Thrawed River

Fireheart and Nightfrost were sharing a meal together when Whitestorm padded to them.

"I want you to take Sandpaw out on the dawn patrol," the great white warrior meowed. "Shadowclan has been scented as close as the Owl Tree."

"Shadowclan?" Fireheart echoed in alarm. Both brothers' eyes widen, surprised that there is some truth in Tigerclaw's words sunrises ago. "Just me and Sandpaw?"

Whitestorm looked at him in surprise. "Sandpaw's almost a warrior, and you can take care of yourself," he replied. "Plus, she can still learn something from you."

"Does Sandpaw know?"

"You can tell her," meowed Whitestorm.

Fireheart nodded and headed off to the apprentices' den. Nightfrost turn to his friend.

"So, why Sandpaw exactly?"

Whitestorm turn to him. "Sandpaw needs to learn that Fireheart is a warrior now, not a kittypet. She still disagrees with me about this. I'd figured she may accept that if she goes out in the dawn patrol with Fireheart. Although..." His whiskers twitched with amusement. "I wonder how she'll react to it if Fireheart is the one who told her about the patrol, and it's only the two of them."

Nightfrost nodded, agreeing with his friend's idea. Soon, Sandpaw padded to them angrily. "Whitestrom, why do I have to patrol with that kittypet?" Sandpaw almost spat.

Whitestorm gave her a disappointed look, making Sandpaw to look away. "Sandpaw, Fireheart used to be a kittypet. He is a warrior now. You can learn something from him since Bluestar was his mentor."

Sandpaw only grumbled.

"Sandpaw, remember what I said when Nightfrost and Fireheart first joined us?"

"Yes. 'I expect you to get along with them.' "

"Yes. Now rest because you have to wake up early the next sunrise."

"Yes, Whitestorm." The pale ginger apprentice padded away. Nightfrost turned his head to see Fireheart padding away from Runningwind and Greystripe.

Soon, the night patrol left and Nightfrost ate with Whitestorm. He padded to the warriors den for the night.


The black tom sneezed as Whitestorm accidently put his tail near his nose.

The white warrior turned his tired head to him. "Sorry, Nightfrost, didn't mean to do that."

Nightfrost yawned and shook his pelt.

"No, its alright. So, how was the patrol?"

"Well, we scented Shadowclan but it always the same group of scents."

"Same group?"

Whitestorm yawned and nodded as he settled in his nest. "Mhm."

Nightfrost decided to let his friend rest and padded to the fresh-kill pile to get a mouse. He made quick work of it and dug a hole to bury the mouse.

Soon after he was done, Sandpaw crashed though the gorse tunnel with an excited mew. Fireheart was right behind her, skidding into a halt.

A call sounded from below the Highrock. "Fireheart, Sandpaw, how was your patrol?"

Sandpaw bounded over to the Highrock. "The river's frozen," she burst out. "We could cross it easily right now!"

Bluestar gazed thoughtfully at the apprentice. Nightfrost noticed that Fireheart flinched when he looked up to the leader. "Thank you, Sandpaw," she meowed and leap down to speak to Tigerclaw about the news.

Fireheart leaned over and murmured into Sandpaw's ear. The apprentice nodded and head to the apprentices' den. There, they bumped into Dustpaw, who sneered at Fireheart. Sandpaw went along with him, agreeing to Dustpaw's insults.

Nightfrost curled his lip and was about to head over to them when Bluestar yowled from the Highrock at sunhigh.

"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey join here beneath the Highrock for a clan meeting!"

The clan began to gather in the clearing. Fireheart took a spot next to Nightfrost, waiting

"Sandpaw and Fireheart have brought good news. The river is frozen over," Bluestar announced. "We will take this opportunity to make a raid on Riverclan's hunting grounds, to send the message that they must stop stealing our prey. Our warriors will track down one of their patrols and give them a warning that they'll remember for a long time!"

As the other cats raised their voices in eager yowls, Nightfrost noticed his brother winced and look around the crowd to see Graystripe looking up to his leader, his fur raised in alarm and...fear?

"Tigerclaw!" Bluestar called above the din. "Are our warriors fit enough for a raid on Riverclan?"

Tigerclaw nodded.

"Excellent." Bluestar lifted her tail. "Then we shall leave at sunset." The clan yowled with delight.

As the yowls died away, Graystripe called out, "It feels warmer today. A thaw would make the ice too dangerous to cross."

The other cats turned to look curiously at Graystripe.

Tigerclaw stared down at Graystripe, his amber eyes puzzled. "You're not usually reluctant to fight," the dark warrior meowed slowly.

Darkstripe craned his neck and added, "Yes, Graystripe—you're not afraid of those Riverclan fleabags, are you?"

Graystripe fidgeted uncomfortably as the Clan waited for an answer.

"Looks like he's scared!" hissed Dustpaw from Sandpaw's side.

Fireheart's tail flicked angrily, as he called, "Yes, of getting his paws wet! Graystripe's fallen through the ice once this leaf-bare; he's not keen to do it again."

The tension in the clan dissolved into amused purrs. Graystripe looked down at the ground, his ears flat. Only Tigerclaw kept his suspicious frown.

Bluestar waited until the murmurings had died away. "I must discuss the raid with my senior warriors." She leaped down from the Highrock. Tigerclaw, Whitestorm, and Willowpelt followed her to her den, and the rest of the clan broke away into groups to discuss the proposed attack. Nightfrost stayed back. Even if he were almost as old as they are, he had only been a warrior for a few moons.

Nightfrost was about to pad away when he caught Bluestar's eye. The Thunderclan leader nodded to him and flicked her tail, beckoning him to join the group. Nightfrost dipped his head and pad to the group.

"Greystripe is right, the ice will thraw soon," Willowpelt spoke. "The air is warm enough from the sun to melt the ice.

"But we need to teach them a lessen," growled Tigerclaw, with his claws unsheathed.

"What will we do, Bluestar?" asked Whitestorm, turning to Bluestsr. The leader shook her head.

"We cannot have any more colds that can lead to greencough. But we still need to show Riverclan they cannot go into our territory like it is theirs. And there is still a possible threat from Shadowclan."

"How about we attack now, instead of sunset. If the ice is like what Fireheart and Sandpaw say, then we do not have to worry about it," Nightfrost suggested.

"Good thinking, Nightfrost. But what about Shadowclan."

Nightfrost was about to continue when Whitestorm spoke. "We should have a group stay here for Shadowclan and a party to raid Riverclan."

Bluestar nodded. "I will tell the clan now."

Bluestar leap back onto the Highrock. "Willowpelt agrees with young Graystripe," Bluestar declared. "A thaw is on the way."

At a distance, Nightfrost saw Graystripe lifted his chin and flashed a defiant look at Fireheart, who didn't seem to notice.

"So we will attack at once! We will leave a patrol of warriors here to guard the camp. We have to remember the possible threat from Shadowclan. Five warriors will make the raid. I will remain here. Tigerclaw will lead the raiding party. Darkstripe, Willowpelt, and Longtail will go with him. That leaves one more place."

"Can I go?" Fireheart burst out.

"Thank you, Fireheart. You may join the patrol." Bluestar was clearly pleased by her former apprentice's eagerness. Tigerclaw didn't look so happy. He narrowed his eyes at Fireheart, gazing at him with undisguised suspicion. "There's no time to lose," Bluestar yowled. "I can smell the warm winds myself. Tigerclaw will brief you as you travel. Go now!"

The raiding party quickly left. It was sun down when the party returned. Bluestar got to her paws.

"What happened?"

"The ice thawed and broke under the river's force." Tigerclaw reported. The party separated at the entrance of the gorse tunnel, with Fireheart padding into the nursery after a short while. Not long after, screeching came from there. Fireheart tumbled out with Greystripe, both clawing and biting each other fiercely. Cats in the clearing sprang out of the way as the fighting cats

Nightfrost and Whitestorm ran to them. Whitestorm grabbed Greystripe's scruff as Nightfrost pulled Fireheart by the the tail due to his small size. The two were still going after each other. Nightfrost grunted, gripping the orange tail tightly.

"Stop this at once!" Bluestar's stern yowl made Fireheart and Graystripe freeze.

"Fireheart, I want to see you in my den—now!" Bluestar growled, her blue eyes flashing fire. "Graystripe, go to your nest and stay there!"


Two in one(or is it three), just to make it longer. So poll is now:

Sandstorm-7

Cinderpelt-4

Spottedleaf-2

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