Streams of sunlight fell across the rock floor and landed squarely across Cherrytail's closed eyes. She opened them slowly and squinted in the bright light. The warrior's den was almost empty except for Sparrowpelt who was still dreaming. Cherrytail rose and stretched out her long, slender legs. She left her warm, mossy nest and padded over to her brother and shook him with one paw.
"Get up you lazy furball. Leafstar told us to do the sunhigh patrol remember!"
"Just three more minutes…" he mumbled.
"Come on!" Cherrytail grunted and grabbed Sparrowpelt by his scruff and carried him towards the edge of the den and dropped him so he landed in the large drift of snow that had settled against the steep cliff. Sparrowpelt yowled and struggled to climb out of the deep hole he now was in. He got footing on a small ledge and sprang upwards, knocking over Cherrytail. He licked the snow off of his pelt before taking a swipe at his sister's face again. She just giggled.
"Let's get something to eat first. I'm starving." Sparrowpelt said and jumped down to a ledge that was only slightly icy. He and Cherrytail settled down near the fresh-kill pile and munced on a young rabbit together. Cherrytail looked up to see Sagepaw and Mintpaw pad over.
"How did you two do on your first patrol?" Sparrowpelt said through his teeth as he continued munching.
"It was fun!" Mintpaw said although he was shivering pretty badly. Leafstar, his mentor, padded up behind him.
"Grab some food and head back to your den." she said calmly to Mintpaw and Sagepaw, "Then wake up Bouncepaw and tell him that Patchfoot is waiting for him."
"Yes Leafstar." The two apprentices said in unison. The grabbed a small vole each and raced to the apprentcie's den. Leafstar turned her attention to her two warriors.
"Keep an eye out on the far border. I scented Tangle earlier. He shouldn't be causing problems but that doesn't mean we shouldn't be cautious."
"Of course." Sparrowpelt said with a bowed head. Leafstar picked up a finch and went to sit down near Sharpclaw.
"Come on." Cherrytail said as she shoved Sparrowpelt again. "Let's get going."