Amberfang's Destiny

Chapter 9

Wind. Wind tore at the small den we apprentices slept in. All of us apprentices were in our nests, our ears flat against our heads and our tails fluffed up in fear.

"What if the wind blows the den away?"Tigerpaw fretted, shivering.

Bluepaw flicked we ear in annoyance. "The den's connected to the ground! There's no way it will happen!"She snapped at the tabby apprentice.

Darkpaw was grumbling something about how she-cat were insufferable. I pushed deeper into my nest, seeking warmth in the moss and ferns.

It was the middle of Leaf-Fall and the air only promised cold weather. CreamHeart said that prey was already burrowing underground. AppleDawn said that snow was on the way.

I looked at the flame colored tom beside me. He was staring at the ground, lost in thought. The rain poured down outside and thunder rumbled in the distance. I tried to think about what Leaf-Bare would look like. Beautiful. Snowy. White. Clean. Something along those lines. I snuggled deeper into my nest, slowly drifting to sleep to the sound of the rain.

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IMMA LITTLE OLD LINE BREAKER DON'T MIND ME
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"Amberpaw! Amberpaw wake up!"A slightly annoyed voice whispered in my ear. I opened one of my emerald eyes. Bluepaw was sitting up in the nest next to me, grooming her chest fur.

"We're supposed to go on patrol in a few minutes. I thought I should wake you up early so you could at least get ready and not wake up to CreamHeart yelling at you."The blue she-cat explained, stretching.

"Thanks. If CreamHeart wakes me up again I might go insane."I mumbled. CreamHeart tended to wake up all of the other clans with her yelling. One way to get on her bad side is to not wake up on time.

I sat up and looked around the den. Tigerpaw and Darkpaw were passed out on the other side of the den and Flamepaw was stirring beside me.

Said Orange tom looked up and blinked the sleepy glaze out of his eyes. "Dawn Patrol?"He asked, looking at me sleepily.

"Yes."I responded, grooming the moss from my nest out of my fur. Flamepaw nodded, and went back to sleep.

"Come on Amberpaw, lets get this over with."Bluepaw mumbled as she walked outside.

I followed her outside and the first thing I noticed was the rain. It was drizzling outside and I had to force myself to stay outside and not run back to the safety of the apprentice den.

"Great Starclan this rain! If it keeps raining we'll end up as CrowClan cats!"Bluepaw hissed in annoyance.

My shyness crept in and all I could do was nod to the older cat. I was shy around pretty much everyone. I barley had any friends and everyone seemed so judgy around me.

The leaves of the warriors den rustled and a golden she-cat came out. A red she-cat followed her out. The red she-cat was grumbling under her breath. It kind of sounded like she was complaining about the dawn patrol. Was she going with us?

"Why is CreamHeart sending out two dawn patrols? We only need one for StarClan's sake!"The red she-cat snarled. "I hate it when she does things like this!"

"Stop your yapping FoxSky. It's not the end of the world."The golden she-cat giggled in amusement.

FoxSky snorted in annoyance at her golden denmate. "GoldenSong you know perfectly well that it's the end of the world for me if I don't get the sleep I need!"The russet red she-cat snapped.

"Will you two stop your yapping and deal with it. If we have two dawn patrols to check the territory in the morning, we won't have to worry about our borders till dusk. The rest of the day will be spent fattening up the clan for Leaf-Bare."Snapped a tom from behind the two bickering she-cats.

"Sorry PatchClaw!"GoldenSong said, stepping out of the way. "Morning FlareFang."

A black and white tom stalked out of the den and a ginger tom followed him out.

"Morning GoldenSong,FoxSky. PatchClaw just woke up on the wrong side of his nest today."The ginger tom, FlareFang, said to GoldenSong.

"Him and me both."FoxSky mumbled through clenched teeth.

"Morning you two."FlareFang greeted with a smile.

"Morning."I yawned. Bluepaw nodded a greeting to the older cat.

"Come on you guys time for your dawn patrols."CreamHeart called from below LifeRock. I hadn't noticed her sitting there. I was too busy chatting with the warriors.

"PatchClaw,You'll come with me FlareFang and Bluepaw along the CaveClan border. GoldenSong,you take FoxSky and Amberpaw to the CrowClan border."My mentor said, leading her group to the entrance.

"So your Amberpaw. I'm GoldenSong and this is FoxSky."The golden she-cat beside me said."Nice to meet you."

"Nice to meet you too."I said, smiling warmly at the older she-cats.

FoxSky nodded and stretched."Well, we haven't got all day. Let's get going."

"Let's go."GoldenSong said happily, walking toward the entrance.

The morning was okay if you didn't mind the slight rain that would pour down on us every so often.The forest was shady above us as we climb the rocky slope. CreamHeart had been right, my paws did get used to the rock slope.

The two she-cat were bickering again and it felt a little awkward to be near them. I felt like the third wheel. Just another cat to fill space.

I tried not to listen too much to the stuff they were talking about but it was really hard when they were practically yowling right next to me.

"Oh stop your bickering FoxSky! We're supposed to be on patrol."GoldenSong snapped before looking over at me. "How's your training going?"

"Alright. It would be amazing if I didn't have to wake up at the crack of dawn everyday."I replied, feeling relaxed around the two.

GoldenSong laughed while FoxSky smiled in amusement.

"She woke me up at the crack of dawn as well. Even if I wasn't her apprentice."GoldenSong giggled.

The patrol was one of the best I'd ever had. I learned a lot of gossip from the two and a lot of the different groups in the clan.

By groups I mean groups of friends. Cats that would like to patrol and hunt together. I also found out that FoxSky,GoldenSong, and MageFeather, another warrior, were all siblings.

By the time we were at SunRock, we had told every embarrassing story there was about our siblings. I was having fun.

"And that's why MageFeather is not allowed to touch Catmint."FoxSky said, finishing a story on how the pretty tabby had gotten a little too happy when out collecting Catmint.

We continued talking as we patrolled the area by the river. While checking a clump of reeds next to the river, I smelled something fishy. Literally.

"Guys I think we have a problem. I smell CrowClan on our side of the border. Fresh."FoxSky reported from a little way down the river.

"Me too."GoldenSong replied. I muttered an agreement.

I heard movement from across the river.

"Back to the rock. Now."FoxSky snarled, turning around and dashing for the smooth stone. Me and GoldenSong followed worriedly.

I look back at the river as soon as my paws hit the smooth stone.

A jet black tom rose from the river, his amber eyes gleaming in the early morning light. A battle patrol fanned out next to him on the bank.

"Looks like we met the dawn patrol. The rock is ours LifeClan scum. Scurry back to your weak little clan before you feel our claws."He said in a cold,dark voice.

"Never in a million years CrowStar."FoxSky snarled viciously, her fur bristling.

"Fetch help now Amberpaw. Hurry."GoldenSong whispered.

"CrowClan, Attack!"CrowStar yowled, launching himself at the two siblings.

I whirled around and darted into the forest, running faster than the wind as I made a desperate dash for the camp.

CrowClan was invading.