The Prophesied

Chapter 38 - Frostedleaf

Frostedleaf was sitting in the clearing, sitting beside the Great Rock. "Blazeclaw you can lead the dusk patrol, take Deerfur and Berrypaw with you." Frostedleaf said, Blazeclaw nodded and the cats walked away. Frostedleaf sighed and stretched out her front paws in front of her. Yawning tiredly. She knew she had been deputy for a small amount of time but it was exhausting, mostly likely because Cinderstar was still sick, coughing a lot and having difficulty breathing, so Frostedleaf had to take on her own role as deputy and stand in for Cinderstar.

Frostedleaf straightened up and turned to walk into Cinderstar's den. She felt more tired than usual, but she thought about all the work she had been doing that day. She had been on the dawn patrol, the afternoon hunting patrol, and had a training session with Echopaw, and Echopaw bested her almost every time they had dueled, Frostedleaf hadn't been as swift as she normally was today, and Echopaw had used her slowness and exhaustion to best her when they dueled during training.

Her paws felt heavy as she walked up the slope to Cinderstar's den, she walked up to Cinderstar's den entrance and called, "Cinderstar? May I come in?" Frostedleaf asked, "Yes, come in Frostedleaf." That was Squirreltail's voice and Frostedleaf walked in and sat down at the entrance. Squirreltail was sitting next to Cinderstar, he was breathing shallowly, his rasping breaths going in and out. "What is it Frostedleaf?" Squirreltail asked, "Just came to report the day to Cinderstar." she panted, "Well he's asleep, so you can tell me." Squirreltail said, Frostedleaf sighed, "Hunting is going well now that leafbare is finally over, and we haven't found any signs of any of the Clans hunting in our territory. All is well for now." Frostedleaf said, Squirreltail nodded.

"You may be dismissed now," Squirreltail said, turning her head away, Frostedleaf sighed heavily, feeling relieved to go back to her nest without any more distractions. Squirreltail turned her head back towards Frostedleaf, "Why are you so exhausted, Frostedleaf?" Squirreltail asked, "Oh, well I was on the dawn patrol, the afternoon hunting patrol and I had a training session with Echopaw, she bested me every time." Frostedleaf explained, Squirreltail narrowed her eyes at her.

"Hmm, I guess that's normal, but how are you still so exhausted? Didn't you come back with Echopaw when the sun was still over the trees?" Squirreltail asked, "I've had to go from den to den, helping the apprentices with moss bedding and not much else." Frostedleaf said, it was true, it had been a very busy day today and Frostedleaf felt so tired.

Squirreltail twitched her ear, she had a thoughtful expression on her face. "But you've had a lot of time to rest. I have an idea, why not you assess the apprentices tomorrow? I will bring Badgerface and Slate, they need to learn some self defense." Squirreltail said, Frostedleaf nodded tiredly and turned to walk out of the den.

Frostedleaf walked towards the warriors den. She walked inside and she collapsed into her moss nest, she stared tiredly at the den entrance at the almost completely dark camp, she felt Whitesight nudge her and she turned her head towards him. "You shouldn't push yourself, Frostedleaf." Whitesight whispered, "But I need to pitch in too, I have to be deputy and stand in for Cinderstar." Frostedleaf mumbled back, Whitesight nudged her again. "But at the end of every day or every patrol you go on you're exhausted, you need rest as well." Whitesight murmured, Frostedleaf sighed, "I know. You're right. But tomorrow I have to assess the apprentices, Squirreltail is joining us with Badgerface and Slate. She wants them to learn to defend themselves in case of emergencies." Frostedleaf's voice faded to a mumble and her eyelids felt heavy and she drifted off into sleep.

A paw poked her sharply in the ribs and she growled softly, she heard Whitesight snap at another cat but they poked her in the side again. "Whaat?" she asked, lifting her head sleepily. "Frostedleaf, there is a cat in camp." That was Wolfstone's growl, "Of course there's a cat in camp, what do you think we are? Hedgehogs?" Frostedleaf mumbled, "No, a rogue is in camp!" Frostedleaf's eyes opened completely and she stared at Wolfstone. "A what? Is in camp?" Frostedleaf echoed, "A rogue!" he yelped, "They're asking to see you, specifically you." Wolfstone said, Frostedleaf stood up with Whitesight and she ran out of the warriors den and into the clearing. She skidded to a stop in front of a young she-cat, they looked as old as Echopaw was, possibly even slightly younger than her. The rogue had a white colored neck and tail, and one of their paws was white as well, they had light blue fur, almost white. And they had dark storm blue eyes.