Warriors: Echo of Darkness

Chapter 15

Most of the water had finally drained out into the gorge. We wouldn't be able to hunt for a while thanks to the mud giving us away before our scent did. We had enough in the store, "I'm going to go check on Tigerlily."

Just as I weaved around the sleeping kits and took a paw step out of the den I heard my name, "Nightmare! We have the collars ready, can you do the ceremony?" Blue asked.

I nodded slightly, "So close... But Clan comes first." I walked over to where the four new recruits were standing and dipped my head. They all bowed to me and I looked at all of them, "Do the four of your promise to follow the rules of LunarClan and respect your higher ranks?"

"We do!" They purred solemnly.

"Welcome to LunarClan, I purred then started burying my muzzle into their shoulders. "Crystal and Prez I want you two to be hunters, our current ones will share teqniques and you can share with them. Tails and Tack I want you two to be scouts," I meowed as I finished welcoming Tack.

"I'm more of a fighter," Tack meowed then respectfully dipped his head.

I thought for a moment, "My guards go hunting to help out sometimes if there's no fights. Everyone can fight if needed to defend camp and during free time you are more then welcome to hunt," I announced.

Mewls of agreement echoed through the base at my decisions, this way no cat would be sitting around all day. I flicked my tail dismissing them, "Now I want you to chat with the others, it strengthens our bonds and overall makes us a better Clan."

They trotted over to the others and started conversing, I nodded in approval then tried to slip away. I felt tiny paw digits desperately trying to cling onto me. I turned around and saw Riki, "Can I come?" she mewled.

"Sorry I'm just going to see if the grass is dry yet, it's really boring," I replied quickly.

"I'm good at that! Plus you made our walk really short since it stormed," she meowed with a frown. 

I let out a sigh, "If I badger ride you down with me will you be content?"

Her eyes gleamed and she nodded, "Yesh! Let's go." She purred and tried to clamber onto my tall back. 

I chuckled and crouched down so she could get on better, "I may be good with kits, but if someone messes with me or my camp my fangs will be in their necks."

I bolted down the hill, occasionally jumping to shake the tiny kit, "She's going to get the badger ride of her life!"

Riki giggled and had the biggest smile on her face, "Yay!" She purred and clung onto my scruff. I kept bounding around, keeping it controlled so she didn't fly off. I turned around and looked at her smiling face, "She's just like Eve when she was a kit!...."

I pranced around a little more before I flopped onto the wet grass, "You have defeated the badger."

Riki's paws jumped onto my head and looked down at me, "I win! You give the best badger rides, Ranger doesn't jump."

"Ranger's a lazy furball that sleeps most of the day," I challenged. 

"I'm a what."

My eyes widened and I sat up and casually licked my paw then brought it over my ears, "Nothing."

Riki giggled then ran over to my second in command, "Ranger said that he was going to show me hunting positions soon!"

I smiled, "That's great, just remember not to leave the camp unless you have a older cat with you."

Ranger flicked the kit with his tail and motioned back at the base. Riki huffed the started scampering back home. "Do you need something?" I asked.