I yawned as I awoke. I was warm, for some reason. I looked up to see Bella laying somewhat curled around me and I smiled. It would be nice to have a friend who knew her way around the twolegplace.

Bella stirred when I awoke. She blinked open her eyes and yawned. "Good morning." She greeted cheerfully.

"Morning." I said and stood up, stretching. "So, what's the plan for today?" I asked.

"Well, does your paw feel better?"

I walked around a bit, using my paw as much as I could and nodded. "I don't feel a thing."

Bella grinned. "Great, then this will work perfectly."

"How's the plan gonna go?" I asked.

"So when the twoleg comes in, you'll walk up to him and show him your paw is better. Then he'll take the bandage off and I'll bring you to the cat flap." Bella said.

"There was a cat flap this whole time and you didn't tell me?" I asked.

"Well, your paw wasn't fully healed yet. You should've seen how it looked, all puffy and swollen. No wonder the twoleg wanted to heal it." Bella responded.

I was about to respond when I heard somewhat familiar thumps. The twoleg opened the entrance to the den and walked in. I took a deep breath and jumped down from the ledge. I walked around the twoleg, meowing.

The twoleg seemed pleased and lifted me up. I tried not to squirm as it unwrapped the "bandage" from my paw. After examining my paw, he set me down. I forced myself to purr and the twoleg smiled.

Bella meowed and wound around the twoleg's legs. It nodded and opened the den for her. I immediately raced through, wanting to be out as soon as possible. Bella was right behind me and I let her lead me to the cat flap.

Once I was outside, I cried with joy. "I'm back outside!" Then I stopped and looked around. "It would be better though, if I weren't in this twolegplace."

"Shadeclan doesn't live in a twolegplace?" Bella asked.

I shook my head. "We live in a pine forest. Do you know of any around here?"

Bella shook her head. "But I know who might. Come on, follow me!" She said before scampering away between the twoleg dens.

I dashed after her, trying to keep up. How could a cat move so fast in a place with so many obstacles? There were fences and chains and twoleg dens and even a dog, though it was locked up.

I was panting hard when we slowed and I couldn't keep track of how we got here. There were too many twists and turns.

"Where are we?" I asked, looking around.

We appeared to be in a darkened "alley" is what Bella called it. It seemed completely void of life.

"There's a small group of cats that live here, and I know their leader. He knows the twolegplace in and out, including the area surrounding it. If your clan is nearby, he will know." Bella said. "Just be careful. His cats aren't the nicest to outsiders."

I nodded and cautiously crept behind Bella, into the alley. I smelled a strong scent of cat, but didn't see anyone. Where were they? Didn't they have any guards or patrols to protect them?

We came to a silver-crossed fence and came to a halt. I narrowed my eyes to see two cats standing guard. It was too dark to see what they looked like, though.

"State your business here." The one on the left said.

"We're here to see Razor." Bella said calmly.

"For what reason?" The cat on the right asked.

"Well that's between me and him, Scorch."

Scorch narrowed his eyes but the other one, a she-cat, stopped him with her tail. "Peaceful or aggressive?" She asked.

"Peaceful, of course. You know me, Jade. I just need some help." Bella addressed the she-cat.

Jade nodded. "Very well, but what are you doing with a kit?"

I narrowed my eyes but Bella flicked the tip of her tail. "She's actually the one who needs help."

Jade nodded and pushed her way underneath the fence. Bella did the same with me behind her. Scorch followed behind us.

No one said a word as we walked through the darkened alley. I looked up to see old twoleg pelts. Between those I could see the sky which was darkened by storm clouds. It looked as though rain would fall any heartbeat.

We stopped when we reached the end of the alley.

"Razor, we request your presence." Jade said and dipped her head.

I watched in surprise as I saw a short-furred, slick dark brown tabby tom with eyes black as the night. With the name Razor, I was expecting the cat to have multiple scars but there wasn't a single one on him. He seemed pretty fit though, as if he could even take Lionstar in a fight. The build of a tough leader.

"Report." Razor simply said.

"Bella brought a kit who needs help." Jade said.

Razor narrowed his eyes at Bella. "You know very well I don't have time for kits." He said, a hint of malice in his voice.

Bella nodded. "Yes Razor, but she needs to get home. You see, she lives somewhere called Shadeclan and we were wondering if you knew where they lived. They live in a pine forest, she says."

"Can the kit speak?" Razor asked, addressing me for the first time.

I nodded without even flinching. "My name's Lavenderpaw. I was taken from my clan mates by a twoleg who brought me here."

Razor tilted his head. "A clan, you say?"

"Yes, Shadeclan. There are other clans nearby who are Cloudclan, Rabbitclan, and Lakeclan. Have you heard of them?" I asked hopefully.

Razor didn't answer right away, instead he flicked his tail. "No, I haven't. Sorry, kit."

I narrowed my eyes. "I am not a kit. No disrespect, but in Shadeclan I'm old enough to be an apprentice, training to be a warrior."

Scorch hissed at me when I talked back to the leader. Jade eyed me and Bella shook her head.

Razor flicked his tail. "How old are you, then? How long have you been training?"

"I am six and a half moons old, and I've been training for a half moon." I responded.

Razor narrowed his eyes. "Then you are still considered a kit. Have you ever survived on your own? Have you even had your first battle yet?"

I looked at him boldly, not even reacting to his change of tone. "No, I have not. Which is why I need your help to get home."

Razor leaned back. "Very well. I will send one of my cats with you and Bella around the perimeter of the twolegplace. Don't leave until I return." The rogue leader said before disappearing into the alley.

I let out a breath of air and smiled at Bella. "See? I got us out of that one, didn't I?"

Bella smiled wistfully at me and nodded. I wondered if she was thinking about her own kits. Did they even live in this twolegplace?

Razor returned with a brown ginger she-cat with a white tail-tip, chest, and paws.

"This is Amber. She will travel with you around the outside of twolegplace and then you're on your own." Razor said. "You should leave now, before it gets dark."

Amber lead the way out of the alley without a word and Bella and I followed her. I glanced up at Bella but she just shook her head.

Once we were out of the alley, Bella relaxed which caused me to relax. I looked around us as we walked. I tried to memorize the route but I couldn't wrap my head around all the twists and turns.

So instead my mind drifted back to Shadeclan. I tried not to think about home, but I couldn't help it. What would Lionstar think? Would they sit vigil for her, thinking she was dead? Worry crossed her face as she thought of her former home. I missed everyone so dearly. Was her family grieving? And Pinepaw . . .

I didn't notice when we got to the edge of twolegplace until we stopped and I looked around. The twoleg dens were just behind us, and there was a large field stretching in front of us. I squinted my eyes and could barely see trees on the other side of it. I even saw huge mounds of earth which seemed to surround us.

"I've never even seen those high rocks before." I said and sighed.

"They're called mountains" Amber spoke for the first time.

My face saddened and Bella comfortingly rested her tail on me, as she had the night before.

"Will I ever find my way back to Shadeclan?" I asked.

Bella and Amber looked at each other and Bella looked back down at me. "You just have to have hope." She comforted.

I nodded and looked out towards the mountains. "You're right. I know I'll find my way back to them. Even if I have to go searching myself." I started onto the field but Bella stopped me.

"Wait a minute, you won't survive a quarter-moon out there by yourself." Bella said and Amber nodded.

"I have to, Bella. I have to return to them." I looked at the cream and white she-cat desperately.

"What I meant was, you're not going on a long journey alone. I'm coming with you." Bella said.

I tilted my head. "But don't you belong in the twolegplace? You're a kittypet! No offense."

Bella smiled. "Yes, but that was only to help out other cats. Now I need to help you with your journey. I let my kits down by not trying harder to keep them, I won't let you down, too."

I looked in her eyes and saw something there. Determination? Sorrow? Pain? I could tell no one was going to change her mind, so I nodded.

"I could use a friend out here, anyway. Thank you." I smiled gratefully.

Bella smiled and turned to Amber. "You can tell Razor we left twolegplace."

Amber nodded. "Good luck on your journey." She said before turning to pad back into twolegplace.

"Are we ready?" Bella asked.

I nodded. "Let's go."

We started towards the great mountains, determination coursing through us. I didn't care what it took, I was going to return to Shadeclan. Bella gave me what I needed most for this journey besides a companion.

Hope.

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//Word count: 1762//