CHAPTER 4

It was getting dark as WindClan camp came in sight. I felt like everyone could roll around on the moorland and purr heavily.

We entered the camp where Firelily sat, making the last patrol she stood up and when she caught our eye she screeched, "Littlecloud is back!"

Gorsekit and Cherryheart were out of the nursery and bounding towards us, Russetstar had exited the medicine cats den with Mothflower, Dawnpool was purring at Mousefang, Flowerwhisker was talking with Buddy, Whitefang was now in front of me, and Shrewclaw was rubbing her muzzle against Littlecloud's.

"You had a good trip?" he asked.

My tail flicked at my mentor. "Of course I did! It was so exciting! I fought cats and hunted a lot!"

Whitefang smiled down at me. "Good, good…" he purred. "Tomorrow we'll start training again, you go get some sleep."

I dipped my head at him. "Thanks Whitefang!" I bounced to the apprentices den and entered; lying in my nest I curled up and watched Icepaw and Deathpaw enter after.

My eyes got heavy soon and I drifted to sleep.

Wildpaw's eyes followed Whitefang, Firelily, and Shadeclaw was we walked along the RiverClan border.

Shadeclaw was going on and on about how he'd always sneak off when he was a warrior to this border because it was very beautiful.

Firelily's eyes were focused on the other side of the border though, as if she thought the RiverClan warriors were a threat.

A loud yowl made me flinch and Voleclaw, Willowstream, a brown-and-white tom, and a gray tabby she-cat came to the border, their eyes flashing.

"Yes, Voleclaw?" Firelily asked calmly, her eyes dark.

The brown-and-white tom stepped forward, pushing past Voleclaw I could tell he was older due to the white fleck on his muzzle. "Why so close to the border, Firelily? Are you planning an attack?!"

I felt Whitefang stiffen beside me and he leaned down to my ear. "The one talking to Firelily is Owlfur; he was my mentor when I was in RiverClan… The she-cat is Featherstorm."

As he spoke another she-cat and what I think was there deputy appeared. "What's going on here?" the deputy asked.

"This she-cat is Softwing, she's my sister and that's RiverClan's deputy, Ottersplash…" He was practically frozen in his spot.

Firelily's eyes narrowed. "You're the one crowding my warriors. Perhaps you're looking for a fight?"

Ottersplash smiled. "Gladly." She turned back to the larger patrol. "Are we all ready to rip these foolish WindClan cats apart?"

Softwing's eyes glittered in excitement, pointing mostly at Whitefang.

"Wait!" Whitefang called, stepping forward he looked at Firelily. "How about I fight Softwing?"

Our deputy shrugged and looked at Ottersplash who nodded. "Very well, Whitefang."

Softwing grinned happily and jumped over the border, facing Whitefang she didn't hesitate as she lunged for his throat, but my mentor jumped up and kicked her in the face.

The RiverClan she-cat fell the floor and Whitefang pinned her, she was smart though and used her back legs to hit his stomach repeatedly until he fell off and then they wrestled around, blood splattering the ground I felt myself look away.

A loud yowl made everyone fall apart and Russetstar was glaring at us.

"What do you think you're doing?" His eyes were narrowed, though not in anger, in sorrow.

Ottersplash growled, "Border fight, duh." Her eyes narrowed back at him.

"I apologize, Russetstar. RiverClan asked for a fight and Whitefang volunteered to fight Softwing," Firelily explained quickly.

Russetstar shook his head. "No, Firelily. Do not apologize for your foolishness, because that'll only make this worse." He looked at the RiverClan cats. "Get out of my sight or I'll rip your pelts off and make a nest out of it." As he spoke Littlecloud and Icepaw showed up behind him.

The RiverClan cats bolted, Softwing trailing after them.

Firelily's head fell and she looked up at Russetstar ashamedly. "Right… So I'll lead my patrol home…" She went around the leader and raced forward, us following.

When we arrived home Jaypaw and Deathpaw sat beside the apprentices den sharing a rabbit and I padded over.

"Hey, Wildpaw," Jaypaw mumbled while Deathpaw just nodded.

"What did you do today Deathpaw?" I asked, my eyes shining as I settled down, taking a large bite out of the rabbit.

Deathpaw sat up a little. "I caught that rabbit you're eating! What about you?"

"Patrolled the RiverClan border and it ended badly…" I quickly explained what happened and then turned to Jaypaw. "What did you do today?"

The blind cat looked at the sky. "Let's see… I hunted and fought RiverClan!" he replied sarcastically and then glared at me. "What do you think I did?"

My eyes widdened at him in surprise. "I'm sorry… I forgot you're stuck in camp all the time," I apologized.

Whitefang padded up to me. "Tomorrow we'll be clearing the apprentices den out, alright?" He turned to Deathpaw. "Same with you." Then my mentor padded away to Mothflower who yelled something at Jaypaw.

"See you guys later," Jaypaw mewed and then padded over to Mothflower as Icepaw padded over to us.

She sat down and ate the rest of the rabbit before turning to us. "What a day!" she purred happily and Mousefang walked over to us, sitting down on the other side of Icepaw.

"Hi guys!" he purred, his eyes shining. "I talked with Larkstar today…"

Deathpaw sighed heavily. "Exciting…"

RiverClan washed over me and I turned around to see Crookedstar enter the camp, Softwing, Owlfur, Voleclaw, and Featherstorm following after.

Russetstar greeted him in the middle of the clearing. "May I help you, Crookedstar?"

He nodded slowly. "It seems a fight broke out earlier, hm?" His eyes flashed at Whitefang.

The WindClan leader's eyes flashed in warning. "Yes. But I stopped it before it got too bad," he told Crookedstar.

"I smell fear," Crookedstar purred, his eyes shining as he looked at us carefully.

But Russetstar shook his head. "Then it must be your own warriors. WindClan has gotten much stronger, this is a fight you cannot win, Crookedstar."

Crookedstar growled at Russetstar. "After the Gathering we will fight at Fourtrees." He whipped around and exited, his warriors following.

Our leader nodded simply and turned to the Clan. "Firelily, I will be making the border patrol and you put our best hunters out there." Russetstar's eyes were blazing. "The Gathering is in three days, we must look fit and healthy. Morningtail take the medicine cats and teach them self-defensive moves and Cherryheart take Gorsekit to the side of camp and teach him where he should hide if they attack the camp."

Everyone was now hurrying around camp and Firelily called me over where Icepaw, Cinderleaf, and Dawnpool sat.

"What?" I asked, looking at them curiously.

Firelily nodded at them and announced, "You will be a part of the back-up patrol. Dawnpool will be leading it along and Mudpelt, Cinderleaf, Icepaw, and you will be involved. I am leading a patrol as is Russetstar."

I didn't argue and held me tongue, dipping my head. "Of course, Firelily."

Flowerwhisker padded up to me and purred happily, "I'm so proud of you!"

Wildpaw growled lowly, "Mom, I'm busy doing apprentice duties!" My eyes narrowed at her and she quickly padded away.

Cinderleaf gave me a look as she padded away as did the other cats, Whitefang padded up to me though.

"Yes?" I muttered up to him as he looked down at me.

Whitefang sighed and his eyes closed for a brief moment. "Be safe, kit. Don't try anything mouse-brained, alright?"

My tail flickered in annoyance. "I'll be fine, Whitefang!" I snapped at him, my whiskered twitching. "Can we go practice some battle moves though?"

He nodded calmly. "We'll go outside of camp and practice, just to sharpen your skills up," Whitefang purred as he led the way out of camp just to the side of the entrance where small rocks made a square around the training spot.

"I'll teach you a defensive move," White fang mewed. "Attack me with the Front Paw Blow; you haven't used that one in a while…" My mentor stepped back, getting low into a crouch, ready.

Sighing I quickly brung my front paw down hard on Whitefang's head, my claws sheathed of course.

Without hesitation Whitefang batted my paw away and leapt over me, turning on his back legs I felt his jaws clamp over my left back leg, not tight enough to draw blood though.

"Woah," I mewed, shocked. "That was awesome! You have to teach me how to do that!" Excitement bubbled in my gaze as I stood still.

My mentor slipped back in front of me and when I'd finished talking his ears pricked and he kinked his tail over his back, meaning to follow him.

Silently he led the way along the camp until we spotted the noise: Four ThunderClan cats, watching the camp in our territory.

Whitefang's tail tip quickly faced the other way, meaning 'attack'! And I did, landing on a gray-and-black she-cat who squirmed, but didn't make a noise as Whitefang tackled two of the bird-brains.

"Get off me, you gross rabbit!" squealed Honeystorm and I felt claws enter my side, pushing me off I looked up to see Whitestorm, the large white feline growled lowly as darted forward, but I wouldn't let him win and I jumped into the air, landing on his back I pushed off, landing on Honeystorm again.

This was exhilarating, fighting the ThunderClan cats and I sunk my teeth right into Honeystorm's back just as a loud battle yowl reminded me of Russetstar and Icepaw, Redstorm, and Dawnstripe's scents hit my nose.

Now Honeystorm yowled as Icepaw lashed out at her muzzle and I jumped off, raking my claw along her back I caught sight of Russetstar pinning Whitestorm, Redstorm helping Whitefang rip Sparrowpelt apart, and Dawnstripe bite down on Fuzzypelt's tail.

"Retreat!" Whitestorm yowled and the other three ThunderClan cats shoved their way past us and bolt to their territory while tripping over each over.

Russetstar stood up, his pelt covered in blood. "Everyone head back to camp to get your wounds checked," he ordered and led the way.

Wildpaw bounced after him, Icepaw beside him as they entered the camp.

"What happened?!" Mothflower gasped and looked at Jaypaw. "Cobwebs and Goldenrod immediately!" she ordered and my brother raced off to fetch it.

I began to lick myself clean of the blood, noting that I didn't have a scratch I grinned. That'll teach those foolish ThunderClan cats! I thought and then stood up, padded to Icepaw.

"You alright?" I asked, looking at her pelt curiously.

Icepaw sighed as she continued licking the blood of her pelt, spitting it into a hole she created. "I'm just lovely…" she muttered as her lovely white pelt slowly came back.

Redstorm padded up to us, his dark ginger pelt instantly reminding me of Cinderleaf. "Icepaw, I'm leading the night patrol in a few moments and Firelily wants you to come with us," he explained, nodding a hello to me.

My sister sighed again. "Let me finish," she told him and then licked quicker as he walked away.

I walked away too, knowing that it was time for me to hit the nest, but first I glanced over at the Tallrock where Buddy and Whitefoot sat, talking quietly.

Shaking my head I slipped into the small apprentices den where Deathpaw already slept soundly.

Wildpaw stood in his nest, circling around seven times before lying down, his back facing Deathpaw and his tail covering his nose he closed his eyes and drifted to sleep.

My eyes flickered open and I looked around silently, seeing the den was empty I yawned and began to groom myself quickly before standing and exiting to see the camp.

Deathpaw carried large bundles of moss in front of the nursery and dropping them, Whitefang eating a mouse with Dawnpool, Russetstar sitting beside Firelily talking quietly, Buddy and Whitefoot entering camp with prey in their jaws, Jaypaw sorting herbs while Mothflower continued to bring them out of the den, Icepaw throwing a moss ball for Gorsekit while Cherryheart watched from outside the nursery, and Blackfoot entered the camp with Scratchtail and Grayclaw padding in after.

Wildpaw bounced over to Deathpaw who was counting out an even number of moss to put in each nest. "Sorry that I woke up late. But I'm here to help now!" I purred happily.

My denmate glanced up at me. "Well you can start putting these in nests, okay?"

"Of course!" I agreed and grabbed the first bundle, slipping into the empty nursery I started with Gorsekit and Cherryheart's nest, filling it quickly I went out for more and filled the next one, and the next one, and the nest one, and the next one until they were all full.

Firelily, Shadeclaw, and Mudpelt stood at the entrance of camp, looking for someone to take with them on their hunting patrol.

"I'll come?" I offered quickly, standing in front of Firelily, smiling widely.

The deputy looked down at me and sighed. "Alright, Wildpaw. C'mon guys!" she mewed and turned around, leading the way into the Greenleaf air.

Surely is beautiful out here. The rabbits should be hoping, I thought and scented the air as Firelily whisked away to catch a rabbit.

"Mice!" I squeaked to Mudpelt, pointing my tail at the mice sniffing the ground for food.

Mudpelt nodded and got down low, sneaking off behind them I got in position and then the other tom roared, scaring at least five mice right into my claws where I killed them.

"Great job!" Mudpelt purred and nodded at Firelily's rabbit and then he padded away to get his own catch.

Firelily set down her rabbit, admiring my mice. "We will feast tonight!" she purred and then blinked. "Good thing to, we're about to have a fight…"

Oh no, I've forgotten about the fight… My eyes widdened a bit and I picked up my prey. "I'll meet you all at camp," I told Firelily and then raced away towards camp.

Mice on the pile now I padded up to Russetstar and looked up at him. "What will the back-up patrol do, Russetstar?"

The leader looked up at me from his meal and blinked. "Well, if my or Firelily's patrol are being beat up too badly you will travel to that spot and fight," he explained calmly.

"Is it possible for anyone to die in this battle?" My eyes flickered to Flowerwhisker who was scolding Gorsekit for some reason.

Russetstar shrugged. "If someone dies in the battle they die a warrior, you should know this."

Do you even care?! I thought, now panicked. What is Icepaw or Flowerwhisker die in this battle?