FireGray AU

Chapter 2

Firepaw and Graypaw retraced their steps to ThunderClan territory. Both cats were bone-weary and wetthrough, but Firepaw kept up the pace. The storm was beginning to move away. A ThunderClan patrol wouldbe out soon and on Yellowfang's trail. They had to find her first.The sky was still dark, even though the black thunderclouds were beginning to roll away toward thehorizon. Firepaw guessed that it must be nearly sunset.

"Why don't we head straight into ShadowClan territory?" suggested Graypaw as they ran down thesteep hillside into Fourtrees."We need to pick up Yellowfang's scent first," Firepaw explained. "I just hope it won't lead to theShadowClan camp."Graypaw glanced sideways at his friend, but didn't reply.They headed back over the stream, into ThunderClan territory. There was no scent of Yellowfang untilthey crossed into the oak woods close to the camp.Now that the rain had finally stopped, the scents around them were beginning to return.

Firepaw hopedthat the rain had not washed away Yellowfang's trail completely. He stopped and brushed at a fern with thetip of his nose, and recognized the familiar smell. Yellowfang's fear-scent prickled in his nostrils. "She camethis way!" he meowed.He pushed his way through the wet undergrowth. Graypaw followed. The rain was easing, and thethunder was fading into the distance. Time was running out. Firepaw pushed on faster.To his dismay, he realized Yellowfang's scent was indeed leading them straight to ShadowClan territory.His heart sank. Did this mean Tigerclaw's accusations were true?

Firepaw began to hope that each new smellwould take them in a different direction, but the trail was unfaltering.They arrived at the Thunderpath and halted. Several monsters roared by, throwing up fountains of dirtywater. The two cats hung back from the edge of the wide, gray track until there was a gap. Then they racedacross the path and into ShadowClan territory.The scent markers that lined the border made Firepaw's paws tingle.Graypaw halted and looked around nervously.

"I always thought I'd have a few more warriors with mewhen I finally entered ShadowClan territory," he confessed."Not afraid, are you?" Firepaw murmured."Aren't you? My mother warned me about the stench of ShadowClan many times.""My mother never taught me such things," Firepaw replied. But for the first time he was relieved thathis fur was so wet that it clung to his body—Graypaw might not notice the way it was bristling fearfully alonghis spine.

The two cats prowled onward, alert to every sight and sound. Graypaw was on the lookout forShadowClan patrols, and Firepaw for the ThunderClan party he knew must come soon.Yellowfang's scent-trail led them steadily into the heart of ShadowClan's hunting grounds. The woodshere were gloomy, the undergrowth crowded with nettles and brambles."I can't smell her," complained Graypaw. "It's too wet.""It's there," Firepaw assured him."I can smell that though," Graypaw spat suddenly.

"What?" Firepaw hissed. He stopped, alarmed."Kitscent. There's kit blood here!"Firepaw sniffed again, seeking out the smell of ThunderClan offspring. "I smell it too," he agreed. "Andsomething else!" He flicked his tail down sharply, warning Graypaw to keep quiet. Then, silently, he signaledwith his whiskers toward a blackened ash tree up ahead.Graypaw twitched his ears questioningly. Firepaw gave him a tiny nod. Yellowfang was shelteringbehind the wide, split trunk.Instinctively the two cats separated, each moving toward the tree, one on either side. They crept overthe soft forest floor, using all the tricks of basic training, stepping lightly, keeping their bodies low.

Then they leaped.Yellowfang yowled with surprise as the two cats landed beside her and pinned her to the ground. Shestruggled free, spitting, and backed into a sheltered hollow at the base of the trunk. Firepaw and Graypawmoved forward, blocking her way out."I knew ThunderClan would blame me!" she hissed, her eyes flashing with all her old hostility."Where are the kits?" Firepaw demanded."We can smell their blood!" spat Graypaw. "Have you harmed them?""I don't have them," snarled Yellowfang angrily. "I've come to find them and take them back. I stoppedbecause I smelled blood too.