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Disclaimer: Warriors is owned by Erin Hunter/HarperCollins Publishers LLC

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Cloudpaw's Tale: Part Two

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The forest lay quiet, bathing in the midday sun. A warm breeze drifted through, sifting through the branches of trees, and allowing rays of light to reach new spots on the forest floor. Soon, the sound of snapping twigs could be heard, as the rays of sunlight reflected off of a pelt of brilliant white.

Cloudpaw, the ThunderClan apprentice, was currently sprinting across the forest. He went about dodging bushes and hopping over roots - showing no sign of stopping. He looked over his shoulder every so often, breathing anxiously every time he did so.

A few lengths behind him stalked a larger tom, one with a fur color exceedingly less bright and radiant.

This one, Darkstripe, had been in pursuit of the young apprentice for quite some time now. His claws were unsheathed, scraping the ground as he gave chase.

Cloudpaw could sense their malicious presence behind him, and kept his gaze ahead. He could tell from a single whiff that Darkstripe was getting closer, like a predator following their injured prey as they tried to escape.

"Come back, little kitty~" Cloudpaw heard him fervently sing. The sound of his voice, also growing ever closer, gave him the chills.

It was almost like he was… enjoying himself.

The apprentice couldn't help but ponder. Darkstripe must have known what he was doing was wrong - Tigerclaw just ordered him to chase an apprentice from his own clan, simply for being born someplace else, after all. Darkstripe had to know it was wrong… but from how it sounded… the warrior didn't have a care in the world…

And Cloudpaw couldn't stand it.

Darkstripe always seemed a little unnerving. He was that spiteful cat who always looked like he had a problem with you, but wouldn't dare try something if there were more than two cats present at once.

Although, now they were alone. There's no telling what will happen if Cloudpaw gets caught.

The apprentice's vision soon began to blur, and he could sense his energy draining. He'd run wild gathering those patrols like his mentor requested - now, he was running for his life. He had run and run to where eventually, his body felt like running no longer.

His heart was pounding out of his chest, and he started to feel a little dizzy. He started slowing down, out of breath.

It didn't make sense - earlier he ran however far it was to bring the patrols back to ThunderClan during the battle and he'd felt fine, so why was he tired now? Did the fear of being hunted play a part in it?

Cloudpaw knew he couldn't just stop and think about it, though. He darted off-path, scrambling into the closest shrub he could find, hoping to catch his breath. Wherever he was headed, the territory stretched on for far longer than it did leading towards RiverClan.

His body shook, finally being given a moment to draw breath. As he breathed slowly, a voice could suddenly be heard nearby, shaking the young tom to his core.

"I smell your fear, kittypet," Darkstripe could be heard a few fox-lengths away. "You're hiding somewhere aren't you?"

Cloudpaw shut his eyes, afraid to look around and find two yellow irises glaring back at him. For another moment, he sat still, listening to the snapping of twigs and rustling of leaves as his pursuer attempted to look for him.

Taking a deep breath, Cloudpaw bunched his muscles. He stood frozen for one moment, preparing. The next, he was shooting out of the bush at full speed.

He allowed himself hardly any time to recover his strength, but he knew better than to hide. After all, Darkstripe said it himself: 'I smell your fear'. Cloudpaw knew better than to test a warrior's tracking skills, though he mentally cursed himself over his failure to control his fear scent. He'd seriously need to fix that once he got out of this mess. If he got out of this mess.

Hearing a surprised grunt from behind him, Cloudpaw could tell Darkstripe was already up and giving chase once again. He kept his eyes ahead, focusing on his stride and trying everything in his power not to trip over something.

The forest had been thinning, as Cloudpaw soon came to realize. It was also by this point that he discovered just where he'd been heading this entire time.

Cloudpaw couldn't stop to think about it beforehand, as there'd been a fully-grown warrior tracking him down, but now his memories of this part of the forest suddenly came flashing at him. Fireheart had given him a tour of the territory on his first day as an apprentice - a day which had only been a few sunrises ago.

"The trees start thinning as you approach the Thunderpath," Cloudpaw heard his mentor's voice echo throughout his mind. "Beyond that, lies a land shrouded in mystery. A dangerous place, or at least, that's what I've come to conclude during my time in the forest."

Cloudpaw sweated as he remembered the final words his mentor had told him about it.

"Never go there, Cloudpaw."

He cringed at the memory of him eagerly nodding his head, vowing to avoid that part of the forest at all costs.

I'm sorry, Fireheart, but it looks like I have no choice!

Pulling himself from his thoughts, Cloudpaw skidded to an abrupt halt. Before him lay a stretch of dark, flattened ground. It reeked horribly of monsters, though not one could be seen.

The Thunderpath!

Perking his ears, he could hear the sound of Darkstripe approaching rapidly. Stuck without much of a choice, Cloudpaw swallowed hard. He had never crossed the dangerous black trail before, but he'd listened to warriors and older apprentices about how one should cross: Check carefully for the sound and scent of a monster. Look both ways down the path, and once it looks clear, run like your life depends on it - since it does.

He trusted his senses, and his eyes, nose, and ears all told him that no monsters were around. Gritting his teeth, he bounded across the hard, smooth surface of the Thunderpath. A few cracks in the ground almost tripped him, but the young tom managed to make it across.

Now on the other side, Cloudpaw whipped behind him, looking almost as proud as he was relieved. He'd survived his first Thunderpath crossing!

His excitement was short-lived, however, as Darkstripe suddenly appeared out of the bushes on the other side. Cloudpaw saw the older warrior do a double-take when they noticed him on the other side of the Thunderpath. Looking across at him, Cloudpaw could see the warrior's lips curl into a sneer.

"Come back here kittypet. I'll show you how a real warrior fights!" he jeered, waving his tail in a taunting manner.

Cloudpaw grimaced, carefully observing him. He crouched, ready to take off running again if Darkstripe were to try anything. Before he could make a move though, a feminine voice suddenly could be heard from behind him.

"Darkstripe!"

One of the queens, Willowpelt, was shouting as she leaped out of a bush nearby. She wore a look of exhaustion on her face, no doubt after running the same length of territory both Cloudpaw and Darkstripe had. The she-cat gave Cloudpaw a brief glance before turning back towards Darkstripe with a frown. She seemed almost disappointed in him.

Darkstripe turned, squinting his eyes at her.

"What do you think you're doing, Willowpelt?" he asked, irritated. The she-cat looked at him wide-eyed.

"Making sure you're not about to kill yourself on the Thunderpath that's what!" she yelled, fur fluffed in alarm. Darkstripe growled, clearly not liking the thought of being looked after.

"Nrgh- that stupid kittypet crossed it into ShadowClan territory! I was just going to-"

"No, Darkstripe, you've done your job. That little runt has ShadowClan to deal with now… that is if an owl doesn't find him first," she said, leering towards Cloudpaw, who remained frozen, glaring at the two of them from across the Thunderpath. Darkstripe could only huff in disappointment, avoiding the she-cat's stern look.

"You're right, I got rid of him - and that's all that matters," he said, smirking with satisfaction.

Willowpelt lowered her ears slightly before raising her head again. "Yes, you did, now come on. We have a vigil to attend."

With that, the two warriors left together, hopping into the brush and disappearing from sight. After waiting a few more seconds, Cloudpaw sighed in relief, lifting himself out of his defensive crouch.

He soon built up the courage to look away from the Thunderpath and into the mucky, darker forest before him. Cloudpaw shivered at the sight, knowing he was effectively lost now. He couldn't go back across the Thunderpath, and in every other direction lay ShadowClan territory. Cloudpaw knew it would be a bad idea to travel deeper inside ShadowClan, so he figured the best thing he could do was follow the Thunderpath at a distance in the hopes of coming across someone who might help him, or perhaps, even Twolegplace.

He could find his mother, Princess, and tell her of all that has happened. Her brother was trapped in ThunderClan, and who knows what might happen to him. She needed to know - certainly, she would be able to help!

Filled with determination, Cloudpaw trotted a little deeper into ShadowClan, only wishing to stray further away from the Thunderpath.

However, he would not get far. Hearing a small noise, Cloudpaw whipped his head around. He bristled in alarm at what he saw: Out of nowhere, a sleek, red-pelted cat bound up to him, hackles raised in a threatening position. Their glare was sharp, and their voice was loud and powerful as they exclaimed, "An intruder!"

Cloudpaw's eyes shot open with alarm, his fur bristling in kind. By the tone of his voice, he could this was a she-cat.

"W-wait!" he stumbled back in surprise. Where did she even come from?!

The she-cat eyed him curiously for a moment, swishing her tail in alarm, before snorting. She raised her head.

"A puny apprentice that's all alone, eh? So was all that shouting from your mentor?" She snickered, prowling slowly towards him. Cloudpaw backed away as she chortled. "I guess ThunderClan can never keep track of their slow-witted apprentices can't they?"

With all the courage he could muster, Cloudpaw looked up.

"Are you… from ShadowClan?"

The she-cat sharpened her glare.

"Don't act dumb with me, rotten prey-stealer!" she said, baring her fangs. "I know what you all have been doing. Did your mentor seriously think it was a good idea to send you here alone? What a fool they are…"

Cloudpaw looked at her in a mix of shock and confusion. Prey-stealer?! He was no prey-stealer - he'd never even been around ShadowClan before! The she-cat stalked closer as Cloudpaw shook his head pleadingly.

"I-I'm not here to steal anything!" he said, trembling. The she-cat curled her lip.

"A likely story," she responded, before lowering her shoulders in a pouncing stance. "Prepare for a fight!"

Cloudpaw raised a paw, looking ready to flee.

Cloudpaw raised a paw, ready to flee. "I'm not looking for a fight. Y... you have to help me!" He knew it was unlikely, but maybe this cat would understand his situation if she'd listen.

His heart dropped as the she-cat snarked at him, raising her head before proclaiming, "Oh, I'll help you alright!"

Her claws outstretched.

"No seriously! I-I was chased out of ThunderClan, a-and now I'm-"

Cloudpaw didn't get to finish, for the she-cat suddenly sprang forward. The young tom couldn't even react as her claws pierced through the air at a terrifying speed - faster than anything Cloudpaw has ever seen. The apprentice could just barely dodge in time, feeling the sharp claws score a mark on his cheek.

The apprentice hissed as he stumbled away, holding a paw to his cheek where he'd already begun bleeding. His eyes darted fearfully towards the she-cat, now clearly afraid.

Without any warning, he saw a blur of red flash towards him. He grunted as the wind was knocked out of him before falling hard onto his back. After regaining his senses, he saw the molly was standing on top of him with a paw on his chest. The apprentice looked up in awe - how could a cat be that fast?

"You're pathetic," the she-cat growled, sounding almost disappointed. "This is really who's been stealing our prey this entire time? I've slain rats bigger than you!"

Cloudpaw stared at her fearfully, struggling under her weight in a desperate attempt to free himself.

"I- I swear I've never touched a shred of your prey!" he whined.

"Uh-huh. Listen here, you…" the she-cat lowered her head, putting more of her weight on him. She glared at him fiercely. "As much as your foolish mentors want you to think, ShadowClan is not any weaker just because the plagues of leaf-bare seem to have lasted a bit longer for us!"

Cloudpaw winced in pain as she dug into him, before giving her a befuddled look.

"W-what are you-"

The she-cat's sneer cut him off. Cloudpaw watched in horror as she raised her other paw, claws sharp and unsheathed.

"Tell that to your clan once I'm done ripping your tail off!" she shouted.

All of a sudden, Cloudpaw's world seemed to move in slow motion. His eyes slit as his survival instincts kicked in. Right before the she-cat could claw him in the face, the small apprentice used the little amount of strength left in his body to slip out from underneath her legs. The she-cat stumbled off-balance, narrowly missing her strike.

Flailing desperately in an attempt to escape, Cloudpaw managed to claw the she-cat's hind legs, earning a stubborn yelp of pain from her. The she-cat backed off of him, and Cloudpaw quickly jumped to his paws before turning to face her. They quickly recovered, spitting curses at him.

"Dirty, little…"

Cloudpaw watched fearfully as the she-cat regained her composure, preparing to pounce again.

"Please, just stop!" he quavered, stepping back. The she-cat only looked at him in amusement.

"You aren't getting off that easily," she said before lunging forward again. Luckily for Cloudpaw, her attack had been considerably slower than before, no doubt thanks to the scratches he had given her. This time she only managed to shred a small bit of fur.

The young tom brushed it off, sidestepping away from her. "No, please listen! I-I'm not going back to ThunderClan! I'm running away!"

The she-cat sneered, "Tch, you're running away all right." Her tail twitched in irritation as she turned to face him. "Are you that scared of fighting? You're starting to sound like a kittypet!"

Cloudpaw clenched his teeth, hesitant to voice the retort he was thinking of, before eventually giving in.

"I am a kittypet!" he exclaimed.

That seemed to stump the she-cat a small bit, though it didn't faze her for long. She gazed at him suspiciously, giving a few sniffs in his direction.

"You reek of ThunderClan… so no, you're not a kittypet," she glowered. "However, you are definitely from ThunderClan. You must be a new apprentice - one who's been assigned to steal from ShadowClan!"

Cloudpaw widened his eyes, listening as the she-cat pressed further.

"Does ThunderClan truly think we've been weakened so much? You're no kittypet, and you're no warrior either - you're just a snake-hearted little thief!"

Cloudpaw flicked his tail, looking offended.

"No, you don't get it! I'm no prey-stealer!" he pleaded. "I was banished because I'm a kittypet! I was just chased out by one of their warriors… I-I'm running away!"

The she-cat snorted, giving him a look of doubt.

"And what makes you think I'll believe any of that nonsense?" she growled, raising her head slightly from her crouch.

"W-well…" Cloudpaw stuttered, his fur spiked as he backed away. He thought wildly as he tried to think of an explanation.

"I'm all alone… none of my clanmates care… There's no one looking out for me," he said slowly. "I just… I need to get out of here."

Cloudpaw averted his gaze, not wanting to look at the she-cat now. He didn't care if she attacked him anymore - at least then, she might leave him alone afterward.

To his surprise, however, an attack never came. The she-cat raised herself out of her pouncing position and sniffed the air. A few seconds later she peered back towards the young tom with a more critical eye.

"You really are just some lost kit?" she asked, still sounding suspicious.

Cloudpaw turned his head slightly, looking at the ground in front of her.

"I'm not going to fight you…" he said weakly. "I-... haven't even been taught yet."

The she-cat made a huffing noise at that. "You were quite sloppy…" she said under her breath, though Cloudpaw still heard her. He lowered his ears, before grunting in pain. The slash she'd scored on him was beginning to sting.

He spoke through clenched teeth, "Look, just show me how to get out of your territory, and I promise, you'll never hear from me again."

The she-cat, ears perked at attention now, gave him a wary expression.

"You want me…" she began, seeming confused. "To escort you off my territory?"

"Yes!" Cloudpaw breathed. Now, he was finally getting somewhere! The she-cat glared at him, still looking completely lost.

"You smell of ThunderClan, but you don't want to return?" she pressed further. Her fur slowly settled, noticing Cloudpaw wasn't making any effort to move.

"Well, I…" Cloudpaw stuttered. "I need to find help, and well… I've been told that ShadowClan is not very helpful."

"Yes, we do not help those from other clans," the she-cat spat harshly, causing Cloudpaw to flinch. Her voice then suddenly grew a little softer, "But I can see that you pose no threat to us. You have the fighting prowess of a shrew… so I suppose you also wouldn't have the audacity to sneak around inside our territory and steal."

Cloudpaw had to bite back a retort as he watched the she-cat lower her head. Slowly, the she-cat approached him. Cloudpaw grew worried immediately, but upon further examination, he could see that her claws were sheathed.

He watched the molly as she came to a stop in front of him. Cloudpaw sweated in alarm under her cold, observant gaze, having no clue as to what she was doing.

The warrior huffed before looking around them, sniffing the air. Cloudpaw figured she was checking if they were alone. Turning back towards him, she suddenly leaned in to whisper.

"Alright then, follow me."

Cloudpaw lifted his ears, hope suddenly flaring to life within him. The she-cat noticed this and growled at him.

"Look, I will get your sorry hind out of here, and that will be all. You will not speak of this to anyone, understand?" she said, gritting her teeth.

Cloudpaw simply nodded his head eagerly. He was not expecting to be let go, much less escorted out of ShadowClan by one of its members. This… this was perfect!

"Yes!" he said breathlessly to the molly, though she'd already turned away from him and begun padding away at a modest speed. Cloudpaw quickly got to his paws, ignoring the pain his wounds were giving him.

"T-thank you!" he added, before quickly following after her.

Cloudpaw suddenly doubted if he was doing the right thing - following this she-cat. It was certainly much safer to travel with a cat who knew the territory. A territory - Cloudpaw noticed - that seemed very easy to get lost in as hardly any sunlight passed through the trees. It was a land that seemed almost dead, and Cloudpaw would've thought twice about traveling alone in it.

But, he was always told to never trust a ShadowClan cat.

Two minutes had passed since Cloudpaw began following the red-furred she-cat. Both trotted quickly throughout ShadowClan's territory, staying uncomfortably close to the Thunderpath. Cloudpaw figured it was to avoid the cats from her clan, though it wasn't like he fully trusted her to look out for him, so he followed behind her about two or three tail lengths - just to be safe.

The she-cat made zero attempts at a conversation, though Cloudpaw saw her ears were pinned behind her head - listening to him.

Cloudpaw knew she was dangerous - he had the scratch to prove it - so even though he didn't fully trust her, he was glad she didn't seem to want to attack him anymore. As a result, he was feeling a little more ambitious.

"Hey, er…" Cloudpaw started but was cut off. The she-cat abruptly whipped her head around, startling him. They must not have been expecting him to talk, and her glare showed she didn't appreciate the disturbance of peace.

Cloudpaw blinked, before clearing his throat.

"So, what's your name?" he asked, to which the she-cat rolled her eyes.

"Be quiet."

"Mine's-! …Cloudpaw," the apprentice said, lowering his ears. ShadowClan was a lot more withdrawn than he previously thought.

The she-cat huffed, looking away.

"We are going to Fourtrees. You can flee to wherever you want then, but if I catch you anywhere near ShadowClan after that, you're as good as crowfood."

Cloudpaw looked distraught but still nodded his head. It made sense - though he never had the notion to ask before. They had to be going somewhere, after all.

Although taking in her words for a little longer, the apprentice suddenly gasped. He whipped his around to face her, eyes large and eager.

"Did you say Fourtrees?!" He asked, growing excited. The she-cat gave him a strange look, before quickly dropping it after putting two and two together.

"You've never been there."

It wasn't a question, but rather, more of a statement. Though her tone was mildly curious, it was clear she didn't even need to ask as the look on Cloudpaw's face told her all she needed to know.

The young tom smiled in excitement. After all, only the best warriors and apprentices got to travel every full moon to Fourtrees!

However, having this in mind, Cloudpaw frowned, before shaking his head in a bit of embarrassment.

"No, I haven't been to Fourtrees… only the older apprentices get to go there."

The she-cat flicked her ears, shifting her gaze ahead of them.

"So just how old are you, kittypet?" she asked. Cloudpaw raised his tail proudly.

"I just turned six moons! I actually became an apprentice a few days ago in ThunderClan!"

It was true, the young tom took great pride in being an apprentice. Therefore, seeing the she-cat sneer at his response, Cloudpaw felt a little hurt.

"They must be desperate, then. Taking in another kittypet…" the she-cat said lowly, shaking her head. "And they think we're the weak ones."

"Huh?" Cloudpaw sounded. Though he wanted to teach her a thing or two about kittypets, what she said had caught his attention.

"You said another? So… you know Fireheart?" Cloudpaw knew his uncle was popular, but just to what extent?

The she-cat turned to look at him, dumbfounded.

"Kittypets don't just waltz in and become a member of a clan every day, furbrain! Of course, I know!" she spat, before looking away. "And it's a good thing they don't either. Kittypets are lazy and unfit for life in the wild, so it's no wonder you were banished. Frankly, I don't know how that other one hasn't been chased out yet either."

Cloudpaw felt his fur spike a little. Normally he would have no problem snapping back at anyone who dared say a kittypet wasn't fit for the wild, but after today, he suddenly realized that was the last thing he wanted to do.

With a sigh, Cloudpaw mumbled, "I don't think you'll be seeing him a lot anytime soon."

The she-cat gave him an intrigued look.

"Did ThunderClan finally come to their senses and kick you kittypets out?" she asked.

"No… it's complicated," Cloudpaw said, shaking his head at the thought. "You'll hear about it at the next Gathering I've no doubt."

The she-cat released a grunt, almost like she was amused.

"Can't wait," she said sarcastically.

They remained silent after that for a while. Cloudpaw didn't feel like talking much anymore, though he was sure the molly leading him was just fine with that. It already pained him to walk after how much running he did today, so the last thing he needed was to hear the dribble spoken about his "kind".

Soon though, the red warrior leading him slowed down. Cloudpaw slowed as well, watching her scent the air. She looked over her shoulder at him.

"It's time to cross," she stated. Seeing her glare, Cloudpaw felt convinced that she believed he would turn around and run away in fear at the thought of crossing the Thunderpath. He simply nodded, following her as she turned away. He crossed the Thunderpath once today, he can do it again.

He simply nodded, following her as she turned away. He crossed it once today, he can do it again.

Coming up next to the Thunderpath, Cloudpaw suddenly gasped.

"Woah."

His eyes shone in disbelief as a huge, bright-colored monster sat sleeping next to the Thunderpath. The molly next to him, to his surprise, simply ignored the beast. She walked up to the Thunderpath right next to the sleeping monster - or at least, much closer than Cloudpaw believed she should be comfortable with - before turning to face him.

Cloudpaw took this as a sign to advance. He slowly crept over to her, wary of the sleeping monster. The she-cat observed him, and couldn't help but release a sigh of annoyance.

"You know, kittypet, you don't have to follow three fox-lengths behind me this whole trip. It would be safer for you to stick closer, especially in ShadowClan territory."

Cloudpaw blinked at the she-cat's words. He was surprised at how genuine the molly sounded as opposed to that snarky tone he'd only heard from her so far.

"If you say so," he shrugged, blatant in his lack of confidence.

He stalked over to where the she-cat was sitting - still careful not to wake the sleeping monster. Just one of its huge paws could easily end his life quicker than Darkstripe could ever hope to, or any cat for that matter.

Once he got within a tail-length of the molly, she stood up again. While Cloudpaw worried about the monster nearby, the she-cat instead had begun surveying the Thunderpath for any signs of trouble. Noticing her, Cloudpaw decided to give a listen as well, and he found all was quiet on the other side, or so it had seemed. He looked towards the molly with curiosity.

"Is this how ShadowClan usually walks to Fourtrees?"

The she-cat raised her brow at him.

"You really think I would just show you something like that?"

Cloudpaw lowered his ears, wishing he'd have taken a second to realize just what he'd been asking.

"You're right. I'm sorry…" he replied sheepishly. The she-cat just responded with a mild snicker, looking away.

"No. We're only following the Thunderpath as far as we need to, then crossing straight over it towards Fourtrees."

Cloudpaw suddenly felt his fur stand on end, giving her a frightened look.

"So we're really crossing the Thunderpath next to this giant, sleeping monster?" Cloudpaw had hoped she wasn't serious but frowned when she-cat shrugged.

"It's nothing to be concerned about. Twolegs control them, you know, and I don't see one anywhere," she said. "Besides, it's either we cross here or we cross through WindClan, and I'm not about to deal with both rabbit-chasers and ThunderClan kittypets in a single day.

"Uhm, alright," Cloudpaw nodded, feeling a bit of his anxiety relieved. "I trust you."

The she-cat snickered again.

"It's no wonder you got banished, then."

Ignoring her remark, Cloudpaw watched the she-cat as she lowered herself to the ground, preparing to run.

She looked at him. "Don't get hit, because I'm not going to help if you do."

Cloudpaw rolled his eyes, imitating her crouch.

"I figured that."

She hummed, "Well, good. Now stay close; On my mark, we run."

They waited for what seemed like forever. After one monster sped past and out of view she suddenly called out to him.

"Now!"

Like a flash, the red cat took off across the Thunderpath. Cloudpaw found himself perplexed by her speed yet again but shook away those thoughts as he leaped forward. The path smelt horrid and his paws ached against his roughness as he dashed across it. Despite this, he managed to reach the other side without much of an issue.

Once across, Cloudpaw couldn't help but feel a bit of pride. He crossed the Thunderpath not once - but twice in one day!

Perking his ears, Cloudpaw heard the she-cat padding up to him after. He looked towards her as he sat huffing, catching his breath. The she-cat nodded, seeing he'd made it over in one piece.

"Follow again; We're just about there." Cloudpaw gave her a tired nod and lifted himself to his paws as the she-cat padded off.

He had to rush to catch up with her again, only this time he strayed a few tail-lengths closer to the molly. He had to admit, doing so made him feel a whole lot safer, especially remembering how well the she-cat could fight.

He eventually came side-by-side with her, and the she-cat turned slightly to look at him. She observed him for a moment, before opening her mouth to speak.

"I hurt you in our fight. Will you seek treatment?"

Cloudpaw looked at her flustered. He hadn't expected the molly to ask such a question.

"I'll be fine," he said, hoping she would just brush it off. The she-cat raised her brow, squinting towards the dried blood that was blatantly strewn across his snow-white pelt.

"I wouldn't push your luck anymore if I were you," she told him.

Cloudpaw gave a light snort. What did she mean? He needed to take chances in such dire times!... or at least, that's what he told himself he should do.

The young tom kept his gaze ahead.

"I know I shouldn't be pushing it. I'll get help… somehow," he muttered, trailing off.

He already had an idea of where he could go for treatment for his wounds. He didn't trust any clan to help him. Try not to be torn to shreds by the clans seemed to be his standard at this point, much less Try to seek help from the clans.

Even if they weren't going to shred him, they still would never help considering he's a kittypet. It truly bothered him; he'd never shown any interest in Twolegplace or the cats living with them, yet they still call him a kittypet.

After today, it might as well be true. Cloudpaw thought. The young apprentice always heard from his uncle about how well his Twolegs treated him. Perhaps, if only just this once…

With a sudden jolt, the she-cat's voice interrupted his thoughts.

"You're going to find Twolegs, aren't you?"

Cloudpaw's look of bewilderment must have not been hidden well enough, as she suddenly gave him an alarmed look, seeing him jump.

"S-so what if I am?" he quickly retorted. Did she truly think even though he was kittypet that he'd be so eager to see the Twolegs?

The she-cat growled, shaking her head.

"Don't," she responded. A silence hung between them.

"W-what?" Cloudpaw stammered. How could this not be the best thing he could do for his injuries? They're always calling him a kittypet anyways!

Cloudpaw continued, "Whaddya mean don't? They won't care if I'm a kittypet or a wild cat - they'll help me!"

The she-cat growled again, hardly seeming to listen.

"Twolegs cannot be trusted; Their kittypet underlings cannot be trusted; None of them can be trusted. You're better off going to another clan and asking for their healer…"

Cloudpaw didn't seem interested in that idea, however, what she said had caught his attention. None of them can be trusted… He looked towards her curiously.

"Just what would you know about Twolegs? Have you ever tried getting help from them?" he asked.

"I have my reasons," she muttered, stifling another growl. That response still left Cloudpaw with questions unanswered, but he could tell she was gonna be stubborn about this.

"Hmph, well…" he frowned, disappointed. "Where can I go then?"

The she-cat rolled her eyes.

"Look, kit, I don't care where you go as long as it's not Twolegs! Run off and stumble into some other clan's territory and just ask for help! You're pitiable enough - I'm sure someone will want to help."

"Gee, thanks..." Cloudpaw mumbled. "Well, then why can't I go to ShadowClan?"

The she-cat didn't respond for a moment. She looked deep in thought for a moment before muttering. "Hmph, ThunderClan probably taught you never to trust a ShadowClan cat."

Cloudpaw stared at her before shaking his head.

"Yeah, but you're not so bad," he replied.

"I tried to maim you ten minutes ago."

Cloudpaw hung his mouth open. "Uh, we… we've moved past that…"

She snickered. "No, ShadowClan can't help you. We have enough problems…"

"Really?" Cloudpaw pushed. The she-cat gave him a glint that told him not to continue, but Cloudpaw saw a bit of sadness as well. She mentioned a disease before…

"Is it that bad?" he asked quietly. The she-cat looked at him for a moment, before baring her teeth.

"Nrgh, stop asking me questions will you?" she grumbled, huffing in agitation.

At that, Cloudpaw quickly snapped shut. He was told how ShadowClan had been suffering before and after their old and evil leader was driven out, so he should've figured their moods must be in the dirtplace as of late. Perhaps it wasn't a good idea to seek their help after all.

Deep in his thoughts, he hadn't even noticed the she-cat come to a halt. Lifting his head, Cloudpaw got a good look at what she'd stopped for, and his mind suddenly went wild.

Before him stood four oak trees, larger than even the Great Sycamore back in ThunderClan's territory. Sitting in a clearing away from the forest, their grandiose was put on full display. The sun's rays seemed to radiate off of their bright, green leaves. Cloudpaw could hardly believe what he was seeing.

He heard the she-cat breathe a sigh of relief.

"There it is," she said.

Fourtrees! Cloudpaw thought with a gasp. "Wow! They're so…" he struggled, trying to find an appropriate word.

"Huge?" the she-cat next to him said. Cloudpaw gave her a nod, to which she simply shrugged in response. "Yes, they are rather large."

Cloudpaw looked at her, astonished. How could she treat this place with such disinterest? Brushing away the thought, Cloudpaw looked back towards the great oaks. That sense of pride he'd felt after crossing the Thunderpath was coming back to him.

"You know, that wasn't very hard!" he said enthusiastically, before turning towards the she-cat. "And you said that isn't the normal route ShadowClan takes? I don't see a problem with it!"

"You're blind then," the molly snapped back. Cloudpaw gave her a confused look as she began to explain, "The swamps to the west are much too thick for us to walk through, and traveling close to Thunderpath as we did was incredibly dangerous. A monster could have killed us in a heartbeat if it noticed us."

Cloudpaw nodded, before putting on a grin again. "Well yeah, but they didn't!" he cheered, though seeing the molly's glare made him shrink away. "I… see what you mean, though."

The she-cat huffed, turning away and padding off towards Fourtrees. Cloudpaw jumped to follow, eager to get a closer look.

They slid down the clearing, and Cloudpaw followed the she-cat inside the oaks' shade. It felt as good as it looked, especially on a sunny day such as today. The two of them came up to a giant stone formation soon, and Cloudpaw looked at it with awe.

This must be where the clan leaders sit! He realized with glee.

His thoughts were suddenly interrupted when the she-cat cleared her throat. He lowered his gaze slightly down from the stones, now realizing she had been waiting patiently for him right in front of the large stone.

Cloudpaw padded forwards to join her but stopped when she pointed her tail towards the forest behind them. Cloudpaw followed her gaze to see an opening in the brush outside of the clearing.

"RiverClan comes from that way. I believe the river can be easily found when you head down that path… starts at a waterfall or something," she said. Looking at him, she brought her tail back around her paws. "If you follow it then you'll eventually end up in RiverClan."

Cloudpaw nodded. Once again, his trust needed to be in her for this journey, but he was willing to take her advice after everything they'd been through.

"WindClan comes from that direction," the she-cat started again.

Her head was suddenly turned in a different direction, her tail now pointing this way as well. He looked to where she'd been referring to, and before his eyes lay a huge stretch of moorland, one that any cat could easily identify as WindClan territory.

"Head that way and you'll soon be in the moors, but be careful, WindClan is aaaallways patrolling those borders," the she-cat said with disdain. "It's rather annoying…"

Cloudpaw gave her a weird glance before nodding. "Got it."

The she-cat's tail retreated around her paws once more, and she turned to him with a scolding look.

"Do not tell me you're actually going to seek their help," she frowned. Cloudpaw thought about it for a moment before shaking his head.

"No, I'm not..." His eyes wandered towards the first spot she'd shown him. He couldn't explain why, but he felt as if something was calling him there.

"I think I want to find RiverClan," he told her. The she-cat's eyes lit up in interest.

"Why?"

He hesitated. "It's just…"

Cloudpaw trailed off, feeling conflicted. Should I tell her? He thought, before mentally cuffing himself on the ear. Oh right, she'll just find out about it at the Gathering anyway.

He started, "Well, one of our warriors was banished at the same time I was. He wasn't a kittypet, but he still did something bad I guess."

To his surprise, the she-cat didn't look very disturbed by that. Nevertheless, she nodded her head for Cloudpaw to continue.

"A RiverClan patrol was there, and he asked to be taken with them," he said. The she-cat gave him a soft look.

"And you want to see him again?"

Cloudpaw shrugged.

"It's worth a shot."

The she-cat continued to stare at him, seeming tempted to ask something again. After a while though, she simply shrugged.

"Well, good luck then," she raised herself off her haunches. "It seems we're done here, thank StarClan. I've been away from my clan for far too long."

Cloudpaw looked saddened for a moment but simply nodded his head in understanding. He didn't know what she'd been doing when she found her, but he'd guess it was something she wanted to get back to.

"I get it," Cloudpaw looked at her gratefully. "I don't know what I would've done if it weren't for you…"

"You would've starved to death…" she replied with a straight face. "Or my other clanmates might've found you and ripped you to shreds… or a snake would have bitten you… or an owl would've swooped in and-" she went on.

Cloudpaw flattened his ears. "I get it, okay? I got lucky."

The she-cat nodded. "StarClan certainly did you a favor today, that's for sure. I can't remember the last time I helped someone from a different Clan," she told him. "And with that being said, do not mention this, okay? I have enough problems in ShadowClan - there doesn't need to be anyone doubting my loyalty."

Cloudpaw looked at her strangely. "You've told me that already."

And why would anyone doubt your loyalty for helping a lost apprentice anyway?

The she-cat looked at him sternly, "So then don't forget it, kittypet. Remember, I know where you'll be living soon enough."

Cloudpaw couldn't come up with a response for that. Did she think RiverClan would accept him? Nevertheless, the young tom gave her a nod of understanding. Looking satisfied, the she-cat turned away, padding quickly towards the direction they came.

The young tom suddenly rose to his paws. Had she not even felt the need to say goodbye?

"H-hey!" he shouted, hoping the molly would stop. To his relief, she did slow down a little but not to a stop.

"Can…" Cloudpaw stuttered awkwardly. "Can you please tell me your name now?"

It was there the she-cat suddenly stopped with a halt. She turned, leering at him, but Cloudpaw persisted.

"Please? I want to remember the cat who helped me!"

His meager begging seemed to soften her glare a small bit. The she-cat sighed, saying nothing at first. Turning away, she gave him her reply.

"You can call me Russetfur."

Cloudpaw widened his eyes, before looking at her admiringly. He could finally put a name to this cat!

From now on, he knew this molly as Russetfur. With that in mind, he'd felt he must have gained at least a little respect from them. ShadowClan cats probably didn't give their names to strangers often.

"Thank you, Russetfur!" he said happily. Russetfur didn't look back, swishing her tail with irritation. Cloudpaw guessed she felt unamused at the sound of her name being spoken from him.

"Will you go already?" she grunted, causing the apprentice to blink.

"Alright, fine," he said, looking away. He supposed Russetfur just was always this cold - it wasn't that hard to believe.

He waved his tail in goodbye, turning towards the brush where he assumed RiverClan came from each Gathering. Russetfur did the same, before stalking back the way they both came.

As her scent began to disappear, Cloudpaw couldn't help but keep his mind on her - this ShadowClan warrior, Russetfur.

She was so fierce in battle - she had him pinned in two attacks, and Cloudpaw was known around the nursery for his tendency to play rough! Not only that, she said their trek next to the Thunderpath was very dangerous, yet she seemed practically unfazed the whole time!

Russetfur is so cool! The young tom geeked in his mind. Cloudpaw definitely hoped to meet her someday again, but perhaps on his own terms and preferably with their claws sheathed.

For now- he thought, bouncing towards the brush before him. I have to find RiverClan!

Stopping to catch his breath, Cloudpaw looked around Crookedstar's den anxiously, noting the troubled look the leader, Leopardfur, and Graystripe had on their muzzles. He had yet to be interrupted, which he appreciated. Although that also meant he couldn't tell whether or not they were satisfied with everything he had told them so far.

Noticing the young apprentice had paused his storytelling, the three cats around him eyed him curiously.

"Have any of you… met Russetfur?" Cloudpaw suddenly asked, breaking away from his tale. He thought it was probably pointless to ask, but it wouldn't hurt to try. Russetfur had been on his mind ever since they left each other, so he couldn't help the thought of getting to know more about her.

Crookedstar hummed in thought for a moment.

"No, I can't say I'm familiar with this she-cat," he replied. "I can't remember the last time I saw her at a Gathering either."

Cloudpaw turned towards Leopardfur with a hopeful look, but the she-cat huffed, shaking her head.

"No cat can say they're familiar with ShadowClan, except ShadowClan themselves," she said, giving Cloudpaw a suspicious look. Crookedstar hummed his agreement.

"Yes, you're right. They love to keep to their secrets," the RiverClan leader shook his head.

Cloudpaw frowned, knowing the reason behind the deputy's glare. He'd received help from a ShadowClan cat - cats who are known for being unfriendly towards just about everyone. It made sense that Leopardfur didn't trust him, especially after their tense first meeting, but even then, Cloudpaw couldn't help but feel disappointed.

"Anyway…" Cloudpaw shook his head, eager to continue his story. "I kept walking until I found the river - it went down this huge waterfall, just like Russetfur said there would be!"

"That is where the river flows out of the gorge," Crookedstar added.

"And so I followed the river, and all the while I was really nervous since I don't know how to swim. I had to walk on ThunderClan's side for a while, but luckily, there was nobody around. Then eventually, I came to that Twoleg bridge."

"And how long did you stay there?" Crookedstar asked, all the while nodding inquisitively.

"Up until you found me!" Cloudpaw replied. "At one point, I thought I could smell a ThunderClan patrol around, so I tried to wash myself to get rid of that Thunderpath scent, but I guess I didn't wash well enough, huh?"

Leopardfur scoffed at that while Graystripe gave him a small chuckle. Cloudpaw continued, "Anyway when I first saw that bridge, I knew it would be my best way to get across the river. It was pretty scary seeing the water below me, but I managed."

Crookedstar stared at him for a moment before speaking.

"I see, and then you had the bizarre idea of sleeping under the bridge so no patrol would find you?" Cloudpaw gave him a nod, making the leader chuckle in amusement. "I would never have believed it if my deputy hadn't told me."

Leopardfur simply rolled her eyes, finding little interest in their conversation.

"Yes, this is great and all, but what are we gonna do with him now?" she asked. "He came here expecting to get healed, did he not?"

Cloudpaw lowered his head sheepishly. "I had nowhere else to go…"

Leopardfur looked at him crossly. "No. You had plenty of places to go. You could've gone anywhere in the whole forest, and you choose the worst option," she flicked her tail in frustration. "The last thing we need is another ThunderClanner leeching off of us!"

Crookedstar signaled her with his tail for silence, before turning towards Cloudpaw.

"Cloudpaw, you were made an apprentice just a few days ago, correct?"

Cloudpaw looked away as if scared to admit it. "Yes…"

"So, I believe it would be fair to assume you aren't much of an apprentice then? You haven't been trained to fight yet, or to hunt properly?"

Cloudpaw couldn't think of more than one possible answer for that.

"No..."

Crookedstar raised his head.

"Well, then. That means you are more of a kit than anything," he stated. Cloudpaw wore an offended look.

"Wha-? I'm no kit! I'm an apprentice!" he said. Crookedstar raised his brow.

"So you're an apprentice from a clan you're no longer a part of?"

"I…" Cloudpaw trailed off. Thinking for a moment, the young tom realized Crookedstar was right. He wasn't a part of ThunderClan anymore, so that meant he wasn't an apprentice.

Cloudpaw's lip curled with frustration, coming to realize that everything he'd done in ThunderClan was all for nothing.

"Nrgh- Well, I shouldn't have been banished!" he snapped, swiping his paw at a stone on the ground. Crookedstar closed his eyes, dipping his head.

"It's not my place to say whether you deserved to be banished or not. However, it is my place to help you."

This caused both Cloudpaw and Graystripe to tilt their heads, while Leopardfur only slumped her shoulders even further than they were prior.

"What?" Graystripe and Cloudpaw blurted together. Crookedstar met their gaze as he continued.

"Cloudpaw is no longer an apprentice, so he has resumed status as a kit, per se," he said. Both former ThunderClanners still sat there in confusion. Leopardfur was currently fighting the urge to bristle, knowing exactly what her leader was getting at.

"And the warrior code states we must help all kits, no matter what."

Graystripe and Cloudpaw widened their eyes as Leopardfur stomped the ground.

"Oh, please, that is ridiculous, Crookedstar! He has already been named an apprentice, and he's beyond the age of a kit too!" She swished her tail against the den walls in agitation, before sighing with defeat. "Why do we have to be the ones to deal with all of ThunderClan's outcasts?"

"I do not know, Leopardfur," Crookedstar sighed before looking hopeful. "Perhaps, it is a sign from StarClan?"

Leopardfur sneered. "You mean a sign of bad luck? Bringing in two cats banished from their clan hardly sounds like a sign StarClan would give us!"

Crookedstar looked deep in thought as he considered her words. "We can't say that for sure…" he replied, before putting on a determined look. "I must speak with Mudfur about this."

The huge tabby lifted himself to his paws, briefly stretching before turning his gaze onto Cloudpaw.

"You will be coming with me for now. Mudfur is our medicine cat, and it seems he will be able to help both of us with our predicaments, or so I hope."

Cloudpaw looked up at the RiverClan leader in surprise, before jumping to his paws readily. "You'll help me? Oh, thank you, Crookedstar!"

Graystripe let a breath of relief escape him, knowing his former clanmate would be all right. He heard Leopardfur snarling from beside him, muttering something he couldn't hear, before getting to her paws as well, ready to leave without a second thought.

Crookedstar promptly shifted his attention on her, seeing his deputy rise. "Leopardfur, you should take some extra patrols out. ThunderClan might be trying to look for Cloudpaw around our territory, so they may poke around our territory."

Leopardfur looked towards him with a tired expression, before dipping her head.

"I agree - it will be done."

Crookedstar nodded. "This meeting is over, then. You're all dismissed," he declared, even though Leopardfur had already been making for the exit. He then looked towards Cloudpaw, beckoning him with his large tail. "Follow me, Cloudpaw. I'll show you our medicine den."

The fluffy white tom nodded eagerly, wearing a kit-like grin as he followed the RIverClan leader out of the den.

Graystripe was the last one out, trotting after the two of them. Heading outside, he looked around. Leopardfur had already begun to gather a small party of warriors, likely for the border patrol, while Cloudpaw and Crookedstar were busy greeting Mudfur.

The gray warrior then turned to make his way towards the nursery, where he knew his kits were sleeping as they usually did for most of the day. As he passed by Leopardfur's patrol, he noticed the golden she-cat staring at him. Graystripe lowered his ears, but to his surprise, the glare was less menacing than he was expecting. It looked like more of a frown than anything - Graystripe would go as far as to say the she-cat had a dead look in her eyes.

She's exhausted. He thought.

It was true, as they'd walked all day, and now Leopardfur was getting ready to go out on another patrol again, and very soon it would be time for the sunhigh patrol. Graystripe, however, felt he was obligated to head back to his nest, and he would've felt bad for her if it wasn't for all the trouble she'd been causing him lately.

Graystripe shook those thoughts away, turning back towards the nursery. He came beside the den, pausing for a moment to look inside. His kit's sleeping forms were curled around Mosspelt, the nursing queen having wrapped her tail around them protectively. He smiled, knowing his kits were doing just fine despite everything that's gone down as of late.

Thinking about his kits - about how strange and confusing the thought of moving to an entirely different clan must have been for them - suddenly made him think of his old friend.

Feeling nostalgic, he looked out towards Sunningrocks, the large stones being visible from the camp itself.

That was where Oakheart had been killed by Tigerclaw. He thought. This was the truth he and Fireheart came to discover together. As a result, they convinced Ravenpaw to leave for the barn. The two of them also brought home WindClan that one time, and save for a few slip-ups… their journey succeeded.

They did so many things together this past year - from earning their warrior names to opposing Tigerclaw's ascension to leadership just yesterday.

Graystripe shook his head, feeling dismayed.

"I'm sorry, Fireheart… I don't know if you're alright, but at least your kin is safe here." He thought, glancing towards the medicine den. Cloudpaw was chatting happily away with Mudfur as well as another apprentice - Rainkit it looked like. They all seemed to be getting along just fine. Like his own kits, Graystripe was certain the young tom would warm up to the clan if he stayed around long enough.

Although, he wished he could tell that to the ginger tom himself.

Releasing a slow, soft sigh, the gray-pelted warrior lifted his head towards the sky. A feeling of determination began to flow through him, having remembered all the challenges he and Fireheart overcame, and also the promise he made Crookedstar.

He knew he must now commit himself to RiverClan, of course, but that didn't mean he couldn't commit himself to his friend either. Looking at the clouds, Graystripe held a look of resolve.

"I'll make sure the both of us get to see you again. I promise… one day."

…

Depart from Forest of Secrets

...

A/N - I always felt Russetfur was a bit of an underdeveloped/underrated character, ya know? The Erins seem to forget her at times, but it can't be helped with all these cats to keep track of, I guess.

However, with that, everyone, the prelude to this story has finally come to an end…

Was it long for a prelude? Yes, but I made sure every word contributed to the story in some meaningful way, even if it might've been a bit much!