A/N: Okay, sorry for the wait, I was super busy throughout the week, but I did work on the chapter at times, then I finally got some extra time to finish it. So here you go!

Captain Scar: Okay, hopefully, I'll do her in the next chapter.

Jaywing: Oh wow... Hope this chapter satisfies you.

Springflower: XD Wow.. I'll do her in the next chapter. To be honest, I'm kind of excited to do her POV since it's probably going to be a challenge writing hers.

Enjoy Chapter 5!

~Frost

Chapter 5:

Pebbestone's POV:

Stumbling a few times, he rose to his paws and started to limp away, leaving deep claw marks where he had stumbled, then catching himself. He let out a low sigh, flinching in pain at his wounds, but continued trekking through the lush forest.

His breaths soon became ragged and shaky as he plundered through the thick undergrowth, desperate to reach his Clanmates. Stepping into a warm patch of sunshine that was pouring through the tree branches above, Pebblestone glanced over his torn and bleeding shoulder to check if he's truly alone and not being followed by the hostile she-cat.

The grey warrior breathed a sigh of relief as he found that he was alone, then continued walking, his pace shaky as he fought to stay standing on his paws.

Small, black dots danced in the corner of his vision, Pebblestone shook his head to clear it. He soon stopped as the throbbing in his head grew more violent. Groaning, he shook his head one last time before he continued.

As he got closer to what he believed to be where his Clanmates still stood waiting, worried voices drifted over to him on the wind. "Where is he?!" "I don't know, maybe we should keep looking."

The last voice he was sure that it was Ashtail speaking. Joy flared inside of him at the prospect of seeing his friends again.

Now coughing a few times, he paused in his tracks to catch his breath. His tail tip twitched slightly as a cool breeze ruffled his fur, making him turn his muzzle to the breeze. For a few moments, he stood there, scenting the air when he heard the cracking of twigs and the soft footfalls of pawsteps.

Turning his head toward the noise, he tensed up, assuming that Ratberry had come to find him.

"Pebblestone?" A voice mewed questioningly as the cat drew nearer to him.

Smiling slightly, he relaxed and padded forward a few steps. "It's me, Ashtail," he spoke, his voice having a rasp to it.

A streak of grey fur could be seen as Ashtail darted out of the undergrowth and came face to face with her brother. Meeting the delighted moss-green gaze that was his sister, he smiled slightly.

Glancing over her shoulder, Ashtail called to the other, "Come here! It's Pebblestone!" With that said, two cats burst out from the thick undergrowth, their tails flicking restlessly back and forth.

"Pebblestone!" Ripplepaw exclaimed happily, padding over to him. Maplecreek smiled and followed Ripplepaw, her gaze glancing over Pebblestone's bloody and ruffled pelt.

"Well, what happened?" Ashtail now spoke tersely as she, too, glanced over him.

Chuckling softly, Pebblestone replied, "I'll tell you later."

Frowning, Ashtail said slowly, "Alright, then. Well, we should go and search for Speckwind. She's been gone for too long now."

"No need to look for me, Ashtail," a voice announced, the cat stepping out of a bush. "Speckwind!" The three cats' voices burst out of their owners, becoming a unified voice as they gazed disbelievingly at the she-cat.

Grinning, the white she-cat padded forward and stopped at where the semi-circle that had formed around Pebblestone, began. "Nice to see you again, Pebblestone. Let me guess, did you single-handedly fought with a cat or a dog telling the others," at this, Speckwind gestured with her tail to the other she-cats, "to stay back and let you handle it?"

Blinking a few times, Pebblestone remained silent. After a minute, he spoke, "It was a cat. And how did you know this?"

"I told you, I guessed," Speckwind grinned.

"You know me too well, my friend."

"Yes, yes, I do. Well, stop staring at me, I'm not something to be gawked at, now am I?" Speckwind smiled, a teasing note underneath her tone.

"What happened when you ran off?" Maplecreek spoke, breaking her silence.

"That's a long story, so I'm not going to tell you it here. Especially since it seems some dogs are heading this way. Probably fleeing from the DuskClan cats," Speckwind remarked, tipping her head back in the direction that she had appeared.

As if on cue, the thumping of big paws hitting the ground hit the assembled cats' ears. "Hide!" Speckwind hissed, darting up a tree.

The others followed with haste in their attempt to shield themselves with the dense brush from their soon-to-be attackers.

The crackling of twigs snapping underneath the dogs' large paws grew louder and louder. The StormClan cats watched with bated breath as three dogs burst out into the open.

Barking like mad, the dogs stopped for a moment, sniffing the air with their noses, their heads tipped back slightly. Maplecreek and Pebblestone, who were both in the same tree, stiffened as one of the dogs turned in their direction.

With a loud howl, the dog turned to run toward the tree, where it knew its enemies were hiding. Pebblestone gave a sharp nudge to Maplecreek, gesturing with his tail to the branch above them. Nodding slightly, she bunched up her hindlegs before she sprang to the higher branch.

As soon as Maplecreek had jumped, the dog leapt into the air, its paws aiming towards the branch that Pebblestone was currently on still. Swiftly turning around, the grey warrior leapt as well, ignoring the waves of pain that were coming from his wounds.

"That was close there," Maplecreek commented, grabbing his scruff in her jaws and hauling him up more fully on the thick branch. In response, Pebblestone shrugged his shoulders, his gaze darting to the dog who had jumped.

Disconcerted by its miss, the dog walked back and forth the oak tree that held the two StormClan cats, once in a while barking at its comrades who were doing the same, each at one of the tree that housed at least one or two Clan cats.

Pebblestone frowned, glancing at the other trees that held his Clanmates. "Now what are we going to do?" Maplecreek hissed angrily, her amber-eyed trained on the three dogs.

"Hmm.." Pebblestone hummed slightly, his head tilted slightly. "Well, we can't just drop down and attack, that would be reckless."

"So, what do you suggest we should do?" Maplecreek asked, looking at him.

"Well, I think we should just wait."

Maplecreek stayed silent, her mouth open in protest. Pebblestone, who noticed, chuckled in amusement.

"I know it sounds mousebrain, but we don't have any other choice. Unless, you want to do the other option which will most likely result in you going to StarClan," he pointed out, meeting the white warrior's gaze steadily.

"Fine, we'll do it your way then," Maplecreek responded after a few moments of brief silence.

Pebblestone nodded and turned to watch the dogs' movements silently. Feeling Maplecreek's stare on his turned back, he regarded her calmly.

The she-cat rolled her eyes before peering at the other trees, her tail flicking slowly from side to side.

Faint yowls in the distance drew closer, the mist swirling thickly around the two cats huddled in the oak tree. Noticing the dogs' pace was slowing slightly caught Pebblestone's attention.

A bush rustled nearby making the heads of the StormClan cats shoot up in alarm. Surely not more dogs?

Crouching low to the tree branch, minding the edge, Maplecreek kept her gaze on the three dogs while Pebblestone regarded the bush that had rustled warily.

His tail flicking restlessly behind him, he kept his demeanor calm and alert. The bush rustled once more, the yowls growing ever closer.

Now, the dogs stopped in their tracks, swinging their broad heads to inspect the clearing with confusion clouding their gazes. The tension in the small clearing was palpable, the brief silence broken only by the yowls.

The StormClan cats bristled as one, staying in their separate trees. Pebblestone gripped the bark of the branch with unsheathed claws tensely, his neck fur raised.

The seconds dragged on, soon turning into long minutes. A gusty wind ruffled the cats' pelts accompanied by the mist creeping closer to them.

Maplecreek carefully watched the dogs' individual movements silently, her tail now lashing behind her, ruffling some of the leaves.

Once when the dogs had crept closer to what they thought was the source of all the yowling, a long low keening sound erupted from the trees.

A/N: Cliffhanger! So, what do you think the keening sound is? In other words, what do you think who or what made that sound? I'm currently working on Chapter 6 so be on the lookout for that. Also, put POV ideas for Chapter 7, if you like. Until next time!

~Frost