A Vision of Shadows #1: The Apprentice's Quest

Chapter 7

What!? Alderpaw felt his pelt bristle with shock as the kittypet spoke. For a moment, he wasn't sure he heard right, and turned to read the expressions of the others. Their eyes were narrowed as they stared up at the fluffy white cat, and their whiskers twitched doubtfully.

Leafpool stiffened as if she has been slapped. With a fervent glance at the others, she said breathlessly, "You know, we should really get going. Thank you again for letting us through-- we're sorry that we trespassed." She herded the rest of he group together with a wave of her tail.

"Oh, it's fine!" the kittypet purred, tilting its head questioningly. "Though something seems to be the matter. What's wrong? You look as if you've seen a--"

"Maybe we'll see you later!" Leafpool was already backing away, signalling for the others to follow as she interrupted the oblivious tom. Swallowing, Alderpaw leaped to his feet and sprang forward, not looking back as he and the others dashed onto the grass. Though the kittypet's befuddled calls rang behind them, they continued to hurry away until a safe distance was between them.

At last they slowed down when the strange cat was no longer in view. "Stupid house cats!" Fernsong growled as they trudged through the stems. Alderpaw tried to catch Sparkpaw's eye, confused as to why they had ran from the harmless creature, but she was focused on the yellow tabby warrior.

Hollytuft gave a mrrow of agreement and hissed incredulously, "That mouse-brained kittypet was rambling like an elder!" She snorted. "SkyClan-- as if!"

"You didn't believe what he said?" asked Alderpaw, pelt prickling in surprise. His own mind was a turmoil of questions: there was another Clan? Now he felt his inquiries begin to fade as he heard his friends' contemptuous voices.

"Of course not!" Sparkpaw meowed, flicking her tail dismissively. "All kittypets have thistledown for brains." With a swift glance to Leafpool, she added hastily, "or at least, not the wild kind."

"You yourself have kittypet blood, too!" the medicine cat teased. But underneath her easy-going demeanor Alderpaw realized that she was tense with unease, and her fur spiked along her spine. Obviously she was not as relaxed as she let on.

Hollytuft's yowl yanked him from his thoughts. "Trees!" The black she-cat's eyes glowed, and her tail was pointing to the leafy canopy of a forest in the distance

"A place like home!" Fernsong purred, his claws tearing at the grass in excitement. Alderpaw felt the tom's enthusiasm echo inside of him as he realized they were approaching land similar to ThunderClan's territory. His throat tightened as he became conscious to how much he missed the dense woodland, the protective camp, and the familiar faces. He held back a sigh.

"Well? What are we waiting for?" Hollytuft's impatient mew sounded just before she took off like a rabbit on the moor, her plumy black tail streaming behind her. Sparkpaw followed in pursuit, screeching a joyful yip as her paws pounded against the grass. Fernsong raced beside her with his face alight with anticipation.

Alderpaw's belly twisted as he thought about the last time they had run into something without caution. He glanced to Leafpool, expecting her to scold the warriors for being so reckless, but he blinked when he saw her own brown tabby form streaking after the younger cats. He trailed behind with less energy, exhausted from the journey through Twoleg place and mind still buzzing over the kittypet's words.

The only cat who had remained with him was Sorrelstripe, whose face was contorted in pain and determination. With a flash of concern, he asked, "Are you alright?"

"Just my tail," she responded curtly, baring her fangs. "I swear by StarClan that I'll rip that badger to shreds if I ever see it again."

As she spoke, the two cats entered the tree line and both of them seemed to let out sighs of relief. The sky above them was no longer a shrouded, hazy color but bright blue, crisscrossed with weaving branches. Though the trees were taller and more spaced out than in ThunderClan territory, it was nice to hear the rustling of the leaves once more, and have the ready shelter of ferns, bracken, and brambles in the undergrowth.