Striking Storms

Chapter 8

Thunderpaw woke sleepily the next morning. The green-leaf sun was filtering through the lush green leaves over the apprentice's den. She stretched and arched her back yawning and shook out her pelt. She padded out of the den and looked out of the camp. 'How great would it be to be leader someday.' she thought to herself.

"Thunderpaw?"

Thunderpaw whipped her head around, her fur bristling with surprise. She relaxed as she saw Heronpaw padding up to her. "What is it Heronpaw?" she asked.

"Fallenstar wants us and our mentors to go on dawn patrol." he replied cheerfully.

Thunderpaw's eyes lit up with joy. "My first patrol!" she squealed. She shifted her paws embarrassingly and her ear tips turned red. "Sorry, I'm just excited."

"Don't worry." Heronpaw giggled. "I was this excited when I went on my first patrol. Come on, Fallenstar and Olivedust are waiting outside." he meowed and scooted out of the den.

Thunderpaw bounced out of the den and saw Fallenstar and Olivedust sitting patiently at the entrance. She padded excitedly over to them. "So, where are we going?" she asked cheerfully.

"Over to the river, then mark the border with Amberclan. They seem to have been crossing the border." Fallenstar meowed.

"I'll shred any Amberclan cat I see!" Thunderpaw growled.

"Only on my command." Fallenstar ordered. "Follow us." He turned swiftly and darted into the forest with Olivedust at is side.

Thunderpaw sprinted alongside Heronpaw, their pelts brushing gently together. Heronpaw glanced at Thunderpaw and grinned. Thunderpaw blushed and quickened her pace. Suddenly, the lush green forest came to an end and a huge rushing river came into view. "Is this the border with Amberclan?" Thunderpaw asked curiously. "How do they swim across?!"

"The river is flowing faster then normal because of the previous rain, but that won't stop them. Foxhearts..." Olivedust grumbled.

"Why don't they just fish from the river? I thought that was their main source of prey." Thunderpaw asked.

"It was. But Riverstar announced that Twolegs took all the fish from the river. So they come steal our prey so that their small part of the forest is plentiful. Then claim they didn't do it!" Fallenstar growled.

"Cowards." Heronpaw snarled.

"What was that?" A voiced meowed from behind them. A large tom followed by two other cats stepped out of the bushes behind them. "We told you we didn't steal your prey!"

"Well that's a lie if I ever heard one." Olivedust snarled. "Why don't you slither on back to your own territory Riverstar like the snakes that you are."

"Attack!" Riverstar yowled. At his command there was a blur of cats attacking the small patrol. Thunderpaw was rammed by a brown she-cat. She swiped her outstretched claws down Thunderpaw's flank and tripped her with her forepaw. Thunderpaw lashed out at her and dragged her claws across her eyes. Blood spurted across the grass as the she-cat fled to the river. Thunderpaw felt a tinge of satisfaction as the she-cat ran away. But the moment didn't last long. Her thoughts were interrupted as she heard Heronpaw yowl in pain. She whipped her head around to see Riverstar's jaws clamped around his neck.

"No!" She yowled. She charged at the muscular tom with all her strength. She crashed into his stomach sending him tumbling into the thorn bushes next to them. With him out of the way, Thunderpaw turned her attention back to Heronpaw. Her eyes widened as she saw him. There was blood gushing from a wound in his neck. "Heronpaw!" she screeched. She crouched down and began frantically licking the wound. His blood was sharp and tangy on her tongue but she didn't care. She couldn't loose him. Not now. Not ever.

"Heronpaw! You have too be ok!" She wailed a tear rolling down her cheek.

"Th..Thunderpaw? Is that you" Heronpaw mumbled feebly.

"Yes! Yes its me." Thunderpaw meowed. "Are you ok? Come on, lets get you to Honeyhope." She scooted herself under Heronpaw and heaved herself up with the weak apprentice on her back. She trudged back to camp and laid him down in the clearing. "Honeyhope! Come quick it's Heronpaw!" Thuunderpaw screeched.

Honeyhope poked her head out of her den. Her eyes widened as she saw Heronpaw. "Oh dear." she meowed. She ducked back in her den and gathered her supplies. She darted back out of her den and up to the apprentice. "What happened Thunderpaw."

"Amberclan... Attacked.. Riverstar.." Thunderpaw meowed between gasps. She was exhausted from carrying Heronpaw back to camp and she had collapsed at his side. "Please.. Help him.. I can't loose him too." She curled up around Heronpaw and closed her eyes.

"Thunderpaw?" Heronpaw whispered.

"Yes?"

"I love you Thunderpaw." he meowed.

"I love you too." Thunderpaw meowed happily. She curled her tail around him and drifted into sleep.