Lost Stars

Chapter thirteen

"See Applepaw, this scent is LeafClan's. Notice how their scent mingles with WillowClan's and ours. Always remember that these cats are going to be more attuned to the forests than the water."

Applepaw gave a nod as she inhaled deeply. Blizzardclaw looked at Redpaw seeing her doing the same as was Antpaw.

Blizzardclaw heard Badgertooth growl. He saw Deadfoot, Lion and Mouseclaw with Oakpaw and Russetpaw. A decent patrol. Lion muttered lowly to his apprentice as he jerked his head at Blizzardclaw and his Clanmates. Mouseclaw let out a small chuckle as Russetpaw glanced at Eaglestripe. The gray and white tom muttered lowly as he flicked his tail in irritation. Adderfrost finished marking the border which was the small stream by eagle's hollow.

Blizzardclaw looked up at the gray clouds and shuddered. He knew that rain would soon be on the way. A bad combo with the leaf-fall weather. "Let's go." Adderfrost mewed curtly. "We have to finish marking the border."

The black tom turned quickly and padded away with Eaglestripe baring his teeth at the LeafClan patrol before padding behind his brother. Antpaw quickly left his scent before leaving with Applepaw and Redpaw. Blizzardclaw followed behind them.

Redpaw shoved Applepaw playfully before Antpaw bumped into her. Eaglestripe walked alongside Adderfrost and Blizzardclaw found himself looking at the slow water. The river was freezing over ever so slowly.

"What do you think of LeafClan??" Adderfrost mewed to Applepaw while glancing around CloudClan's territory. The apprentices stopped rough-housing as they thought of an answer.

"They seem alright to me." Antpaw spoke carefully.

"They seem nice and funny!" Applepaw shyly mewed.

"They'll make great allies if the need arises!" Redpaw jokingly mewed before nodding her head at her own answer.

"Too bad they're being led by that traitorous tom! If they weren't, maybe we could trust them." Adderfrost said as he flicked his tail.

"Give him a chance. SpiritClan has given them a chance to redeem himself. What do you think Eaglestripe??" Blizzardclaw mewed before scenting Stormstar, Whitepaw and Rockpaw up ahead.

The gray and white tom nodded thoughtfully but only grunted his response. He then turned his head and stopped as his leader walked up. The gray form of Stormstar flicked his tail as he pushed past them before calling over his shoulder, "We've marked the border that way. We've got training to do."

Adderfrost turned and padded quickly behind him with Applepaw on his tail. Eaglestripe looked at the sky before shuddering then walked behind him. Antpaw glanced at Redpaw quickly before trailing them. "Come along then." Blizzardclaw mewed to her.

The cold wind blew fiercely and he ruffled his pelt as quickly as he could to keep himself warm. He was glad he had a long pelt other than the short pelts most of his Clanmates had.

Before long they had made it to Eagle's Hollow and a moderate drizzle followed from the rain. He pushed his ears against his head and narrowed his eyes as he saw Stormstar line up the apprentices and he pacing in front of them, staring at them. Blizzardclaw noticed that the apprentices didn't play around as they usually would. 'Being a leader has it perks!'

"This training will be different than what you are used to! First off all of you will fight against two of us then wade through the mud that will assemble when the rain starts to fall more heavily! Then you will each run to One Tree a total of four times before trying to catch prey in the rain! Is that understood??" The gray tom yowled. He saw the apprentices nod curtly. "Alright then, Blizzardclaw and Adderfrost will face Whitepaw. Eaglestripe and I will go against Redpaw. You three," he flicked his tail at Antpaw, Rockpaw and Applepaw, "will observe until it's your turn."