Honeytail woke up early, before the sunrise. The air was damp and it was foggy, good weather for a walk. She slipped out of her den, and found Moonstar sorting out the dawn patrol underneath the Highstep. Honeytail slipped past the camp entrance, trying not to wake any sleeping cats. Good, nobody saw me.
The dirt below her feet stuck to her pads as she leaped over puddles of muddy water. As Honeytail reached a small clearing, a dark, large cat was visible across the MountainClan border.
"Honeytail? Is that you?" The MountainClan cat purred.
"Tigerstripe! You came," Honeytail meowed to him.
"It's good to see you again."
"You too," Honeytail replied, "but I don't know how long it will be until another cat finds out about these secret meetings of ours. I am worried."
"Don't be. If any cat finds out, we can run away and make our own Clan!"
"But my Clan needs me! I couldn't just leave them like that. Who would train Oceanpaw and teach her the ways of StarClan?"
Tigerstripe walked over to Honeytail and silenced her with his tail. He then started play-fighting with her, as if they were still kits. They did this until both cats were tired, and ready to leave. Honeytail felt a little better, but the thought that another cat could find them wouldn't go away!
"I better go, before Moonstar sends out the dawn patrol and Oceanpaw starts looking for me." Honeytail said to Tigerstripe. He responded with a slight nod, and watched as Honeytail leaped back to her Clan.
I know I am breaking the Warrior Code, but it isn't that bad, is it?
"Honeytail!" Starkit cried. She rushed over to Starkit to see what was wrong.
"Are you ok? Does your leg hurt?"
"Yes! Can you make it better pleaseeee?"
"I will. I have something that will soothe the pain on your cut," Honeytail meowed, "Oceanpaw? Can you fetch me some comfrey?"
As Honeytail comforted Starkit, Oceanpaw padded over with a mouthful of the roots. She chewed them into poultice and rubbed it gently onto Starkit's cut.
"It will feel better soon," Honeytail promised. "Oceanpaw, do you think you can handle everything in here? I am going to find some dock, we are running low."
"Yes Honeytail. I'll keep a good eye on Starkit!" Oceanpaw said playfully as Starkit batted at her ear.
While Honeytail walked along the path, the trees shook overhead, and leaves fell to the ground. They crunched beneath her feet, showing signs of Leaf-fall. She would smell something with a very strong scent, but couldn't make out what it was. The rabbit hole was empty, there were no cats trespassing, and there weren't any animals in sight!
Suddenly, Honeytail stopped dead in her tracks. She knew this scent too well- foxes! There was a slight rustle in the bushes, and out jumped four foxes!
As she ran towards the camp the jaws of the creatures snapped at her hind legs, making her run faster than she ever had.
"Help!" Honeytail wailed, "Foxes!"
Honeytail neared the camp, and took a sharp turn and led them away. Oaktail then bounded out of camp, followed by Pebblepool, Stoneclaw, and Nightpaw. The four cats chased after Honeytail, slashing and biting at the nasty foxes.
Stoneclaw leaped onto a fox that was snapping at Honeytail and chased it away into LakeClan territory. Pebblepool was having trouble getting another fox off of Nightpaw, until Oaktail bit down on its tail really hard, making it yelp in surprise. Pebblepool raked at its belly until it retreated, followed by the remaining foxes.
Honeytail rushed over to Nightpaw; he had been thrown off one of the foxes!
"Wow Nightpaw, you fought like a warrior today. I am going to have to report this good news to Berryleaf," Stoneclaw said as he praised the hurt apprentice.
Nightpaw purred in delight, happy to be complimented.
"I need to tell Moonstar about the foxes," Honeytail said as the cats padded back into camp.
"Honeytail! Nightpaw! What happened?" Lilypetal asked with fear in her voice.
"It's ok, we just chased four foxes into LakeClan," Honeytail said, out of breath, "Come, Nightpaw, we must take you to the medicine den and fix you up."
The two cats walked to the den, and she made Nightpaw a bed next to Starkit. Oceanpaw got cobwebs and Honeytail flopped down next to Nightpaw. Soon enough she found herself dozing off next to the apprentice.
