Aspenwing raced through the trees, feeling branches whip her face. She was on a hunting patrol, her first hunting patrol as a warrior. Pride flashed through her pelt, finally she was a warrior! She skidded to a halt as an unfamiliar scent hit her. She flicked her tail as a warning to the rest of her patrol. They all stopped next to her and crouched down.
"Trespassers, at least three, not far off."she hissed to her clan mates. Two of her clanmates slipped off to scout ahead. Brightwhisker, the senior warrior on the patrol, nodded.
"I'd guess four, two she cats and two toms."she mewed softly. Aspenwing nodded. Coalpelt and Leafpaw slunk back behind the bushes they were crouched behind.
"Four cats, skinny but battle-ready." Coalpelt reported. Brightwhisker nodded.
"Here's what we'll do." She meowed.
Aspenwing slunk through the undergrowth, all her senses alert for the sound of approaching cats. She could hear them blundering along a fox length away. She paused, letting them get ahead of her. She knew Coalpelt was doing the same on their other side. Suddenly she heard Brightwhisker's battle call, and she plunged forward, launching herself on the intruding cats. Within moments the fight had been won. She stood, panting over a silver pelted cat, one paw on his throat.
"What are you doing on Thunder Clan territory?" She hissed dangerously. The tomcat sneered.
"Oh Thunder Clan, I'm shaking in my fur!" He taunted. She pressed down on his throat. She heard a mew of alarm.
"Please don't hurt him, we don't mean any harm!" One of the she cats cried. Aspenwing sighed and let the tom up. He hissed and fluffed out his pelt.
"Stop it Speck, or I'll claw your ears!" The other tom warned. He turned to Brightwhisker and sighed.
"I apologize, we didn't realize we were on another cats territory. We're just passing through, despite my sons bad attitude." He sent a furious glare Speck's way and the young cat hissed.
"I am Shadow, and these are my companions. My mate, Frost. Her sister Nim and you've met my son, Speck." He nodded at each cat in turn as he introduced them. The two she cats gave polite head nods but Speck just glared furiously at the ground.
"I am Brightwhisker, and these are my clan mates, Aspenwing, Coalpelt, and Leafpaw you can come out now." She meowed to the young apprentice. Frost flicked her son over the ears.
"You see? They were just protecting a kit!" She growled at him. Leafpaw fluffed out in indignation.
"I'm not a kit!" She yowled. Brightwhisker flicked her tail at the young cat.
"Hush." She scolded her apprentice. She turned back to the strange cats. "I'm afraid you'll have to come back to our camp with us and explain to our leader what you're doing here."
Shadow nodded.
"Of course." He replied. The cats set off for the camp, Coalpelt and Aspenwing bringing up the rear.
"Do you trust them?" Coalpelt mewed softly. Aspenwing shrugged.
"I dunno, but its not like the four of them could stand any chance against the whole of thunder clan." She reasoned. Coalpelt nodded pensively.
"You're right, but still..." He trailed off. Aspenwing nodded. There was something about these cats she just didn't like.