Warriors: Storm and Flood

Chapter Four

     Frostpaw woke a few moons later, her pelt suddenly cold. Lifting her head, she saw that Thrushpaw was gone from his nest. Ever since the clan had praised him when he brought back two mice from an otherwise failed hunting patrol, and she'd never seen him more happy. She seemed to recall her brother being in an unusually good mood for the past moons, but she wasn't complaining; she was glad Thrushpaw was getting on well. He deserves it, she thought contentedly. He works really hard. It will be any day now that we're made warriors.

She rose from her nest and stretched out her legs, letting out a trill of a purr as she shook the sleep from her pelt. As she emerged from the apprentices' den, the sun was warm and everything was at peace. Hickorykit and Lichenkit were out of the nursery chasing after Tumblefoot's tail as if it were a frog, the elders were basking in the sunlight next to their den, and Harvestfoot was organizing patrols as always. Frostpaw glanced around the clearing and found Leafheart talking with Laurelfur, and her mentor looked over at her with a proud expression. The pale she-cat trotted over to her and licked her ear. "I'm surprised you're not more excited!" The older cat meowed.

"Excited for what?" She asked, her ears twitching with confusion.

"You haven't been told?" Laurelfur piped up, tilting her head to the side with amusement. "Your warrior ceremony will be at sunhigh. Thrushpaw was so pleased that he went hunting with Pikepaw as a celebration."

Disappointment suddenly pricked at her pelt. "Why didn't he wake me? He always does when he's awake!"

Laurelfur let out a sympathetic sigh. "Thrushpaw has grown up," she mewed, resting her dark tail on Frostpaw's shoulder. "He's going to be a warrior. He can't do everything with you anymore. He has responsibilities."

"I would have thought you'd realized this," Leafheart added, her whiskers twitching.

A stab of hurt touched her chest as her tail drooped a bit. Without another word, she walked over to the fresh kill pile and dragged out a fish, carrying it toward the edge of the clearing. He's my littermate, she thought as her teeth sank into the fish; she chewed, but she could barely taste anything. But it's no wonder he's been so independent. He's trying to be a great warrior!

"You look down for a cat who's going to be made a warrior soon," Hollowtail's meow startled her from her thoughts and she looked up, gulping her last bite of fish.

"I'm fine, really," she replied and shoved away the remains of the fish. "I'm just...excited, I suppose. I'll be sleeping in the warriors' den from now on!"

"Well, I'm really proud of you," the black and white tom suddenly murmured, touching his nose to her ear. "You're a great cat, and you deserve this."

Frostpaw's pelt suddenly felt hot; she opened her mouth to respond when Fogstar's yowl rang across camp. "Let all cats old enough to swim gather here for a clan meeting!" Frostpaw's ears pricked and her paws started to tingle excitedly. "It's time! Oh, what if I don't get it right?" She meowed quietly, suddenly nervous.

"You'll be fine," Hollowtail purred and nudged her toward the center of the clearing. Looking over, she saw that Thrushpaw had arrived back to camp just on time. He glanced at her, his blue eyes gleaming.

"I call upon Starclan to look down upon these two warriors, who have served their clan well as apprentices. It is now time that they have earned their warrior names. Laurelfur, Leafheart, are your apprentices ready?"

"They are," Laurelfur meowed happily, and Leafheart nodded her agreement.

"Then I present to Riverclan Frosttoe and Thrushtail," Fogstar announced, raising his muzzle to the sky. "May they serve their clan for moons to come, and use the skills they have mastered to protect Riverclan." When Fogstar finished speaking, the entire clan erupted with a chorus of congratulations. Frosttoe picked out Hollowtail's yowl above them all, and her pelt felt warm with pride. We're warriors! She padded over to her brother and touched her nose to his. "Congratulations, Thrushtail," she murmured softly.

"And to you, Frosttoe," Thrushtail responded just as warmly. "I can't believe we're warriors! I'm going to serve my clan the best I can!"

Frosttoe turned around to see her clanmates' faces happy and cheering. I couldn't be happier! She thought, then caught Hollowtail's eye. He blinked at her affectionately, and she felt the urge to hide herself. Well, maybe I could...

Two sunrises later, Frosttoe had woken in the night to find Thrushtail's nest empty and cold. Where in Starclan could he be running off to? She thought to herself, sniffing his nest. His scent was stale, suggesting he'd been gone for quite some time. Deciding to shrug it off, Frosttoe pushed through the reeds out of the den and padded into the clearing.

"Frosttoe!" A familiar, hushed meow sounded behind her, and when she turned she saw Wavewhisker trotting toward her. "Is Thrushtail in his nest? Harvestfoot needs him for moonhigh patrol."

"I haven't seen him," Frosttoe replied, tilting her head. "I figured he might be on patrol or doing some night hunting." She frowned a bit when she saw Splashpelt, Minnowshade, and Eelwhisker padding up behind her mother. "I could take his place if you want." She offered.

Eelwhisker let out a frustrated hiss. "Thrushtail's been shirking his duties for a while now. It's a wonder he was even allowed to pass his assessment."

"Don't say that!" Wavewhisker snapped, her tail lashing defensively. "He's probably hunting. Let Frosttoe take his place, and we'll see if we can find him while we're patrolling. We're going along the Windclan border, right?"

"Yes," Minnowshade nodded, but her tail flicked impatiently. "There hasn't been as much activity but Fogstar still wants us to keep the scent strong."

Splashpelt let out a huge yawn and shivered a bit. "And that means waking us from a good night's sleep, I suppose." She mewed, glancing ruefully at the warriors' den.

"Let's get on with it," Eelwhisker muttered and flicked his ears toward the reed tunnel. The patrol followed him, and as they walked Frosttoe could hear frogs croaking and crickets chirping; it was a chilly night and she fluffed up her pelt against the cold. Glancing around, she lifted her muzzle and tasted the air, trying to catch her brother's scent. He's got to be out here somewhere, she thought, frowning. She walked a little faster when she noticed the patrol leaving without her, but she still kept an eye out for her brother's pale pelt.

"Hold on," Wavewhisker hissed, raising her tail for the patrol to stop. The grey she-cat stretched her ears, listening for something. "I can hear a cat walking."

"Are you sure?" Minnowshade whispered and stretched her ears as well. "I don't hear anything."

"Maybe if you'd keep your jaws shut for a moment you would," Wavewhisker snapped, then suddenly sank down into a crouch. "Over by that patch of brambles."

Frosttoe crouched down as well, turning attention toward where her mother was looking. She spotted some movement, but kept back as Eelwhisker and Wavewhisker slunk toward it, silent as the wind. Eelwhisker then let out a yowl and a loud hiss exploded from the brambles; Thrushtail suddenly poked his head out, looking extremely drowsy.

"Yes?" He snapped shaking out his pelt as he crept from the thicket. "I was having a peaceful sleep!"

"In a bramble thicket?" Minnowshade meowed skeptically. "Most cats don't like sleeping with thorns in their pelt."

"Excuse me for wanting some quiet," Thrushtail retorted with a snort. He narrowed his eyes at the mottled she-cat and licked his chest fur.

"Who made dirt in your fresh kill?" Frosttoe asked when the others had moved on. "You're never this grumpy."

"You try being woken up when you're having a better night's sleep than you've had in moons!" Thrushtail snapped.

Frosttoe's nostrils flared with anger. "I did you frog-brain! I'm the one who took your place for the moonhigh patrol! So don't treat me like you've got a thorn in your side when you're the one neglecting your duties!"

"You sound like Eelwhisker,"

"Good. Some cat has to," she muttered. Not wanting to hear any more, she stalked off to join her patrol once more. Since when did I have a stupid furball for a brother?