Journey into the Unknown

[Orca]

Alias calmed down slightly. The she-cats words were reassuring but the older one, the one in charge, was obviously not as forgiving. She told them that they had to stay there for days! Days away from mother and Snow! They would think they were dead! "We can't put my mother through that! Please!" Alias squealed.

Alias could sense his sister's distrust. He trusted his littermate immensley. He wouldn't lower his guard unless she did. When the leader cat tossed a mouse over to him and Pixie, he looked at it ravenously. Snow couldn't hunt very well with his legs in the condition they were in and mother had to watch him and his sister most of the time. Food was scarce often in the den.

He looked at his sister politely. He used one claw to cut the mouse directly in half and left her to decide which half, tail or head, she wanted to eat.

[†Missy†]

Dovefeather could hear the tom from where she was. "Cherrypaw, Dusk when you finish eating go out again and look for there mother. Tell her there kits are ok and will be returned to her in two or three days after they have learned there lesson." She called down to them.

Cherrypaw grabbed a thrush and had just taken a bit from it when Dovefeather called down to her. Swallowing her bite she nodded. "will do Dovefeather." Cherrypaw quickly finished the thrush than got up. "Come on Dusk lets get this done and over with."

Dusk licked his lips and stood up from where he had just finished a rabbit off. "We'll be back. We'll fallow the kits scent to find out where they came from." With that he led the way out of camp and started fallowing there scent that led them along the lake. Eventually Dusk could smell two other cats. Rising his tail he signaled for Cherrypaw to wait.

[Orca]

Mo waited for Snow to return. He often had bad luck with his most recent hunts. Despite this, the cat still stayed out late, determined to catch something for Morning and her kits. And so, Mo waited for him to come back outside the mouth of the den. She sighed impatiently. Mo had wanted to search for her kits, but if they came back when she was gone they would be very confused. And that would never be a good thing.

Suddenly, the she-cat pricked her ears. What was that? She took a deep breath but could smell nothing. If it was Snow, he would have announced himself already. She sprang to her feet with a hiss. "Who goes there?" she snarled.

[†Missy†]

Cherrypaw heard the call and lept through the bush. She could see a silver cat with black specks. "Are you morning or Snow?" She called to the cat. Alia had given them the names freely except for Pixies. She hadn't even mentioned her.

Dusk padded up to Cherrypaw had to fight if needed. "If you are your kits have trespassed on our territory. They will be returned to you in three or four days once we make sure they have learned there lesson. Do not worry we do not harm kits. They will be fed and well taken care of. But maybe some time away from there mother will make them think before they act next time." He hissed softly.

[Orca]

Mo looked at the two cats. They didn't look like much of a threat, but Mo was not about to let her guard down. "I'm Morning," she told the cats curtly. If they knew about Snow too... They must have the kits! Her suspicions were confirmed when the cats confessed that they held her kits.

Mo's demeanor went from bad to worse. "I don't know who you cats are, but if you don't give my kits back this instant, you are going to regret it!" Then, more quietly she added, "I've already lost too much." Morning's fur stood on end and she unsheathed her claws threateningly. Where was Snow? She could really use his help right now...

[†Missy†]

Dusk stayed calm, "like I said they are unharmed and will remain so. They are fed and kept warm. But they will be staying with us for a few days. We do not wish to fight only to teach your kits a lesson. They may be scared and afraid of being away from you but they are completely unharmed. We are not monsters. Where cats who hate trespassers."

Snow limped into camp dragging a rabbit. He had bean lucky this time. The rabbit was fat and big enough to feed all four of them. He couldn't wait to see there faces. Finally he reached there camp. But instead of seeing Pixie, Alias and Morning's shinning faces. He saw to strange cats and Morning looking angry. Dropping the rabbit he limped as fast as he could. "What's going on, Morning is everything all right?"

Cherrypaw had scented the new cat before she saw it. She watched as the new kit limped into the clearing. Worry filled her and she padded up to the cat. "Are you ok? What happened to you? Is there anything I can do for you?" She stopped halfway not wanting them to attack her. A softness had replaced the hardness in her eyes.

[Orca]

Morning look graciously at Snow for coming back. He had caught a fat rabbit. The little ones would be so happy... But they weren't here. Not that these cats cared. Mo felt desperation in her heart. She had heard of the evil one taking kits, training them to be ruthless... That was not going to happen to her kits, not while she was alive and breathing.

Instead of continuing to be angry, Morning turned to sadness, a pity effort. If they felt bad for her. "They took the kits, Snow," she rasped. "They took them! What will keeping them in your camp do? Just let me see them!" She cried. But when Morning saw the other cat ask Snow about his injuries, she calmed down. These couldn't be bad cats she assured herself. If they didn't know what happened then they couldn't be those horrible cats, the ones that killed Youri. The she-cat looked nice enough...

"I'm sorry," she apologized and sat down, "I know you don't mean badly. I'm just a little shocked, that's all. We've all had our scares in the past couple of months."

[†Missy†]

Snow looked at the she cat oddly this was the last thing he had expected. "A...a group of cats came through a few moons ago they broke my legs and killed Youri. But I'm fine honestly don't worry about it." Seeing Morning come down he to sat down though it hurt.

Cherrypaw looked at Dusk. "We should take him back to camp. Jayfeather recently taught me how to treat broken bones. Though it may already be to late. I might have to re-brake them." She gave a shutter at the thought. It would cause the cat allot of pain. She wanted to heal pain not cause more of it.

Dusk eyed the two cats. Before he had a chance to say anything Cherrypaw stepped forward. He wanted to call her back but stopped. The two cats saw the gentleness in her eyes and calmed down. "I guess it's always good to have a medicine cat with you," he purred softly. "And it's up to them Snow. This definitely changes our plans that's for sure." Looking closer these two looked really thin just like the kits did.

[Orca]

"If Snow goes, I go," Morning stated firmly. She wasn't going to be left here while her kits were out there. She was their mother! They needed her. But when the cat spoke of re-breaking Snow's legs, she gasped.

"Re-break? You'd have to re-break them?" The she-cat questioned. It would cause Snow a lot of pain to go through that but the alternative was him going through life with a horrid limp. Quick intense pain or a lifetime of hurt? It was Snow's decision. But if they did that, then everyone would have to live at the cats' 'camp.' Whatever that was. "Well, if you guys have medical training and wouldn't mind us going with you, could we accompany you back to your said 'camp'?"

[†Missy†]

Snow winced at the thought of the pain from re-breaking his legs. But it could heal him permanently. "I'll do it. If I am able to hunt and protect my family after wards than I'll do it no matter what the pain."

Cherrypaw nodded, "I can use herbs to dull the pain but it will still be painful for a while after words. Dusk run back and tell them I'm bringing company so they can prepare dens for them."

Dusk nodded and quickly took off away from them.

Cherrypaw turned back and smiled. "Don't worry you'll be safe at out camp. Morning you'll probably have to help with hunting or border patrols to make up for the food we use on you and your kits. If you don't know how to hunt we can teach you. Now let's go. Dusk should be about half way by now." Turning she slowly led the way back to camp. Making sure to pick the easiest routes to make it easier on Snow.

[Orca]

Morning smiled when Snow called them family. Yes, despite the fact that he wasn't blood, Snow was family. Morning would do anything for Snow and she was sure that he felt the same way for her and the kits.

The cat apparently called Dusk ran off in the direction of the camp. Yes, this would be a new chapter of her life, Mo was sure of that. Things were about to change. For the better, she hoped. "I can hunt and fight if you need me. I would love to assist you as long as we stay with you. When I hunt, someone will have to watch the kits though." She followed the she-cat in front of her. Mo was concious that the cat made an effort to take easy routes for Snow's disablity. She was coming to like this little cat more and more. Then she realized that she didn't even know her name. "What's your name?" she asked the she-cat.

[†Missy†]

Dusk ran into the camp and quickly told Dovefeather what had happened. They than both padded out to meet them in the front of the entrance leaving the kits under Mooneyes and Snowfeather's watchful gaze.

Snow grabbed the rabbit and slowly limped after the forest cat and Morning. He had a feeling it was a long ways and he was already worn out. Not to mention the rabbit was heavy. Oh well he would just have to deal with it.

Cherrypaw looked behind her and smiled. "I'm Cherrypaw I'm learning to be a medicine cat. Jayfeather is teaching me. A medicine cat must help everyone no matter what status they our. Whether they be a clan mate, from another clan, kittypet, rouge or loner. We have vowed to help all." After a long slow walk they finally reached the camp. Cherrypaw padded up to Dovefeather and lowered her head. "Dovestar, this is Morning and Snow the two Alias mentioned. I have offered to heal Snow's leg as you can tell it is badly injured."

DoveStar looked at the two cats. She winced when she saw Snow. If he had bean a clan cat that would have bean taken care of the day it happened. That cat must be in agony. "I am Dovestar leader of Thunderclan. I welcome you into out camp. Until Snow is healed and able to leave."

[Orca]

"A medicine cat?" Morning asked, thoroughly confused. Well, she'd learn the traditions of the 'clan' in due time, she was sure. It would take a while for Snow's bones to heal. Finally, they arrived at the camp, a well hiden place, obviously much better off than the fox den that she lived.

"Mother!" Alias cried and sprang forward, rushing past Dovestar to press himself to Morning's side.

"Pixie, Alias!" Morning said, relieved that her kits were okay. She looked down at both of her children with a stern expression. "You two have to be more careful! You are never going out alone again, do you understand me? You almost gave me a heart attack!"

Morning looked apolegetic to Dovestar. "I'm sorry my kits were trespassing, I specifically told them not to go into the forest. But they don't normally listen to me. Kits are kits after all." She laughed nervously. She didn't want to seem like a bad mother in front of the leader. "Thank you so much for allowing us to stay here. You have no idea what this means for Snow and my kits! I'll help you out when ever I can, I'll hunt, I'll do anything. Thank you again."

[†Missy†]

Dovestar arched an eye at Cherrypaw but figured she would be told later. "Um yes what is it exactly that you'll be staying for..." Her words where cut off as Snow walked into the camp. She could tell that both of his back legs had bean broken at one time. Nodding she quickly understood. "Yes well I know what kits can be like." She purred softly looking at Snowfeather and Mooneyes. "I am Dovestar, and do not worry your kits never would have bean harmed. I do not believe in harming kits. I may be mean or even strict but I would never harm them."

Snow dropped the rabbit down and sighed with relief. "I swear I leave you two for five minutes to do some hunting and you go and get caught in the woods. What am I going to do with you two." He purred softly to show that he was glad that they where safe and wasn't angry just worried.

Pixie ran over to her mother and pressed against her. "Sorry mom I was fallowing Alias's scent. I should have come and got you when I noticed it went into the woods." She lowered her head her tail wrapped around her paws.

Cherrypaw walked into the medicine cat's den and grabbed some of the fresh moss she had picked the other day and made a nest out of it for Snow. She than went and grabbed everything she would need to reset the leg properly. When she reached the poppy seeds she counted in her head. Two to dull the pain for to put them to sleep for a few hours. Licking her pad she picked up four poppy seeds and carried them to the rest of the herbs and shook them lose. Once done she padded out and looked at Snow. "I'm all ready for you Snow."

[Orca]

"What's happening Snow?" Alias asked, confused. Cherrypaw had gone into a little den and prepared something... What was going on? He looked up at Snow with large blue eyes. His tail twitched, something was definitely wrong.

"Thank you Dovestar, I really appreciate you and your... 'clan's' help." The word tasted foreign on Morning's tongue. "And it's quite alright Pixie. You were doing your best." The mother smiled at her kit and purred. She wasn't even mad, she was just happy that her kits were safe. But Dovestar had reassured her of the fact that they would be fine. Besides, she was a mother herself.

When Cherrypaw came over again, Morning frowned. "Now, you're going to do it now?"