Danger Force in Shadowclan

Chapter 11

"I think that's clean enough!" Mosskit complained, attempting to wiggle out of Owlswoop's grip. Shadedkit was shaking out his pelt, while Nutkit sat biting a piece of dirt out of his claws.

"You will be seen in front of the entire clan, don't you want to look presentable?" She huffed.

"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather underneath Shadebranch for a clan meeting!"

"It's the time!" Owlswoop cheered, her kits ran out and she followed. "Don't mess up your fur!" The kits ignored her, bolting for the center. She sighed, tail tip twitching nervously as she went to sit by Berrypool, who watched proudly.

"Three kits, my own kin have reached the age of six moons old, and it is time for them to start their journeys!" Tansystar gazed proudly at the three, "Shadedkit, and Mosskit until you earn your warrior names you will be known as Shadedpaw and Mosspaw."

"Ray, teach Shadedpaw all you know. Waspflight, Mosspaw will be your apprentice, teach her all you know."

"However, Nutkit has chosen a different path as a medicine cat, until he has earned his full name he will be known as Nutpaw, I hope Windears will teach you all she knows."

"Shadedpaw! Mosspaw! Nutpaw!" Owlswoop puffed out her chest proudly as the new apprentices touched noses with their new mentors, bugging them about what they will do first.

"It happened so quickly," she whispered to her mate.

"I know, I wish they were still suckling their mother," Berrypool purred, gazing lovingly at his kits, and mate. She leaned into him, listening as the clan parted from the meeting, starting their duties again.

"Owlswoop, I'm sure you'd enjoy getting out of camp again," Barknut called, "how about you join a hunting patrol?" Owlswoop nodded.

"Which one?" She asked.

"How about with Sagecreek, Reedtail and Sunflowertooth?"

"Sounds good." She got to her paws, padding over to join them.

"Welcome back Owlswoop!" Sunflowertooth greeted, "are we ready to go?" Owlswoop nodded, and when they all agreed, they ventured out of camp. Owlswoop closed her eyes, taking in the scents and letting the breeze buffet her fur. She padded in long strides, enjoying the feel of pine needles under her paws again. The sound of a starling's chattering caught her attention. She noticed the black bird sitting calmly on a stump, grooming itself.

Owlswoop let her claws slide out, and she crept forward, keeping herself low to the ground. She launched out at it, the starling startled starting to flutter up. Owlswoop attempted to bat it out of the sky, but the bird was already high and gone. She clenched her jaw in frustration. I'm just a bit rusty thats all. She thought. "It was a good try," Sagecreek reassured her.

"It's just been awhile," Owlswoop sighed, tail tip flicking as she pushed past the patrol. I'll catch something today if it's the last thing I do.

Owlswoop pushed through the thorn barrier, a large toad dangling from her jaws. She blinked at the small fresh-kill pile, adding her piece. Stretching, she padded over to Littleholly and Flyleap. The black tom glanced up at her arrival. "Hi Owlswoop," he greeted, flicking his tail.

"Hey," she meowed awkwardly, she felt awkward talking to cats outside of the nursery.

"You must be happy getting out of the nursery!" Littleholly mewed, "it must be so boring!"

"Not when you have kits constantly at your tail," she purred, "I will miss having my kits in my nest."

"I guess," Flyleap mumbled, using his hind legs to scratch behind his ear. Owlswoop gazed around camp, noticing Shadedpaw, and Mosspaw appearing through the entrance, dragging their paws. Their mentors close behind them.

"Well, see you two around," she'd meow quickly. She got to her paws, approaching the returning cats. "I hope they weren't too much trouble," she called teasingly. Ray glanced at her.

"Well they were full of energy at first, but they calmed down when they were tired enough," Waspflight replied, "Shadedpaw wouldn't leave Ray alone about wanting to learn battle moves."

"Welcome to my life," Owlswoop joked, waving her tail turning to watch her kits, as Nutpaw ran up to his littermates going on about his day. Ray started mumbling complaints, dragging over to the warriors den. Owlswoop and Waspflight looked at each other laughing. "Glad to see he hasn't lost his ways."

"Sorta, as long as he doesn't start hitting on moms, and pouting when he doesn't get his way," he agreed, cringing at past memories.

"Right," Owlswoop flicked her tails, "remember Berrypools mom, he couldn't even remember our mission!" Waspflight nodded, turning himself to wash his back. "Speaking of which," Owlswoop gazed at her surrounding noticing Mothflutter slipping into the dirtplace, she continued lowering her voice into a whisper, "any news on Widowweb?" He gazed up narrowing his eyes.

"Nope," Waspflight sighed, "not a whisker."

"Possibly Berrypool was wrong," Owlswoop muttered, "but there was pure evidence of The Toddler taking him."

"It could've been fur of an animal, or another cat." A screech interrupted the warriors conversation, Flamepaw burst through camp.

"We've been attacked!" She yowled, "by rouges! A bunch and they're coming towards camp!" Owlswoops pelt stuck up straight with fear, and it felt like she couldn't breath. Tansystar leaped to his paws.

"Hurry, get the elders in the nursery!" He called, "Shadedpaw, and Mosspaw that will be your job but you must stay hidden with them."

"Sagecreek and Wolfcry will guard them!" Barknut added, "Dustycloud will protect the medicine den. The rest be prepared!" Yowls of battle cry rang out through the forest, echoing closer. Owlswoop unsheathed her claws, as a small brown tom broke in through the entrance, she froze as she realized who it was.