Wolfpaw

My paw hurt so much after battling Windflight. But Splodgepelt said I could go back to my apprentice duties today. "Hey, is Wolfpaw allowed to come and hunt with me?" Grasstail asked Splodgepelt.

"If she can take it easy," Splodgepelt replied, not looking up from the herbs.

"I'll make sure of that," Grasstail said grinning at me.

I followed Grasstail into the forest. "How's your paw?" he asked.

"Sore but I'll live," I answered.

"Wolfpaw . . ." Grasstail started. "No wait, I don't think I should tell you."

"Come on, I won't tell anyone," I promised.

Grasstail looked at me. "You're having your final assessment tomorrow."

"Really!" I shouted, happily.

"Yes, and I know you'll do great," Grasstail said, licking my ear. "Come on, let's hunt. Try not to twist your paw again," he mewed, a glimmer of amusement in his eyes.

"I won't," I replied. "You can be sure of that."

I heard a loud crunching sound. A mouse had bitten open a nut. I turned around and crept towards it, my paws light on the ground. I leapt towards it. I landed with my paws on its back. I bit the back of its head to kill it.

"Great catch," Grasstail acknowledged, as I scraped dirt over the mouse, planning to get it later.

"I'm thirsty," I said. "Can we go to the river?"

"Sure," Grasstail said. We walked to the river which marked the border to BreezeClan. I crouched down and lapped at the water. Grasstail crouched beside me.

"Patrol," Grasstail hissed.

"Hi Wolfpaw," one of the cats said.

"Who are you?" I asked, looking up.

"I am Crowflight, the deputy," Crowflight said, bounding down to his side of the river. "I've heard a lot about you."

"From Windflight?" I guessed.

"Why Windflight?" Crowflight asked suspiciously.

"She almost killed me yesterday," I said.

Crowflight gasped. "How?"

I looked at Grasstail. He nodded, signalling that I could explain. "BreezeClan attacked our camp yesterday, killing our deputy, Branchfur. I was in the medicine den, as I had injured my paw the day earlier and Windflight would have killed me if not for Redpaw and Grasstail."

Crowflight looked taken aback. "I'll certainly speak to Owlstar about this."

"Come on Wolfpaw," Grasstail said. "We'd better continue hunting."

"Grasstail," Crowflight said. "You know there will always be a place for you in BreezeClan."

"Not while Windflight is there," Grasstail replied sourly. "Anyway I am a loyal FlameClan cat. I have friends in FlameClan. What will happen to Wolfpaw if I leave?"

Crowflight sighed. "Then FlameClan have gained a great warrior," he mewed, turning back to his patrol who were talking at the top of the nearest hill.

Grasstail

I watched Crowflight turn back to his patrol. "Come on Wolfpaw, prey doesn't live forever."

I walked into the forest with my apprentice beside me. "Hey Wolfpaw, what were you talking about with Redpaw and Skypaw the day you were injured?" I asked. I had been wondering that for a while now.

"Oh nothing," Wolfpaw replied, turning away.

"Come on, you can tell me," I said. "I told you my secret."

"Okay, there is a prophecy," Wolfpaw began reluctantly. "It was given to Skypaw when he first went to the StarStream. The cat of the wolf, the cat of the fox and the cat of the meadow, will come together to bring back the Pride."

"The cat of the wolf is you," I said.

"The cat of the fox is Redpaw and we haven't figured out who the cat of the meadow is yet," Wolfpaw said.

I was reminded once again how smart Wolfpaw actually was. Then a thought struck me. "The cat of the meadow!" I cried.

"Don't tell the whole forest," Wolfpaw warned, narrowing her eyes. "Who is it?"

"Me!" I replied. "I am the cat of the meadow!"

Wolfpaw's eyes widened. "Yes," she whispered. "That makes sense."

"So when are we leaving to bring back the Pride?" I asked.

"Let's go talk to Skypaw," Wolfpaw decided.

We wandered back to where we buried our prey. We dug it up and carried it back to camp. I sent Wolfpaw to give her catch to the Elders. I took a squirrel off the fresh-kill pile for Skypaw and Splodgepelt.

"Skypaw," I called. "I got you a squirrel."

"Thanks Grasstail," Skypaw replied, walking out of the medicine den. "Is Wolfpaw alright?"

"Wolfpaw is fine," I answered. "I am the cat of the meadow," I blurted.

Skypaw's eyes widened. "How do you know about the prophecy?"

"Wolfpaw told me," I replied.

"I told her not to tell anyone," Skypaw muttered.

"Yes, you did," Wolfpaw mewed, coming into the clearing. "But Grasstail is my friend. I had to tell him."

"I'll go get Redpaw," Skypaw said. "You two stay here." Skypaw ran off.

"You could have waited for me to get here before you told Skypaw," Wolfpaw said after a while.

"I was excited," I said, scuffing my paws.

"It doesn't matter now," Wolfpaw replied moving closer to me.

"Why do you need me? I'm not injured you know," Redpaw complained.

"Geez Redpaw," Wolfpaw teased. "It's not the end of the world."

"I was battle training," Redpaw continued. "I had Ravenclaw pinned."

"We found out who the cat of the meadow is," Skypaw interrupted.

"Who is it?" Redpaw asked, suddenly serious.

"Grasstail," Wolfpaw said.

"Oh okay," Redpaw said, trying to hide his sadness. "Back to battle training."

"No," Skypaw said. "We need to plan what we're doing about this now."

"Well Wolfpaw and Redpaw are having their final assessments tomorrow," I pointed out.

"So after we sit our vigil and rest, we will leave to find the Pride," Wolfpaw suggested.

"Good idea," Redpaw said. "Who is coming with us?"

"Well the three cats have to go," Wolfpaw said.

"I am coming too," Skypaw said. "A medicine cat will come in handy."

"That's four of us coming then," I decided. "Sunset in two days, we leave."

"Deal," Redpaw, Skypaw and Wolfpaw said at the same time.

"I need to get back to training," Redpaw said.

"Bye Redpaw," Wolfpaw called. "Don't tell any cat our plans."

"What plans?" Splodgepelt asked.

"Nothing," Skypaw replied quickly. "I am going to collect herbs."

"Come on Wolfpaw, let's get something to eat," Grasstail suggested. Wolfpaw nodded. We walked out into the main clearing, our pelts brushing.

Wolfpaw grabbed a vole and went to sit in the shade of a tree. I sat beside her and we shared the vole. Afterwards we shared tongues. "What do you think the Pride could be?" Wolfpaw murmured, while I was licking her ears.

"Maybe a Clan of big cats," I replied between licks.

I purred. "That would be hard work then," Wolfpaw said.

"Grasstail," Ravenclaw called. I looked up to see Ravenclaw walking over with Redpaw at his side.

"You should see how well Redpaw fights," Ravenclaw exclaimed. "Come and train with us tomorrow." Ravenclaw winked.

"Ravenclaw, they know their final assessment is tomorrow," I pointed out.

"Did you tell them?" he asked playfully.

"Maybe," I replied, avoiding his gaze. Ravenclaw growled softly and sprang at me. I leapt up from my place beside Wolfpaw and dodged him. He spun around and charged at me.

"Ravenclaw," Graystar called. "Enough."

"Yes Graystar," Ravenclaw said, ducking his head in embarrassment. Ravenclaw went to the warriors den and flopped into his nest. I said good bye to Wolfpaw and joined Ravenclaw in the warriors den.

"So you and Wolfpaw, huh," Ravenclaw said, amused.

"She's a wonderful young cat," I said protectively.

"Yes, yes she is," Ravenclaw said nodding.

"So have you got your eye on anyone in particular?" I asked Ravenclaw.

"Well, there is someone," Ravenclaw started.

"Who is it?" Grasstail encouraged.

"Birdsong," Ravenclaw blurted, then looked around to see if anyone had heard his outburst. "I'm tired. Let's have a sleep."

I rolled over and closed my eyes.

Hawktalon,

Thanks to Starbomb for reveiwing