Chapter Two

The RiverClan camp was bursting with lively noises of chattering as the five cats padded in, back from their hunting patrol. Rainshadow walked in the lead, his sleek grey-black pelt gleaming under the brilliant sun. In his jaws, he held two birds. Frostwater accompanied Lilypaw, who grasped a plump water vole. And bringing up the rear, Sunpaw bounced excitedly in front of Silverdust, proudly carrying a large grey-brown fish with his head held high, while his mentor held a small sparrow and a water shrew.

They deposited their prey onto the fresh-kill pile in the camp. The pile was already overflowing, and now even more food was added. Some RiverClan cats were getting fairly plump with the excessive amount of prey available in this greenleaf.

A lithe reddish brown she-cat bounded over eagerly at the scent of fresh prey. She beamed at Silverdust, who started walking over to her as she sent her apprentice to a job. The silver-and-white cat watched as Sunpaw dashed away and started chatting about his first hunting trip with the other apprentices.

"Great job, Silverdust!" the red-brown warrior exclaimed and trotted over. She picked out a vole from the pile and started munching on it. Silverdust gave a small smile and nodded, then chose a few minnows and started gulping them down as well.

"Thanks, Swiftwind," the silver-and-white tabby mewed back to her sister.

Swiftwind finished the vole and licked her lips, then looked over to Silverdust. "So how's your new apprentice? Is Sunpaw a hassle?"

"Ah, well, he's . . . energetic," Silverdust finally decided with a small laugh. She swept her tail across the ground thoughtfully. "A bit hasty but I guess his eagerness and fierceness isn't exactly a bad thing."

Swiftwind nodded slowly, until her ears suddenly pricked up. "Wait, what do you mean, hasty and fierceness?"

Silverdust mentally kicked herself, but decided to tell her sister. Fish-guts, I was just trying to forget about that.

"Well, on the hunting trip, Sunpaw was chasing something and we accidentally crossed the border onto ShadowClan land," Silverdust remembered while Swiftwind's eyes widened. "And luck made a patrol of ShadowClan cats find us right at that moment and we got into a small argument. Sunpaw started threatening them, but I don't blame him much. It was only a little incident, and they were also pretty hostile, after all." Except for the leader of the three. I may have to thank him for letting us go without punishment.

Swiftwind looked down onto the ground and sighed. "ShadowClan already aren't the friendliest cats, but now the tension between them and us is increasing. I'm not sure why."

Silverdust pricked her ears and aimed her deep blue eyes at the red-brown warrior.

"It just started with some glares and remarks at the border," Swiftwind meowed, ears flattening. "Then there were threats and insults, accusations of stealing prey, trespassing, and even stealing kits! Like that's even happened!" She sighed and calmed herself down. "We got dragged into the fights and started firing back, so it's also our fault. But they still started it."

Silverdust hummed faintly, thinking to herself.

"The Gathering's coming up soon too," she added. "I wonder how ShadowClan'll act."

Swiftwind yawned under the warm sunshine and flicked her tail. "Same as always, I guess. Cold and hostile." She stretched and then started to pad away at another cat's call.

"See you later, Silver!" she called back to her older sister. "I'm going to help Mother with something."

"Alright," Silverdust replied as Swiftwind trotted over to Honeyfire.

Silverdust sighed and continued to lay under the sun near the fresh-kill pile, the light making her glossy silver-and-white fur glow slightly golden.

Right, the Gathering, she thought. I hope I get chosen to go, but then again, I'm not sure how the scene between us and ShadowClan will play out.

At that moment, a golden tom padded over, his sleek pelt in the sun and dark emerald eyes shining. He halted in front of Silverdust and the she-cat blinked and looked up when she felt the sunlight being blocked.

"Hi, Lionstorm." Silverdust shifted, standing up now. "What is it?"

"I was just going to ask you if you'd like to go . . . uh, hunting with me," the golden tom replied and smiled.

"Thanks for the offer, but I just went on a hunting patrol," Silverdust explained.

"Oh, that's fine," Lionstorm mewed quickly. He tilted his head a bit, still gazing at her and offered, "How about a simple stroll around the territory then? You know, to get your mind off things."

Actually, possibly bumping into more ShadowClan cats is the thing on my mind right now, Silverdust thought, but didn't say it.

"Sure," she agreed, following the golden tomcat as he led her away from the camp, nodding to the deputy, Stonefall, as he did to inform that they were going. "So where are we heading to?"

"No real destination, we're just wandering," Lionstorm replied and slowed his pace to match Silverdust's. "Unless, of course, you want to go somewhere specific."

"Oh no, I was just asking," Silverdust answered, focusing on her surroundings. Thankfully, the way they were walking towards was fairly far from any border or ShadowClan land.

A large but calm river slowly appeared some distance in front of them, in the direction they were going. Brightly lit small trees and cool, lush tall grass were around them, while the refreshing greenleaf breeze ruffled their fur and carried the faint birdsong to their ears.

The two RiverClan warriors walked like that for a while, in a relaxing, comfortable and peaceful quietness. Silverdust gazed at the beautiful surroundings and swerved around the rocks and trees that blocked her way almost automatically, with Lionstorm silently guiding her.

However, suddenly, the silver-and-white she-cat halted and a strong, delicious scent filled her nostrils. She pricked her ears and glanced around, not being a medicine cat but knowing the familiar smell very well nonetheless. She started following the scent and at last, found herself face-to-face with the dark entrance of a cave.

Catmint . . .

I know it's not too exciting yet but it will be later! More excitement and drama and lies and romance. :D Anyway, please review. Reviews also help me update faster and who doesn't like to read reviews? :)