Paws of a Stoat

Chapter 9

"Well,that's obvious,mouse-brain."FalsePaw pointed out with an air of affection.StoatPaw nudged her shoulder.

She was about to speak before she heard paw-steps.She immediately jolted to her paws.But wasn't her dad,instead two apprentice sized heads were poked out of the cave entrance.One completely black with a few orange speckles and another was the snowy white of a cat who had LeapClan blood mixed in.

"LynxPaw?CrowedPaw?"FalsePaw questioned,taking a step backward.She looked as confused as she felt.

"How'd you to get here?"StoatPaw blinked at them with large yellow eyes."There were guards!"

"Patrols and LocustWind distracting FlinchLock."LynxPaw explained.

"We need to go.She can't keep him distracted forever."CrowedPaw ordered hurriedly."Move."

They all rushed out the den and to a bush a few fox-lengths away."I know where we should go."StoatPaw whispered to the others,heading out of the camp.FalsePaw caught on quick,rushing after her.

"Would RabbitPaw even be out this late?What are the chances of an attack?!"She questioned in a whisper back to StoatPaw who grinned.This was a very FalsePaw-like question.

"We told him to wait for a while longer than usual."StoatPaw responded,hopping over the usual log and moving swiftly toward the one RabbitPaw was always perched on.Right before the sun went down.

She trotted into the clearing and saw the white and deep red-brown Tom,lying on the log.Eyes open and drowsy."Oh...hey.You guys...came."He murmured just loud enough for her to hear.

"We are!"She smiled."Oh,also we brought a few more guests."She added,turning back to the rustling brushes as CrowedPaw and LynxPaw hopped out.

RabbitPaw jumped to his paws,fur up.CrowedPaw look impeccably unimpressed and LynxPaw looked as tho he was looking straight at a mirror."The judgmental one is CrowedPaw,the other one is LynxPaw."

They both have her sharp glances before her friend stepped in."Alright,we just have to wait for LocustWind."FalsePaw meowed calmingly.

"No need."A cold voice echoed off the trees.Forcing StoatPaw to flinch and shudder involuntarily."And it would be better to stand down."The cat that stepped into the light of the sinking sun and faint stars wasn't StalkingFur.It was her apprentice.PoppyPaw.Who StoatPaw hadn't seen the whole time.

StoatPaw blinked at her,but the others had more drastic reactions.FalsePaw immiedently got into battle position,RabbitPaw's fur was straight up again,CrowedPaw was hissing and already had her claws unsheathed,and LynxPaw was in his 'about to run' position.

"I said...it would be better to stand down."The she hissed again,echoing as ominously as the first but this time backed up with the silhouette of a giant Tom.