Not even five minutes had passed before there was a rustle at the entrance of the den and Rustpaw, Shadowpaw and Finchpaw pushed their way in. Shadowpaw reached her first. "Shadepaw," she mewled, scrabbling into the black and white apprentice's nest. "What was the eagle like? It looks as if it ravaged you." Shadowpaw flicked her black tail over Shadepaw's shoulders.
Shadepaw winced at the touch. "It was terrifying. I thought I was going to die."
"Well I'm glad you didn't." Rustpaw climbed into the nest and curled around his sister. "Where would I be without my brave sister?"
Shadepaw let out a mrrow of laughter. "Nowhere!" she declared, flicking her Rustpaw with her tail.
Finchpaw perched neatly on the brim of the nest and wrapped her tail around her paws. "Shrewfur said you'd passed the assessment," the silver tabby informed her. "A patrol found all the prey you caught while it was still fresh."
Shadepaw purred, comforted by the presence of her closest friends and brother around her. But it wasn't complete without Foxwhisker and Silkpaw.
As if reading her mind, the medicine cat apprentice charged into the den. "That's it!" she yowled. "Out, all of you! Shadepaw needs rest." Shadepaw was quite surprised how Silkpaw, who was half a moon younger that her, could sound so commanding. Finchpaw and Shadowpaw leapt out of the nest almost immediately, but Rustpaw took his time.
Stretching out each leg in turn, her stepped leisurely out of the moss and flattened himself against the ground. "Oh almighty Silkstar," he caterwauled, his ears flicking mischievously. "I am in your awe. Let me lick thine paw!"
Finchpaw and Shadowpaw giggled, their eyes alight with laughter. Shadepaw joined in, feeling greatly cheered by her brother's joke. "Hey," Silkpaw warned Rustpaw. "If you go anywhere near my paws, you'll have your ears clawed off!"
"You'll have to get to them first!" Rustpaw leaped onto Silkpaw and the two rolled about on the floor in a mass of ginger and white fur. As Shadepaw watched her littermates struggle in the play fight, she suddenly did not want to be a warrior. She wanted them all to be apprentices forever, laughing and playing in the leaf-fall sunlight.
Rustpaw pinned Silkpaw down. "May I lick thine paw now?"
The white she-cat pushed him off her. "No you may not!" she growled, shaking dust from her pelt. "I do miss play fights. It's good to have one once in a while." Her fun-filled eyes suddenly turned stern. "I do need you to go now. I have to sort some berries out for Sagekit."
"Alright," sighed Rustpaw. "Come on." He beckoned Shadowpaw and Finchpaw with his tail. "Goodbye Shadepaw, Silkpaw."
He and Shadowpaw left the den, Shadowpaw waving her tail in farewell. Finchpaw went over to Creekpaw and shared a few words with him, before touching noses with the flecked tom and following the other two out of the den.
Silkpaw turned to her supplies. "Hmm," she murmured. "I need to go out and collect some herbs for Sagekit to try."
Shadepaw jumped at the opportunity. "Oooh," she cried. "Can I come? I'm feeling a bit stiff."
Silkpaw looked doubtful. "Well..."
"Oh come on!" Shadepaw pleaded. "How am I supposed to get to the gathering if I can't even get out this den?"
"You should be okay, if we only go a short way," Silkpaw said, half to herself.
"So I can come?" yelped Shadepaw, excited. She wasn't sure why. Collecting herbs wasn't half as fun as hunting or even patrol.
"Yes, Shadepaw, you can come." Silkpaw glanced at Creekpaw. "We'll take Creekpaw too. After all, how is he going to get to the gathering if he can't even get out of camp?"
