"He'll be fine," Leafpaw meowed. "Just make sure Frostkit isn't being outcompeted by his sisters." Petalnose mewed her thanks, licking the small white tom.
"Sagepaw and Mintpaw were never this pushy with each other," she said. "Not in this way, at least."
"Different litters have different dynamics," Whitetail pointed out. She was readjusting some of the gorse wall. "And neither of them was runts, were they?" The gray queen nodded.
Leafpaw looked back to the kits as a loud mewl sounded. Beechkit had pinned Goosekit down. The white she-kit let out another cry.
"She's got a set of lungs, hasn't she?" Whitetail asked as Petalnose nosed the sisters apart.
"She has," Leafpaw agreed. She looked back to Petalnose. "Is there anything else?" The warrior shook her head.
"Not right now. Thank you, Leafpaw." Leafpaw blinked.
"Of course." She headed back out of the den. It was past sunhigh now. While camp was still being set up, some cats were taking a break from the Greenleaf heat. Firestar and Tornear had headed out earlier and had yet to come back.
That meeting would be later tonight. After that, Leafpaw and Mothwing's meeting was supposed to happen. She had decided to go.
She hoped she had not made the wrong choice.
"Hey, Squirrelflight!" Leafpaw called out as she caught sight of her sister. She lay with Rockfall and Tinywing, the remains of rabbit haunches lay near them. The ginger warrior looked up from her grooming at Leafpaw's approach.
"Yeah?"
"Do you want to come with me to gather some herbs?" She nodded at the other two warriors, who spoke their greetings in return. "I gotta head toward the farm." Firestar was worried about the medicine cats being out on their own. Thankfully with Squirrelflight being a warrior, she could come along now.
"Sure." Squirrelflight rose, stretching his back legs as she did. She waved her tail at Tinywing and Rockfall as they headed toward camp entrance. "What are we getting?" She asked.
"Goldenrod," Leafpaw replied. "On our way down to the hills, there was some growing along the fence." Squirrelflight nodded.
They were not two tree lengths away from camp when Firestar and Tornear's scents hit Leafpaw's nose. Firestar appeared through the grass, Tornear following after him. A strange look came across the leader's face.
"What are you two doing out?" He asked. Leafpaw and Squirrelflight exchanged confused looks.
"I need to gather some goldenrod," Leafpaw meowed. "I asked Squirrelflight along."
"Where are you headed?" He demanded. Leafpaw told him and Firestar shook his head. "Not with her – not alone."
"Excuse me?" Squirrelflight's ears went back. "I am a warrior – I can go with Leafpaw!"
"No, you can't." He shook his head, "Certainly not close to the border. TigerClan will be prowling. I'm not risking either of you getting hurt."
"Firestar," Tornear began.
"I'll go with Leafpaw," Firestar looked to his deputy. "You can take Squirrelflight back to camp."
"I don't need to be escorted," Squirrelflight protested. "And, frankly, neither does Leafpaw! We can take care of ourselves. There's that stretch of Thunderpath between the Clans there, too."
"That was an order," A growl came to Firestar's voice. "Thunderpath is not going to keep these warriors at bay. Go make yourself useful." Tornear stepped away from the leader, signaling Squirrelflight to follow. The warrior shot Leafpaw a look and as Leafpaw shrugged, Squirrelflight spoke.
"I'll see you back in camp, Leafpaw."
"See you," The apprentice echoed as she stepped toward her father. Firestar turned with her as they started toward the farm. There was a pause before Leafpaw spoke.
"You didn't need to growl at her." She looked at her father, "She is right, we're both capable of defending ourselves." Firestar paused, looking at his daughter. A hardened look had come across his face.
"You are both smart and I know you both have some understanding of this," Firestar began, a serious look had come to his eye. "You especially. I will not let what happened to Brambleheart happen to you two, do you understand?" His tail was beginning to lash and Leafpaw knew he was starting to get agitated. She dipped her head.
"Yes, Firestar."
They continued toward the farm. Leafpaw paused in her step as Firestar lowered his head, sniffing at the ground. "Do you smell that?" He asked. The apprentice stepped up on his side.
A scent which remaindered Leafpaw of squirrel filled her nose. Warriors kept reporting such. As far as she knew, no one had seen what exactly that smell was coming from. "It's fresh," The leaders voice was low as he started after it. Leafpaw followed after him.
Suddenly Firestar shot off and Leafpaw heard a high-pitched whistle. She raced after the leader, who stopped at an opening between some rocks. His tail was lashing as he sniffed at the entrance of a burrow. "Did you see it?" He asked.
"No, did you?" Firestar nodded.
"It was big." He looked at Leafpaw, "I'm glad whatever this is does not seem to be aggressive. The last thing we need is another predator." Firestar stepped away.
"It smells like squirrel," Leafpaw pointed out. "We could probably hunt it." Firestar nodded.
"Rather confused squirrel," He remarked. "Going underground like that." Leafpaw's whiskers twitched as she mewed her agreement.
She took the lead as they got closer to the farm. Leafpaw eyed the horses on the other side of the face as began to collect the flowers. "There are cats here," Firestar commented and Leafpaw sniffed the air.
The fresh scent of rogue hit her nose on the wind. Whoever this cat was, was coming closer. Leafpaw turned as Firestar rose to his paws. A gray and white queen had appeared from behind some heather. Surprise lit up her eyes at the sight of them. Leafpaw set her bundle down as Firestar dipped his head. "Hello," He meowed. "My name is Firestar, leader of WindClan. This is my daughter, Leafpaw. We live out on the hills." Leafpaw lowered her head as green eyes shifted to her.
"Hello," The she-cat sounded startled. "I'm Floss. We've smelled an influx of cats recently; I don't believe any of us have met you yet." Firestar nodded.
"How many of there are you?" He asked. Floss hesitated and Firestar continued quickly, "We mean no harm – my Clan doesn't. We'd like to know our neighbors, is all."
"There's three now," There was a tinge of grief in her voice which made Leafpaw's ear prick. "Myself, Smoky, and Daisy." Firestar blinked.
"Well, it is nice to meet you. I'll mention you all to my Clanmates, so you are not seen as a threat." Floss did not look like she fully understood what Firestar was telling her but she dipped her head.
"It is nice to meet you, too." She turned to the fence, "I'd best be going."
"Wait." Floss looked back to the tom. "There are two Clans here. Us in the hills – WindClan, are not going to do any harm, but in the forest on the other side of that large pond is TigerClan." A serious tone had come to his voice. "They are not trustworthy." Floss eyed the tom, her tail twitching.
"I'll keep that in mind," She answered. "It's called a lake, by the way."
"A lake?" Leafpaw echoed.
"The water," Floss meowed before heading over the fence.
"Hi, handsome." Brambleheart almost jumped at the muffled voice in his ear. He hadn't known Stormfur had approached.
"Says you," Brambleheart shifted onto his side so he could see the other warrior. Stormfur set part of a grouse down.
"You can't do that," he meowed. "Don't just throw my compliment back."
"Fine," Brambleheart eyed the tom as he settled down. "You're pretty."
"Yeah?" Stormfur took a bite before nosing the bird toward him.
"Yeah," Brambleheart continued. "You're like...the sky as it starts to thunder during Greenleaf."
Stormfur's eyes widened. He pressed his paw against the other warrior's shoulder. "A storm cloud?" He asked.
Brambleheart's ears went back, floundering. "You-you know those times when you can just feel the rain and thunder coming and it's hot but the wind has picked up and when it rains it's going to be a downpour? The sky then." The other cat was beginning to laugh.
"That's still a storm," he replied. Brambleheart snapped his mouth shut. It took him a moment to respond.
"I'm sorry."
"No, don't apologize," the other tom was still chortling. "I know exactly what you're talking about – it's very pretty." Stormfur touched his nose to the other warrior's shoulder.
"Exactly."
"You know what you remind me of?"
"What?"
"A clearing in a forest." He rested his muzzle on the other tom's shoulder, taking a deep breath. "On a warm leaf-fall day. When the sun seeps through and reaches the leaf litter." Brambleheart looked at him, breathless.
"You use to smell like that too, back at the gorge, but all our scents have changed." It took the tabby a second to respond.
"Okay, you win." Stormfur purred, pushing the grouse hunk closer to him. It was close to sunset now; warriors were beginning to settle.
Suddenly, Stormfur's head jerked up. Brambleheart licked his muzzle, looking at the other tom in confusion. "Firestar's called a meeting." Both rose.
"Hey, Squirrelflight," Stormfur looked at the ginger she-cat as they approached. "Guess what Bram-"
"No."
Stormfur let out a chuckle, pressing his temple against the other tom's cheek. Attention went to the Tallrock in the darkening light. Stormfur pressed his muzzle to Brambleheart's ear. As the Clan settled, Firestar spoke.
"I want to start this off by saying there are cats on the farm bordering us," He began. There was a shift in the Clan. "Their names are Floss, Smoky, and Daisy. I met Floss today with Leafpaw. I have told them that they are not being perceived as a threat to WindClan and have warned them of TigerClan." There was a pause as someone spoke from the crowd. Brambleheart felt Stormfur shift. he glanced at him, realizing that he was saying something to Squirrelflight before looking back up.
"Any cat understands what scent markers mean," Firestar was saying. "Floss did not seem to want trouble and farms provide plenty of food. I see no reason for them to want to test our border." There was a pause before the leader continued, "This is not the main reason I have called this meaning, however. I am sure many of you are aware that Tornear and I went out this morning. We went out to plan for an upcoming project." Brambleheart's ears pricked and he glanced at Stormfur. What could it be?
"I want to take up tunneling again."
Meows rose from the crowd.
"Are you certain?" Whitetail had risen to her paws, "My father was a tunneler, there are reasons it was abandoned." Brambleheart shifted on his paws. They had all heard the stories.
"I understand cat's concerns surrounding this," Firestar assured her. "However, I believe this to be important. Through no fault of our own, we have become disconnected from the WindClan of the past. I believe this will be a way for us to reconnect with our ancestors."
"We will not proceed without caution," the leader continued. "I want to do a single tunnel for right now – out of the badger sett. If this goes well, we will expand upon this." He paused, looking across his Clan.
"I understand that this can be potentially dangerous and so I am not going to force any cat to do this. Choosing not to participate will never be seen as a disloyalty to the Clan. However, I do ask for volunteers willing to serve their Clan in this way." He looked to Sandstorm, who was seated near the front. Whitepaw was next to her. "Sandstorm has already volunteered herself and Whitepaw." Whitepaw must have been told before, Brambleheart realized as the apprentice raised her head. "I am looking for four more warriors."
Attention suddenly shifted to Onewhisker. The warrior had risen to his paws. "My mother's parents were tunnelers," he looked intently up at their leader. "It's in my blood. I think that would be helpful as we reconnect with the WindClan of old." Firestar dipped his head to his friend.
"I'll do it," Tinywing spoke from where she was not far from Onewhisker. Determination lit up her green eyes. "I am willing to serve my Clan in this way." Firestar mewed his thanks.
"Me too." Clovertail was eying her daughter as she spoke. Firestar nodded.
"I'm willing." Both Stormfur and Squirrelflight jerked their heads toward Brambleheart as he spoke.
"Really?" Squirrelflight asked. Surprise lit up her gaze.
"Yes, really." He looked up at Firestar, dipping his head. He could not remember the last time he caught something that was not a fish. He was good at working on the walls but camp would soon be complete. He wanted to be useful. Firestar blinked at him.
"I thank you all," He meowed. "There will be a meeting come morning to discuss this. For now, everyone have a good night."
As the meeting ended, cats began to step away. "I can't believe you're willing to do that," Squirrelflight remarked. Brambleheart shrugged.
"I'm serving my Clan. Don't you want to do the same?"
"Yeah, but there are multiple ways to serve your Clan," Squirrelflight curled her lip back at the idea. "I'm staying above ground, thank you."
"You don't want to follow in your mentor's lead?" Onewhisker paused in his step as he was passing. Squirrelflight turned, saying something to him before Onewhisker continued, "You know, I think you'd be good at it. Traditionally it's the smaller cats that would become tunnelers." Brambleheart chuckled as Squirrelflight began to retort. His attention was pulled away by Stormfur.
"Don't go doing anything reckless down there." Amber eyes looked at him. Brambleheart nodded, pressing against the other tom as he rested his head on his shoulders.
"I'll be careful," He promised. Stormfur leaned into him and Brambleheart was surprised to see that Barkface was approaching. The medicine cat eyed the warrior.
"Half days for you," he said. "Until I say otherwise." A voice in the warrior's head seemed to grow louder.
"Yes, Barkface."
"Are you not hungry?"
Mothwing looked to Tawnyclaw as she spoke. Tigerstar had paused in his grooming of the tortoiseshell. Amber eyes looked at Mothwing. The queen shrugged.
"I don't think I could stomach anything right now," she replied. Concern came across Tawnyclaw's face.
"I could go get Runningnose," She began. Mothwing shook her head quickly.
"No, this happens!" She assured, "I think I just need to go rest." She forced herself to her paws. "Goodnight." Tawnyclaw dipped her head.
"Goodnight."
"Let me know if you still don't feel good in the morning," Tigerstar meowed. Mothwing nodded, waving her tail at Leopardstar as she passed her. The leader blinked at her and Mothwing headed to her den.
She settled in the nest, turning to groom herself. It was sunset now and she would need to set out soon. This had become a greater risk than she had planned for, too.
Mothwing had assumed their camp would be closer to the center of the territories – among the pine forest and so, her meeting spot with Leafpaw was in a marshy spot on the opposite border. Going around would be much too long. She was going to have to cut through enemy territory.
The warrior rested her head down, her ears pricked as she waited. It did not take long before she heard Tigerstar head up to his den. It was dark now. Mothwing cautiously rose to her paws.
She was suddenly grateful for how secluded her den was from the rest as she moved along the wall. The barrier was incomplete, cautiously she pushed her way through.
Immediately, Mothwing rolled in some ferns. She ignored the pressure in her belly as she forced herself up, shaking her pelt. She continued forward quickly.
Mothwing hesitated as she reached the tree line. The scent of the border filled her nose. The fern scent would only help her this far, she realized. There were no ferns out in the open. The warrior cleaned herself quickly.
Her gaze went to the marked tree. Mothwing pressed her flanks against it, allowing their scent to come over her. Her paws felt like they were tingling as she entered enemy territory.
She kept to the shore, the waves going over her paws. The moon was bright overhead and in this territory, there were very few places to hide.
The moon had almost reached its peak as Mothwing finally stopped. She was panting as she settled amongst the reeds. She let herself relax as she began to groom, waiting.
Her anxiety grew as the moon hit its highest and there was no sign of anyone. She rested her head on her forepaws, tail twitching. Had Leafpaw decided else wise? Was this a mistake?
Mothwing forced herself to her paws as the moon began to descend. Disappointment dragged at her. The queen cursed herself. Why had she let herself get her hopes up like this? Of course, Leafpaw would not show.
Suddenly there were movements through the reeds. Mothwing froze, her ears pricked. She relaxed as she recognized Leafpaw pushing her way through the reeds.
"Sorry, I'm late." She cautiously set a bundle of herbs at the other cat's feet. "It's hard to sneak past a camp full of sleeping warriors."
"It's okay," Mothwing assured quickly. "Do you share dens with them?" She was surprised. Littlecloud and Runningnose slept in their own den. Leafpaw's tail was flicking as she responded tentatively.
"No, WindClan warriors sleep under the stars."
"We never did that out on the moors." Leafpaw looked down at the bundle.
"Do you want to start?"
"Yes – of course!" Mothwing responded hastily. The she-cats settled on the soggy earth. Leafpaw pulled the herbs apart as she began her explanation. Mothwing's ears were pricked, listening eagerly.
The moon continued across the sky. They continued to converse and Mothwing felt herself ease in a way she could never recall doing before. When it was about halfway down, Leafpaw rose to her paws. "We need to get going," She dipped her head to the warrior.
"Can we meet again?" Leafpaw's eyes widened. Mothwing's voice was hushed, "Tomorrow?"
"The Gathering's in two days," Leafpaw replied. "I need to go – I can't go three days without sleep in a row. Neither should you." She eyed the queen, "Anyway, you look like you're about to give birth."
"Two days after the Gathering – on the other side, so it's closer to my camp. If I've had them, I won't come," She promised. None of this felt any more real than their talk the night before the Clans separated.
"How long did you walk today?" Leafpaw was sounding worried.
"I got here well enough. Leafpaw, please." Her tail was beginning to flick. Amber eyes looked up at her.
"Two days after the Gathering," She agreed.
