Warrior Cats: Beyond the Clans

Autumn's Promise - Chapter 6

Autumn stood in shock as thoughts circled around her head.

I'm in love with Night Sky.

That's why I'm obsessing over him

Oh, Truth. What happened to me?

Autumn paced the den, kicking up moss in her frustration. I can't be in love with Night Sky. I can't be in love with him. I hate him! I've been trying to ignore him for days already!

But I wouldn't have spent that much time on any other cat.

Autumn let out a low growl; she didn't want to ponder on this anymore. Shaking her fur out, she padded out of the den. I have duties.

"Autumn!"

A call to her name made her head snap back towards it. To her surprise, it was Deer.

"What?" Autumn replied.

"I was wondering if you wanted to come hunting with me," Deer dipped her head.

Autumn tilted her head in confusion. Deer and I have never really been friends.

"Sure?" Autumn kept her tone mild, but she knew her eyes were glittering with distrust.

Deer led the way out of the camp, Autumn following a few pawsteps behind her.

They padded through the woods lightly, sniffing for prey. Deer flicked her tail and Autumn spotted a fat mouse scrabbling for food at the bottom of a tree.

Got it, thanks. I can hunt, you know.

Autumn tried not to let her sleep-deprived self make a fool of herself, after all, Deer was a very respectable cat. As she watched, Deer pounced at the mouse, driving it towards Autumn.

Autumn moved towards it, but her movements were too slow, and her paws were to clumsy. Through tired eyes, she saw the mouse scurry away.

"Sorry," Autumn mewed, afraid that Deer would be mad at them.

Deer blinked at her through sympathetic and sharp eyes. "Do you feel slow lately?"

Autumn flicked her ears in irritation. "I'm not slow!"

Deer slapped her tail on Autumn's mouth, letting out a sharp hiss. "I smell fox-scent."

A fox.

Autumn perked up, eager to help her Clan. However, she became disappointed after Deer mewed, "The guards will deal with this."

"We won't get to help?" Autumn flared in anger. "I want to help!"

"You're a hunter, Autumn. Just because you're deputy doesn't mean you can do a guard's job," Deer mewed softly.

"I can fight!" Autumn protested. "I was almost made a guard!"

"But you weren't, Autumn." Deer's mew was stern. "Go back to camp and get some guards. I'll start with the patrol right now."

Autumn watched, giving up as Deer tapped her paw on the ground. Violet and Sky melted out of the forest, their expressions turning to shock as they smelt the fox.

"Go, Autumn!" Deer ordered, turning to help the guards.

Why can she help? Autumn snorted but listened to Deer and raced back to camp.

On the way back, Autumn felt insanely tired and her paws felt like they were dropping off, but she kept on going. She burst into the camp and ran into the guard's den. "Fox!" she alerted them, out of breath.