Lost Stars

Chapter twenty

The sun beat down as the cold breeze drifted slowly. Blizzardclaw, Redpaw, Whiteriver and Gingerfoot walked contently down the border with WillowClan. They had just finished marking the LeafClan border. This time they met Deadfoot, Mouseclaw, Russetpaw and Lion on patrol. Few words were said and the two Clan's went on about their morning.

The wind rustled the river-water and sent ripples gently across the water. Whiteriver looked across as she raised her tail and walked with purpose. Gingerfoot glanced back and forth as a bird chirped loudly, flying overhead. "New-leaf is almost upon us! Then I can fish properly!"

Whiteriver purred lowly. "We can swim then or come out here and enjoy the sunset."

"You and who??" Redpaw asked as she leaped at a hole then turned around, yellow eye's rounded.

Blizzardclaw chuckled lowly as he knew as well as the Clan that Whiteriver had developed a crush on Adderfrost. The tom barely gave her the time of the day but she still mooned over him. He looked at Gingerfoot who had his ears perked towards his daughter as he stopped and started marking the border which was One-Tree.

Whiteriver glared at Redpaw then stalked away loudly and Blizzardclaw heard his apprentice purring. He walked over to a small reed-bed and marked it then moved down the bank and marked that as well.

Redpaw began to sharpen her claws on One-Tree as Whiteriver watched from a distance. She opened her mouth to speak but a splash sounded. They all looked up and then Gingerfoot jerked his and Blizzardclaw scrambled back up the small bank.

"Could be otters." Whiteriver mumbled quietly.

Her father nodded then crouched and unsheathed his claws. Redpaw looked up and rolled her eyes. "Nothing but a WillowClan patrol. Thornheart, Foxtail and Stonepaw."

"Tsk, tsk, tsk." Whiteriver clicked her tongue and looked between Redpaw and Stonepaw. "What was that earlier??" She asked.

Before they could argue, Gingerfoot cuffed both of them on their ears as he stood up. The three WillowClan cats' came to the small bank where Blizzardclaw previously was and they marked the small patch of land.

Blizzardclaw found Redpaw staring at Stonepaw who looked her way once. Thornheart waved his tail towards Gingerfoot who nodded. Foxtail kept glancing at Redpaw.

Whiteriver rolled her eyes and mumbled to herself as she waited. "What are you looking at??" Redpaw directed her question at Foxtail.

"Those eyes...are like my brother's and father. Did Heronstar have other kit's after Thornkit passed??" He asked Gingerfoot who nodded.

"She's your kin."

The reddish-brown tom jumped up the bank in an single bound and looked her over. She reared her head back, closely examining his face. She saw a set of claw marks on his otherwise handsome face. "What happened??" She breathed out and stared at him.

"Protected my mate from TreeClan's previous deputy." He mewed deeply. "I would like to get to know you like I did with your father, young one."

Stonepaw watched the two with unease but kept his cool. Thornheart unsheathed his claws as Gingerfoot backed up, tail raising. Whiteriver circled around to stand beside Blizzardclaw who waited for Redpaw to speak. "I wouldn't tell if they agreed to it. After all kin do need to stick together these days." Gingerfoot spoke up. He saw Thornheart nod in agreement.

"I'll let you know at the gathering. I should be a warrior by then." She spoke to Foxtail who grunted.

"Just like your father. But yeah that's the best place to speak on this subject." He agreed with her.