Chapter 4
Fallenstar walked into camp. "Fallenstar!" Icepelt shouted. She ran over to him. "Are you alright? The wave-"
"I'm fine." Fallenstar said, waving his tail dismissively.
Sliverstripes walked up. "You didn't lose a life in that, did you?" She asked softly.
Fallenstar shook his head. "Trust me, I'm fine. But we've got to worry about the rest of the clan. Fangmouth had a patrol out there, we have to make sure they're alright." Then he raised his voice to address the entire clan. "Icepelt! Sharktooth! Candlewick! And Drizzlepaw! Come on, we have to look for Fangmouth's patrol." He whirled around and started for the exit.
"Fallenstar can I come too?" Sliverstripes asked. "If someone is hurt it will save time if I'm already there."
Icepelt nodded. "That makes sense."
Fallenstar made a 'puff' sound. "Come on then."
So the cats marched out of camp. They began searching the territory. It wasn't easy. The entire territory was muddy and the water had washed away any scent. "Fallenstar!"
Fallenstar snapped his head around. Emberpaw was marching towards him. Oh great. He thought. "Now what do you want?!" He snapped.
"Stormstar needs permission to cross the border, his apprentice trespassed was here during the wave." Emberpaw replied.
"Then Stormstar needs to learn to control his apprentices!" Fallenstar spat. "In fact, it was his apprentice that tried to kill Candlewick." He flicked his tail at Candlewick. "So no. No one is crossing the border." He turned around and started stalking away.
Emberpaw spoke then. "I saw Lavapaw here. He was swept away by the water. I think he's dead."
Fallenstar stopped, and he felt himself soften up. He sighed softly. "In that case, Sharktooth, help Stormstar and Emberpaw look for their apprentice."
Sharktooth walked uncertainly to Emberpaw. She nodded and the two headed towards the border.
"Come on." Fallenstar muttered. "Let's find Fangmouth." The rest of his patrol followed him, none of them brought up what had just happened.
Springstar climbed up onto something that used to be called a desk. "May all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather around for a meeting!" She announced. She waited as cats came out. "Some of our apprentices have been apprentices long enough." She stated. "Twinklepaw, Frogpaw, Roughpaw, come forward." The three apprentices stepped forward, Twinklepaw and Frogpaw whispering in excitement. "Do you promise to be loyal to this clan, and defend it even with your life?"
"Yes!" Twinklepaw shouted.
"I do!" Frogpaw agreed. Roughpaw nodded.
Springstar smiled. "Then from now on, Twinklepaw you will be known as Twinklespirit. Frogpaw, your name will be Frogcroak, and Roughpaw, you will be Roughfur."
The clan cheered for the three new warriors. Springstar let them for a while before continuing. "This means, Bellpaw can have a mentor. Bellpaw, your mentor will be Frogcroak." There were more cheers as Bellpaw and Frogcroak touched noses.
Springstar nodded and climbed down. "Autumnpelt, I need to speak to you in my den." Springstar whispered as she passed her sister. Autumnpelt followed her.
"What is it?" Autumnpelt whispered once they were inside.
"I'm planning to attack the rogue group." Springstar replied.
Autumnpelt stopped. "What? That sounds more like something I would do."
Springstar nodded. "The rogue group has been crossing the borders and Red tried to kill us both. Not to mention, they're not the only rogue group. We can't risk making an enemy with two groups. So yes, it might be more like something you'd do, but I think it's the right thing to do."
Autumnpelt looked puzzled for a moment, trying to interpuret all the meaning in Springstar's words. She nodded slowly. "Okay. I'm glad we're on the same page. But you realize we might not be ready?"
"That's why I wanted to talk to you." Springstar explained. "We need to train the apprentices more heavily in combat. You can help me judge when we're ready."
Autumnpelt smiled then. "Alright Springstar. When do we start?"
