Duskelle slipped out of the place she slept. She was going to escape and look for River tonight. The creatures seemed to still be awake. Mumbling sounds were coming from the food place. She neared the front opening, heart beating loudly. 

      She could catch snippets of speech that carried through the walls. "Orfanuj hum...adopshun...give up...Duskelle...No!...huv too.."

      They seemed to be having a disagreement. Well, whatever they were talking about, she didn't need to care about it. The matters of the creatures did not affect her. She was a little bit curious though. They had said, "Duskelle" quite clearly. She fiddled with the round thing that opened the wood that covered the opening. Her clumsy, weird paws were not helpful. She finally got it open and stepped out. Suddenly, a loud creak sounded from the board Duskelle had just stepped on, and the voices stopped. Duskelle froze, holding her breath. After what seemed like eternity, they started talking again. She let out a quiet breath of relief and continued moving. No boards creaked this time. Once she got out of the house, she ran towards the forest.

---

Duskelle sat up and stretched her front legs. It was already morning. She had gotten quite a ways through the forest last night, and had decided to sleep. Of course, she felt guilty and terrible about sleeping contentedly while River was probably off being tortured somewhere, but her body had insisted and she had drifted off underneath a giant oak tree. 

     She stood up on her hind legs, then changed her mind and fell back onto four legs. It was more comfortable and anyways, she didn't have to walk around on two legs because the creatures weren't around to make her do what they wanted anymore. She opened her mouth, trying to catch any wisps of scent. All types of odors filled her senses, but one in particular made Duskelle gasp. River had definitely been through here. That was for sure. Willing or forced, Duskelle couldn't tell. 

    Suddenly, a new, very  fresh scent invaded her nose. It was cat. Forest cat. A rustling noise came from some bushes to Duskelle's right. A tabby head poked up, but it was quickly pulled down. 

     Tentatively, Duskelle called out, "Hello! Are you the forest cats? I'm looking for my friend, River. She has mottled green blue eyes and gray tabby fur." As an afterthought, she added, "I look like the creatures, but I'm nothing like them! I can understand cats!" She winced after, feeling as if she shouldn't have yelled quite so loud.

     The bushes rustled again, and three cats stepped out. One seemed fairly young, the one who had poked its head out of the bush. He was a gray marble tabby coated with elaborate swirls of black, and he stared at Duskelle with twinkling eyes, the color so dark that she was unable to make it out. The cat next to him seemed a little older. The she-cat was black, with a creamy white undercoat. She had bright green, cautious eyes that looked like they were normally warm. The final cat, and obviously the highest ranking, was completely snowy white, with piercing blue eyes. She strode forward, with only the slightest of hesitation. 

    "Who are you, and why can you talk to us?" she asked, her voice strong and clear. 

     "I'm Duskelle Waterlee," Duskelle answered. "So about my friend-" 

     "I think she's talking about Riverdawn!" blurted out the young tom. Both older cats shot him a glare, and he melted back into the shadows, an embarrassed look on his face. 

     The white cat turned back to Duskelle. "I'm Frostmist, deputy of RiverClan. I think that this situation should be taken to our leader, " she said. 

   Then she turned to the other she-cat, her voice taking on a commanding tone. "Nightstone, let's go." 

   The cat, Nightstone, turned around and trotted forward. "Come on, Streampaw!" she called, not turning back. The younger tom bounded forward. Frostmist gestured with her tail for Duskelle to follow the two felines. She walked forward, with the snowy white she-cat right behind her. Duskelle could tell. River was here! She was with these cats, and she was safe! And even better, they were taking her right to River!