Warriors: A New Beginning #1: The Beginning

Chapter 37

Wavepelt padded through the forest, on a patrol.

The patrol stopped, and Wavepelt scented something bad.

Suddenly, a fox leapt up at her, snapping its jaws. Hissing, Wavepelt swiped its muzzle, and the fox darted away. And then a screech was heard— from Waterfall.

***

Wavepelt woke up, panting. She had been haunted by this dream every night, and she couldn't avoid it. It's telling me something... But I don't know what.

"Hi, Tussledstorm," she greeted as she left the warriors den.

The she-cat didn't reply. Tussledstorm was still mad at her... and it had been four moons since!

Wavepelt sighed inwardly and headed for the fresh-kill pile. Spottedstripe had begun organizing patrols.

"Splotchpelt, take Wheatwing, Bushtail, and Sunfur to the ShadowClan border," the replacement deputy decided. "I'll lead another patrol with Curlyfur, Flamefur, and Tussledstorm to the Sunningrocks border."

Wavepelt noticed Waterfall go up to Spottedstripe and murmur something. The light brown tom paused, then nodded.

Waterfall bounded over to Wavepelt. "You're coming with Dapplecloud and I on a hunting patrol."

"Okay." Wavepelt stood up and gazed longingly at the fresh-kill pile. Her belly was growling. "Do I have time to eat something first?"

Waterfall shrugged. "If it's fast."

***

After calling a quick vole, Wavepelt followed Waterfall and Dapplecloud outside camp. The light grey she-cat saw that Dapplecloud's belly was getting rounder by the day. Shouldn't she be in the nursery by now? She was getting closer to have kits. Will she be able to hunt?

"I'm still not sure about this, Waterfall," Dapplecloud meowed uneasily. "I don't think I can hunt." It was like she had read Wavepelt's mind.

"You need the fresh air." Waterfall nuzzled his mate. "And don't worry about it if you're not able to hunt. It's not your problem."

Dapplecloud still looked worried, and she kept glancing around her like something was going to spring up any second.

Wavepelt knew that Dapplecloud knew something, but she didn't know. Maybe it has something to do with... three quarters of a moon ago, when she seemed shocked by something.

She kept silent though, and continued through the forest with her two Clanmates.

"I smell prey." Waterfall halted. "We can hunt here, and move on."

Wavepelt nodded and tasted the air. Thrush. Maybe I'll catch it in a better manner than that pigeon... Which was caught when Windclaw appeared. She hated that cat— not as much as Berrytail, but still a lot.

She dropped into the hunting crouch and located the scent trail. I should be able to get this... oh, great.

She had spotted the thrush, sitting on a high branch in a birch tree. I absolutely detest climbing trees... but I suppose I'll try it.

"I can't hunt," she heard Dapplecloud moan. "My belly is so swollen I can barely crouch."

Wavepelt crept up to the base of the birch tree, dug her claws in, and became to climb.

To her disappointment, she saw that the bark was peeling off the tree trunk. That'll make it harder to climb.

She continued anyway, wishing with all her might that the thrush would stay there.