Chapter 4
"Congratulations!" Stripepaw meowed, pulling Jaypaw away from her thoughts. Jaypaw touched noses with Stripepaw and returned her words, but the golden brown apprentice doubted her sister heard her words. Stripepaw was now circling Foxfang, mewing, "When can we start training? I want to learn everything."
"In time," Foxfang purred, amusement dancing in his eyes, "If you're not too tired then maybe I can show you the boundaries. I should ask Firestar though."
"Oh yes please, Foxfang!" Stripepaw mewed like a kit, but then seemed to gather herself. Dipping her head to Foxfang, Stripepaw meowed, "I mean thank you Foxfang."
"Can we join them?" Jaypaw asked, watching Foxfang and Stripepaw pad over to Firestar. Both cats dipped their heads in respect to Firestar and then Foxfang began talking. Jaypaw was too far away to make out his words.
"Yes," Leafpool meowed, nodding, "I need to show you where the best places to collect herbs are. Stay here. I'm going to talk to Firestar and Foxfang and see if we can go as the evening patrol. That should give some of the warriors a night off."
Leafpool padded away and sat down next to Stripepaw, wrapping her tail around her paws. When Foxfang closed his mouth, Leafpool began talking and Jaypaw strained her ears to listen, but the medicine cat's quiet mew was too low for her apprentice to make out anything.
"Jaypaw!" A voice yowled in her ear and Jaypaw whirled around to see her old friends: Rosepaw, Toadpaw, Briarpaw, Bumblepaw, and Blossompaw. Rosepaw was the one who had spoken and she gave Jaypaw's ear a friendly lick before continuing, "Why didn't you tell us you wanted to become a medicine cat? Bumblepaw wanted you to sleep next to him in the apprentices' den."
Bumblepaw ducked his head in embarrassment and Jaypaw padded over to the light gray tom, pressing her muzzle against his. "I'll tell you what," Jaypaw meowed, pulling away, "Whenever we get enough of it, I'll swipe you a bit of honey."
Bumblepaw let out a shaky purr, his whiskers twitching. Every apprentice and kit knew the sweet taste of honey and it was a nice treat to go along side the fresh-kill.
"You will do no such thing," A voice meowed from behind them and Jaypaw turned to see Leafpool, Foxfang and Stripepaw beside her. At first, Jaypaw thought Leafpool was angry until she saw the amused glint in her mentor's amber eyes.
"We've talked to Firestar," Foxfang meowed, flicking an ear towards Firestar who was now organizing the dawn patrol. Dustpelt was nodding and gathered up three other cats with a sweep of his tail. Then Dustpelt, Sandstorm, Cloudtail, and Brackenfur all headed into the warriors' den for some sleep before they were due on patrol. "And he says we can show you the borders tonight."
Jaypaw nodded and meowed goodbyes to her fellow apprentices. Staring at Foxfang with gray eyes, Jaypaw wondered what the tom was waiting for. Then the running started.
Foxfang took off without so much as a word and Leafpool followed him, matching her strides with his. Sharing a surprised glance with Stripepaw, Jaypaw sprinted after them, her paws scrambling as she tried to pick up speed. Catching up to the two older cats, Jaypaw fell into place beside Leafpool while Stripepaw still ran hard on their heels.
Suddenly Foxfang and Leafpool stopped and Jaypaw had to turn around fast to stop as well. Stripepaw then crashed into Jaypaw and the two cats fell on the dirt. Jumping off Jaypaw, Stripepaw meowed an apology, her ears flat against her head in embarrassment.
Foxfang pretended not to notice because he meowed, "This is the abandoned twoleg nest. Can you smell anything?"
Foxfang's eyes were on Stripepaw and the brown apprentice lifted her head, sniffing loudly. Pausing to make sure she was right, Stripepaw meowed hesitantly, "I smell prey. Vole, I think."
"You mousebrain," Jaypaw hissed gently, cuffing Stripepaw on the ears with her paw, "It's not vole, its pigeon. You can hear it scuffling around." As she spoke, the four cats fell silent and indeed there was the distinct sound of a pigeon.
"Very good," Foxfang praised Jaypaw and continued, "Even though there is prey here, we only hunt here if the Clan needs fresh-kill desperately. See the roof of the nest," Foxfang asked and the two apprentices nodded, "That could cave down at any moment."
Leafpool nodded and then turned to Jaypaw, meowing, "This is the only place in our territory to get catmint. While the warriors won't come here often, you will."
Jaypaw nodded, tasting the air, and sure enough the scent of catmint was strong. Jaypaw's tail curled up in pleasure at the scent of it.
"Okay now follow me," Foxfang meowed and then padded slowly away from the abandoned twoleg nest. Jaypaw followed next to Leafpool and Stripepaw, her nose sniffing the air curiously. Suddenly a disgusting smell flooded her senses and Jaypaw hissed in disgust.
"What's that?" Stripepaw spat, echoing Jaypaw's own thoughts. "It smells yucky."
"That is ShadowClan's scent," Foxfang explained, his own nose twitching with disgust, "Don't forget it. We share this border with them and when you're a warrior, Stripepaw, you are going to have to protect our territory. ShadowClan will steal you fur off if you're not careful."
"Is that so?" A low snarl was heard and three cats slipped into view. They carried the scent of ShadowClan and instinctively, Jaypaw dropped into a crouch. Beside her, growls were rumbling in Foxfang's throat and Leafpool and Stripepaw's fur bristled.
The cat who had spoken was a dark ginger she-cat, flanked by two brown toms, and Jaypaw admired the hard muscles that moved as they walked. The cats were obviously warriors and as Jaypaw stared at them, she realized they had unsheathed claws. The ShadowClan warriors were going to attack!
