I took out a hunting patrol. There was me, Berrypaw, Rainthistle and Mousepaw. Mousepaw just came out of the bushes with a shrew in her jaws. I watched as she buried it and Rainthistle congratulated her apprentice. I looked around for Berrypaw, who came bounding out of the bush with a plump rabbit clutched in her mouth. I watched as she buried it.
"Well done!" I told my apprentice. "Come on." I said, alerting the others. "We have to catch more before we even think about heading back."
The three cats followed me through the forest to find more prey.
It had been a long time since their first catch and the four cats had caught a lot of prey between them. But as they were heading to collect some they'd buried, Berrypaw stopped.
"I smell something weird." she declared. Berrypaw had always had a slightly better nose than the other cats.
"Probably just an unusual smell for you Berrypaw." said Rainthistle without looking back.
"No." replied Berrypaw. "It's distant, but fresh." Berrypaw bounded into the bushes.
"Berrypaw!" I yelled and jumped after her. I could sense Rainthistle and Mousepaw behind me. Then I stopped when I realized what she meant by a weird smell. In front of us were three big muscular toms. Something told me they were rogues.
"Hello." said the youngest of them, obviously cheerier than the other two.
"Who are you?" hissed Rainthistle. I flicked my tail at her so she wouldn't attack.
"I am Claw." spoke one of the bigger cats. He was a dark tabby, with a menacing look in his eyes. "And this is Bloodsoul." he continued, flicking his tail at the other big cat, this one with a dirty white pelt.
"And this is Darksoul." it was Bloodsoul who spoke. He nodded his head towards the youngest. "What about you?" there was pure hatred in Bloodsoul's eyes.
I could tail Rainthistle was about to speak but I shot her a warning glance. I should introduce ourselves. "We Belong to Grassclan." I began. "I am Clan leader, Crowstar." as I announced I was Clan leader, Claw just looked confused, but Bloodsoul and Darksoul's eyes widened.
"Y-you lead a Clan?" asked a suddenly nervous Darksoul.
"Me and Darksoul used to belong to Fireclan. But since it got a new leader, it's not been the same. We left, trying to find a Clan to take us in. We found Claw who used to be a Clan warrior called Angelclaw. He hated the name so changed it to just Claw. He had been exiled. He won't remember much about Clan life, it was so long ago." explained Bloodsoul.
"And this is my apprentice Berrypaw." I said, flicking my tail towards my apprentice. "And this is my third in command Rainthistle and her apprentice Mousepaw." I finished, nodding towards my other two Clan mates. "You say you're looking for a Clan to take you in?"
Rainthistle hissed over my shoulder. "What are you, mad? The one was exiled! You must be crazy! You don't even know these cats."
I whipped round. "In case you haven't forgotten, Rainthistle, I am leader of Grassclan, not you! I know Claw was exiled but it didn't have to have a good reason and he could have changed! So if you're not happy with it you can always leave! And I want no more complaints from you about these cats, or else you'll be facing exile yourself!" I snapped, no longer caring about if they heard. I turned back to the cats, who seemed to be exchanging amused glances.
"This way to camp." I told them, leading them through the bushes. "Rainthistle, you go with Mousepaw to collect the prey we caught. Take as many trips as you like." I was beginning to calm myself again. Rainthistle and Mousepaw bounded off, eager to get away, and I could tell Berrypaw was a bit jealous they got to leave.
When we got to camp we only got unbelieving glances from the cats of Grassclan. Nightpelt padded up to me.
"Crowstar! We smelt badger just outside camp, it was fresh! We haven't seen any yet but it doesn't smell like it's going to go away any time soon." she reported.
"Thank you Nightpelt." I replied, I had bigger priorities on my mind.
I jumped to the top of the fallen oak and told the Clan about the new cats, aware of them turning to spit and hiss at the newcomers. Just then did a pitiful wail pierce the air.
"Well done!" I told my apprentice. "Come on." I said, alerting the others. "We have to catch more before we even think about heading back."
The three cats followed me through the forest to find more prey.
It had been a long time since their first catch and the four cats had caught a lot of prey between them. But as they were heading to collect some they'd buried, Berrypaw stopped.
"I smell something weird." she declared. Berrypaw had always had a slightly better nose than the other cats.
"Probably just an unusual smell for you Berrypaw." said Rainthistle without looking back.
"No." replied Berrypaw. "It's distant, but fresh." Berrypaw bounded into the bushes.
"Berrypaw!" I yelled and jumped after her. I could sense Rainthistle and Mousepaw behind me. Then I stopped when I realized what she meant by a weird smell. In front of us were three big muscular toms. Something told me they were rogues.
"Hello." said the youngest of them, obviously cheerier than the other two.
"Who are you?" hissed Rainthistle. I flicked my tail at her so she wouldn't attack.
"I am Claw." spoke one of the bigger cats. He was a dark tabby, with a menacing look in his eyes. "And this is Bloodsoul." he continued, flicking his tail at the other big cat, this one with a dirty white pelt.
"And this is Darksoul." it was Bloodsoul who spoke. He nodded his head towards the youngest. "What about you?" there was pure hatred in Bloodsoul's eyes.
I could tail Rainthistle was about to speak but I shot her a warning glance. I should introduce ourselves. "We Belong to Grassclan." I began. "I am Clan leader, Crowstar." as I announced I was Clan leader, Claw just looked confused, but Bloodsoul and Darksoul's eyes widened.
"Y-you lead a Clan?" asked a suddenly nervous Darksoul.
"Me and Darksoul used to belong to Fireclan. But since it got a new leader, it's not been the same. We left, trying to find a Clan to take us in. We found Claw who used to be a Clan warrior called Angelclaw. He hated the name so changed it to just Claw. He had been exiled. He won't remember much about Clan life, it was so long ago." explained Bloodsoul.
"And this is my apprentice Berrypaw." I said, flicking my tail towards my apprentice. "And this is my third in command Rainthistle and her apprentice Mousepaw." I finished, nodding towards my other two Clan mates. "You say you're looking for a Clan to take you in?"
Rainthistle hissed over my shoulder. "What are you, mad? The one was exiled! You must be crazy! You don't even know these cats."
I whipped round. "In case you haven't forgotten, Rainthistle, I am leader of Grassclan, not you! I know Claw was exiled but it didn't have to have a good reason and he could have changed! So if you're not happy with it you can always leave! And I want no more complaints from you about these cats, or else you'll be facing exile yourself!" I snapped, no longer caring about if they heard. I turned back to the cats, who seemed to be exchanging amused glances.
"This way to camp." I told them, leading them through the bushes. "Rainthistle, you go with Mousepaw to collect the prey we caught. Take as many trips as you like." I was beginning to calm myself again. Rainthistle and Mousepaw bounded off, eager to get away, and I could tell Berrypaw was a bit jealous they got to leave.
When we got to camp we only got unbelieving glances from the cats of Grassclan. Nightpelt padded up to me.
"Crowstar! We smelt badger just outside camp, it was fresh! We haven't seen any yet but it doesn't smell like it's going to go away any time soon." she reported.
"Thank you Nightpelt." I replied, I had bigger priorities on my mind.
I jumped to the top of the fallen oak and told the Clan about the new cats, aware of them turning to spit and hiss at the newcomers. Just then did a pitiful wail pierce the air.
