

Seeing her mother writhing in pain, for a moment she almost darted forward.

No, she snapped at herself, It's all part of the plan.

"Whats wrong with her?" Thunderbolt asked Firesky, giving Aspenroot a sniff of concern.

"Oh stop being a kit" Bloodpool growled trying to push the queen up, "Get off the ground!".

With their defenses down, Firesky nodded to Thistlepaw and soon both leapt onto the guards.

"Go!" Aspenroot yowled to her daughter and Gempaw, helping Thistlepaw take down Bloodpool.

Pushing the black apprentice to her feet, Dovepaw raced out of the stony den and before she knew it they were exiting the Furze-Tunnel. The battle patrol had a head-start, would they even make it to RiverClan in time?

I have to, Dovepaw told herself while trying to stay positive, I can't let anything happen to Emberpaw. And it was in that moment that the image of the strong sleek furred gray apprentice popped into her mind.

And then Dovepaw realized something that she always knew, I love Emberpaw.

A/N: Okay who do you think should Emberpaw's mate be?

1.) Aquashine

2.) Dovepaw

3.) Someone else