Chapter 17

Starrypaw stretched in her nest, wincing at the dull sting of her scratch. She was silently angry at herself for allowing Talonpaw to get to her the way he did. He is almost a warrior though, she thought to cheer herself up. Still. I need to get better.

The apprentices had had very little training practices in the past moon since they had to put so much time into their patrols. Starrypaw hoped that she'd get to train with Graystripe today.

When she slipped out of the apprentice's den into the chilly air, she saw the camp bustling as per usual. The sky was a bright gray, and the smell on the air promised rain. From the looks of it, the first hunting patrol had just returned, and many warriors were already working on strengthening the gorse tunnel.

Starrypaw padded over to where Squirrelpaw was happily eating a small mouse. Sitting next to her was Whitepaw, who was staring far off with an anxious look.

"Good morning guys," Starrypaw greeted. "What's the matter, Whitepaw?"

"She has her assessment today," Squirrelpaw answered for her through a mouthful of mouse.

"Wow! You'll do great, Whitepaw. Don't worry."

Whitepaw simply nodded.

Squirrelpaw waved her tail to the empty space beside her. "Grab something to eat and come sit with me."

Starrypaw nodded and headed to the fresh kill pile. It was disappointingly low, and she knew it would only get worse as it approached leafbare. She picked out a small thrush and headed back over to Squirrelpaw. Whitepaw had already gone.

As they finished eating and began sharing tongues, Starrypaw thought about how much she and Squirrelpaw used to dislike eachother. It had even reached the point that Squirrelpaw had attacked her. Now, everything was very different.

Suddenly, Sootfur slipped hurriedly into the gorse tunnel, causing many ears to prick up curiously. He headed straight for Firestar's den and disappeared inside. Everyone went back to their tasks reluctantly, and after sharing an anxious glance with Squirrelpaw, Starrypaw headed for the highrock to get her first task of the day.

Graystripe was back in his position, perched atop the highrock, looking like a leader. When he saw Starrypaw approach, he nodded in greeting.

"I've got some good news, Starrypaw," he began. "You and Squirrelpaw are going to get some battle training today. Ashfur will take over for me in a moment, and then I'll be with you."

Starrypaw nearly bounced up and down like a kit, but she dipped her head respectively before bounding back towards Squirrelpaw.

"Hey, Squirrelpaw! Guess what!"

Squirrelpaw seemed to brighten at Starrypaw's high spirits. "What's up?"

"We're going to battle train today! I was just hoping we'd get to this morning! It's been way too long."

Squirrelpaw's tail swished in excitement, and Starrypaw stifled a purr of amusement when she realized they were reacting like new apprentices. Battle training is way more exciting than it would've been a moon ago.

"Starrypaw."

She turned to see Sootfur standing behind her. "Firestar wants to see you in his den," he said impatiently. Starrypaw nodded, her excitement fading as she watched him slip back out of the gorse tunnel and tried to think of what the trouble could be.

He's one of the twoleg place guards this morning, she noted.

When she reached the leader's den, she waited for Firestar's permission.

"Come in."

Starrypaw slipped into the den, blinking as her eyes adjusted to the darkness. It was considerably warmer inside, and she almost purred. When she could see Firestar, he looked on her anxiously, and her rising purr faded instantly.

"What's wrong? Why did you need me?"

Firestar sighed heavily, seemingly hoping to breath out his troubles at the same time. "Sootfur has just said that there is fresh scent of the rogues on the other side of the twoleg place border."

Starrypaw turned her head confused. "It would make sense for them to prowl the border, but it is kind of threatening. What does that have to do with me though?"

Firestar padded forwards and stopped nearly nose to nose with Starrypaw. "Of course, it wasn't a big problem to him, but Sootfur mentioned scenting...RiverClan as well."

Starrypaw felt her insides crash down and swirl like a storm of apprehension. "Do you think that it's...Hawkfrost?"

Firestar's eyes flashed with empathy, and Starrypaw suddenly felt angry. Why am I so afraid of this mouse-brained warrior!?

"I hope not, but due to your dream, I was kind of hoping you would come and see." Firestar shuffled his paws, seemingly worried it would upset her for him to ask.

"Do you mean...come and see if I recognize the scent? How do you know that I would know his scent?" Starrypaw froze with understanding. "Did... Cinderpelt tell you what I told her about him?"

Firestar nodded grimly. "I'm so sorry you've been suffering from your fear of him so silently. You should've told someone sooner."

Starrypaw hesitated. "But...but it seemed so ridiculous! You didn't even believe my StarClan sign about him at first! How would anyone have believe that being threatened by a RiverClan warrior was so scary? It's not like we don't get those kinds of threats from the other Clans on a constant! I would've sounded like a frightened kit!"

"Even still, ThunderClan is a family, and knowing you've been afraid...alone...makes me feel...responsible. Especially since he got the most angry when you saved me. I know you think that I wouldn't care since I'm not your real father...but.."

It was silent for a moment. Starrypaw had a brief moment of surprise that Firestar even remembered her saving him. Nevertheless, she could feel his sadness hanging on the air, and she stepped forward, pushing her muzzle into his shoulder.

"I will never stop thinking of you as my father," Starrypaw whispered. She felt a pang of guilt when she remembered that she had done just that after learning she was born a kittypet. "I might've thought that in the beginning," she added, "but I would never think that now."

Firestar ran his tongue across her ear. "Thank you, Starrypaw."

They stepped back from eachother, and Starrypaw dipped her head, feeling a rush of courage. "I'll go. I'm tired of living afraid of that frost-eyed mouse-brain."

Firestar nodded. "I'll go with you."

"I can gather the patrol for you," Starrypaw offered. "Who do you want me to get?"

"No one. We don't need to lead a patrol."

"Won't they be curious as to where we're going?"

Firestar flicked his tail. "You're right." It was again silent as he thought of a plan. "How about you offer to find herbs with Leafpaw? She's been asking, and I haven't found a chance to send anyone with her. I'll offer to come along for safety...as long as you don't mind it being more than just the two of us."

Starrypaw felt some warmth at the fact that Firestar considered her feelings. "Of course I don't mind. Leafpaw is my sister."

"Good." Firestar touched noses with her before dismissing her, and she slipped out of his den, heading for the medicine den. She slightly hoped that Squirrelpaw, Sandstorm, and even Shrewhunter could come. It would be awesome to have everyone closest to me join!

Regardless, she was still excited at the prospect of going on a patrol with Firestar for more than just the endless hunting and border patrols that had gone on for the past moon. At that moment, Starrypaw suddenly remembered that she was meant to battle train with Squirrelpaw today. I hope Graystripe can wait until I'm done with this.

Just as Starrypaw reached the entrance to the medicine cat's den, she felt a tail brush her flank. She turned to see Squirrelpaw shifting her paws excitedly.

"Graystripe and Dustpelt are ready for us! Are you excited?"

Starrypaw swallowed. How is this going to work?

Suddenly, Graystripe bounded over from where Starrypaw could see he'd been sitting beside Firestar.

"Sorry, guys," Graystripe said. "Firestar wants me to organize some hunting patrols since so many cats are occupied with the gorse tunnel. He says your training can wait until after sunhigh."

Starrypaw felt a weight lift from her shoulders, and she sighed in relief. She quickly corrected herself, however, after seeing Squirrelpaw's upset reaction and pretended to be upset as well before slipping into the medicine cat's den quickly to avoid being assigned to a patrol.

"Hey, Starrypaw," Cinderpelt greeted. "Something wrong?"

Starrypaw glanced around the medicine cat's den, disappointed that she didn't see Leafpaw inside.

"Um...no. I was just wanting to uh..ask Leafpaw if she'd like me to help get herbs with her. Firestar...uh...wants to go with us. Do you know where she is?" Starrypaw cringed at how strange she sounded, but she brushed it off, hoping Cinderpelt hadn't noticed.

Unfortunatley, Cinderpelt seemed suspicious, narrowing her eyes at Starrypaw's strange hesitance. Finally, she spoke. "That would be really helpful. It's too dangerous for her to go out on her own, and it's been hard having to go out to collect herbs everytime we need some since it pulls me away from camp. She's in the elders den dealing with some ticks."

"Thanks, Cinderpelt," Starrypaw said over her shoulder as she slipped out into the clearing.

"Make sure to let her know I gave permission!" Cinderpelt called behind her.

After fetching Leafpaw (and letting her clean the mouse bile from her paws), the two apprentices headed to the gorse tunnel where Firestar was waiting.

"We ready?" he asked. With a nod from both of them, they leapt through the gorse tunnel into the forest.

The cold gripped Starrypaw seemingly throughout her entire body as she thought about the outcome of physically meeting Hawkfrost at twoleg place. Why would that happen? She thought to reassure herself. He wouldn't want anyone to know what he's doing if he's there.

Once they'd reached the middle of the forest, Firestar beckoned the apprentices close with his tail. They all crouched down behind some brush.

"I have something important to tell you, Leafpaw," he began. Starrypaw's eyes widened. She hadn't expected to be letting Leafpaw in on the plan although she had wondered how it would look to Leafpaw to wander towards twoleg place at a time like this.

Leafpaw's ears twitched back apprehensively, as if she was listening to make sure there was no one else around.

"We're not coming out here just to collect herbs. You've spoken a lot with Mothwing haven't you?"

Leafpaw nodded.

"Do you know her brother Hawkfrost?"

Leafpaw hesitated. "I haven't ever spoken to him before, but I know who you're talking about. Cinderpelt has been talking about him to you, hasn't she?"

Firestar looked a bit taken aback at the fact that Leafpaw had known about the conversations about Starrypaw's dreams. My dreams, Starrypaw reminded herself. Oh why must they be mine!?

"Yes," Firestar responded. "Starrypaw has recieved a StarClan sign that Hawkfrost may have something to do with the coming battles."

Leafpaw threw Starrypaw a surprised glance, and Starrypaw lowered her head, shuffling her paws in the cold earth.

"Now," Firestar continued, "Sootfur has claimed to have smelled a slight hint of RiverClan along the twoleg place border, and I wanted to bring Starrypaw there to see if she could identify his scent."

At Leafpaw's quizzical look, Starrypaw sighed. "I have a history with him. Trust me, I'd know his scent."

Leafpaw simply blinked, and Starrypaw knew there was a lot she didn't understand.

"We don't have time to explain anymore," Firestar said. "The scent will be too faded by the time we get there if we wait any longer."

Firestar rose and led them towards twoleg place. Each step felt colder to Starrypaw, and the air crackled with tension. Starrypaw wondered what would happen when they came upon the warriors who were guarding.

Just as the thought popped up in her mind, they stumbled upon Sootfur, who was guarding on the side closest to camp. His ears pricked with interest when he saw his Clan leader bringing two apprentices to twoleg place, and he rose, stepping forwards to meet them.

"Firestar," he greeted, dipping his head. "What's going on?"

"Nothing of too much importance. If there's anything wrong, I'll announce it later today."

Sootfur hesitated as if he wished to ask more, but with a brisk nod, he returned to his original spot. As Starrypaw passed by him, she could feel his gaze boring into them from behind.

"Okay, Starrypaw," Firestar said, keeping his voice low, "do you smell him yet? I can't seem to pick up any RiverClan scent myself."

Starrypaw raised her noise to the air, opening her mouth to get an even better scent. She shook her head, relieved to find no scent of Hawkfrost.

"Okay, let's keep moving."

They headed along the fence, all three keeping their senses on alert. Suddenly, Starrypaw stopped cold. There he was. He'd been here not long ago.

"Th...that's him..." Starrypaw whispered, cowering against her will.

Firestar padded up to her, pressing his nose comfortingly into her side. "It's alright, Starrypaw. Let's go look for herbs now that we know."

He led them away from twoleg place, and as it went out of sight, Starrypaw turned to look behind her.

I knew there was something off about Hawkfrost all along, she thought to herself. Even before StarClan's signs, I knew it.