I shook my head as Pinepaw approached me. Some sort of evilness had come over him and he prowled towards me.

"Pinepaw, this isn't you!" I called, trying to snap him out of it.

"You're right Lavenderpaw, it isn't." The apprentice said.

I watched in horror as Pinepaw's reddish brown fur melted away to reveal lighter, orange tabby fur. More scars appeared on the cat and I froze when I saw two leaf green eyes glaring at me.

"N-no . . . please . . ." I whispered and slowly backed away.

"You can never escape me, Lavenderpaw. No matter what, I will always find you." The orange tabby said with a cruel grin.

"No . . . I-I will find a way . . ." I said, trying to convince myself not to be afraid.

The scarred tom laughed. "Yeah? What's a weak apprentice like you going to do? You're what, six, seven moons? You're no match against an experienced warrior, let alone one like me. Besides, there's no one who can help you . . ."

The tom laughed again and began to fade. My eyes widened and I ran at him, only to stumble through mist. My eyes darted around, trying to find the ginger tom.

I jolted up with a start, breathing heavily. I looked around warily until I realized I was awake. Bella and Flick were sleeping soundly between the cluster of bushes. We had stopped to sleep at sunset so we could get an earlier start. I just didn't think I would awake this early.

I slowly and carefully made my way out of the cluster of bushes. Once I was out, I just started walking. I didn't know where I was going, but I just knew I had to clear my head.

I hadn't been walking far when I reached a small opening in the trees. I stopped there and looked up to gaze at the stars. I sighed and sat down.

Why did I have to get kidnapped by that stupid twoleg? Why couldn't I have fought it off? Why did Starclan allow me to be taken from my clan?

I felt a tear slowly roll down my face. After that one, they came quicker until I was crying silently. I felt like I couldn't control anything in my life. I felt so alone, too; like I could just disappear and no one would care. Bella was just trying to protect me on my journey because she thought it would be too dangerous for me. Flick . . . well, I didn't know anything about Flick. Shadeclan . . . had they forgotten about me? It's been nearly a moon since I was taken by that twoleg. Did they think I was dead?

I bent my head, my tears soaking into the grass. Then, I heard pawsteps. I wiped away my tears with my tail and turned around to face Flick.

"Oh . . . hey, Flick." I said and turned around to examine the stars. I could never cry in peace, could I?

The sandy tom nodded and came over to sit beside me. He looked up at the stars as well and we sat in silence for a few moments. I was actually glad that I was able to just sit in silence with someone.

"Rough night?" Flick asked, suddenly breaking the silence.

I nodded. "Nightmare." I answered.

Flick looked at me and seemed to be thinking about something. I kept my eyes on the stars, ignoring his gaze.

"What about you?" I asked him, not drawing my eyes from the stars.

"I'm just used to rising before the sun is up." The sandy tom answered, still looking me over.

I nodded and gazed at the stars, not knowing what to say to that. Was Starclan still able to see me? Were they still watching over me?

We sat there until the sky began to lighten. This actually felt kind of peaceful; sitting here with someone, not even feeling the need to make conversation. Just a peaceful silence, but I wasn't alone. I sighed when I realized the stars were already winking away.

"We should probably hunt now. Bella will be waking soon and I don't want her to get worried." I said and turned away. I thought I saw Flick smile out of the corner of my eye but I couldn't be sure.

"Good idea." Flick said, and got up to follow me.

We were able to catch a shrew, two mice, and a finch. The prey seemed to be emerging for the last days of leaf-fall. I looked up to see the trees were mostly bare besides a few leaves. It was then I knew I wasn't going to return to Shadeclan before leaf-bare.

When we got back to the cluster of bushes, Bella was looking around worriedly until she spotted us. I watched as relief smoothed out her features and she padded over to meet us part-way.

"Where were you guys?" She asked.

I set down my mouse and shrew. "I woke up before dawn and wanted to watch the stars, Flick joined me. When the sun began to rise then we hunted so we could continue on." I told the cream she-cat.

Bella nodded and smiled. "Okay, let's eat."

After we finished the prey, we moved the bones underneath the bushes. We didn't want the remnants to attract any predators.

As we walked, my mind was filled with thoughts. Why did Flick keep looking at me? Why was he even travelling with us? Was he a loner? Was he a former kittypet? Was he a rogue? Was the sandy tom a part of a rogue group?

I was so lost in my thoughts, Bella had to stop me. I shook my head and looked in front of me to see I was standing at the edge of a cliff.

My eyes widened and I backed away, following the two cats again. I needed to be more aware of my surroundings, I had to be more focused.

We walked until sunhigh, when we stopped to rest and hunt. By now, we seemed to be about halfway down the mountain we had climbed the day before. I smiled, we were making progress.

The light of the sun was beginning to fade when we approached near the bottom of the mountain. We started looking for a place to stop for the night when we came upon a twolegplace. I wanted nothing to do with it but Bella insisted we should enter it. Flick then compromised and said we could stay the night near it but not exactly inside it. Bella and I agreed to that and we looked for the right spot.

I found an abandoned fox den on the side of the mountain and called the other two over.

"This is the perfect place to sleep tonight." I said and walked inside.

"Are you sure the fox won't return?" Bella asked warily, stopping outside the den.

I nodded. "The scent is definitely stale, probably a quarter-moon old. Besides, why would a fox leave their den for that long just to come back?"

Flick followed me inside the den and Bella went inside more slowly. I looked around to see the den was the perfect size for the three of them to sleep for the night.

"What about food?" Bella asked.

Flick yawned and lay down. "We can hunt in the morning, we'll be fine."

I nodded and lay down. "It's fine, Bella. There's nothing to worry about."

Bella still looked worried as she lay down but soon fell asleep.

I closed my eyes and relaxed. I thought I had drifted off into a peaceful sleep but opened my eyes to realize I was still awake. Great, first I wake up early and now I can't fall asleep? What was wrong with my sleeping schedule?

I pushed myself to my paws, careful not to disturb Bella or Flick, and made my way out of the den.

I sat down and gazed up at the sky as it darkened. My eyes quickly adjusted to the dark. I watched the sky until the moon was almost at its highest peak. It was then I decided it was time to get some sleep.

I turned around to almost walk right into Flick. My eyes widened in surprise and I backed up.

"Flick! What are you doing awake?" I asked the sandy tom.

"I could ask you the same thing." Flick answered.

I shrugged. "Couldn't sleep." I said.

Flick nodded and looked up at the stars. "The stars are a great way to clear your mind. I've always loved the night."

I looked at him and tilted my head. "Why are you travelling with us?" I asked.

Flick looked at me. "Didn't I tell you before? To protect you and Bella. I don't think a house cat and a young cat like you can survive out here alone."

I gave him a look. "You know that's not what I meant. I know there's more to your reason than that." I said. "Are you running away or something?"

Flick looked back up at the stars. "Something like that."

I nodded, knowing that was the best answer I was going to get at the moment. I looked up at the stars as well, and we sat there in silence.

My eyes were just starting to droop when I heard something. My ears pricked and I turned my head in the direction of the sound. Flick did as well and I froze when a scent hit my nose. An unmistakable scent.

Fox.

Thank you to everyone who is reading this and supporting it.

I am posting a chapter for this every Wednesday and Saturday instead of just Saturday since I'm writing this too fast.

Also, if you would like to make fan art for this then I'll make a fan art page.

Any comments on Flick, Bella, or even Lavenderpaw? What about the mysterious scarred orange cat?

See you Saturday!

//Word count: 1589//