Tensions in camp were high. Almost the moment that Spiderstar disappeared into her den, warriors were putting themselves to work. They were heading into the forest in pairs to pull brambles and bring them to camp to weave into the barrier. Snowberry and Bonepaw left with Shinecloud, all of them carrying dock leaves to store whatever herbs they could find. Goldendapple was busily weaving brambles into the warrior's den when she felt a tap on her shoulder. Turning, she saw Whiteleaf.

The white molly was standing awkwardly, her tail low, and her eyes staring at Goldendapple's chin. Oh stars, I'd almost forgotten that I'd accidentally eaves dropped. "Hello Goldendapple. I heard that we're supposed to be on evening patrol?" Whiteleaf still wasn't looking her in the eye. "Oh, yeah. We are." Starclan, is it evening already? Looking up, Goldendapple saw that sure enough, the sun was starting to set. "Uh, yeah, okay then. We just need to go get Sunnose. I think I saw him by the nursery."

Goldendapple padded past Whiteleaf, but stopped when she noticed that the white molly hadn't moved to follow. She was just staring at the ground. Goldendapple took a couple pawsteps back and rested her tail on Whiteleaf's back. "Hey, I'm not going to tell anybody about what I saw. That matter is between you and Bonepaw. Nobody else." Whiteleaf lifted her head and looked at Goldendapple with wide misty eyes. She tried to choke out a thank you, but when it became clear that her emotions were threatening to pour out, she simply closed her eyes and nodded in thanks.

Goldendapple smiled at her gently, "I'll go get Sunnose. You take your time and meet us on top of the slope." Gently pulling her tail away, Goldendapple walked away. She trotted to the nursery, hearing some chatter inside. Pushing her way inside, Goldendapple had to take a moment to let her eyes adjust to the warm darkness of the den. When she could finally see, she saw Sunnose weaving brambles into the den, and Rabbitear carefully covering any thorns that faced inward with moss. Rabbitear, who was tearing up the moss and rolling it into balls, saw Goldendapple first and raised her tail in greeting.

"Hey Goldendapple. Come to help us?" rolling the moss at her paws to the side, Rabbitear stood up slowly, her belly heaving with kits. Oh starclan, is that what's going to happen to me? Goldendapple touched her nose to Rabbitear's nose, "No, I'm here to borrow my brother from you." She turned her gaze to Sunnose, who was pulling at a burr in his ginger pelt, "We've got evening patrol." Sunnose was still battling the burr, "Give me a second," he growled, "I've just gotta get this thing out." Rabbitear rolled her eyes, "ugh, please take him. He's hardly letting me help." She padded over to her mate, taking the burr in between her teeth, and she gave a hard yank. Sunnose yelped as the burr came loose, along with a few strands of fur.

"Ow! You could've at least given me a warning!" He whined. Rabbitear rolled her eyes playfully and licked the pale ginger tuft of fur down, "You would have squirmed if I had told you, so I didn't." She stopped and looked at him, "Now, why don't you go and keep the territory safe? I can finish it up here." She nudged him towards the exit. "You promise you won't do too much work? I mean, you're only a half moon away from kitting?" Sunnose pouted. "Of course I'll be fine. I'm weaving a bramble wall, not fighting a fox." Rabbitear gave a final push and Sunnose was out of the Nursery. Turning to Goldendapple, she winked," Keep him busy for me, would you?" Goldendapple nodded and left the nursery, once more having to stop for a moment so her eyes could adjust.

Sunnose sat outside, waiting for his sister. " Alright, who's going with us and where are we going?" And he was just fussing about leaving. Goldendapple rolled her eyes. "We need to wait for Whiteleaf outside of camp. She's leading, so she'll tell us." Trotting past her brother, Goldendapple made her way out of camp and up the slope. Whiteleaf wasn't there yet, so she sat down. Sunnose followed suit.

"So, how's it been with Rabbitear and Yewspots? I bet you guys are super excited." Goldendapple smiled at Sunnose. He practically grew with pride. "Yeah, We're all super excited. We've been coming up with names recently and I really like Gingerkit if any of them have a redder pelt. Yewspots likes Crowkit a lot and Rabbitear just wants them out of her belly so we can actually see them. Snowberry thinks that there's gonna be three of them. Which is perfect! One for each of us to spoil." Sunnose chuckled. He looked back to Goldendapple.

"Speaking of mates, is there anyone that my little sister fancies?" Sunnose teased, nudging Goldendapple's shoulder. Goldendapple scoffed, "please, the only tom who could be remotely pleasant to settle down with would be Hailmouse, and from what I saw earlier, it looks like Brownbirch is interested in him." Sunnose looked at her, eyes wide, "Really? Brownbirch is padding after Hailmouse?" Goldendapple looked to her side, somewhat embarrassed to be gossipping about their littermate, when she saw Whiteleaf leave the camp, "I wouldn't exactly say 'padding' but it looks like we're going to have to discuss this later." She nodded her head. Sunnose looked and sighed, "Alright. We can discuss how to tease her later." Before Goldendapple could tell him off, Whiteleaf pulled herself over the edge of the slope.

"Alright then, We are supposed to be patrolling the Windclan border. We have no issues with them, so this should be easy. But, we should still be on high alert." Whiteleaf nodded to both of them, a gleam of determination in her eyes. The younger cats nodded. Whiteleaf trotted past them, headed east. The three of them kept their ears pricked and they were scenting constantly.

"So, what did you guys think about the commotion earlier today?" Sunnose broke the silence first. "I thought, " he continued on," that Shellstar had to have some real stones to come into our camp and be that aggressive." Goldendapple couldn't help but nod in agreement, even if I wouldn't have worded it that way, "Yeah, there's a huge difference in showing that you shouldn't be messed with and just out right acting like a fox."

"I think, that he's desperate." Whiteleaf had stopped now. They were at the border between Windclan and Thunderclan. Sunnose tipped his head to the side, "Well of course he's desperate, but it's the beginning of leafbare. Everyone is desperate." He turned and trotted off towards to border to mark it.

Goldendapple turned to Whiteleaf, "He is desperate. I heard that Toadpelt is dying. That's his kin and his most experienced medicine cat. And if it's true that his cats are sick, then Riverclan is going to need all the help they can get." Goldendapple and Whiteleaf hurried to mark the other trees. Whiteleaf nodded, "Yes, but he did say at the last gathering that we had until the next full moon to give his clan what they wanted. Why make the deadline a quarter moon from now?" Sunnose trotted up from behind them, striking up a conversation with Whiteleaf about kits, but Goldendapple wasn't listening. She wasn't even aware of when their patrol ended. All she could do was think about what Whiteleaf had said.

Why did they make the deadline closer?

She shook her head, bewildered. I need to see him tonight. I need to know what's going on. Goldendapple padded into the warriors den, and started to lay down in her nest, when a black and white paw slammed in front of her nose. She jumped back is shock. Moonpatch stood over Goldendapple, her eyes glaring down at the den floor, a mouse dangling from her frowning mouth. The deputy dropped it at Goldendapple's paws.

"You need to eat."

Goldendapple pricked her ears, checking if her hearing was working. I need to eat? Moonpatch was looking at the den entrance, her paws scuffling the ground, as if she wanted to run away from their conversation, ". We need all our warriors at their best. Eat, then get some rest." Without looking Goldendapple in the eye, The dark mottled molly quickly left the den.

Goldendapple was dazed. What in starclan's name was that? Who does she think that she is, telling me what to do? Has she been watching me? Goldendapple was pulled from her thoughts when her belly started to rumble at the scent of the mouse. She took a deep breath, It's no big deal. She's probably watching everyone to make sure that they aren't doing anything stupid. So, after a quick inspection of the mouse, Goldendapple quickly scarfed it down, barely tasting it. Burying the bones, Goldendapple curled up in her nest, feeling much more tired and content.

Goldendapple sat on the halfbridge. She had left camp earlier than usual by using the dirtplace tunnel. I hope he'll get here soon. Goldendapple fidgeted where she sat, her ears pinned nervously to her head. She lifted her paw to groom it as a distraction, but she saw movement. There! Stonefrost was trotting across the shore, his eyes nervous.

"Stonefrost, what's going on?" She asked, her voice high and anxious. Stonefrost didn't meet her eyes. "Stonefrost, look at me." Goldendapple bent her head down and tipped his silver head forward with a paw, "What's going on? Why has Shellstar threatened Thunderclan?"

Stonefrost pale blue eyes met her, and they were glittering with worry. His tail flicked nervously and he pulled Goldendapple closer, wrapping his tail around her protectively. He's only making me worry more.

"His sister is sick." Stonefrost nuzzled her cheek fur, " and Puddlenose died." Stonefrost flattened his ears to his head and shut his eyes in grief," He went so fast, Snappod had only diagnosed him with greencough that morning. Goldendapple, He's scared." He choked out.

Goldendapple pushed herself away. "But what about the other clans? Surely they can help?"

Stonefrost shook his head. "Skyclan already gave us what little chickweed they could spare in trade for some watermint, and it managed to heal Dawnfur, but they had no catmint to spare. Shadowclan doesn't have a lot of herbs in the Greenleaf, so why would they spare any now? And Windclan is the largest clan. We don't even dare try to sniff their way. Thunderclan is known for their lush forest and they've lost numbers in the recent seasons." Stonefrost began to shake, his tail bushed. Fear and grief rolled off of him in waves.

He's right, Goldendapple thought, We've always had a lot more herbs, especially because of Jayfeather the wise, who planted herbs by the old twoleg den. And we lost a lot of cats in the past two leafbares. But I haven't really seen Snowberry's store to know how much we really have.

Goldendapple nudged Stonefrost's head back up. "Hey, shhh. It's okay, love." She cooed, hoping the words were true. "Listen. I'll go and gather herbs with Snowberry and Bonepaw tomorrow and I'll see what we have. If we have enough to go around, then I'll try and convince Snowberry to talk to Spiderstar." She placed her paw onto his, noticing how hers was slightly bigger. Good for catching fish Stonefrost had once told her.

Stonefrost nuzzled the back of her neck, then pulled away and looked her in the eyes. "But what if your clan doesn't have enough?"

"Then Snowberry and Spiderstar can explain it to Shellstar. I'm sure that he would have to understand." Goldendapple stepped back, her ears flat to her head. Let's just hope that Snowberry does have the herbs that Riverclan needs.

Goldendapple leaned forward and gently pressed her nose to Stonefrost's. "Have faith, my love." She stepped back and made sure to look happy as she purred, " I'll see you in a quarter moon." and she turned and ran down the shore, not stopping to look back. She couldn't risk seeing his sad pale eyes.

Goldendapple slowly crept through the brambles of the dirtplace tunnel, making sure not to leave and tufts of fur caught in the thorns. Starclan, it's always harder to sneak back in! With a final push, Goldendapple was free of the tangle of thorns. Alright, and now to my nest, where no one will know that I was out of the camp at all! Shaking out her pelt, she stepped out of the dirtplace and right into another cat. Goldendapple took a couple of steps back, shaking her head.Well, there goes nobody knowing that I was out of my nest.

"Oh, sorry, I didn't se-" She cut her apology short when she saw who she ran into. Moonpatch. Great Starclan, must it always be Moonpatch? , Goldendapple lifted her head higher and pricked her ears, making her look bigger than she was. "Oh, Moonpatch."

The smaller molly met her gaze evenly. "Goldendapple." She sat down and licked her paw, drawing it over her ear, "Sorry about that. I didn't expect to run into anyone since I hadn't heard anybody leave the warriors den." Moondapple continued to hold eye-contact. Fox-dung. Goldendapple's fur pricked nervously. "Uh, well, I was in the dirtplace for awhile. I think I ate some bad prey." There, that should get her off of my tail.

"No you didn't." Moonpatch stood up, lifting her head up high, her nose level with Goldendapple's chin. "I caught that mouse. It was fresh and healthy, even if a bit skinny." Her tail lashed back and forth.

Oh starclan, this runt is relentless. Goldendapple stood and arched her back. "Then I guess that it didn't agree with me. Now step aside," Goldendapple growled lowly, letting the tips of her claws show. " and let me get back to my nest." Without waiting for a rebuttal, Goldendapple pushed past the smaller molly and laid down in her nest, pressing her ears to her head. Starclan, that pipsqueak is going to make leaving easy.


This chapter was way shorter than I had hoped, but I don't know what else I could put in it. But, for anybody who's curious, Clovercloud is Shellstar's sister. She a lot younger than him and he's very protective of her.

Question of the day- What do you think about Stonefrost and Goldendapple's relationship? Also, If you review this chapter, I will give you a random fact about any of the cats in the story. You can choose who you want to hear about. But I will give you no spoilers.