Here is the new chapter, I don't really have much to say, so I'll just let you read.
Foxclaw- Yeah, I didn't mean to do that. Oh well.
Lazy watermelon- Thank you! :)
Fawnpaw got down low, crouching as she stalked a blackbird just a few fox lengths away from her. She had been getting better at hunting lately, she was even able to catch a rabbit the other day.
As she came closer, she paused, and then sprang at it. But as she rose, she brushed against a bush. As it made noise, the bird heard it and flew into the air, leaving only a few feathers behind. Fawnpaw landed on the bare ground and sat up, hissing.
She looked back to see Tigerclaw padding towards her. "You almost had it." He told her. "But you must be careful to watch your surroundings. Even though the prey is returning, it doesn't mean you can be careless. Now, show me your hunting crouch."
Fawnpaw quickly dropped low again, trying to keep her weight even and remembering to keep her tail still. She looked strait forward, waiting for her mentor to say something.
"Your weight is more on your left." Tigerclaw meowed, padding to her other side and gently nudging her with his nose until she fell into the right position. "Is your injury still hurting you? Have you been checking in with Yellowfang?"
Fawnpaw sat up again. It has been a few days since she had rescued Cloudkit from the badger when he got lost on his own in the forest. "She said I can go back to training as long as I don't work too hard, remember?" She twitched her tail happily though. She liked knowing that her mentor cared about her, even if he didn't like to show it.
"Tell me if it does start to hurt again." Tigerclaw told her, before looking away. "Now, let's she is you can find a mouse."
Fawnpaw nodded and opened her mouth to taste the air. She picked through the many scents until found mouse. She got down low again and turned to look at the roots of a tree. Under some fallen leaves, something moved. She knew it was the mouse.
She stalked closer, using the roots to hide her. She paused, looking over one. Then she jumped, landing on the hidden mouse. She held it still with her paws while she killed it with a swift, clean bite to the neck. She picked up the small body and turned to look at Tigerclaw.
"Good," Tigerclaw nodded. "Now we should head for the Riverclan border to see if we can find a-" He broke off as he heard the sound of voices close by.
"Fireheart! Fireheart!" A little, excited voice sounded, and it sounded like the cat was running.
"Cloudkit?" Fawnpaw asked, pricking her ears to hear better.
"Cloudkit, what are you doing here?" She heard her brother demand. "I told you to stay in the nursery."
"I tracked you." Cloudkit sounded proud. "All the way from camp." He continued, "I followed your scent train right up to the stepping stones. Fireheart, what were you and Graystripe doing in Riverclan territory?"
"Riverclan?" Tigerclaw growled softly before pushing his way though the bracken the into their sight. Fawnpaw followed quickly, staying close to his side. "Yes, that's what I would like to know, too." Tigerclaw growled.
Fawnpaw watched, his eyes moving from Tigerclaw to Fawnpaw and back, unable to find any words. Graystripe stood next to him, looking startled.
"Fireheart's really brave!" Cloudkit mewed. "He went out on a special warrior mission- he told me so."
Special warrior mission? Fawnpaw wondered. That can't be right. Why would he tell Cloudkit but now her if he was sent on a mission? Maybe he just got the mission while I was away from camp.
"Did he now?" Hissed Tigercalw, looking interested. "And did he tell you what this special warrior mission was?"
"No, but I can guess." Cloudkit trembled with excitement "He's been with Graystripe to spy on Riverclan. Fireheart, did you-"
"Quite, kit." Snapped Tigerclaw, making Fawnpaw flinch. He glanced over at her for a heartbeat before asking Fireheart, "Is that true?"
Fireheart looked at Graystripe. His friend was frozen, staring at Tigerclaw in horror. "We wanted to see how far the floods went." Fireheart finally said.
"Oh?" Tigerclaw looked around. "What happened to the rest of your patrol? And some cat must have sent you." He continued before the ginger tom could answer, "It wasn't me, even though I sent out all the other patrols."
"We just thought..." Graystripe began feebly.
Tigerclaw acted as if he didn't hear him. He leaned towards Fireheart, "If you ask me, kittypet, you're far too friendly with Riverclan. You might hace been over there to spy- or you might be spying for them. Which side are you on?"
"Tigerclaw," Fawnpaw dropped her mouse. "I don't think that's right." She told him gently.
Tigerclaw hesitated before taking a step back. "Come on, we still need to tell Bluestar either way." He looked down at Cloudkit. Cloudkit tried to meet his gaze boldly, but still had to take a step back. "As for you, Bluestar ordered that no kits were to leave camp along. Or do you think Clan orders don't apply to you?"
For once, Cloudkit didn't reply. He looked scared.
Tigerclaw turned, picked up Fawnpaw's mouse for her, and headed for camp.
When they came to camp, Tigerclaw gave the mouse to Fawnpaw to put on the fresh kill pile. She hurried away, doing as she was told. She dropped it on the pile before bounding back over to the group, wondering nervously what her kit's punishment would be this time. Hopefully nothing too bad.
Bluestar was standing by the Highrock, with Whitestorm, Longtail, and Mousefur reporting what they had found on their patrol.
"There is still time-" Bluestar was saying but stopped when she saw Tigerclaw. "Yes, what is it?"
"I've brought these cats to you," The deputy growled. "One disobedient kit, and two traitors."
"Traitors?" Echoed Longtail, meeting Fireheart's eyes. "Just what I'd expect from a kittypet." He sneered.
Fawnpaw's pelt bristled but she said nothing. She knew her brother wasn't a traitor, and being a kittypet seasons ago meant nothing.
"That's enough." Bluestar ordered, a hint of a snarl in her voice. "You may go, all of you." As the cats moved away, Fawnpaw stayed, standing close to Cloudkit as she waited to hear his punishment. "Tell me what happened."
"I was hunting with Fawnpaw when I heard this kit's voice." Tigerclaw explained. "I was in the forest, and he was out of camp after you ordered that nokits or apprentices should go out without a warrior. I found him with these two," He nodded to Fireheart and Graystripe, "and they gave me a fish-and-mouse story about checking to see how far the floods stretched. Cloudkit said that the scent trail crossed the stepping stones downstream of Sunningrocks."
"Is this true?" Bluestar asked Fireheart.
"Yes," He admitted, "We can explain, but..." He looked at Tigerclaw uneasily.
Bluestar closed her eyes for a long moment before opening them again and said, "Tigerclaw, I'll deal with this. You and Fawnpaw may go."
Tigerclaw looked as if he was about to object, and kept silent. He nodded and said, "Come on, Fawnpaw." He lead her away, his pelt brushing against her own as they walked towards the fresh kill pile.
Fawnpaw glanced over her shoulder to see Fireheart staring at them, pelt bristling before turning back to Bluestar, who was talking to Cloudkit.
"She isn't going to punish Cloudkit too bad, is she?" Fawnpaw asked Tigerclaw worriedly as he picked up a vole and settled down to eat.
"I'm sure he'll be fine." Tigerclaw told her as she layed down next to him to share the prey.
She took the first bite and turned to watch Cloudkit and Bluestar talk. Finally, Cloudkit dipped his head and bounded towards her, tail held high. "Bluestar says that I have to look after the elders some more." He told Fawnpaw.
Fawnpaw swallowed, wondering why Bluestar didn't punish him worse than that. From what she could see, the kit actually liked looking after the elders, and they liked him too. She couldn't help but worry that he hadn't learned anything about respecting the Clan's ways.
"You better get started then." Tigerclaw told him.
Cloudkit nodded quickly and ran off to the elder's den, disappearing inside.
"Do you think that he'll ever learn to respect the Clan's ways?" Fawnpaw asked, staring at the den entrance.
"I'm sure he will." Tigerclaw told her, touching his nose to her ear.
Fawnpaw purred at his touch and turned to take another bite of the vole.
Well, that's it. Please review. :)