Bright Forest

Chapter 21

A moon passed from drowning the foxes and everything in the clan started to regain life: Skypaw was finally able to return to her duties, and Patchpaw and Risingpaw wanted her to become a warrior with them. Rustpaw became an excellent hunter and was trying to perfect battle training. Dovepaw too.

Frondstar was starting to return to Gatherings more often and everyone seemed happy, since the rogues were also starting to be less heard of.

-And greenleaf went away... well that was fun.- purred Dovepaw.

-Wait, already? How?

-Don't you feel the fresh breeze? It's gonna be leaf-fall soon.

She was right. -Oh... yeah.

Ivystorm approached them. -Rustpaw, are you ready for a border patrol?

-Sure!- he got up. -Where?

-StormClan border, with Firedusk.

-Alright.

He said bye to Dovepaw and they reached Firedusk at the camp entrance. -Now that we're here, let's leave!

They walked out: Rustpaw couldn't really tell the difference of leaf-fall in DoveClan's territory, since the forest was, well, evergreen.

-Alright. Firedusk, you'll go mark the border near the Gathering place. We're going to the other side. Catch some stuff if you can!- ordered Ivystorm.

As they parted paths, Rustpaw looked at the other side of the thunderpath: the forest was brimming with vibrant yellow and orange, and it was brighter compared to the pine forest.

After a while, Ivystorm mewed:-Alright. I'll go hunt over there, see if there's anything here.

He agreed and the white and gray she-cat padded away. He sniffed the air: an odd scent led him to where the Pine Path was. After following it for a while he found a big juicy rabbit. Carefully, he got near it and pounced on it, but it scrambled away. He chased it for a while until he snatched it and killed the creature. "This will be a great catch!" he told himself. But then, he smelled something else.

He hid the prey and as he returned to the edge of the thunderpath he stopped: Spottedpaw was there, just between the bushes, collecting some herbs. "What is she doing on our territory?" he thought. He really didn't want to step on Spottedpaw's toes. "And medicine cats can trespass for herbs, right? Wait..."

In shock and confusion he stumbled back. "I'll let you slide, but next time I see you I'll report you!".

He took the prey and searched for Ivystorm. But then he heard a yowl from behind him. "That's Spottedpaw!"

He rushed back just to bump into the warrior. -Gah! Sorry Ivystorm... I heard someone yell.

-You probably would've already heard her if you bothered to scare her off!- she hissed. -Now let's cut things short and get back to Firedusk. You're not leaving this clean.

"Wait, she knows?" he gazed at the she-cat, following her.

They met with Firedusk, happily holding his catch.

-So... what did you catch? I found a frog!- mewed the ginger tom.

-I caught this sparrow...

-That's nice. Good catch, Rustpaw!- he purred.

-Thanks!

-Yeah, speaking of which...- Ivystorm grumbled. -We found a StormClan cat on the border.

Firedusk's enlightened gaze disappeared. -Oh, those mouse-brains...