Lightning's Storm

Rogues on the Border

I waited impatiently down in the center of camp for Cherrytail to appear. We were going on the sun-high patrol today, and I was eager to get out of camp and stretch my legs after spending the morning helping Fallowfern clean the nursery.

I bounced up and down on my toes. I didn't even get tired on patrols anymore. My legs had grown both longer and stronger as the sunrises passed, and my training continued.

I saw Cherrytail's tortoiseshell pelt appear from the mouth of the warrior's den. She bounded down the cliff and padded over to me.

"Ready?" she asked.

"I've been waiting all day!" I purred in reply.

"You two on sun-high patrol?" Waspwhisker asked, padding over to us.

"Yeah," Cherrytail replied.

"Good." Waspwhisker nodded. "Sharpclaw asked me to lead it."

"Now we just need..." Waspwhisker meowed, looking around. "Ah, there's one of them."

I glanced up to see Wolfshade padding across camp. Waspwhisker waved his tail at him, and he came bounding over to us.

"Sorry I'm a bit late," Wolfshade mewed.

"No you aren't. You're just on time," Waspwhisker replied amicably.

Despite the argument he got into with Ebonyclaw a moon or so ago, Waspwhisker was quite a considerate cat most of the time, all things considered.

But, I wonder if he's gotten over his feud with Ebonyclaw yet...

Wolfshade glanced over at me.

"Hey," he meowed, with a nod.

"Hey," I purred in reply.

A small flash of warmth flickered through me as I remembered the night hunt we shared together. It felt like we were bonded by that little secret now. The morning after the hunt, I had been a bit sluggish during my training with Cherrytail, my paws a tad slower than normal, but she never suspected a thing. And, as far as I could tell, no other cat knew anything either. Wolfshade didn't tell anyone a word about it, just like he promised.

"I'm here too!"

Minttail came bounding over to us, tail sticking up excitedly. She briefly touched her muzzle to Wolfshade's in greeting, and he blinked kindly at her.

"Alright that's everyone, let's go," Waspwhisker meowed, getting to his paws and leading us out of camp.

We followed the stream that snaked through the gorge into the woods. We were heading straight through our territory until we reached the border. I walked at the rear of the patrol with Wolfshade at my side. A deep breath filled my lungs with the crisp, cool air, and I listened to the breeze rattling the branches above, enjoying Wolfshade's familiar, silent company at my shoulder. That is, until, Minttail dropped back to walk on Wolfshade's other side.

"Did you know Fallowfern's kits will be apprentices soon?" Minttail meowed excitedly to him.

"Huh? Oh, yeah, I forgot about that," Wolfshade meowed, his gaze flitting through the trees distractedly.

"I hope Leafstar makes one of them my apprentice," Minttail said with a little hop.

"There are a lot of older warriors without apprentices right now though," I pointed out. "Waspwhisker, Clovertail, Patchfoot..."

"I would make a great mentor," Minttail continued as if I hadn't spoken.

My ears flattened. I looked away from her to roll my eyes and resisted the urge to snort at that comment.