Nightfrost's Choice

Chapter 13

"Nightpaw, would you like to come on a border patrol for MountainClan?"

Lionmane's gentle meow jerked Nightpaw out of her sleep and she stirred in her nest, wishing she could stay forever in the warmth and comfort of her den.

"Do I have a choice?" She joked, parting her jaws in a huge yawn, and Lionmane shook his head.

"Probably not. Fernstar wants us to mark the borders more clearly. Come on." Lionmane urged her, and Nightpaw sat up.

Smoothing her fur down and cleaning quickly, Nightpaw padded out of the den and saw Dewpaw was already up, eating a thrush.

Nightpaw sat next to her sister and leaned down to take a bite of the thrush.

"I heard we're marking MountainClan borders." Dewpaw meowed, her ears flicking as she gulped down her share of the thrush.

Nightpaw enjoyed the forest tang of prey on her tongue, savoring the taste and leaving a warm feeling in her belly.

She swallowed.

"Yeah. I wonder if Pebblestar ever marks his side. When ever we pass over MountainClan borders, I never smell their scent." She wrinkled her nose. "Not that I'd want to."

Dewpaw laughed, and together, the two sisters finished the thrush just as Lionmane and Meadowleap padded over.

"Alright, you chattering starlings." Lionmane teased, his golden fur bright in the sunlight. "Are you ready to go? Tigerstar will be assigning the patrols for who goes where."

Nightpaw nodded and stood up, bounding to the clearing and sitting beside Swiftblaze, Dewpaw, and Sparrowheart.

"Keep quiet." Sparrowheart meowed sharply as soon as his kits sat down, and Nightpaw flattened her ears.

Her father never snapped at her.

I wonder what's wrong....

But before she could ask, Fernstar swarmed up on High Boulder and yowled,

"Today we will freshen our side of the borders on ForestClan and MountainClan. We haven't checked them in a while, so I think it will be good for us to scout the area. On the patrol to MountainClan, I want-"

Ferns tar scanned the clearing.

"Dewpaw, Meadowleap, Swiftblaze, Rockshade, and Owltalon." She decided, and Dewpaw flashed Nightpaw a, 'sorry' look as she got up and padded with her mentor out the clan.

"On the second patrol to ForestClan," Fernstar continued. "I want Mistycloud, Lemurtail, Lionmane, Nightpaw, and Sparrowheart. The rest of you, continue with training and usual duties. Clan dismissed." Fern star finished shortly, and then disappeared into her den.

Nightpaw stood up and bounded over to Lionmane.

"Ready?" Lionmane asked, and when Nightpaw nodded, he added, "Keep your claws sharp and your eyes open. I have a feeling some activity's gone on since we haven't checked the boundaries."

Nightpaw flattened her ears and unsheathed her claws. Part of her hoped nothing had happened, especially since she didn't want to hurt Firepaw or his clanmates...

Nightpaw shook the thought away and scolded herself.

You're a ValleyClan warrior! She hissed to herself. You can't like a ForestClan cat!

Following her mentor, she padded out of camp, side by side with Lionmane and Mistycloud.

"Be careful." Lionmane warned as they stalked closer. "and be on the look out."

Just as he said that, the bushes rustled and a light white face with soft gray stripes peered through, ivy-green eyes glowing with interest.

"What's this?" The shecat hissed. "A ValleyClan patrol? Well, about time!"

"What do you want, Ivybreeze?" Sparrowheart snarled, taking a threatening pace forwards.

Nightpaw then realized that it was the ForestClan deputy, Ivybreeze.

Ivybreeze stepped out on the ForestClan border completely, and she flicked her tail.

Nightpaw let out a faint growl as a full patrol appeared behind Ivybreeze, their claws unsheathed and tails lashing.

"Tell us what you want." Sparrowheart repeated, his eyes narrowing.

Ivybreeze let out a smug purr, but Nightpaw saw her claws slide out beneath the leaves.

She gasped.

"Lionmane, she-" she whispered to her mentor, but Lionmane hissed,

"Quiet!."

And she fell silent, forced to watch, unease growing in her mind.

"The bramble patch." Ivybreeze's voice was sweet and light. "We are willing to fight for that piece of territory. Good prey runs through there, and it's ideal for ForestClan, being under thick leaves, and all. We already set our markers, and-"

"What?" Sparrowheart spat with rage, Nightpaw noticed. The deputy lashed his tail. "No. That was our piece of territory, since Robinstar claimed it!"

Nightpaw wanted to ask who Robinstar was, but she just stayed silent, her claws itching for a battle.

"Robinstar was a fool." Ivybreeze hissed, making Sparrowheart growl loudly. "We will fight, as I said, and you have time to change your mind before dawn two days from now. Good hunting, to you." Ivybreeze finished, and before Sparrowheart could answer, she spun around with her patrol behind her.

Nightpaw saw a flash of dark ginger fur and she recognized Firepaw immediately.

She met his gray-brown gaze. It was glittering with sorrow.

Lionmane jerked Nightpaw out of her thoughts with a nudge.

"I knew something was going on!" He growled.

"Then why didn't you say so?" Lemurtail said snidely, and Lionmane growled.

"I might have been afraid a two faced, stuck up cat like you would have been scared, that's all!" Her mentor shot back, and Lemurtail's claws slid out.

"Enough!" Sparrowheart snarled, stepping in between the two cats and shoving them apart. "We have enough problems without fighting amongst ourselves. Set a good example!" He looked towards Nightpaw, and Lionmane's tail drooped.

"I'm sorry." He whispered to Nightpaw on the way back. "I just got irritated by that weasel."

"Everyone does." Nightpaw joked in a whisper, but then she added, "What did you mean by two faced?"

Lionmane let out a sigh, slowing his pawstpes a bit so Lemurtail was more ahead and couldn't hear. Nightpaw did, too.

"Lemurtail is originally from ForestClan." He explained. "He joined to be with his mate."

"Who?" Nightpaw asked curiously.

"Cavemoon."

"Ohh.." Nightpaw thought about Firepaw instantly. She didn't want to fight one of her best friends, but if she hesitated, Tigerstar might doubt her loyalties. She was in internal conflict with herself.

StarClan! Nightpaw prayed, tipping her muzzle to the sky slightly. Help me get through this!