The Beginning: Book 1- Starting Over

Chapter 15

I woke up in a small cavern. The air was cool, and Snowpaw was with me. He rubbed his flank along my flank. "Hi, Snowpaw." As we touched muzzles.
  "Wake up, Featherstripe! A badger is attacking camp!" Wingflight yowled impatiently. I ran into the clearing and saw the dreadful thing attacking the other cats in the camp. I jumped up at the filthy thing and bit it's ear. The badger soon saw me and claws at my belly. I was to quick and hobbled over it.
     "Featherstripe, Mouseheart, and Bluepelt. You three will go on a border patrol for each boundary for our clan." Sorrelflair meowed. I nodded and padded towards the gorse tunnel and sat besides Mouseheart. We waited in silence until Bluepelt came up to us, and the three of us left.
   "Go and get Snowpaw!" Sorrelflair ordered Ashcloud. She padded away. Moments later she returned, Snowpaw right on her heels. "Yes, Sorrelflair." Snowpaw mewed. "I need you to go with Ashcloud, your mentor, and go hunting and if you run into the border patrol, tell Featherstripe I need her back at camp." Snowpaw nodded and trailed away with Ashcloud right behind.
   "Gotcha!" Snowpaw snarled at his catch, a starling! "Nice catch!" Ashcloud praised. He mumbled agreement and we kept hunting. As we went on, we buried our prey until we turned back. We came back with one starling, three mice, a rabbit, and a magpie. As we headed through they headed through the gorse, Snowpaw remembered he saw Featherstripe. He ran through the forest until he caught up with her sweet scent. "Featherstripe!" He called. As no answer came, he began to pad on. "Featherstripe, there you are!" "What're you doing here, Snowpaw?" Featherstripe mewed. "Your wanted at camp!" Snowpaw meowed. We padded close together as we headed through the gorse. I went to find Volestar and noticed him talking to Fernleaf. I couldn't hear what they were saying but I could tell they were fighting. "My kits are none of your concern!" Fernleaf hissed. "Your kits are making my life harder everyday! Get some sense into them!" Volestar growled. "Once you apologize I'll tell them differently!" Fernleaf hissed. "Then you'll have to wait a long time!" Volestar hissed. They saw me padding close and Volestar greeted me politely. "Good, your here. Fernleaf, go and eat or sleep, that's an order. Ok. So, I asked you here because I know you love Snowpaw. I need to tell you how bad that is. You've only just became a warrior. Go grab some fresh-kill and grab Thunderclaw for me, thanks." I nodded. I hung my head low as I went to get Thunderclaw. "Volestar needs you, Thunderclaw." I mewed. He nodded thanks and padded away. I went to the fresh-kill pile and grabbed the starling Snowpaw caught. Why did Volestar tell me I couldn't love Snowpaw? I wondered. Why would I love Snowpaw? I wondered. He was handsom but he was an apprentice!
   "Goodnight, Owlstride." I mewed as I padded to the warriors den. I closed my eyes and fell asleep.
   "Stay alone, don't love. Bad will come. Listen to my warning. Death will show and sadness will appear. Magic will overcome the wounds of life and the faintest whisper will yell. Listen to this warning. I keep to speak listen. Listen." Then, she began to fade away.
  I woke early that morning as a rush of cold air entered my fur. I began to stretch and felt someone swaying their tail. "Snowpaw! What are you doing here!" I mewed. "I couldn't sleep," he mewed drowsily. I nodded and laid back down. I closed my eyes and laid there without a sound. "Come on, Featherstripe!" Applepaw meowed. "I wanna go and train, now!" I lifted my head and stood up. " Ok, Applepaw. Let's head out." We walked through the clearing and out the gorse. "Go catch that rabbit, Applepaw." She nodded and stalked off. Slowly, steadily, she stopped! "Ha ha! You can't even catch one rabbit! Your so mouse-brained!" Growled Rosepaw. Applepaw crouched down and stuck her nose in her paws and wrapped her tail around her flank. "Leave me alone." Applepaw mewed. Rosepaw looked on at Applepaw and meowed "as you wish," Featherstripe gave a mrrow of amusement to Rosepaw and Applepaw. "Applepaw, please show me the correct crouch to cetch a starling." Featherstripe meowed. Applepaw did as told and showed the correct crouch. "Look at that river," Applepaw mewed. "Yes it's very nice looking, but they'll be no prey in there until newleaf.
  As we walked back to camp, she noticed a brown flash of movement in the bushes. We kept walking and the cat slipped out of my mind.
   "Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey, please join here beneath the high rock for a clan meeting." Volestar yowled. The clan began to gather. "There have been many sightings and scents of badgers. They've been mostly seen in our territory. Featherstripe, Sorrowglide, Sorrelflair, and Thunderclaw. You four will investigate the badger and bring back any information that would help us. Ashcloud, Snowpaw, and Stringfur. I need you three to create new scent- markings for our territory. Fernleaf, Penguinwing, and Bluepelt. You three will go on a hunting patrol.  Larchfoot, Spottedfur, and Sandflight. You three will go on a border patrol for all our boundaries. This clan meeting is adjourned!" The cats chosen by Volestar swept through the gorse and went to their duties. I waited for Sorrowglide, Sorrelflair, and Thunderclaw. When they finally showed me could smell the badger. "It's close," I mewed, and we padded on.