Ravenpaw

"Finally! I haven't been on a proper patrol in ages" I yelped when Wishpaw nudged me awake, morning sunlight had just begun to poke through the heavy ferns of the apprentices den. It had been a few weeks since the rat fight and Jayfeather had discharged me from his den, "If I have to hear you nit pick about how I organize herbs than I'm going to scratch off my own ears." The medicine cat had said after giving my leg one last check.

"Then come on then, Squirrelflight wont wait forever." Wishpaw said, her eyes bright with amusement. I was also happy to see Silverpaw waiting with Lionblaze, Daisybreeze and Berrynose. "Where's Coldfire?" I asked, looking for my mentor. "He and Morningdew are on a morning hunting patrol. Its been so hot this season that we need to search for prey earlier in the morning." Squirrelflight said, leading us out of camp and into the forest. The air was heavy and I could tell by the lack of clouds in the sky that today was going to be as hot as yesterday.

We walked along silently, sniffing for anything out of the ordinary when Wishpaw motioned for us all to hang back near the end of the line. "So are either of you having any luck so far?" I shook my head, "I haven't had a chance to meet with any Riverclan cats yet, Jayfeather was really strict about my healing process." Silverpaw snorted, "Berrynose may be Birchfall's friend but I don't think he knows anything about Sneakheart. Spiderleg and Batfang have been keeping to themselves mostly, and Snowstorm has been spending all of his spare time with Ivypool and their kits."

"What about Mudpaw?" Wishpaw whispered, keeping her ears craned toward the rest of the group. "Oh he is more than happy to talk." Silverpaw began, his eyes rolling almost out of his head, "But he doesn't know anything either. I don't know why Sneakheart even invited him in the first place."

"Maybe its just a coincidence, Sneakheart could have just invited every cat with in ear shot or something." I suggested, "Well I have some good news." Wishpaw said brightly, scooting close to us. "Frogpaw says that she has noticed some cats in her clan being more aggressive lately. More fights over food and sleeping space you know but she said the cats that were usually involved where half clan. Goosepaw said she thinks Sneakheart is hiding something from Rowanstar and that the two have been getting into arguments almost everyday."

"How is this good news?" Silverpaw grumbled, "Because mouse brain, it means that there is still cause for alarm and that if this is happening Shadowclan then maybe its happening in the other clans too." Silverpaw turned to me, his bright blue eyes holding a mischievous look, "Speaking of other clans, how is your mate doing brother? Has she reported anything?" I glared back at him, "Yes, she says your head is full of so much hot air that its going to float away."

"Oh stop it, Lemonshade told me just yesterday that the Starbreakers don't suspect a thing and that they are supposed to meet again soon. She has even convinced a few cats to ignore Breezepelt and Nightcloud when they whisper about Sneakhearts ideas." Silverpaw let out a quite laugh, "The Starbreakers, what a stupid name. Who names a club anyway?" I looked at our sister, "Did Lemonshade say anything else?"

"Nope, not really. Only that the summer heat is unbearable on the moors and that Riverclan's swimming lessons have never been more popular." I tried not to sound too disappointed, I hadn't seen Lemonshade in a few days and whenever she did come to see me she was distant and almost stiff unless other cats were around and then she was almost suffocating with her affection that I wanted to vomit. Granted she was sort of supposed to act that way but it didn't make it any less annoying. I didn't think I would have missed her telling me off as much as she did, at least then we were just beginning to be friends, Starclan what a mess.

Wishpaw was going to continue but Squirrelflight stuck her tail straight up as a signal for us all to stop. We all froze and stuck our noses in the air to try to figure out what she was looking for and then we smelled it, "Riverclan patrol" she said, a slight edge to her voice and her hackles stood on end. She quickly shook her pelt out and I assumed her reaction was out of habit, Riverclan wasn't exactly trespassing anymore were they? "Reedwhisker, what brings you so close to our forest?" Squirrelflight called as a sleek black tom emerged from the tall reeds that bordered our territories Heronwing, Blindstorm and Softpaw on his heels. "Good morning Squirrelflight, I am sorry to interrupt your patrol. We were just hunting, the heat has dried the lake considerably and the fish have been scare these past few days. Would you mind if we borrowed a squirrel or two?"

Reedwhisker twitched as he asked and I could sense that he was uncomfortable asking for help and it didn't escape me when my clan mates exchanged unsure glances but Wishpaw pushed past us and up to the two deputies, "Of course, this is why the borders are down right? To help each other in need." I stiffened as my sister spoke, she was out of place by pushing a decision on our deputy but no cat seemed to object and with a curt nod Squirrelflight looked at me and Wishpaw. "You are right Wishpaw, why don't you and Ravenpaw help them find some prey." She then turned back to Reedwhisker, "We can give up four pieces of prey and that's it, we are dealing with the drought as well."

Reedwhisker nodded respectfully, "Of course, we wouldn't insist on you feeding our whole clan. We only need a vole or two." Without answering Squirrelflight signaled for the rest of the patrol to follow her as Wishpaw and I stayed behind. "Ok, I know the perfect spot for voles near the holly bushes, or would you prefer squirrels? They would be up in the branches this early, can any of you climb trees?" I smiled at my sisters eagerness to help, her energy was contagious and the stiffness in the air dissolved quickly. "Well we don't know much about climbing trees, maybe the voles would be best." Reedwhisker said looking his patrol over. "Great follow me." She move to lead them and I began to follow her but she paused and whispered to me, "Why don't you take Softpaw to find mice by the large oak tree? Ill take care of the others." I stared at her in surprise, "Why would I do that? None of them can climb trees." Wishpaw rolled her eyes, "This is the perfect opportunity to talk to Softpaw you furbrain!" I swallowed, that's right I was supposed to be getting information from Softpaw. "I don't think this is the right time, I mean we cant talk and hunt at the same time." I pressed, heat spreading up my spine.

"Don't be stupid, I will help find the voles, don't even worry about the mice." I opened my mouth to protest again but she nudged me to wear Softpaw sat swiping a paw over her delicate ears. "Go on." Wishpaw said, moving away from us and spouting something about the weather to Reddwhisker and his group as they followed her into the dense ferns. I frowned after her but inside I knew she was right, so I took a deep breath and moved to intercept Softpaw as she followed behind her clan mates. "Hey um, I know a good spot for catching some mice around her if you wanted to…I don't know, hunt together?" I shuffled my paws nervously out of habit when Softpaw looked at me with surprise in her bright green gaze, my stomach clenched as I prepared for her to say no but then she smiled at me, "Oh sure Ravenpaw! I would love to go."

Now it was my turn to be surprised, "Really? Oh um, I mean Great! Follow me." I turned away quickly, hoping she didn't see the fall in my expression. This just didn't feel right, I don't know what Wishaw was thinking when she came up with this idea. "So you like mice then? I don't mind them myself, they aren't as sweet as fish are but they fill your belly right." She giggled behind me and I let out a fake chuckle. "So how is your training going?" I asked a few moments later, deciding to cut to the chase before I messed this up. "Oh its great! Heronwing said I am a excellent fisher and with all of the speed lesson Nightfang gives I think I am the fastest in our clan! When are you going to more of his lessons? I know your leg is better now." She pressed, moving next to me and looking at my leg, which now boasted a jagged scar from my flank and up to the base of my tail. "Well I was just released from my medicine den a few days ago, I am trying to catch up on some clan duties you know."

"Oh right, how silly of me." she laughed again, "So you are trying to show off for your clan by catching some extra mice huh?" she wiggled her nose playfully and this time I did laugh, a genuine laugh I didn't expect, "Of course, I cant let my sister get all the glory of helping our neighbors right?" I retorted and smiled back at me, her green eyes sparkled. When we got to the large oak I pointed out claw marks Silverpaw and I made when our mentors taught us how to climb trees, Silverpaws were always higher than mine. "He is stronger than me, sometimes I get irritated when our mother praises him so much. Of course he would be a good climber, hes huge!" I sighed, feeling my whiskers twitch with jealousy. Softpaw let her tail slide down my back and I stiffened at the touch.

"I have a brother too Berrypaw and he gets all the attention from our mother because he had greencough as a kit and he can sometimes get easily winded during training. Mother wont let him practice in Windclan at all because of the dust on the moors. I get jealous sometimes, as if Im not even there." She said, looking at the claw marks, my reaction to her going unnoticed. I was surprised to see the softness in her gaze, it was odd that a Riverclan cat would even care about such a thing. As we continued to talk about our training I noticed how relaxed I became around her, Softpaw was actually pretty funny and as we tried to hunt for mice I couldn't resist the urge to toss an acorn at her. It bounced lightly on her head and she let out a surprised yelp, I laughed so hard a bird flew out of a nearby bush shocking us both out of our wits. We looked at each other and laughed again, "We probably should have caught that." I said as the bird flew out of eyesight. Softpaw followed my gaze, "Well I would have had a mouse if you hadn't threw an acorn at me." she shoved me with a paw, "Yeah right, your tail was so high up in the air a mouse could see you coming a mile away."

She looked at her tail and back at me, "No it wasn't!" I stuck my chin out, "Was too!" she crouched down to the ground and narrowed her eyes at me playfully, "Ill show you who could of caught that mouse." And she lunged, her speed taking me off guard and before I could react she had me pinned underneath her, "Hey, I was just kidding!" I laughed, noticing her grip was light. She smiled down at me and we just stared at each other a moment before she looked away shyly.

Suddenly a curt voice broke us apart, "Um, am I interrupting something?" we looked up above us and my heart lurched as Lemonshade peered down at us.

Lemonshade

"Well am I?" I said again when neither Ravenpaw or that Riverclan she cat answered. Ravenpaw looked like a cat caught in two leg lights when he stammered, "We were just catching mice." The pretty Riverclan cat didn't even look at me when I jumped from the low branch I clung too and landed on the leafy floor with a thud. "If that the way you are taught to catch mice than I think Riverclan and Thunderclan need some serious help training it apprentices." I huffed, a bit harsher than I intended to be but when I saw Ravenpaw looking at this she cat the way he did I felt fire burning in my stomach.

"That isn't how we are taught to catch mice Lemonshade, we were just having a little bit of fun. That isn't a crime is it?" Ravenpaw said, his tone cold as he straightened his posture and brought himself to his full height, which was now a bit taller than I was. I could see so much of Nightfang in him that I flinched, "Why don't you go find my sister and your clanmates, they shouldn't be far from here." He said to the she cat, pointing to the direction I came from. "He is right, I saw them right around that bend." I said, pointing past some gun trees. "Oh right, ok. I guess Ill be seeing you around?" she said, looking at me briefly before smiling at Ravenpaw. He smiled back and nodded, when she had left I looked at Ravenpaw with a raised look, "So, care to tell me who that was?"

"That is Softpaw, they cat Wishpaw said would get me information from Riverclan remember? I was just about to ask her about the Starbreakers before you interrupted us." He sighed with obvious irritation and my temper flared, "You didn't look like you were probing her for information." Ravenpaw turned his sky blue eyes on me, "How would you know? Were you spying on us?"

"No but I know what I saw" I huffed suddenly getting the urge to run back to Windclan before Ravenpaw asked, "Whatever, why are you here anyway? Don't you have some super important warrior duties to be doing?" then I remembered why I had actually come, before I saw Ravenpaw acting like a loony stork I had decided to come and make sure he was feeling ok. I had even brought him some rabbit from the kill I made earlier that day, "I was actually here to see you mousebrain!" I spit.

A flash of shock froze his features but they quickly softened, "Really?" I almost laughed at how relieved he looked and I felt the anger subside as well, "Yes, is that so hard to believe?" he gave me an apologetic stare, "I brought some rabbit, I thought we could share it in your camp. I think it would help everyone think we are mates and-" I stopped talking when his eyes hardened again, "What? You like rabbit don't you?" he turned his head away and I couldn't see his expression, "Rabbit is fine."

"Oookay" I said my voice lingering a bit to see if he would tell me what had just happened but he just sat there like a rigid black stone. I moved to touch his shoulder, "Whats wrong? Whats with the sudden hostility?" he turned his head back around, a cold look in his eyes "Nothing, lets just go. I am sure Wishpaw and Silverpaw are back at camp by now. We can talk and see if they have anything new to share." Without waiting for me he stomped off through the ferns, I shook my head in frustration. Toms.

I carried the rabbit haunch back to his camp and I looked around for any sign of him and his siblings. They had found a secluded spot by the apprentices den and I padded to join them, ignoring the stares as I went. "Hey! How have things been here the last few suns?" I asked pushing the rabbit towards Ravenpaw who bit into it without a word. "Good, I don't think Reedwhisker knows anything about Sneakhearts plans." Wishpaw said between chewing a vole. "I asked how the integration is going for them and he says every cat seems happy enough. The transition has been difficult with some of the senior warriors but so far no complaints. I think Sneakheart would be targeting older warriors right?" she asked me an I nodded, "Yeah, Nightcloud doesn't talk to me much but Lizardfang said that Sneakheart wants the strongest warriors on our side. Breezepelt has been trying to get Crowfeather on our side but as you can imagine the two just end up fighting."

"What does Sneakheart want Crowfeather for? He is practically a traitor right?" Silverpaw said untactfully and Ravenpaw glared at him, "I cant disagree but Sneakheart thinks that if we get one of the cats who lead us to the new forest on his side then we would have more power." I shrugged, "I wonder if he is going after Tawnypelt then. I doubt it since she is half clan, even if her father was Tigerstar." Wishpaw said, and I nodded in agreement. "Ravenpaw, did Softpaw have any information?" Wishpaw asked and I bristled at the memory of him and her together, so close their noses almost touched. "I didn't get a chance to ask her, I want to try to gain her trust first." He said briskly, suddenly very focused on chewing the rabbit bone. "I think she trusts you enough." I mumbled and I felt him flinch.

"Good idea, the more she likes you the more she will be willing to tell. Are you seeing her again?" Ravenpaw looked at me briefly before he nodded to Wishpaw, "Yes, I am planning on joining Riverclan's fishing lesson tomorrow." I felt a hiss rise in my throat, "Actually I was going to suggest you come to my hunting lesson tomorrow. We need to be seen together in my territory more or Nightcloud and Breezepelt will never let their guard down around me."

"I think you are managing fine on your own." He snorted, "Wait Ravenpaw, I think that's a good idea. Softpaw has been going to a lot of our fathers lessons, I bet she would come to one of Lemonshades too, we could kill two mice with one paw!" Wishpaw said brightly and I felt a twist in my stomach, that wasn't what I meant. "I will go too, I think Spiderleg and Batfang are avoiding me intentionally and I want to back off a bit and give them some time to relax before I try to probe them again. Besides our assessments are coming up soon and I need to diversify my fighting style." Silverpaw said while scratching an ear. "Good idea, how about we meet again in a few suns and see if we have any new information. I will stick around here and see if I can get Snowstorm or Ivypool to talk." Wishpaw said and with that our meeting was adjourned.