Warriors: In The Cold of Night [1]

Chapter 14

It was the next day. It was just barely sunhigh. Featherheart watched Sharpleaf leave camp, again. She sighed and began to clean herself as she laid in her moss bedding in the warrior's den. Featherheart had already seen Sharpleaf assign warriors to go on the patrol to scout out tallpines. Featherheart sat up and began to walk towards the medicine cat's den.

Mosstooth was arranging the new sets of herbs with Lilypaw, Sparkpaw, and Honeypaw. "Oh hello there, Featherheart." Mosstooth mewed. Featherheart dipped her head. "Do you have any ideas on what will happen next? About the dogs I mean." Featherheart meowed.

Mosstooth stayed silent for a second. "Apprentices, stay here and keep arranging the herbs. Featherheart, come with me." She ordered. Featherheart hasn't seen Mosstooth this serious in a while. The old she-cat walked into the small clearing in front of the medicine den. 

"Featherheart, those dogs weren't aggravated at you, or your patrol. Some other cats aggravated those dogs first. You must find out who aggravated them, or the whole Clan will face the consequences." Mosstooth meowed quietly.

Featherheart was puzzled but nodded. Featherheart headed back out of the small clearing, and into the main clearing.

Featherheart saw Shadowstalk walking out of the warrior's den. He stretched and he looked like he had nothing to do. Featherheart padded across the snowy clearing over to him. Shadowstalk was staring up and the mildly clouded sky with his tail curled over his paws.

"Hello, Shadowstalk." Featherheart mewed with a smile. Shadowstalk looked down from the sky and stared into her eyes. "Hi." He meowed simply. Featherheart's gaze was stuck on his emerald green eyes. She sat there, staring into his eyes in silence for a moment. Featherheart quickly shook her head to snap out of being dazed. Shadowstalk looked confused as to why she was staring at him.

Featherheart quickly spoke. "—Do you want to go on a hunting patrol . . ?"

"Sure, why not." Shadowstalk meowed. "I have nothing else to do."

Featherheart smiled. "Should we hunt near the Sunningrocks?" She asked. Shadowstalk nodded. "Sure." He mewed.

"Should we get more cats in our patrol, or just the both of us?" Featherheart asked. She hoped he'd say for just the two of them.

"You know what, let's just go on the patrol alone. We could chat and catch up with stuff." He meowed in a gentle tone. Featherheart let out a sigh of relief. Featherheart felt as if her fur was overheating as she stared back into Shadowstalk's captivating green eyes. 

"Come on, let's go." The two cats padded out of the snowy camp and began to head towards the Sunningrocks.

Featherheart slowly stalked a mouse. Shadowstalk was stalking a bird. Both of the cats were stalking their own prey to eat. The soft snow crunched for every step she took, and it bothered her, and her prey. I do hope the snow melts soon. She hoped to herself. She charged at the mouse and sank her teeth into its neck, swiftly killing it.

Featherheart picked up the mouse and began to walk towards the Sunningrocks. Shadowstalk was coincidentally walking to the Sunningrocks at the same time as her. Featherheart's heart jumped when she saw him. She didn't realize that he was there as he walked from behind a large tree. Featherheart sighed a sigh of relief.  

Featherheart leapt onto one of the huge rocks. The rock was cold, but as she stood on it, it warmed up from her body heat. Shadowstalk leapt onto the rock and laid down next to her. He closed his eyes as he bore the cold. Featherheart sat down. As soon as she sat, the cold from the rock was very intense.