A Fork in the Path

Chapter 4

  Shrewpaw's eyes flickered open. A sweet scent drifted into his mouth. With all of his strength he had, he rose to his paws. Just, where am I? Black poles towered over him. He was trapped! Suddenly, memories came jogging back at him. The Twolegs captured me! Energy and desperation flushed through him. He started to bang himself against the poles, trying to break it. He let out a whimper after a couple of tries.
"There is no use trying." Said a voice. Shrewpaw turned to his side to see Thornclaw.
"Thornclaw! Are we in a Twolegs den?!" Shrewpaw asked, panic swept over him. After a couple of moments, Shrewpaw noticed that Thornclaw wasn't trapped by black poles. "How come you're not in a- a- a thing." Huffed Shrewpaw, poking one of the black poles with his claws.
"It's a cage. I woke up awhile ago. So the Twoleg let me out." Thornclaw said calmly, raising his paw to rub his cheek. "I have been trying to find a route to escape. No luck." Thornclaw sighed, glancing at the Twoleg. Shrewpaw raised a brow.
"How do you know it's a cage?" Shrewpaw asked, was Thornclaw hiding something?
"Well, you see..." Thornclaw paused, flicking his tail in hesitation.
"Hello, Shrewpaw. What a weird name." Snorted a voice. Shrewpaw looked behind Thornclaw to see a fully white tom.
"And you are?" Shrewpaw narrowed his eyes.
"That's Oliver. He's a kittypet that lives with these Twolegs." Thornclaw introduced the kittypet. Shrewpaw felt confusion rush over him, then panic.
"Are we going to turn into kittypets?! What about clan life-" Shrewpaw was cut off by Oliver.
"Start purring, the housefolk will hear and open the cage for you." Oliver instructed.
Shrewpaw glanced at Thornclaw. I only listen to you, Shrewpaw said in his head. Thornclaw nodded. Fear churned in Shrewpaw's belly. He barely trusted that kittypet, but if Thornclaw says so... Fine! At last, Shrewpaw rubbed himself against the bars, forcing a purr. A surprise yelp came from the Twoleg as they rushed over.
Their eyes were wide with awe.
Just let me out! Shrewpaw thought desperately, forcing another long purr. The Twoleg used their paws to swing the cage entrance open. Relief flooded through Shrewpaw. As soon as he started to pad away, the Twoleg extended a paw. Shrewpaw swiftly spun around, his fur bristled in defense. Don't touch me with your filthy paws! Shrewpaw exclaimed in his head, opening his mouth to let out a warning hiss to the Twoleg. Immediately, the Twoleg pulled away. Good... Shrewpaw thought. He padded to Thornclaw and Oliver. Oliver sighed, shaking his head.
"What's so disappointing to you?" Shrewpaw asked sharply, his ears flattened a little in annoyance.
"Don't hiss at the Twoleg. If you want to leave, you're going to need to get on their good side." Oliver meowed, curling his fluffy white tail neatly around his paws. "Plus, it's not like you guys can go anywhere."
"We are clan cats. We don't need to rely on Twolegs to leave." Thornclaw pointed out, his fur bristling a little. He was trying to keep himself from raging at the kittypet. Thornclaw tried to rise to his paws but he tumbled. A hiss escaped from his maw. "My stupid leg!" Thornclaw spat, struggling back into a sitting position.
Shame churned in Shrewpaw's belly.
"It's all my fault your leg got hit." Shrewpaw mumbled, glancing at the wounded leg. It was covered with something that looked like cobwebs.
Thornclaw stared at Shrewpaw, his gaze softening. "A warrior takes accountability for their own actions. I didn't want you to get hit, so I shielded you. You didn't drag me into the way. I did." Thornclaw purred, trying to keep Shrewpaw from blaming himself.
Relief flustered in Shrewpaw. I'm glad to have a mentor like you, Thornclaw...
"I'm right here you know?!" Oliver grumbled, his white fur fluffed out in annoyance.
Thornclaw flashed a glare at Oliver.
"How do we get out of here?" Shrewpaw asked, not wanting a fight to start. Oliver narrowed his eyes at Thornclaw before answering.
"Like I said, you need to get on the Housefolk's good side!" Oliver exclaimed. As soon as Oliver said that, the Twolegs settled down a bowl. Shrewpaw sniffed it curiously.
"Is this a moveable pool?" Shrewpaw scrunched his nose as he nudged it with his paw.
"That's a bowl. It's what we drink out of." Oliver explained, crouching to lick the water.
"We are not drinking that!" Shrewpaw exclaimed, bouncing to Thornclaw's side.
"He's right. How do you know it's not poison?" Thornclaw asked with a high tone of suspicion.
Oliver scoffed, rolling his eyes.
"Why would my Housefolk help your little boo-boo if they were going to poison you?" The kittypet reasoned, pointing to Thornclaw's leg with his tail.
Thornclaw opened his mouth to argue, but nothing came out. Shrewpaw padded over to the water, sniffing it.
"It smells odd." Shrewpaw remarked, scrunching his nose once more.
"Maybe because it's tap water, not forest water. So it only smells odd to you." Oliver pointed out before taking another lick of the water. Shrewpaw relaxed, if this kittypet is drinking it... Shrewpaw crouched down to a point where he could drink the water.
"Shrewpaw, no!" Thornclaw shoved his way past Oliver, limping over to Shrewpaw. Shrewpaw's head shot up, staring at Thornclaw. Thornclaw's shoulders tensed.
"It's just water. It's not a whole battle between life or death!" Grumbled Oliver.
Thornclaw ignored the grumpy kittypet as he crouched down to drink the water.
As soon as the water touched Thornclaw's tongue, he relaxed.
"It's fine." Thornclaw delcared, bringing Shrewpaw closer with his tail. Shrewpaw bounced over, taking a sip of the water.
As soon as Shrewpaw started drinking, the Twoleg opened an entrance. Oliver purred at the Twoleg before stalking through the narrow exit.
Energy sparked through Shrewpaw as he dashed towards it. Right when he was two tail lengths away, the door closed.
"Dang it!" He spat, scrambling away.
Thornclaw limped over to him.
"Why can't we go?" Thornclaw narrowed his eyes at the Twoleg. Oliver was on the other side.
"Start purring and going around the Twoleg's leg. I'm sure they will let you out." Oliver meowed, it was muffled a little.
Shrewpaw started up and down at the Twoleg. I'm supposed to purr at that thing?
Thornclaw limped over to the Twoleg. He looked over to his apprentice.
"I want to get to ThunderClan as soon as possible." Thornclaw grumbled as he started to rub his cheek on the Twoleg's leg. A purr rose from Thornclaw's throat. Uncertainty sparked inside of Shrewpaw. Pictures of Squirrelpaw flashed in his head. Immediately, Shrewpaw padded over to the Twoleg and started to go around their lower paws. He started to purr as he rubbed his cheek against his leg.
The Twoleg let out a purr of delight before opening the small exit once more. Quickly, Thornclaw and Shrewpaw jumped out.
Fresh air brushed Shrewpaw's head.
"Yes!" Shrewpaw exclaimed.
Thornclaw let out a real purr, limping over to the fence.
"Let's go, Shrewpaw! ThunderClan territory is close!" Thornclaw urged, as he used one of his hind-legs to haul himself up on the fence. The wounded warrior's paws slipped, but he quickly regained control. Thornclaw pulled himself up. Oliver's eyes widened as he bounced to follow Thornclaw. Interest and curiosity made Shrewpaw follow.
He saw Oliver next to Thornclaw.
"Just what are you doing?" Thornclaw asked, shuffling away. Shrewpaw jumped down from the fence. He went to his mentor's side.
Oliver hesitated before answering.
"Well, my son lives in these clans. I haven't seen him, my mate gave him away to her brother. I want to see him." Oliver explained.
Surprise shot through Shrewpaw as his eyes widened.
"Does that mean there is someone in our clan that is Oliver's son?" Shrewpaw whispered in Thornclaw's ear.
"He said in these clans, not a specific clan. So maybe they are in Windclan or something." Thornclaw shrugged, limping some more. Thornclaw let out a little whimper as he kept moving.
Shrewpaw looked at his leg. This might take longer than usual...
Suddenly, Thornclaw's eyes widened with realization. "Wait, Shrewpaw. I think you're right. I have an idea of who Oliver's kit is." Thornclaw purred, sympathy lit his gaze.
Shrewpaw tilted his head in confusion.
Who could it be?

AN:
Shrewpaw is so sigma !!