Nightstream paced the clearing, anxiously waiting for his leader's answer. As if his thoughts had conjured him up, Leafstar emerged into the clearing and let out a yowl. Immediately the clan padded over and sat down, their ears pricked to hear what he had to say.
"Windclan!" Leafstar began, his voice dead serious. "We have been informed by our resident translator that the prey are planning an attack on Thunderclan."
Immediately every cat in the clearing fell silent as tension sprung up. A few growls radiated around the clearing and even Nightstream dug his claws into the soil.
"Who's going on the battle party?" Nighthawk growled.
"When is the attack?" Silvershine asked.
Leafstar raised his tail for silence as more cats voiced their thoughts. Once everyone was silent he spoke. "We do not know when the attack is, and we won't set up a battle party until we get word of the attack."
"But what if they are being attacked right now?" Nightstream protested, leaping to his paws.
"I'm sure Thunderclan is perfectly capable of driving prey out themselves." Leafstar retorted, resting his stern yellow gaze on Nightstream. "Until then, every cat must focus on battle training more than providing prey for the clan. While prey is important during leafbare so is our strength and we can't defeat them if we starve. Besides while we hunt we are depriving their so called 'rebellion' of much needed warriors. Now, Whispernight is going to sort out the patrols for tomorrow as well as the battle training session. There is no hiding the fact that we are at war."
The cats sat there in shock.
Then Nighthawk raised his muzzle, his amber eyes gleaming. "Windclan!"
Dapplespots took up the call his brother started. "Windclan!"
"Windclan!"
"Windclan!"
"Windclan!"
Nightstream felt fury bubble inside him and he joined in. "Windclan!" He dug his claws into the ground, eager for battle, eager to get revenge on Night for betraying him, eager to protect his clanmates. This what he had trained for. Now he must prove to his clan that he was a loyal warrior, willing to sacrifice himself for the good of the clan.
Whispernight rose to her paws and spoke in her usual quiet whisper. This time it carried authority and cut through the cheering. Immediately everyone fell silent. "Nighthawk, you are our best fighter. Take Silvershine, Leopardheart, Stormeye and Gorsethorn out for a battle training session. Do the best you can. The rest of you will hunt for the clan. If you happen to be by a border, patrol it and mark it. We must be on high alert."
Nightstream listened quietly, beginning to zone out when Willowheart nudged him. "W-what?" Nightstream blinked, snapping out of his daydreaming.
"Leafstar called you into his den."
"Why?" Nightstream tilted his head, confused and curious.
Willowheart shrugged. "I don't know but I have to go. I was assigned to Coralreef's hunting patrol." Before Nightstream could respond, the she-cat turned and trotted over to Coralreef, Rabbitpelt and Treefur.
Nightstream watched as the patrol left before padding over to Leafstar's den. He ducked inside and stopped, eyes wide. Whispernight, Dapplespots and Mossheart were sitting in a circle with Leafstar in the middle. There was a spot open for him. He padded tentatively over and sat down, curling his tail around his paws.
"Nightstream," Leafstar meowed with a nod. "Do you know why you've been summoned?"
"No, Leafstar." Nightstream meowed, dipping his head politely.
"You've been recruited," Dapplespots meowed.
"Recruited? For what?" Nightstream was curious now.
"To be a spy for the clans as a whole," Whispernight well whispered.
"Why?" Nightstream asked.
"You have an amazing ability," Mossheart responded. "You can speak to prey! Surely that means you can get inside information?"
Nightstream stiffened slightly. "I don't think they will trust me now," he responded.
"I don't care," Leafstar responded. "Any information would be helpful. Now, I want you join me on a patrol to see the other clans. You will need their permission if you are going to spy for all the clans."
Nightstream narrowed his eyes. Apparently, this was an order, not a request. He could see that this was not worth his efforts to protest. "Alright," he meowed. "As long as the other clans agree."