Warrior Cats: Rainfall

Chapter Seven

   It's been a moon since Ashfrost's warrior ceremony and the ordeal with Nightwing and her kits. The newly made apprentices were fitting in much better than most cats expected. Rainfall wouldn't stop bragging about Fernpaw. He often apologized for his bragging, but Fernpaw was truly a good apprentice. The tom had caught a thrush on his first day hunting and nearly caught a blackbird the other day. All the other apprentices were doing just as well or slightly lesser.

   Ashfrost got up and stretched. An unfamiliar uncomfortable tugging came from her belly. She stretched again and it went away. She yawned, it was probably just a small cramp from sleeping in an awkward position.

   As she walked out of the den, the warm, morning sunlight helped her wake up from her slumber. Her ears twitched in the direction of the leader's den, where Bouncestep was talking with Stonestar. She awkwardly shifted toward them just so she could hear a little bit. Then she began to groom herself.

   "...she should probably come back," Stonestar licked a paw and brought it against his muzzle to smooth his whiskers. "We've let her stay a long time past due."

   Bouncestep tilted his head slightly side to side as he seemed to weigh the circumstances, "Perhaps. But they may need her a little longer."

   "Well," Stonestar shifted in his spot, "you should take a small patrol and go talk with her."

   Bouncestep nodded, "Who do you think I should take?"

   Stonestar noticed Ashfrost quietly grooming herself, "How about Ashfrost and Snowberry. Her daughter and a close friend."

   Bouncestep dipped his head and called out to the she-warrior, "Ashfrost, come with me on a patrol to CloudClan!"

   She turned her head to look at them. She gave her chest fur a couple more licks then nodded, "Sure."

   Bouncestep looked around the camp, probably to see if Snowberry was awake. He realized she wasn't and asked Ashfrost to wake her up. 

   The gray she-cat walked into the warrior's den, looking around for Snowberry's white pelt. Carefully stepping through the furry masses of cats, she reached Snowberry and prodded her in the side.

   "Hey," Ashfrost whispered. "We're going on a patrol to CloudClan."

   The white she-cat's head rose as she yawned, "Alright, I'll be out in a moment."

   Ashfrost gingerly hopped out and joined Bouncestep as they waited a couple of moments for Snowberry to arrive. Eventually, she did and then they left.

   Lynxtail was standing guard outside of CloudClan's camp entrance. His gaze was welcoming for a moment, but he realized that he shouldn't be as open to them as he once was. He let his neck fur bristle.

   "What business do you have here?" He snarled.

   Bouncestep twitched his whiskers, slightly amused, "Stonestar sent us to talk with Featherwing."

   "Were these other two warriors necessary if all you needed to do was talk?" Lynxtail flicked his tail irritably.

   Bouncestep grumbled under his breath, "He just told me to take a small patrol, alright? Can we please be allowed to go talk to Featherwing."

   "Alright," Lynxtail muttered. "Go on in."

   The patrol waltzed into the camp, amazed at what they saw. To Ashfrost, it seemed like the camp was shining. It looked brand new. The weather of newleaf had brought the camp's appearance to it's prime. The leaves were their brightest green and the bark was a smooth, warm color of brown. Ashfrost almost felt like she was at home.

   "Intruders!" A smooth-furred, brown she-kit came racing across the meadow and barrelled into Ashfrost's legs. She batted them playfully as she let harmless hisses emerge from her throat.

   Ashfrost's throat rumbled at the kit's enthusiasm. Eventually, a russet tom-kit ran out of the nursery to join his sister, Squirrelkit. Then Spiderkit came running out to join Russetkit. The three kits tumbled with each other with no mercy. Of course, their claws were sheathed, but they wrestled like they'd never be able to again.

   Lilyfur came hustling out of the nursery to retrieve her kits, "I'm so, so sorry."

   Snowberry purred, "Don't worry, they amuse us more than anything else."

   The queen halted, "Oh, okay. I'll let them play then, as long as they aren't bothering you." She raised her voice at the last part to make sure the kits heard that as well.

   Featherwing was adjusting bedding in one of the tree dens when she spotted the patrol, "Ashpaw! Snowberry!"

   She carefully climbed down from where she was and ran over to the patrol. She rested her head on Ashfrost's and touched noses with Snowberry.

   She looked at Ashfrost, "It's so good to see you again, Ashpaw. How are the others doing?"

   Ashfrost shuffled her feet, "I'm Ashfrost now."

   Featherwing's gaze darkened, "Why wasn't I invited to the ceremony?"

   Ashfrost shrugged, I wanted you to be there, but that wasn't up to me.

   "I'm so sorry I wasn't there," Featherwing's voice was cracking, as if she were about to tear up.

   Ashfrost looked up at her slightly, "Featherwing, it's okay. It's not anything to get worked up about."

   She nodded, "You're right. So, why are you guys here?"

   Bouncestep flicked his tail, "Stonestar wants you back."

   Featherwing flattened her ears in surprise, "You're right, I sort of. . . forgot about coming back. I've been so busy helping out and hunting."

  "Can't they hunt?" Bouncestep referred to the warriors.

   "They do! We all do."

   Heronstar appeared from his enlarged nest in the High Tree. He climbed out onto the branch from where he spoke and looked down at the patrol, "What's going on?"

   "How willing are you to let go of Featherwing?" Bouncestep called up to him.

   He flicked his tail, "Having her around to mentor an apprentice would be rather helpful, I was thinking of keeping her until they became warriors. An extra paw would be great, considering our size."

   Bouncestep let out a growl that could be heard from cats on the ground, yet inaudible to Heronstar, "You're basically just taking a warrior away from us."

   Heronstar shook his head, "That's not what I intend. We don't have enough warriors to-"

   "Dinselpelt and Lynxtail are your warriors, correct? Blazewing is also your deputy. A deputy can mentor as well."

   The leader inclined his head, "I know that, Bouncestep. I understand your concern, but we still really need Featherwing with us. Blazewing must be able to worry about his duties as a deputy, not an apprentice. He won't have time to assign patrols."

   Bouncestep snarled, "What makes you think he can't? I literally just had an apprentice of mine become a warrior and guess what? I'm the deputy!"

   Heronstar's fur bristled, "Blazewing is definitely not as experienced as you and such explains why he shouldn't take on an apprentice as well. Featherwing is yet to teach us everything."

   Featherwing nodded, "I do want to come home, Bouncestep. But I want this Clan to thrive, and for that to happen, I must stay until they become warriors."

   "How old are the kits?" Queried Snowberry.

   Heronstar hesitated, "Three moons."

   Bouncestep unsheathed his claws, "You're trying to take one of our warriors for nine more moons? Nonsense! Stonestar will have none of this! Featherwing, you're coming with us."

   Featherwing took a step back, "Bouncestep, I can't, I need to stay here."

   Bouncestep narrowed his eyes, "Sure. Defy your deputy. I will notify Stonestar about this. And if he wants you home? You're coming home!"