Redpaw's Secret

Chapter 1

Redpaw's pov

The brown and red tom jumped and successfully landed on the thrush, biting its neck. He had killed it.

"Well done!" His mentor, Millefur, called out. He picked it up and padded back to the hunting patrol. His best friend Sparrowpaw, was sitting down, nibbling his forepaw. Redpaw shot him a confused glance. "We are
going back to camp now, that's all for today." His mentor flicked her tail and they set off back to camp.

The dry forest had seen not much rain since new-leaf and it was now leaf-fall and they were expecting rain. Redpaw could hear the sound of the water flowing through the camp. SpringClan had a river running through it that wasn't very deep. It was a nice shaded camp with four dens, technically five because the nursery had a secret pathway around the back that not many knew about, only the curious cats knew about it. Sparrowpaw didn't know about it but Redpaw was planning on telling him soon enough because he wanted them to hang out in a secret place.

"Stop dawdling!" Wilddrop called to Redpaw and Sparrowpaw who had fallen behind.

"Sorry!" Sparrowpaw yowled and they both hurried up to them. Redpaw dipped his head to Wilddrop, embarrassed. They headed back to camp and placed their prey on the fresh-kill pile. Skyestar looked at them approvingly.

"Now you can go see if the queens need anything and if not you two will be assigned for a night patrol." Skyestar dipped her blue-silver head and padded off towards her deputy. Sparrowpaw nudged him.

"Let's go. The quicker we do it, the more time we get off jobs!" He sprinted off without hearing Redpaw's response, leaving him no choice but to follow along. The clan smelt of damp wood and water, the fresh smells filling Redpaw's nose, making him feel relaxed in the tranquil environment. He padded into the nursery just after Sparrowpaw. His friend immediately turned back and padded out of the den.

"They said we don't need to do anything." Sparrowpaw announced. Redpaw smiled. Good, now we just wait for night patrol, Redpaw thought mischievously.

"How long is the gathering in?" Redpaw asked his friend who had started to groom his filthy pelt. Green eyes looked at him.

"You talk." Sparrowpaw laughed. Redpaw sat next to him.

"Yes, I do, I'm capable y'know? Silly bird-brain." Redpaw flicked his tail. He felt like clawing his friend for being such a mouse-brain. Yes, he talked. And he hadn't even answered his question.

Sparrowpaw just rolled his eyes and lay down on his side, trying to warm himself. Redpaw stayed quiet. It wasn't what he usually did though.

—

"Sparrowpaw! Redpaw! Come on! Hurry!" Sedgerunner - SpringClan's deputy - called to them.

Redpaw had almost fallen asleep but had forced himself to stay awake so he would hear the call. Quickly, he prodded Sparrowpaw and trotted over to his mentor and they set off without another word.

"Where are we going today?" Redpaw questioned as they left the camp.

"Hmm, SummerClan border." Said Millefur, not even looking back.

Brookpaw and Embertail has also come along. Brookpaw stood close to Sparrowpaw and Redpaw at all times, jumping at any sudden movement under the bushes. The stopped at the border, a thin line of bushes and plants. Redpaw couldn't hear anything except for pawsteps once in a while.

"Good evening." Redpaw jumped. The new that startled him was just a cat from SummerClan called Hollyspark. He relaxed as he saw the others.

"Good evening Hollyspark, Birdsky, Pinewisp, Littlepaw, Snailpaw." Millefur politely mewed and dipped her head to all the cats. "Just passing by and marking the border. See you at the gathering in a few sunrises hopefully."

"You too Millefur, Embertail and Wilddrop." The black she-cat dipped her head as their patrol headed away.

"Let's set the markers and then we're done." Embertail raced ahead with Brookpaw, completing the first border marker. Wilddrop and Sparrowpaw did the second and third and Redpaw did the fourth with his mentor.

"They're done, we'll make sure they're done, hang on a heartbeat." Embertail and Brookpaw disappeared and reappeared in no time, nodding.

"They're done and dusted." Brookpaw raised her tail happily.

"Good job everyone." Wilddrop congratulated the apprentices.

"I'm glad we aren't stuck as kits again." Sparrowpaw mewled like a kit.

"Yeah, that was like three moons ago, we are like what, nine moons? Ten moons now?" Redpaw smiled uncontrollably.

"I was being sarcastic!" Sparrowpaw mewed, a hint of sarcasm lapping at his voice.

"Right...." Rolling his eyes, Redpaw padded back to camp beside his mentor. Millefur started up random conversations but then stopped after Redpaw didn't give an input in it. Why does she always wait for me to say something?