Heartstar's rise : Book one

Ch. 58

Heartpaw woke up to soft sunlight filtering into the apprentice den. He groggily got up and padded to the camp entrance. Clawpelt spotted him and trotted over. 

           "We're going on border patrol," he informed Heartpaw. Heartpaw's eyes lit up. He might get to go to the WindClan border. He missed Ivypaw but it wasn't a strong tugging in his heart anymore, just a small flicker of interest. He followed Clawpelt out where Darkspeck, Skytail and Duskblaze were waiting. They headed for ThunderClan border to make sure the cats had not tried to cross the border once more. They approached the tunnel near the Thunderpath and Heartpaw sniffed. The ThunderClan scent was fresh on their border but it wasn't new. Clawpelt marked the border and even entered the tunnel slightly to mark it. Then he flicked his tail to the patrol and they moved on. 

             "If they had the nerve to attack again," bristled Skytail. 

            "Don't worry, we showed them that night," Clawpelt hissed, slipping to the front of the patrol. "They're not coming anywhere near ever again." Heartpaw nodded. 

             "We must not forget WindClan though," said Darkspeck through gritted teeth. "They might think us weak after ThunderClan attacked." 

             "That's why were headed there," Duskblaze rolled her eyes. Darkspeck just grunted. Finally, Heartpaw could smell the soft scent of WindClan, like a sweet and soft scent of adventure bu safety as well. Clawpelt squinted at the moor while Darkspeck and Skytail marked the border. Heartpaw helped them then joined Clawpelt as they gazed at the tall grasses. Suddenly, there was some rustling. A patrol of WindClan cats appeared. A grey, messy furred warrior barred his fangs. 

             "What are you looking at? Thinking of stealing our prey?" he growled. Clawpelt narrowed his eyes at the warrior and cocked his head slightly. He watched the warrior for a moment, his tail twitching. Heartpaw wondered what he was going to say. 

             "We don't need to Galestrike," said Clawpelt in a controlled and authoritative voice which gave shivers down Heartpaw's spine. He could see the WindClan cats shuffling nervously. Galestrike seemed the most disturbed that Clawpelt knew his name. 

             "Oh yes, I do know your names. I'm the deputy, it's my job," he grinned. Then he turned to a white almost grey she-cat. "Hello Cloverwish. And Foxstep." A ginger tom with a few white markings narrowed his eyes. Clawpelt's eyes wandered to a big and muscular cat with brown striped fur. "Oh and Newtfang." Newtfang barred her teeth and lashed her tail. 

             "Enough of this fakery!" she growled. She turned and nodded for the patrol to move on. Clawpelt chuckled. 

            "Let's go ShadowClan," he said. Heartpaw marvelled. 

            "How did you know all of them?" he asked his mentor. Clawpelt smiled and flicked his tail. 

            "I'll tell you later," he turned to Skytail, Darkspeck and Duskblaze. "I'm taking Heartpaw for training now." The three cats nodded and padded away. Heartpaw turned to Clawpelt, feleing excited for whatever they were going to learn. 

            "Let's see if you know how to fight," he told Heartpaw. 

            "Of course I do. I know all the moves," Heartpaw exclaimed. 

            "Let's see if you can use them well without having to think about it," Clawpelt said and leapt. Heartpaw quickly ducked and turned around to run his sheathed claws on Clawpelt's side. Clawpelt twisted around in time though and caught Heartpaw on the head. He tumbled to the ground and before he knew it, Clawpelt was on him. He squirmed and rolled and batted randomly.