Flamepaw awoke in her nest, her fur messy and unclean. She sighed, looking to see that it was almost sunhigh. She grunted, heaving herself to her paws. She looked around the den, seeing that she wasn't the only one who slept in. She spotted Ashpaw, Pinepaw, Silverpaw, Leafpaw, Blackpaw and Tidalpaw in the den, fast asleep.
She walked past their sleeping heaps of fur. She walked out of the den, the cold leaf fall air hitting her like a monster. She shivered, fighting to see her camp against the blinding light of the sun. Her eyes finally adjusted and she spotted the deputy and father, Tigerwhisker, standing below the Hightree. He looked at her, amused at Flamepaw sleeping so late.
She walked over to him, purring at his amusement.
"You think it's funny?" She smiled. He looked at her, a serious, but funny look on his face.
"Wake up earlier!" He purred, licking her between her ears.
"Lightingtail trained me for so long yesterday! I thought that my paws would fall right off and run into the forest!" She laughed, enjoying the glint of happiness in his eyes. He hadn't been this happy since one of his great friends was hit by a monster. She nudged him playfully before Rosepaw padded out of the medicine cat's den. She padded over to the fresh kill pile, picking out a plump mouse before disappearing into the den again.
"Can we go on a patrol with Ashpaw and Leafpaw?" She asked, looking at her father.
"Let's bring your mother too. She's been itching to go on a patrol with you." He purred before walking into the warriors den to go find Ferneye.
She took one glance after Tigerwhisker before trotting happily towards the apprentices den again. She poked her head in to locate Leafpaw and Ashpaw. She saw them, opposite sides of the den. She sighed, rolling her eyes amusement. She slowly stalked Leafpaw, poking her in her tortoiseshell pelt. She lifted her eyes, her eyelids faltering against the light coming from outside the den.
"Wha?" She asked sleepily. Flamepaw couldn't help but giggle at her drowsiness.
"Patrol sleepy head!" She smiled. Leafpaw nodded her head in acknowledgement. After getting Leafpaw, Flamepaw started creeping toward Ashpaw, making sure not to step on anyone's tails. She reached him, Ashpaw's gray pelt rising slowly as he slept peacefully.
Flamepaw bunched up her haunches, leaping up and on top of Ashpaw. He started awake, his eyes wide with fear. Flamepaw heard Leafpaw giggle behind her.
"Patrol." She chimed, smiling at Ashpaw. She saw Ashpaw roll his eyes, before leaping, tackling Flamepaw. Her eyes wide with surprise, she lightly slammed against the ground of the den. Ashpaw was above her, pinning her down by her shoulders and belly.
"I win." He purred. He removed his paws, allowing Flamepaw to get up.
"This once!" She jokingly challenged him, padding out of the den. Leafpaw and Ashpaw emerged after her, their eyes screwing up. She laughed as they tried to adjust their eyes to the bright light.
"What's so funny?" Ashpaw asked, his deep blue eyes looked confused.
"Nothing." Flamepaw replied. She guided the two until their eyes had gotten used to the harsh light. She looked to see her parents already by the camp entrance. Her ears flicked back in embarrassment.
"About time you three showed up!" Tigerwhisker joked. As soon as he said that, Leafpaw and Ashpaw looked to see the deputy. Their eyes widened in excitement.
"You didn't tell me we were patrolling with the deputy!" Leafpaw whispered to Flamepaw. She shrugged, padding out the entrance; the soft and luscious fern fronds brushing against her pelt.
She looked behind her to make sure that they were following. Ashpaw was right behind her, followed by Leafpaw and her parents. Ashpaw trotted up beside her, making her paw for paw. She opened her mouth to scent the air, picking up scents of delicious prey.
"I'm going to catch a vole! That's Thornspots' favorite." She led Ashpaw toward the scent of two voles. She spotted them, signaling Ashpaw with her tail. He nodded her, before dropping down into a hunter's crouch as crept toward one of the voles, while Flamepaw went for the other.
She leapt, landing on the vole. She delivered the killing bite. She picked up her catch and looked over at Ashpaw. He looked at her, amusement glinted in his eyes. Before she could say anything, a shriek of terror split the air, making her jump back, dropping her vole.
Ashpaw dropped his catch, sprinting toward the source of the noise. Flamepaw followed, not prepared to discover what had cause the noise.
