Caɾղaցe Ɱօօղ ~𝙰 𝚆𝚊𝚛𝚛𝚒𝚘𝚛𝚜 𝙵𝚊𝚗𝚏𝚒𝚌

35 🌙

I'll have to think of some excuse. But what? Maybe uh- I'll say I ripped a claw and it hurts too badly to climb. Yeah, I'll pretend to fall off the tree as soon as I start. I'll- but Hillflower! Her chest swelled with trepidation.

I can't do that because Hillflower will examine my 'ripped claw...'!

"I hate sleeping curled up in a tree branch. Can't you guys protect us?" Cloverkit meowed, her gaze resting on Crescentpaw.

Thank you, Cloverkit! Make your eyes bigger and cuter and more pleading.

She smiled down at the little kit while panic was threatening to swell her throat shut. Crescentpaw tried to hide the look of previous horror that had been on her face.

The apprentice's fur finally smoothed back down. She thought it was cute that Cloverkit already looked to her for protection. If she's the only cat here who thinks I'm more than just an apprentice, I'll take it. Some of her worry flitted away like a snake disappearing into a crevice.

"Yeah!" Oatkit came to stand beside his sister. "We don't wanna sleep in no stinky old tree!"

Trufflefur looked embarrassed. "Sorry. That's where I've been sleeping so the wolves can't get me at night."

"Mmm- well..." Sootface gazed down at the much smaller Cloverkit. He looked like he wanted to be stern, with the same recurring frown set deep along his jaw.

"Actually, it might be a good idea. Cats sleeping in trees for days certainly isn't ideal nor is it healthy; as it alters our bodies natural resting positions." Hillflower said matter-of-factly.

"Skyclan has been sleeping in trees?"

Maybe that's why their dens were in better condition. The wolves didn't destroy them because there was so scent of cats inside. Crescentpaw waited for an answer, but Jadestar's responding mew was interrupted.

"I won't risk my kits by sleeping in a nest on the ground." Pepperpelt growled. Her grey-flecked ears were flat with repulsion. The sunfall shadows darkened her pelt to near-black.

Jadestar was the next cat to interject. "That's not what she meant, Pepperpelt. We can sleep in the leaders den up on the Highledge. Trufflefur, can the wolves manage to climb up there?"

"Yes, they can. But if we post two guards at a time and switch places, everyone might be able to get part of a good night's sleep. I can help carry the kits up there." While he talked his eyes reflected the dying sunlight.

"I think your medicine cat is right. If we're planning to travel across Windclan tomorrow then we should certainly get a sound rest."

Although Sootface initially disagreed, the cats found majority vote in favor of Jadestar's idea.

Crescentpaw felt like she was publicly embrassing herself when they climbed the tumbledown rocks, but luckily the inexperienced cats were having a rough time as well. Hillflower slipped alongside her several times, while Pepperpelt lost her footing and hissed before pulling herself back up.

"You know, I can hardly grasp why Riverclan sent an apprentice around the lake all by herself. Why didn't they send a warrior with you?" Trufflefur asked her once they all were comfortably situatuated out on the Highledge. His squirrel rested in a bushy heap beside him.