sage | a warrior cats fanfiction

chapter two

After a few more moments passed between them all, the group slipped quietly back into camp, and Antwhisper quickly turned and swerved away.

Adderheart watched him head toward Bearpatch, who was resting in a patch of sun, brown pelt dappled with light, with a piece of prey laid at his paws. Beside him, Finchpaw, his apprentice, skirted off toward the apprentice's den. Poppyfur practically danced toward the fresh-kill pile, Birdwish hurriedly trotting after her, and Streamfang glanced around before settling down in a different patch of sunlight.

The memory of Vixenfeather and Milkfrost snapped into the older warrior's mind and he swiftly turned away, his pale tail lashing as he found a decent place to sit in the camp. It was near the entrance, so he had a nice view of the camp.

Sunlight streamed down upon his fur as he settled down. Despite that they had been out for a while, it was still day, yet now the sun was slowly inching closer to the horizon as if it was threatening to slip beneath it and cover the world in darkness any moment, and still, a little chill entered the camp, weaving past the thorny entrance. Adderheart flicked his tail with the two white stripes over his paws and he gazed around.

Most cats weren't really around. Presumably, Palewhisker had sent them all out on patrol.

He caught a whiff of Birchpaw, Freckletuft, and Dustshade's scent. Freckletuft mentored Birchpaw, so it was usual they went out together. But Dustshade? What was he doing?

Probably just helping, Adderheart thought.

Prey-scent suddenly swarmed his senses and his dark gray eyes flashed over to his left.

Marigoldcry's thick, white fur appeared as she headed through the entrance, followed by Brindlebreeze's white, brown, and black patched pelt. Russetpelt's shiny reddish-brown fur was quick to follow.

Each cat had a piece of prey dangling from their jaws as they headed for the pile, skirting around Poppyfur, whose white fur was puffed up at the chill that entered the camp.

Now that greenleaf was ending, it was usual that there was an icy wind that would sweep by once and a while, and that there was a slightly paler light leaking from the sun. The short-furred cats would never get used to it.

Just then, a cat who looked almost identical to Cougarstar entered the camp. His thick tawny fur and large, strong build was almost a copy of the leader's. Though, this cat had dark green eyes, ones that were soft and gentle compared to the other tom's sharp, edged gaze.

This cat was Pantherleap, a highly respected senior warrior within SageClan. Most cats went to him for advice simply because of his wiseness and intelligence among a wide spread of topics. He was smart and clever, yet still had a soft side when it came to kits — of which he had none. Nobody knew why he didn't have kits — many cats would clamber to be his mate if given half a chance.

Although he was still the pale-furred, intelligent, wise cat of the Clan who was not yet an elder, and so most cats looked up to him — mostly the younger warriors and apprentices. Even some of the kits thoroughly enjoyed his company.

Now, he strolled casually past Adderheart with a mouse skewed on his claw and a thrush hanging from his jaws.

The thin warrior shifted slightly, watching as Pantherleap trotted smoothly toward the fresh-kill pile and dropped both prey pieces on the pile. Soon approached a thick-furred she-cat with dark charcoal fur.

And that was Coalbelly, the Clan's healer. A similarly pelted she-cat — though this one had shinier fur and a darker black tone — quickly trotted behind her mentor.

This cat was Twilightcloud.

Rules for being a healer was strict, so it was lucky that the Clan had two at once. Any and all deputies and healers were disallowed from having kits. Neither of the current she-cats seemed to be too upset with this rule, and if they were, they had decent masks regarding it. Though other rules had been applied too, including a rule that most cats didn't agree with; all healers must be a she-cat.