Chapter 18

When I woke up the next morning, it was dawn. I didn't recognize where I was. The warriors' den seemed different, bigger than I thought. Then I saw Bramblestripe and Rowanstone stirring and remembered we were taking refuge in the Windclan camp.

Beside me, Oakstorm was stirring too. When he opened his eyes and saw me sitting there, he smiled. "I love seeing you first thing in the morning." I smiled. He sat up and gave me a lick. "Come on, let's see if Smallflower wants us to join a patrol." He said. I nodded and followed him out of the den.

As I walked to the den entrance, I recalled what Rainstar told us last night. "I don't want my clan to sit here soaking up Windclan's generosity without doing something to help them. Heatherstar and I agree we shouldn't take part in border markings, so I told her we could do most of the hunting. For a while it will feel like we're one clan. But soon we'll be back in our territory where we belong."

But as I walked into the clearing, I felt perfectly at ease here. Almost like it was my home. Weird, especially considering my feelings from yesterday. Did all my clanmates think like this? I shook off the thought. As I looked around, I realized most of the cats were Windclan. My clanmates must already be hunting. But I did see Sandclaw, Shinewhisker and Rosedrop.

Smallflower beckoned me us over and said, "Shinewhisker will take you, Oakstorm and Rosedrop hunting."

Nightfur added, "Dapplepelt and Rabbitfoot will go with you, for assistance." Two warriors stepped forward, one silver tabby she-cat and a black and white speckled tom.

The tabby said, "I am Rabbitfoot, and that's Dapplepelt. Hi."

The black and white tom, Dapplepelt, said, "Hi. We're going to show you the best places for hunting, and some of the techniques for rabbit hunting." We nodded. Shinewhisker stepped aside so the Windclan cats could lead. We meowed our goodbyes and left camp.

As we were leaving I heard Nightfur meow, "Sandclaw, will you give Leopardshadow a warriors escort to gather some herbs? I don't want her to meet trouble without backup." Then Sandclaw nodded and headed for the Medicine cats' den.

I switched my attention to what I was doing. After we left camp, Dapplepelt and Rabbitfoot broke in a run. The two Windclan warriors ran fast. I had a hard time keeping up, but I was doing better than my clanmates. When we stopped at last, my legs were aching with protest. "The rabbit's warrens is the best place for prey. I'm surprised none of the other hunting patrols are here." Geez they didn't even sound out of breath! Did they do this every day? Oakstorm turned around and dropped into a crouch. He took a step and then ran for it. He jumped at it and gave it the death bite. It was a mouse, which he took and buried beside a huge stone.

Dappleheart and Rabbitfoot were watching us, like mentors assessing their apprentices. Maybe Nightfur wanted some kind of report on how we could hunt in unfamiliar territory. I just hope I wouldn't disappoint. I parted my mouth, hoping for the scent of prey.

Then my ears pricked. I turned my body in the direction of the prey and felt my muscles fall into the hunting crouch automatically. I took a step and then three more. I paused and quieted my swishing tail, grateful the rabbit was still there. I took three more steps, then ran for it. The rabbit dashed off, but I was quicker. I pounced on it and killed it with a swipe of my paw. Pleased to have such a fat piece of prey, I buried it next to Oakstorm's catch. Shinewhisker and Rosedrop were stalking their own prey.

We stayed out a little longer, and had more luck as the time progressed. When we were done, Oakstorm had the mouse, and a dove. Shinewhisker had two pigeons and a rabbit. Rosedrop had two mice. Both Dappleheart and Rabbitfoot had three rabbits. And I had a rabbit and a bird. On the way back, we walked, to which I was pleased. It would have been hard to run with Fresh kill in my mouth.

When Nightfur saw our catch she exclaimed, "Well done! That's nearly enough to feed the whole clan! Come put your prey down and join the feast." So we dropped our catch on the pile and chose a piece to eat. I settled beside Oakstorm, Shinewhisker Rosedrop and Shadepaw, and took a bite of the rabbit I had taken. It definitely wasn't as good as fish, but it had a rich meaty taste that I liked.

"Silverpaw!" I knew the cat must have been talking to me, so I swallowed my mouthful and turned around to see who called my name.

"Gorsepaw!"

He shook his head and said, "Gorsetail now! I'm a warrior!"

I smiled and announced, "And my name is Silverheart!" His eyes, which were already shining with delight at seeing me, grew wide.

"That's great! Did Fernpaw get her name too? Where is she?" My heart dropped, and my smile vanished. His did too. How could I get the words out?

Oakstorm, sensing my discomfort, said, "Yes she did. Her name is Ferntail. But she died in the fire, helping Silverheart and our queen and medicine cats escape. It was a noble thing for her to do." He choked at the end. As he pressed closer to me, I wasn't sure if it was too comfort me or him. I didn't ask.

Gorsetail looked somber. "She was a great friend." He meowed. I took a step and wrapped my tail around his shoulders, trying to comfort him.

After a moment he said, "Come on, I'll introduce you to the other warriors. Oakstorm, you can come too." He dipped his head, but politely rejected the offer. Giving me a smile, he went back to our clanmates. I saw my haft eaten rabbit, but I wasn't hungry anymore.

"This is Goldentail, Graycloud and Dewdrop."

I nodded to the cats, "Hello. I'm Silverheart," One of the cats, I assumed it was Goldentail, was cream colored with orange feet and tail.

She meowed, "Hello." The other cats were a gray tabby she-cat and a white tom with a huge black spot on his chest. I guessed that he was Dewdrop and the tabby was Graycloud. They said hello too.

Gorsetail identified the two cats sitting with Nightfur as Flamestripe and Sunspot. "They are kin." I nodded. They certainty looked like it. Both with light orange with darker ginger markings; Flamestrip had stripe and Sunspot had spots. "And Goldentail is there sister. But both their parents died." I nodded again.

It had been a long day. "I'm gonna get some sleep. See you later." I said.

"Ok. I'll tell your mate so he doesn't worry." Gorsetail said. I said ok and padded to the den.

But before I got there, I saw Shadepaw, Watersong and Leopardshadow heading for the camp entrance. I walked up to them, and after I asked where they were going, Shadepaw said, "It's haft moon. We're meeting Bluedrop and Runningfire at the Moonstone tonight." I wished the three cats safe traveling, and watched them leave. Only after they disappeared I went to my nest.

When I entered the den, I saw Sandclaw, and some of our clanmates were already in their nests. "How was your day?" I called to her.

She smiled and said, "Great. I hear you and your patrol caught lots of prey."

I nodded and she said, "Good. I'm proud of you. You were a great apprentice, you have so much strength! Goodnight." She twisted in her nest and close her eyes.

I was grateful we still had our friendship. I wasn't sure it would last, since Oakstorm dropped her for me, but she sounded sincere. I guessed that I had sounded the same way when I thought Oakstorm loved her. I padded to my nest and lay down. I shut my eyes; hoping sleep would overtake me soon. I wished I knew Ferntail was safe in the ranks of Starclan, and that she and Mosskit had been reunited.

A/N: Special Thanks to my brother for helping me come up with some of the Windclan names! You're awesome bro! Anyway, I wrote this chapter on the six hour car ride to California. Yep I'm on vacation as of today, the seventh of July. So I won't be posting chapters as frequently as usual for the next week and a haft. But don't worry! I haven't forgot about you guys! Thanks for reading and please please leave a rewview. Bye!