Mapleshade's Revenge

Chapter Eleven

"Are you sure you're fit enough to leave?"

Maplepaw listened closely as Moonbreeze questioned Willowstar. The Thunderclan leader was determined on leaving the camp before her kits arrived. A half moon had past since Lionpaw and Maplepaw had gone on their little "adventure" at Sunningrocks.

"Don't worry Moonbreeze.  I'll be fine. The kits won't be here for a quarter moon!" Willowstar meowed, her voice growing even more desperate. 

Moonbreeze sighed, "It's obviously no good trying to persuade you to stay," The she-cat flicked her tail, "But, I want someone to go with you."

Willowstar's gaze rested on Maplepaw, who was watching from the edge of the camp. "She can come," She meowed thoughtfully. 

Moonbreeze dipped her silvery head, "Very well. If you start to feel odd come straight back to camp."

Willowstar rolled her yellow eyes, "You worry too much. " She nudged Moonbreeze on the shoulder with her nose, "I. Will. Be. Fine."

Moonbreeze licked her friend's ear, "Okay then."

Willowstar shook her fur then padded towards Maplepaw, "Do you want to come with me? We can hunt."

Maplepaw perked her ears,"Sure." She remembered her sister resting in the apprentice den, "Can Mistpaw come too?"

Willowstar shrugged, "Why not? The more hunters the better."

"Great!" Maplepaw exclaimed, "I'll go fetch her."

Maplepaw walked to the apprentice den and peeked her head in. Mistpaw was soundly sleeping, her flank steadily rising and falling. Maplepaw prodded her in the side with her paw.

Mistpaw jolted out of her nest, her fur ruffled,"Wha-What's going on?"

"Everything is fine," Maplepaw soothed, "We are going hunting with Willowstar. "

Mistpaw perked her ears, "Really? Great!" She tilted her head, "Wait, shouldn't she be in the nursery?"

Maplepaw shrugged, "She insisted on going outside of the camp one last time before her kits arrived. "

Mistpaw twitched her whiskers, "Did Moonbreeze say it was okay?"

"Stop asking so many questions!" Maplepaw flicked her sister's ear with the tip of her tortoishell tail playfully, "She'll be fine. Now come on."

Maplepaw turned then bounded out of the den, nearly crashing in to Lionpaw.

"Hey! Watch where you're going!" He growled. He straightened as Mistpaw appeared from the apprentice den," Where are you all off to?"

"Willowstar is taking us out into the forest," Mistpaw meowed excitedly.

Lionpaw lashed his yellow tail, "I'm coming too!"

Maplepaw exchanged an annoyed glance with Mistpaw, her own annoyance reflecting off of her face.

"Oh no you aren't!" Mudspots exclaimed, making her way from the elders den, the stench of mouse bile clinging to her fur. "You have to finish checking Clearpool for ticks."

"Aww!" Lionpaw complained, "How come they get to have all of the fun?"

Clearpool's raspy voice sounded from inside the elders den, "I'm not getting any younger over here!"

Mudspots's whiskers twitched in amusement, "Go on then. "

Lionpaw, casting a longing look out into the forest, slipped into the elders den.