A False Sign

Chapter 3: Spottedpaw; Beliefs

Spottedpaw walked alongside her mentor, she was assigned to the dawn patrol. Spottedpaw was a proud Mountain Tribe cat, well, all Mountain Tribe cats were proud. And not just about their tribe. Mountain Tribe were the ones who thought their tribe was the best by far, but that's just an opinion.
"My legs hurt! Why do we have to walk the WHOLE border? No one would even dare step inside our territory. Especially not Wind Tribe!"
Spottedpaw chuckled softly.
Mountain Tribe had been for the past thousands of moons been invading and trying to take Wind Tribes territory, but Wind Tribe put up a fight to defend it, but the NEVER invaded or went onto Mountain Tribes territory. As for the other clans, Rain Tribe could care less what the other tribes bickering was about while Flame Tribe took interest in watching Mountain Tribe and Wind Tribe.
"Because Spottedpaw, we need to remark the borders, just in case."
Said her mentor
"What you mean? 'Just in case'?"
"If our scent grows stale Wind Tribe might think we're weak and try and steal prey."
He responded
"Highly doubt it."
Murmured  Swallowpoppy, leader of the patrol
Silence fell among the four cats walking the border, until they heard noise up ahead.
"Bristlepaw! Honestly."
"S-sorry! I tripped!"
"Be more careful next time!"
"Yes, Reedwhisker.."
Swallowpoppy quickened her pace, the Wind Tribe cats were at the border, obviously also on a patrol.
"What are you doing! Why is your scent on our side of the border?"
Reedwhisker glared at Swallowpoppy as she answered,
"My apprentice here tripped and fell down the hill onto your side."
Reedwhisker sounded angry
Spottedpaw looked at the apprentice, she was about 9 moons or so.
"Her?"
Spottedpaw snorted
"Did she trip over her big paws?"
Spottedpaw mocked
Bristlepaw looked down at her paws.
Wind Tribe cats were known to have naturally bigger paws than most of the forest cats by the River.
"She tripped on a manzanita root."
Reedwhisker growled.
Swallowpoppy watched the cats through slitted eyes
"Come on. We still have to finish the patrol."
Reedwhisker said to the rest of her patrol.
"Hey we weren't done questioning you!"
Swallowpoppy growled, she stepped over the border and pushed Reedwhisker to the ground. Bristlepaw let out a squeak of surprise. Reedwhisker growled,
"Your on our side of the border!"
"Oh yeah? What are you gonna do about it?"
Swallowpoppy taunted
Reedwhisker let out a fierce growl and she kicked Swallowpoppy several foxlength's back onto her side of the border.
"That."
Reedwhisker growled. Then her and the rest of their patrol padded off.
Spottedpaw rolled her eyes.
"Whatever. Let's just go back to camp."
As she stalked off the rest of the patrol followed, Swallowpoppy limping from her landing.
When they made it back from camp Swallowpoppy led her patrol over to Conestar. He watched them walk up to him with narrowed eyes.
"Why are you limping?"
He asked Swallowpoppy, but before she could respond Spottedpaw butted in.
"Cause she was too weak to handle a mousebrained Wind Tribe cat."
She scoffed, looking slightly annoyed.
"What happened?"
Conestar asked, but again was interrupted by Spottedpaw.
"This stupid apprentice fell over the border and when Swallowpoppy TRIED to teach them a lesson she was thrown off back to us. But don't worry, I made sure that apprentice knew that Mountain Tribe apprentices know better."
Spottedpaw smiled.
Conestar smiled in return.
"Very well done Spottedpaw. Swallowpoppy why don't you go get checked out by Pebblebreeze."
Swallowpoppy limped towards the hollow where the medicine den, elders den, and nursery were. Spottedpaw went over to her mother who was repairing the warriors den.
"Hi mum."
Spottedpaw said sitting down by her.
"Spottedpaw! How was your patrol?"
Pricklenose asked sitting down.
Spottedpaw smiled,
"It went great! I taught this mousebrained Wind Tribe apprentice that Mountain Tribe is the best!"
Her mother looked at her.
"What did I tell you about Wind Tribe?"
"Not to make fun of them cause they're just another tribe. But Conestar is so proud of me when I do!"
Pricklenose looked over at Conestar.
"Well, I'm your mother. You listen to me."
Spottedpaw nodded, but secretly she knew she wouldn't ever be able to do what her mother wished. Her mother didn't know what it was like, she was always on a hunting patrol or watching camp. She never went to gatherings either. Spottedpaw pricked her ears and a cat walked towards them. Spottedpaw turned her head to see Conestar. Pricklenose looked at him, challenge slightly in her eyes.
"Pricklenose. May I speak with you in my den?"
"Of course."
Pricklenose walked off with Conestar and they disappeared in his den.