Chapter 2
Cats surrounded them and hissed "What are you doing near our border?"
"Teaching my apprentice about our territories and borders." Lionfoot replied. Snowpaw looked up in fear and nodded. The ShadowClan scent was very strong. "I don't want a fight." He added. The ShadowClan cats looked at each other then unsheathed their claws. "We too, don't want a fight. After all, we would do the same, showing our apprentices the borders. But if we find you in our territory, you won't have an apprentice to train." The ShadowClan cat threatened, looking deeply into Snowpaw eyes. Then they padded away, laughing together at the mentor and apprentice. Lionfoot stood still until they were gone. Snowpaw looked up and mewed "Well this didn't go so well as I would've thought."
"Oh, yes, it's normally different. Usually, ShadowClan cats aren't as aggressive. It's weird. Then again, apprentice or not I would have done the same. Just protecting boundaries. Come on Snowpaw!" he called after her. Snowpaw turned away and followed her father away from the border. Next up was WindClan. They padded on across their territory but then a WindClan patrol was on their way. "Quick!" Lionfoot whispered. He rolled around the undergrowth and lay flat. Snowpaw did the same and lay staring through the leaves of a bush that was their only protection. She heard voices she guessed were from the WindClan patrol. "Do you smell that?" a tom said. The others stopped and Snowpaw shivered but then Lionfoot put his large paw on her head. "Yeah! Smells like..." a new voice said, and he tasted the air "RiverClan!" Snowpaw flinched and her eyes were drawn to see Lionfoot's reaction. His eyes were wide in fear, but he stood low. His muscles were tensed, as if he was ready for a fight. "Pretty stale." The WindClan warrior said again. Then she heard something unexpected. A newer voice arose "Will you two stop worrying already?" it was a she-cat "It's RiverClanClan territory for StarClan's sake! What did you expect? ThunderClan scent?" the two toms fell quiet at the second they realised the she-cat was right. Finally, one spoke, "You're right Yarrowtail."
"Then let's keep moving before Littlestar has our fur you mouse-brained fool!" Yarrowtail called, and they began to move once more. Lionfoot waited until he was sure that were gone then stood up. "That's the second time today! Why do we always arrive at a border when there is a patrol?"
"Maybe it's not your day." Snowpaw suggested. Her ears perked as she scented a mouse. She turned and lay flat. She spotted the mouse and crept towards it as slowly as possible then when the right moment hit, she struck. With a squeal of pain, the used her fangs to snap the mouses neck and carried its limb body to Lionfoot. "Well done!" he praised as he collected the mouse "You'll make a great huntress! Let's bring this back to camp." He suggested and trailed off, Snowpaw following him.
Back at camp, the fresh-kill pile was full as usual, since Honeywing was out hunting. Lionfoot told Silverstar what had happened with ShadowClan and WindClan. "Hmm. I don't think we should be worried, after all, they're just protecting territory." She told him "I'd do the same." Lionfoot opened his mouth to protest but Silverstar already left. He looked down then returned to Snowpaw. "She said not to worry." He announced.
"You sound like she said way more." She snickered.
"No, only that." He said " Still, our training for today hasn't ended yet.
"What?!" Snowpaw groaned. She didn't want to train more. What did they have to do now? Lionfoot waved his tail and she followed him hesitantly. They padded across their territory, explaining any weird things Snowpaw saw and asked about until she smelt something. "Lionfoot?" she cried "I don't recognise this smell!" Lionfoot immediately ran in her direction and began to sniff. It was fresh and very distinguishable. They followed the scent until they heard a cry. "Leapkit! Stop at once! This is RiverClan territory!" Suddenly, a kit flashed past them and a queen was chasing after him. Lionfoot pounced on a tree and used his powerful legs to spring towards the kit. The kit stopped in his tracks, finding the giant Deputy in front and him and his ears percked down in shame. "Leapkit! What were you thinking?!" the queen panted. Realising the RiverClan deputy was in front of her, she bowed her head and apologised "I'm so sorry! Told him not to run off like that or he might get into trouble. Speaking of trouble, hope he hasn't caused you any." she picked up Leapkit and looked ashamed.
"Don't worry." he replied, "Not enough trouble to make me angry but enough to teach my apprentice a thing or two about what happens when you run into another Clan's territory." his gaze flew on Snowpaw and she looked down, studying her paws rather than looking in her mentor's eyes. He continued "He'll make a fine warrior as long as he doesn't start leaping into other Clans. Must say, his name suits him." he joked. He and the queen laughed while Leapkit tried to struggle free. Then she finally waved her tail as goodbye and left towards the WindClan border. Guess that's where she came from. When she was gone, he started to leap around. "Lionfoot! What are you doing?! You already have a mate!" she sneered. Lionfoot didn't stop though, "Very funny Snowpaw! I'm covering her scent!" he cried. Snowpaw rolled her eyes but she could smell he was right. The WindClan's scent was very fresh; so fresh it hurt. It could confuse the cats if there was a real spy in the territory. So, she joined him. After a lot of leaping, the queen's scent was covered. "Time to tell Silverstar." he said.
"Again? Don't you think she'll get sick of it by now? It's nothing." she panted. Lionfoot ignored her and began to pad towards camp. Snowpaw trailed behind, exhausted. How much other-Clan trouble will happen?