A/N: Hi, back again! Concrit welcome, but no flames, please(I have a shiny blue fire extinguisher just in case...). Enjoy!

Chapter 2

"Leafwhisker, could you check on the cats? I want to make sure they're all okay before we keep going."

"Yes, Shinestar."

Leafwhisker padded away from Shinestar and began her inspection. She decided to go to her father first and check on his paw. She padded over to Tanglefur.

"Hello, father," Leafwhisker mewed. "Can I look at your paw?"

The ginger deputy obediently lifted it up so Leafwhisker could examine it.

"Hmm...good, it isn't infected. Try to keep it clean, though," Leafwhisker meowed.

"Thanks, I will." There was warmth in Tanglefur's amber eyes. "Try to get some sleep, though. You look tired."

Leafwhisker was tired. "I definitely need an apprentice," she thought. What she wanted to do was curl up and go to sleep now that it was dusk. But duty comes first, Leafwhisker reminded herself. I have to check on the rest of the cats.

Leafwhisker checked on Ripplegaze next and was a little worried; the wound on her paw had gotten a bit worse from walking all day. Leafwhisker wished, not for the first time, that none of this had happened. That they were at home in the forest, with all their prey and herbs. That Ripplegaze's paw was better by now.

Ripplegaze must have seen the worried look on her face because she said, "It isn't that bad. It was almost better this morning, and it hasn't gotten much worse." Leafwhisker smiled. Ripplegaze was right, of course. Leafwhisker suspected the reason she had gotten so upset was that she was tired.

"Thanks for the encouragement," she purred. "Just clean it up a bit. With lots of rest, it'll be fine. Maybe I'll be able to find some marigold."

Ripplegaze nodded and Leafwhisker padded off to check on the elders.

Sprig step and Mosspelt were tired but healthy. "Thanks for telling us about the Thunderbeasts and the Dangerpath," she meowed.

"No problem," the elder grunted, but Leafwhisker knew he was pleased.

After saying goodnight to Sprig step, Leafwhisker checked on Willowface, Cloverleaf and the kits. Then, she moved on to the warriors; after that came the apprentices.

Once Leafwhisker had completed her rounds, she returned to Shinestar.

"Tanglefur's paw is healing nicely, and I think Ripplegaze's wound will be fine if I can find some marigold. Aside from sore pads and empty bellies, everyone else is fine, as long as they get some rest," Leafwhisker reported, trying to hold back a yawn.

Shinestar looked relieved.

"Are we going to stay here for the night?" Leafwhisker asked.

"I think we'll just keep going until we reach the forest, we're close enough. Besides, I don't really want to sleep by the Dangerpath".

Even though she was exhausted, Leafwhisker had to agree with Shinestar. They really were pretty close to the forest. And she was glad she wouldn't have to stay by the Dangerpath much longer. The stench was horrible and every time a Thunderbeast roared by, she couldn't help flinching at the low noise.

"That's a good idea," she murmured sleepily.

Leafwhisker padded wearily along. "One paw in front of the other", she reminded herself. The clan had walked along a little bit of grass - " This is nothing compared to that meadow," Leafwhisker thought - and turned onto a small, unused Dangerpath.

They didn't actually walk on the Dangerpath; the hard black surface hurt their paws. Instead, they padded beside it.

Soon, trees, glorious trees were around them and the Dangerpath. Soon, the black path became gravel and the gravel became dirt, which was soon covered by dry, crackling leaves ad bits of moss.

They had reached the forest, and finally, after four days of traveling, they were home.