Warriors: Finding Myself: Storm Rising (Book One)

Chapter Four: Junipernose and Strikefang

CHAPTER FOUR

"Done over here, Strikefang!" I called to the cream-furred tom who was padding towards me. "No RiverClan cat will dare come over here," I mewed proudly and turned away from the border with RiverClan. It had been about a quarter moon since the three siblings had become warriors and the battle between the Clans was over. We'd heard nothing from WindClan or RiverClan, but sometimes they'd move the border and we'd just move it back. ThunderClan, however, was being very generous and when we'd meet a patrol it'd just be a causal talk. Puddlepaw received his full name, Puddleheart. Littlecloud was still holding on, he was still teaching Puddleheart herbs and remedies while his greencough slowly turned into blackcough. He rarely left his nest anymore in fear of getting another cat sick.

Dawnpelt and Tigerheart, the other two on the patrol, had finished marking their area and were walking up to us, chatting happily. Dawnpelt had definitely missed talking with her family and I knew the reason she acted out with Needlepaw and I was because she missed Flametail.

Leafbare was passing and the prey was coming out. There were still patches of snow on the ground but it was warmer now, thank StarClan.

"Hey!" Strikefang called to them, his amber eyes shining when he saw his relatives. "We should hunt for the Clan and then head back," he suggested.

Although this wasn't the first time he was leader of a patrol, he always acted nervous and always looked to the senior warriors to see if it was okay. Maybe he was just used to it. Junipernose didn't act that way though. He just bossed everyone around. Sleekfeather bossed everyone around, but she wasn't as rude as Junipernose about it.

The two warriors nodded in agreement and set off in excitement. I padded away as well, scenting the air. I could smell a mouse and crouched down low, moving stealthily. I was still right next to the RiverClan border, but I was nowhere near crossing it. There the mouse was, scuffling about and sniffing around. It looked around and then continued sniffing around.

I wiggled my haunches and lunged forward, catching the mouse between my paws in delivering the final blow. I picked it up by the tail, ready to go back to camp when a voice startled me.

"What do you think you're doing?!" a strong, angry voice yelled. I recognized him instantly: Heronwing with his apprentice, Pricklepaw. Two other cats were trailing behind him: Nightpaw and his mentor, Perchwing. "Why're you so close to the border, Beepaw?" he spat, obviously remembering me.

Quickly, I scented the air to make sure I hadn't crossed the border and when I knew I hadn't I set down the mouse and stood strong. "Hunting. I'm not over the border so you cannot challenge me. Get lost," I spat back, meeting Nightpaw's shameful gaze. He seemed uncomfortable.

Heronwing narrowed his eyes as he stepped forward, over the border and began to mark there. "What're you going to do about it?"

Irritation pricked at my pelt and I stepped forward, meeting him eye-to-eye. "If you don't leave now, you'll regret it!"

"Perchwing, bring the apprentices over and start marking the new border," he ordered as he moved over a little to continue marking. Hesitantly, Perchwing brought the two apprentice's over and started marking.

Finally, I felt my anger boil up and I lunged at Heronwing, tackling him over and hissing in his face as I pinned him down. "Get out of ShadowClan territory before I teach you a lesson!" I dug my claws deep into his chest, my eyes blazing with anger.

"Heronwing, we should go!" Nightpaw mewed, worry in his voice. "Come on!"

Pricklepaw ran over to me and tried to pull me off and I kicked back in her face and hearing her cry out in pain and she backed away. I caught Nightpaw's appearance: Shock and anger. I hurt his sister and he was furious.