NO ESCAPE. THE RUNAWAY

CHAPTER 1

AdderFur limped across the clearing towards the nursery to give them fresh bedding. Before she reached the nursery BlackBird hopped down from the rock he was perching on.

"AdderFur!" BlackBird smiled.

"Hey BlackBird!" AdderFur purred as BlackBird nuzzled his muzzle into AdderFur's shoulder.

"How's the medicine den...?" BlackBird smiled.

"Good as ever...still busy...I'm just glad Leaf-Bare's almost over..." AdderFur smiled. AntlerPounce and PoppySnout appeared from the nursery with PetuniaKit, TurtleKit, ReedKit and SneezeKit following behind. TurtleKit and ReedKit were playing around and pouncing on each other. PetuniaKit was finding flowers in the dirt while SneezeKit was hiding behind AntlerPounce.

"SneezeKit why don't you go play with PetuniaKit...?" AntlerPounce suggested with a smile. SneezeKit shook his head with a sigh. AntlerPounce shrugged.

"He'll be right...I'm sure he's just shy..." PoppySnout smiled.

"BlackBird! Have you seen Honeybriar's kits...?" AdderFur smiled.

"Oh yes they're beautiful..." PoppySnout smiled.
"I will come with AdderFur! You need to change the moss bedding anyway." BlackBird smiled. AdderFur and BlackBird peered through the den as Honeybrair was awake looking after her kits. MumbleStripe came right after a hunting patrol with his apprentice DawnPaw, he padded into the nursery with a mouse clamped in his jaws. Honeybriar smiled as he curled beside Honeybriar and rasped his tongue along her head, the mouse dropped at her paws.

"Your kits are beautiful Honeybriar..." BlackBird smiled as the five kit heads popped up to look at their father MumbleStripe, and BlackBird and AdderFur. AdderFur went to exchange the bedding with a smile while BlackBird was watching her work.

"Thank you, BlackBird..." Honeybrair smiled.

CrowStar padded up the rock as moonhigh began to rise. Most of everyone was already gathered in the clearing as CrowStar spoke.

"May all those old enough to watch the sunset and evening rise, gather around the boulder for a clan meeting!" CrowStar called, everyone else gathered, including the kits and elders.

"WolfSpider...has grown to have become more older...and has wished to join the elders in that favor..." CrowStar announced. The Muscular tabby she-cat stepped forward to look up at CrowStar.

"Therefore...I will grant you to join the elders due to how much you've served AmythestClan and DuskClan..." CrowStar smiled. The she-cat bowed her head and went to join FlareShine and BlackTalon.

"I'd also like to announce CherryPaw..." The leader turned his attention to the small Cream-Colored she-cat sitting beside WoodenSnarl, her mentor. The she-cat stepped forward with surprise.

"You've come a long way in your training young one...therefore I may grant you the ways of a warrior...Will you take the role of warrior in your own paws and use it to uphold the warrior code even if you mean to take your last breath...?" CrowStar asked. The young she-cat nodded aggressively as she stood.

"I'll serve my clan until the day I perish..." CherryPaw smiled. CrowStar smiled.

"From this day forward this she-cat will henceforth be known as...CherryFlame..." CrowStar announced. The apprentices stood forward shouting the new warrior's name.

"CherryFlame!" GoosePaw yowled. CrowStar stepped down off the rock to rasp over the she-cats head. CherryFlame nuzzled her muzzle in CrowStar's shoulder. CrowStar stepped back onto the rock as CherryFlame sat back with her mother PoppySnout and her siblings, TurtleKit, PetuniaKit and ReedKit.

"GoosePaw..." CrowStar began as the tall, calcio tom stepped forward. "You've also come a long way...and have proven you're ready to join the warrior den...will you GoosePaw take this role in your own paws and use it to uphold the warrior code and serve your clan even if it means taking your last breath...?" CrowStar asked, looking down on GoosePaw. GoosePaw nodded as he stood, his paws tingling with excitement.

"I will CrowStar..." GoosePaw purred. CrowStar breathed before standing.

"From this day forward GoosePaw will henceforth be known as GooseChatter!" CrowStar announced.

"GooseChatter, GooseChatter!" LynxKit boasted. Everyone cheered the warrior's new name.

"Finally, FrostedPaw...you've also come a long way...and I trust that you will use the warrior code to serve you can well...from this day forward this apprentice will henceforth be known as FrostedBite!" CrowStar jumped off the rock to rasp his tongue over the two new warriors.

"As usual...these new warriors will take vigil tonight...Clan dismissed" CrowStar jumped off the rock towards his den as BlackBird set up morning dawn patrols and evening patrols for tomorrow.