Halfmoon woke the next morning to Cloudfoot's forepaw being poked into her muzzle.
"Halfmoon. Halfmoon!" He hissed quietly in her ear. She growled, and opened her eyes to find that she was in the medicine cat's den. The memories of what had happened the night before rushed back like the river. Fallingwind was still there, curled up fast asleep behind her. When Halfmoon looked out the roots of the tree, she saw that the sun wasn't even up yet.
Rolling her eyes up to look at her brother, she waited expectantly for his question. He probably wanted to know why she had slept in Fallingwind's nest, and what she thought she was doing by staying that close to a FireClan cat.
Cloudfoot said nothing. "Its sunhigh. You need to organize a hunting patrol, and then oversee the apprentice training sessions. Whiteclaw took out dawn patrol this morning."
Guilt panged through Halfmoon. While she was sleeping, her brother had to take over her duties.
"I told the Clan that you were guarding our prisoner." Her brother mewed softly. "I know you're tired, but you have to throw yourself back into Clan life."
Nodding, Halfmoon climbed out of Fallingwind's nest. "Of course. Were Antleg and Turtlepaw on the patrol this morning?"
Cloudfoot shook his head. "I saw them by the nursery, playing with Berryleaf's kits."
Halfmoon gave herself a quick wash to get the FireClan scent off herself. "Okay, I'll take them. Thank you, Cloudfoot." She meowed to her brother, purring. Suddenly things didn't seem as bad as they did the previous night. When she finished, she quickly flicked her brother's ear with her tail and rushed out of the den.
The sun hit her with a wave of warmth. There would be a lot of prey out on a beautiful day like this. She saw Berryleaf and her mate, Owlfang, sharing tongues across the clearing, while their two kits were play-fighting by the fresh-kill pile. When the fluffy cream-colored kit spotted Halfmoon coming out of Cloudfoot's den, she released her sister's tail from her jaws and rushed over to the deputy.
"Is it true? Is there really a FireClan cat in there?" She asked, peering around Halfmoon fearfully as if Fallingwind were going to rush out of the den and attack her. Her round amber eyes were glittering with curiosity.
Halfmoon nodded. "Yes, Birdkit. But he's injured, so he can't hurt you. And a noble cat doesn't harm kits."
Birdkit's sister scurried to the cream kit's side. Her tan fur was sticking up with fury, and she pretended to spit. "Did you turn him into crow-food, Halfmoon? I bet you beat him bad!" She squeaked.
"No, Lizardkit, I didn't hurt him. He wanted a safe place to stay, and we AirClan warriors are noble enough not to let another cat die, even if they're from another Clan." Halfmoon informed the little tan kit.
Lizardkit, confused, mewed again. "Is hestaying?"
"Most likely. Poppystar says he can't go back to his Clan."
Birdkit shivered. "I hope Nightstar doesn't do that to me!" She mewed fearfully.
Halfmoon purred in amusement. "Nightstar wouldn't do that. Unless you keep asking questions and sticking your muzzle in places it shouldn't be!"
Spooked, the two kits immediately ran over to their mother and father, and peeked at Halfmoon from behind their pelts.
Purring in amusement, Halfmoon looked around the clearing. She saw Turtlepaw sitting over by the nursery, washing herself. Halfmoon called to her, and the mottled brown and white apprentice turned to look at her with striking bright green eyes. After flicking something from her paw, the young she-cat bounded up to the deputy.
"Where's your mentor?" Halfmoon asked.
Turtlepaw responded. "I have no idea. I've been training with Ashstorm and Dovepaw all morning."
Every cat in AirClan knew about Turtlepaw's blooming relationship with Ashstorm. There were rumors that new kits would be coming the next season, because that was when Turtlepaw and her sister, Dovepaw, would get their warrior names. Halfmoon also knew that Dovepaw didn't appreciate her sister's relationship with her mentor.
Continuing, Turtlepaw meowed. "Maybe he's still sleeping?"
Nodding distractedly, Halfmoon padded over to the warriors den. It was under a hollowed-out bush in the center of the tall trees, and through the leaves she could see a few pelts moving slowly with sleepy breaths. She stuck her muzzle into the enterance, and spotted Antleg's dark brown fur.
Stepping forward to press a silver forepaw into his fur, Halfmoon hissed in the tomcats ear. "Hey! We're going on a hunting patrol."
Groaning, the tomcat uncurled himself. After washing himself quickly do he didn't look like a tousled furball while hunting, he blinked at Halfmoon. "Okay. Let's go!"
"Is FireClan really planning an attack?" Antleg's amber eyes were wide with fear. He was walking alongside Halfmoon, while Turtlepaw was ahead, stalking prey.
Halfmoon nodded.
His eyes clouded. "Do you think the apprentices are ready?" He watched Turtlepaw's brown and white tail flicking as she trotted forward through the sparse forest of AirClan territory.
"They'll be at the age to be warriors in a moon." She assured her Clanmate. "And tonight I'm traveling to EarthClan to ask for help. Hopefully Robinstar will help us. They've been our allies in the past."
Antleg nodded, though Halfmoon could tell he wasn't completely convinced.
"You'll see." Halfmoon purred, suddenly confident in her Clan's ability to fend off the intruders.
