Hide away

Chapter two

Smokeypaw cautiously led the four kits out of camp, amber eyes darting around constantly. Suddenly she froze, signalling for the kits to do the same. Oatlark and Shiverspeck were clearly in deep conversation, 'guarding' the camp. It would be impossible to sneak past them.

Smokeypaw herded them into a bush, hunching down to the kits' level.

"Ugh, what now?!" cried Sparkkit quietly. "Hm, guess we'll have to head back... such a shame," Fallenkit shook her head, pretending to be disappointed. Smokeypaw glanced around, then smirked. "Well, maybe not. We can probably sneak out through the Dirtplace tunnel."

The tall she-cat lowered to the ground and led the kits into the deep, dark hole. Wolfkit wrinkled his nose. "Ew, this is disgusting!" His quiet voice echoed down the tunnel. "Shh!" Whispered Smokeypaw.

They surfaced on the other side and began through the forest. The trees swayed as silhouettes against the star-dotted sky. Fallenkit kept herself glued to Smokeypaw, not wanting to get lost. "Wow!" Cried Sparkkit in awe. "The sky is so much prettier here!"

"You wanna see a pretty sky? Follow me." Purred Smokeypaw mischievously. They walked for a while until they came to an end to the trees. All along the rest of the forest, the trees came to an abrupt stop at the edge of a cliff. But where the five cats emerged was a rocky outcrop jutting out over the open water of a lake that seemed to stretch on forever. Flowers dotted the soft green grass and fireflies buzzed contentedly. 

All four kits' jaws dropped in awe. They sat there for a while when Smokeypaw noticed how low the moon was in the sky. "We should head back, if the sun rises, cats'll start to notice we're gone."

They were about halfway home when they heard voices.

"Hey, do you smell that?"

"I'm too tired to smell anything. We've been out all night!"

Smokeypaw hissed. "Hide!" It was too late. Two cats came bursting through the bushes. Ravenjaw and Auburnsky. Smokeypaw gulped and began talking. "Uhm, hey- Auburnsky, R-Ravenjaw. F-fancy meeting you here, eh?"

Auburnsky stared at her, eyes betraying nothing.

Smokeypaw continued. "W-we were just on our way t-to the dirtplace, and I guess we got a bit-"

Fallenkit stepped forward, dropping the flowers nobody noticed she'd been holding. "It's my fault. I-it was my idea. To sneak out. And to drag Smokeypaw into this. Please, don't get them in trouble..."

Auburnsky looked at her in disbelief, but Ravenjaw spoke up. "Tsk. You are all to blame, but I'm surprised to see you of all cats out here, Fallenkit. I thought you were better than this."

Fallenkit looked to the ground. Ravenjaw continued, "And Smokeypaw, really? I expect more from you." Smokeypaw scuffed the ground with her paw. "I'm sorry, Ravenjaw," She mumbled dejectedly. Auburnsky found her voice and said, "We will be taking you all back to camp. Grab your flowers, Fallenkit."

As the small grey kit ducked down to grab the bundle of flowers, a huge shape swooped down towards her, plucking her off the ground. It let out a hearty screech, and Auburnsky yelled, "Owl!" Ravenjaw tried leaping at the owl, and Auburnsky sheltered Shallowkit, Wolfkit and Sparkkit. 

Smokeypaw stood, petrified. It was only Fallenkit's feeble scream for help that jolted her back to reality. She lunged at a tree, scaling it with ease and leaping to the next, then the next, after the owl.

When she was just close enough, she leapt into the open air, tackling the owl. It gave a protesting screech and the two tussled in the air until Smokeypaw bit down, snapping its neck. They all went thundering to the ground.

Fallenkit was unconscious, deep gashes carved down her side from the owl's talons. Smokeypaw just laid on the ground, panting heavily. She hadn't fared so well herself. Her face was slashed up and one ear was tattered. A deep scratch marred her flank and the rest of her body was peppered in small scratches and massive bruises from her impact with the ground.

Auburnsky raced up to Fallenkit. "She's breathing... just barely." She announced hoarsely. She picked up the small, nearly lifeless kit and motioned for the other kits to follow her.

Behind them, Ravenjaw helped Smokeypaw up and let her lean on his shoulder. "Thank StarClan for your SkyClan roots. If it weren't for you, Fallenkit would be gone."

Smokeypaw let out a heaving sigh. "She might still be. She'd still be awake and wouldn't have had to hit the ground like that if I could've acted earlier. I shouldn't have frozen up. If she dies now, it's my fault.

Ravenjaw looked her in the eyes. "Hey, nobody can blame you. Not many would've been brave enough to jump from tree to tree like that at all."

Smokeypaw sighed. If she had more to say, she kept it to herself.

____________________________________

Fallenkit woke up in the medicine den. She could hardly move, pelt sticky with some sort of herb concoction. Smokeypaw was sleeping next to her.

"Um... M-marigoldsplash?"

The small calico turned around from where she was sorting herbs and grinned. "Oh, thank StarClan! We weren't sure you would make it..."

Fallenkit shook. "How long have I been here?" She asked weakly.

Marigoldsplash winced. Nectarpaw appeared from outside, saying, "Three days."

Fallenkit gasped. "B-but... I'm still injured! How can I become an apprentice?"

Marigoldsplash sighed sadly. "It will have to be postponed, but you can still be a warrior. Only one of the scratches is likely to leave a scar."

Fallenkit blinked. "How did I even get this injured? I remember going to get th-those flowers... and then th-the owl... it picked me up... and then... and then... its talons... th-they scratched me... and then... I f-fell... and then..." Fallenkit's words broke up into choked sobs. Tears ran down her cheeks and Marigoldsplash curled around her, wrapping her tail around the kit.

"Hey. You-you've been through something traumatic. You d-don't need to talk about it." Marigoldsplash licked the kit on the ear as Fallenkit buried her face in her paws.

And she fell asleep like that, tears drying on her cheeks, chin resting on a bundle of colourful flowers.

Yay! Actually 1000+ words! I'm so proud lol

So I have a real outline for this story and so it's probably gonna stay updated.

I went back and made it so Minnowcloud and Marbledove didn't speak Spanish- I was super tired yesterday and looking back it was a really dumb idea.