Swiftrise led Smokewind through Thunderclan territory, his nose high and his ears wide as he listened, watched, and wandered. Smokewind was eagerly behind him, it was obvious the other tom was excited to stretch his legs and do something other than sit around Thunderclan's camp waiting for a battle.
Swiftrise could admit to himself he was just as restless to flex his claws, but his main priority was to rescue Longleaf and Darkear. The two Shadowclan toms were wandering the territory with little to no direction. Swiftrise was relying on mostly scent by now, trotting through the forest with impatience, his pelt beginning to grow lighter at the prospect of action.
Smokewind froze and swatted Swiftrise's flank, making his friend pause and turn to look at him, his ears searching every direction.
"What is it?" He asked quietly.
"Someone's coming..." Smokewind said, but his worried look turned to tease.
"Its that she-cat you like so much." He said with a smirk. Swiftrise narrowed his eyes at him in friendly warning. So Cheetahstep was nearby?
"Maybe we could ask her for help. She could take us to the border." Smokewind suggested, his large tail twitching as he waited for a response. Swiftrise didn't hesitate.
"Yeah, lets go ask her." He agreed, only further fueling Smokewind's grin. They began to follow the distant scent of the she-cat, the ferns and other bushes folding away from the two toms as they approached.
Suddenly a golden and black spotted pelt launched from it's hiding place in a bush ahead and tackled Smokewind. The black tom was thrown back. He kicked her off incase she tried to attack him with her claws. Cheetahstep arose quickly, her mouth staying in a snarl for a short moment. Once she realized the unrecognized scent of the toms was Swiftrise and Smokewind her tail curled in embarrassment, making Swiftrise smile in his own mind at how cute that made her look.
He held the thought behind his teeth as he approached her.
"Sorry. Swiftrise, what are you two doing out here?" Cheetahstep asked curiously, though her voice held nervousness in it. Swiftrise glanced at Smokewind and sighed.
"I and Smokewind are going to the Shadowclan camp to rescue Longleaf and Darkear..." The tom admitted. Cheetahstep tilted her head at him as she spoke.
"Just the two of you? Don't you think thats a bit reckless..?" She asked. Swiftrise was at pause for words as he realized the worry in her words, it made him wonder if this rushed idea of his was good or not. There were only two of them, how could they achieve a rescue?
Smokewind rolled his eyes playfully as he realized Swiftrise was becoming empty mouthed, so he took it upon himself to address the question.
"Of course it is reckless. But it is more risky if we have more warriors with us. Maybe you'd like to come along to make sure Swiftrise doesn't get himself into trouble?" Smokewind offered, a hint of tease in his mischevious eyes. Cheetahstep eyed him as he knew she was drawing back with a shy reaction. Swiftrise had been brought out of his thoughts by the comment and glared at the tom from the corner of his eye.
"What? It wouldn't hurt to have her join us." Smokewind pointed out snappily, "And we need to make up our minds now. I want to get this mission done before dawn." Smokewind said. Swiftrise nodded and looked to Cheetahstep who nodded as well.
"Then lets go." Cheetahstep said, turning and heading toward the Shadowclan and Thunderclan border.
"We're not far." She added. Smokewind smiled.
"I told you we were going the right direction." The black tom whispered. Swiftrise sent him a look only to be responded to with a shrug.
The trio traveled further to the edge of Thunderclan's domain until they came face to face with Shadowclan's border. Cheetahstep stepped aside as she looked at Swiftrise expectantly.
"Before we cross, I want to know your plan." Cheetahstep said. Swiftrise's ear twitched as yet again she made him realize something so simple.
"We're here for Longleaf and Darkear. Longleaf is our medicine cat, she didn't come with us when we ran out of Shadowclan. She was being held prisoner by Thistlestar. Darkear is an elder, too old to have escaped with us." Swiftrise explained. She nodded slowly, glancing to the inside of their old territory.
"We'll need to find a way to sneak into the camp to find Longleaf. After that Darkear will need help to escape if they're too old to keep up normally." Cheetahstep decided. The toms nodded in agreement.
"You know, Swiftrise, I think there is a way to get into the medicine cat den. I've seen a few holes in the top. We could dig it open and get in to talk to Longleaf if she is in there." Smokewind suggested. Swiftrise gave a moments thought before nodding.
"To get to Darkear we'll have to rush to her den. Longleaf would have to be first. The entry to the elders den is too open." Swiftrise pointed out. Cheetahstep sat on the outside of their conversation, unfamiliar with their descriptions. To be honest, all she could find herself focusing on was the strong scent of pine trying to invade her senses from across the border, like a feeling of being drawn within it's shadows.
"Cheetahstep." Swiftrise's familiar voice brought her back to her normal senses. Her head turned to face him as he explained their plan.
First the trio carefully made their way through Shadowclan's forest. They drove closer to the camp, curving around its rim until they reached the back of the medicine cat den. Just as Smokewind said there was a weak poimnt in the room of the den. Swiftrise took initiative, clawing apart the den's roof and entering quietly. He spotted a figure asleep in a moss nest. He signaled with his tail for his comrades to join him. Smokewind fell in rather ungracefully, Cheetahstep nearly landing on top of him.
They spotted the figure and Swiftrise went over and nudged it. The cat stirred, wide green eyes opened to Swiftrise. A look of utter disbelief filled them.
"Swiftrise? What-?" Longleaf spotted Smokewind and an unknown she-cat. The medicine cat was lost for words. Smokewind grinned at her.
"Glad to see you're doing well Longleaf." The tom greeted. Longleaf could only nod.
"We've come to rescue you and Darkear. Darkear is staying in the elder's den still?" Swiftrise asked. Longleaf's gaze grew somber.
"No." She said weakly. Swiftrise feared what she meant, his eyes demanding an answer. Her eyes watched his with just as much emotion.
"When you all left.. Thistlestar..." Longleaf began but her voice broke off, as if she couldn't muster the strength to say it. Swiftrise paused and nodded stiffly.
"Atleast you're still alive. The clan has a right to know. We'll tell them together." Swiftrise told the medicine cat as he walked back toward the hole in the roof. He climbed through and out. Cheetahstep and Smokewind watched him, both of them feeling sympathy for the tom. They helped Longleaf climb her way out as they followed Swiftrise.
As they escaped the rim of the Shadowclan camp, Cheetahstep noticed that Swiftrise's despair towards the loss of Darkear was far more severe then Smokewind's. His brown pelt seemed less filled with optimism and pride, his head low and shoulders unenthusiastic. Longleaf followed closely after him as Cheetahstep and Smokewind covered the back. She glanced toward Smokewind. His head was low as well, but he seemed to have more motivation in his strides.
"Was Swiftrise close to Darkear?" Cheetahstep asked, the question slipping out purely on curiousity. Smokewind looked over towards her, his whisker's twitching for a moment before he answered.
"She was his mom's mother. Swiftrise's mother was Sootwhisker. She had rejected Swiftrise after two of his siblings died. Darkear would stay in the nursery to keep him warm, and to convince Sootwhisker to let him have her milk. When he could eat fresh kill Darkear moved him into the elders den with her..." Smokewind explained. Cheetahstep looked over to the tom ahead of them, his large package of suffering now easy to understand.
"And she was executed for trying to escape?" Cheetahstep asked. Smokewind nodded.
"He'll pull through. He always does." Smokewind reassured her with a light smile on his face. Cheetahstep returned one as they entered Thunderclan's territory.