"The dawn patrol found no signs of DarkClan, rogue, or enemy Clan scent," Nightglow reported. "It's been a moon since the battle; I'm sure we won't find any trouble with DarkClan now."
Aurorastar flicked an ear. "I know, but now that cold weather is beginning to come in, we can't afford to suffer from any rogue or DarkClan invasions." The hot season of greenleaf had finished, and now the nights had become cold and leaf-fall chills blew through the trees.
"We can't afford to wear cats out," Nightglow pointed out.
"That's why we will be shortening the amount of cats on border patrols. Hunting and finishing the nursery expansion should be our top priorities."
Nightglow agreed, then dipped her head and walked off to Ravenecho and Bluemoon, who were in charge of the nursery expansion. Now there was nearly enough space for all the queens and kits and for Honeysplash and Wolfsong to raise their future litters.
Aurorastar watched as Tigerpaw and Nightpaw sat near the apprentice den, talking about battle tactics. Mistpaw was sharing a squirrel with Stormkit, after every bite exchanging a few words. Aurorastar was surprised to see that Mistpaw was not that much bigger than Stormkit. There is so much to do. The nursery, hunting prey, and making sure Starwhisper is stalked with herbs for the cold seasons to come. Waterfall's kits are nearing their sixth moon, and Tigerpaw, Nightpaw, and Mistpaw may be taking their final assessment any day now.
Aurorastar gazed at the entrance to the camp. I haven't been on a hunting patrol in moons. Anxious, Aurorastar stretched out her legs before trotting over to Dapplecloud, Searose, and Bluegalaxy. Dapplecloud's once fatal wounds had healed finely, and she was now back on warrior duties.
Bluegalaxy waved her tail at Aurorastar when she noticed her leader approaching. "Hello, Aurorastar. Fine weather for hunting."
"Too fine," Aurorastar replied back in a friendly voice. "I would like to lead a hunting patrol with you and your apprentices. I want to see how their hunting skills are coming along, and hopefully we can start thinking about their final assessments to becoming warriors.
"That would be great!" Bluegalaxy sounded delighted, her blue and white fur prickling. Searose called Tigerpaw, Mistpaw, and Nightpaw, while Dapplecloud kneaded the ground with her cream colored paws anxiously.
"Let's go," said Aurorastar when every cat was ready. She tore off, enjoying the feeling of the cool breeze in her fur. A squirrel danced through the tree branches above her, and birdsong whistled through the air.
Let us hope we can all enjoy this nice weather before leaf-bare comes in without any conflicts.
When they reached a popular spot for hunting, Aurorastar stopped, turning around.
The apprentices were panting, but their eyes shined bright. "Do we start?" Tigerpaw asked.
"Yes," Dapplecloud answered. "And remember, be patient and do your best."
"Is this like an assessment?" Nightpaw asked nervously with wide, amber eyes.
"More like a review. If you do well today, then we will start your warrior assessment in a few sunrises," Aurorastar answered. Mistpaw's silver tabby fur bristled with excitement.
"You may leave when you are ready; we will be hunting, too," mewed Searose, were blue-gray fur shining in a patch of sunlight. When the apprentices darted off, Searose's sea green eyes turned to Aurorastar. "Do you think they'll be okay?"
"Of course. There has been no strange scents in our territory for a moon now. Besides, you have all taught them well."
Searose smiled. Dapplecloud and Bluegalaxy had already left to do their own hunting. "Would you like to hunt with me?"
"Sure." Aurorastar's deep blue eyes shined. She opened her mouth to taste the air, and quickly detected the musky smell of a mouse. After following the scent for a few paw steps, she spotted it scuttling amongst the roots of a birch tree. Aurorastar signaled to Searose and swished her tail. Searose understood her leader's command and crouched on the opposite side of the tree.
With Searose is position, Aurorastar darted towards the mouse. It squealed and raced away, straight into Searose's claws.
"Great catch!" Aurorastar called.
Searose blinked. "Thanks, but you set it up."
"We worked as a team."
Searose nodded and buried her mouse. "Where should we go next?"
"You lead. I lead in the last catch."
Searose pricked her ears. Her eyes alert, she whipped her towards the direction Bluegalaxy and Dapplecloud went in. About a tree length away, a robin was pecking at the ground in search of any bugs. Searose gave Aurorastar an identical signal to the one her leader gave to her. Aurorastar nodded and slowly prowled around to the back side of the robin. When Searose pounced at the the small bird, it flew towards Aurorastar, squawking in alarm. With a leap, Aurorastar sank her teeth into its wing. Grounding it, she killed the robin with a swift bite to the throat.
"Nice leap!" Searose meowed.
"Thanks!" Aurorastar said around a mouthful of feathers.
A sudden commotion of leaves and sticks sounded behind them, and Aurorastar turned to see Nightpaw racing out from behind a group of ferns. Her black and white spotted fur was bristled out in excitement.
"Tigerpaw caught a crow! Come see!"
Searose picked up the mouse, motioning for Nightpaw to lead the way.
Tail flicking enthusiastically, Nightpaw darted away. Searose ran by the apprentice's tail, and Aurorastar followed in the back. She dodged around brambles and ferns, then ducking under a low pine tree branch. The sun peaked around from behind the crispy leaves of the trees, dappling the ground in sunlight. Aurorastar breathed in the air, wishing it could always be warm. She knew, though, that life and time moves on, and there would be another season of cold and lack of prey.
"Searose!" Tigerpaw's voice appeared, calling her mentor. "Look what I caught!"
A crow about as big as Tigerpaw lay dead at the apprentice's paws. She glowed with pride, and her amber eyes flicked from her kill to her mentor.
"That's a brilliant catch!" Searose exclaimed. She licked her apprentice's ear warmly. "I'm so proud."
"Good catch, Tigerpaw!" Bluegalaxy called from nearby. The she cat bounded forward, Dapplecloud at her side. Bluegalaxy carried a squirrel and Dapplecloud had her mouth full with a rabbit.
Tigerpaw nodded. "As to you." She eyed Dapplecloud's rabbit with a flash of hunger in her eyes.
"Good hunting to you two as well, I see," remarked Bluegalaxy as she walked over to Aurorastar and Searose.
"Yes," replied Aurorastar. "It will be good to stock up prey now and prepare ourselves for the harsh season to come." She stopped talking, starring up at the white, puffy clouds above her.
"What's troubling you?" Dapplecloud asked.
Aurorastar dug her claws into the hardening dirt. "I'm very worried about leaf-bare coming. Last leaf-bare, we lost three cats to hunger and cold." She remembered their last elder, Brackenshadow, slowing dying from lack of prey. He was in being cared for in Starwhisper's den, but it wasn't enough. He died peacefully along with Cloudfur and Plumnose.
"I had just become a leader at the time. I don't want to let the Clan down again."
Dapplecloud rested her tail on her leader's flank. "We will be prepared for leaf-bare this time. Hopefully no more cats will have to die from lack of prey."
Aurorastar nodded. "I won't let my Clanmates die. I will use my last breath if I have to."
Searose looked surprised by Aurorastar's strong determination, but nodded. Dapplecloud and Bluegalaxy exchanged a warm glance.
Aurorastar flinched when a branch snapped behind her. She unsheathed her claws, preparing to attack a foe that had made a mistake in trespassing SunClan territory.
A flash a silver tabby fur darted out of the ferns, and Mistpaw skidded to a halt next to the group of cats. Aurorastar sheathed her claws.
"Come quick! All of the catmint by the stream is gone, and StormClan scent is all over it!"
Duh duh duuhhhh! :P SunClan's troubles can't seem to disappear. Hope you liked this chapter! ^.^