Chapter nine

"Ouch!" hissed Toadpaw. Flamekit toppled over backwards laughing. "Hey, Flamekit, don't sneak up on me like that! You scared me!" Toadpaw scorned playfully. "I was playing a game!" announced Flamekit. "I was from WolfClan, and you were being a rabbit! I killed you and now you're fresh prey for the elders!" He triumphed. Toadpaw pretended to pout. "Only for the elders? Man, what a shame!" he snorted quietly. They both erupted into a fit of laughter. Toppling over eachother and snorting and laughing. "Hey! You two should stop playing around like kits and get some work done!" hissed Harepelt. "Beg pardon sir," mewed Flamekit. "But, I am still a kit. So can I still play?" Harepelt snorted. "Ah, well, have your fun you two, just try to keep it down a little." He warned. "Thanks Harepelt!" Flamekit called. As the two were roughhousing in the leaves Mintpool rushed out of the medicine cat den. The young she-cat looked around the camp until she spotted Toadpaw. She rushed over to him. "Toadpaw! Have you seen Mothstreak or Hazelfang?" Toadpaw shook his head nervously. "Are there any updates on Pinepaw?" he asked. Mintpool laughed softly. "Yes, Toadpaw, he'll be fine. He just got a little sick, we're guessing from stirring up leaf litter." "Oh, okay!" mewed Toadpaw, happily. "Good luck finding my parents!" "Come on Toadpaw!" yowled Flamekit, leaping on top of him. Toadpaw shrugged him off, with great difficulty, and they began to play once more.

"Pinepaw, Pinepaw wake up!" whispered Berrypaw, prodding him with her paw. Pinepaw groaned and opened his eyes. When he saw who it was he sat up quickly. "Berrypaw! Why are you here?!" "Hush, you mousebrain!" she scolded. She looked around quickly. "I'm supposed to be bringing the elders water, but Icepaw said he'd cover for me for a little while." Pinepaw nodded. "So why are you here?" he asked again. She snickered. "I needed to check on you. I heard you had a fever." Pinepaw nodded again. "Moonwind said I caught something from stirring up leaf-litter." He licked his chest fur, embarrassed. Berrypaw pressed her nose to Pinepaw's flank. "I'm glad you're better now. Oh, and before I forget, We have training in the hollow tomorrow at sun-high." She turned to leave. "And you better be ready for me to turn you into mouse-meat!" With that she ducked out of the den and raced for the elders.