"Okay so when we do get there, then what?" Flintpaw asked Marigold. They had been walking for quite a while now, they stopped a couple times for food and to make sure Badgerpaw's wound hadn't worsened but still they had made a lot of progress.
"I uh kinda didn't think that far," Marigold said awkwardly.
"You don't have a plan??"
"Not exactly," Marigold shrugged. "But look, even once we get to the shelter it's going to be difficult just getting inside without any Twolegs questioning. I'm not even positive this'll work."
"So you're saying we walked all this way for nothing?"
"I didn't say that," Marigold rolled her eyes. "Okay here's the thing about this shelters, the animals are locked up. There's these keys that can unlock them but there's no way we'll be able to use them. I think our best bet is to meet your sister and tell her to just book it next time they open it."
"This better work," Flintpaw mumbled.
Flintpaw's mind had not shut off in the time they had been walking. Constant worries about Badgerpaw, Ivypaw, and Bluebellblossom plagued her thoughts. It was then that she realized she hadn't actually heard from Bluebellblossom in a while. It didn't take her long to piece together that they were just that far away from the clans. The Dark Forest, StarClan, their ancestors couldn't reach them anymore. It was an uncomfortable thought and it made Flintpaw uneasy. She liked the thought of her ancestors looking over her, it made her feel less alone. But now, all she could think about was how alone they were. If one of them had died right now would they still be able to join StarClan? Flintpaw tried not to think about that and focus on the task at hand.
"We're here," Marigold stopped in her tracks then dashed into a nearby bush and ordered the two clan cats to follow her. "Let's go over the plan, we'll sneak in once a Twoleg opens that door, we look around for your sister, do not split up, tell your sister the plan and then.."
She trailed off, looking expectantly at the other two, hoping they'd finish the plan.
"I guess then we just hide somewhere and wait?" Badgerpaw shrugged.
"No that won't work," Marigold shook her head. "There's no place to hide in there, we'll be caught."
"Then what if we wait out here," Flintpaw suggested. "We'll just tell Ivypaw the way and she can come to us."
The three cats exchanged a look then Marigold said, "Alright, looks like that's our only option."
They nodded to each other, agreeing on the plan and Marigold turned to face the door again. They waited until a Twoleg had opened it before dashing through so they wouldn't be noticed. Marigold was right, there really was no place for a cat to hide. The shelter was very open, Flintpaw knew it was obvious they didn't belong but thankfully no Twolegs had noticed them yet. Marigold motioned with her tail for then to follow her down a hallway.
"This is where they keep the cats," Marigold explained once they were out of the open area. Now they were passing a long hallway with cages on each side. Inside the cages were cats, so many cats. It wasn't a pretty sight at all.
"Ivypaw?" Flintpaw called but not too loudly. "Ivypaw, are you here?"
"Who's there?" Flintpaw heard a voice mew somewhere down the hall so she quickened her pace.
"Ivypaw?? It's me, Flintpaw," She hurried down the hall until she stood right in front of her sister.
"Flintpaw?" Ivypaw squinted her eyes. "What are you doing here?"
"We're here to save you!" Marigold jumped in. "It's ok, you can thank me later."
"Ignore her," Flintpaw rolled her eyes. "Listen we have this plan, when they come to feed you and they open this door we need you to run as fast as you can down this hall until you reach the open area then run through the door, you got that? We'll be waiting for you on the other side."
