A new beginning

New friends (Chapter eight)

In the past two quarter moons, life had improved somewhat. Whiteheart's and Nightwing's kits had overcome their case of greencough, while Raven's and Moonfur's kits only wanted one thing which was milk.

The hunting patrols came back from every trip with at least two pieces of prey. The border patrols consisted of reports that WillowClan and FireClan had the similar problems as them.

But as each day passed the same thought crossed Heronstar's mind. Where was Raven?? He sent patrols as far as the old twoleg place but it was the same as always. Nothing. Not a scent or sight of him.

And Moonfur. Just gone after giving up her kits a half a moon ago.

Lately he's been sending his best trackers, which consisted of Lightningfur, Rabbitfoot and Nightwing, to places behind his territory, out of fear that Raven could be plotting to kill him.

His father, Foxstar, has been rather quiet lately also. He shuddered as he remembered his last words. 'I killed Flowerpelt!'

His whole life has been a lie. He always thought his mother died giving birth to him. But no, Foxstar couldn't handle her giving him a weak son so he murdered her. Then later on had another son by Dapplestar, giving him Foxtail.

He blinked his yellow eyes and got up walking outside. He slithered down the rocks leading up to his den and walkes over to the freshkill pile. It consisted of a scrawny rabbit, two blackbirds and a tiny vole, no bigger than a baby bird.

He chose a blackbird before going over in between the warriors den and High rock. He settled down and began eating before Sunstorm and Rabbitfoot came over. He gave them a nod before swallowing.
"Want to patrol WillowClan's border with me??" He mewed.

Sunstorm nodded while Rabbitfoot pondered the question before yawning wide and going to the entrance waiting on them. Sunstorm rose and did the same.

Heronstar finished his blackbird, burying the remains and padding over to the entrance. "Lead." He mewed as he looked at Rabbitfoot.

The brown and white tom had a look of surprise on his face before heading out. His tail twitching anxiously as he lead his leader and clanmate towards WillowClan's border.

They traveled slowly through their territory as the cold leaf-bare weather flowed freely around them. The dead flowers and grass loitered beneath their paws as Heronstar looked around.

Before long they came to grasshead clearing and stopped, scenting prey. Rabbitfoot walked forward slowly crouching low to the ground as the tall grass was gone.

He flickered his tail twice, signalling that there was prey up ahead. Sunstorm nodded going around to the left while Heronstar went to the right.

Up ahead was three rabbits that was hopping around, chittering amongst themselves. The smallest one stopped, raising it's ears and small nose twitching as a new scent filled it's nose.

It gave a call before sprinting away and a yowl was heard behind it and it turned it's head looking behind seeing Rabbitfoot running and leaping with his mouth in a snarl as he brung it to the ground and biting it's neck.

Sunstorm raced beside the rabbit he was trying to get but was running out of breath. He veered in front of it sending it back towards Rabbitfoot. "It's coming towards you!" He yowled and Rabbitfoot turned around with outstretched claws.

Heronstar heard a shriek as the rabbit in front of him gained more yards in front of him by the second. He spurned on, pushing himself to go faster and faster.
He stopped after the rabbit crossed the stream and jumped across.

His heart was pounding, head was racing as he fought to catch his breath. 'that rabbit was fast!'
He thought. "I'm way over here by one tree already."

Once he caught his breath he started marking the border. He sprayed his scent waiting for the wind to carry it across.

Before long, Sunstorm and Rabbitfoot came with their catches hanging from their mouths.
"No luck??" Asked Rabbitfoot.

"Not this time I'm afraid." He mewed back.

"Actually I believe this is yours." A voice mewed as it walked up. They all turned around and stared as a black, white and gray she-cat stood there, shaking water off her pelt.

"Who are you?!" Rabbitfoot mewed defensively while Sunstorm raised his hackles, growling lowly.

Heronstar didn't look fazed at all. He simply nodded his thanks and picked up the rabbit. "You two mark the rest of the border and head back. You," he looked at the she-cat, "are to come with me." He mewed softly.
~~~~~

Back at camp everything was going ok. Stormclaw, Thunderheart and Nightwing padded into camp after marking the FireClan border. Thunderheart went over to Dawnpool and started talking to her. It was sunhigh.

Nightwing went inside the nursery after grabbing the scrawny rabbit from the morning pile.

Silverfall came out her den with Hazeleye trailing behind her and together they left camp.

Weaselfur, Gingerfoot and Lilystream padded out to go hunting after grooming their selves.

Moments later Whiteheart came out of the nursery with Nightwing and they sat out in the opening while Blizzardkit and Icekit played outside for the first time. Little Eaglekit stumbled out with Brindlekit and Adderkit behind him as they tried to find Whiteheart to get some more milk.

She kindly moved her tail and led them inside the entrance of the nursery, crouching low eating the rabbit. The bones crunched loudly as she chewed. She swallowed while Nightwing played outside with Blizzardkit and Icekit.

They both mewed loudly whenever he moved his tail away in the nick of time as they pounced. He purred lowly as his eyes showed a look of pride.
"How long until our kits are playing around like this??" He mewed to Whiteheart as he turned his head towards her.

She looked up from her meal after swallowing. "In a moon or so." Her blue eyes shone brightly as she looked at her kits. "They're already moving at such a young age."

A sudden commotion broke outside and Nightwing rushed out while Whiteheart ushered the kits over to her.

Thunderheart, Dawnpool and Stormclaw all was growling lowly and snarling as Heronstar padded inside with the strange she-cat he met at the WillowClan border.

Dawnpool lunged at her but the strange she-cat dodged easily. Dawnpool kept on attacking as the she-cat easily dodged with each attempt.

"You're boring me! Fight me with all you got!"

"Stop!" Nightwing yowled. "Stop!"
He pushed past Thunderheart and Stormclaw and jumped on Dawnpool. She wriggled with desperate movements but to no avail.

"You are not to harm her!" He breathed out heavily.

"And why not?!" She mewed back angrily.

"Because I feel like I've seen her somewhere before. It's just a feeling." He mewed lowly.

"And that feeling is correct son." Weaselfur, who had managed to slip back inside without being noticed,mewed. He got up and took his single catch, which was a small bird, over to the freshkill pile.
"This is your sister, Milo."