Dawn washed over the forest like water at the shore. The beginnings of the leafgreen sun shone through the leaves, dappling the ground below. Fawnheart, Redbreeze, Freezefall and Stormcloud were on the last stretch of their silent vigil.
Redbreeze's paws worked in the dry earth below. This was the downside to becoming a warrior; of course, he would never say it out loud, but he never liked the idea of a silent vigil. He had the attention span of a rabbit. The young calico tom had been bored out of his mind all night, and the only thing keeping him from running off into the forest was Fawnheart.
Whenever Redbreeze's tail began to twitch or his paws began to knead, he felt the beautiful she-cat eyeing him. This wasn't a bad thing; one look into her emerald green eyes could make him want to stay in ThunderClan forever. He appreciated her company. And her looks. And her charm. And her personality. Stop that, Redbreeze told himself. Focus. Focus on... respecting your Clan... or something. Arrgh, do they just want us to think about how good of warriors we are all night?!
Redbreeze argued with himself in his head for what seemed like forever until he heard soft voices coming from the camp below. Finally! The tom's paws felt weary and he felt like he could barely keep his eyes open. I just want... to... sleep...
A movement at the corner of his eye woke him up. With droopy eyes, he looked over to see the rest of the new warriors stirring. Freezefall and Stormcloud were grooming themselves while Fawnheart arched her back in a stretch. Redbreeze admired the pretty brown-and-cream she-cat for a few moments before stretching as well. He felt the other cats' gazes burning into his pelt. I moved the most out of anyone. They probably think I'm already disrespecting my Clan. Great StarClan, I'm such a mouse-brain. My first day as a warrior and I already can't stay still. And in front of Fawnheart, no less.
While Redbreeze had been restless all night, he wanted nothing more than to curl up in a nest in the warriors' den and get a well-deserved nap. But there was no way he was going to be the first to head to camp. Not after what how he had acted. He walked up to Freezefall. He wanted to prompt a conversation that might lead into the concept of sleep.
"Hey. Have a good night?"
To his surprise, the white she-cat replied with no hostility. "Yup! I did a lot of... thinking," she said with a bit of hesitation in her voice. Redbreeze purred with amusement. From behind him, he could hear Fawnheart yawn and start padding toward the thorn barrier.
"Well... I guess I'd better go. I'm exhausted." Redbreeze followed Fawnheart into the tunnel, and after a few moments he heard Freezefall and Stormcloud's pawsteps close behind. The four new warriors arrived in the camp, and Redbreeze could barely hold his eyes open. His heavy paws dragged him into the apprentice's den, and he arrived at the entrance before he realized what he was doing.
Fawnheart chuckled behind him. Shoot! She saw me. "We're warriors now, remember?" She pointed her tail to the warriors' den. "I'm gonna grab a bite to eat and then have a good night's rest."
"All right." Redbreeze barely made it to the warriors' den. He flopped down onto the closest nest and shut his eyes. He lay there for a few moments before he heard Fawnheart come in. The young tom didn't even bother greeting her, but before he started having second thoughts, he felt a warm pelt beside him.
Is that...? Redbreeze sniffed the air around him. It was Fawnheart. The she-cat purred beside him. Redbreeze relaxed and fell into a deep sleep.
