Warriors: Back to the Wild Book#3

Chapter 1

Mousepelt woke up as the first signs of dawn shone down from the den. She stretched and saw half the warriors had already gone. Only Moonglow, Smoothpelt, and Ashface remained. Mousepelt made her way out the den to see the moonhigh patrol return. Jumbledstar flung his catch in to the small fresh-kill pile, followed after Crazyfeather and Ravenclaw. Sirenpaw had her head down with nothing in her jaws for the Clan. The air was already getting chilly and the fresh-kill pile was low. Pinepelt and Rakeclaw were getting weaker and Blackclaw spent most of her time with Stoneheart and Coldeyes.

If Spotpaw hadn't left then the Clan would have much more help getting prey. Mousepelt dug her claws in to the dirt beneath her. She could have stopped Spotpaw, but Silversol had stopped her by setting half the territory on fire. Luckily, Stoneheart, Ashface, Moonglow, and Ravenclaw came by and lit it out with soaked balls of moss. The only ones who mourned the loss were Docilepaw and Sirenpaw. They were the closest to him, all thanks to Limptail and Viperfang. No one could get close to the three siblings without remembering their father tried getting rid of Ravenclaw. Crazyfeather comforted Sirenpaw and Coldeyes told Docilepaw it was for the best. Spotpaw would have been treated badly all his life by Limptail and Viperfang.

Stoneheart began setting up the dawn patrol. He picked Blackclaw, Stripepaw, Mousepelt, and Morningflower. Mousepelt let out a long sad sigh before sharing a look with Ravenclaw. She walked over to Morningflower as Blackclaw we to retrieve her apprentice, but was stopped by Coldeyes and Docilepaw.

"Where do you think you're going?" Coldeyes hissed.

"Hunting patrol," Blackclaw answered, worryingly.

"This close to your kitting?" Docilepaw growled. "We think not, someone else can take your place with Stripepaw!"

"I can't just-" Blackclaw began to argue.

"Mousepelt can have him," Jumbledstar interrupted, coming out from his den with Yellowstone and Vinetail, "when you're this close to having kits you should stay in the nursery, Mousepelt will be his mentor from now on until he's made a warrior."

"But the fresh-kill pile-" Blackclaw tried to reply.

"Will be fine without one warrior," Jumbledstar stopped the black she-cat, "it'll be a whole lot easier for the rest of us if you stay in the nursery and wait, Mousepelt," Jumbledstar turned to face the warrior, "you will be Stripepaw's mentor until it is time to give his warrior name!"

Mousepelt dipped her head and made her way to the apprentice's den to see Stripepaw curled up and fast asleep. The brown walked over and padded her new apprentice in the side. The golden grey tom twitched for a moment and opened his eyes. He looked up to see Mousepelt look down at him, though he was already bigger than her. He got to his paws and stretched until he shook.

"What's going on?" Stripepaw asked.

"Blackclaw is moving in to the nursery so you're my new apprentice," Mousepelt explained, "get up we're going on the dawn patrol."

Stripepaw licked his paw and drew it over his ear before walking out the den with a flick of his tail. Mousepelt followed after him and saw Morningflower pacing back and forth by the entrance.

Mousepelt sent Stripepaw to go catch a squirrel and Morningflower ran off to search for adders. Mousepelt sniffed around on the border of ThunderClan and lowered her head with frustration.

"Alright, Amberheart," Mousepelt called out, "it's just you and me!"

The golden she-cat emerged from behind some bushes and went to sit on her side of the border.

"What is it now?" Mousepelt growled, sitting down.

"There's something wrong," Amberheart began, "I caught Flightwing talking to Cherrynose a few nights ago, Flightwing is the one who killed Lizardrun, she's going to kill cats one by one who get in her way to become leader."

"What does Cherrynose have to do with this?" Mousepelt pressed.

"Flightwing promised her that, if Flightwing becomes leader, that she'll bring ThunderClan and SkyClan together!" Amberheart answered, flicking her tail. "I don't know what to do!"

"Look, just keep an eye on Cherrynose," Mousepelt advised, "if she leaves the camp alone follow her and keep an eye on her, if she speaks to Flightwing at the Gathering, pull her away and tell her that there's something you want to tell her, anything, make it up, just make it sound good!"

"Amberheart!" Badgergrowl's yowl called out.

"We'll discuss this later," Mousepelt flicked her tail, "meet me in the tunnels tonight when your Clan is asleep and I'll meet you there!" Mousepelt bolted off as Badgergrowl's horrible stench got closer.

As the ShadowClan warrior went on walking, she could feel cold eyes watching her. Burning deep in to her brown pelt like fire. She spun around and all she saw were yellow green eyes, a pair of red eyes, and a puff of smoke.