The snow spiraled through the air until it planted onto an ivory she-cats pelt that sat beside the water. Or more of the ice, the once sparkling azure waters were now completely froze over, and snow was on top of it, but the cracked-looking ice was still visible.
She placed a paw on the ice, she'd never touched ice. It was hard, cool, it sent shivers up her spine. Her paw pad was numb in no time, and she withdrew it from the ice, flicking it and lapping at it.
"Morningsong," Arcing her head around, a large, bulky, tan tom approached, and she sighed.
It was Cobrafang. He fancied Morningsong, everyone did, really. She was beautiful, gorgeous. Her curled ears pressed against her head, and her icy blue eyes squeezed shut as he sat next to her.
"Hello, Cobrafang." She greeted flatly, her white fur bristling, but only slightly because she desperately tried to hide it.
"Hey, Morningsong." He chimed, his voice cocky which made her sigh even louder, "Happy to see me, I see."
"Is that what you got from that?" She quipped as she stood and tried to sway away, but he stepped in front of her, "Cobrafang, move, please."
"I just wanted to ask you if you'd like to take a walk in the forest..." He gradually leaned in closer to her ear, "With me?"
"As welcoming - and non-creepy - as that sounded, I'll pass," She scoffed, and continued by him, her tail swaying along with her.
To her surprise, he left without another word, his ears flattened and his tail swishing angrily, which actually made Morningsong crack a smile. She headed towards camp. As Cobrafang could be heard galloping away from miles, she continued to canter on, making sure to take in the beauty of the scenic forest and the beauties in leaf-bare. She sighed with a smile.
Striding into camp, she instantly saw her good friend, Blossompool, picking a piece of kill off the fresh-kill pile. She'd already eaten that day, so she just joined the black and white she-cat, sitting beside her.
"Oh," Blossompool licked around her jowls, "Hey, Morningsong."
"Hello, Blossompool," Morningsong greeted back, happy to see her friend, "How are you?"
"Should I say, how are you?" She humorously mewed, "I saw Cobrafang trot after you, so, did you-?"
"No!" Morningsong interrupted, disgust and surprise on her face, "Ew!"
"Okay! Okay, sorry!" She towered back over the mouse she'd pulled from the pile, chomping into it once again.
"No, I'm sorry," Morningsong mused, "I know everyone expects me to be with Cobrafang,"
"I know you hate him," Blossompool whispered, "I mean, not until just now, thats why I was talking so excitedly!"
Morningsong sighed, "Oh, good! I knew you didn't think Cobrafang was good,"
"Oh, everyone knows that, dear," Blossompool whispered, amused.
Morningsong laughed, when ever something bad happens Blossompool is right there to cheer her up.
"I've got to go, Pinespring really wanted me to see her kits, she said, 'One looks just like you!'" Blossompool mimicked, leaving a small pile of bones next to the fresh-kill pile.
"Morningsong?" Morningsong turned her head, seeing Spiderspeck, the deputy, padding casually towards her. His broud head held no emotion, his dark fur rustled with the wind. He stood in front of her, "Morningsong, I know you've already been hunting today, but its been a harsh leaf-bare, and the clan is starving, would you go out again?"
"Sure, no problem," She agreed, nodding at him, he smiled and nodded in return, before trotting off.
Morningsong happily obliged to do the task, hunting was one of her favorite duties as a warrior. Accelerating through the forest, she slowed herself when she scented a robin. She dropped into a crouch, eyeing the land around her. A small bird hopped about, Morningsongs hope vanished, she was a clumsy she-cat and wasn't well with birds, until she saw it had an injured wing. She kneaded into the snow under her and held her tail over the ground. She leaped, landing flatly onto the bird, penetrating her fangs into the small creatures body until it fell limp.
Picking it up, she thanked Starclan silently, before turning around. Then a loud yowl cracked like thunder through the forest. With no hesitation, Morningsong whipped towards it, dropping her robin and dashing towards the noise. A large brown tabby tom stood snarling at a badger. Her heart dropped, the only time she'd encountered a badger was when she was newly an apprentice. She didn't even stare at it long before fear pitted in her stomach, but this tom needed help.
He had a few minor injuries lining him, but one scar was gashed and bleeding severely, why was he taking on a badger?
"Get away from it, mouse-brain!" She hissed at him, now he noticed her, and so did the badger.
"It's trying to get my food!" He spat back.
"Well, get more food!" Morningsong suggested impatiently.
He just scoffed and jumped onto the badgers back, which made her finally join the battle. She knew that if the badger chomped down onto the tom, he wouldn't let go until the cat was dead. She clawed at the black and white animals face while he was occupied with the tom, which made him let out a growl in pain. He swiped a paw at her, a large claw ripping through her side. She hissed, now she was angry, but the tom dug a claw into the animals back, and then it surrendered, galloping back into the trees.
She was gasping for air and her rounded ears flattened against her head. Now the tom stared at her attentively. His yellow eyes held awe and amazement, and he stood as still as stone.
"Hi, I'm - I'm Mudstripes," He faltered, Morningsong looked at him, shocked, anger building in her stomach.
"Morningsong, so happy to meet you, one question," She spoke casually, but hints of anger spotted her tone.
"Anything," He agreed.
"Did you hit your head? Or are you just stupid?" She hissed, her blue eyes fogged.
"E-Excuse me?" He stuttered, settling on his haunches.
"You fought a badger? Why? Over some food? Your clan would have understood," She snarled, looking at the gash at her side, "Look, see this? This hurts, mouse-brain, I was trying to help you fight a badger? I guess I'm the mouse-brain one."
"Wait, I'm sorry!" He apologized, she just scoffed and turned away.
"And you're on my territory!" She added, wincing every time she licked a wound.
"Wait, stop that," He demanded, looking around frantically, then vanishing into the bushes.
She continued to lick the bleeding gap in her though. He returned with a wad of spider webs in his fangs. She looked uneasy and unsure about him. She did just watch him, and join him, in battling with a before she could object, he was soothing her wounds with it.
She looked at him softly, "Thank you."
"No problem, I was a medicine cat apprentice before I realized," He started, "This just isn't my calling."
"So you became a warrior. Apparently, this isn't your calling either, you don't fight badgers," She lectured, he withdrew from her and tossed the webs away, her wounds felt better, but still were sore.
"I do not need lessons on life from you," He laughed. She laughed too, then their eyes met.
They stared deep into one another, time, seemed to halt. The trees seemed to be rustling, but no sound came from them. Morningsong was the first to look away, laughing and then shaking her fur.
"Maybe... I'll see you at the gathering?" Mudstripes asked, his face uncertain.
"Yeah," She nodded, her voice small and hesitant.
"Good, I've got to go," He told her, they both snapped back into reality.
Mudstripes swooped and collected a large rabbit, a sandy color with long ears. Then sent me one last glance before disappearing into the timberland. I sighed.
"Morningsong?" I snapped my head around, fear rumbling through my body, Blossompool stood there, her eyes held fear and surprise, "What was that?"
Morningsongs eyes darted about, trying to think of an answer.
"Let's go tell the leader-"
"No!" She snapped, "Um, I was... Just..."
"That was a Sandclan cat! They've been hunting on our territory, speaking about starting a war!" Blossompool spat, "You're not going to see him again are you?"
"Yes, I am," Morningsong admitted, her voice now confident.
"Oh!" Blossompool laughed evilly, "You're spying!"
"...What?"
"Of course, you're spying to see if they're starting war, their battle tactics," She explained, her expression held excitement, "It's genius, really, it is."
"Blossompool, thats..." She trailed off, her ears flattened, if she told her the truth, her nosy friend would blabber to everyone about her seeing of the tom, "...Exactly what I'm doing..."
"I knew it! This is great, I'm going to tell everyone!" She yipped, without another word she was gone, vanished into the snowy trees.
"Great," She muttered to herself. She sighed.
This isn't what she wanted, she wanted to talk to the tom, she thought he was quite handsome. She didn't want to start spying on him! She shook off her coat and stood up, stretching out her legs before starting towards camp.
Maybe everyone will think Blossompool is crazy, Morningsong thought comfortingly.
She swayed into camp, an explosion of cheers and roars of encouragement erupted from a crowd of her clan mates that had gather around.
"Wha-?" She murmured, her eyes drifted from cat to cat, slowly realizing the cheering was for you.
"Let us all salute," I looked up at the high-tree, where my leader sat calmly, a mischievous smile on his face, "For our first spy."