Chapter 6

Shadowkit lay crouched under a fern bush. He was so excited to have left the SkyClan camp, so many sights and sounds! The world was pretty big, but it didn't take long for the kit to find the search party. Galestar was speaking with Weaselclaw while Hazestorm was discussing how to retrieve Cliffpaw from the Twoleg den.

Shadowkit looked over at the den. It was tall, with red stone carefully organized around it. Shadowkit wasn't sure how to get inside, but he knew Twolegs. SkyClan's only elder, Goldfur, had told him many stories about the up walking monsters and how many of them liked kittens.

"How are we supposed to get in there?" Strippedpelt hissed. Galestar silenced him with a wave of his tail. His ears swiveled as he began to pick up the sound of rushed paw steps.

"Do you he-" The leader was cut off when Mistyfern came bounding up to them.

OH, no, Mistyfern followed my scent! Shadowkit hissed to himself. I'm going to have to make this quick.

"Have you seen Shadowkit?" Mistyfern wailed.

"No, why," Scar meowed. "Is he lost?"

"I can't find him!" Mistyfern howled. "I think he may have-"

Shadowkit dashed across the Twoleg territory, the wind howling in his ears as he ran as fast as he could. Scar was right, he was fast! Shadowkit skidded to a halt and looked up at the Twoleg's den; it was so huge!

"Shadowkit!" Caterwauled Mistyfern, her eyes resting on her son. "Get away from there!"

Shadowkit flinched and looked over his shoulder at his mother and father. Hazestorm started to run after him but quickly ran back to the patrol when he saw the Twoleg den open. Shadowkit swallowed hard and forced himself to look at the Twoleg. It wasn't as big as an adult, but it wasn't a kit either. Shadowkit guessed that it was an apprentice Twoleg.

The Twoleg froze for a moment, its eyes turned in a slight frown. Shadowkit lowered his ears and let out a meow. The Twoleg instantly barred its teeth in a smile and slowly crouched down, carefully reaching out a hairless paw.

Shadowkit knew this was his chance, so he padded forward and sniffed at the creature's paws. The Twoleg laughed and grabbed Shadowkit by the scruff. The kit was surprised at how gentle to Twoleg was being; Goldfur had made them out to be like killers. The Twoleg carried Shadowkit into the den; the smell of artificial air shocked the kit.

"Cliffpaw," Shadowkit called when the Twoleg placed him on the cold linoleum stone. "Cliffpaw, where are you?"

"Another one," A female voice hissed. "Where are you cats coming from?"

Shadowkit looked up to see a white she-kit about the same age as Airkit. Her amber eyes looked slightly agitated. The black kit matched her gaze as she bounded down to stand beside him. Her white fur was short, all except the tail. Her tail fur was like crane feathers, so long and flowing.

"I'm Shadowkit." Shadowkit mewed, looking around for Cliffpaw.

"Yeah, whatever…" The white she-kit mewed.

"Have you seen Cliffpaw?" Shadowkit called after her as she turned away.

"The big gray cat," She questioned agitatedly. "Yes, he's hiding under the sofa."

Shadowkit wasn't sure what a sofa was, but he looked around until he saw gleaming eyes; Cliffpaw's eyes widened in shock when he saw Shadowkit squirm under the sofa with him.

"What are you doing here?" He hissed. "Did they invade the camp and catch you too?"

"No…I snuck out to save you." Shadowkit mewed.

Cliffpaw tilted his head and looked forward, his green eyes glowing in the dim lighting under the sofa. He could see the white kittypets paws. Cliffpaw looked back at Shadowkit before smiling. "Thanks Shadowkit…you're going to be in big trouble." He mewed.

"Mistyfern caught me seconds before the Twoleg did." Shadowkit joked. Cliffpaw gave a worried chuckle and shifted his paws. "I'm going to ask the kittypet how to get out of here." The white she-kit looked over her shoulder at Shadowkit and rolled her eyes. The black kit ignored her rude behavior and sat down beside her.

"What do you want?" She mewed tersely.

"If you tell me and Cliffpaw how to get out of here, we will leave you alone." Shadowkit mewed politely.

"You cats have some weird names." The white cat murmured.

Shadowkit curled his nose at the cat, but followed her to a square-shaped hole in the den exit. "Just push your way through…it's kind of hard, but your Cliffpaw can help you with that." She smirked.

Shadowkit growled and motioned for Cliffpaw to squirm from under the couch. The older apprentice looked both ways before bolting across the den for Shadowkit, his green eyes looked timid and scared. The tiny black kit tried to impress the short-tempered kittypet by pushing open the hole, but was quickly embarrassed when he couldn't open it.

"Hurry up Shadowkit!" Cliffpaw shook, looking over his shoulder with vexed eyes.

"I'm trying!" Shadowkit spat out of anger. He rammed his shoulder into the space but hissed when he cut his skin.

"Oh my- MOVE!" Hissed the she-cat, she pushed her way past the two toms and pushed open the space without even straining. "Get out." She hissed.

Shadowkit was dumbfounded for a heartbeat before Cliffpaw grabbed Shadowkit by the scruff and shot out into the outdoors. The gray-and-white tom didn't even hesitate to stop and pelted for the forest, Shadowkit was too big for the apprentice to carry him and he kept skidding across the grass.

"Stop it Cliffpaw, let me down!" Shadowkit lashed out his claws and wriggled. Cliffpaw jerked his head and tossed Shadowkit across the grass, ahead stood the search patrol. Mistyfern gasped in surprise and rushed over to her kit, Shadowkit expected her to lash out her claws at him for leaving but instead nuzzled his face with embarrassing force.

"Do not ever do that again!" She howled.

"Mistyfern…" Shadowkit grumbled. "They're staring!"

"I could care less." Mistyfern mewed sternly. "You deserve it. Leaving the camp without permission, entering a Twoleg den, and scaring your mother like that!"

"Mistyfern calm down." Galestar mewed. "He's a hero."

"Hero's don't leave camp without permission." Mistyfern challenged.

"Shadowkit" A deep meow sounded. Shadowkit looked up at his father, Scar. The dark gray tom has sparks of pride in his eyes. "I couldn't be prouder."

"R-Really," Shadowkit stuttered. "B-But Mistyfern said…"

Scar placed his tail across Shadowkit's mouth and smiled.

"I'm proud of you."