Broken Truce (Warriors Fan-book) ON HIATUS

Chapter Three

Lightningpaw watched as Oakpaw and Scarletpaw returned to camp with wads of moss in their paws. He purred with amusement. Then her watched the two apprentices scamper off to the queen's den. He looked up. The sun was going down. Giving of a pinkish-orangish light.

"Can we eat yet?" Splashpaw mewed.

"Not until the elders, queens, and kits have eaten." Snowheart mewed behind them.

Lightning paw watched as Russetspots pad up with a vole hanging from his jaws. He set it down in front of them.

"One of you can bring this to Cinnamonfur."

"I'll do it." Lightningpaw mewed.

Russetspots bowed his head and stepped back to let Lightningpaw take the fresh-kill. He picked it up and brought it to the nursery. He poked his head inside to see Cinnamonfur get up so Scarletpaw could replace the moss. The tortoiseshell she-cat turn to him.

"I-er. Brought you some fresh-kill."

Cinnamonfur nodded.

"Put it there." The she-cat mewed, flicking her tail to the edge of the den.

He nodded and set the vole down neatly at the wall. Then he left. He came out to see Silverstar go into the medicine cat's den. He padded over to Snowheart, Russetspots, and, Splashpaw.

"What's happening?" He ask.

"It's a half moon." Russetspots answered.

"It's where the medicine cats go to the moonstone and share tongue with our warriors ancestors. Sometimes we receive prophecies." Snowheart added.

"Oh," Splashpaw responded, "Wait, what's the moonstone?"

Snowheart flicked her tail.

"It's a rock that shines under the light of the moon. I know it's also where a leader gets their nine lives." Snowheart meowed.

"Cool!" Splashpaw said jumping up with excitement.

Russetspots purred with amusement. Lightningpaw saw Scarletpaw and Oakpaw leave the queen's den. Then saw the four cats pad towards them.

"What now?" Lightningpaw asked.

"The elders and queens are fed. You may eat now." Lavenderbreeze mewed

Splashpaw scampered off. Lightningpaw hurried after her. Scarletpaw and Oakpaw on their tails. Lightningpaw picked out a thrush. Splashpaw looked up.

"Can I have some?" She asked

"Uh-, sure!"

Lightningpaw ate half of the thrush and Splashpaw at the other. Soon the moon started to peak behind the horizon. He watched Darkcloud and Swanpaw leave. Then went off to the apprentices' den. Splashpaw was sitting in a corner by herself. Oakpaw was on the other side and Scarletpaw was in the middle. Lightningpaw went over to where Splashpaw was sleeping. And slept on the rim of the den.

He woke up to the chatter of the cats outside the den. He got up and stretched. Then padded out of the den. He poked his head out. He saw Splashpaw sitting next to her mentor. And Swanpaw and Darkcloud conversing outside the Medicine Cat's Den. Lightningpaw padded towards the two.

"Hi Swanpaw, and Darkcloud." Lughtningpaw mewed when he reached them.

Swanpaw ducked her head to muffle a snort. Lightningpaw tilted his head in confusion.

"Sorry, it's just," Swanpaw purred sitting up straight, "that's Swanfeather to you!"

Lightningpaw felt his pelt grow hot with embarrassment.

"Oh, er, congratulations!" Lightningpaw mewed, before quickly padding away.

When he was a fox length apart from them, he gave his chest a few swift lickes. He heard paws pad up behind him. He turned to see Snowheart.

"C'mon, we've got the rest of the territory to explore." She mewed, before turning to leave.

Lightningpaw jumped to his paws and trailed after his mentor. He and Snowheart made their way to Russetspots and Splashpaw.

"We're going to show you the other side. We'll be walking under cliff-sides, so you may get hit with a few pebbles. Just don't lookup, or they may fall on your eye." Snowheart explained.

Splashpaw and Lightningpaw nodded.

"We'll only go till the trail ends. After that it's a steep ditch." Russetspots added, pointing at a line clearing form the plants and rocks with his paw.

Splashpaw and Lightning paw followed their mentors. They soon made it to the end of the trail. Just as Russetsposts had said, it dropped into a ditch.

"This is the end of our territory. We'll be going around to the river, the other border of our territory, but we won't do much there, you've already seen it." Russetspots meowed.

Splashpaw leaned over the edge to look into the ditch. Then back away. She fell in line with the two warriors. Lightningpaw was slightly ahead of her. He glanced over her shoulder, finding her gazing off into the distance. He turned around to follow her gaze, only to see the top of a large tree.

"What is it?" He said at last

Splashpaw slightly jumped at his questioned. Her eyes met his.

"Sorry," Splashpaw said looking towards the ground, "what did you say?"

"You were starting over at that tree," Lightningpaw explained pointing his tail at the tree, "what was that about?"

"Oh, nothing, I was just...lost in thoughts," Splashpaw answered, glancing at Lightningpaw, she flicked her tail, "Let's go, I think they're waiting."
Splashpaw walked off.

"Yeah.." Lightningpaw mumbled looking at his paws.

The followed Splashpaw.