Morningflame sat in the small medicine den, sorting herbs and pushing them into organized piles. Beside her, Nightpool worked in a comfortable silence, expertly moving the herbs into her storage and plucking out the occasional mishap. Next to Nightpool was a young kit, perhaps two moons old, called Sootkit. She was the loudest of the bunch, asking a question about every two seconds. While this irritated Morningflame slightly, Nightpool seemed unperturbed, answering the questions with quick and informative information.
   
    The evening light gently shone into the den, causing Sootkit to yawn rather loudly and stretch her small, gray body.
   
    "Perhaps it's time for you to go back to the nursery, Sootkit," The medicine cat muttered kindly, nudging the small kit's shoulder with her nose. After a few mewls of protest, Sootkit padded out of the den. Nightpool smiled softly to herself as she turned back to her sorting, paws coated with different herb scraps.

    "She's a cutie," Morningflame commented, passing a bundle of herbs across the den to Nightpool. "You'll have a great apprentice when she's of age."

    Nightpool huffed and tucked the leaves into a crevice before turning back to her littermate. "I am not old, Morningflame, I won't need an apprentice for at least twelve more moons."

    At this, the deputy rolled her eyes. "You'll break her little heart if you turn her down! Besides, you could die like, literally any day. Yesterday you rolled down a hill into a patch of thistles trying to catch a butterfly."

    "Hey! I was getting borage, thank you, for Breezepetal," Nightpool protested, setting down the burdock root that was in her mouth. "And which one of us fell into the lake three sunrises ago? I'll give you a hint, it's not me."

    At this comment, Morningflame felt her face heat up. That was a very, very embarrassing moment. She hadn't landed in deep enough water to be submerged, but her fur had become wet, making her look like some sort of drowned rat. To make matters worse, Wolfstar, the handsome ShadowClan leader, had to be the one to fish her out. "Oh, shut up. I'm going to gather a patrol."

    "Don't fall into any lakes~" Nightpool teased as the deputy walked out, earning an extra huff from Morning in return. She smiled lightly at her littermate before returning to her herbs, the smile slipping from her face.

     Morningflame was immediately greeted by her closest friend in the camp in which she wasn't related to- Goldenfur. The yellow tabby she had bounded over within seconds, tail flicking happily behind her. "Want to share tongues?"

     "Thanks, Goldenfur, but I was about to make a patrol. But you can come along, if you want," Morning purred, strutting towards the warriors den with her friend not far behind.

    The tabby she-cat nodded enthusiastically at the invite, before asking in a hushed tone, "Could Swanclaw come as well? He's been very antsy lately, his kits are coming soon."

    The tortoiseshell deputy nodded in understanding before peering into the den. "Swanclaw? Would you like to come on a patrol with me and Goldenfur?"

    A low grumble was heard from inside the den, but after a few moments of groaning a tall, white cat stalked out, his whiskers twitching and fur beginning to gray. "I s'pose I have to," was his response, which Morningflame gladly took.

    "Great! It'll only be the three of us, this is only a hunting patrol. Hailstorm already led a border patrol for tonight. Let's just get out there, get a bit of prey each and settle in for the night," Morningflame announced, trying to act more professional in the presence of a senior warrior.

    After the group spoke their agreements, the trio wandered out into the open moorland. Morningflame gestured towards a rabbit brroe a good bit aways from camp. The three cats crept forward, bellies low to the dirt, tall grass covering their bodies. Morning could tell by the slight blow of her whiskers that the wind was heading towards them, not away. Perfect hunting conditions.

    "As soon as the rabbit goes a few paces from its burrow, Goldenfur and I will chase it towards here. Swanclaw, be ready to attack at our signal. Look, there it goes. Ready?" The young cat whispered, tail gliding left to right.

   With that, Morningflame shot out from behind the grass. Goldenfur followed not too far behind, and the rabbit spotted them. It desperately began to run, towards the patch of tall grass, where Swanclaw waited. The plan was going swimmingly. Morningflame sped up, the rabbit was nearing Swanclaw and—

    A pained yowl made Morning stop in her tracks. Goldenfur, however, sped ahead, parting the grass with her lithe body. It revealed Swanclaw, mouth agape, staring at a cat. The cat was staring back, but not in a shocked way, with menace. Before either of them could react, the unfamiliar cat sped away, leaving the trio confused and unsure of what really just happened.

    Goldenfur was the first to speak. "Come on, Swanclaw, let's get you back to camp... Nightpool can get you some thyme."

    "I don't need no rhyme or whatever you said," Swanclaw growled, pulling away from Goldenfur's comforting tail. "We lost the rabbit. A fat one, it was, too. Great." With a mighty wheeze, Swanclaw stood up and began waking back to camp.

    Goldenfur and Morningflame made eye contact- Then began to follow him.