"Heave!!" yowled Whiteclaw, and the apprentices strained backward with all the strength in their small bodies.

"Come on, one more!" encouraged Trueheart from the side.

"Heave!!"

With an almighty WHOOMPH! the apprentices fell backward, and the thing they were pulling landed on top of them. They all laughed, and crawled out from beneath it.

"Wow, what's this for?" Bluepaw asked excitedly, sniffing it. "It smells like humans!"

"It was ours when we were human," scoffed Thornpaw. "Don't you remember?"

"Uh...yeah." Bluepaw said defensively.

"Then tell me what it's called."

"Uh...um....a sleeping nest!" he finally crowed triumphantly.

"No, you stupid mouse brain! It's a sleeping bag."

"Bag, nest, same difference really."

"No, there's a big difference."

"Do I look like I care?"

Thornpaw scrutinized Bluepaw. His wide eyes clearly said I don't care.

"Well...."

"It's a yes or no question."

"Maybe."

Bluepaw growled, annoyed. "I want an answer!"

"Fine."

"That wasn't-" began Bluepaw, but Thornpaw cut him off.

"You wanted an answer. You didn't say which one."

Bluepaw snarled, about to spring on him, when Whiteclaw stepped between them.

"Whoa there," he said, glaring at each of them in turn. "Do my ears deceive me? Or are you two actually asking me for the privelage of taking care of my father for the rest of our time here?"

They hung their heads, looking apropriately abashed.

"No Whiteclaw." they chorused. Whiteclaw nodded and turned around to inspect the sleeping bag that was lying on the ground, and Thornpaw immediately tried to bowl Bluepaw onto the ground. As soon as he leaped, however, he realized his mistake. He had forgotten to factor in a small, but powerful third party in this argument.

OOF! Thornpaw landed hard on his back and found himself staring into Skypaw's soft blue eyes. Immediately, he relaxed.

"Well, hey Skypaw!" he said brightly. "Don't you look fine today! er...."

He trailed off.

"You stop it!" she hissed, and lept off him.

"Whiteclaw?" Silverstar called from across the clearing. She padded over to the apprentices and gazed down at them severely.

"I saw that!" she hissed, and the apprentices giggled. "Shoo!"

They all trooped off, in search of Grasstail. It was always fun to annoy her.

"So, Trueheart, Whiteclaw," Silverstar said. "How do you think it'll work? This is in one piece, right?"

"Yeah," muttered Whiteclaw. "It should work. We can even carry some of the apprentices if they get to tired. Or,"

And he lowered his voice so only his mate could hear.

"my father."

Silverstar nodded. "Right. So- you need any help?"

"Naw. My dad and I can get it."

"Good. I'm going to lead the sunhigh hunting patrol. Have you worked out the rest of the patrols for the day yet?"

"Yes ma'am!" he said lightly, and she laughed, butting her head against his thick shoulder.

"See you in a few!"

Nodding distractedly, Whiteclaw set to work on the sleeping bag. They carefully bit and scratched a line through the tough nylon shell at the back, and tore some strips off. They then (with much difficulty-paws don't work as well as hands) manipulated the zippers so that they still had the sleeping bag closed, but left an opening at the top. Using the strips of fabric, they managed to string one of the strips through the hole in the zipper, and then tried to tie them. However, they found that claws and teeth were inept at tieing, so they improvised. They got the apprentices to go and climb the two trees at the edge of their hollow. They went and carefully bit through the smallest twigs they could find, the ones that were slightly bendy. So then they wedged those in with the cloth, wrapping the strip around the twig a few times to make it thick, and stuffing it in. Then, they managed to tie the strips of cloth to the center of a long-ish branch. (Whiteclaw ripped two claws doing this.) They figured out then, that by careful finagling and twisting on their part, they could pull the branch across their chests and (if they kept up a brisk pace) pull the sled around with them.

"Yes!" crowed Bluepaw, who had been conned into helping with the project by Skypaw. "We've done it!"

"Who's we?" asked a sweet voice. They all whipped around. It was Silverstar.

"Whiteclaw!" she said sternly. "Have you made these poor apprentices do all the work for you?"

Confused silence.

"Just kidding!!" she said, laughing.

Whiteclaw laughed with her, and the apprentices managed weak smiles.

"She had a point, you know!" proclaimed Bluepaw.

Skypaw hit him over the head with a paw.

"Be quiet, this is so romantic!" she hissed at him. Silverstar froze, and Whiteclaw grimaced.

Skypaw looked abashed. "Well..uh..you see.....Ah, I think I hear my mentor calling!"

And she tried to sidle away with Bluepaw in tow.

"No you don't!" said Silverstar fiercely. "You take that back!"

"I'm sorry!" squeaked Skypaw, trembling.

Whiteclaw gently brushed his cheek to hers. "It's fine," he soothed, motioning with his tail for his apprentice and her friend to leave.

They did, and quickly at that.

"Dont' bother with them," he said quietly, just for Silverstar. "Don't bother with anyone. It doesn't matter what they say. I mean, look at Sunfur and Tigerstripe. She's so head over heels for him that I swear they should get married or something-"

Apparently this was the wrong thing to say, as Silverstar broke into tears and ran up to her den.

"What did I do now?" moaned Whiteclaw, and turned to Leafear's den. She was always good for advice.

Trueheart, then was left alone by his contraption.

"Well," he said to himself. "Just leave me alone...that's fine...."

As Whiteclaw walked into the medicine den, he found himself suddenly covered in water.

"Hey!" he said, spluttering. "What was that for?"

Leafear looked at him angrily. "BOYS!" she raved. "SO BLIND, ALWAYS SAYING THE WRONG THING!"

"What did I do?" pleaded Whiteclaw, shaking water from his pelt.

"UGH!" growled Leafear. "You mentioned Sunfur! You idiot! She ditched your ten years of friendship for some boy!"

"Oh," said Whiteclaw, at a loss for anything else to say. Leafear was still raving.

"AND EVEN IF I UNDERSTAND HER, EVEN IF I KNOW SHE'S GOING TO HAVE-" she suddenly stopped.

"Have what?" Whiteclaw asked, curious.

"Nothing. Go away."

"I can keep a secret-" Whiteclaw began, still curious.

"GO AWAY!" Leafear shrieked at him. He backed away quickly.

"Have what?" he wondered to himself once he was outside. "Hmm...."

This was the craziest, randomest chapter. Cool, huh? Well...what didya think? Please review!!!

Stealthclaw: -high five- First to review! nice!!! Hope you liked the chapter!!

Machiah- Aw, your so nice!! :)

Firestorm- Well...I hope this was awesome. :D

Until next time!

-Owly