Chapter 9:
"Softlily." Sandfrost's eyes shone.
"She told the truth." Softlily inspected the queen.
"What took so long?" Sandfrost panted.
"Dawnwing, Tigerstorm, and I were patroling when this apprentice interrupted us. None of us believed her though." Softlily replied. "Dawnwing and Tigerstorm went back to camp to get more cats."
"Thank you." Sandfrost turned to Lakepaw. "My clanmates will help my kits and I now."
"Okay." Lakepaw took a few steps back to her own territory. Her clan would furious.
"Before you go," Softlily sounded embarrassed. "If there anything I can get you? It's leaf-fall but.. . "
"Feathers!" Lakepaw remembered in flash what she had come out for.
"Feathers?" Softlily repeated. "If you say so." She cast a glanced at Lakepaw over her shoulder and padded out of sight.
Lakepaw waited beside Sandfrost for a few moments before the white warrior returned with a bundle of feathers in her jaws.
"Are you sure you don't need me to help carry one back to camp?" Lakepaw offered, not ready to go back home.
"We can manage." Softlily answered firmly. "Dawnwing and Tigerstorm will be here soon."
"Okay." Lakepaw sighed, picking up the feathers and padding slowly back to her own territory.
~*O*~
She scented Icebreath, Maplefall, and Dewmist but was in no mood to meet the most unwelcoming of all the Windclan warriors so she made sure to avoid them.
"I found her!" Mothpaw yowled, jumping around Lakepaw as she entered camp.
"There you are!" Fleetwind bounded over. "Disappearing twice in one day? What were you thinking?"
"She smells of Riverclan." Wolfspirit growled.
"Has she been seeing clan life in another clan?" Foxtail narrowed her eyes.
"No!" Lakepaw spat out the feathers and told her clanmates about Sandfrost and her three kits.
Flamestar had been listening closely on the other side of the clearing. "You were wrong in crossing the boundary, however the Warrior Code demands that we show mercy and care for the kits of all clans. You may attend the Gathering tomorrow."
Lakepaw blinked in surprise.
Maplefall's patrol had arrived part way through Lakepaw's explanation. Icebreath balked. "She might have helped the Riverclan cat but don't forget she wandered into Shadowclan."
"I understand that." Flamestar faced the white she-cat calmly. "But I feel she has redeemed herself."
"So is she still going to be punished for what happened in Shadowclan?" Dewmist lashed his tail.
"Yes. She must still care for Whitefrost and the kits." Flamestar answered.
Maplefall leaned over and muttered something to Icebreath.
Flamestar sighed heavily. "Lakepaw, go put the feathers in the elder's nest and go get some rest."
"Yes Flamestar." Lakepaw dipped her head and walked into the elder's den.
Tumblefoot yawned as she entered. "Just leave 'em there and I'll put some in Tanglenose's nest."
The tortoiseshell she-cat was sleeping.
Lakepaw put the feathers down, took a tentive step towards the elder before gently licking his ear and silently leaving.
~*O*~
Mothpaw, Echopaw, and Graypaw were in the apprentice's den when Lakepaw arrived.
She settled in her nest beside Russetpaw's empty one and tried to figure out what the other apprentices were talking about.
"Icebreath said that I'd never make a warrior since I'm not as fast as Mothpaw." Echopaw complained.
Lakepaw pitied the silver she-cat whose mentor was Icebreath.
"Jaggedclaw says that he's never seen a cat run so fast a me." Mothpaw boasted.
"Then how does Icebreath expect you to keep up with her?" Graypaw flicked her tail.
"Even the Shadowclan cats agree he runs faster than the rest of us." Echopaw snorted. "At the last Gathering Rainmist and Lizardclaw agreed he could win a race against the fastest rabbit on the moor."
Russetpaw slid into the den and lay down next to Lakepaw. "Sorry. Darkkit gave Brackenkit a nick in his ear."
"She did not." Graypaw glanced at her sister.
Russetpaw nodded. "Whitefrost was furious but she can't stay mad at any kit for long."
Lakepaw sighed inwardly. "Is she in trouble?"
"No." Russetpaw shook her head. "Crowclaw just told her to be more careful next time."
Lakepaw's whiskers twitched as she imagined the black and white deputy scolding the steel gray she-kit.
"I heard him telling Flamestar he'd like to mentor her." Russetpaw continued.
Lakepaw purred happily for Darkkit. Crowclaw was firm but he would make a good mentor for Darkkit.
"But Brackenkit's okay?" Echopaw checked.
"Of course. Just a little nick." Russetpaw assured her. "He seemed pretty excited about it. Heatherkit and Runningkit were jealous."