"Ravenpaw! Swiftpaw! Moonpaw! Willowpaw!" the Clan cheered the names of the four new apprentices. Ravenpaw smiled up to her mentor, Wolfsong, who smiled back cheerfully at her new apprentice. Swiftpaw's eyes flashed with determination, and her mentor, Tigerlilly, looked just as determined as her apprentice. Moonpaw danced around Stoneclaw, who looked excited for having his own apprentice. Willowpaw and Dragonclaw both looked eager to run out of camp to see the territory.
Mistpaw, Skypaw, Tigerpaw, and Nightpaw rushed over to congratulate them. They had been training for about a moon now, and were excited to have new den mates. Cheetahpaw and Ravenpaw smiled. They were two moons older than Mistpaw, Skypaw, Tigerpaw, and Nightpaw.
Aurorastar couldn't help laughing. Now there were two Ravenpaws in the camp, and there was sure to be confusion between the two.
"Can we go see the ShadowClan border?" Moonpaw asked excitedly. Stoneclaw looked a little worried.
"Er, yes, I think so," he mewed quietly, his green eyes flashing. News had spread like wild fire through the camp about the strange scents. They had seemed to be coming from the ShadowClan border, a rival Clan. However, the scents didn't really smell like ShadowClan, and Darkstar hadn't really thought much of the scents after hearing of them at the Gathering a few moon rises ago.
Stoneclaw looked over at Aurorastar, seeking permission to bring his apprentice near what could be danger. Aurorastar gave a hesitant nod. She had faith in Stoneclaw, in all her warriors, but she had a hard time ignoring the feeling and stress and worry scraping her stomach like a claw.
"Let's go!" Swiftpaw exclaimed, racing toward the entrance. Tigerlilly raced after her in a blur of dark ginger fur. The new mentors and apprentices rushed after them, and Aurorastar felt more calm when she realized they were going as a group.
"Try to have faith," a soft voice sounded behind her. Aurorastar turned to see her sister, Eclipsewing, padding toward her. She had black, silver, and white patched fur, and her golden eyes shone like the sun. She was admired by many toms in the Clan, but Eclipsewing obviously had no intentions of looking for a mate anytime soon.
"I know," Aurorastar murmured. "But whatever is out there seems to be stalking us like a fox. I am so afraid that a patrol will come in with fatal wounds, or worse."
Eclipsewing rested her black tail on her sister's shoulder. "Have confidence. Showing fear will upset the Clan. We are strong, and we will face whatever is out there with brave hearts and strong spirits. You must feel this, or SunClan will fall in fear like prey under the hunter's claws."
Aurorastar smiled. Her sister's words had always given her strength. "Sometimes I think you should have become the leader, not me. You speak with wisdom and strength that sometimes I think I don't have."
Eclipsewing's golden eyes grew serious. "Don't think that. You were chosen by SunClan and by our Clan. Froststar felt the potential in you when he chose you as deputy. Now your Clan sees it in you, and believes you will lead us through this." Her eyes softened. "I know I do."
Aurorastar buried her muzzle in her sister's shoulder fur. "Thank you. You have shown me a small light through this darkness." Her eyes shone with determination. "And I will make SunClan proud."
Eclipsewing smiled. "Good. Now why don't you come get something to eat? You haven't eaten anything yet today."
Aurorastar went to go join her sister at the fresh kill pile. Nightsun was there as well, casting Aurorastar a friendly glance, with something more. Aurorastar felt cared for and cheerful under his watch, and she shook her head when she realized that she was staring. Nightsun twitched his whiskers with amusement.
Aurorastar walked off to joined her sister, her tail flicking. She picked up a thrush and sat next to Eclipsewing, who watched Aurorastar with amusement and mischief.
"You know, cats are starting to talk," she mewed.
Aurorastar tilted her head. "About what?"
Eclipsewing rolled her eyes. "You know! You and Nightsun! If you ask me, it won't be long until you two are mates."
"What's wrong with having a mate?" Aurorastar growled, then realized she was being ridiculous. "Don't worry. We are just friends, but there is nothing wrong with liking someone that way." Aurorastar gulped down her thrush and then headed off to the entrance. "I'm going hunting!" she called over her shoulder.
"Want me to come?" Eclipsewing asked.
Aurorastar shook her head. "Thanks, but I'd rather be alone."
She headed out of camp, ears pricked, eyes alert. After getting far enough, she tasted the air. The sharp scent of squirrel clung to the air. Aurorastar slunk forward until she found the creature scuffling among the roots of a tall oak tree. She crept forward, keeping silent, until she was about a fox length away. The protection of ferns hid her while she stalked her prey. Then, she leaped forward, dispatching it with one blow to the spine before it could even squeal.
Satisfied, she picked up her prey and buried it under the fallen leaves. Tasting the air again, she suddenly picked up the sharp tang of blood.
A screech split the air, startling Aurorastar. She realized with horror that it was the cry of a cat. All thoughts of hunting forgotten, she rushed off toward the noise. Breaking through the undergrowth, she gasped at the sight in front of her.
Ravenpaw stood her ground, fur bristled in fear. Swiftpaw lay motionless on the ground, blood covering her fur. Tigerlilly and Wolfsong were furiously fighting a large fox, which must have been hungry enough to go after a cat.
Snarling with fury, Aurorastar launched herself at the fox, raking her long claws down its shoulder. It was already weak from Wolfsong and Tigerlilly, and seeing a third cat in the attack, it raced off, it's tail low in defeat. Tigerlilly and Wolfsong raced after it, hissing threateningly.
Aurorastar ran to Swiftpaw's side once the fox had disappeared. Her fur had been completely ripped off from one shoulder, and a deep wound on her chest spilled with fresh blood. Her eyes flickered open faintly.
"Aurorastar?" Swiftpaw whispered. "Is that you?"
"Yes," Aurorastar murmured, ripping moss from the ground and laying it over Swiftpaw's wound.
"Swiftpaw attacked the fox when it jumped at me," Ravenpaw explained, her eyes still wide with shock. "But she had no training. She didn't stand a chance."
"I just wanted to be a great warrior," Swiftpaw rasped.
"And you were very brave, Swiftpaw, like a warrior," Aurorastar reassured the injured apprentice. "But don't ever again take on a fox all by yourself." By then Swiftpaw had gone unconscious, and Aurorastar wondered if the apprentice had even heard her.
Tigerlilly and Wolfsong came to Aurorastar's side, panting.
"It's been chased to the border," Wolfsong reported. Tigerlilly stared at her apprentice in horror, her eyes glazed with pain and anger.
"Go get Starwhisper," Aurorastar ordered Ravenpaw, and the black she cat shot off.
"Do you think it has been foxes invading our territory?" Wolfsong asked.
Aurorastar shook her head. "No. The scent is not fox, and if it were, we would hear their attacks." Her tail lashed. "This was nothing more than a danger passing through."
She jumped when she heard the sound of a snapping twig behind her. She unsheathed her bloody claws again, but it was just Moonpaw, Stoneclaw, Willowpaw, and Dragonclaw. They were breathing heavily, obviously from running to the scene.
"We heard cat cries and came as quick as we could," Dragonclaw gasped. His dark gray fur stood on end. "What happened?"
"Fox attack. It's gone, but Swiftpaw's wounded," Tigerlilly replied quietly.
Soon, Ravenpaw was back with Starwhisper. The medicine cat examined Swiftpaw's wound worriedly. After a long pause, Starwhisper spoke.
"She'll live, but the wound is deep, and she has lost blood," the medicine cat spoke anxiously. "We must get her to camp quickly, but very carefully."
Gently, Wolfsong and Tigerlilly hauled Swiftpaw up onto their shoulders and brought her back to camp. Their arrival brought anxious mews and horrified gasps.
"How did this happen?" Seaserpent, a brown she cat asked.
"Fox attack," Aurorastar answered. Seaserpent dug her claws into the ground, but Aurorastar quickly added, "It's gone now. Wolfsong and Tigerlilly chased it out of the territory."
Aurorastar left Starwhisper and Swiftpaw at the medicine den. She walked back to her den, pacing with worry. If the foxes came back, they would be facing more danger. If the strange scents were rogues, then maybe they were having the same trouble with the fox. What if they were stealing prey? Would the Clan starve?
Suddenly, Eclipsewing's words flashed through Aurorastar's mind. We are strong, and we will face whatever is out there with brave hearts and strong spirits. You must feel this, or SunClan will fall in fear like prey under the hunter's claws.
Aurorastar dug her claws into her moss nest. SunClan will become the claws of the mighty hunter!
Yep, poor Swiftpaw's on the edge of the StarClan border. A moon passed, and yes, there are two Ravenpaws. I'm really sorry if that confuses anyone. Hope you liked the chapter! ^.^