Chapter 7(:
It warmed Cindercloud's heart when, after sitting a long vigil wrapped in cobwebs, Fireheart had already made a nest for her—right beside his own. As she slipped in after being relieved by Whitestorm, a soft purr grew in her chest. Fireheart was washing, probably preparing for a hunt, and she joined him as Brackenfur made his own nest.
"How was your vigil?" He asked warmly, pausing in his washing to rasp his tongue over her ear.
"Long." She admitted with a yawn. "I could sleep for a moon!"
Fireheart's tail curled in amusement, and he touched his nose to hers briefly. "Get some rest. Maybe we can hunt together later?"
Cindercloud nodded. "Sure." She curled up in her new nest, drowsiness crashing over her as her eyes slipped shut.
She woke again around sunhigh, feeling refreshed, and ready to start her full-time warrior duties. No more hunting for the elders!
"Cindercloud!" Mousefur summoned her with a flick of her tail, and the gray warrior bounded across the clearing to meet her and Thornpaw. "Are you up for a hunt? Tigerclaw wants me to take a patrol, but I'm sure you can handle yourself while I train Thornpaw?"
"Sure!" Cindercloud nodded, following her senior warrior out of the camp. The damage was still visible on the camp walls, but with new-leaf only just beginning, Cindercloud knew their natural barriers would grow back soon enough. As soon as they cleared the ravine, they split up, and Cindercloud headed towards Sunningrocks. On the way, she caught a mouse, and as she got closer, she scented water vole. But even stronger than the water vole, was the heavy scent of RiverClan.
That's strange… She thought quietly, cautiously sliding forward. She totally forgot about the water vole when she spotted Graystripe—and the silver tabby that had pulled him from the water so many moons ago. Ever so quietly, she slipped away, feeling utterly stunned. After back up into the trees again, she turned around, and ran right into Fireheart.
"Hey, Cindercloud." He greeted her, looking puzzled at the look on her face. "Did something happen?"
Cindercloud blinked, unsure whether or not to tell the flame-pelted tom what she had seen. Then she found herself blurting it out. "I saw Graystripe with that RiverClan warrior!"
Fireheart's eyes shot wide, and he slapped his tail across her mouth. "Shh!"
Cindercloud blinked, shaking her head. "You knew?"
Fireheart sighed. "It's been going on for a while, but Cindercloud, you can't say anything…! Please…"
The dark gray she-cat sighed, giving him a small nod. "Alright. I won't." Then her whiskers twitched. "Don't tell me you're hiding a secret relationship with an enemy she-cat too?" She teased, flicking his shoulder with her tail-tip. To her surprise, Fireheart gave her a warm look.
"That's ridiculous." He murmured, resting his muzzle against her own. "The only she-cat I want a relationship with is you."
Cindercloud felt her ears flush in embarrassment, but her heart was pounding. "Fireheart…" She purred, pushing her nose into his fur. "You stupid fur-ball…"
They stood there for a moment, before Fireheart sighed. "I should really get back to hunting."
Cindercloud's tail curled. "Want to hunt together? I'm on patrol with Mousefur, but she's teaching Thornpaw right now."
"First one to catch three pieces of prey wins." Firestar meowed. And then, "Go!"
For once, Fireheart beat her in a hunting competition, but Cindercloud forgave him when he offered to share the large rabbit he had caught. Depositing her own prey in the pile of fresh-kill, Cindercloud joined him just outside of the warriors' den. All around, there was an air of tranquility. The Clan went about its duties, the older kits—Brindleface's pale gray tom and she-kit—tumbled and played outside of the nursery, the elders lay in the sunlight gossiping, and Whitestorm was getting ready to lead the sunhigh patrol, Brightpaw, Longtail, and Swiftpaw joining him. As Cindercloud watched, she saw Tigerclaw push his way through the gorse tunnel, stalking to the fresh-kill pile and depositing a squirrel and a blackbird, before taking a mouse off the pile and going to Bluestar's den.
Feeling Fireheart tense at the sight of their deputy, Cindercloud thought better than to ask him about it, and instead let out a soft purr. "Brindleface's kits should be apprenticed soon, don't you think?"
Fireheart relaxed again, his eyes glowing as he watched the two kits play. "Yeah," he agreed. "I wonder who their mentors will be." He shot a meaningful glance at her, and Cindercloud snorted.
"Yeah, right." She rolled her eyes. "There are plenty more experienced warriors than me, Fireheart. I'd bet a mouse that Dustpelt gets Ashkit and Sandstorm gets Fernkit."
The flame-pelted tom nodded. "You're on, then."
"Who do you think will mentor them?" Cindercloud gave the older warrior a disbelieving look, and he shrugged.
"If I had to guess…" He drawled, gazing around the camp. "I would say… Dustpelt and Sandstorm." Cindercloud began to roll her eyes, but Fireheart stopped her with a raised paw. "Dustpelt will get Fernpaw, and Sandstorm will have Ashpaw."
"Alright." The she-cat stood, stretching. "You're on. And I'm expecting a really juicy mouse here in the next moon."
Fireheart purred in amusement, standing beside her. "Shall we go out again?" He flicked his tail towards the fresh-kill pile. "If we go out again, every cat could get two pieces tonight."
"Let's do it." Cindercloud purred, bounding towards the gorse tunnel. "Whoever catches the most wins!" As she made her way out into the forest again, Cindercloud couldn't help but to feel reassured. They had survived the attack from WindClan and ShadowClan, now they could recover. With the new-leaf growth filling the forest with life, it was easy for her to see many moons of peace before them.
I just hope it stays this way… At least for a little while longer…
Kind of short compared to the last few chapters, huh? Well, it was kind of a filler, so I guess that's alright ^^''' lol. Let me know what you guys think, and I'm still open to names for Swiftpaw and Brightpaw, if anyone has any suggestions(: Until the next chapter!
