Journey of a flame (Book 1 of A step in the wild direction AU series)

Chapter 6

The rain finally let up as the trio broke from the forest into the clearing of fourtrees. They climbed the rise that led to Windclan territory although it any scents of cats were faint except for that of Shadowclan who had since claimed the land as theirs. Ravenpaw twitched one ear, turning to the other two toms. His eyes showed all Firepaw needed to know about how the other apprentice was feeling.
"Don't worry. You'll be safe with Barley on the farm" Firepaw assured.
"Yeah and we won't tell Tigerclaw where you are so he won't ever find you" Graypaw piped up, swishing his tail upward and puffed up his chest. Ravenpaw dipped his head and turned to the moors ahead. He took one step out, then another before bursting into a run along the rise. Firepaw and Graypaw watched him go for a few more seconds before turning to each other. 
"Now we go find Yellowfang" The two ran down the rise to the middle of fourtrees then up once again to where they could enter Shadowclan territory. Firepaw scrunched his nose when the scent of the clan's territory hit his nose. It was completely different from how Thunderclan territory smelled. And looked too. The pine needles felt foreign under Firepaw's paws. He lowered his head to the ground to try and pick up Yellowfang's scent through the stentch of Shadowclan. He finally caught a whiff of the she-cat's scent.
"I found a trail" He told Graypaw, taking lead in following the scent across the territory. He finally caught a glimpse of Yellowfang's pelt, her nose bent to the ground like she was searching for a mouse.
"Yellowfang" Firepaw called, bursting from the little cover they had to make himself known. The older she-cat turned to them, fur bushed and tail up in the air before she let herself visibly relax when she noticed who had called to her.
"Not so loud. You might alert Brokenstar or another Shadowclan cat" she hissed. Firepaw bent his ears back, bending down to give his chest fur a couple licks while his tail tip twitched a couple times.
"What are you two youngin's doing here anyway" she stepped closer.
"Looking for you. Everyone in Thunderclan thinks you kidnapped the kits and killed Spottedleaf" Graypaw spoke, whiskers twitching.
"Is it true?" he adds, dipping his head low. Yellowfang's eyes widened.
"Spottedleaf is dead" both apprentices nodded. She ducked her head.
"Oh the poor girl. She was so young. She didn't deserve such a fate so soon" she murmered. 
"So you didn't kill her?" Yellowfang lifts her head, twitching her whiskers with a scowl.
"Of course not. I am just as much a medicine cat now as I was in Shadowclan. I would never kill a fellow medicine cat" Firepaw sighed.
"That's a relief. So what happened to the kits?" 
"I spotted Clawface leaving the camp with them and began persuing him. I would never harm a kit. Those are just lies Brokenstar made up to cover up his own actions and shift the blame to me. He even killed my newborn sisters. My poor mother was so heartbroken when she found out what had happened" Grief flashed in the medicine cat's eyes. Firepaw opens his mouth to speak but stiffens when the scent of Thunderclan hits his nose.
"A patrol is coming. Hide" he hisses. The trio dive into the brush as the patrol pass. 
"What do we do now?" Graypaw asks.
"If Shadowclan has the kits then we need to get them back"
"But what can we do. We're just two apprentices and a medicine cat" 
"I'll have you know this medicine cat was a full warrior first" she flicked her tail.
"Maybe we can convince the patrol to help us and that Yellowfang is innocent" Firepaw's ears perked up.
"Good idea Firepaw. I know of a few cats who haven't been to happy with Brokenstar's leadership that would could help" 
"So we have a plan. Come on Graypaw. Let's catch up with that patrol"