Warrior Cats: Rising Smoke

Chapter 7

The morning air was cool and pleasant. The leaves hadn't started changing colors yet but the time was coming. Squirrels, mice and voles were starting to stash away food for the upcoming colder weather. Cloverdusk yawned and stretched in his new nest in the warrior den. Brightmist had decorated his nest with pretty little stones she had found in the forest and looking at them made him smile. His nest was set up close to the edge of the den with Bramblesun, Swiftshine and Brightmist who were all still asleep around him. He enjoyed their warm scents and the comforting sounds of their soft breathing. He had shared a den with them since he was a kit and being back with them in the warrior den was a familiar feeling. Slowly, he got up and stepped carefully around the sleeping cats to enter the cool morning outside. The sun wasn't up yet and the dawn patrol would be waking up soon to head out. He looked around but it didn't appear anyone was awake yet. With light paw steps he moved across camp and out the entrance and into the forest. If he was caught he would just say he was making dirt, or couldn't sleep. But no cat stopped him as she glided like a shadow across the forest floor towards the old Treelcan territory. 

As he approached he clambered up onto an old fallen tree that crossed the border and he used it like a bridge until he jumped down onto the other side. 

"I didn't know if you would come." Marshwhisker whispered from the tangled roots of the fallen tree.

"I said I would." He purred softly, rubbing his cheek against hers.

"I'm so glad I ran into you the other day on that border patrol," Marshwhisker continued to whisper. "I've been volunteering to do all the patrols in hopes of seeing you." Cloverdusk let out a small laugh and licked her ear.

"Was it hard to sneak away?" 

"Not this time." Marshwhisker shook her head. "But I can't imagine it will get any easier."

"I'm so glad Falconstar made you a warrior. At least sneaking away as a warrior is easier than sneaking away as an apprentice." 

"He kind of had too make me a warrior after he announced I was chosen."

"You were ready." Cloverdusk gave her a playful shoulder shove. "You are very skilled and smart."

"Are you excited about the Gathering tomorrow? I think they want us to come up with the first steps for starting the new clan."

"We don't even have a name." Cloverdusk muttered. "I feel like there is so much to do."

"Are you going to be living in the new clan?" Marshwhisker asked shyly. Cloverdusk looked over at her and smiled warmly. She was so beautiful and he loved her warm scent and her kind eyes. This was their first time meeting but he hoped they would meet again.

"I don't know." he answered honestly. "Sparrowflame and Swiftshine have decided to go as mates to represent Moonclan. I think Thrushpelt would like to go back to his home territory so that makes the three volunteers."

"Swiftshine agreed to be his mate?" Marshwhisker shook her head in disbelief. "I don't know either of them well but I've met Sparrowflame a few times and he's...difficult." 

"He's not all that bad. He can be tough and have a hard shell but deep down he just wants to be the best warrior he can be. Nothing wrong with that."

"Really deep down." the two cuddled in silence for a while just enjoying each others company. The singing of birds alerted them that dawn was fast approaching. Cloverdusk let out a long sigh and stood up.

"Can we meet up again?" Marshwhisker asked hopefully.

"I would like that."