Warriors: Burnttail's Regret (Complete)

Chapter 17

 Burnttail followed Spiderfrost, Dogspot and Spottedfur out of camp, diving in the lake that was around RiverClan's camp. He swam to the other side then got up and shook his fur. He raised his head to look at his friends. ''Where are we going now?''

 ''Hmm.. this way.'' Spiderfrost meowed and pointed his tail in a direction. Burnttail nodded and padded towards the area that Spiderfrost pointed at. It was the next day, and Troutpatch wanted them to be in a hunting patrol. Burnttail sniffed the air, then he spun around. ''I hear something in that bush! I'll be back soon.''

 Spottedfur tilted her head, but shrugged. ''Alright, then.''

 Burnttail dropped into a crouch and creeped towards the bush, sniffing the air and concentrating on the noise. That's a watervole! He thought, unsheating his claws. He then jumped on the prey and dug his claws in the watervole's skin. He grabbed the prey and turned around, padding out of the bush.

 ''Nice catch!'' Dogspot meowed, looking at the watervole. ''You've gotten used to living here fast!''

 ''Oh come on Dogspot, I've been living in RiverClan for a few moons!'' Burnttail twitched his ears, irritated.

 ''That's true, and I'm glad that you joined us!'' Spottedfur purred. Burnttail blinked and looked at her. ''Thanks, I guess.''

 ''Anyway, let's continue.'' Spiderfrost meowed and turned, padding away. Burnttail buried the watervole and followed his friend. The tom led them through the territory until they reached the Sunningrocks. Burnttail raised his head and saw the rock formation that was leading towards ThunderClan's territory. He let out a snarl when he remembered how he used to walk in their territory, then his thoughts raced towards Jaggedriver. I didn't forgive him, but I just need to move on. He gave me my eye scar moons ago, after all.

 ''You alright?'' Spiderfrost looked at him, raising an eyebrow. Burnttail blinked. ''Oh, right! Sorry, I was lost in thoughts there.''

 ''Right. Well, let's start hunting!'' Spiderfrost meowed. Burnttail padded towards the river and sat down, not letting his shadow fall on the river. As soon as he saw movement in the river, he raised an unsheated paw and slashed the fish that was swimming in front of him. When he felt something, he raised his paw and he shook it, letting the fish fall on the ground.

 ''Good job!'' Spottedfur meowed, looking at the fish. ''Although you could also try to catch the fish with your jaws.''

 Burnttail shivered. ''I'd rather not, thanks.''

 ''Have it your way! It doesn't matter, as long as you catch fish!'' Spiderfrost meowed, then looked back at the river. Burnttail did the same, and sighed as he thought about what Spottedfur just told him. When he saw another movement, he instantly lowered his muzzle and caught the fish in his jaws. He raised his head and sunk his teeth in the fish, killing it, then dropping it. He sneezed. ''I don't like this feeling.'' 

 Dogspot laughed, nudging him. ''We usually hunt just like you did, but I guess your other option works, too.''

 Burnttail snorted. ''I guess.'' He looked back at the river, and as soon as he saw another movement in the river, he swiftly plunged his paw in the river and slashed the fish, then he lowered his head and caught it in his jaws. He then dropped it on the ground and got up. ''I think I caught enough.''

 ''So did I!'' Spottedfur suddenly got up and looked at her minnow and at her trout. ''This should do!''

 Burnttail looked at Dogspot and at Spiderfrost. ''Are you two done yet?"

 ''I am now!'' Spiderfrost muffled, then dropped the fish he had in his jaws and got up, looking at Dogspot and laughing. ''Come on, you only caught one fish!''

 ''Shut up, fish-breath!" Dogspot growled and looked at the river. ''You scared away all the fish!''

 Spiderfrost smiled and grabbed his prey. Burnttail turned and grabbed the three fish that he caught, then turned and padded back to camp. He twitched his ears when he heard Dogspot yowl triumphantly. Burnttail giggled. She must have caught another fish.

 Burnttail dived in the lake and swam back in camp. He got up and shook his fur, then padded back inside. He quickly dropped his prey in the Fresh-kill pile, then he turned and sprinted back outside, this time jumping over, but instead his back legs fell in the lake. He growled and got up. It is kind of annoying to have to swim back and forth to get in the camp or leave it, but atleast RiverClan's camp is more guarded.

 Burnttail ran towards the place where he buried the watervole, but he blinked when he saw that someone already took it. He looked around, confused.

 ''You're welcome.'' Spiderfrost padded towards him, holding the watervole in his jaws. Burnttail blinked, then dipped his head as a thank you. The black-and-white tom turned and ran back to camp, followed closely by Burnttail. He quickly got in the river and swam back in camp, shaking his fur. Spiderfrost dropped the watervole in the Fresh-kill pile and turned around. ''You're a great hunter, Burnttail! You know, I think you might become deputy one day!''

 Burnttail blinked. ''What? Me? No, I'm not even born in RiverClan! I'd say that you, Dogspot, Spottedfur or anyone else would most likely become deputy, not me!''

 ''Yes, but you got used to living here so fast!'' Dogspot meowed and padded towards him. ''But anyway, if you or someone else does indeed become deputy, I hope it's not too soon. Frecklestar is the best leader RiverClan ever had, and Troutpatch is the best deputy!''

 ''I agree.'' Burnttail meowed, but he suddenly froze. He felt like he was being watched. He looked around and saw a cat looking at the him through the reeds. Burnttail stared at the cat, wide-eyed. Snake.

 Instinctively, Burnttail unsheated his claws and lashed his tail, staring at his former friend. When Snake saw that Burnttail noticed her, she hissed and turned, leaving.

 ''Burnttail? Do you know her?'' Spottedfur suddenly asked, stepping next to him and looking after the rogue. Burnttail blinked and looked at her, then after Snake. ''I do, actually, she used to be a friend of mine.'' He meowed, sheating his claws.

 ''What do you mean ''used''? What happened?'' Dogspot raised an eyebrow, padding towards him. Burnttail froze as he remembered his argument with Snake, then he lowered his head. ''I don't want to talk about this.''

 ''Well, it's alright!'' Spottedfur purred. ''But you didn't seem to be that happy when that rogue came here.''

 ''Yeah, well.. it was just an instinct. We used to be good friends..'' Burnttail sighed, closing his eyes.

 ''Hey, hey, don't worry!'' Spiderfrost meowed and padded towards him. ''Sometimes you lose friends, sometimes you gain friends. Life is always like that!''

 ''I guess..'' Burnttail sighed and looked after Snake. ''I'm glad that you three are my friends!'' He meowed, trying to sound cheerful. But.. I can't help it but sometimes miss Snake. We used to be great friends before, we were like siblings.. did an argument really cause us to walk on such different paths?