ClawClan (Season 1: Episode 1-The Beginning) -Warrior Cats Fan Fiction-

Chapter 11

Fangclaw took the time to stop his checkings and to get over with the assigning. He ordered the Morning patrol to find more food for Minkbounce. Sunrises ago, the said patrol never found any fresh-kill, except ones that are now crowfood; food that grew old and rotten, not good for any queen and her kits nor for the other clanmates. It was hard to find fresh-kill in the middle of a brutal leafbare.

He then assembled another morning patrol for the borders. Something in the old tomcat's bones told him that Moonstar and her entourage might be making trouble with the borders again. He could check them out, but the duty of assigning duties to each warrior was taking his time away. In all honesty, this was a boring thing he can do. It was the same thing every day; giving out the same duties to his clanmates, and knowing same results: it either went well or a non-dangerous attack by the Clan-Cats. Fangclaw would rather go watch the same dens every day, seeing the same numbers in the den: empty, or full, or only has one cat in it.

Then it hit the leader as he recognized the similarities of assigning and watching. Did Troutclaw find this assigning thing fun as much as Fangclaw finds joy in watching for his clanmates and the surroundings? It never occurred to the leader that him and his Right-Hand had a new connection: both of them have boring duties. The tomcat frowned as he missed the opportunity to discuss of this new thing between him and his forever-dead friend. 

Fangclaw silently promised to himself that he would uphold the two duties, for the silvery tomcat. He (Fangclaw) decided that it would be the best to keep the rank onto his dead friend. What the leader didn't thought of is what his clanmates are going to think, seeing their leader taking up all his time for their safety and survival. Only time can tell.

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As the sun rose up, Fangclaw continued to assign more patrols to his clanmates. Boring it was, but it was worth it. The ginger tomcat blinked his blood-shot eyes; he did not peacefully sleep in the past hours of morning. He could sleep on the trunk, but he has one more assignment to give, typically for Yarnmuscle. The very young warrior's face beamed with animation, for that this was his first patrol to lead.

"Alright," the warrior whispered. "Thornpelt, Foxwhisperer and Sharpfang!" he called, beckoning them to move into the forest to gather fresh-kill, if there is any....

As the morning patrol left the clearing, Fangclaw dropped off the High-Stump. He was for sure ready to sleep, yet he was told to stay awake and keep watch. Watch for what? he questioned to himself. He had already did the duty when he woke up. Maybe he could check again? Convinced by himself, the leader sighed and twisted his head to the Warriors' den: empty due to every warrior on the morning patrols. Fallenshadow, the dark brown guard, was near the entrance of Kitten's den. It was every guards' duty to protect The Messenger; otherwise, some guards protect their clanmates instead of the dead white and black shell. Fangclaw took the time to skip Kitten as the guard can check her himself. 

Then the leader checked the nursery. Scent was faint milk, meaning that the queen is still having a hard time feeding her and Troutclaw's kits. The name of her mate does make her frown, knowing that the kits could not meet their father. A glint of a colorful pelt caught Fangclaw's attention. Maybe he could check on the Doctor and her Assistant; they did had a rough time with healing as the herbs were frosted and wilted, no longer good for their injured warriors. How could Fangclaw help when no herbs in leafbare? As said before, there was one herb left that was kept secret between the Doctor, the Assistant, and Foxwhisperer.

"Is nothing you can concern for, Fangclaw," reassured Autumnwind after the leader asked what the herb was. "Soon you might find out."

Fangclaw hoped it will, or maybe the tortoiseshell molly was lying, giving false hope. Whatever it may be, he quietly prayed to DeadClan that the truth/lie can save ClawClan from any more danger. Spoken so soon!

the latest patrol, one that was led by Yarnmuscle, came back earlier than Fangclaw can imagine. The sun was almost to the clouds, though. Maybe they did it faster than the others. Or-

"We were attacked by the Clan-Cats," Yarnmuscle announced to the ginger leader. "It was about a four cat group." 

Then Sharpfang took over the explanation, "I thought it was over until Foxwhisperer encouraged us to fight back," -the warrior smiled- "those fox-hearted cats did not see it coming!" 

Foxwhisperer smiled gorgeously and proudly. Although the cats fought back, they still got a few scratches but altogether were harmless. 

"Well done, Foxwhisperer," Fangclaw praised the handsome red warrior. 

"It was nothing; I did what I must do for ClawClan."

The elderly tomcat ignored the patrol mates who are challenging the red tomcat that it wasn't 'nothing'. Glancing around, Fangclaw could see inspiration in the eyes of some warriors around the clearing. Other clanmates shown something different... like Autumnwind, whose amber marbles shone little affection for the young warrior (Foxwhisperer). It hurts the leader's heart by little, but he knows that it is not meant to be, it never was. He was the leader, she was a Doctor. There will be little to no time for them. But who knows, maybe Autumnwind found Foxwhisperer an inspirer. Maybe she did not develop feelings for him yet. Neither way matters to the old tomcat anymore. In fact, he was happy that his clanmates are finding the fox-like cat's spirit as inspiration. Maybe it could increase ClawClan's survival in the forest!

But this doesn't mean that Fangclaw will be making Foxwhisperer the Right-hand. The decision was final: Troutclaw is still the Right-hand as the leader take over their duties.