The sun came up after a while of trekking around the territory. Applepaw didn't know where she was going, but she wanted it to be far away from the camp. She could hardly remember the territory, but she looked for Outlook Rock. From there she would leave. Leave WindClan territory, leave the forest..
***
The sun was high in the sky, and every paw step Applepaw took, she felt weary and like she'd pass out any second. Looking around for an area to rest, she located a small bush. This place stunk really bad, she thought there was a trace of cat, but she ignored it. Settling down underneath the bush, she closed her eyes. Applepaw drifted off into an uneasy sleep.
A cold wind pushed the sleep away and she woke. There were cats. Lots of them. Applepaw realized that she saw Heatherstar, Cedarstar, Pinestar and Hailstar. These were the leaders of the four Clans. She saw cats gathered everywhere. Oh no. She thought, I'm at Fourtrees!
Slowly standing up, she backed away a tiny bit and scampered away, ignoring the thorns tugging at her fur as she ran through a thornbush. She kept running and running until she bowled into another cat who began snarling. It looked like a patrol.
The cat stood up with hackles raised and claws unsheathed, the rest of the patrol did the same except for one cat. A tortioseshell she-cat. She slowly padded over to Applepaw with gentle eyes. Applepaw started whimpering, "Please don't hurt me.."
The cat who she bowled into snarled, "Get away from it Dappletail. It might be an ambush from another Clan." He started growling, and jumped into an attack crouch.
Dappletail rolled her eyes, "Come on Stormtail, she's a harmless kit who just strayed into our territory, it smells like she's from WindClan, we should just return-" Dappletail was cut off by Applepaw's squeal.
"Please don't take me back there! I don't want to! I'm an apprentice of only 3 days, please just let me stay here!" Applepaw pleaded. Dappletail rested her tail on the apprentice before backing off.
"Let's take her to camp and wait for Pinestar to come back." Dappletail growled. She then pushed Applepaw forward giving her the hint to walk straight. Isn't she nice. Thought Applepaw.
Applepaw looked around at the trees that loomed above her, "This is ThunderClan.. Territory?" She gulped and started shaking. At first she was excited to leave the camp, to find a new land that she wouldn't be bossed around and wouldn't have to witness her siblings in pain, but she's not too keen on that idea now.
Stormtail spoke, "Yes, this is ThunderClan's territory." He mewed with a gentler voice. Urging her forward a bit more before they stumbled into a large clearing. The only cats there turned their heads to see a small orange kit walk into their camp. Applepaw heard small growls and murmurs.
***
After waiting a while more, Pinestar and his warriors emerged into the camp from the entrance. Pinestar intently glared at Applepaw, "What is this kit doing here? Her scent tells me she's from WindClan."
Applepaw slowly nodded, while Dappletail spoke up, "She's told us she doesn't want to go home to her Clan. We want to return her, she's just a kit-" Dappletail was yet again cut off by Applepaw's growl, "I'm Applepaw, an apprentice, not a kit. And I don't need you to escort me home, I'd like you to take me in here. Or I'll just go and never come back to the Clans again."
Pinestar stared at her a second before nodding slowly, "Very well, Applepaw." Applepaw's heart lifted as she realized she found her new home. Pinestar's gaze turned cold, "Leave ThunderClan territory, we do not care where you go. Just, leave." He flicked his tail and turned to his den.
