Blinking her eyes open to the rays of early morning sunshine that had began to pour in through the openings of the den, Petalpaw stretched herself out. Looking around the den, the creamy, tawny cat found her denmates still asleep. Honeypaw, the golden tabby she-cat was sleeping next to Smallpaw, a black and white tom. Beside her was Tuftpaw, the brown tabby with big fluffy ears. Petalpaw counted the cats, one missing.
"Hey, mousebrain." She teased, nudging the cat beside her awake, "it's morning and our mentors will be waiting if we don't get going." The creamy cat said in a hushed hiss. The other cats across the den must've been having a light sleep, because they began to stir.
"Morning? Already?" The brown tabby yawned, stretching himself out, "you always wake me when I'm having the best dreams." Tuftpaw complained, scratching behind his ear.
"That's not my fault!" She replied with a playful growl, "you know that." Petalpaw mewed, flattening down some chest fur with her pink tongue. "What were you dreaming about anyways?" The cream she-cat asked, her eyes watching the tabby curiously.
Tuftpaws eyes widened with glee, he was always excited to tell stories, but most of the clan was reluctant when listening. "Alright, if you really want to know." Tuftpaw started, trying to sound calm and mysterious. This irked a small laugh from the she-cat apprentice. "I was running through a stream, a stream of beautiful silvers and blues. It was full of fish to catch, and shores full of prey." Tuftpaw told, acting out the scene, "I was feeling kinda hungry, so I-" the tom apprentice was cut off.
"You're always hungry." Petalpaw purred playfully, rolling her eyes.
"Hey! Let me finish." The tabby shot back with a playful growl. The creamy she-cat nodded. "Anyways, I was feeling hungry, and with a stream so full of fish I couldn't help myself." Tuftpaw got into a hunting crouch as he continued, "and with a huge splash one was right in my jaws!" He said, pouncing at Petalpaw.
"Whoa, watch it!' The tawny she-cat yelped in surprise. The tabby had her pinned to the mossy floor, her struggling useless. "Get off me!" She squeaked.
Tuftpaw just laughed and jumped off, leaving the she-cat on the moss beds. Petalpaw narrowed her eyes and growled at the tom apprentice, ready to pounce back. She got into a crouch, but felt herself bump into something.
"Oh, I'm sorry, Honeypaw." The cream and tawny cat mewed apologetically, "I didn't see you there and..." her voice trailed off.
"No need to apologize, but you two should keep it down." The golden tabby said shooting them both a stern stare, "and also, if you're awake you should be with your mentors by now. Don't want to keep them waiting." Honeypaw added, her voice was stern, but was motherly, wanting to help the two learn. She flicked her tail towards the den entrance and padded out.
"Wait for me, Honeypaw!" The black and white apprentice called, leaping over beds and over to the entrance as fast as possible. Smallpaw was the the second oldest of the apprentices, and would soon become a warrior. He was clumsy, but always meant well.
"We should get going, Petalpaw." Tuftpaw said with a bit of concern in his voice, not wanting to be late. Petalpaw curtly nodded and headed out into the camp clearing, where activities were well on their way.
The camp outside was an opened area from an old forest fire. It left the camp with a hard, red floor and was surrounded by new living trees, as well as old black ones, making the name of the clan, CharredClan. The clan cats were already busy with duties, and the first patrol was about to head out. It consisted of Pinkfrost, a light grey and pinkish she-cat, Smallpaw, her apprentice, and Snaketail, a large brown tabby with a large black tail. At the other side of the clearing, the medicine cat, Waspstripe was just about to head out with her apprentice, Starlingpaw.
"There's Talonpaw." Petalpaw whispered to her companion as the two walked past the black apprentice. Talonpaw looked hunched over, and was batting a leaf around on the ground. The apprentice was with his mentor, Frozenpath, one of CharredClans most noble warriors, and the clan deputy, Redwater, a deep ginger covered tom with a white belly.
"I wonder what's going on." Tuftpaw added, keeping his pace even to the she-cats. The two made their way to the entrance, their mentors waiting for them. "Morning, Mothdust." The brown tabby said with a dip of his head, leaving his denmates side and padding to the large, patch coloured tom. The two exchanged a few words and headed out into the territory.
"Good morning, Petalpaw." The she-cat heard her name being said and replied almost immediately.
"Good morning, Cedarbrook." Petalpaw replied to her mentor, dipping her head in respect. "Sorry if I kept you waiting." She scratched at the hard camp floor.
"Oh, not at all," The beautiful golden brown tabby said with a sweet tone in her voice, "I've only been here for a short while, and I had Mothdust to speak with to pass the time." She added with a sweet smile, looking down at her creamy apprentice.
Petalpaw let out a quick sigh of relief, "What's planned for today?" The apprentice asked Cedarbrook, not wanting to stay in camp too much longer.
"Well I've spoken with Mothdust just now, and Frozenpath earlier," she started, getting up onto all fours, "and tomorrow we'll be doing some more battle training with them, but for today, you and I will be hunting up until later, and we've been asked to be part of the sunhigh patrol. After that you're free to do what you'd like, but if you plan on leaving the camp please let me know." The she-cat warrior purred softly, heading out of the camp.
Petalpaw leapt after her mentor, trying to keep pace with the warrior. "Of course I will!" The tawny cream cat replied to her mentors last statement, "and sounds good! Tomorrow as well does too." She paced behind Cedarbrook, thinking of the day ahead and tomorrow. Then she thought of those she'll be spending the day with. She was always happy to train with Tuftpaw and Talonpaw.
"Cedarbrook?" Petalpaw started, her mind focused on the black apprentice that she was supposed to be doing training with tomorrow, "why was Talonpaw still back at camp and with Frozenpath and Redwater?" She asked, slowing her pace as they approached their first stop.
Cedarbrook sat down, tail neatly folded over her front paws. "This isn't news I want you sharing, but it's a rather important lesson to learn." The she-cat meowed, keeping her voice hushed. Petalpaw listened intently, cocking her head to the side. The tabby warrior continued, "Talonpaw was caught outside of camp without permission from Redwater or his mentor today." Cedarbrook finished her sentence blandly.
"But that's not allowed, he should have known better." Petalpaw looked to her paws. She had respected the apprentice for his skill and his attitude. At least now the creamy she-cat had an answer to why he was missing this morning.
"Well of course it's not allowed," the golden brown tabby mewed in response, "and yes he should have known better. I expect that you won't follow in his pawsteps." Cedarbrook said, watching her apprentice.
"Of course I wouldn't break the rules like that!" Petalpaw rasped as her voice rose in pitch. She looked back at her mentor, only to she the tabbys expression lighten up.
"I know you wouldn't, I was just teasing." Cedarbrook purred getting up onto her paws, "you follow the rules of our clan and the Warrior Code itself very well, which is a very good part of you." The golden she-cat praised, "now let's get to hunting."
It was just about sunhigh when the duo of mentor and apprentice padded back into camp. More cats were present now, all coming back from training and hunting, and the sunhigh patrol was starting to meet up.
"You go drop off your prey at the fresh-kill pile." Cedarbrook mewed, gesturing to the pile with a flick of her tail. Petalpaw obeyed without question.
The creamy cat trotted back to the middle of the hard, earth clearing. "What about the elders?" She asked, realizing she'd forgotten about them. She looked back at their den, a thicket of soft ferns and bushes.
"Don't worry, another apprentice will get it done, besides we have a patrol to attend." Cedarbrook chimed and padded off towards two warriors near the entrance. Petalpaw stepped forwards, she looked back, feeling guilty about not bringing prey to the elders. She did it nearly everyday, and it felt wrong not. Just as the apprentice was about to turn, she saw a black cat exit from the den. She sighed with relief, Talonpaw must've given them something, most likely as punishment for breaking rules, but the elders were fed.
Petalpaw trotted over to her mentor and fellow clanmates with a spring in her step. "Hello, Grasswing," she dipped her head towards the pretty pale grey she-cat cat, "and hello to you, Heronfeather." The apprentice mewed, slightly out of breath, as she dipped her head towards the tall tom.
The group of cats exchanged greetings, discussed a layout of where to patrol first and which route to take, and headed through the camp entrance as a group of four.
"So, Petalpaw," the large grey tom bellowed in his low voice, "how's your training coming along. I'm sure Cedarbrook is training you well." He said, glancing over at the brown tabby warrior with playfully narrowed eyes.
"It's going great." Petalpaw replied respectfully to the tom, slightly intimidated by his large build. "And Cedarbrook is a great mentor, she's taught me so much!" The tawny replied in agreement.
Cedarbrook simply purred proudly, almost showing off to the tom warrior. Heronfeather nodded and showed a small smile, leading the group further forwards.
Heronfeather had been marking the trees lining the boundary between CharredClan and ValleyClan while the three cats sat idle, watching the line closely. "Doesn't smell too fresh over there," Grasswing started, peering across the flat ground that lead into ValleyClan, "they mark theirs almost every patrol."
"Maybe they haven't sent any toms out with them yet, or maybe they haven't made it here on their sunhigh patrol." Cedarbrook suggested with a shrug, even though she knew it was odd for their scent to be faint.
Petalpaw had just been listening when she turned around, hearing the grey tom return to the group. "I suppose they're running late." Heronfeather said, craning his neck for a view on the territory. "Hm, better just leave then wait around for them." He beckoned with his tail for the three to get up, and they followed, leaving the place where the borders met.
The way back was quite ordinary, which wasn't a bad thing. Petalpaw had managed to catch a robin on the way back, Grasswing caught a squirrel for herself as well.
"Well, Petalpaw," Cedarbrook mewed at the patrol padded back into camp, Heronfeather already on his way to report to Redwater, and Grasswing was heading for the fresh-kill pile to deposit her catch, "You've got the day off now, and that robin is yours to keep if you wish. Stay around here for awhile before you ask to head out though, ValleyClan may have been late for patrols so they might be out now." The golden and brown mewed softly.
The tawny apprentice dipped her head and headed outside of the apprentices den. She held the robin in her jaws, looking around for the others. Smallpaw was inside with Talonpaw, the two sharing prey. As much as Petalpaw wanted to ask about his trip outside of the camp alone, she held her tongue and decided against it.
"Hi, Petalpaw!" A familiar voice called, breaking the daze the creamy she-cat had fallen into. Tuftpaw padded over proudly, holding a mole in his jaws.
"Hello, Tuftpaw." Petalpaw replied smoothly, her voice soft and light, "how was your day?" She asked, flicking her tail over her paws. She laid down on the ground, gesturing for the brown tabby to join her.
"Well," the tom apprentice mewed, making himself comfortable on the ground, "I did some practice with Mothdust, and was told that we'd be doing some together tomorrow." He added between mouthfuls of his prey. "Also, when Mothdust and I were out training, we met up with the morning patrol."
"Is that it?" The tawny cat asked, lifting her head up from her robin.
"Oh no," Tuftpaw mewed, swallowing quickly so that he could continue, "we tagged along with them, and they passed by the border between our territory and ValleyClans."
The apprentice watched him with a twisted expression, "ValleyClan? What happened?" Her mind full of questions after what her patrol had noticed not too long ago.
"Well, we ran into a couple of their warriors, but Mintpaw was with them." He said, starting to lick the remains of his meal off his whiskers. "It was more of a stare down than anything, well Mintpaw looked at me with kind eyes, the warriors sneering." Tuftpaw concluded simply.
"How is Mintpaw?" Petalpaw chose that as the question to ask, she had others, but wanted to know more about the apprentice from a different clan. She wanted to know how the opposing clans cats had been near the line but didn't smell too fresh, but the question about the apprentice felt like less of topic. Mintpaw was a small, pale grey and white tabby, the group became friends at a meeting.
"Great! From what I could see anyways," the brown tabby said, getting up and stretching, "can't even see the wound anymore."
Petalpaw listened, pleased to her the news. "I'm glad he's better." Was all she said before getting to her paws, "I have free time now, want to join me?" The creamy apprentice asked, padding over to her mentor. "Cedarbrook I was wondering if-" her voice cut off.
"Cedarbrook!" Another voice called the warrior, the cat padded forwards, "there's been ValleyClan spotted and scented on out territory." The tom voice said urgently, "Redwater has asked me to get you and wants you to leave with him and Heronfeather."
"Sorry, Petalpaw," she started and got to her paws, "you have my permission to leave camp, just stay to the south!" The tabby warrior called over her shoulder. Cedarbrook was off, bounding towards the deputy.
"Well, I guess I'll go out then, wanna come?" Petalpaw shrugged, slightly uneasy after the sudden burst of excitement, especially being about ValleyClan. The creamy she-cat heading towards the camp entrance.
"Sure! I've already got my permission from Mothdust, he'll know where I am." Tuftpaw mewed happily, skipping along side his friend, "where do you want to go anyways?" He asked, running up beside Petalpaw.
"Let's go catch eels! Whoever gets the most wins!" She challenged, running off through the entrance and past many familiar landmarks. She skirted past large boulders and a twisted tree used for training. Petalpaw approached the rather slow moving river.
"Hey," the brown apprentice panted as he stepped up next to the she-cat, "slow down would you." He complained, nudging against her side playfully. "So, eels." He stated plainly, looking into the river.
"Uh huh," The apprentice nodded, dipping her paw silently into the water, "first one to catch five wins." She said, turning to her companion, waiting for the nod of approval. Tuftpaw nodded, she nodded back.
With a quick splash the two apprentices began slashing at the water in a fury. Droplets flew through the air, then one eel was pulled out. It landed on the ground and flopped helplessly. Two eels, three eels, all pulled from the river however the cats coukd manage. Petalpaw snuck a peek at the tabbys pile, Tuftpaw already had a collection of four. She was behind and needed to catch up. Thinking up something quickly, the tawny apprentice resorted to the only thing that came to mind.
"Whoa! Hey!" Tuftpaw yelped before being pushed further into the calm waters. Petalpaw laughed and pounced at him, trying to get him further away. Standing now on the opposite shore, Tuftpaw shook out his fur, "what was that about?" He growled at the she-cat.
"Well, I guess I slipped." Petalpaw giggled, swimming around river, feeling proud of her quick actions. "Come on, I'll help you back." She mewed, swimming to the other shore, standing in front of Tuftpaw. She looked at him curiously, he stared past her.
"Stay still." He whispered, flattening his fur and ears in fear, staring at what was unknown to the creamy apprentice. Petalpaw felt new fear run through her, not knowing what was frightening her denmate. She knew him and once he was afraid he stayed quiet, hiding himself in a frozen position. Turning her head around slowly, she began to see the figure. Bigger than anything she'd seen, it stood before them from across the river, staring at them with dark, brown eyes