Caɾղaցe Ɱօօղ ~𝙰 𝚆𝚊𝚛𝚛𝚒𝚘𝚛𝚜 𝙵𝚊𝚗𝚏𝚒𝚌

14 🌙

Crescentpaw and Tinypaw raced across the short-cropped grass, zooming into a yard adjacent to theirs and fleeing underneath the first enclosed area they saw. In front of the neighboring house was a thick line of bushes. As they plunged beneath them deep green leaves scattered onto their neck and backs.

"We need to get out of this area and farther from that Twoleg before she comes looking for us. We aren't safe yet," Crescentpaw gasped. Her high adrenaline was causing her to breathe faster than needed. Alarm bells were ringing in the apprentice's head, knowing that Twolegplace was a treacherous place to wander in.

Tinypaw was shivering and seemingly too nervous to respond. Her eyes were staring at the spindly bush roots before she finally looked up.

"How will we survive the Twolegplace without our claws? Or Riverclan's wetlands after that... Crescentpaw, we-"

"We'll have to discuss it later." She leaned forward to peer outside of the bush, even though it had only been a couple of heartbeats. With her heart pounding and blood rushing, Crescentpaw was ready to flee to the next cluster of bushes.

"We don't even know where to go!" Tinypaw hissed impatiently. "Stop trying to act and think for a second first."

But Crescentpaw wasn't listening. Instead, her eyes widened as she saw two lithe figures stream across the lawn, taking the same path they had just taken. They sliced through the grass like floating feathers, covering the ground in just a few strides. Light reflected off of their golden pelts, turning it yellow and blinding the apprentices in turn.

When Cheetah and Caracal reached them, they leaped on either side of the tabby-and-white she-cat, into the thick brush beneath the Twoleg nest's overhanging windowsills. The smooth white panels of the house were just behind the bush-line, visible through the overhanging leaves. Tinypaw was backed against it with the soft black fur of her haunches flattened on one side.

"That's where we come in," Caracal announced placidly. "I'll do my best to get you out of the town."

She heard us from all the way over there. We need to keep our mews quieter.

Crescentpaw felt a bit skeptical, and exceedingly impatient at first. But she listened while Caracal told her plan.

"If we stuck to the fence-tops it would be safer. But since you don't have your claws we'll have to cross yards with cover like this. Underneath porches, through shrubbery and weed-clumps. Hopefully we smell the dogs outside before we see them." Tinypaw stiffened at the she-cats whispery mew.

"We'll look for kittypet scent as soon as we've left this area, and I'll ask them for advice in getting out of this Twolegplace." Carcal's golden eyes shimmered, framed by her shadowed, spotted-brown face.

But this plan isn't fool-proof. We could be very far away from the clans, if the twoleg usually picks up colony cats rather than clan cats. Even though she was aware of the dangers Crescentpaw came to the conclusion that it might be their only chance.

"We didn't know you planned to follow us," Tinypaw sounded annoyed, to which her kin flicked her tail at her in warning. But- of course she didn't see it. Or ignored it.

"Uh-sorry. It's nice of you to help us though. We have no idea how to reach the clans from here," Crescentpaw tried to save face.

Caracal nodded, her sleek pelt shaded with deep green beneath the bush's thick foilage. "You young cats deserve to get back to your clan. I'll help you along as far as I can, and follow the trail of kittypet advice back." Crescentpaw blinked at her with warmth and thanks.

"And of course it's nice to see the sun," the grand-cat said brazenly, turning her neck to peer out beneath the bush. The mowed lawns were bathed in strong sunlight, and a heavy warmth swamped the air beyond.

Crescentpaw silently agreed. Even though all of the grass was confined to Twoleg yards it was a lot better being outside than in that shadowy nest. The few trees they could see were neatly clipped or confined with short-reaching branches. Barely a leaf stirred in the air.

"This is so fun, wow! I've never even been free outside before! Let alone with my new... friends..." Cheetah began with a gleeful mew, but it trailed off into a whisper as a quivering Twoleg voice cried out beyond their hideout.

"Quick, around the house and to the back of the yard. She's looking for us!"

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It took half the day to get a comfortable distance away from the old woman's nest. After that the cats searched for a place that they could rest and collect their bearings. They found an old raccoon hole beneath a shed and unwound, then carried on looking for kittypet scent. Along the way Caracal told them about new words that she had heard other kittypets use frequently; like "road," "cars," and "trash cans." She said that Twoleg nests were traditionally called "houses," and kittypet food was "kibble" or "wet food." The apprentice wondered if these were learned Twoleg words, and when she asked Caracal nodded yes.

Tinypaw was completely uninterested in this banter. She trotted along quietly, being her usual shyer self.

It was near-sundown when the group found their first trace of cat scent. By this time Crescentpaw's pads were sore, and Tinypaw was downright annoyed at Cheetah's endless enthusiasm.

"It smells like a tom went this way! I wonder if he has any kittypet food? I don't want to seem rude, but... I'm hungry already!"

Crescentpaw flicked her gaze towards the plump young she-cat uncertainly. She definitely sounded like she could never adjust to the harsh Leaf-Bares of clan life. Not that that had ever been an option, though.

When they came across the kittypet, Crescentpaw was surprised. It was a skinny elder who was sunning himself across his fence-top. She had expected a young, fat cat.

Then she considered them lucky that he was so old. Some other kittypets- younger ones, might've defended their tiny grass patch territories.

Crescentpaw and Tinypaw described the lake that they were looking for, and regretfully the tom shook his shaggy-furred head no. His collar bell tinkled as his whiskers swayed.

"I have no idea about a place like that, but the neighbor's housecat might know. She mentioned a place like that once, when I asked her where she'd came from." The tom leaned over the edge of the fence, teetering like he was about to jump down onto their side.

"She should still be outside at this time of day. But should stay and chat for a second. I've got some kibble inside to share." He lifted his long, feathery whiskers with eager delight.

"Sorry thanks but gotta go!" Crescentpaw lifted her fluffy tail and bounded away, through the short grass and around to the other side of the lawn.

"The other neighbor! Gosh, young cats have no patience- I swear." She heard him muttering as she swiveled in the opposite direction, picking up speed and racing past the other three cats.

Tinypaw, Cheetah and Caracal followed. They kept pace just a few strides behind her. As they crossed the fenceless yards they were swamped with a she-cat's strange, partly-kittypet scent. The afternoon light burned down upon their shoulders with radiating warmth.

Tinypaw halted.

"Wait- Crescentpaw, don't we know that scent? It smells like..."

The larger sister halted and lifted her muzzle, parting her jaws and allowing the smell to better swathe her scent glands. As she inhaled, she could detect a familiar whiff amongst the kittypet's odor.

It was unmistakably the faint scent of Riverclan.

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Which Riverclan cat do you think it is? If you don't know a guess, that's okay!