The young she-cat opened her blue eyes and blinked.
It was dawn; time for patrol.
She stood and shook moss out of her bushy black fur. She shook her paw and exited the apprentice's den.
Her mentor, a ginger tom named Redclaw, met her in the clearing.
"Ready for patrol, Nightpaw?"
Nightpaw nodded. "As much as I'll ever be." She muttered, bristling against the chill of the frosty new-leaf dawn.
Redclaw sighed. "Come on, it's your first patrol as an apprentice; aren't you even a little excited?"
Nightpaw flicked her tail. "...sure. When are the others showing up?"
"Soon." Redclaw promised.
Sure enough, Snowpelt, a white-furred she-cat, her apprentice Pinepaw, a brown tom, and Jaggedfur, a light gray tabby tom all entered the clearing within minutes of Redclaw and Nightpaw.
"Let's go." Snowpelt meowed. No matter the situation, you could always count on Snowpelt to be positive and optimistic. She had obviously shed some of those qualities onto her apprentice, given that Pinepaw looked ready to burst with excitement.
Jaggedfur was more quiet. He was loyal and nice, but he didn't talk much. Nightpaw wasn't sure why, and she had never been rude enough to ask.
They departed from the camp and made their usual rounds. The ThunderClan border was secure, but when they went to check RiverClan, a strong reek of reeds and fish was fresh on their side of the border.
Redclaw bristled. "RiverClan's been hunting in our territory!"
"And they still are." Crooned a voice from behind.
Nightpaw whirled around to see a sleek brown she-cat standing on their territory.
It was Rockpelt of RiverClan. Next to her stood a gray tom named Slatefeather and a silver apprentice Nightpaw didn't know.
Nightpaw growled. "Get off of our territory, RiverClan scum!"
Rockpelt twitched her tail. "In RiverClan, we teach our apprentices manners. Then again, what can you expect from ShadowClan?"
"I'll show you manners!" Nightpaw growled.
"I'm sure you will." Rockpelt sneered.
She leaped towards Nightpaw, claws and teeth bared.