Heartstar's rise : Book one

Ch. 8

Heartkit jumped to his small feet and bumped into Sandwing's chin. She grumbled and shoved him away. He pricked his ears and listened. Firkit stirred and opened one eye. 

            "What is it?" mumbled Firkit. 

             "Yeah," muttered Sandwing. "Go back to sleep. Or rather, go out and check out what that noise is." Heartkit trotted to the entrance and heard a shuffling behind him and Firkit joined him. They both poked their heads out of the nursery. At the entrance, cats had gathered around a border patrol. The kits looked at each other excitedly and bounded to the entrance. Heartkit spotted Stormpelt, pushing through the crowd with Pinestar. The kits watched from behind the muddle of cat feet. They pushed past a few cats, dodging feet and stumbling. Daisyfoot frowned as she spotted them. 

            "Kits!" she cried. "You shouldn't be here!" Stormpelt turned to the crowd and glanced at Daisyfoot. His eyes widened when he saw the small kits stumbling. He ordered the crowd back and bent down. Heartkit felt teeth pull him up by the scruff and he was lifted over many cats and then down by the side of his father. Daisyfoot brought Firkit up to Stormpelt by his scruff as well. Stormpelt frowned at Heartkit and Firkit. They could have been trampled. 

             "Heartkit! Firkit!" bristled Stormpelt. "You shouldn't go through a crowd like that. This isn't the time to meddle." The kits looked down at their paws solemnly. Heartkit felt a wave of embarrassment. Sighing, Stormpelt turned back to the border patrol. 

            "What happened?" interrogated Pinestar. Cindertail, Roselight, Dandelionfrost and Darkpaw were standing facing Pinestar. Darkpaw's eyes glittered. She was almost bouncing up with excitement. Heartkit watched in wonder. Dandelionfrost scolded Darkpaw in a whisper. Darkpaw quickly stopped fidgeting and stood to attention. 

             "We were patrolling the Thunderclan patrol," reported Cindertail. 

             "Roselight!" cried Stormpelt suddenly. He spotted her fur clotted at her back, near her tail, tainted with blood. "Go to Eagleflight this minute!" Roselight seemed reluctant. 

              "It's nothing," she grumbled. Stormpelt knew it was not nothing. Young warriors were insufferable. 

             "Stormpelt is right," Pinestar said firmly. "Go to Eagleflight now. Why didn't you tell us you were hurt?" 

            "We didn't know!" gasped Cindertail. "We all escaped without scratches and Roselight didn't tell us and we didn't see." 

            "Escaped?" echoed Pinestar. Stormpelt nodded at Roselight to go and she trudged towards the medicine den. Heartkit pricked his ears excitedly. Firkit was fidgeting beside him, nervous and excited. 

            "Yes, a Thunderclan patrol had crossed and when we tried to talk them to go out but there were six of them and only four of us. And we had an apprentice. We had to flee," sighed Cindertail. Darkpaw looked ashamed. 

            "They crossed our border?" bristled Stormpelt angrily. "We need to send a patrol at once!"

            "Yes, but don't need to be rash," Pinestar said calmly. "I want all of you checked by Eagleflight then I'll make a patrol." Stormpelt huffed then realised the kits were still there. 

            "Awww!" pouted Heartkit. "I wish I could go."

            "Stupid Thunderclan!" spat Firkit. 

           "Yeah, stupid furballs," growled Heartkit. 

           "Foxdung!" cried Firkit.

            "Back to the nursery, you two!" he ordered. The kits, scared of Stormpelt's harsh tone, scampered away. Pinestar turned to Stormpelt. 

            "I will go on the patrol," Pinestar told Stormpelt. Stormpelt shook his head. 

            "You will not," he hissed under his breath. "You are on your last life. You can't risk it." 

            "I won't be risking my life," retorted Pinestar. 

           "I'll go," Stormpelt said. "We still need someone at camp." 

            "Fine," Pinestar sighed then took action. "You will take Clawpelt, Weaselscar, Deerdapple, Oakfall and Mousewhisker." Stormpelt nodded. "And take Duskpaw as well. She's going to be a warrior in two moons and an extra cat will help. But you must watch out for her." Stormpelt nodded quickly then rushed to gather the cats. 

            "Clawpelt! Weaselscar! Deerdapple! Oakfall! Mousewhisker! Duskpaw!" shouted Stormpelt. The cats gathered around their deputy. 

            "Yes?" asked Clawpelt excitedly. 

            "You are coming to Thunderclan border with me right now. Weaselscar, make sure Duskpaw does not get into trouble. You will all look out for her. I will be next to you as well," Stormpelt said, glancing at Duskpaw. She nodded furtively. Her pelt bristled with excitement. 

             "Remember, try to talk it out first," Pinestar said, padding to their side. "I don't want to jump to conclusions. Stormpelt, I trust you to do that." Stormpelt assured Pinestar he would although he just wanted to charge at the Thunderclan cats and get revenge on them. He knew his warriors felt the urge as well. 

              "Then take care and fight well. May Starclan be with you," wished Pinestar. The cats nodded in respect and acknowledgement and bounded off after Stormpelt.