Batwing watched Berrypaw go, his fur prickling with pride and sadness. He was gone, walking away with Redtuft in the direction of the moon-crystal. He waited before turning and padding into the medicine den, nervously rummaging through the herbs and pulling out herbs for wounds. He was a warrior! He couldn't treat anyone properly! He sighed.
"We're going hunting," He overheard Snaketooth mew. Batwing guessed that we meant him and Iciclecrash.
"Okay." Spiderfang responded unenthusiastically. He's probably bored. Batwing gazed at him sympathetically.
"Hey, Spiderfang. Can you get me some goldenrod? Redtuft's supply is low." He called. Spiderfang suddenly perked up.
"Sure. Come on, Petalfur." He and Petalfur began to head out of camp.
"I wanna come too!" Snowpaw squeaked. Hollyheart sighed.
"No. We have to stay here and defend the camp."
"Oh." Snowpaw's tail drooped.
"Why don't you go show Sugarglow's kits some of the moves you've learned?" She offered, and he brightened.
"Okay!" He bounced happily before racing over to the nursery. Batwing could hear Sugarglow's kits from here, greeting Snowpaw excitedly. Hollyheart watched him fondly, like a mother looking at its kit. For some reason, Batwing felt a strong urge to serve and protect all his clanmates, and treat them like kin. Is this how Berrypaw feels? Feeling the responsibilities of caring for every cat here, even your leader? He wondered. Batwing set out more herbs before padding out of the medicine den. A scent wafted up to his nose, smelling as though it were far away. Batwing frowned. What was this smell? He tried to focus, but he couldn't. It was too distant. He shrugged. Probably nothing. Swarmkit, Caterpillarkit, and Firekit were playing nearby. Mushroomkit, a former kittypet, was watching anxiously next to Berrypelt, his foster mother. Snowpaw was teaching the kits the hunter's crouch. And he looks like a badger while doing it. Batwing laughed, causing Snowpaw to glance in his direction.
"Hi, Batwing!" He greeted, getting up.
"Batwing! Come see my crouch!" Firekit mewed loudly. Batwing checked the medicine den before padding over to Firekit.
"Your tail's dragging against the ground," He commented, frowning.
"So?"
"A mouse could hear your tail against the grass. Do it like this." He crouched low to the ground, his tail hovering over the ground. Carefully, he placed his paws on the ground one by one, before pouncing on a leaf.
"Woah!" The kits chorused.
"You try." Batwing moved aside to let his younger siblings practice. Sugarglow watched them all fondly.
"Thank you," Snowpaw grumbled, though Batwing could tell he was upset about being interrupted like that.
"Apologies, you looked like a badger, so I decided to take over." Batwing responded jokingly, whiskers twitching. Snowpaw blinked at him before realizing it was a joke.
"You look like one of the mushrooms next to Whiskerfur's nest," He shot back, his voice giggly. His laughing quickly stopped, his neck fur rising. "Uh-oh," Snowpaw murmured, looking over at Petalfur dragging Spiderfang's body, her eyes wide with terror. Skystar let out a gasp and padded down from her rock to talk to them.
"What happened?" She demanded.
The scent wafted up to Batwing's nose again, stronger this time. His eyes widened and his fur bristled. "Foxes," Petalfur trembled. "And they're on their way here."
