Shadowstar padded out of her den after her long rest.
Skyleap was sending cats out on Dawn Patrols, though some cats she would send to clean out dens, a smirk showing on her face.
Redstorm sighed when he was told to clean out the Elders Den, turning away and padding towards the Elders.
Skyleap glanced to Shadowstar, her smirk vanishing immediately and her serious phase returned. She dipped her head to Shadowstar before continuing to instruct cats on what to do.
Shadowstar shrugged and trotted over to the Apprentices that crowded in a corner while chattering like starlings together.
"What do you think your doing?" Shadowstar asked, "You should be helping out the Clan. We're low on food, you mustn't sit around and do nothing."
Mosspaw glanced up, "We know, Shadowstar. But our Mentors haven't called us yet, so we're waiting." He meowed, his voice bold and defiant.
Moonpaw watched Mosspaw with interest sparking in her eyes, Shadowstar smiled at both of them, "Okay. But, Mosspaw. As soon as your mentor calls you, go with them. And I don't mean just Mosspaw, all of you others as well." Shadowstar meowed, her gaze lingering on the crowd of Apprentices.
Dragonpaw nodded, "We know, Shadowstar."
Shadowstar turned away and headed back to Skyleap as all the cats had been sent off, "How is your first day as Deputy?" She asked Skyleap.
"Its great! I'm doing my best to keep the Clan in order," Skyleap mewed, her gaze stern.
"The Clan is doing fine," Shadowstar nodded, "Your doing very well,"
Skyleap seemed to beam, "Thanks!" She smiled before turning to Redstorm, who looked completelty tired and worn out. "Redstorm! Stop sitting around!" Skyleap snapped, "Go do something useful." She huffed, turning her head from him, "Honestly, he acts like an Apprentice."
"What is that supposed to mean?!" Pebblepaw muttered from nearby, turning and stomping to her mentor.
Shadowstar grimaced, "Skyleap. Redstorm is a bit shaken, he's had to clean out dens two days straight, let him rest." She meowed.
Skyleap rolled her eyes, "Fine, Shadowstar." She murmured, turning back to Redstorm, "Go ahead and sleep." She ordered, a harsh tone sounded slightly from her voice.
Redstorm dipped his head in respect and trudged to the Warriors Den.
Skyleap muttered something inaudible and sat down to groom her fur.
Shadowstar padded out of Camp, wanting to hunt. She noticed a flash of white fur streak before her eyes and she leapt at it, thrusting it to the ground. A hare! She thought to herself before raking her claws down its small back and killing it with a snap to the neck.
Standing back up, Shadowstar shook her fur and dug up the hare underneath some loose soil. No one will take it except for the Clan. She told herself, but her instincts forced her to leave it and she padded on farther.
Shadowstar tasted the air, smelling a lizard, That wont feed the Clan, but its worth a try. She thought to herself before stalking towards the scent.
A lizard skipped across a pond that stretched out into the opening of the territory, it led out towards a field where a river flowed nearby.
Shadowstar hissed to herself, she wouldn't go out into the field unless she needed to get herbs, crops or was desperate for food for her Clan.
Turning away Shadowstar padded back to the hare she had caught and dug it up, before carrying it back to Camp with her.
Shadowstar trotted over to the fresh kill pile and dropped the hare. She gulped, the fresh kill pile was so empty, it was unbelievable.
What is happening to my Clan?
Shadowstar gazed around, seeing Skyleap in the corner of Camp grooming her fur for the third and final time of the day. Dashing over Shadowstar halted beside her Deputy, "Shouldn't you be hunting or joining cats on patrol?" She asked, forcing her fur flat.
Skyleap nodded, "I just returned. I'm waiting for Silverstorm, now." She seemed to smile when she had said his name. Shadowstar rolled her eyes, "That can wait, Skyleap. Maybe you should go on Evening Patrol with Redstorm, Dragonpaw, Stormstrike and Blackpaw." Shadowstar had finished just as Silverstorm padded over, "Shadowstar, we were just about to go hunting. Don't worry, though. We'll return soon." Silverstorm smiled charmingly, his gaze faltering when he realized Skyleap hadn't wanted to hunt. She had wanted to chat with him, and do nothing important.
Shadowstar huffed, "Okay, Silverstorm. I trust you both. Make sure you bring back two pieces of prey each." She instructed before trotting over to Redstorm, "Are you ready to lead your patrol out?" She asked him. Redstorm nodded, "Of course." He smiled.
Redstorm stretched, his muscles rippling under his fur, He seems to have rested well... She thought to herself, due to his kindness, Or maybe thats not why he is being so kind...
Shadowstar shrugged the thought away and headed over to the Apprentices, who continued to lollygag all together, "Dragonpaw, Blackpaw." Shadowstar meowed, "You are joining the Evening Patrol, Blackpaw to your Mentor and tell him he must get going. Redstorm is leading the Patrol."
Dragonpaw shot over to Redstorm, "When are we going?" He asked.
Redstorm smirked, "Right now, once the others join."
Shadowstar padded over, "I'll join you all, I need to do something to help my Clan." She meowed.
Blackpaw and Stormstrike trotted over. Redstorm smiled, "Great! Lets go then." He meowed, turning and heading out of Camp with the rest of his Patrol.
Shadowstar watched the Apprentices, a smile plastered across her face, They're growing fine. And Redstorm, Redstorm is a great Warrior.
Skyleap padded out of Camp with Silverstorm trailing behind her, "Hey! Look at that!" She called to him, flicking her tail up towards a thrush, that sat on a tree in the field outside Camp.
"Are you sure we should be hunting out here?" Silverstorm asked Skyleap.
"Of course! I'm Deputy, remember," Skyleap smirked, "I'm allowed to do anything I want. Anything at all,"
Silverstorm grimaced, "Are you sure about that?"
"Duh, Silverstorm. Shadowstar cant do anything to me, she's puny. Everyone knows that. When Silentstar passed away, he only picked Shadowstar as Leader because she was his only daughter. The only one that survived anyways," Skyleap rolled her eyes, "I was only an Apprentice back then, and now to be Deputy, its so great!"
Silverstorm watched Skyleap, "Shadowstar isn't weak. If she is the only one of her siblings to have survived, it goes to show she was meant for something special, right?"
Skyleap huffed, "Silverstorm. Do you not know anything about CloudClan? They don't kill cats to pick a Leader out of them. Its common sense, you know."
Silverstorm nodded, "I guess."
"I just wish I had a dad. He was run over a monster when I was a kit, did you know that?" Skyleap sighed.
Silverstorm nodded, "I remember that. Gorseleaf was a noble Warrior, everyone will remember him."
Skyleap frowned, "I hope. Though it seems Shadowstar has forgotten about him, she never brings him up anymore."
"Does she have to?" Silverstorm asked, while hunting down a shrew.
"Yes! Of course!" Skyleap snapped, the fur along her neck rising.
"Okay, whatever you say." Silverstorm sighed, killing the shrew with a snap to its neck. "Should we be heading back now? Shadowstar will be looking for us," Silverstorm asked.
"No. Shadowstar wont care, she's a mouse-brain. When I'm Leader, I'll let the Clan hunt here. Lets stay here a while, I like it." Skyleap murmured, her gaze focused on a shining star in the sky, Gorseleaf, I miss you...
Oh, Skyleap. When your time comes as Leader, you'll see me once again, you will I know it.