The fur bristled on Russetstripe's side as she marched away from Scorchclaw. Anger boiled in her veins, threatening to explode and send her to claw his face off – and Swiftstar's, at the same time. I can't believe he said that to me! I was the one who killed Adderstripe, and he's saying I should've joined him instead? Damn them all!
"Russetstripe!" Gorseflight called, racing over to her. Russetstripe looked over to watch the mottled tom approach her.
"What do you want?" Russetstripe asked.
"I have an inkling feeling of what you're going to do," Gorseflight said, skidding to a halt. His gaze followed Russetstripe's, and Russetstripe realized that she had been walking over to Emberpaw's prison. Russetstripe skidded to a halt, staring at her paws. They're taking me there for a reason.
"Are you going to tell on me?" Russetstripe asked dryly. "I know Scorchclaw is your best friend."
"But you are my friend too, Russetstripe," Gorseflight said, his tail flicking. "And I feel like doing the right thing, for a change, even if it's disobeying my Clan leader. I want to help you. So, are you doing what I think you're doing?"
Russetstripe's ginger fur fluffed out. "I can't let Emberpaw rot in there. He's going to die if he stays there overnight. If he hasn't tried to escape yet, then he won't escape of his own free will. I'm going to sneak him out of here, while the Clan is busy talking about the battle."
"That's daring," Gorseflight remarked. "You sure you don't want to help him escape while they're fighting?"
"What, so Swiftstar can have the remaining warriors breathe over my shoulder the entire time?" Russetstripe snorted. "No thanks. Or he'll bring me, I have no idea. But there's one thing I need to do, and it's getting this poor thing out of here. So, Gorseflight, are you in?"
"Of course." Gorseflight touched his nose to Russetstripe's shoulder. "I'll be the look out."
"Wait, Gorseflight." Russetstripe lifted her tail. "There's one more cat I'll need for this. I need you to get her."
Gorseflight nodded. "Understood. I'll get her now." The mottled gray-and-white tom bounded away, and Russetstripe forced her way into the rabbit burrow. She was aware just how big she had gotten over the seasons as she forced herself through the hole, and just as she reached the spot where it spread out, her heart dropped in her chest as she saw Emberpaw.
The tom was curled up in a ball, his ribs visible, his dark tabby fur dull and ragged. He was barely breathing as Russetstripe walked over to him, nudging his fur to see if he was alive. Just as the tom jerked his head up, Russetstripe let out a sigh of relief. But even as he tried to scramble to his paws to escape, his movements were shaky, and he ended up collapsing on the ground. His yellow eyes were wide with fear as he stared up at Russetstripe.
"Don't hurt me," the tabby tom rasped out, his voice barely audible. Then the tom collapsed on the ground again, his sunken eyes shutting as he fell into a bundle of fur. "P-please. I… I don't want to die… but… I'm going to… aren't I?"
"You are not going to die," Russetstripe told the tom as she hovered over him. "I swear to you. I'm going to get you out of here, even if it costs me my life."
"W-why…?" Emberpaw lifted his head, his entire body shaking. The tom did not have the strength to lift himself to his paws.
Russetstripe swallowed the lump in her throat. "When you first came here, I told you that I'd do everything to keep you safe. I didn't do a good job in that. But I'm going to make it up to you. I can't let any cat rot in here, no matter what Clan they're from. My father committed a great sin, holding you in here, and I'm here to right his wrong."
Emberpaw blinked his sticky eyes and coughed. Russetstripe winced as she saw blood hit the ground. And we need to, fast, she thought. Come on, Blackdove, where are you?
Just as Russetstripe prayed for her black-furred friend to come, she could hear commotion at the entrance. Russetstripe whipped her head over, hoping that none of the WindClan cats had been searching for her. But just as she studied the figures at the entrance, she recognized the mottled fur of Gorseflight and the night-black fur of Blackdove. Thank all the gods.
Blackdove pushed her way in first. Sympathy glittered in her green eyes as she looked down at Emberpaw. She clicked her tongue and let out a sigh, and Russetstripe realized that Blackdove knew this was wrong, just as she did. Thank gods there are other cats who feel the same way.
"Gorseflight tells me you need help breaking him out," Blackdove said to Russetstripe. Russetstripe watched Gorseflight approach her, and pity crossed the tom's face as he stared at the barely moving Emberpaw.
"Yeah," Russetstripe meowed. She leaned into Blackdove so Gorseflight wouldn't hear. "The tunnels."
"It's fine, you don't need to cover it up," Blackdove meowed. "Yes, the tunnels. We can definitely sneak him out of WindClan camp through there."
"Is there one in camp?" Russetstripe asked.
"Yes, but it's on the other side of the hollow," Blackdove replied.
The three warriors winced, and Russetstripe nodded her head to Gorseflight. Gorseflight cleared his throat. "I'll distract the Clan cats," he said. "You guys, hide Emberpaw between you and sneak him out to the tunnel. After I distract them, I'll be right behind you. Is that fine?"
"It's perfect," Russetstripe replied, gazing at Emberpaw. Gorseflight had said to sneak Emberpaw between them, but Russetstripe was bright ginger, Blackdove was night-black, and Emberpaw was a dark brown tabby tom. How could they sneak him out without being recognized? I have to rely on Gorseflight distracting the cats. Please, by all the gods, if you hear me, let Gorseflight succeed.
"I'll throw a pebble near here when it's safe to go," Gorseflight meowed, squeezing out of the tunnel. When the mottled gray-and-white tom disappeared, Russetstripe nudged Emberpaw to his paws. They were supposed to cross camp with him! Russetstripe glanced at Blackdove.
"You're sure that's the only tunnel in camp?" Russetstripe asked.
"Yeah." Blackdove nodded. "But I have faith that we'll get him there. Gorseflight will distract our Clanmates, and they won't see us if we keep him nestled between us. The tunnel is behind a boulder, too, so that should hide us."
Russetstripe took a deep breath. She had tested Swiftstar many, many times before. But this might just be the instance that would get her killed. I don't care. This isn't right, and I won't let this apprentice continue to be abused. If it kills me, so be it. Russetstripe glanced over at Emberpaw, who was shaking as he pulled himself to his paws.
"Can you walk?" Russetstripe asked him. She wouldn't blame him if he couldn't – after all, he had been starving in here for four days.
"I think so," Emberpaw replied, his cracked voice making her wince. Russetstripe turned away from him, waiting for Gorseflight to throw the pebble at the entrance of the tunnel. When it came, they'd be able to cross. Please, Gorseflight, succeed. Please. Russetstripe sent the prayers to the gods, and her gaze drifted to Blackdove. The she-cat wore a tight expression on her face, and her claws dug into the ground.
"Blackdove…" Russetstripe murmured. "I don't want to get you in trouble."
"It's okay," Blackdove meowed. "I'm your friend, and I'll always help you when you need me. Plus, I'm right with you. Doing this to a young cat isn't right. StarClan would disapprove."
Russetstripe let out the breath she had been holding. She was thankful Blackdove understood and would help – she wouldn't be able to navigate the tunnels without Blackdove. Just as the two she-cats stood, waiting for Gorseflight's signal, several pebbles clattered against the entrance of the tunnels. The signal! Russetstripe nodded to Emberpaw, who trotted over between the two she-cats. They pressed him beneath him, and together, they began to sneak out of the burrow.
Russetstripe's heart pounded in her chest like a war drum when she exited the burrow, coming into contact with the fresh air in the camp. Emberpaw's eyes narrowed, and he was about to cough when Blackdove slapped her tail over his mouth. Russetstripe caught Gorseflight's eye from across camp where he was speaking to the senior warriors. Gorseflight nodded to her, and Russetstripe quickened her pace. The boulder at the edge of the camp seemed like miles away. We have to get there, no matter what.
They had to cater to Emberpaw's pace – the tom was slow and unsteady after suffering in the den. But Russetstripe needed him to move quicker, and she shoved him with her paw, hoping that he would get a move on. To Russetstripe's relief, he quickened his pace, allowing the WindClan she-cats to move faster. Russetstripe let out a thanks to the gods once they reached the boulder, and Russetstripe pushed in Emberpaw first. The tabby squeezed through the boulder, and Blackdove leaped over him to be the first to enter the tunnel.
Russetstripe glanced at the moorland wall behind the boulder. She couldn't see anything. Was Blackdove wrong? But Blackdove pushed her body against the wall of the hollow, and patches of grass fell to the ground, revealing a tiny hole that emerged from the wall. Blackdove squeezed her way inside the hole, with Emberpaw following shortly behind her. Russetstripe waited for Gorseflight, and once the mottled tom reached her heels, Russetstripe followed the two cats. Gorseflight navigated his way after her, and the four cats quickly raced through the tunnel until it opened up into a massive network of multiple tunnels.
Russetstripe scrunched her eyes to get used to the nearly complete darkness. The rocky walls surrounded her on all sides, and often small pebbles dropped from the ceiling onto the hard stone floor beneath them.
"Wow," Gorseflight breathed, looking around. "If we weren't on some crazy rescue mission, I'd love to sit and look at this. How do you know about this, Blackdove?" He trained his eyes on the black she-cat.
"WindClan territory is too small for me," Blackdove replied, her fur unruffled, no trace of a lie in her voice. "I like exploring what's beyond it. Or under it, if you will."
"Incredible," Gorseflight whispered, awe shining in his blue eyes.
"Okay, enough gawking!" Russetstripe raced to the front of the cats, studying Emberpaw. The tom was leaning heavily against Gorseflight, and it seemed that Gorseflight was the only thing keeping him up at the moment. "Blackdove, how do we get to ThunderClan territory?"
"It's a long travel," Blackdove warned her. "I'm not sure he'll be able to walk that far."
"No problem." Russetstripe grabbed Emberpaw's scruff in her mouth and draped him across her back. The tom barely weighed more than a feather, and it was absurd how she could barely feel him on her back. Father… damn you for how you treat the cats you do not care about!
"Let's get going." Blackdove wasted no time in picking the tunnel that swerved to the left, and the three cats followed after her. The stone floor under Russetstripe's paws cooled her paw pads, and the world closing in around her made her feel as if she was going to suffocate. She longed for the open world around her, for the wind to run in her fur and stream in her eyes, not to be trapped by tunnels with no way out. But I've got to put aside my fear. I have a mission to complete.
Just as the cats raced into tunnel after tunnel, the air slowly started to turn fresh, and the tunnel arched to form a cave. Faint sunlight poured in through slight gaps in the roof, and Russetstripe could hear soft rushing water. As the cats neared closer to the cave, a wide stream split the stone ground into two, its black water glimmering ever-so-slightly. The stream wound around across the floor and flowed away into a low, broad tunnel, disappearing into the shadows.
A river underground? Russetstripe shifted her paws, unsure of how they were going to cross. It was too broad to jump over, so what were they going to do now? The ginger warrior glanced at Gorseflight, and the same apprehension she was feeling was written on his face as well. Blackdove was the only cat who seemed to not have any misgivings, and shock hit Russetstripe like a thunderbolt as the black she-cat leapt into the water, swimming across the river with strong, powerful paws. She looks just like a RiverClan cat!
"What are you waiting for?" Blackdove asked when she pulled herself out of the river and onto the stone ground. Dark water slicked her fur and trickled onto the stone beneath her paws. "We don't have all day."
"You want us to swim?" Russetstripe asked, adjusting her hold on Emberpaw. But…
"It's the only way across," Blackdove replied flatly. "It's either that, or turn around."
There's no way I'm turning around. "Hang onto me, Emberpaw," Russetstripe ordered the tabby tom on top of her. She winced as she felt Emberpaw's claws unsheathe as they held tightly onto her ginger fur. Russetstripe leapt into the river, her heart lurching as she made contact with the water, the iciness of it soaking her thick ginger pelt and the splash echoing across the cave. The current wasn't strong, but she couldn't feel the ground under her paws as she paddled forward onto the other side of the river. Her fur was soaked to the bone as she pulled herself up on the stone, and she let out a shudder as she tried to regain her breath.
Gorseflight plunged into the stream, wincing visibly as he propelled himself through the water. His paws moved swiftly, but the expression on his face was far from comfortable as he pulled himself onto the shore. He shook out his fur, the water drops landing on Russetstripe, but that was the last of her concerns right now.
"Ready?" Blackdove asked the two cats. Both of them nodded. Blackdove turned on her heel and continued her journey into the middle tunnel. Russetstripe and Gorseflight were hot on her heels. The dark walls of the tunnels wound around Russetstripe, and she was beginning to feel tired. It was different running through the tunnels than it was running through the moorland. In the moorland, she felt free and wild, but she was cramped and suffocating in the tunnels. I don't want anything to do with the tunnels after this. Blackdove can have them to herself.
The three cats stopped when they reached a network of multiple tunnels. Gorseflight's eyes were wide with fear. "How are we going to know where to go next?" he asked, looking at Blackdove. Blackdove skidded to a halt, studying the tunnels with a pensive look on her face.
"The one that is the freshest is the one that leads out into the forest," Blackdove murmured. "I'm going to take a look at them. Just stay there."
Russetstripe watched with worry as her friend plunged herself into the farthest tunnel. Emberpaw barely seemed to be moving on her back. She wondered if Swiftstar noticed her absence and wondered where she had gone – or if he had already led his attack patrol to ThunderClan. Whatever it takes to get this apprentice home, she thought. I can't believe Rootstar didn't come for him.
Gorseflight wavered on his paws. "Have you been in here before?" he asked Russetstripe.
"Once," Russetstripe replied, recalling back to the time where she had fallen in and tried to find her own way out. "But this isn't really for me. I'd rather be out, running in the moorland."
"Me too," Gorseflight agreed. "But this is too important."
"Yeah." Russetstripe nodded in agreement. "I'm glad you're here, Gorseflight. I don't think we could've done this without you."
Gorseflight blinked gratefully at her. "You doing this was just brave in general," he remarked. "You're a good cat, Russetstripe."
"Not really." Russetstripe shook her head. "But thank you." She looked up. "Emberpaw, are you all right?"
No reply. Russetstripe couldn't see his face from her view, so she glanced at Gorseflight. Gorseflight reared up on his hind legs to move Emberpaw over. "Oh, hells," he muttered.
"What is it?" Russetstripe asked worriedly.
"He fell unconscious." Gorseflight's eyes were dark. "We need to find a medicine cat."
"We can't go back!" Russetstripe exclaimed, her heart sinking at Gorseflight's words. Unconscious? "We're in ThunderClan territory by now, aren't we?"
"We may need to find Ashenhawk," Gorseflight said. "But I don't know how."
Russetstripe shut her eyes. "We just need to figure out how to get to ThunderClan territory from here. Let's do that, first." But she couldn't ignore the shaking of her paws and the blood that roared in her ears. We can't have come all this way for him to die!
Blackdove's voice made the two cats turn, and she spotted the black she-cat standing in front of the middle most tunnel. "This is the one! I can see the forest from the exit! Let's go!" With her words echoing off the rocky walls, she shot off into the tunnel. Russetstripe followed her, Emberpaw still hanging on her back. Gorseflight kept the rear, constantly looking over his shoulder. Fresh air was finding its way up Russetstripe's nostrils, and as she ran further and further, she could see the exit of the tunnel, and farther beyond it was the greenery of ThunderClan territory. Oh, thank all the gods! Russetstripe quickened her pace, and lunged out of the tunnel, landing onto the soft forest floor.
Even though the canopy of the trees still blocked most of the sunlight, it was not as smothering as the tunnels, and shafts of sunlight dappled the autumn leaves and ground beneath them. Birds chirped from the trees and mice scuttered from patches of ferns. Orange and brown leaves fell to the ground, and Russetstripe sniffed the air. She was searching for the scent of Ashenhawk, but she knew that the tabby would probably be in camp. Going in camp would be dangerous – suicidal, even. Especially if Swiftstar got there before she did.
"Let's just keep going further," Blackdove suggested. "We're sure to find some cat without running into the entire camp."
Russetstripe and Gorseflight murmured in agreement, although Russetstripe wasn't sure how long Emberpaw could hold on for. The three cats made their way through the forest, hopping over ferns and rocks and fallen sticks and searching for any scent of a ThunderClan cat. Russetstripe winced at the blazing sun, hitting its peak in the sky. Shouldn't there be a sunhigh patrol out? Or a hunting patrol? Did ThunderClan just laze about all day?
As Russetstripe walked further into the forest, she caught a glimpse of a pure white pelt, sitting in a glade a few fox-lengths away from her, picking berries from a bush. Berries? This must be ThunderClan's new medicine cat apprentice. She was announced at the Gathering when our warrior names were… I think her name is Frostpaw. Russetstripe gestured to Gorseflight, hoping the mottled tom would follow her gaze. When Gorseflight focused his gaze on Frostpaw, he nodded.
Calling out to Frostpaw would surely raise alarm. She'd have to sneak up on her, but show that she wasn't an enemy. Russetstripe took a deep breath. I can do this. The ginger she-cat crouched to the ground, prowling through the greenery of the forest and towards the glade. Frostpaw's white figure became more distinguished, and just as Russetstripe approached the outskirts of the glade, she called out, "Hello."
"Hmm?" Frostpaw didn't seem remotely surprised. She was focusing on her work, stripping berries from their branches. "Dear me, would the lovely cat behind me happen to be an intruder? I'd hate to think of what my Clanmates would do to one."
Wow, she has a mouth on her. Russetstripe bit her lip. "Okay, so I might be an intruder, and I've got a lot of things to explain. But first, I've got Emberpaw with me."
"Emberpaw?" Frostpaw turned around, her brilliant blue eyes narrowed as she saw Emberpaw laying on top of Russetstripe's back. "Dear me. I thought I'd never see him again. I must ask – why is he on your back, barely breathing and not moving? I have vested interest in learning what happened to him while he was in your camp. I'd hate to think that may cause a war."
Russetstripe snorted in irritation. "Me and some of my Clanmates were the one who got him out! And he fell unconscious while we were bringing him. I really need you to help him. Please." Russetstripe crouched down, and Frostpaw walked over to haul the tabby apprentice off her back. Blackdove and Gorseflight approached the glade, standing behind Russetstripe as Frostpaw examined the dark brown tabby.
"Mm…" Frostpaw clicked her tongue in irritation. "It would seem that little Emberpaw had nothing to drink or eat for a few days. Could I be right in that regards?"
Russetstripe lowered her head. There was no denying it. "You are."
"Isn't that awful." Frostpaw shook her head. "The rumors drifted in my ears that WindClan were cruel animals, yet you see, I like to think the best of everyone. However, it seems that I failed in this department."
"Gods…" Russetstripe clenched her teeth. "Can you please just help him?"
"So long as you refrain from screaming in my ears," Frostpaw said, her voice slippery as a snake. She turned on her back and grabbed the berries she had been picking, biting them in her jaws. She took the berry out of her jaw and trickled the juice down in Emberpaw's mouth, massaging his throat to force him to swallow it. The three WindClan cats watched with bated breaths.
"Oh, dear, you do know I will be unable to work with all of you staring at me as if you are hawks?" Frostpaw inquired. "It is not really within my work ethic, you see. Indeed, I think you are better off leaving ThunderClan territory. My Clanmates would have no problem ripping apart trespassers such as you, and I'd hate to see your heroic work trampled to nothing."
Even though Frostpaw's words had a sting in them, Russetstripe knew that she was right. She glanced over at Gorseflight and Blackdove, who nodded. Russetstripe wished she could stay to see Emberpaw recover – if he would – but staying on ThunderClan territory was too dangerous. Instead, Russetstripe touched her nose to Emberpaw's cheek, dipped her head at Frostpaw, and turned to Blackdove.
"He'll be okay," Blackdove assured her. "Frostpaw will take good care of him."
"If my father's treatment of him is what kills him, I'll never forgive myself," Russetstripe rasped to Blackdove.
"It's your father you shouldn't forgive," Gorseflight said, brushing against Russetstripe's fur. "You did the best you could. No cat can expect any more of that."
Russetstripe swallowed the lump in her throat as she walked further away from Emberpaw and Frostpaw. She had tried her best to bring Emberpaw to safety – putting her own life on the line in the process. She didn't regret it, not for a moment. But the end result was to bring Emberpaw back home to a life for him to live. Not to have him die on ThunderClan territory. Oh, StarClan, please tell me I did the right thing.