Hey everyone! Sorry for the long wait! I wasn't sure how to well…you'll see. Uh…tell me if you see anything wrong with this chapter. I didn't get to look over it very long – and I know you'll claw my eyes out for that…but I was too excited to upload it! So yeah, this may seem jumpy. I'll probably look over it later and fix it up a tad, but enjoy!
Please tell me if you like Applefur's point of view. I kind of do – but please remember that this is Rosethorn and Thorntail's story. I sometimes use Blackshadow or Applefur's POV to uh…well, when I want to avoid a certain conversation (in this case I wanted to avoid the explanation conversation with Streamstar) and maybe to give you some insight on how they're looking at the situation. I hope you like Shadenight – Spottedstar's more or less out of the picture (for now) so I had to plop down another cat – for a love triangle! YAY! Oh! I hope you're not too…uh…disappointed with who Streamstar chooses for deputy! I bet it isn't who you think it will be.
I'm almost positive it isn't who you think it will be, in fact.
Enjoy.
Her sapphire eyes followed the trio of cats like an apprentice follows its mentor, and it wasn't until Blackshadow, and Rosethorn had disappeared into the Gorse tunnel that Applefur even bothered to blink.
Blackshadow and Rosethorn. Applefur couldn't help but remember the conversation she had had with Blackshadow just the other night, about his crush on Rosethorn. He had claimed that he loved Applefur more…but did Rosethorn feel the same way? As soon as Streamstar had informed the medicine cat that Applefur was now a queen and therefore couldn't do anything fun like run off and murder Clan-deputies, Rosethorn had instantly asked to borrow Blackshadow for the mission.
Applefur chased the thought away. Rosethorn was a decent she-cat, she doubted that the medicine cat would be stealing her mate, when she had fought so hard to keep Thorntail just a quarter-moon or so ago.
"Applefur,"
A high, melodic voice in her ear knocked Applefur from her thoughts, and the ThunderClan warrior turned her attention onto the annoying RiverClan medicine cat that didn't seem to be going away.
"What?" she asked trying to keep her voice level. Shadenight was doing the Clan a favor by healing them all while Rosethorn was away. Even if Applefur disliked her, she knew better then to put ThunderClan in jeopardy.
"Your warrior – that Dusktail cat, she's having a hissy fit, because her mate betrayed her or something."
Applefur couldn't stop herself from sighing, "I know the feeling," and Shadenight gave her a curious look. The ginger she-cat quickly put in, "So why do you need me?"
Shadenight hesitated for a moment, but finally spoke. "I need to give her some thyme to calm her. But I don't know how Rosethorn organizes anything – and the scent of blood in her den is overpowering all the herb-scents." Shadenight spat out the last word contemptuously, as if Rosethorn was just too lazy to clean out her den. "I asked Flowertail if she knew where your medicine cat kept the thyme, and she said that you might know because you're a good friend of Rosethorn's."
Applefur let out a sigh. She had just fought tooth and claw to defend her Clan, and truth me told – she was exhausted. She didn't really want to help the RiverClan medicine cat shift through Rosethorn's herbs – and was about to refuse her. But then, Dusktail was a good cat, even though Applefur didn't really know her, Dusktail deserved to have some comfort. Shadowfire, the mate who had 'betrayed' Dusktail, had been Dusktail's best friend, and the only cat to survive their apprenticeship. All the other apprentices had fallen to The Blood. And now…Shadowfire had banded with Spottedstar, and was with the mass of traitors being guarded by a couple of the more hardy warriors.
"Uh…" Applefur searched her mind for where Rosethorn kept the Thyme. She found nothing. She didn't even know what thyme looked like. So she asked.
Shadenight twitched her ears, and stared blankly at Applefur for a moment, and the ThunderClan queen was tempted to claw that look off of the medicine cat's face. It seemed to her that Shadenight was looking down at her. "It just looks like a twig with a lot of small green leaves branching off of it. It has a sweet scent."
Shadenight's description was poor but it yowled out loud in Applefur's mind, and almost instantly she knew that the RiverClan cat wanted. "She keeps it wrapped in a leaf – next to the poppy seeds."
"Awe, so helpful!" Shadenight purred, and Applefur dipped her head in a 'you're welcome' to the medicine cat. However, when she stared into Shadenight's eyes, the medicine cat was looking at her like she was a mouse-brain. "If only I knew where the poppy seeds were."
Applefur flattened her ears against her head. Okay, so she forgot. It wasn't like she had told the medicine cat that hedgehogs could cure Greencough. So she made a mistake! Shadenight didn't have to rub it in her face.
Shadenight continued. "Are all ThunderClan cats this mouse-brained?" Applefur unsheathed her claws, ready to spring, and Shadenight, being the piece of fox-dung she was, went on, "So, you are all either stupid, or a traitor? Huh. I wonder why Thorntail chose this place for his home Clan."
Applefur tensed her muscles – and her throat – to both murder Shadenight, and then yowl out at the top of her lungs that it was a bunch of angry squirrels that did it. However, she didn't get the chance, because Ebonykit, one of Turtlefeather's orphaned kittens, ran up to them just then, and interrupted.
"I know where the thyme is, Shadenight." The kit squeaked, her emerald eyes glowing round as she stared at Shadenight's sleek black pelt. "Would you like me to get it?"
Shadenight let out a purr of amusement, and her eyes sparkled with delight as she noticed the kit. Applefur sheathed her claws, and sat up. She could wait.
"Why, thank you!" Shadenight purred, flicking her tail with glee. "Are you Rosethorn's apprentice? What's your name? Cleverpaw?"
Applefur unsheathed her claws once more, and dug them into the earth. Shadenight switched faces and personalities faster then Spottedstar did!
"No, I'm not an apprentice yet!" Ebonykit explained, in a calm level voice – though her chest was out so much with pride, it looked like the black little kitten would burst at any moment. "My name's Ebonykit. My mom almost named me Cloverkit though…which sounds like Cleverkit."
"Yes it does," Shadenight agreed. "Now go get me that thyme."
Ebonykit nodded, and scurried off into Rosethorn's den, leaving the two cats alone.
Applefur didn't want to be alone with the river-rat anymore then she wanted to have kits with the ShadowClan leader, so she got to her paws with the intent to pad off into the Nursery and take a nap. However, Shadenight stopped her.
"You're pregnant," she observed her ice-blue eyes examining Applefur like the ThunderClan cat was a piece of prey she had never seen before.
"Thanks for the information," Applefur mewed sarcastically, glaring at Shadenight like there was no tomorrow. She had enough troubles! She wasn't sure who in her Clan was still alive or dead…or loyal, she was pregnant – and therefore getting bigger each passing heartbeat, and she had a feeling that she was about to chuck up some of her fresh-kill from earlier (probably from speaking to the beautiful, melodic-voiced medicine cat of RiverClan too long!).
"Who's the
father?" Shadenight asked.
"It's a queen's right to keep
that information private," Applefur said coolly, "Especially from
nosy RiverClan cats who have forgotten where their camp is."
Shadenight chuckled lightly, and silently moved towards the ginger she-cat, almost on winged paws. "I heard Flowertail and Sandpelt gossiping," she murmured softly. "The father's Thorntail, yes?"
"So what if it is?"
The RiverClan she-cat didn't answer for a moment; instead she kept walking in circles around Applefur, and was silent. Applefur wondered that if she clawed the air, if she could cut the tension in half.
"It's not though," Shadenight breathed.
"How would you know?" Applefur growled, fear rising up within her, wondering if Shadenight had somehow figured out the secret.
That didn't seem to be the case though. "Well," Shadenight drawled, leveling her gaze with Applefur's. "Thorntail only likes pretty she-cats."
Okay. Time for the angry-squirrels to attack.
Applefur let out a furious screech, and used her back legs to fling herself into the air. She came down onto the black medicine cat – ready to claw out her eyes – but she underestimated Shadenight's skill. Sometime between when Applefur had flew into the air, and came down, she had rolled onto herb back – and easily kicked the queen away, knocking Applefur into the dust.
Applefur shook herself, and raised her gaze to Shadenight, who was peacefully licking one of her paws clean.
"Applefur – that's your name, right? Such a plain name by the way," Shadenight murmured, settling her down so she could meet Applefur's gaze. "Applefur, I hope you know that you won't be keeping Thorntail for long."
Well, she didn't have him now! However, Applefur pricked her ears, worried for Thorntail's and Rosethorn's relationship. Rosethorn was pretty, but if Shadenight shook where her tail was attached enough, Thorntail's gaze might start to stray. Shadenight was easily the most beautiful cat in the forest. Though…she was a medicine cat. What interest did she have in the gray tom?
"I was an apprentice with Thorntail in RiverClan," Shadenight explained. "I waited for him when he joined ShadowClan for those two moons," ShadowClan? Great StarClan! Had Thorntail been in every Clan? If I find out that he spent a quarter-moon in WindClan, Applefur thought, I swear to StarClan that I'll claw his ears off.
Shadenight continued, "He loves me, Applefur. And I love him."
"Oh?" Applefur spat. "If he loves you so much, how come he didn't stay in RiverClan and become your mate?"
"If he had, we would already have had litters of kits by now!" Shadenight retorted. "I'll get him back, Applefur! I promise this by StarClan! Even if I have to join this sorry excuse for a Clan to get him! And tell that medicine cat that too!"
Applefur's eyes widened. How did Shadenight know about Thorntail and Rosethorn?! And if what Shadenight said was true…would Thorntail really take back his old den mate?
She was about to give Shadenight a nasty insult, but was once again interrupted by Ebonykit, who spat out a wad of thyme at the medicine cat's feet.
"Awe," the sleek RiverClan she-cat purred, giving Ebonykit a lick on the head. "Thank you! I'll take this to Dusktail right away!" she scooped up the thyme in her mouth, and gave Applefur a cruel look, before rushing off to see to the ThunderClan cat.
"Wow!" Ebonykit purred, as Applefur struggled to her paws, "I like Shadenight a lot! Almost as much as I like Rosethorn!"
Applefur flashed the kit a sorry glance, wishing that she could tell the little she-cat what a piece of fox-dung her new heroine was, but decided against it. Instead, she mewed, "Ebonykit, I've noticed you helping Rosethorn out a lot lately."
The black kitten nodded vigorously. "Yeah, its lots of fun!"
"Do you think that you'll become her apprentice sometime?"
Applefur burst out into a purr, as Ebonykit's eyes became as large and as round as full moons, as if she had just realized that that was an option. "You mean…I could become a medicine cat?!" she wrinkled her nose. "I don't have to be some smelly old warrior!?"
Applefur tried not to be insulted by Ebonykit's choice of words. "Of course you could…didn't your mother ever tell you?" she bit her tongue as soon as she mentioned Ebonykit's mother, Turtlefeather who had fallen victim to the Blood.
Ebonykit shook her head. "She…didn't have time…" the night-colored kit murmured softly. "All I remember of Turtlefeather was that she was sick…and bleeding…and that I wasn't aloud to see her."
Applefur's heart wrenched as Ebonykit admitted that her mother hadn't been able to speak to her about the paths of destiny available to her. "Well, Ebonykit, if I were you," she tried to change the subject away from Turtlefeather, "I'd speak to Rosethorn as soon as possible. I'm sure she'd love to take on an apprentice. And it's almost your sixth moon, isn't it?"
"My naming ceremony was supposed to be today," Ebonykit explained, "But then the battle broke out." She flicked her tail around the camp.
"Talk to Rosethorn almost as soon as she returns," Applefur advised. "I'm sure she'll say yes to you becoming her apprentice."
Ebonykit opened her mouth to reply, but was interrupted by Blackshadow, who scurried to a halt beside her.
"Blackshadow!" Applefur gasped, stumbling backwards – her mate had appeared so suddenly. "What's going on?"
"Where's Streamstar? We need to see her outside of camp."
Applefur narrowed her eyes. Blackshadow wasn't telling her much. However, instead of snapping at him, she flicked her tail over to HighRock, where Streamstar was talking to Sandpelt, clearly still attempting to figure out what happened with the battle – why there was a mass betrayal and such.
"Thanks," Blackshadow breathed, "We took Spottedstar prisoner, and we needed to know what to do with her."
"Kill her," Applefur uttered blankly trying to tell herself that she had heard wrong when Blackshadow called Spottedlight 'Spottedstar', and to her surprise Blackshadow shot her a helpless glance. "It isn't that simple," he sighed, speeding over towards where Streamstar was. Applefur watched him and the leader curiously, and was slightly amused when Streamstar let out an alarmed meow, and then the two cats rushed out of camp – without a word of announcement.
"Well," Applefur drawled, taking her attention back over towards Ebonykit. "I'm going into the nursery to take a nap. I'm exhausted."
"I am too," Ebonykit mused, yawning. Before Applefur knew what the kit was doing, she started charging off into the nursery – faster then Applefur imagined a kit could go.
"Exhausted my tail," Applefur yawned, following Ebonykit into the den.
…
Applefur narrowed her eyes on her prey. The poor brown mouse was sitting dumbly on the earth, nibbling on a seed of some sort.
Not for long! Applefur thought firmly, creeping forward, not taking her sapphire eyes off of the rodent.
The ThunderClan warrior was just tail-lengths away now. She tensed her muscles, ready to spring as the warm scent of mouse entered her nostrils. Oh! Joy!
She threw herself onto the mouse, and held the squealing creature down with her two forepaws. She was about to kill it, when it looked up at her with its round, beady little eyes.
"Streamstar's about to make an announcement," it hissed, and suddenly its paw grew ten-times its size, and clawed Applefur sharply in the side.
Instantly, Applefur woke up. She shook her head violently, as she tried to chase the dream out of her mind, and come to the here and now.
"Streamstar called a meeting," the tabby queen Flowertail hissed into her ear and Applefur groaned. "Why?" she mumbled.
"Well…" Flowertail drawled, "There was just a mass coup, our deputy turned on us, and we need a new one."
"Oh." Applefur yawned. "That isn't so important," she mewed, curling back up to try to catch her dream. "Wake me up and tell me the news."
"Applefur!" Flowertail hissed lashing her tail. "This is the most important meeting in moons! You have to come; otherwise…well…you just have to come!"
Why did Flowertail have to be so persistent? If a queen wanted to sleep then one should just let her…
Suddenly the importance of the Clan meeting hit Applefur. "Oh!" she growled instantly awake. "I'm coming!"
The tabby cat purred something that sounded like 'good' before padding out of the den, and Applefur scurried out after her.
Her whiskers twitched, as she realized how long she had slept. The moon was fairly high in the sky, and she felt it dancing along her fur. Or maybe that was just ticks.
Either way, Applefur found a spot next to Blackshadow – who gave her ear a lick of hello- , and Thorntail, and raised her gaze up to HighRock, where, to her surprise, she saw not only Streamstar standing, but Rosethorn as well.
"Cats of ThunderClan!" Streamstar began, and Applefur couldn't help but add to herself, And RiverClan, as she noticed the two RiverClan cats, Shadenight and Owlpelt sitting below, with the mass of ThunderClan cats. Was Streamstar being wise in making this announcement in front of them?
"We have some news on what has just happened," Streamstar began. "As most of you have learned, it was Spottedlight who betrayed us."
Surprise, Surprise, Applefur thought, flicking her tail dismissively. She knew that.
"And Thorntail reported to me her motivations." Streamstar went on. Applefur pricked her ears, as her leader described how Spottedlight had tried to merge the Clans together for peace – and how the other cats in her coup had followed her blindly most likely because they had lost loved ones to Wars and such.
"Thorntail went to find Spottedlight and kill her shortly before we attacked - and it is because of him that we have captured her."
Applefur almost leapt to her paws in surprise. Captured? He was supposed to kill her!
Apparently Applefur wasn't the only one who thought so, because Icepelt, a pretty white cat had let out a rather loud hiss of fury – which soon was merged with the other ThunderClan cat's complaints.
It wasn't long before ThunderClan broke out into a chant: "Kill her! Spill her blood! Make her body rot in the mud!" Applefur wasn't sure who thought of it, but it sure was catchy – especially as it was being repeated over and over.
Rosethorn spoke next – to Applefur's surprise. "It isn't as simply as just killing her," the medicine cat growled, and instantly all the warrior's yowls became silenced. "If we did that we would be breaking the Warrior Code."
Applefur was curious to how so, and so she yowled out the question. Apparently some other cats were wondering the same thing, because they echoed her quarry.
"She's pregnant." Rosethorn explained calmly, sweeping her gaze across her Clan, and Applefur's eyes widened in fear. Pregnant?
"Wh…wha?" Icepelt was the only one able to utter a single syllable. "How could that be? Who…who's the father?"
Rosethorn hesitated, apparently too long, because Streamstar spoke. "There are one of two possibilities. Bearmoon, her mate in ThunderClan who helped lead our group of traitors into the attack," Streamstar explained, "And the other is Runningstar former leader of WindClan who eh…we have witnesses of seeing Spottedlight with."
A ripple of shock rushed through the Clan, and Applefur felt her tongue fall out of her mouth. Pregnant? Possible half-Clan kits?! They would be either half-Clan, or Applefur's kin – Bearmoon was her other brother!
"Even though I am hesitant in my decision," Streamstar went on, "I will be letting Spottedlight live." Applefur was ready to lunge at the ThunderClan leader, and lead another coup, and there might've been a few other cats that were ready to do so as well – and Streamstar probably saw it, because she stuttered out quickly, "But as soon as she gives birth, I will order her execution."
"Oh?" Icepelt was once again the one with the loudest voice – and therefore able to be heard. "So we'll be raising her kits?! And who be suckling them?"
Applefur didn't like where this was going.
"Well…" Streamstar meowed, "They will be born around the same time as Applefur's. A little after most likely…"
She really didn't like where this was going…
"So…" Streamstar meowed, resting her pool-blue gaze on Applefur, making her flatten her ears in embarrassment. "I was hoping that Applefur would suckle them."
She didn't like where it went! Suckle Spottedlight's kits?! Raise the murderous cat's kits – right next to her own? What if some of Spottedlight's evilness rubbed off on Applefur's – and Blackshadow's – own kits? And then Applefur ended up being the mother of the worst cat ever to walk in the forest – the mother of the cat who had more blood on his claws then any other!
Suddenly, an idea came to Applefur's mind.
"I will suckle them," Applefur breathed, and a few of her Clanmates flashed her mutinous glances. "But only," she added, "If they are indeed my kin, and Bearmoon's kits. If they're Runningstar's," she rose to her paws, "I say we send them to WindClan! They're half-WindClan after all! Why should they be our problem?!"
"WindClan would probably have more interest in them," Thorntail agreed with a flick of his tail. "I mean, Runningstar was their leader – and they were going to make Spottedlight it. It seems to me that they would adore these kits."
Apparently Applefur's idea was a good one, because her Clanmates started to purr with agreement. However, when she raised her gaze to stare at Streamstar, the leader was shaking her head.
"We will discuss the matter further later, Applefur." Streamstar meowed calmly. A couple of the Clan were now flashing mutinous glances up at Streamstar, so the ThunderClan leader rushed to defend herself. "I'm not happy about these kits." She growled firmly. "But we aren't exactly in the mood to be picky. Look around you, ThunderClan."
Applefur followed the order, and looked around. She nodded at the cats she saw. Icepelt, a pretty white she-cat – one of the senior warriors. Sandpelt, and Flowertail – the nursing queens. Shrewtail, Flowertail's mate. Dusktail the youngest loyal warrior in the Clan – she looked rather out of it, and Applefur wondered if the young she-cat was even paying any attention. Her big brother and former mentor, Badgerclaw who was also looking around the Clan. Her beloved mate, Blackshadow, and her friend, Thorntail. Then, on the HighRock were Streamstar and Rosethorn.
What was Streamstar's point?
"Have you noticed?" Streamstar asked coolly. "We don't even have half the warriors we did at the beginning of this moon. The Blood wiped out some, and then others turned out to betray us."
Alrighty, Applefur though, why is she announcing this in front of the RiverClan medicine cat, and her escort?
"As much as we don't want to admit it," Rosethorn spoke up now, though her words seem to have to be ripped from her throat – clearly the medicine cat wasn't jumping out of her fur to keep these kits, "Spottedlight's kittens might become strong warriors one day, and give strong kits. The future looks bleak as it is – we need warriors to defend the Clan."
Applefur sighed heavily, and looked down at her paws. Okay, that made sense she supposed. Maybe she would suckle them anyway.
But only if they didn't try to murder her in the middle of the night. Considering the parents of the kits she might have to suckle, it was a logical possibility.
"Spottedlight will be resting in by the Elder's den." Streamstar meowed calmly. "Rosethorn will see to her every day to make sure the birth goes as planned – and she will be guarded constantly. And when the time comes, we will kill her nine times."
Applefur nearly choked on her own mouth. She didn't even know how that was possible – but she somehow accomplished it! Nine times! That meant that Spottedlight…was Spottedstar…and well…leader of WindClan…and…
Oh, fox-dung!
"As for the prisoners," Streamstar growled, diverting her Clan's attention away from her slip up of giving away the fact that Spottedlight was no an official Clan leader. "I will speak to my deputy about their fate."
"And that is…?" Icepelt, ever impatient, stared up at her Clan leader with eyes of blue-fire, and Applefur had to agree with her. She had been tired as it was, but now she had all this bad news to bear. If another cat got on her nerves, they would find themselves in StarClan before they could say 'mouse'.
Rosethorn, as if on cue, leaped from the HighRock, and Applefur purred as her friend squeezed through Blackshadow and Thorntail, to sit with her.
"I've though long and hard," Streamstar continued calmly. "And I've finally chosen a fine deputy for ThunderClan. But before I do…" the ThunderClan leader raised her gaze to silverpelt, and Applefur bowed her head. She knew what was coming.
"I wish to apologize to Robinwing," Streamstar murmured. "I know I can never truly be forgiven by her…but I believe that she deserves to have her name cleared. Robinwing was a loyal deputy, and died for what she believed in. She had one loyal daughter, Scarface, who will be missed by us all," Applefur noticed that she didn't mention her other daughter, Spottedstar, "And had a fine grandkit, Scornpaw. She gave much to her Clan…and was the best and most loyal friend a cat could ever have. May she rest in StarClan peacefully now, and may her name always be honored by ThunderClan. She would have made a fine leader."
A sob welled up in Applefur's throat, nearly choking her to death. Robinwing had been falsely accused of treason, and had defended herself to the last. She died with honor, and would hold a high position in StarClan for that.
"I hope that the deputy I choose this time," Streamstar murmured softly, her gaze still reflecting the lights of Silverpelt, "Will please her."
Streamstar took in a breath, and Applefur refused to take her eyes off of her Clan leader as she made her decision.
"I say these words, before the spirit of Robinwing, and the warriors of StarClan," she began, "So that their spirits may hear and approve my choice."
Applefur felt Thorntail beside her, stiffen with nervousness – he probably hoped that he would be chosen, though Applefur doubted he would.
"The new deputy of
ThunderClan will be, Sandpelt."
Applefur stumbled back a few
paw-steps, nearly knocked Badgerclaw, who had sat behind her off of
his paws. Sandpelt? Sandpelt?
Sandpelt was a fine warrior, Swiftfoot's mate, and had been Streamstar's den mate when she had been an apprentice…but…
"Sandpelt is a queen!" Thorntail burst out, voicing Applefur's thoughts. "She can't be named deputy!"
Applefur was about to mew an agreement, but Rosethorn beside her interrupted her. "Yes she can," the medicine cat explained. "It is simply frowned upon to choose a queen as deputy. But there is nothing in the Warrior Code against it."
"It's uncommon," Blackshadow agreed, "But not non-existent."
Applefur shook her head in disbelief. Sandpelt was the Clan deputy? Sandpelt?
Well, alrighty. There were choices that could've been worse, she supposed.
She rose gingerly to her paws and with Rosethorn at her heels rushed over to congratulate the new deputy.
Sandpelt had a large mass of cats around her – all of them licking her ear, and murmuring congratulations. Sandpelt's mate, Swiftfoot – the former deputy, was digging his muzzle into her flank, mumbling words of affection and love. Sandpelt herself however, looked startled and simply sat there with her mouse agape as if she couldn't belief that it had happened to her.
"Uh…er…" Sandpelt shook her head a few times most likely to come out of the shock. "Thank you, Streamstar. I never would have expected to have this honor…I…I…thanks."
Thorntail was the first cat to start the chant, and Applefur was quick to join in. Time to honor Sandpelt's name! "Sandpelt! Sandpelt! Sandpelt! Sandpelt!"
Applefur had to keep herself from bursting out into a hysterical purr, because each time Sandpelt's name was uttered, the new ThunderClan deputy's head would jerk around curiously, as if she still couldn't believe that it was happening.
"Sandpelt," it was Streamstar's commanding mew from the HighRock that sucked the joy out of Applefur instantly. Clan leaders had a way of doing that. "Once you are done celebrating, organize a few patrols for the morning, and then come speak to me in my den. We will discuss the traitors' fate then. Oh," to the rest of the Clan, Streamstar added, "Tomorrow night we will sit vigil for Robinwing. As much as I would like for us to hold it tonight…" she trailed off, and Applefur nodded an agreement. She doubted any cat could keep their eyes open tonight. After the battle, and shock, every cat was ready to go to sleep on their paws.
"Y-yes, Streamstar." Sandpelt purred, and she flicked her leaf-green gaze about, probably looking for a cat that looked awake to guard the camp for the night. "Thorntail," she purred nodding at the gray cat. "I apologize, but could you lead a patrol for the WindClan border? I want to make sure they don't try anything again. Take who you will."
"I'll go," Rosethorn volunteered, and Sandpelt looked at her, startled. "I didn't get to heal much because of Shadenight's help, and I'm still full of energy. I can come with Thorntail…we'll probably need another cat though," she put in quickly.
Applefur sighed heavily, wondering if she should volunteer. She was fully awake now, (chanting the name more or less chased the sleep out of her) and could probably make it. "Sandpelt, I could go with them." She volunteered. Sandpelt looked at her doubtfully. "Come on! Please?" she asked. "I'm going to be cooped up in camp for the next…well, while. Can't I have one last patrol?"
Sandpelt hesitated for a moment, but finally dipped her head. "Oh, fine Applefur. You'd probably go with them anyway. Blackshadow," she went on staring at the big black tom, "Go with them, will you? And as for the dawn patrol I want Badgerclaw…" Applefur didn't listen to the rest. She was overjoyed that Sandpelt had let them all go on a patrol together! Oh, it would be a lot of fun. It had been awhile since they had been able to just be together with no worries. They could just patrol a bit, and maybe goof around a little too.
However, as the four cats squeezed through the gorse tunnel, Applefur couldn't help but notice that the RiverClan cats were gone.