Spiderpaw paused outside the fence of the Two-leg den.

"This is it, right?"

"Yes."Snowdropfall nodded, glancing up at the fence.

"Think we can jump that?"Forestpaw blinked.

"Sure,"Spiderpaw shrugged. "It's not that tall."

"Fine, you go first."Forestpaw grinned.

"Fine.But we don't all need to go.Someone stay and keep watch."

"I'll stay."Mildewpaw mumbled.

She'd been awfully quiet ever since we left the broken shed.

Spiderpaw was worried.

I'll talk to her later.

"I'll stay, too."Forestpaw offered.

"I might not be able to make it over this fence,"Red muttered. "But I'll try."

Spiderpaw bunched his muscles, wriggling his rump.

He leapt, claws digging into the wood, and climbed up the fence, balancing on the top.

It wobbled under his weight, and he let out a meow as he dropped onto the ground on the other side.

He glanced up. "It's safe, and pretty easy to get past."

The fence wobbled again as Snowdropfall climbed up.She landed lightly beside Spiderpaw, shaking her fur.

Last to come, Red.

He climbed up a bit slower, but got to the top anyway. "That is- easy."He panted. He landed heavily, toppling over.

Snowdropfall steadied him, and he blinked gratefully at her.

"This is the house I used to visit when I lived in this town,"Red explained, padding closer to the door. "My sister used to live her.I'd assume she's dead now."

Spiderpaw sniffed at some plants growing in a small garden.

They smelled of dirt and musky food.

"Is this stuff... edible?"

Snowdropfall wrinkled her nose.

"I think so.I don't get why Two-legs would want to eat that stuff, though."

It had a leafy, green stalk and a bit of an orangey red colour was sticking out from the ground.

"Come on!"Red called. "We don't have all day!"

Hurrying to his side, Spiderpaw gazed at the door leading into the den.

"Are we going in there?"

"No!"Snowdropfall shouted, at the same time as Red said, "Yes."

"We can't! It's pretty much against the warrior code!"Snowdropfall argued, glaring at the tom.

"Well, I don't know what the warrior code is, but I'm going in.How else can we get your friend out?"

"How are we supposed to get Ripplestrike out, if we're stuck in there, too?"Snowdropfall looked skeptical.

"That part I haven't figured out yet."Red shrugged. "But I will, in time."

Groaning, Snowdropfall whispered to Spiderpaw, "You can't seriously be thinking about going in there!"

"Well,"Spiderpaw thought about that. "How else can we get Ripplestrike?"

"We could tell her we're here and she can try to escape."She suggested.

"How?"

"Throw something at the window?"

She tilted her head, glancing at the wide window in the den.

"That'll alert the Two-legs, too."

Spiderpaw didn't really see any other way than to go in.

"We'll be fine,"

He had learned to stop promising things, because he never kept them.

"I hope."

She sighed, walking over to where Red stood by the door.

"How exactly do you plan on get-"

Red let out a long, loud, desperate screech, staring up at the doorknob.

Spiderpaw joined them by the door, confused. "How is that-"

The door flung open and the same Two-leg kit from before was standing there.She outstretched her arms, picking up Snowdropfall and cuddling her to her chest. "KITTY!"

The white she-cat hissed, wriggling around and trying to escape.

The kit sent down Snowdropfall, and turned to usher Red and Spiderpaw in, closing the door.

Spiderpaw didn't like all the weird smells, and he wrinkled his nose.

Red padded around, eyeing everything.

"A lot has changed, that's for sure."

Spiderpaw gazed in awe at a tall, twisty building-like thing sitting by the window of the den.It was covered in a soft, gray fabric, which looked wonderful to sink his claws into.

Hanging down from certain spots were little strings, some with stuffed mice attached and some with little fluffy balls. At the top, was a comfy looking bed, with a gray and white cat perched on top, staring right at him.

"Ripplestrike!"He mewed, hurrying over to stare up at her.

She had a pink and black collar around her neck, and her fur was smooth and brushed. "Hello, Spiderpaw."

Her mew was sad, and she looked miserable.

"Thank StarClan we found you!"Snowdropfall sighed, appearing at Spiderpaw's left. "Now let's go!"

"Good luck with that,"Ripplestrike scoffed. "The Two-leg kit won't let me out of her sight."

The kit was sitting in a chair, fumbling with a little bowl.

She set it on the floor and Red immediately started eating out of it.

"Great,"The white cat growled. "Now we're stuck in a Two-leg den with an insane Two-leg kit! This is horrible."

Snowdropfall began pacing.

A larger female Two-leg entered the room, gasping and baring her teeth.

"Aksnwlsjfbsn Anna pakwjfb alkaansnd qbqjajxb cmspsvn skbncmske!"

She reached down to pick up Spiderpaw, holding him away from her face to inspect him.

He didn't like it at all.

She nodded, setting him back down and doing the same to Snowdropfall and Red.

The Two-legs then started to talk to one another, and the larger female walked into the other room, picking up a weird, rectangular object and holding it by her ear.

"We have to go,"Ripplestrike mewed urgently. "Now!"

"Why?"Spiderpaw frowned.

It wasn't that he didn't want to leave, because he did, he just was a bit interested in exploring this place.

"Last time the large Two-leg used that chatter box thing, she took me to a weird strange place and got me checked over.This man in white gloves looked me over, poked some needles into me, and sent me home!"

"I don't want to be poked!"Snowdropfall wailed, looking around desperately.

Ripplestrike jumped down from the top of the cat building. "I might be able to get the door open, but we have to be quick, and distract the Two-legs."

"I can do that,"Red offered, padding over while licking his lips. "I'm staying, so I miswell help you escape."

"You're staying here?"Spiderpaw tilted his head.

"Yes.It's probably the only way I'll survive.Plus, they have good food.

You sure you don't want to stay?"

"Yes.We have to get back home."

"Go then, I'll distract them."Red headed over to the kit, nudging her foot and leading her into the kitchen.

She glanced at Ripplestrike before following him.

The three cats hurried over to the door, and Ripplestrike eyed it carefully.

"I need something to make me a bit taller."She looked around.

"Can we move that cat house? Or is it too heavy?"

"Nothings too heavy for me!"Spiderpaw boasted.

"Then do it."Snowdropfall rolled her eyes.

Spiderpaw sunk his fangs into the fabric, giving a tug.

He pulled out. "I think it might be built into the ground."He smiled sheepishly.

"Stand here."Ripplestrike ordered, patting beside her with a paw.

Spiderpaw obeyed, watching as Ripplestrike climbed on top of him and reached up for the doorknob.

"No, still not tall enough. Snowdropfall, stand on Spiderpaw and I'll stand on you."

"Why don't I get on the top! You're all heavier than me!"Spiderpaw protested.

They ignored him, Snowdropfall clambering on top of the black apprentice.

Ripplestrike got on top, finally tall enough to reach it.

She started pawing at it, letting out little frustrated grunts.

"I can't keep her busy much longer!"They heard Red screech from the kitchen.

"Hurry up!"Spiderpaw hissed, feeling his legs wobbling.

Finally there was a click, and the door swung open, causing all three of the cats to fall outside.

"KITTIES!?"The Two-leg kit's voice boomed from behind them.

They hurried toward the fence, Spiderpaw bringing up the rear.

He watched as the two she-cats leapt up and over the fence.

He was about to leap when he felt arms around his neck.He let out a shriek as the Two-leg held him close, mumbling nonsense loudly in his ear.

He unsheathed his claws, swiftly raking the kit's arm.

She whimpered, dropping him and clutching her arm as blood leaked from it.

He wasted no time in leaping the fence, landing safely on the ground.

He slumped, face first in a pile of leaves.

But he didn't care, he was too tired.

Beside him, Ripplestrike was panting hard, her sides heaving.

"I didn't think we'd make it! Thank you guys so much for rescuing me!"

Her eyes gleamed with excitement.

Forestpaw was staring wide-eyed at them. "What happened!?"

"Two-leg almost got us."Spiderpaw explained. "And Red decided to stay."

Mildewpaw gazed at him, no emotion showing on her face. "I'm glad you're safe."

"Look, Mildewpaw..,"Spiderpaw stepped closer to her. "We have to talk."

"We'll start heading home and leave you to talk,"Ripplestrike dipped her head. "Be safe."

"We will."

As the small group of cats left, Spiderpaw turned to look at the white apprentice.

"What's bothering you?"

"Let's go a bit away from here, please?"She whispered, glancing uneasily at the looming fence.

Spiderpaw led her away, closer to the FalconClan camp.

He sat and wrapped his tail around his paws.

"So?"

Mildewpaw sighed. "I was just upset that we got interrupted."She mewed quietly.

"Does your paw still hurt?"Spiderpaw saw that she had her paw raised a bit off the ground, as if it hurt a lot.

"It's getting better. I thought it might be infected, but I'm not sure."

She shrugged.

"I'll get Spiritflight to look at it."Spiderpaw promised.

"But, what did you want to tell me?"

He asked, tilting his head.

"Oh, ummm....Nothing, really. It wasn't important."She avoided eye contact, gazing bashfully at her paws.

"You sure?"Spiderpaw wasn't convinced.

It looked important when she was about to tell him.

"Ye-"

Suddenly their was rustling in the bushes as Brookstorm burst through, appearing in the clearing.

"Oh, I wasn't interrupting anything, was I?"

His crippled leg was lifted off the ground. He was slowly learning how to move around and act with it, and he seemed a bit happier than before.

"No, no! We were just talking."Spiderpaw meowed quickly.

"Well, okay. I was just taking a walk

and popped through here."Brookstorm flicked his ear.

"Oh, okay. Well, we're going home now, if you want to come."Spiderpaw got to his feet.

"Sure, sure."Brookstorm mewed coolly, shooting Mildewpaw a look Spiderpaw didn't understand.

"Let's go, then." Brookstorm shrugged, walking ahead of them.

Spiderpaw glanced once more at Mildewpaw, to see she had her head raised high.

She winked at him, padding faster to walk beside Brookstorm.

I don't know what that was about,

but right now, I don't even care.

(Word count: 1819)