Mystery of the Mist

Chapter 2: Morning heat

Heat covered the land with plenty of trees. DarkClan was struggling with such warmth, it not being expected. Prey was hiding, but luckily most spent their time by the little water left.
Cats were a lot more worn out and drained, not having slept well due to the sudden warm weather.
And Netteleap hadn't slept well either, barely having closed an eye.
The She-Cat's body felt terribly stiff, and her throat was so dry it hurt whenever she meowed to a Clanmate.

Hollowspot was making no progress with the patrols, since every cat was just too tired to do more than one patrol. The deputy kept insisting that they didn't have enough cats and that DarkClan should get off it's lazy buts!
Just as the tom and the white feline locked eyes, Netteleap felt her stomach flip over twice!
She hadn't even eaten a morsel of fresh-kill, and was definitely about to get sent out on an extra long patrol. Just thinking about it made her stomach rumble and her paws ache painfully.
Turned out she had gotten some thorns in her pawpads while trying to catch up to the dawn patrol the other day, and they had been driven in deep.
She only found out about it late that night, and was planning on heading to Hisstail to get it fixed. Sending Hollowspot a pleading look, the molly silently begged her deputy and GhostClan to be a bit sympathetic this painful day.
But of course, her prayers were given the cold shoulder.
The tom was already striding over, and before Nettleleap had the chance to slip away, Hollowspot cleared his throat.

"Netteleap, you'll be going on the sunhigh patrol, together with Herbpaw and Mallowheart. Make sure to go through the Mudpath and past those two-paws dens, alright?" He ordered, his gaze cold as he stared at the she in-front of him.
While the white warrior had a thousand issues with that, she couldn't deny an order. With a vague but respectful nod, she raced off to the fresh-kill pile, not wanting to spend a second longer close to the possibly future leader of DarkClan. Though Mallowheart probably wouldn't be happy with that-
Something stood out to her suddenly.
The way Hollowspot's whiskers twitched with irritation showed just how much he, as well, was affected by this painful drought.
Every cat was.
Their heads and tails low as they ate their food slower than a snail travelling through the forest. A look of sympathy crossed her face for a second, thinking of all the extremely long furred Clanmates she had.
Those must be begging to be brought to GhostClan right about now!

With a tired sigh, Nettleleap grabbed a small mouse. It was honestly disgusting, but she knew better than to complain. If she did, Snarlstar would have her doing apprentice duties for at least two moons. Not something you'd want.
The sun was almost right above camp, and it's warmth was sickening.
Cats grumbling, muttering to one an other just to almost end in an argument.
And instead of Herbpaw and Icepaw chattering outside the den, they were silent, slumped down by a large rock in-front of the apprentice's den.
The white feline's whiskers twitched in amusement at the sight. Sure, that rock was the only thing slightly cold, but it was rather surprising to see the two young cats huddled up against it.
Normally they'd refuse to even sit by that rock, now they loved it.
Before she could let out a soft purr and approach them, a warrior had already cantered over to them.

"What do you think you're doing?!" The voice was deep, and to her dismay, Nettleleap recognised it.
Mallowheart.. No cat's favourite warrior.
"You're future DarkClan warriors, quit slacking! Icepaw, go to your mentor or see the elders. Herbpaw, get ready for the sunhigh patrol." The tabby's meow was very commanding, and icepaw hurried off— limping painfully.
Herbpaw just seemed annoyed.
The moon coloured warrior always wondered how Herbpaw could stand the warrior so well, not even flinching at his 'powerful' threat's.
Though her ears perked forward when she saw Mallowheart lean closer to his apprentice, eager to hear more of their conversation.
"We'll be leaving a bit early, while Badgersprint distracts Nettleleap until a second after sunhigh. Maybe that way Snarlstar will question if she truly should keep her here."
What a bitch.
With an eye roll she padded towards the medicine cat's den, suddenly feeling the pain of the thorn in her pawpad extremely well.
That thorn had to go, before she became just as prickly as it!