Lightpaw emerged from the healer's den shaken, but the second she stepped out into the open she found herself swept up by the other apprentices. An electric energy hung in the air, one that should have swept her up. Yet, all she felt was fear, rolling off of her in waves.

    "DarkClan, gather around," Dawnstar crowed from the Speaking Rock and, numbly, Lightpaw felt her paw moving towards the centre of the camp. Beside her Stormpaw practically vibrated with excitement.

    Morningfire. The name took up every corner of her mind. Her own father had not recognized her in his feverish state, he'd thought she was someone else. And now, judging from the gathered Clan, she might never see him again if the greencough grew any worse.

    "We're gathered today to see off our four apprentices on their final assessment," Dawnstar said somewhere off in the distance, and Lightpaw vaguely realized that she might never see Yewpaw again either.

    "Our sources in Twolegplace have reported sightings of rebel activity and we are wary of an attack," the DarkClan leader continued. She looked absolutely imperious sitting atop the Speaking Rock, even with Spiderthorn missing from her side. In fact, she looked more royal than Lightpaw had ever seen her.

    Dawnstar leapt down from the rock, beckoning the apprentices closer. Beetlepaw hissed, startling a dazed Lightpaw forward. She felt Dawnstar's eyes travel over her, taking in her frazzled state.

    "Stormpaw and Rainpaw," the leader said, redirecting her gaze to the two grey apprentices. "You will travel to the Crowfood Place within the Twolegplace. It lies over a small bridge and is made up of mountains of crowfood. There, you will find the Junkyard Gang and it is your mission to convince them to join us."

    The two grey apprentices exchanged incredulous looks but accepted their mission with a nod.

    The unease in Lightpaw's stomach grew; only she and Beetlepaw were left. If the other two had been paired...

    "Beetlepaw, Lightpaw. You are to infiltrate the ranks of the alley cats, who are hiding the rebels. Your assessment will depend on the information you are able to gather, and how many you are able to kill."

    Lightpaw's blood turned cold. She looked over at Beetlepaw, hoping to see the same reaction, but saw only blood lust in her littermate's eyes, a determination to do anything it took to become a full member of DarkClan.

    "You will set out at nightfall," Dawnstar decided. Above, the sun had painted the sky in hues of marigold and lavender; nightfall was not far off.

    Lightpaw's first instinct was to run, as fast and far away as her legs would allow. But to what end? DarkClan would hunt her down, too, and end her like they wanted to end the rebels.

    "Lightpaw?" She looked up to meet worried copper eyes.

    "I brought you your travelling herbs," Reedpaw explained. "They might taste a little bitter, I'd recommend sharing a mouse with Beetlepaw before you head out to get rid of the taste. They'll help you travel further without needing to stop to hunt."

    Lightpaw nodded mutely, dismissing the tom. He did not move.

    "Are you alright?" he asked.

    Of everyone in DarkClan, Reedpaw would have understood her hesitation.

    "It's just so surreal," Lightpaw said instead.

    Reedpaw twitched his whiskers. "You'll be back in no time," he assured. "I'll be here waiting for you." He touched his nose to hers and she breathed him in, willing herself to remember the scent of lavender and mint. Some semblance of relief filled Lightpaw and she flicked her tail over his shoulder as he moved off to deliver travelling herbs to Stormpaw. She lapped the herbs up quickly, scrunching her nose up at the bitter taste. She would definitely take Reedpaw up on the advice about the mouse.

    As she headed to the freshkill pile, Flamestrike ran past her, looking incredibly distracted.

    "Flamestrike, any tips for my assessment?" she asked, stopping him in his tracks.

    "Don't get killed," he purred, though his eyes continued darting around the camp. "Keep your wits about you, some of those rebels might be able to see right through you. Make sure you and your partner know what the other is doing at all times - you want your stories to line up."

    Lightpaw snorted. "That last one will be impossible."

    Flamestrike stilled, looking straight at her. Finally, with something like regret in his eyes, he said, "Try to work together. It may feel impossible but put your differences aside. If something goes wrong this could be the last time you see each other, and you will forever be left wondering how things might have been had you tried harder."

    When the tom blinked the far-off look was gone and his eyes again darted distractedly around the camp. "Good luck. I need to find Reedpaw; Dapplefrost is having pains in her stomach and I'm worried."

    "Goodbye," Lightpaw said as her mentor dashed away, flicking his tail farewell. Watching him go, Lightpaw vowed to use everything he had taught her to get through her assessment alive.

    The sun was a half-circle on the horizon, the sky falling into a deep blue. Soon, she would have only Beetlepaw for company and a long road ahead - a lot of time to think about her parting with Spiderthorn. She padded over to the abandoned log den at the edge of camp and leapt atop it to await nightfall.

    "Strategizing already?" Shademask's voice held a note of amusement as he joined her moments later.

    Lightpaw inclined her head. "Not exactly. Just waiting."

    "Your assessment will be a lot more dangerous than mine ever was," he said. "Are you looking forward to it or dreading it?"

    The she-cat glanced sideways at him, wondering if his question were a trap. Shademask had never given her any reason not to trust him but his very name – mask – made her pause.

    "I'm looking forward to using my skills," she replied carefully. "But dreading the thought that I may not make it back." She let her eyes wander over the cats of DarkClan. Skunknose was attempting to organize a midnight patrol amongst the mingling group and she caught sight of Reedpaw weaving his way over to Stormpaw and Rainpaw to deliver the last of the travelling herbs.

    "That's the thought that worries me too," Shademask said, his eyes on her. She met them with her own for a brief moment before she heard Beetlepaw calling her name impatiently from the camp entrance.

    "I – better go," Lightpaw breathed out.

    Shademask nodded. "You'll be missed on border patrols."

    When Lightpaw glanced back one last time from the camp entrance, his lone figure remained atop the abandoned log.

    //

    "I'm hungry," Beetlepaw groaned as they padded through the fields. They had travelled throughout the night to reach the Twolegplace and, upon arriving at its wooden walls, decided to travel west along it. If they found unfamiliar scents they would climb over and follow. Dawn had come and gone and the sun hung high above; they'd had no luck so far.

    "Then go hunt," Lightpaw replied, her own stomach grumbling. So far, the two had remained relatively silent, leaving Lightpaw to her whirling thoughts.

    Beetlepaw rolled her eyes. "In this snow?" She had a point, as the snow drifts reached their shoulders in some places on the open plains. They were higher near the walls of Twolegplace and sloped down before rising again. The two she-cats found the shallowest paths where possible but had climbed through drifts twice their size already.

    Lightpaw sighed. "Let's cross the wall. Maybe there will be prey there."

    Beetlepaw scrunched up her nose.

    "Do you have a better idea?" Lightpaw asked her exasperatedly.

    After some consideration Beetlepaw shook her head. In one quick bound she was atop the fence, Lightpaw right behind her. Her muscles ached as she pulled herself up.

    "I never knew it looked like this from up here," Beetlepaw breathed, gazing out over Twolegplace. Twoleg dens rose up before them, grey and brown giants. Black Thunderpaths weaved around them, monsters shining like beetles as they roared along them.

    Lightpaw turned to look at where they'd come from. A thin path, snaking through the snow-covered fields, back to the just visible points of High Rocks.

    "You coming?" Beetlepaw's voice came from below.

    Try to work together.

    "Coming." Together, they took their first steps into Twolegplace.

    //

    They took refuge in an alley the first night, making a meal of the rats they found there. The second they slept in a small grove between Twoleg dens where an unfortunate mouse became their meal. The third night they went hungry, sleeping in a tree they found behind a Twoleg den.

    The further they travelled, the more the air smelled of smoke and any hope Lightpaw had of finding other cats waned. By the fourth night her paws ached from walking along the hard paths of Twolegplace and her heart still had not slowed after their mad dash to get away from a Twoleg.

    "You take first watch tonight," Beetlepaw said. "I'm exhausted."

    "I'm tired too, you know," Lightpaw replied, feeling a twang of irritation.

    "But you're not exhausted," Beetlepaw pointed out, yawning wide to prove her point.

    Lightpaw's claws pricked but she kept them sheathed. "We have to find a place to rest first. We need to hunt too."

    "I'll hunt if you take first watch," Beetlepaw offered.

    "I'd rather hunt on my own, thanks." Her tone was clipped.

    Beetlepaw shrugged. "Sounds like you'll be going hungry again."

    The jab at her lack of stealth made Lightpaw angry. "And you'll soon be short a partner. Wonder how much of a DarkClan hero you'll be when you return without anything."

    "Oh, so you think you're better off without me?" The black she-cat narrowed her eyes. "Because I know for a fact I'd be better off without you."

    "Fine." Lightpaw increased her speed, jumping the nearest fence. She landed in a small Twoleg greenspace, empty save for a curious scent. The she-cat sniffed the air, trying to place the smell.

    Suddenly, a yapping broke the air and a bundle of white fur rushed towards her. With a yowl, Lightpaw retreated.

    "Welcome back," Beetlepaw said drily.

    Lightpaw glared.

    "He's harmless, you know." Both she-cats jumped, startled by the voice. It came from the fence Lightpaw had just jumped, upon which sat a fat brown tabby. "Just a little pup."

    "Charlie," Lightpaw said, recognizing him. Beetlepaw's fur was sticking out, making her look twice her size.

    "You know this kittypet." The disgust in Beetlepaw's voice was evident.

    Charlie's lip curled, own fur rising.

    "Don't mind her," Lightpaw interjected. "She's usually prickly."

    The kittypet stopped baring his fangs but his fur did not lie flat. "You look lost."

    Lightpaw chanced a sideways glance at Beetlepaw. As much as her littermate would hate asking the help of a kittypet, Charlie could provide them with freshkill and shelter.

    "Our Clan cast us out," Lightpaw said, shuffling her paws. "We were seen as too weak for refusing to take part in a kill and they threatened to kill us too. We managed to escape."

    Charlie looked them over. "You don't look injured at all." He looked at Beetlepaw distrustingly.

    The cream and blue apprentice nodded, thinking fast. "We... escaped in the night. Our guard had fallen asleep. We thought they might follow our scent so we've been wandering through Twolegplace for the last three nights trying to lose them."

    "You still smell of Clan, but the Twolegplace has done quite a bit of work," Charlie acknowledged, leaping down from the fence. He kept his distance from Beetlepaw. "Are you looking to stay here?" His gaze bored into them and Lightpaw shifted uncomfortably. Beetlepaw stayed her ground.

    "Perhaps," Lightpaw said. "For now, just shelter and freshkill would be great." As if on cue, their stomachs growled.

    Charlie glanced at Beetlepaw one last time and Lightpaw mentally willed her littermate to stop her aggressive act. To her surprise, the she-cat stopped bristling, though her claws remained unsheathed.

    "Well, I'm sure there's no harm in having you stay with us for a night," Charlie said. "Come this way."

    The she-cats gladly followed him through the maze of wooden walls.

// Thank goodness for roadtrips, they make writing so much easier! So here's a new chapter for you guys.