Chapter 1
Greenpaw heard a long cry of mewling come from the nursery.
It looks like Minnowstream is having her kits!
She thought excitedly. ThunderClan could use some more kits!
Maybe when I'm a warrior I can mentor one!
The thought of this made Greenpaw jump in the air and land on a leaf, like a kit playing with a moss ball.
"Greenpaw! What in StarClan's name are you doing? I don't think you belong in the nursery any more, but watching this makes me wonder if I was wrong!" Greenpaw eyes opened wide. A kit? No, She wasn't a kit anymore. But she doesn't have anything to worry about, because she is an apprentice now.
"Leafmoon, you know that I'm being trained to be a warrior now. Not being trained to play kit games. I was just excited that Minnowstream was having her kits. Maybe I could mentor one one day." Greenpaw mewed urgently to her mother, Leafmoon. "Ok then... uh er, do you want to come on my border petrol with Cracklefoot and Runningfur?" Leafmoon stuttered, leaving the other conversation at a close. Greenpaw thought about her question for a second, then replied.
"Ok, I haven't had any breakfast yet, may I grab something to eat?" Greenpaw's stomach growled.
"You can eat on the patrol. Now come on, the others are waiting." Greenpaw followed Leafmoon as she padded away to the thorn tunnel.
Once they were out of camp Greenpaw took up the rear.
"So where are we patrolling today, Leafmoon?" Cracklefoot asked curiously.
"ShadowClan border. Runningfur tells me there has been some activity around there." She replied sternly.
Greenpaw's hunger was getting to strong.
"I'm going hunting, starvation is close for me! I will catch up later." Before Leafmoon could answer, Greenpaw was off.
Once she was alone, she opened her mouth to bring in the scents of the forest. Leaves, grass, mud... Mouse! Greenpaw's favorite. She started stalking through the forest searching for any sign of it. A little rustling next to a big oak gave it away.
She got two tail-lengths from the gray rodent and it was off.
Letting out a hiss of furry, Greenpaw instinctively started to give a chase, but then realised that it was hopeless.
And hunger still gnawed at her belly.
The patrol will be waiting, I can get food back at camp.
"Greenpaw! We are waiting!" Cracklefoot's voice made her jump. "I am coming!" She mewled in his direction.
Slashtail was guarding camp at the entrance as the border patrol slipped through the thorn tunnel. The camp was quiet.
Jumpingecho sat outside the medicine cats' den.
The fresh-kill pile wasn't very plentiful.
"Greenpaw, come here. I need to discuss something with you." Leafmoon's voice sounded behind her.
Greenpaw padded over. "Yes?"
"You barely stayed with patrol today just for hunting, and you didn't catch anything aether. I'll have to discuss more hunting training for you with Cracklefoot. But because of what happened with the patrol you will have to go feed elders and the queens, and clean out their bedding. The forest is filled with prey, and you can't catch a measly mouse?" Leafmoon mewed sternly.
"But-" Greenpaw began.
"No! This may sound like I'm being outright mean, but you have to learn your lesson." Leafmoon told her sternly.
Greenpaw reluctantly went to the fresh-kill pile and got
a mouse for Bumbletail, the elder. And a squirrel for Minnowstream. Then padded over to the elders' den.
"Who's there?" Came a raspy mew.
"Oh just me, Greenpaw. I brought you a mouse."
Greenpaw answered. A skinny old black and white she-cat came to the entrance of the den.
"Oh thank you, I've been waiting your my meal,"
The old cat began. "That ol' Thornpaw wouldn't feed me if it killed him." Bumbletail mewed in mock anger.
"Yeah, well. You can't expect much from those tom cats."
Greenpaw said pushing the mouse closer to the elder.
"I've got to go give this squirrel to Minnowstream, She and her kits will be hungry." Greenpaw started to back out of the den, but Bumbletail stopped her.
"She had her kits?"
"Yes, but I haven't seen them yet." Greenpaw mumbled through a mouthful of squirrel.
"Well ok, you go then. Give Minnowstream my blessings!"
Bumbletail rasped then laid down to eat her meal.
Greenpaw padded across the clearing to the nursery.
As she walked in the strong sent of newly-born kits hit her nose.
"Hello, Greenpaw! Is this for me?" A pretty golden brown she cat nodded to the fresh-kill Greenpaw just placed on the floor of the den.
"Oh yes. Minnowstream." Greenpaw looked up to see three small little balles of fur. A ginger one, a black one, and a golden one that looked just like her mother.
"Ok, this one is Downykit," Minnowstream gestured to the black tom kit. "This one's Fuzzykit," She gestured to the ginger tom.
"And the last one is Pebblekit." She gestured to the last one, a she-cat. "Oh their beautiful, Minnowstream! well don't mind me I'll just clean out your bedding.
At the time Greenpaw was finished taking care of her Clan, the sun was just sinking below the horizon and she still hadn't eaten yet. She dragged herself over to the Fresh-kill pile.
"Finally!" She mewed loudly.
"What happened to you?" Thornpaw, a brown tom mewled in her ear.
"Oh just almost starved to death!" Greenpaw roared as she tore into a giant vole.
"Goodness, your skinny!" Poppyheart yowled out loud.
"She hasn't eaten all day!" Thornpaw told her.
"Now, now, let's not get our fur in a wad. I just had to do all the Clan's chores, plus! Go on a border patrol." Greenpaw mewed
sarcastically. "Oh goodness, Well I'm glad you eating now. Feel free to have another vole." Poppyheart told her.
"Don't mind if I do." Greenpaw reached out with one forepaw and racked in a mouse.
"Good, Well having that been said, I'm going to bed." Thornpaw mewed them stalked off to the apprentices' den.
"I'm coming in soon enough!" Greenpaw yowled back.
Then stated digging into her vole again.
