Chapter 18

"This is hopeless! His scent is gone!" Cloudpaw meowed annoyed, scraping her claws against the rough moor dirt angrily. Airpaw glanced at his sister, his gray eyes soft as he realized how frustrated she was. Out of the four of them, Cloudpaw was the most concerned about SkyClan, treating it as though it was her Clan. Then again, she had been the first one to know about SkyClan. Airpaw's throat tightened as he watched Cloudpaw sniff the air, realizing that an awful goodbye was approaching. He felt the sorrow too although not as strongly as his sister. He would have to say goodbye to the friends they made in SkyClan.

"He wouldn't have gone far," Airpaw mewed, resting his long tail on Cloudpaw's shoulder, "Remember, he believes that he is the only one who knows Sandfire's secret. In his eyes, he probably thinks he is the only one who can save SkyClan."

"Is that so?" The two apprentices whirled around, coming face to face with Ratpelt. Airpaw's eyes widened as he took in the rogue's appearance. Ratpelt's dark pelt had originally been glossy and well groomed, but now it grew dull and burrs tangled themselves in his long fur. His amber eyes shown with fire as he glared at the two cats, but there was also a look of defeat in their depths. Airpaw realized how much losing his Clan had effected the falsely accused warrior. "What makes you think I want to return to those fleabrains!"

"Those fleabrains are your Clanmates," Airpaw meowed.

"Were," Ratpelt hissed, "Mintstar exiled me!"

"He only did that because he thought you were leading the rats!" Cloudpaw protested, "If he knew it was the other way around then you would be welcomed back with open paws!"

"Why didn't you tell Mintstar it was Sandfire?" Airpaw asked curiously.

Ratpelt looked away and murmured, "Who would you believe? An older cat who is deputy and happens to be your kin? Or a young warrior?"

"But we have evidence now!" Cloudpaw meowed.

"What evidence?" Ratpelt growled.

"I had a dream," Cloudpaw explained, "Grayleaf came to me and told me who the traitor was."

"Grayleaf...?" Ratpelt whispered, "You had a message from StarClan?" Cloudpaw nodded. "Well that changes- no it doesn't. Even if we were to return we would all be wiped out. If you had any brains, you two would as far as you can from this place. Take your kin with you."

"We won't abandon SkyClan," Airpaw growled.

"And besides, Darkshadow and Waterpaw have gone to find any kittypets who are willing to fight," Cloudpaw explained.

"Kittypets!" Ratpelt purred, "Kittypets can't fight!"

"Would you really turn down help?" Cloudpaw asked.

"I guess not," Ratpelt murmured, "Alright fine. I'll fight for SkyClan."

*

"Where's your kin at anyway?" Ratpelt asked for the hundredth time. The three cats were crouched in the grass, waiting for Darkshadow and Waterpaw. "We've been waiting since sunhigh."

"They'll come soon," Airpaw snapped impatiently. He was annoyed at Ratpelt's attitude.

They sat in silence before Cloudpaw meowed, "There they are! And there are other cats with them!"

The three cats sprang out of their hiding spots and raced over to where Darkshadow and Waterpaw led half a dozen cats. Darkshadow dipped his head to his friends and meowed, "It's good to see you again, Ratpelt."

Ratpelt nodded towards the cats around them, "Who are they?"

"This is Smut and Elmo," Waterpaw meowed, circling a fat black-and-white tom and a leaner gray cat.

"Hi! I'm Smut." The fatter tom mewed happily. Elmo remained silent.

"And this is Stripes and Hatchet," Darkshadow introduced a striped gray tom and a large brown tom.

"It's a pleasure to meet you. I'm Stripes," Stripes meowed while Hatchet nervously added, "Hi."

"This is Singer," Waterpaw introduced the only she-cat, a silver little thing.

"Hello," Singer meowed. "You are Clan cats as well?" Airpaw nodded. "How interesting."

"And this is Shark. He's a rogue," Darkshadow whispered under his breath. The dark ginger tom glared at them and demanded, "So when do we get to the fighting?"

"Oh yes," Smut meowed, his tone still light and friendly, "I'm really good at killing rats."

"That's good," Airpaw meowed, "You'll need to be."

"What time do you think the rats will come?" Stripes asked.

"And how many?" Hatchet whispered nervously.

"Probably after dusk," Darkshadow answered, "And a lot. Don't forget there is also a cat fighting alongside the rats."

Singer nodded, "A ginger tom."

"Exactly," Airpaw meowed.

There was silence around every cat before Waterpaw suggested, "Let's find a place to keep watch over the camp. Mintstar probably wouldn't be too happy if we bring all these cats into camp."

"Sandfire would know something was up," Cloudpaw added quietly.

With that said, the five Clan cats and their new friends headed back towards the camp.

*

Airpaw crouched in the tall grass, Waterpaw, Cloudpaw, Smut, Elmo, and Stripes beside him. Darkshadow, Ratpelt, and the other kittypets were nearby. The Clan cats had decided that it would be best if they all split up. A dozen cats would be easily spotted by a SkyClan patrol.

"It's nearly nightfall," Airpaw whispered, his breath visible in the chilly air. "Maybe the rats aren't coming tonight..."

"I don't like this," Waterpaw murmured, "Splitting up. What if one of us is attacked and we can't get to each other?"

"I hope that happens," Smut meowed loudly, "I'm itching to attack some rats."

Cloudpaw rolled her eyes, "You'll have plenty of time to kill rats before the night is out."

"True, but I-" Smut was cut off by Hatchet who was racing towards them, his amber eyes wild.

"Hatchet, what's wrong?" Stripes asked.

"Rats!" Hatchet choked out.

Everyone's blood ran cold.