Heartstar's rise : Book Two

Ch. 30

Heartstorm woke up to someone tugging at his ear. Was he late? He was going to miss training? His eyes went wide and he sprang up. Was Blacktail waiting for him? He was face to face with Eelfrost. 

                   "Wow," he said. "It's just me." 

                   "Oh sorry," huffed Heartstorm. "For a moment I thought I was an apprentice again." Deerflame appeared behimd Eelfrost. 

                   "Do you want to go on a patrol with us?" asked Deerflame, coming forward. "We thought you could lead one, since well, you've already led a few."

                    "Sure," said Heartstorm happily. He was glad he'd be able to spend time with his best friends much more now. "How was the vigil?"

                    "Uncomfortable," groaned Eelfrost. 

                    "It was great," said Deerflame, rolling her eyes at Eelfrost. 

                   "Doesn't it feel weird?" grinned Eelfrost. "Not having to find Beestripe and going for training. I mean, we can do whatever we want today. Like just hang out in the river. We're warriors."

                   "Exactly," noted Deerflame. "Which means we need to serve our Clan which does not mean we are going to be hanging out all day in the river." 

                   "Deerflame, since when were you my mother?" asked Eelfrost. "I mean, you always were up for something fun." 

                    "I was an apprentice," said Deerflame dissmissively. "I'm a warrior now." Heartstorm raised an eyebrow and exchanged and unbelieving look with Eelfrost. 

                     "Well, there are only so many patrols you can do in a day. Do like one or two then you have the rest of the day off," said Heartstorm. "Come on, I'll go ask Reedpelt if we can go on a border patrol." 

                     "To ThunderClan of course," said Eelfrost. "I want to see if they've stretched the border even more." 

                     "They can't," pointed out Deerflame. "There's the river." Heartstorm trotted outside and searched for Reedpelt. He spotted Thornstar, talking to Stripedfur. He approached them.      

                       "Good morning Thornstar," greeted Heartstorm, no longer feeling the spark of hate that Thornstar had chosen Wolfstep to mentor Hawkkit and not himself. 

                       "Good morning Heartstorm, Deerflame, Eelfrost," addressed Thornstar. Eelfrost and Deerflame, who were lingering behind, stood forward. 

                        "Could I lead a patrol to ThunderClan?" asked Heartstorm. Thornstar glanced at the fresh kill pile which only had a mouse and a bird. 

                         "I'd prefer if you led a hunting patrol. I've already sent Reedpelt with a patrol to ThunderClan, they're getting braver. You've never led a hunting patrol, am I right?" Thornstar said. Heartstorm shrugged uncomfortably. 

                        "No," he admitted. 

                         "You've been a warrior for long enough. Yes, you can lead a hunting patrol," said Thornstar. "Now would be a good time as well. The elders haven't even been fed yet." 

                          "That should be the apprentice's jobs," said Heartstorm sourly.

                         "Yes," nodded Thornstar. "Indeed." He then turned back to Stripedfur. Heartstorm swivelled around and marched away with Eelfrost and Deerflame. He felt a twinge of annoyance at Thornstar.