The First Light [Warrior Cat Fan-Fiction]

Chapter 3

Graypaw trotted back into camp, her tail held high with triumph. The small patrol had gathered several pieces of plump prey from the forest. After she padded over to the center of the clearing, Graypaw added her catch to the fresh-kill pile. She'd been able to find another mouse after Spiderpaw had lost her the last one, and the vole had just been unfortunate to venture right into her paws. The brown tom came up beside her, adding his own prey to the pile.

"You know, I would've caught that mouse if you hadn't been there," Graypaw mused, a mischievous glint in her blue eyes.

Spiderpaw narrowed his green eyes at the she-cat. "Oh sure, because you had all the hunting techniques mastered," he shot back. "May I remind you just how poorly you missed that shrew?" He smirked. Graypaw swatted his ear, but missed just as the tom ducked. He straightened himself up, a chuckle rumbling in his chest.

"Come on," he continued. "It's only sun-high, and Mudnose suggested we check on the elders. You wanna grab that mouse for them to share?" Spiderpaw nodded towards the mouse the gray she-cat had just placed on the pile. Graypaw sank her teeth into the limp piece of prey and trotted over to where her brother waited for her. They padded side by side to elders alcove, which at sunhigh, was just outside the patch of sunlight from the roof.

"Hello, Spiderpaw, Graypaw," Snowpelt purred, her white fur sticking out from the green moss and dark packed ground. "What brings you here today? Breezepaw already checked our ticks."

"Just wanted to see if you were hungry," Spiderpaw mewed, bowing his head respectfully.

The golden brown tabby beside her pricked his ears. "I smell mouse," he mewed. Graypaw padded around Spiderpaw and dropped the mouse at the elders' paws. Liontail grinned at the gracious offering.

Snowpelt's blue eyes gleamed. Even if she couldn't see very well, they still displayed her emotions. "Thank you," she purred. The two apprentices, now satisfied the elders were happy, left them in peace to eat their mouse.

Flicking her tail in farewell to her brother, who had approached the fresh-kill pile to pick his meal, Graypaw padded over to the crevice in the wall that led to the medicine cat den. A nest had been made just outside, covered in Breezepaw's scent. She must have to sleep outside because it would be too crowded otherwise, Graypaw mused to herself. Muffled voices came from inside the den, and Graypaw waited patiently for her sister to exit.

She wasn't kept waiting long. The black and brown she-cat exited not much later, a bundle of leaves clamped in her jaws.

"I'll be right back," the medicine cat apprentice mumbled around her mouthful, before darting towards the nursery, slipping through the moss curtain draped around the den. She reappeared moments later, her burden gone, and she trotted back over to Graypaw outside the medicine den.

"How's being a medicine cat?" Graypaw asked, licking her sister's ear in an affectionate greeting.

Breezepaw brightened immediately. "Oh, it's great! I've already learned so much! And the half-moon is in two days," she added excitedly. "The medicine cats have to go visit the Mooncave." Graypaw purred at her sister's enthusiasm. "That's when I'll find out if StarClan accepts me as a medicine cat as well," she added, her voice a little softer as nervousness crept in.

Graypaw chuckled. "StarClan is mouse-brained if they can't that this is the perfect place for you," the gray she-cat mewed reassuringly, pressing up against her sister's flank.

The black and brown she-cat smiled at Graypaw. "Thanks," she mewed, her voice less shaky. "Hey, Grasspelt has asked me to go with her to help collect herbs. Maybe you could come too?"

Graypaw frowned slightly. "Would that be okay?"

As if on cue, the pale gray she-cat emerged from the medicine cat den. "Of course. The more the merrier," she mewed, smiling kindly down at Graypaw.