The two she-cats started to make their way back to the camp, birds chirping above their head. Now would be a great time to go hunting, release some of this pent-up energy that Snowfur seems to have. Bluefur looked over at Snowfur, who was steadily walking forward, ears barely flicking to indicate the birds. She still seemed to be a little cold, and Bluefur tried to brush away the fear that Snowfur would say something more about Oakheart.
"Bluefur? Snowfur?" Adderfang's mew sounded through the trees. The two turned to face him and the patrol he was leading, which contained Dappletail, Windflight, and Thrushpelt.
"We ran into a ShadowClan hunting patrol on our territory." Snowfur reported to him, and he looked at his patrol with an uneasy gaze.
"Thrushpelt" - Adderfang's order was brisk - "check ShadowClan has gone and isn't coming back." What about Thrushpelt? He's been following you around for moons. Don't tell me you haven't noticed. Why don't you like him instead of Oakheart? Snowfur's earlier comments rang in Bluefur's ears.
"I'll go with him," she volunteered, Snowfur casting her a glance that looked both exasperated and curious. Adderfang nodded in approval, and the two headed back the way that Snowfur and her had just come from.
Thrushpelt was quiet on the walk, padding just a little too close to Bluefur for her comfort, but she didn't say anything about it. "I can't believe you and Snowfur thought you could take on a ShadowClan hunting patrol alone." He finally broke the silence, purring in amusement to let her know he was teasing.
Bluefur forced herself to respond light-heartedly, "yea we can be pretty flea-brained at times."
Snowfur walked back towards camp with the border patrol, her and Adderfang planning to tell Sunstar what had happened while she was out with her sister. She didn't let anyone in the patrol see her anger, as she was still simmering over the argument with Bluefur. How dare she act better than me just because she doesn't have kits! I'm the one who's helping the Clan out by bringing more life into it! And she doesn't even try to give Thistleclaw a chance, she refuses to see him as anything other than an arrogant warrior, but he's so kind. He's probably playing with Whitekit as we're walking back. She isn't better than me! And what's she doing flirting with Oakheart, of all cats. Why can't she just settle for Thrushpelt? Why does she always think she has to be special?
Snowfur was brought out of her thoughts as she tripped over a root. Giving her chest a couple embarrassed licks as the patrol slowed down for her, she moved forward, determined to shake the thoughts out of her head, whilst also promising to prove to her sister that she's just as special and important. I will do whatever it takes to show Bluefur I'm more worthy of being a ThunderClan warrior - no, leader - than she is.
The patrol pushed into the ravine and Snowfur and Adderfang broke away to head towards Highrock to talk to Sunstar.
"Sunstar?" Adderfang called at the mouth of the den, it was rude to walk into the leader's den without his permission to do so.
He responded after a few heartbeats, "come in." The two entered the den, and Snowfur admired how spacious it was. She'd never been inside the leader's den before, and it was much nicer than what the warriors had. Though when she became leader, she'd have to share it with Thistleclaw, because she imagined she'd get quite lonely. She was used to being surrounded by other warriors.
"Adderfang, Snowfur. How'd the border patrol go?" Sunstar addressed his question to Adderfang, seemingly unaware that Snowfur hadn't been on the patrol. Or, in fact, that she was still a queen.
"We ran into Snowfur and Bluefur towards the end." He angled his ears towards Snowfur, indicating that she should pick up the story from there. Sunstar focused his gaze on her.
"We ran into ShadowClan scent on our side of the border. They were hunting a squirrel, so I challenged them. Bluefur and I ended up chasing them to the Thunderpath where they all crossed and went fleeing into their own territory."
"Bluefur and Thrushpelt headed back up towards the border to ensure they were gone for good." Adderfang added. Sunstar nodded contemplatively.
"So you challenged them, Snowfur?" He asked, approval shining in his eyes.
She puffed her chest out, happy to be getting the leader's praise. "I did, Bluefur was more hesitant but I knew we didn't have time to get patrol." Sunstar nodded again, before thanking the two for the report and dismissing them.
"You and Bluefur have always had a place in Sunstar's heart." Adderfang murmured to her when they walked out of the den, and Snowfur felt as though she was glowing. See Bluefur? I'm just as special as you.
Snowfur swept her blue gaze across camp, landing on her grey mate playing with Whitekit. He was stumbling around, pretending that Whitekit's faux fighting was actually effective. Snowfur purred with happiness, and padded over to join them.