Windclan's Hope

Chapter 11

Squirrelpaw woke the next morning, stretching. Redcall and Whiteclaw were deciding patrols before parting. Whiteclaw called the clan. "Gather for patrols!" Squirrelpaw padded down and sat next to Lilyfrost. "I wont be your mentor for much longer, Squirrelpaw. Im expecting kits!" Lilyfrost purred. Squirrelpaw gasped. "Thats wonderful! Im so happy for you!" Birdnose settled by his mate. "I dont like you patrolling today, Ill make sure i can be with you." He decided. "Squirrelpaw, Lilyfrost, Birdnose and Stempaw will hunt. Redcall, Ratfur and Sheepfur and I patrol the border of the thunderpath. Make sure no twolegs have passed." The cats began to dismiss into their groups. Squirrelpaw followed Lilyfrost and Birdnose, falling in step with Stempaw. "Are you okay?" She asked. Stempaw nodded slowly. "Im scared. None of the clan is going to except me as leader when they realize i can barely fight." His voice shook. "Ill help you." She purred. "Hey, Lilyfrost. When we are done hunting can we battle train?" She asked. Lilyfrost nodded. "Its a nice sunny day so yes, it'll be good for you tow to train with cats your own size." Birdnose stretched. "Okay, Ill hunt with Squirrelpaw? It'll help for different insights." He mewed. Lilyfrost nodded and beckoned Stempaw with her tail.
Squirrelpaw stalked forwards before hurling herself at a rabbit. She chased it towards Birdnose and halted as he caught it. "Good! That was perfect." He purred. He hadn't had to correct her except for explain what to do when chasing a rabbit towards another cat. Birdnose carried a vole and two mice back to camp before taking the lead to the training place with Lilyfrost and Stempaw. "Squirrelpaw did well." Birdnose mewed. "So did Stempaw, he is an excellent hunter." Lilyfrost purred. The two cats sat down. "Okay, practice fighting. We are going to make sure we arent in the way of any patrols." Lilyfrost meowed and bounded away with Birdnose. Squirrelpaw leapt at Stempaw with a purr. "Got you!" She exclaimed.
After a while their mentors still hadn't turned up. "Are they coming soon? We have done like four battles and they haven't come back." Stempaw looked around. "Im sure they are fine. You fought well though, i dont know why you are so worried." Squirrelpaw stretched. Just then she heard a yowl and two shaped ran at them through tall grass. Arching her back she leapt forwards and crashed into them. Stempaw had attacked the cat beside them. "Wait!" Birdnose hissed under her fur. "Its us!" Lilyfrost shove Stempaw off. "You did well under attack and your battles. We watched them all. Now come on, lets get back to camp." Birdnose shook his fur out. Squirrelpaw stretched. "You cant surprise us like that!" She hissed. Lilyfrost chuckled. "You did well. You two are fighting like warriors, better everyday."
Squirrelpaw laid down in her nest, Stempaw had gone with Turtleheart to begin learning leadership skills. Ivypaw padded into the den with a thrush. "Want to share? We can take the feathers to Haresprint and Graytooth. Sheepfur insisted on bringing every other feather he found to Briarfang and her kits." Ivypaw set the bird down. "Sure, im worried about him. He isnt the best fighter and Ratfur is seeming to bring him down alone. I heard Owlfeather saying something about Stempaw today." Squirrelpaw admitted. Ivypaw yawned and tore the bird. "Ratfur will get his way. I just hope he doesnt try to pull the clan apart." Squirrelpaw nodded. The two continued talking until dark when Stempaw padded into the den.