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Podpaw peered through the pines, searching for foxes or other threats to the traveling party. Flowerpaw slept near Podpaw’s post, with Luanne’s kits pulled close to her. With over a dozen cats accompanying him and his sister home, it was like being part of a Clan again, and that meant the night guard was even more vital.
“Nothing nearby, again,” Faith huffed, trotting towards Podpaw. “Night guard is boring.”
“Even with me?” Podpaw whined, head going limp against Faith’s shoulder.
“You’re the exception,” Faith giggled, bunting Podpaw. The yellow sunrise cast stark shadows over the questing party, transforming Faith into a tortoiseshell. “You do have to admit we’re lost though.”
“No we aren’t,” Podpaw insisted. “I’m taking us the same way we came from.”
“Then why haven’t we found Gorgeous’ old house?” Faith pondered. “You said we would be in the territories by now.”
“Hey, don’t blame me,” Podpaw grunted. “Mittens is the one who ate crowfood.” Even as the former kittypet slept, she curled around her belly and growled softly. “I really don’t think she’ll be a good warrior.”
“You have to let her try. She could have found new humans in town, but she chose to come with us. She wants this.”
“I’m just glad she won’t be joining SealClan. I can’t wait to show you around camp. You’ll love my mentor.”
“I’m excited too!”
“Maplestar!” Thrushpaw jumped awake, fur fluffed. Bumblepaw, who had been sleeping beside him, yelped, scampering back before he realized the source of the disturbance.
“It’s okay, Thrushpaw, you were dreaming,” Faith cooed, heading to Thrushpaw’s side.
“Did you say Maplestar?” Bumblepaw gulped.
“Uh…” Thrushpaw stammered, blinking rapidly. “So, Whalestar’s dead.”
“Are you sure?” Bumblepaw gasped.
“Isn’t he 200 moons old?” Podpaw scoffed. “I’m shocked he didn’t die earlier.”
“I just saw Maplestar’s nine lives ceremony,” Thrushpaw muttered.
“Tell me everything!” Flowerpaw was suddenly alert, squirming away from Frosty, Sandy, and Muddy to join the apprentices.
“I can’t do that!” Thrushpaw insisted. “Seers can’t talk about the ceremony while the leader’s still alive.”
“Do you know what happened?” Flowerpaw asked.
“Maplestar said the war between PuffinClan and CliffClan is over,” Thrushpaw explained, sitting. “I told him about our quest and he’s willing to accept Ribbon, Rope, and Beetle into PuffinClan.”
“That’s great!” Faith purred. “What about the rest of us?”
“You’d have to talk to the other leaders,” Flowerpaw explained. “Maplestar has no authority over them.”
“So you’re going home to a peaceful Clan, great!” Podpaw declared. “Now who’s hungry?”
“Is it sunrise already?” Jacob slowly blinked to life, curled near the center of the group with a paw over his muzzle.
“I’m going hunting,” Podpaw grumbled. “Luanne’s kits need to eat.”
“Let me come along,” Jacob suggested, flank high in a stretch. “I could use the practice if I want to be an ElkClan warrior.”
“So that’s what you’ve settled on, huh?” Podpaw scoffed.
“Podpaw, knock it off,” Flowerpaw growled, batting her brother’s ear. “While you’re out, we’ll figure out which way to go.”
“See, she admits we’re lost,” Faith giggled. Neck bristling, Podpaw stalked into the trees. Jacob was at his heels.
“Ease up on your ankle!” Thrushpaw warned him before the group vanished.
Jacob knew the importance of a quiet hunt, luckily. After a long walk devoid of prey, Podpaw found a small pond and settled down to fish. Jacob stalked along the edges. What did Faith see in that tom? He looked like a drowned, diseased rat! Podpaw, meanwhile, was cute and fluffy. No, he took that back, only his mother could call him that. He was a proud warrior who defended his Clan. Faith would stay with him. They were a thing, after all! At least, he assumed so. Neither had said anything, but Faith acted in love, so that meant they were a thing. Besides, Jacob was going to ElkClan. He couldn’t flirt with Faith there.
Podpaw’s claws snapped into the pond and dragged out a tiny unsuspecting fish. Barely a catch, but it was something. He nipped its neck and ended the thrashing.
“Fish, yum,” Jacob purred, giving up on his hunt. “Can I have a bite?”
“Excuse me, the kits eat first,” Podpaw snapped. “It’s in the code.”
“But we aren’t in the Clans yet,” Jacob pointed out.
“We have cats to care for,” Podpaw hissed.
“So that’ll go to the kits, but what will we eat?” Jacob asked. His eyes caught something behind Podpaw. “Maybe they’ll have something.” Podpaw glanced behind him. A wooden human den sat quietly behind the trees.
“We don’t take food from humans,” Podpaw warned Jacob. “Remember what happened with Mittens.”
“Do you want the kits to eat this little scrap or have something good?” Jacob wondered, poking the fish. “I’m going over.” Jacob strolled around the pond and hurried to the human den. Podpaw considered leaving him, but he knew Faith would be furious if he did that. Carrying his catch by the tail, he ran after Jacob.
The human den was composed of trees laid on top of one another to form the walls. A gravel path snaked from the side and through the forest. A huge pile of leaves sat in front of a crystal wall, a window as the colony cats called it. Podpaw jumped onto the window ledge. He couldn’t see any prey, nor any crowfood. He glanced into the den. The heads of mythical beasts hung from the walls and a fire crackled in a small cranny. Walls of silver web formed an enclosure beneath the window. Three kits wrestled with one another across a furry floor, squealing with delight. Their mother, a dark red tabby, watched from the top of a crate. She scratched at her red collar. Jacob hopped onto the ledge and looked inside before his attention drifted to the leaf pile.
“This place feels familiar,” Podpaw hummed, setting his fish down. “Is there a way to open that wood flap thing?”
“You mean the door?” Jacob scoffed. “No. It’s really complicated.” A door inside the den opened and an elderly human limped out. Jacob and Podpaw jumped off the ledge and crouched below the window. A minute later, the window groaned and human paws peeked outside. The human pushed the window up. It picked up Podpaw’s catch, hissing. It stomped further into the house. After a short while, Podpaw gathered the courage to look inside. The human was asleep, laying on a large nest beside the fire. The crate’s webbed door was shut and green eyes peered out.
“Hello,” Podpaw called. He jumped inside the den. “Your human took my fish. Did you see where he put it?”
“He threw it away,” the queen hissed, sticking her nose in the webbed door. “Leave, or I’ll wake him up.”
“Is that a tomcat?” a tiny voice squealed. One of the kits, a cream and brown molly, squeezed around her mother and stood with two paws on the door. “I’ve never met another tom before! Well, outside of my brother.”
“Little Shrimp, don’t talk to strangers,” the queen warned.
“Podpaw, they’re in a kennel,” Jacob pointed out, lurking on the ledge. “They can’t help us. Leave them alone.”
“Little Shrimp, I like that name!” Podpaw laughed, crouching outside the kennel. “My dad had a sister named Shrimp when he was little. They were kittypets too.”
“I’m named after Auntie Shrimp!” Little Shrimp explained. “She was my mom’s best friend and she loved her so much! Mom, he has an Aunt Shrimp too!” The queen studied Podpaw, claws hooked on the door.
“What’s your father’s name?” she gulped.
“Lobsterspot,” Podpaw explained. “He used to be called Lobster.” The queen gasped, pulling Little Shrimp close. The other two kits, a cream tom and a gray tortoiseshell, crawled to the door.
“Lobster’s alive?” she whispered, eyes wide. The clues slipped into place.
“Crabcake?” Podpaw gasped, tail high and curled at the end. “Are you Crabcake?”
“Yes, yes I’m Crabcake!” she gulped. “My brother survived?”
“It’s a long story,” Podpaw cheered, bouncing on his paws, “one my sister would rather share. Jacob! Jacob, go get Flowerpaw, tell her who I found!”
“Who is this?” Jacob wondered.
“She’s my aunt!” Podpaw laughed, jumping onto the kennel. “Go get Flowerpaw!” Jacob stumbled off the ledge and vanished. Podpaw clawed at the kennel door. He had to get it open!
“He had two kits,” Crabcake purred. “I can’t believe it.”
“Mom, I thought Uncle Lobster died,” the gray tortoiseshell grunted. She turned upside down to better look at Podpaw.
“So did I, Algae,” Crabcake assured her daughter.
“Dad thought your human killed you!” Podpaw laughed. He dug his fangs into the webbed door.
“When we ran away, I was too slow,” Crabcake explained. “My human caught me and brought me back. I was certain my family froze to death.”
“Dad will never expect us to bring you home,” Podpaw purred. “You’re going to love SealClan.” He got his fang around the loop of metal that held the door shut.
“Are you asking me to leave my human?” Crabcake clarified. She batted at Podpaw’s nose.
“Hey!” Podpaw hissed. “I’m trying to help you!”
“I don’t want to leave,” Crabcake huffed.
“What?” Podpaw screeched. The elderly human growled in its sleep. It slowly lifted out of its nest. Water splashed onto the tamed fire. Podpaw scrambled off the kennel and dove into a dark corner of the enclosure. He stuffed himself into the shadows and watched as the human waddled to Crabcake and her kits. Its misshapen paws opened the kennel with ease. Crabcake slipped out, her kits at her heels, and bunted against the human’s leg. The human turned and pulled on the window. The crystal slammed shut, sealing off the outside world. It grabbed Little Shrimp and nuzzled her head. Little Shrimp nibbled its ear. It put the kit beside her mother. Then it grabbed the door and pulled it open. Podpaw would have the time to dart out, but he couldn’t leave his aunt behind! He wouldn’t be able to look his father in the eye.
The human stepped outside and closed the door with a click. A loud rumble shook Podpaw’s bones. He jumped onto the window ledge. A huge door folded in on itself, revealing a shiny black monster. The monster coasted out of its den down the gravel path. Podpaw scraped at the window, yowling.
“Where’s it going?” he moaned.
“Hunting,” Crabcake explained. “He’ll be home later today. If you’re quick enough, you’ll be able to run out the door.” Little Shrimp and Algae tackled a crinkly ball while the cream tomcat nibbled at a fake mouse, content in his isolation.
“Why haven’t you done that then?” Podpaw snapped, jumping off. “Dad did it and he’s doing great now!”
“Are my mother and sister with him?” Crabcake asked. Podpaw’s hesitation told Crabcake the terrible truth.
“I wanna meet Aunt Shrimp, Mom,” Little Shrimp purred, batting the ball towards her brother.
“You two go over to Mouse and play with him,” Crabcake meowed. “Leave me to talk with Podpaw.”
“Mouse is no fun,” Algae grumbled, but she and her sister obeyed, tackling their unsuspecting brother. Crabcake jumped over the webbed fence and Podpaw followed. His aunt led him to the human’s nest. Crabcake and Podpaw jumped onto it. Podpaw sunk into the soft material.
“Tell me what happened to my family,” Crabcake ordered. Podpaw wasn’t the storyteller his sister was, but he did his best, recalling every detail he could of his father’s life. His version of Reke and Shrimp’s demise lacked the strength of other retellings, but Crabcake was a silent and focused audience. He decided to leave out his father’s guilt over the incident. If Crabcake was anything like Podpaw’s other aunt, it would be best not to tell her why Lobsterspot always insisted how, if Podpaw or Flowerpaw ever felt like they didn’t matter, they could talk to him.
“Dad would love to see you,” Podpaw insisted. “He’d love to meet your kits!”
“He won’t be able to,” Crabcake sighed, glancing back at the three kits. “They are my third litter. My other kits have long been adopted.”
“You shouldn’t take a kit from their mother,” Podpaw grunted. “They should stay with you.”
“My mother’s selfishness got herself and my sister killed,” Crabcake snapped. “My human treats me well and he has given my kits to kind and caring humans in return. I’m not sending my children to die, do you hear me?”
“We all die sometime,” Podpaw scoffed. He hopped out of the nest. “Trust me, by the time Flowerpaw shows up, you’ll be begging to come with us. Happened to everyone else we’ve met so far. I’m quite persuasive.” Podpaw trotted back to the kits. Little Shrimp and Algae had once again abandoned Mouse to spar, rolling about the enclosure. Podpaw hopped on top of the crate and watched them, paws crossed.
“Podpaw, do you wanna play?” Little Shrimp asked, carrying the crinkly ball.
“Leave him be, Little Shrimp,” Crabcake groaned, jumping into the enclosure.
“But he’s Uncle Lobster’s son!” Little Shrimp whined. “You said Uncle Lobster was the sweetest tom you ever met! That means Podpaw is even nicer because kits are better than their parents!” Podpaw purred, whiskers twitching as Crabcake’s ears went red.
“You know, you three are a lot like your mom and Uncle Lobsterspot,” Podpaw chuckled. Mouse looked up from his toy.
“Why do you call him Lobsterspot?” Mouse asked.
“He took a new name when he joined SealClan,” Podpaw explained. “You’re just like your uncle.”
“Lobsterspot’s a wimp too?” Little Shrimp asked.
“Mom!” Mouse whined. Crabcake gently nipped Little Shrimp’s ear.
“Don’t insult your brother,” Crabcake warned.
“Little Shrimp takes after her namesake,” Podpaw pointed out, “and Algae, you’re like your mom.”
“I am?” Algae asked, head cocked.
“It fits the metaphor,” Podpaw scoffed.
“What’s a metaphor?” Little Shrimp asked, paws on the kennel.
“I’ll have Flowerpaw explain,” Podpaw dismissed the question. “She’ll be here soon to help break us out.”
“Are we going with you?” Little Shrimp wondered. She pulled herself onto the kennel and squeezed beside Podpaw.
“I hope so,” Podpaw chirped, ignoring his aunt’s stammering. “I live in SealClan, a beautiful place overlooking the sea. We swim in salty water and catch fish twice your size. We fight for our home and keep each other safe.”
“Mom said it's dangerous outside,” Mouse muttered, head sagging.
“It is,” Podpaw admitted, “but that’s life, isn’t it?”
“Not ours,” Crabcake huffed. She pulled her kits close. “You’ll be safe with your future humans.”
“Yeah, that’s what Gorgeous thought,” Podpaw scoffed. “Until they took her claws.” He unsheathed his claws for effect.
“They can do that?” Algae gasped, tucking her paws under her.
“He’s trying to scare you,” Crabcake explained. “That’s not true.”
“How would you know?” Podpaw asked, hopping down. “You’ve never left this den. Humans have been nothing but mean to the cats I’ve met. I’ve seen them abandon their cats and banish them into the cold. You wouldn’t believe what they did to Dash.”
“My human only gives my kits to good humans,” Crabcake huffed.
“Humans change,” Podpaw growled. Claws scratched against the window. Flowerpaw and Rope stood on the ledge outside!
“Crabcake?” Flowerpaw called. “Is that really you?”
“Is this Flowerpaw?” Crabcake asked. She and Podpaw jumped onto the ledge. The rest of the traveling party lingered outside. Ribbon entertained Beetle and the kits with the leaf pile while Bumblepaw scratched at the door.
“Podpaw was right,” Flowerpaw gasped. “Hi! I’m your niece!”
“I hope your manners are better than your brother,” Crabcake muttered.
“Crabcake’s human trapped us in here,” Podpaw explained, ignoring his aunt’s comment. “Do you see a way out?”
“Why not open the door?” Algae asked. She tried to jump over the enclosure fence and fell on her flank.
“How are they supposed to do that?” Little Shrimp scoffed.
“Well our human turns the latch there,” Algae said, pointing to a golden knob below a shiny twig. “Then he pushes the branch down and pulls the door open!”
“It’s worth a chance,” Podpaw admitted. “Hang on, Flowerpaw, I’m going to try something!” Podpaw hopped down and examined the latch. If he stood with his front paws against the door, the latch was still two mouse-lengths away. He needed something to prop him up. “Crabcake, is there anything you can bring over here?” Crabcake hesitated, glancing at Podpaw and his sister. “Even if you aren’t leaving, I need to go home. Can you help me?” Crabcake sighed. She jumped off the ledge and tucked her claws into the enclosure fence. She leaned on it and the entire thing went crashing down. Mouse squealed, running into the kennel.
“Wow!” Little Shrimp gasped. Crabcake looped around the kennel and began pushing it across the wooden floor. Mouse scrambled out when Podpaw came to help her. With a bit of effort, they got it under the latch. Now Podpaw could get his muzzle to it. He gripped it in his teeth and tugged.
“You have to twist it, dummy,” Algae huffed.
“I’m not dumb!” Podpaw snapped.
“Podpaw, she’s a kit,” Flowerpaw sighed, shaking her head. “Leave her be and twist it!” Podpaw sneered, but tried to spin the latch. He had to turn his head at a painful angle and his teeth kept slipping off. Eventually he slapped it with his paw and the latch clicked.
“Freedom!” Podpaw cheered, jumping to the twig. It snapped down, but Podpaw fell onto the kennel and it flicked back up.
“No no no,” Algae grunted, trotting to her cousin’s side. “You have to hold it down!”
“How am I supposed to do that?” Podpaw groaned.
“You don’t have to hold it forever,” Rope pointed out, cheek pressed against the window. “You there, kit. Which way does the door move when it opens?”
“It comes inside the house!” Algae explained. Rope turned to the crowd below him.
“Rainbow, Jacob, Lilac, Bumblepaw, and Hades,” Rope ordered. “Gather beside the door. When Flowerpaw gives the signal, we need to push against it until it opens enough to get them out.”
“I see what you’re planning,” Flowerpaw gasped as Rope vanished, jumping down. “Podpaw, do you remember when you tried to climb a tree and had to hang there until Mom helped you down?”
“Not something I wanted others to know about,” Podpaw grumbled.
“You need to hang your shoulders over the twig and hold on tight!” Flowerpaw said. “Just like you did back then! Crabcake, you’ll have to move the kennel once he jumps so Rope and the others can push open the door.”
“That’s not going to work,” Podpaw huffed.
“Believe in yourself!” Little Shrimp cheered, hopping. Podpaw stared at the twig, stomach twisting. This wouldn’t be fun.
He jumped at the latch and got his paw around, but fell down again. He kept jumping, trying to get high enough as his injured ankle ached. He decided Emberpool could work her magic on his foot when he got home. He just had to get out. Podpaw crouched low, legs burning. He lept high, back foot yowling, and jabbed his legs around the twig. He hooked his legs and grabbed the twig’s notch with his mouth, fighting against the slick metal.
“Go, go!” Flowerpaw called. Crabcake shoved the kennel aside and the door moved. The horde of cats outside groaned and hissed, heads smashed into the wood. Sunlight glimmered through the growing crack.
“It’s wide enough!” Rope yowled. He stuck his head inside as Podpaw fell, the twig snapping into place. The door creaked and slowly inched closed. Bumblepaw joined Rope within the gap, keeping it open.
“Come on!” Bumblepaw groaned. Podpaw hissed, his ankle burning.
“I know what SealClan’s like,” Podpaw groaned, turning to Crabcake. “You don’t know where your kits will go, though.”
“Are you coming or not?” Rainbow hissed, still shoving the door.
“I…” Crabcake gulped. Algae squirmed under Bumblepaw’s belly, trying to get outside. Crabcake’s flattened ears stood tall. “I need help with the kits!” Bumblepaw grabbed Algae’s scruff and dragged her out.
“One big push!” Podpaw roared. The traveling cats yowled and shoved in unison, throwing the door open. Light showered the dark den. Crabcake snatched Little Shrimp and bolted.
“You go, Podpaw, I’ll get the last one!” Rope yowled, racing inside. Mouse squealed, but he was helpless against Rope as he lifted him high. Podpaw limped into the falling leaves. Rope jumped through the closing gap with Mouse yowling the whole way out. The door gently shut a few moments later.
“That was a lot,” Lilac groaned, laying against the door. Rainbow, Jacob, and Hades sat, panting. Bumblepaw and Rope dropped their kits. Algae and Mouse ran to their mom.
“It’s cold out here,” Mouse whined.
“You’re a wild cat now,” Bumblepaw laughed, shaking out his pelt.
“Podpaw,” Crabcake sighed, grooming Mouse’s head. “Don’t make me regret this.” Flowerpaw launched off the window ledge and pressed against Crabcake’s shoulder.
“You’re just like Dad described,” she purred. Crabcake paused her son’s grooming and laid her head on Flowerpaw’s.
“Let’s get out of here before your human comes back,” Thrushpaw huffed, glancing down the path.
“Come along, kits!” Ribbon called as Frosty and Sandy dug through the leaves. Beetle and Muddy, who were chewing on leaves, jumped at Ribbon’s call. Sandy poked Frosty and led her to the group. When Sandy spotted Crabcake, he dove under Flowerpaw’s belly, the excitement of play evaporating.
“Sandy, it’s okay,” Flowerpaw cooed as Sandy batted her leg.
“Don’t touch her neck,” Sandy ordered. “You’re hurting her.”
“It doesn’t hurt her, I promise,” Flowerpaw sighed, scooting away from Crabcake.
“You have kits?” Crabcake hummed, crouching to Sandy’s level. “They’re not much younger than my own.”
“They, they’re not mine,” Flowerpaw explained. “It’s a long story. This is Sandy. His sisters are Muddy and Frosty.” Frosty made some of her gestures that Podpaw had no hope of understanding, pointing her tail at Beetle. “Oh, Muddy, could you translate for us?”
“Frosty asked who the stranger is,” Muddy chirped.
“My name is Crabcake,” Crabcake purred. “We’ll have a lot of time to get to know each other.”
“Can we go now?” Thrushpaw gulped, trudging up to Flowerpaw and Crabcake.
“Sure, but which way?” Flowerpaw asked.
“Can you hear that?” Gouge called from the back of the group, tasting the air. He grimaced, sticking his tongue out. “Can you taste it? It’s sharp.” Podpaw scented the air. Salt.
“It’s coming from over here,” Chocolate gasped, charging west.
“Stay close, you three,” Crabcake warned, making sure Algae, Little Shrimp, and Mouse weren’t distracted by the new cats. Thrushpaw and Faith stayed by Podpaw, helping him limp after the traveling party. They were all following their noses, which filled with the stronger smells of salt and sand the further they walked. Beetle and Luanne’s kits wandered between Ribbon and Flowerpaw, keeping pace with the older cats. Soon, Podpaw heard it; the gentle crash of waves.
The group stopped at the edge of the trees, victorious yowls telling Podpaw what he already knew. He pushed to the front of the crowd. The ocean stretched out before him, lapping at a pebble studded beach.
“Podpaw, do you know what this means?” Flowerpaw gasped, slipping next to her brother. “If we follow the shore south…”
“We’re almost home,” Podpaw purred.