AN: Chapter 4 is up! Don't forget to review, I always appreciate helpful comments, but please don't rant. This is my first story so please give me constructive feedback.

Chapter 4: Pheasant

For the second morning in a row, Firelight stood over Stormpaw, prodding her flank with a ginger paw. The tabby apprentice snapped opened her eyes, blinking the sleep from her blue eyes. Firelight shook her head and Stormpaw understood, they couldn't talk there in case the other apprentices woke too. Owltalon and Mossheart were waiting outside. Firelight led the patrol quietly out of the camp. They padded past Brackenfur, who was standing guard.

"Stoneclaw told us to refresh the Rippleclan border. And after we're done, we are going to stock up the fresh-kill pile," Firelight meowed as they ran. Stormpaw began to pant. The other warriors were older and faster and Stormpaw had trouble keeping up. Suddenly Firelight stopped and Stormpaw had to unsheath her claws and bury them in the ground to prevent herself from sliding into her mentor. Mossheart sprayed her scent on a thick birch.

"Mark a tree or a bush with your scent, like this," Firelight demonstrated. Stormpaw bounded over to a small shrub and marked it as well.

"Rippleclan patrol!" Owltalon warned. Stormpaw's head shot up, ears picking. The Rippleclan warriors looked strange. They had narrow muzzles and and long legs. A gray tom with black stripes was leading it, followed by a white she-cat with ginger patches and a brown tabby apprentice. Stormpaw's eyes narrowed.

"Why are you so close to the border?" Owltalon meowed aggressively. Firelight layed her tail on her brother's shoulders.

"What are you doing?" the gray tom snapped back.

"We are the dawn patrol," Firelight rolled her eyes. Stormpaw heard her mutter under her breath "grumpy furball." Stormpaw privately agreed. She looked at the apprentice. She looked about the same age as Stormpaw. She too was rolling her eyes.

The white and ginger she-cat who looked like the tabby's mentor meowed, "Just ignore Jaystorm, he's just an arrogant furball."

"I am not, Swiftwind," Jaystorm sniffed. The brown tabby she-cat's tail curled in amusement.

"Hi, I'm Hazelpaw!" she meowed brightly to Stormpaw. She had sparkling amber eyes that shone with excitement. Stormpaw held back a purr. This apprentice was exactly like her mentor.

Swiftwind flicked Hazelpaw's ears with her tail. "Come along, we have some hunting to do," she took off on her long legs to follow Jaystorm, who had decided to continue their patrol. Hazelpaw took a last look at Stormpaw before she also bounded off after the rest of her clanmates.

"We better go too," Firelight went ahead and sprayed her scent on a tuff of grass. Stormpaw thought back to their encounter with the Rippleclan warriors. She remembered their strange, pointed muzzles and long legs.

"Why did they look weird?" Stormpaw asked out loud.

Mossheart answered, "See those long grasses on their territory?" When Stormpaw nodded she went on. "Well, they have pointed muzzles so they can push through it better and long legs so they can run faster and see over the grass."

Stormpaw looked across the border. Long, lush green grass completely covered rolling hills and had the occasional tree sticking up in the mists of green. "Why is it called Rippleclan?" she wondered.

"I'll show you that too," Firelight turned her head to look at her.

"Will I have to get up before dawn for that too?" Stormpaw asked worriedly. Owltalon purred in amusement.

"You showed her the sunrise?" he meowed.

"You will not have to get up that early. I'll show you next time there's a bit of wind," Firelight responded, ignoring the brown and white tom. "Now we're done, let's hunt. I think I smell a squirrel," she added. Firelight crept forward and the others stood still, not wanting to make noise and startle the squirrel. Stormpaw finally heard her mentor padding back. She smelled the squirrel and sure enough Firelight appeared with the bushy tailed rodent. Mossheart nodded in approval at Firelight and took the lead. Both Mossheart and Owltalon soon caught some prey and Stormpaw was the only one without anything.

Stormpaw stopped suddenly. On the breeze blowing toward them, she could smell feathers and hear a slight scratching noise. She looked at the rest of the patrol, who had also stopped, for permission. Firelight's ears swiveled, also hearing the bird and she nodded.

Creeping forward, Stormpaw stalked the bird. Stormpaw could see it as she purred from out a bush. A pheasant! And a fat one too, she thought, delighted. Pheasants were rare, but could feed many cats. Stormpaw estimated that this one could feed at least five cats. It was huge, but that meant it would have a harder time getting off the ground.

She crouched, and bunching up her muscles, she sprang. Stormpaw landed right on the back of the pheasant but the brown bird spread it's wings and flapped around. Stormpaw dug her claws in and reached down to bite it's neck. When her jaws finally did close around it, she bit down as hard as she could until she heard a snap. Stormpaw slithered off the pheasant's back and layed exhausted on the springy ground. When she caught her breath, Stormpaw grabbed the bird's wing and began dragging it back to where the patrol waited.

"Is that a pheasant?" Firelight rushed over to where Stormpaw stood panting over her prey.

"Nice Stormpaw! That will feed Dappleleaf and her kits with lots left over!" Owltalon purred. Mossheart just stared.

"Do you want me to help carry it? There's still a while until we get to the hollow," Firelight offered. Stormpaw stepped back from the pheasant and took the squirrel Firelight had caught earlier. The ginger warrior lifted the bird. She grunted with the weight and Stormpaw felt pride bubbling up in her chest.

Then she had a thought, What will Willowpaw think? Will she be jealous that I caught this and not her? Stormpaw worried over this while she logically argued,

She your sister, she'll be happy for you. Willowpaw is a better hunter than you, it was luck that you found the pheasant.

And strength, her other side pointed out. Willowpaw wouldn't have been able to bring it down.

Shut up! her logical side snapped back.

"Here Stormpaw, you can carry it into the camp, you caught it after all," Firelight meowed, interrupting her thoughts. Firelight's purr was filed with pride for her apprentice as she gave the pheasant back to Stormpaw. Not being as mature or strong as Firelight, Stormpaw slowly dragged the pheasant down the entrance tunnel. Meows of surprise greeted Stormpaw in the camp.

"Wow! A pheasant!" Willowpaw ran up to her, Birchtail close behind. Stormpaw's fears of envy quickly disappeared like mist in a patch of sunlight. Willowpaw purred, "I didn't even know birds went that big, even pheasants."

"Excellent catch Stormpaw," Falconpaw trotted up to them. Stormpaw nodded, trying not to show how pleased she was with the praise she was getting.

She turned to Firelight, "Who should I give this to?" Stormpaw wanted it but she didn't want to seem selfish.

"You could give it to the senior warriors," she suggested. Stormpaw's eyes lit up. Of course! I can give it to Stoneclaw, he's the deputy so he will probably eat with the senior warriors and he might let me have some! She felt slightly mouse-brained for wanting to try some of the pheasant so badly, but she had never tried that kind of bird before. Stormpaw saw her father discussing something with Blizzardpelt and Sandpelt, both senior warriors. She padded to where they were sitting, dragging the pheasant along with her.

"Here Stoneclaw, I thought you might want this," she placed it down. Stoneclaw's eyes glowed with pride.

"Thank you Stormpaw, it's a wonderful catch. Take this to Dappleleaf and the apprentices. We can't eat all of it," the gray warrior tore off about two thirds of the meat and pushed it towards his daughter. She gathered enough for the queen and her kits and trotted to the bushes marking the nursery entrance. Dappleleaf was laying on her side, watching her kits tussle.

"Surrender before me, I am Leafstar, mighty leader of... Leafclan!" Leafkit yowled and leapt on Mousekit.

"Never!" he cried and attempted to throw his bigger sister off of him.

Lichenkit, who was standing by washing her tortoiseshell pelt with dainty white paws squealed and jumped into the fray. "I'll help you Mousekit," she squeaked and pummeled the golden she-cat with sheathed paws. Encouraged by his sister's help, he barreled into Leafkit's flank.

"Hey! No fair," Leafkit squealed. Stormpaw set the pheasant meat in front of Dappleleaf.

"Take enough for yourself and the kits," she meowed.

"Thank you. Leafkit, Mousekit, Lichenkit!" she called to her kits. "Time to eat."

Stormpaw bent down again and picked up the meat left over. She carried it to where Willowpaw sat, staring off into the distance. "Hi, you want to share?" Stormpaw meowed, settling down next to the silver tabby.

Willowpaw purred, "Of course." She bent down and grasped some of the pheasant in pale jaws. Stormpaw also took a delicate bite. Warm flavours filled her mouth and she silently decided that pheasant was better than even squirrel. When they were done they got to their paws.

"Let's go ask our mentors for battle training," Stormpaw suggested. Willowpaw agreed and they hurried over to Firelight and Birchtail who were sharing tongues.

"Can we do some battle training?" Stormpaw pleaded.

Firelight shook her head. "Stay around camp, bring the elders prey if they need it, you can go on a patrol if Stoneclaw asks," she meowed. Willowpaw sighed as Birchtail agreed with Firelight.

"Another day without training," Stormpaw groaned.

"We're going to fall behind," fretted Willowpaw. Stormpaw's tail tip twitched irritability. Then she had an idea.

"We can practice our moves with each other," Stormpaw exclaimed excitedly. Willowpaw nodded eagerly.

"Okay, over by the apprentice den," Willowpaw bounded over to the apprentices' holly bushes. It was in a corner and out of the way so Stormpaw doubted that anyone would bother them there.

"So, should we fight as if in a real battle, claws sheathed of course?" Willowpaw questioned.

Stormpaw shrugged, "I guess." Without warning she lept at Willowpaw. Willowpaw sidestepped but Stormpaw threw out a paw to catch her. She immediately regretted this though as it made her unbalanced and Willowpaw took Stormpaw's paw in her mouth, gently as not to break the skin and pulled her on her side. Taking advantage of the situation, Willowpaw tried to tackle Stormpaw but she wasn't there. Stormpaw used the trick she used on Firelight and rolled toward Willowpaw. Stormpaw took Willowpaw's silver leg in her mouth and tugged, making her wobble. Stormpaw shot out from under Willowpaw. They now faced each other head on. Stormpaw growled and tensed, waiting for her sister to make the next move. Quick as an adder, Willowpaw darted forward, placing a couple sharp jabs before Stormpaw reached over and grabbed Willowpaw's scruff, like Stoneclaw would do when they were kits. Stormpaw felt triumphant, she had got her.

Wrestling Willowpaw to the ground, she managed to hold her there until Willowpaw panted, "Okay, you win."

Stormpaw purred as she got off. "Do you want to do that again?" she asked. Willowpaw shook her head. "Sore loser," Stormpaw joked.

"It's not that," she rolled her eyes, "it's that Pinestar is calling a meeting." Stormpaw glanced at the high stump.

Pinestar yowled, "Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath the high stump!" her call echoed throughout the hollow. Stormpaw jumped to her feet and trotted over with Willowpaw at her side. She looked up curiously, are Foxpaw, Falconpaw and Sparrowpaw getting their warrior names? But then why does she look so serious? Stormpaw had no time to wonder for Pinestar spoke again.

"Marshclan has moved the border," she announced. Stormpaw sucked in her breath. Murmurs of surprise and outrage spread across the camp. Beside her Willowpaw hissed.

"Will we fight?" Brackenfur growled. Pinestar nodded.

"I will take a patrol of cats and we will fight for Moss Rocks, meanwhile, Blizzardpelt, gather some more cats and secure the camp," Pinestar jumped down.

Blizzardpelt dipped his head, "Hide nor hair of any Marshclan warrior will get in here."

"Good, then Stoneclaw, Brackenfur, Oakfur, Rainsong, Owltalon, Birchtail, and Firelight will come with me. Are your apprentices ready?" Pinestar directed to the newest mentors.

Say yes, say yes, Stormpaw pleaded silently. To both of their relief, Firelight and Birchtail nodded. "And what about Foxpaw, Falconpaw and Sparrowpaw?" she asked Mossheart, Sandpelt and Rainsong. They also nodded.

"We are ready, Dawnclan, we will take back Moss Rocks!" Pinestar waved her tail and set off down the entrance tunnel. Firelight dropped back to keep pace with Stormpaw.

"It's normal to be nervous," she assured her. "Just concentrate on your training, you'll be fine." Stormpaw nodded, despite her eagerness earlier, a knot of worry was forming in her stomach. Her mind went blank so she began imagining moves; slash, duck, lunge, nip, Stormpaw went through the list in her head. She barely registered Pinestar's cry.

"Attack!"

Remember to review...