"Are you sure that's all you need?"Wonderstar frowned at the small group of cats Spiderpaw had said he'd take.

"Yes. This is all I need."Spiderpaw nodded, staring at his mentor with a steady gaze.

Spiderpaw's rescue patrol consisted of Snowdropfall, Forestpaw and Mildewpaw.

Only four cats, going to save Ripplestrike.

"Fine,"Wonderstar rubbed their muzzle against Spiderpaw's head. "Be careful."

"I will,"Spiderpaw meowed, puffing out his chest. "I'll keep everyone safe!"

"Remember,"They said sternly. "You are the leader of the patrol, but you are not higher in rank then any of these cats.You listen to Snowdropfall if she suggests something.

And when you find Ripplestrike, if she tells you to do something, you will do it."

"Yes, Wonderstar."Spiderpaw dipped his head, hurrying over to his patrol.

Excitement surged through his pelt.

I'm getting to lead a rescue patrol!

Mildewpaw was shifting her paws impatiently, and immediately stood up when Spiderpaw joined them.

"Let's go! I'm tired of waiting!"

"Okay.Come on then."Spiderpaw mewed energetically, starting off down the path leading to the Two-leg site.

He wasn't sure where to look once they got there, but he decided he'd find out when they arrived.

His stomach hadn't felt the best since yesterday.He'd randomly feel sharp pains stabbing at the inside of his stomach.

But he chose to ignore it.

The thing I ate yesterday probably just made me a bit sick, I'm fine.

"Hey? You alive in there?"Mildewpaw nudged his cheek with her muzzle.

She had picked up her pace to walk beside him, while Forestpaw and Snowdropfall padded behind them.

"Yes.What's up?"Spiderpaw shook his head, clearing his thoughts.

"I asked you if you'd seen anything cool when you went there yesterday."She replied, her black whiskers twitching.

"Yeah! I saw some Two-leg kits playing some sort of game, some Two-legs building weird things and much, much more."Spiderpaw replied excitedly.

"Cool! Did you see any other cats?"

Mildewpaw's eyes sparkled.

"No, not that I really looked."Spiderpaw shrugged, spotting the clearing.

"We're here! Be careful,"Spiderpaw ordered, stopping. "Let's spread out in teams of two and see what we can spot.If you see Ripplestrike or a Two-leg kit with brown fur on her head, come get the us.

Snowdropfall nodded, leading Forestpaw away in one direction.

"Guess we'll go this way."Spiderpaw shrugged, aware of Mildewpaw following him as he set off in a random direction.

He glanced around, finding it a bit busier than the yesterday when they came.

He still found it weird why the Two-legs didn't seem to care at ALL that random cats were walking around.

"Look! There's a shed-like thing, mabye she's in there?"Mildewpaw pointed her nose toward a small, wooden shed poking out through the trees.

"I guess it wouldn't hurt to check."Spiderpaw shrugged, padding over to it.

It smelt weird, like it was rotting.

Bugs crawled around the edges, slipping in and out of little holes in the sides.

The roof was falling apart, huge gaping holes in it.

"This is spooky looking,"Mildewpaw breathed, staring at the frail window. "We should totally go in."

An uneasy feeling crept upon Spiderpaw, but he shrugged it off.

"Okay.."

Mildewpaw approached the door, nosing it open. "Look, a light!"

Indeed there was a flickering light on inside, lighting up a small cage covered with a blanket.

A low, rumbling growl was coming from the cage, making Spiderpaw's neck fur bristle.

"Hello?"Mildewpaw peeped, grasping the corner of the blanket in her teeth and yanking on it.

It fell off to reveal a skinny looking cat, one of its eyes bulging and pale white.

He — or at least Spiderpaw thought it was a tom-cat — had short brown fur, with missing patches and his tail was missing the tip.

The poor creature's chest had slashes and scars across it, too.

He let out a short hiss, backing up till he was pressed against the cage.

"What do you want with me!?"

He gazed at Mildewpaw with his one good eye.

"Nothing! Well, we were looking for our friend."She replied nervously.

"Who are you?"Spiderpaw narrowed his eyes.

"I'm...oh, well, I don't suppose cats locked up in creepy abandoned shacks have names, do you?"He snapped, flicking his skinny tail crossly.

"Hey! We can help you!"Mildewpaw offered, stepping closer to the cage.

"Stay back!"Spiderpaw stepped in front of her, blocking her path. "He could be dangerous."

"He looks like he hasn't eaten in forever! What could he possibly do?"Mildewpaw rolled her eyes, pushing past him. "Plus, he's in a cage."

"You- you'd help me?"The tom looked confused. "Most cats just laugh at me and run or walk away."

"Of course we'd help you! We aren't like other cats."Mildewpaw nodded, biting at the latch.

"Arg, this is tricky."

Spiderpaw stepped forward, pushing Mildewpaw gently aside.

"Let me handle this."

He bit it, the sharp taste of metal surprising him.

"So, you don't remember having a name at all? How long have you been trapped in here?!"Mildewpaw's shocked mew sounded from Spiderpaw's right side.

"I sort of do.I think it started with a R?

I don't know,"He sighed. "But, I've been in here for seven moons or so.My old owner put me here and left for good. The construction workers haven't even noticed me here."

"That's so sad! How did you even survive without food and water?"Mildewpaw wondered.

"My owner left me this,"The tom turned his head, raising a paw to poke an empty bag. "Food bag.And the rain water seeped through this blanket, landing on the floor of the cage.So I got food and water. But, sadly, my food ran out two days ago."

Spiderpaw felt a click between his teeth, and the door swung open triumphantly.

"There!" He hopped back, bumping into Mildewpaw.

"Wait- where did you-"She then cringed. "Never mind.

Let's get you out here."She let the tom-cat lean on her as he staggered out of the cage, his legs wobbling as he tried to get used to walking.

"Let's go.We still have to find Ripplestrike."Spiderpaw shook his head, heading toward the door.

Suddenly, there was a loud creak, and a long groan followed soon after.

The wind pushed against the shack, causing it to tilt and the walls to rattle.

"Umm, I'm guessing that's a bad sign?"Mildewpaw squeaked.

"Well, thanks for rescuing me, but..."The brown tom suddenly bolted for the door, staggering and slipping his whole way.

"Coward!"Spiderpaw yowled, following him quickly.

He sidestepped a nail sticking out of the ground, then realized Mildewpaw might not of seen it.

He whipped around. "Mildewpaw watch o-"

Mildewpaw's paw landed on the nail, and she screeched in pain, toppling over.

The shack roof — or what was left of it — groaned and shook rapidly, loud cracking echoing around the shed.

"Come on!"Spiderpaw groaned.

He was right beside the exit!

With one leap, he would be safe.

But Mildewpaw...

Sighing, he raced forward, grasping her scruff.

He yanked her toward the doorway, paws slipping on the wood.

The wall burst, and suddenly the whole shack was falling in.

Panicking, Spiderpaw gave one last pull, tripping.

Both Mildewpaw and him landed safely on the grass outside, Mildewpaw's tail only an inch away from the caved in shed.

"Oh my StarClan!"Mildewpaw gasped in fright, pressing herself to the ground. "Thank you! I thought for sure I was a goner."

"I thought so, too."Spiderpaw admitted, gasping for air.

"Oh, and Spiderpaw..,"Her face was serious, though laced with pain.

"Yeah?"He turned his head to look at the white apprentice.

"I...I-"

"There you guys are!"Snowdropfall's relieved mew sounded. "I thought you died! Although, by the looks of it, you almost did."

Forestpaw ran over, panting.

"What happened? We heard a huge crack and crumble sound."

He glanced at the broken shed.

"Did you find Ripplestrike?"Spiderpaw ignored their questions, shook his fur, and stood up.

"Yes! She's currently in a Two-leg den that is a few ways away.Well, we think so.We saw a monster driving away with her staring out the back.It stopped by one of the houses and got out, carrying a cage with Ripplestrike in it.

We're guessing she's in that town."

Snowdropfall explained with slight excitement.

"Yeah! We have to go rescue her!"Forestpaw nodded in agreement.

"Mabye I should come,"A voice spoke from behind Spiderpaw.

"I did used to live in that town, after all."

Spiderpaw whirled around to see the same brown tom from before standing there. "You didn't run away?"

"Of course not,"He shook his head.

"You saved my life.I had to thank you."

"Who's he?"Snowdropfall and Forestpaw asked in unison.

"He doesn't have-"Spiderpaw started.

"The name's, Red." The tom snorted, padding closer to them.

"Okay, Red.You're going to help us?"Snowdropfall tilted her head.

"Yep. I know that place pretty well.

I'll help you, since you helped me. Let's go."

Mildewpaw remained silent, following them with a limp as they started heading out.

He glanced at her, and she looked the other way.

What's her problem?

And what did she want to tell me?

(Word count: 1542)