She had talked to her senior warriors, deputy and medicine cat, and decided that they would keep up regular patrols and keep a eye on the Voleclan border. As Rowanscar's hunting patrol entered the camp through the gorse barrier, she noticed the dawn patrol just a few fox-lengths behind.
"Any sign of Voleclan?" She asked.
"They have been remarking their borders and keeping it fresh, and they have posted a permanent guard. We should be doing the same, they are not going to let this go easily. I think a battle is coming." Finished Gooseberry.
"Get right on it then, and I want extra battle training for all warriors and apprentices, and some cat must strengthen the gorse tunnel and the thorn barrier. We must make sure that they cannot attack the camp directly, and I want a guard to watch the camp, Yellowbird will do for now, and Brambleberry can relieve him later." Replied Cloverstar, ticking off duties as they came into her mind. "I must talk to Moonshine".
"Of course" replied Gooseberry. She padded on until she came to a cave covered in ivy, moss and brambles. Inside, Moonshine was organizing her herb stores and teaching Fawnpaw how to distinguish the usable herbs from the non-usable ones.
"Cloverstar," Moonshine welcomed her, "I'll be over in a moment." As she made her way towards her, Cloverstar sensed worry prickling Moonshine's pelt, she must think a battles coming too, she thought.
"Moonshine, I must know, have you had any warnings from Starclan? Have they told you anything about the threat from Voleclan?" Cloverstar asked.
"I haven't, and I'm taking it you haven't either or you wouldn't have asked. No, our ancesters are silent, but commun sense tells me there will be a battle." Moonshine replied.
Cloverstar sighed. Willowstar was making a fuss about nothing. A little scent drifted over the border, that was all. Still, she'd have to talk to her clan. "Thank you Moonshine, I'll see you later." She meowed as she left the medicine cat's den and jumped up to the Hightree to stand on the branch and look over onto her clanmates.
"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather here beneth the Hightree for a clan meeting." as she called out the familiar call, she saw cats emerging from their dens and from the training hallow, to come to hear her words. "As you know, the threat from Voleclan looms over us and we are preparing to fight. Every cat must be prepared to meet this threat. Moonshine and Gooseberry agree and say that there will be a battle, and I trust their judgement completely." She paused to look at her deputy and medicine cat with pride. No cat could ever have better cats. "Moonshine, are you ready for a battle?" She asked. Privately, she knew what she would say. Moonshine was always ready, but her clanmates needed to hear it from her.
"Yes, me and Fawnpaw have a bunch of herbs, but we could do with a little more moss." She replied, and the look she gave her showed the understanding of why her leader had asked.
"Marigoldpaw can gather some for you before returning to her duties." Cloverstar meowed. "And every cat must be battle ready. All apprentices will be participating in the battle, so you must be ready." She heard squeals of excitement come from the cats below her, and saw the apprentices wiggle excitedly as they heared the news of battle. "If Voleclan want a battle," she finished "they'll get one". As she jumped down from the Hightree, she heard Gooseberry giving out orders.
"Nettleleaf, you can organize a training scheduel for apprentices, and Darkshadow, you do the same for the warriors. Russetstorm, you can start re-enforcing the barriers around the camp. Take Owltalon, Harespring and Honeyriver. Maplefoot, you take out a hunting party, take two or three warriors with you, we need to restock the freshkill pile. Yellowbird, keep watch for intruders at the top of the ravine, Brambleberry can replace you later. And Marigoldpaw, don't forget about the moss, then join your denmates at the training hollow." He finished, and all warriors separated for their duties.
"What about us" Foxkit asked.
"Yeah, we wanna fight too." Badgerkit added.
"We're about as old as Duskpaw, we should be able to fight too!" Wolfkit declared.
"No, we need you to stay in camp too protect the nursery." Meowed Cloverstar. "Remember Winddapple just had her kits, and Softkit, Mintkit, Silverkit, Sweetkit and Lionkit are too small too protect themselves, and Robinkit and Streamkit can't do it without you. You must protect the kits and their mothers. Can you do it?" Cloverstar asked her kits. Privately, she knew the queens and elders wouldn't be harmed in any way by anyone, but she loved the look of determination on her kits as they replied.
"Of course we will, Cloverstar." Badgerkit answered. "We won't let anything happen to them, will we guys?"
"Never! Those Voleclan scum will never touch a hair on their pelts!" Declared Foxkit.
"Yeah, we'll be the best protectors ever!" Added Wolfkit, and they scampered off towards the nursery to tell the queens and Robinkit and Streamkit their mission.
"We won't let them harm you. Cloverstar put us in charge of the nursery." Meowed Foxkit, as Cloverstar padded away. As the oldest in the nursery, her kits would be the next to become apprentices, and Cloverstar couldn't be more proud. I'll make sure to give them the best mentors. She promised herself.