"Frostpelt, stop, you're scaring the apprentices," one of the cats meowed, flicking his tail in annoyance.
"Oh. Right. Sorry," Frostpelt said, sheathing his claws and taking a couple of paw steps back.
"Who…" Dapplepaw trailed off, shaking like a leaf.
"Sorry," the cat further away said, "I'm Moonwind, and my friend is Frostpelt." Both cats dipped their heads in greeting.
"Why are you glowing?" Duskpaw asked bravely, standing up and shaking the swamp remains off of his pelt.
"Glowing? Oh, yes, that's a bit of a complicated matter, hm?" Moonwind explained, choosing his words carefully.
"Ok… then what are you?" Duskpaw mewed, his curiosity getting better of him.
Frostpelt laughed, as if suddenly amused. "Now isn't the best time to answer that, 'paws. You need to get back to camp, and we'll visit you sometime and explain."
Duskpaw looked skeptical. Dapplepaw wasn't however; he was just ready to get out of there. "Come on brother, let's go," Dapplepaw urged.
"No," he answered, standing his ground. "I'm not leaving without answers."
"Duskpaw," the black and white apprentice pleaded, "Please. We have border patrol in the morning and battle training in the afternoon. We need to sleep."
Duskpaw didn't look at his brother. He stared like a statue at Frostpelt and Moonwind, demanding answers without speaking a word.
"If it satisfies you to know, you found what you came looking for," Frostpelt said, stepping back and allowing the apprentices to leave. "That's the only answer you're getting tonight. Now leave."
Dapplepaw took a step forward, and with one defiant glance at the strange cats, Duskpaw followed.
"Can you find your way back to camp?" Moonwind asked as the apprentices began pushing their way through a bush.
"Yeah," Duskpaw hissed before Dapplepaw could say otherwise. "Come on brother, let's get out of here." Without a look over his shoulder, he pushed Dapplepaw forward, and they disappeared into the undergrowth.
After walking for a few silent minutes, Dapplepaw spoke up. "Are you sure we can find the way back to camp? We've never been near this area before."
"Yes," Duskpaw snapped, "We're fine." His voice softened. "I think I know who those cats are."
"I'm all ears," the bicolored cat said, leaping over a fallen log.
"The river cats. You know, the ones we came out here to see? I bet that's who they are."
Dapplepaw paused, and his brother bounded up beside him.
"Are you sure? The river cats are only supposed to be a… story." Dapplepaw wasn't sure he believed in what he said. The cats looked mystical, and they were in the swamp, close to the river. What if the cats they had come searching for were real?
"How do you explain what we saw? Those cats were glowing! They have to be river cats!" Duskpaw exclaimed.
Dapplepaw nodded absent mindedly, and then scented the air. "We have to be quiet; we're almost back to camp."
Duskpaw didn't respond, and the two brothers trudged through the undergrowth. When they reached the almost non-existent hole in the camp wall, they slipped in and curled up without a single word. Dapplepaw couldn't help but fall asleep with images of the river cats dancing through his head, teasing him about their true identity. Duskpaw fell asleep formulating a plan for seeing the river cats again. No matter what, they were going to see the river cats again.
Sorry for taking so long to update! I hope you like this chapter, and please review! I will welcome any constructive criticism that you have to offer. Thank you to those you already reviewed!