Movement near the warrior's den caught my eye, pulling me from my thoughts. Squirrelflight arched her back in a luxurious stretch then padded to where I sat. "You can speak now." She mewed.
I got to my paws, shaking each in turn to rid them of the numbness. "It sure is cold." I fluffed out my pelt.
"It looks like it might snow later," Squirrelflight flicked her tail.
"Do you want me on dawn patrol?" I hoped she would say yes. I felt too excited to sleep.
My deputy looked at me and shook her head. "It wouldn't be a good idea so soon after the gathering." I let my head droop. "It isn't that we don't trust you. The dawn patrol is checking the Shadowclan border and if they see you among Thunderclan they might attack."
I thought about what the dark ginger she-cat said, realizing she was right. Rowanstar will be angry after returning to the camp and finding me gone. "Alright. Is there anything else I can do?" I shifted my weight from one paw to the other restlessly.
"Go get some sleep." Squirrelflight purred. "I understand you feel restless right now, but you need to rest. If you don't rest properly you will fall ill and won't be of use to anyone." I nodded disappointedly and headed toward the warriors den. Squirrelflight flicked her tail against my flank. "I do want you up and hunting by sunhigh though."
The outer branches of the warriors den trembled as Ivypool slipped through with Lionblaze and Cherryfall. They nodded their heads in greeting before letting me pass. The scent of sleeping cats washed over me as I stood waiting for my eyes to adjust to the gloom. Where should I sleep?
"Foxspirit, over here." Nightfrost hissed. I spotted his blue eyes glowing in the dark. I carefully made my way toward him. Something soft squished beneath my paw.
"Get off," Alderbark growled.
"Sorry," I whispered. The dark ginger tom curled up into a ball, wrapping his tail over his nose. I managed to reach Nightfrost without stepping on anyone else.
"You can sleep in my nest," the black and white tom got to his paws. "I'm due to go with the dawn patrol."
I blinked at the young tom in gratitude before curling up in his nest and drifting off.
Cold light filtered through the branches waking me. "What time is it?" I squeaked leaping to my paws.
"Oh good. You're up." I spun around. Sparkheart was standing in the entrance to the den, amusement shining in her eyes. "Come on, you're going hunting with me, Cinderheart, Logpaw and Rainstep."
"Okay," I mewed giving my fur a few swift licks then bounded after her.
My clanmates were buzzing about the hollow like bees around the hive. I spotted Sweetfoot outside the nursery, her golden gaze watching over our kits as they tumbled about with Spiritkit. "Foxspirit is awake!" Foxkit yowled disentangling himself from Cloudedkit and Spiritkit. I watched my son charge across the clearing, his tail stuck up in the air. He crashed into me, knocking me to the ground. I grunted as the air left my lungs.
"Foxkit! That wasn't polite." Spiritkit meowed reproachfully.
"It's fine," I purred. Batting the small red tabby away with a sheathed paw. "What are you doing today?"
"Spiritkit is showing us how to stalk," Foxkit's eyes shone excitedly. I felt a rush of affection for the young tom.
"She was until you decided to pounce on me," Cloudedkit called from where she sat, her black and white pelt fluffed up and dusty. I twitched my whiskers in amusement. This was the first time I saw her acting like a kit.
"Are you coming, Foxspirit." Rainstep called. I looked at the mottled gray warrior anxiously, but relaxed when I spotted the amused gleam in his eyes.
"I'm coming," I called back.
"Where are you going?" Foxkit asked bouncing around me.
"I'm going hunting with Rainstep, Sparkheart, Cinderheart and Logpaw." I answered padding across the hollow.
"Can I come with you?" Foxkit hurried after me.
"You know you can't leave the camp until you are apprenticed," I told him gently.
"But I bet I could catch the biggest rabbit ever!" Foxkit argued good-naturedly.
"And you will once you are apprenticed," I mewed more firmly. Foxkit's tail drooped; I nuzzled the top of his head. "Why don't you go practice your hunter crouch then you can show me when I get back?"
"Alright," Foxkit turned and scampered back to the other kits.
