Rise

Chapter 12

Novapaw eyed the ferns warily. If they did attack, her and Frost would be pitifully outnumbered, and had no chance of survival. But what was the point of keeping them in the camp this long if their whole plan was to kill the young cats?
A tortoiseshell she-cat padded smoothly out of the leaves, her pelt glimmered in the daylight.
Novapaw instantly recognized her as one of the cats who had been nicer to her a few dawns ago.
Frost's fur bristled. "What do you want?" He hissed.
The she-cat dipped her head. "My apologies if I startled you." She was carrying something in her jaws, a mouse, by the look of it. She dropped it at their paws.
"I know you haven't been fed enough. I wanted to help." She meowed kindly.
Novapaw purred and rubbed against Frost. "Thank you, Fernleaf."
She knew if the queen had been caught giving them extra prey, she may be crow food considering the hostility of the enemy tribe.
She backed away where she cane from with one last respectful nod.
Novapaw started to take a bite but Frost thrust his paw in front of the prey. "What are you doing? What if it's poisoned?"
"It's not poisoned! Fernleaf is a kind cat." She meowed to Frost in annoyance and took a big bite. She nudged it over to him. "Here, eat."
He reluctantly bent over and nibbled on the fresh kill before taking a large bite himself. He licked his lips and went in for more.
After the cats had finished off the prey, they lay quietly in their designated area.
"Having fun over there!"
Novapaw looked to her side and saw three pesky apprentices laughing at them.
Brightpaw, Thistlepaw, and Mistpaw. Flea pelts.
Thistlepaw walked closer to them and stood nose to nose with Frost. "What do you do, huh?"
Novapaw stood up quickly, understanding these cats wanted to know what powers they had. "We're not here to put on a show for some kits!" She hissed, trying to protect Frost.
He was already standing at her side, so close their pelts brushed.
"Oh yeah? Then why are you here? To catch us prey?" He meowed, sticking his claw into Frost's fur.
She took a deep breath, wishing so desperately she had finished her training with Bluemist and could torture these cats so bad, without even using her claws.
Mistpaw prodded Thistlepaw in the side. "Come on. They're a waste of time. Probably don't even have powers." She mewed quietly, but Novapaw could still hear her painful words.
She decided not to interfere, it would only cause more problems for her and Frost. His fur was still spiked up in anger.
After the apprentices walked into their den, she sat down again and looked around the camp. Everything was normal until a pair of bright blue eyes met hers. She knew those eyes anywhere.
Thunderpaw was here to save them!