"Let all cats old enough to climb trees gather beneath the Hightree!" Her leader's voice rang around the clearing. Flamepaw looked up from her mouse up at her leader. Ashpaw and Tidalpaw rose to their paws beside her. She glanced around the camp, spotting the newest warriors, Silvertail and Blacktail.
The two sisters had become warriors in the moon that had passed. Flamepaw was astonished that not all the apprentices were made warriors. But it did make sense not to fill up the entire warrior den. And, Flamepaw didn't mind being an apprentice for another moon or two.
Flamepaw continued to scan the clearing. She saw the nursery shake as Silvertail and Blacktail's mother, Dappleleaf, heaved herself out of the nursery and next to her mate, Cloudspots. Dappleleaf was heavy with another litter of kits. Flamepaw still remembered the reactions the clan had, especially Blacktail and Silvertail. Their faces were priceless! She still laughs about it now.
As the clan gathered around their leader, Cinderstar sat on a thick branch, taking in the view of her clanmates gazing up at her, waiting for the news she had. She opened her jaws and began to speak.
"As you all know, since Tigerwhisker had been brutally murdered," she paused, drawing in a deep breath. "We have been patrolling non-stop to try to find the rogues that were involved. I had gathered you all here today to discuss. Eagleclaw, do you have any updates?" Cinderstar looked down at Eagleclaw, who was beneath the Hightree.
Flamepaw looked expectantly at her. Eagleclaw had been made the new deputy after Flamepaw's father's death. Every cat in the clan thought it was too soon for her to take on her clan's responsibilities, but Eagleclaw insisted that she would be able to carry the burden of becoming deputy.
Flamepaw was directed back to reality when Eagleclaw cleared her throat before giving her reports.
"Our patrols haven't found any rogue scent…" she paused looking across the clearing. All the cats around her gaze each other puzzled looks. Even Cinderstar was taken aback by the paused.
"But," Cinderstar stretched so far off her branch she was about to fall off.
"But, we have picked up SwiftClan scent across our borders near the Mighty Rocks." Eagleclaw growled, looking up at her leader.
"I'm gonna rip my claws down those mangy cats!" The clearing erupted with wails and yowls of anger and betrayal.
"Silence!" The leader scolded her clan. The clearing immediately fell into a sickening silence.
Memories flooded back into Flamepaw's mind once more as she remembered stories of how LeafClan and SwiftClan fought many battles over the Mighty Rocks. (Mighty Rocks are just as they sound, they are HUGE and apprentices in LeafClan are tested on their climbing skills on the Mighty Rocks. They are so huge that even leaders have a little trouble climbing them… YAY FUN FACTS FOR ALL YA'S)
Cinderstar paused, taking a moment to think. She saw her eyes narrowing, as if many possibilities were whizzing through her head. Flamepaw saw her finally make a decision. Nodding to herself, she looked across the camp clearing once more.
"Ferneye, Cloudspots, Flamepaw, Leafpaw and I will lead a patrol over to SwiftClan's camp to try to figure out why this may have happened." Cinderstar announced. Flamepaw gasped with excitement; the clan around her murmured in agreement.
"It's worth a try," Silvertail pointed out.
"It may work, so I don't see why we shouldn't try it." Falconwing, the medicine cat, mewed soothingly; backing up Silvertail's statement.
All of the clan knew Falconwing was smart, wise and sweet. No one dared to question her, knowing they might make a fool out of themselves. The clearing mewed positively at Falconwing's words.
"Ferneye, Cloudspots, Flamepaw and Leafpaw please gather at the camp entrance! Clan dismissed!" Cinderstar leapt down from the Hightree, padding over to where Ferneye and Cloudspots were sitting.
She felt Leafpaw look at her from across the clearing. Flamepaw finally met eyes with her, the excitement oozing from within Flamepaw. Leafpaw's amber eyes glittered with adventure as she padded over to Flamepaw.
"We can finally see SwiftClan's camp!" Leafpaw exclaimed. Flamepaw knew Leafpaw had just as much anticipation and excitement as she did. Flamepaw hopped to her paws, standing next to her denmate.
"I know! Not many apprentices get to do this!" She gasped disbelievingly. I may never get this chance again! She whispered in her head.
She looked across the camp, near the apprentices den at her sister and Ashpaw, guilt and sympathy sparking inside of her. I'm going to explore a whole new territory without my sister and best friend, she mewed to herself in her head. Flamepaw saw out of the corner of her eye Leafpaw following her gaze to the other two apprentices.
"They'll be alright. They may get another chance before their warriors," Leafpaw nudged her, trying to cheer her up.
"I guess," She murmured, sadness still hovering over her a little.
Leafpaw dipped her head to Flamepaw before trotting happily over to the other two warriors and Cinderstar, tail held high in the air. Flamepaw was about to follow when Tidalpaw and Ashpaw stopped her.
"Guys, what are ya-" she was cut off by Ashpaw brushing his cheek against her shoulder. A feeling of warmth passed through her. Her mouth gaped open; she was at a loss of words.
"Be careful, would you?" Ashpaw mewed worriedly and eagerly. Flamepaw licked him between his ears.
"Of course I will be careful. I always am." She joked. Ashpaw chuckled, before looking at her straight in the eyes. She got lost a moment in his soothing blue eyes.
"I mean it! If you get hurt, I will be the cat who will shred who ever laid a paw on you!" He stated. Flamepaw laughed.
"Flamepaw!" Her mother called from behind the two.
"Coming!" She answered. "I'll see you two furballs later." She mewed, licking both Ashpaw and Tidalpaw's ears before racing over to Cloudspots, Leafpaw, Ferneye and Cinderstar.
As she fell in step with Leafpaw, Thornspots' promise rung through her ears.
Do not forget, little one…