The Flight of a Deer

Messenger - Dedicated to Eifiekatx44

Deerflight woke up and padded outside. She noticed panicked looks on other she-cats faces. They gathered around and Deerflight was the first to say,"Nightstar, I think they know it's a heat cycle. They have fled."

Nightstar did not look pleased. The smell of heat was damp and sticky, and it filled up the camp with its musky odor. She noddded. "It appears so, Deerflight." They looked nervous. "The cycle will only go on longer if we aren't satisfied."

Deerflight was surprised. "But last itme, we got over it." Shadestar looked at her.

"No, we didn't. Only you because you caught Applenose, and he escaped before we got to him." All the she-cats gathered, even Fernbreeze, who was only a few weeks pregnant, had a hungry look in her eyes. Shadestar continued. "And we managed to keep it suppressed because it was not the heat cycle time, so it died down a bit. But the fire was still burning, and it's twice as bright. Did you know that I recently spoke to SpiritClan, and even the toms there have gone missing? The Blood Forest, too. Only She-cats. Right now, the SpiritClan and Blood Forest she-cats have even truced because of this season, and we four Clans will, too. The SpiritClan and Blood Forest she-cats will be comig down tomorrow at sunhigh. Usually, nothing like this happens. But, since this is a cycle and not just a heat spark, we will have to join. They will be at the Tree Rock in BreezeClan's territory. For now, though, the deputy's den will be used to hold any toms we have captured. Deerflight, Fernbreeze, and I will create a bramble wall. Darksplash, you go with Featherpool and Ivypaw to hunt and seek out a tom-scent."

Everyone  followed orders, with Icestep, Honeypaw, and Stormpaw milling around the camp. Deerflight and Fernbreeze went to collect brambles while Shadestarfigured out how to put the wall in without any tom being able to escape. When the two she-cats returned,  they had brambles draped over their fur, and in their mouths and under their chins. Shadestar was happy, and in no time, they had it ready. The opening was a slight hole in the wall, only accessible from the outside. The hunting patrol was back with no sign of the scent. They were carrying, however, a load of fresh-kill. Two rabbits, a squirrel, and a mouse. Deerflight sat with Ferncloud and Ivypaw, and each cat had a mouse. Soon, all the she-cats were gathered, andevery cat ate their fill. Featherpool finished first, and licked her lips.

"Shadestar, I've been thinking. I think Honeypaw is ready to be a warrior." Upon hearing this, Honeypaw's eyes lit up. "She's had her assessment, and I forgot to tell you, what with the heat and all."

Shadestar thought for a while. "Ivypaw, you are ready to be a warrior, too. I have seen much good come out of you. I know you have taken the assessment, and I was watching." 

Ivypaw looked surprised. "But I never saw you... there was no scent of you at all!"

Shadestar nodded. "And that's why I'm leader." When every cat was finished, she call a Clan meeting. "Honeypaw. Your mentor Featherpool has decided that you should become a warrior. Do you promise to uphold our warrior code, even at the cost of your life?" Honeypaw nodded, eyes shining with joy. 

Shadestar mewed,"Then from now on, your warrior name shall be Honeyfeather. You are praised for your kindness and your chivalry."

"Ivypaw. I have decided that you should become a warrior. Do you promise to uphold our warrior code, even at the cost of your life?"

"I do." came the solemn reply.

"Then from this moment on, you shall be known as Ivyleap. The Clan celebrates your honor and your bravery."

"Honeyfeather! Honeyfeather! Ivyleap! Honeyfeather! Ivyleap! Ivyleap!" Came the shouts from the surrounding cats. Deerflight purred and walked up to Honeyfeather.

"You'll be an excellent warrior, I'm sure." Honeyfeather smiled at Deerflight's praise. Every she-cat came up and congratulated the new warriors. Deerflight purred and praised Ivyleap.

By now, it was sunset. "Honeyfeather, Ivyleap, as you know, you have to sit a silent vigil tonight. Guard the camp well, you two." Shadestar walked toward her den. "Oh, Deerflight, you will take over Stormpaw's training while her mentor is gone. You two and Icestep go on a moonhigh patrol, alright?"

Deerflight nodded. When she was sure that no cat saw her, she slippped out of camp with a rabbit in her mouth. She rolled around in some smelly leaves to mask her scent. She raced towards the Fourhills and tread delicately. When she got to the tree, she paused and scented the air. No scent of cats, just smelly leaves and wood. 

Deerflight slipped under the roots to find a huge hollow spcae in the tree. There was light, but it looked like it came from the toms themselves. Eyes immediately flickered towards her, and hissing sounds came from all around. Only when she shook off her coating of leaves and mud did they relax. "Deerflight!" Boomed out a voice. She quickly recognised it as Brackenclaw's. He and Yarrowfeather asked her for news. 

"I'm afraid that it is really bad. StarClan and the Blood Forest are coming down and joining with us four Clans. Their toms have gone missing, too. Oh. StarClan and the Blood Forest are... here?" She was confirmed by murmurs of agreement. "Oh. Well, that's it for the bad news. Ivypaw and Honeypaw are now Honeyfeather and Ivyleap. I took over Stormpaw's training." The toms around her purred. At least, the NightClan toms. 

A voice cut through the purrs. "Deerflight!" She identified Greenfeather walking towards her. She purred and sat down next to him.

Brackenclaw asked her,"So, you're our messenger. Any she-cats come near here?"

"No," Deerflight meowed back. She looked at her paws. "I am on moonhigh patrol. I'll come back with prey sometime later." She said goodbye to the toms, and rolled around on the muddy floor. "Scent masked?" She asked Brackenclaw. 

He took a sniff. "Yes," he mewed. She slithered through the roots, and when she went back to the forest, she cleaned the mud off as best as she could. There was a marsh in NightClan territory, so she could say that she fell into it. Yes, a good idea. She caught two frog to emphasize her point, then trotted over to the forest and scented the trees. "A pheasant!" She cried quietly. 

She traced its scent until she reached a clearing in the woods. The bird was huge. SHe carefully stalked downwind of it. She got up in a hunting crouch and tensed up. She lept into the air and landed squarely onto the bird, giving it a swift bite to the neck. "Now that's a catch." She dragged the pheasant onto her back, wincing at the weighty bird. She picked up her frogs and headed to camp.

==========

Deerflight arrived in camp, her pelt moist with water. She had found a pool to wash off in. Fernbreeze came up to her, eyes wide. "You caught a pheasant?" Deerflight nodded enthusiactically. She dropped her stuff on the fresh-kill pile. "I fell in the mud when I was hunting for frogs, so I had to wash off. That stuff stinks!" Fernbreeze nodded in agreement, sidling up against Deerflight and purring. Deerflight was a little uncomfortable, as she remembered what Gorsepelt had said. She shoook it off, however, and called her cats together to go on the moonhigh patrol.