Letting the gentle breeze ruffle her fur, Sharkpaw watched the small wavelets hitting the shore, making a soft lapping sound. She was jolted out of her reverie by the distinctive smell of the Tribe of Sand and Waves, marked on a small clump of ferns in the small sandy clearing where she was patrolling. Fury starting to cloud her brain, she tried to scent if there were other markers on her side of the border. Sure enough, there was another patch of unfamiliar smells close by. Wrinkling her whiskers in disgust, Sharkpaw yowled loudly. Seawing leapt down from an acacia tree, throwing down a birds nest as she did.
'Look, Sharkpaw, I found a nest! These are really good, especially when it has chicks in it like this one. When you can get them-' Seawing broke off, apparently remembering why she had jumped down in the first place.
'Right', continued Sharkpaw, 'I smelt Sand and Wave stench on our territory. They'll be trying to take the clearing back again, no doubt.'
Sometimes it seemed like Sharkpaw was the mentor, Seawing was just so forgetful. However, as soon as her apprentice had shared her discovery, the older cat seemed to shed her playful air and become more like the tribe leader, efficient and decisive.
'Run back to camp- bring Stormcloud and reinforcements.' said Seawing briskly, seeing the look on Sharkpaw's face, she added:
'No arguments. Now!'
Scrambling hastily through the leaf-litter, Sharkpaw hurried away. Ducking under plants and leaping over fallen branches and logs with the ease of practice, Sharkpaw had time to contemplate her mentor's strange behaviour. She had never seen Seawing, usually cheerful and outgoing, act like, well, a real leader. Although Sharkpaw had never been in a confrontation before. And now, she thought bitterly, I probably never will.
sssssssss
Bounding dejectedly into the clearing, Sharkpaw slipped through the narrow gap between two large boulders. Padding straight up to Stormcloud, she told the deputy what had happened.
'Yes, but I still don't understand why Seawing sent you up here, she could have just moved the markers herself….. There was no sign of a patrol?'
'Um, no, not really….' mumbled Sharkpaw.
'Never mind, it's good for these things to be treated seriously.' Stormcloud was more talking to herself than the apprentice, her translucent blue eyes fixed on something Sharkpaw couldn't see.
'Err… Stormcloud? Do I go back?' asked Sharkpaw uncertainly.
'What? Oh, yes. Take Clayfur and Laurelpelt with you. Burntpaw and Dewpaw can go too, I suppose.'
Made uneasy by the deputy's strange manner, Sharkpaw collected the chosen cats and headed back to the forest. Since when did Stormcloud act so, confused? Since when did the brisk and efficient deputy act like Seawing?
ssssssssssss
Unseen by either Sharkpaw or her patrol, a light grey tabby she-cat was watching from a tree. Her strange dark green eyes followed the apprentices every move. The slightest breath of wind stirred the dead leaves caked on the branches of the ancient tree, and knocked the old leaves around the she-cats paws, but she did not notice. Finally tearing her eyes away from the grey apprentice, Fernstar closed her green eyes and faded away.