Moonlight shone through the trees as Badgerpaw trekked through the forest. All he could hear was the sound of birds chirping, no nagging from his mentor or mother. I'm free! He was going to find a new home and live the rest of his life without worrying about nagging or always feeling like things are his fault. But where am I going to live? He wondered. He was padding past the Twolegplace when he heard cats wailing, he immediately raced to the noise to help. The wails came from inside one of the Twoleg dens, he jumped over the wooden fence and crept behind a bush until he got to the door.
"Help us! We've been locked in here for moons!" he heard a Tom call from above him. He looked up to see two cats staring down at him, a grey and white Tom-the cat who called-and a brown Tom.
Badgerpaw looked around, thinking of a way to get them out. Then he saw a Twoleg pick up the two cats and put them in a small den as they screeched, the Twoleg opened the invisible wall. When the Twoleg left, he jumped in and searched for the small den. What am I doing? He spotted it on the floor a few fox-lengths away,, he raced for it.
"I'll find a way to get you out," he promised.
He bit down on the metal things sticking out of the tiny den and the door flew open. He was surprised how fast he was able to open it, but he didn't hesitate, he raced for the opening and called for the two cats to follow him. Once they were a safe distance from the Twoleg den, they stopped to catch their breath.
"How'd you get in there?" he demanded.
"We were looking for a new home and a Twoleg kit found the bush we were sleeping in," the grey and white Tom explained, "We couldn't escape, even if we woke up before they caught us."
Even though Badgerpaw thought it was mouse-brained to get caught by Twolegs, he understood, "I'm Badgerpaw."
"A warrior apprentice?" the brown cat meowed, "You look like a rogue."
"I left my clan today." Badgerpaw told him.
"Oh. We had to-"
"Well I'm Stripefur," the grey and white cat cut him off, "and this is Treeheart."
"What were you saying Treeheartr?" Badgerpaw prompted.
Stripefur sighed as he let Treeheart finish, "We had to run from our camp and find a new home," he explained, "foxes attacked us and killed most of us."
"We are the only survivors," Stripefur added.
"I don't think you are," Badgerpaw told them, "Do you know a cat named Nightfall?"
"Nightfall's alive?" Stripefur gasped.
Badgerpaw nodded and Treeheart meowed, "You have to take us to him!"
"I can't go back there!"
"Please!" They both begged, "He was our best friend."
Badgerpaw sighed, "Fine-let's go."
He retraced his paw-steps until they made it back to the camp. He reluctantly stepped through the thorn barrier.
"Badgerpaw!"
His littermates raced over to him, "You came back!" they yowled.
He moved around them and raced for Hollystar's den, "Hollystar! Is Nightfall here?"
"You came back!" came the reply, then Hollystar came over and started covering her son with licks. She stopped when Badgerpaw pulled away, "You're not staying, are you?"
He was surprised by the wave of emotion and disappointment that came from her, and it almost knocked him off his paws. He tried his best to ignore it as he explained why he was there, "So, is Nightfall here?"
"He's out hunting."
They went out to the clearing, and Hollystar welcomed Stripefur and Treeheart.
"Stripefur? Treeheart?" came a shocked voice from the entrance of the camp.
"Nightfall!" they ran over to meet him.
"I should go now," he meowed to Hollystar. Her tail drooped as she dipped her head, and he headed for the camp entrance. Why is she so sad to see me go? He thought that only his littermates would miss him. As he reached the edge of LightningClan territory, he started to get homesick. But I don't belong here! He kept trying to tell himself, then he remembered the look on Hollystar's face when he told her he wouldn't be staying. Do I belong here? He didn't wait for a sign from StarClan, he raced back to camp.
"Hollystar! I'm staying!"
