"Alright, we'll go and explore the territory," Petalfoot meowed to her apprentice.
"Oh, can we go too?" Sweetpaw begged.
Petalfoot purred.
"If Swiftbrook says you can," she meowed. Swiftbrook dipped her head to Petalfoot.
"Lead on," she meowed. Petalfoot trotted away, Shimmerpaw struggling to keep up.
"This is the RiverClan border," she meowed as a patrol came by.
"Greetings, Petalfoot." A golden she-cat dipped her head. "Not thinking of crossing the border, are you?"
"Of course not, Heatherpelt. ThunderClan knows how to respect borders, unlike some we could mention." Petalfoot spoke smoothly and dipped her head again.
"We'll be going now, if you don't mind."
If Heatherpelt detected the thinly veiled insult, she didn't show it. She waved her tail and the RiverClan patrol disappeared into the bushes.
"RiverClan are always trying to take Sunningrocks," Swiftbrook explained to Shimmerpaw and Sweetpaw.
"Those filthy fish-eaters!" Sweetpaw spat. "I can't wait for my first battle with RiverClan!"
As they walked back to the camp, they ran into Specklebreeze, Bramblenose and Mintpaw doing battle practice.
"Tuck your legs closer underneath you," Bramblenose instructed. "That way there'll be more power in your spring,"
"Good. Now attack me," Specklebreeze ordered. Mintpaw narrowed her eyes, but as soon as she saw Petalfoot, Swiftbrook, Shimmerpaw, and Sweetpaw, she jumped up. Specklebreeze whipped around.
"How was your first day out?" she asked.
"Great! We met a RiverClan patrol!" Shimmerpaw squealed with delight.
"Can they do battle practice with us?" Mintpaw asked.
"They'll be tired, Mintpaw," Swiftbrook replied.
"We should head in ourselves," Bramblenose added, giving his chest fur a quick lick. "Actually, Mintpaw, since we're out here, you can hunt and we can assess your skills. Show the new apprentices what you know." Mintpaw nodded. She dropped into a hunting crouch and and fixed her gaze on a thrush. She crept forward quietly. And suddenly, she leaped. She caught the bird in her outstretched claws.
"Great job, Mintpaw!" Petalfoot praised. Mintpaw proudly carried the bird in her jaws.
"You should see Skyrunner hunt," Specklebreeze commented, her voice full of pride in her littermate. "Now that's amazing." Petalfoot nodded. They padded back to camp.
"There's a Gathering tomorrow," Petalfoot said as they chose their prey; Mintpaw took her thrush to the elders. "You'll probably be coming."
Sorry I haven't been updating recently, but here's Chapter 5. There's a Gathering, wow!
Meanwhile, I'll be taking suggestions on what Dustpaw's warrior name should be. I already have something in mind for Mintpaw and Poppypaw, but nothing for Dustpaw. Thanks! ~Lily