Warrior Cats; Smokeskull's Revenge [ 1 ]

Chapter 17

The sun had not yet risen from the nights rest when Smokepaw opens her eyes sleepily. She looks at her side to find Willowpaw dozing peacefully. She smiles and purrs at the thought of being so snug beside her sister.
Smokepaw lowers her head to Willowpaw's head. She rubs her nose on her sisters ear. "Wake up, sister. It's time to go to Echoleaf's den." Smokepaw purrs loudly to wake her sister calmly without disturbing her doze.
Willowpaw lifts her head sleepily and looks over to her sister. She purrs in return and lunges herself out of the tree. Her weight pushing the tree slightly. "It's already sunup. We must hurry. Medicine cats are suppose to get up earlier to check on the cats who don't feel well. And, they are suppose to be the first ones to check on the nursery. Although the queens do that overnight I guess." Willowpaw meows excitedly for the day to start.
"Hold your tail!" Smokepaw sounded crossed. "All the cats share tongues in the morning. May we?" She bowed in front of her sister, making her feel like the leader of StarClan.
Willowpaw twitched her whiskers in amusement. "We may." She bows in return, with a small giggle.
The two apprentices start to pad back to camp when Greytail appeared in the clearing. "Watch out! Watch out! There are rabbits in the area!" The old cat yowled for all to hear.
"Oh no!" Willowpaw cried. "If I'm not in time, they'll know I was out!" She started to gallop across the clearing when Lionstripe stomped his giant paw in front of her. Surprised at how quickly he moved, Willowpaw slammed into him. Although, he did not budge.
Willowpaw shrunk down into her place. But lucky for her, her sister spoke up. "We couldn't stand to be away from eachother so we met at the old oak tree last night for a last sleep together as sisters. I told her we wouldn't get caught, and she trusted me, so if anyone should get in trouble," -Smokepaw pushed Willowpaw back and stood in front of her.- "it's me..." Smokepaw lowered her head.
Lionstripe stared at the two sisters. "I was going to say," He cleared his throat and sat down. "Skystar said she wants Sunpool, Hollywish, and me to take you on your first Dawn Patrol." He stared blankly at the two for another moment. "And if you two want to stay together at the old oak tree together at night, it's fine with me. You just have to ask Skystar and then you're free to hang out with your sister there anytime." He smiles.
Relieved, the two sisters looked at eachother. They all started laughing for a moment, then cleared. "I have to meet Echoleaf at the fern tunnel to the medicine cat den." Willowpaw smiles awkwardly then leaps away, fading into the brambles towards Echoleaf's den. "I'll meet you at the camp entrance!"
Smokepaw watched her leave. Sadness crawled up her spine as she faded into the black tunnel.
"Maybe I should go after her-"
"No need, I sent Hollywish to get her because I assumed she'd be there. I was looking you you when she bumped into me." He dipped his head when he found Skystar watching him. Lionstripe got up from his sitting place on the morning dew-laid grass. His tail was damp from sitting so long.
A flood of worry flushed her body when she realized she's never met this Hollywish cat. What if she is a mean cat? What if she is not gentle with Willowkit at all? What if-
Lionstripe interrupted her thoughts, "We're going to patrol the PondClan side of the border, since they have been suspected to not be as bad fighters as MapleClan warriors. Plus, they are very trustworthy cats." He purred in thought of the graceful warriors. "If we met them on our borders, they'd say hello instead of attack us like the other clans would." The great warrior added with a smile.
Skystar got up from her place and started coming towards them. Her face was straight, impossible to read her emotion. She didn't look angry, that's for sure. "Before you leave, may I speak with Smokepaw?" Her tail flicked sharply and Lionstripe turned away to pad off to meet the patrol team. Skystar's whiskers twitched as the warrior left them. "I noticed you did not sleep in your den last night."
Before Smokepaw could say a word, Skystar continued. "I also noticed you stood up for your sister when she did not do anything. Being honest is a skill not everyone learns." The leader dips her head. "I've told you this already, but I know you care about your sister deeply." Skystar pauses for a moment to choose out her words carefully.
Smokepaw suddenly blazed with excitement. Was Skystar going to move Willowpaw back to warrior apprenticing? That would be so cool! Smokepaw's eyes widen with mingled excitement and fear.
"I overheard you tell Lionstripe that you would like to sleep with your sister at the old oak tree." Skystar watched the apprentices eyes grow bigger, happiness flooding Smokepaw's body. "Sunpool said it would be a great idea," The leader dips her head in honor of the deputy's name.
"Sunpool?" Smokepaw drops her head to the side.
Skystar nods. "I guess the news hasn't gone around camp yet. Sunpool is the new deputy of CloudClan." Her ears shot up, trying to detect any negative response to the new deputy. She dectected none. "Anyway, Sunpool and I have agreed to let you and your sister sleep at the oak tree every night from now on, by your choice, of course."
The small grey apprentice let out a mew of happiness. She and her sister would be together after all!
"You better go," Skystar bent down to touch noses with the kit-sized apprentice. "The patrol team is waiting for you!" She watches Smokepaw get up. Her grey paws fumble together as she leaps forward. The apprentice let's out another short mew goodbye and bounces off to the camp entrance.
Willowpaw, Lionstripe and two other warriors stood in front of her when she got there. Lionstripe spoke first, "Smokepaw, this is Hollywish."
Smokepaw almost hissed at her name, but then she saw the kind look on her face. I can't believe I doubted that friendly face! Smokepaw scanned the she-cat.
Hollywish is an all black she-cat with a white patch on her left back paw. Her fur is glossy and silky and her eyes are pure dewdrop colour: blue. She was kind and funny. Her funny puns would make the day better. Hollywish was indeed a good cat. She wouldn't harm a fly.
"Smokepaw, this is Sunpool as you probably already know."
Sunpool is an all white cat with large black and orange patches. Her green eyes are like emeralds, they sparkle brightly in the sunlight. No doubt her name was truly suppose to be Sunpool.
Smokepaw scanned the deputy. "Thank you, Sunpool, for letting me and my sister stay at the old oak tree," She gives thanks to Sunpool. Her ear twitched as she comforts herself with the thought. "Until we are comfortable with not being cuddle buddies anymore." She added briefly with a smile.
"We better get going, we're late as it is already." Hollywish dips her head and let's Sunpool take on the front of the patrol. Their tails hanging lowly behind them.
The patrol team starts dashing through the trees, tall and short. Wind gusts through their fur. Willowpaw stays running slowly behind. Smokepaw waits for her everytime she is almost in lost sight. "Come on Willowpaw. You can do this! Just remember what I taught you during our kithood!" Smokepaw encourages her sister to keep up the pace, and so she does.

All five cats stop at the border scent markers. Lionstripe turns to Smokepaw as if she had just said something brilliant. "Smokepaw, what can you smell?" The warrior lowers his jaw to taste the scents around him.
Smokepaw drops her tail and holds her head to the sky. Her nose pointing upwards. "I can smell leftover traces of multiple fresh killed voles and rabbit by-" Her senses lowered. "I can't figure out who this cat scent belongs too..." Smokepaw looks at her paws in confusion. She had worked so hard and practiced so much on scents, and now she blew it.
"Good job Smokepaw. That scent belongs to PondClan warriors. They must have been hunting in our territory." With his muzzle to the sky, his ears flattened. Sunpool and Hollywish did the same. They growled into the mist of PondClan until four warriors appeared.
"It's not what you think." The PondClan warrior came out of the middle. "This scent does belongs to us, but not because we were hunting in your territory, but because a warrior from our Clan had to be chased out. This warrior was secretly giving our kits to MapleClan. He's in your territory now. Watch your warriors and kits." The PondClan warriors faded back into the mist after the speech about the missing warrior.