Warriors AU: Into the Wild

Chapter 22

Sandpaw and Silverpaw retraced their steps to Thunderclan territory. Both cats were bone-weary and wet through, but Sandpaw kept up the pace. The storm was beginning to move away. A Thunderclan patrol would be out soon and on Raggedpelt's trail. They had to find her first.

The sky was still dark, even though the black thunderclouds were beginning to roll away toward the horizon. Sandpaw guessed that it must be nearly sunset.

"Why don't we head straight into Shadowclan territory?" suggested Silverpaw as they ran down the steep hillside into Fourtrees.

"We need to pick up Raggedpelt's scent first," Sandpaw explained. "I just hope it won't lead to the Shadowclan camp."

Silverpaw glanced sideways at his friend, but didn't reply.

They headed back over the stream, into Thunderclan territory. There was no scent of Raggedpelt until they crossed into the oak woods close to the camp.

Now that the rain had finally stopped, the scents around them were beginning to return. Sandpaw hoped that the rain had not washed away Raggedpelt's trail completely. He stopped and brushed at a fern with the tip of his nose, and recognized the familiar smell. Raggedpelt's fear-scent prickled in his nostrils. "She came this way!" he meowed.

He pushed his way through the wet undergrowth. Silverpaw followed. The rain was easing, and the thunder was fading into the distance. Time was running out. Sandpaw pushed on faster.

To his dismay, he realized Raggedpelt's scent was indeed leading them straight to Shadowclan territory. His heart sank. Did this mean Goldenflower's accusations were true? Sandpaw began to hope that each new smell would 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 dirty water. The two cats hung back from the edge of the wide, gray track until there was a gap. Then they raced across the path and into Shadowclan territory.

The scent markers that lined the border made Sandpaw's paws tingle.

Silverpaw halted and looked around nervously. "I always thought I'd have a few more warriors with me when I finally entered Shadowclan territory," he confessed.

"Not afraid, are you?" Sandpaw murmured.

"Aren't you? My mother warned me about the stench of Shadowclan many times."

"My mother never taught me such things," Sandpaw replied. But for the first time he was relieved that his fur was so wet that it clung to his body—Silverpaw might not notice the way it was bristling fearfully along his spine.

The two cats prowled onward, alert to every sight and sound. Silverpaw was on the lookout for Shadowclan patrols, and Sandpaw for the Thunderclan party he knew must come soon.

Raggedpelt's scent trail led them steadily into the heart of Shadowclan's hunting grounds. The woods here were gloomy, the undergrowth crowded with nettles and brambles.

"I can't smell her," complained Silverpaw. "It's too wet."

"It's there," Sandpaw assured him.

"I can smell that though," Silverpaw spat suddenly.

"What?" Sandpaw hissed. He stopped, alarmed.

"Kitscent. There's kit blood here!"

Sandpaw sniffed again, seeking out the smell of Thunderclan offspring. "I smell it too," he agreed. "And something else!" He flicked his tail down sharply, warning Silverpaw to keep quiet. Then, silently, he signaled with his whiskers toward a blackened ash tree up ahead.