Chapter 4- Troutleap

Troutleap woke up and pressed yawned. His silvery blue eyes blinked away the morning sunlight. I've got to wake up Stormpaw. He left the warriors den, the floor still littered with stray moss and the occasional sleeping warrior. He prodded Nightchill and Barkclaw on their sides with his paw. "Come on, we need to train our apprentices."

Nightchill stretched and arched his back and Barkclaw opened his mouth with a huge yawn. He couldn't help but look at their nests. Nightchill's was covered in fresh moss lined with shredded cattails while Barkclaw's was little more than a few brambles woven together. He sighed and walked out with them.

When they got outside they saw Softwind standing with the four apprentices. Nightchill padded up and rubbed his sister's muzzle before he told their assessment. "Cloudpaw and Stormpaw, you two are going to patrol the WindClan border with Troutleap and I while Hailpaw and Dustypaw go down to the ShadowClan border with Softwind and Barkclaw. Cloudpaw and Hailpaw, you two are going to lead the patrols so you two are calling the shots. Tonight we are going to switch borders and Stormpaw and Dustypaw will lead the patrols." He looked at all the apprentices. "If this goes well then you four might be warriors before Icekit and Snowkit become apprentices." Troutleap looked at Stormpaw and Cloudpaw, both shaking nervously.

"So, Cloudpaw, how do we start?" Troutleap asked. When he saw she was still pretty nervous he gave her a lick on the shoulder. "Don't worry, if anything goes wrong we will be here."

She nodded her gray and white head and looked toward the hills. "I think we should go reset the boundaries first then we should hunt on the way back, assuming there is no trouble." Troutleap looked at Nightchill who was nodding approvingly to the young apprentice. The padded past the gentle flowing streams that littered the territory taking sips from its cool, clear water. They had been doing this when they saw them.

There were two of them, a handsome silver one and a graceful brown one. "Hey! You there! Stop!" Cloudpaw called. The loners each had a flopping fish in their jaws. Prey they couldn't afford to lose in leaf-bare. The two kept running gracefully over the grasses. "Hurry! We can catch them at the stream! Only RiverClan cats can swim." Cloudpaw kept running after them and Troutleap followed close behind. "They are at the stream!" The patrol picked up the pace until they saw them jump into the stream, their fur making the water glide right off it. "What the?" The patrol came to a stop when they leaped willingly into the water.

"Nightchill, take the apprentices to camp, I'll follow them." He motioned to the loners. Nightchill nodded and started to pad off when Cloudpaw stepped up.

"No! This is my patrol, so Nightchill and Stormpaw, you stay here and guard the border and make sure no one else comes while Troutleap and I go and follow the loners."

"Cloudpaw, now is not-" Nightchill started but Troutleap interrupted.

"That is a great idea, she'll gain more experience this way and learn leadership skills." Troutleap and Cloudpaw ran beyond the stream and crossed the border. The marshy moss covered ground slowly turned to icy dead grass. "Slow down, I think they went to the barn." He lifted his head and scented the scent of fish. "This way and don't be rash Cloudpaw."

The two of them padded into the huge barn, which smelled of hay and mice, where four beautiful cats sat, only one of them having the silver pelt RiverClan was famous for. Two of them, the two they had seen earlier, were making a nest in the hay for a queen whose belly was swollen with kits. "Hailey, your bed is almost done. We lined it with rabbit fur too so it would be extra soft." He heard the voice of a she-cat that sounded eerily like his mothers but younger and softer. He peeked around the straw and saw her. She was the palest shade of brown with dark legs, face and tail. Her eyes were dark amber and made her look mysterious.

"We'll make sure this litter isn't taken by the housefolk, we cleared out a tunnel in the straw that has been here since Bell and I have come. There is a hollow spot in the center of the straw where you can hide them." Cloudpaw looked at Troutleap and then looked back at the tom that just talked.

"Troutleap, you and that tom have the same eyes." She looked back at the cats. "Didn't your two littermates go missing?" Troutleap's eyes grew big. "Listen, I'll find out if they are, it shouldn't be too hard to find out." She padded out the entrance and started mewing pitifully. A large brown tom padded outside. He had light brown fur and bright green eyes.

The tom narrowed his eyes and hissed. "What is a RiverClan cat doing here?" it was weird a loner knew about the clans, even more identifying which clan they were from.

"Please, I got lost and I'm hungry and we have no prey at camp. I thought I would go hunt with my brother's mentor, Troutleap but we got separated. He should be looking for me." Troutleap looked at the charming little she-cat. She was really smart.

"No! I'm not going to help a RiverClan cat." Troutleap was about to go to Cloudpaw's resuce when the queen and the silver cat came walking by. They went outside to where the yelling was going on.

"Ian, who is this?" the queen, Hailey, asked. Her beautiful green eyes were full of worry and concern.

"None of your business. Now go and prepare the nest, your having your kits soon." The large tom said, growling.

The silver tom stepped up. "Father, look at her. She is too young to live on her own; we should help her, at least until her family comes to find her."

"Cast, I said no! She will not help at all and she will cause her clan to come here begging for free food." He glared at her. "She is RiveClan, you know what they did to you and Bell! Your mother came to me with two of our kits saying Bell would be hated and you were taken so your mother wouldn't be as regretful. She brought your other littermate too but I made her keep him as a way to remember me but she is probably too ashamed to even tell Troutkit, who knows what he is now, that his siblings are alive and I am his father.

My father is this loner? His silver blue eyes grew big and he fought the urge to leap out of the straw in a rage. "Father! Let the kit come in, she wouldn't have even been born when we were given up." He licked Cloudpaw's ear. "What is your name?"

She relaxed a bit to show she meant no harm and felt safe. "Cloudpaw, I'm Cloudpaw." His brother lead her and the queen in while Ian followed slower, glancing around to make sure no one was there. Troutleap padded outside so he could enter without being suspected.

"Cloudpaw? Cloudpaw?" He acted like he had been scenting the air for some time, letting the wind ruffle his fur and putting his paws in some nearby mud so it looked like he had been tracking her. He saw Cast come out. "Have you seen a she-cat, long gray and white fur with amber eyes?"

He saw his brother eye him curiously. "Yes, she is in the barn. Are you, by any chance, Troutkit?" he looked at the tom with the same eyes that he had.

"I was Troutkit but now I am Troutleap. Are, or were, you Leapkit." He knew the answer already but he had to hear it for himself.

"I was Leapkit, but now I am Cast." They stood there in silence for what seemed like moons, until his sister came out.

"Cast, what are you doing out here?" She looked at Cast then turned her head when she saw him. "Who is this?"

Troutleap took a shaky breath looked at his sister directly in the eyes. "I am your brother, Troutleap." Bell blinked her pretty amber eyes and looked from Cast to him. They were the same in size in size and shape and they both had the same color eyes. The only difference was Cast had slightly paler fur.

"You are our brother?" She ran back into the barn and got the loner male from before. "It's him! It's our brother and your son."

He came out and looked at him. "My son?" His green eyes seemed to glow, even in the sunhigh light. "Listen, son you cannot stay now. Our housefolk are coming soon so take Cloudpaw and leave but come back, I would like to know you." Troutleap nodded, retrieved Cloudpaw and left the barn.

If you enjoy this then please review. I don't care what you say as long as it'll make me better! Now hiring a beta.