Watershade's Story: Chapter Three

The sun shone into the apprentice den. I got up and stretched. The moss wad comfortable to sleep in, just like the moss in the nursery. I saw that Oakpaw was still asleep in her nest. So was Amberpaw, Dewpaw and Snowpaw. I looked over to Snakepaw's nest. He rose from his nest and began to lick himself all over. I knew I should wake the others, but I was sure that Amberpaw and Snowpaw wouldn't be happy if I woke them, they might start being nasty to me again. I poked Oakpaw.

"W-wha?" Mewed Oakpaw. "What's going on?"

"Time to get up." I replied.

Oakpaw rose from her nest and stretched. "Is there going to be a morning patrol?" She murmured.

"I don't know, probably." I said. "Come on, let's get out of here."

Oakpaw followed me out of the den and into the clearing.

"Nice day." I told her.

"Yeah." Oakpaw replied.

We heard pawsteps behind us. We spun around to see Amberpaw, Dewpaw and Snowpaw coming out of the apprentice den. Snakepaw came out from behind them.

"I bet they won't even catch a shrew!" I heard Amberpaw meow to Snowpaw. Snowpaw let out a purr of agreement.

"Hello Waterpaw! Hi Oakpaw!" Snakepaw came running towards us. He skidded to a halt in front of us. "I hope we go out on a hunting patrol together today!"

Then I saw Poppyfrost, Brackenfur, Spiderleg and Bramblestar walking towards us. Brackenfur was happy, which I was surprised to see. I had heard from Ivypool that Brackenfur's mate, Sorreltail, and died and so had his kits, Lilypaw and Seedpaw. They had been killed by two badgers during a hunting patrol. Their mentors Blossomfall and Bumblestripe, who were brother and sister, had mourned them for a long time. They even refused to eat. But they had gotten over them now. Lilypaw and Seedpaw will be hunting in StarClan now. Brackenfur was Snowpaw's mentor, Poppyfrost was Amberpaws's, and Spiderleg was Dewpaw's.

"Amberpaw, Snowpaw and Dewpaw, you are going with your mentors on morning patrol." Said Bramblestar.

"Yes! We won't have to go with those fox-dungs!" Mewed Amberpaw. I glared at her. I just wanted to rip her heart out and feed it to the crows. Poppyfrost hissed at her to be quiet.

"Snakepaw, you will be training with me today. And Waterpaw and Oakpaw," Bramblestar's amber eyes fixed on us. "Lionblaze and Birchfall are waiting for you two by the warriors den, you will be going on a hunting partol with them."

"OK." Oakpaw meowed.

I watched Amberpaw, Snowpaw and Dewpaw go off on the morning patrol, while Snakepaw followed Bramblestar. I slinked off to the warriors den, with Oakpaw following behind me. I was really excited for our first hunting partol.