Yarrowleafs eyes snapped open and he saw bright green eyes staring right at him. The eyes were bright and almost illuminated the den. 'Salem?' he thought to himself. 'Salem?" He hissed into the dark. The eyes blinked and he struggled to his paws. Salem flicked her tail, signalling for him to follow her. They exited the den and sat atop a moon bathed rock. "What is your name?" Salem mewed, she licked her paw and drew it over her ear. "Yarrowleaf" He mewed and his tail swished behind him. Salem nodded. Yarrowleaf turned his head to see icy blue eyes glaring at them from a bush. The eyes widened as they met and they quickly disappeared. He glimpsed a dark ginger pelt push into the apprentices den and his tail lashed. 'Flamepaw!' he growled. Salem tilted her head. "Follow me" she mewed and sat up. He nodded and sat up, following her out of the camp. They broke into the forest and the crisp night air stung his nose. Salem broke into a run, Yarrowleaf stared in shock for a second before bolting after her. They leaped over gnarled roots and small rivers. He stayed even with the she cat, his pelt brushing hers.
They stopped in a moon drenched clearing loaded with ferns. Salem purred as she whisked out of view. He stared with confusion as her ivy eyes burned back at him from the dark. They quickly disappeared and reappeared in a new dark spot. His tail flicked with amusment as he wiggled his haunches. Her eyes peeked from the dark and he launched himself toward them. He tackled her softly onto a patch of ferns and they purred with amusment, not exchanging a word. She stared at him mischeviously and a soft scratching sound coming from an oak tree. She purred and launched a piece of moss at his face and wiggled out of his grip. He shook the moss off and bounded after her mewing with delight. Salem erched to a stop and stretched her jaws in a yawn. "Should we get back to camp?" Yarrowleaf mewed and stopped beside her. "No, I think we can rest here." she motioned to a large bunch of ferns. She settled down and motioned for him to lay down with her. He nodded and curled up next to her. Her rhythemic snores and soft breathing slowly lurred Yarrowleaf into sleep.
He woke with a start. Bright sunlight beamed down at him and Salem. He shoved the drowsiness away and looked up. He cringed with guilt as he saw. Heronflight, Crystalgaze, Rowantail, and Hazelpaw glaring down at them. "I-I can explain" Yarrowleaf mewed quickly and nudged Salem awake. She lifted her head and blinked sleepily. "What?" She yawned and sat up. The blurr subsided from her gaze and widened with horror as she saw the patrol. "When we woke up we realized you two were gone. Flamepaw informed us that he saw you that night" Rowantails tail lashed. Hazelpaw looked down at her paws not saying a word. Heronflight continued to glare at them. "I knew we couldnt trust her" He hissed to Crystalgaze. Crystalgaze shouldered him away, looking sympathetically at Yarrowleaf and Salem. Salem avoided their gaze. "Im sorry" she murmered. Yarrowleaf nodded. "Me to" Rowantail motioned for them to follow the patrol. Crystalgaze and Hazelpaw flanked Yarrowleaf while Heronflight guided Salem.
They arriaved back at camp and Streamstar let out a breath of relif. Splashfern bounded to them and Flamepaw looked smugly at Salem. Splashfern purred. "Im so glad your ok!" She mewed. Yarrowleaf nodded his thanks and the patrol broke up. Salem hurried to the medicien den. The last thing he glimpsed of her was her long dappled tail pushing through the brambles.
Yarrowleaf sighed. "All cats old enough to catch their own prey gather under highrock for a clan meeting!" Streamstar yowled. The cats left their prey sitting around the camp and gathered under Streamstar. Salem returned from the medicine den her tail flicking. A bundle of borage sat by her paws. She hurried to the clan meeting. Yarrowleaf motioned for her to sit next to him. She glanced around nervously and dipped her head to him. She padded over to Glacierpaw and settled down beside him. Yarrowleaf gave her an understanding look as he glanced back up at Streamstar. "Today Brookkit has reached her sixth moon" Streamstar motioned for Brookkit to enter the gathering. Brookkit bounced into the clearing, her dark brown tabby pelt gleaming in the light. "I look up at Starclan and hope they lead young Brookkit through thick and thin. She has a true potential to become a great warrior and will stand bravely for the clan. Until you earn your warrior name, from this day you shall be known as Brookpaw." Brookpaws pelt quivered with eximent. Yarrowleaf glanced fondly at the new apprentice. "This warrior has helped our clan through the hardest of times. He has never failed to be loyal and has won every battle he encountered. He is strong, loyal, and brave hearted. I hope he passes these qualities onto Brookpaw. Yarrowleaf you will be the mentor of Brookpaw" Yarrowleaf stood in shock. He cleared his mind and proudly padded over to Brookpaw. He pressed his nose against hers. "I will try really really hard" she mewed up to him. Yarrowleaf beamed. "I will to"