Shocked and angry meows broke out, the fur rising along Foxflame's spine as Barktail limped into camp, helping Hornheart and Brindlesky, who were carrying Sootcloud between them. Foxflame leaped to his paws, exchanging glances with Bumblestripe and Duskstar, decisions passing between them. "Back up give them space everyone!" Foxflame meowed over them, bounding over to get between the wounded patrol and the crowd of clan cats, giving the warriors room to breathe.
"Every cat calm down so we can address the matter." Bumbleflash meowed calmly, and the yowls of questions settled to a muttering.
"Barktail, what happened?" Duskstar's deep meow was layered with concern as the old leader approached them. Ivyleaf and Fawnpaw picked their way through the crowd, carrying large bundles of herbs, Fawnpaw checking the other warriors wounds as Ivyleaf helped Sootcloud, who was slumped on the ground, blood staining his fur. Barktail's eyes were round with shock as he waited a heartbeat to catch his breath.
"RiverClan attacked us at the border, they surrounded us, there were to many..." He trailed off shakily, the whole clan went silent for a long moment before yowls of rage broke out, Duskstar's face was a deep frown. "Duskstar, t-they told us that this was only a warning for whats to come." Barktail stammered as Bumbleflash and Foxflame struggled to quiet the clan again.
The clan leaders gaze grew dark, and he turned to the clan, "I understand why most of you want us to strike back, but if what Barktail says is true, then we should prepare for the next strike, not blindly pursue them into a trap." Duskstar's hard gaze kept the clan from arguing, although most cats did not seem happy about their leaders decision. Foxflame felt uncertainty prickling in his pelt, but he forced it to the back of his mind, padding over to where Swanfeather was with Sorrelpaw, Sunpaw, and Lilypaw.
The three apprentice's eyes were round with surprise and fear, and he stood next to Lilypaw, "How about we see if Bumbleflash can go with us to tour the territory? We'll just steer clear of the RiverClan border." He suggested, and Sorrelpaw leaped up and down excitedly, her brother looking at them hopefully, "Yeah!"
Lilypaw nodded quietly, and Swanfeather meowed, "Sure, why not? Hey Bumbleflash, can you spare time to show the apprentices the territory?"
The deputy looked up and nodded, trotting across the grassy sunlit clearing to join them, "Sure, we just need to stay away from RiverClan." The three apprentices trembled with excitement as Foxflame led the way out of camp, setting a somewhat brisk pace that the new apprentices could keep up with. Lilypaw stayed close to him as they ducked out of the camp, and into the forest.
Sorrelpaw dragged Swanfeather off one way, Bumbleflash taking Sunpaw toward the ShadowClan border, and Foxflame headed toward the twolegplace border. Lilypaw's sky blue eyes were wide as she silently took in the forest around her, stopping and closing her eyes for a heartbeat to take in the forest scents and sounds around her. He tilted his head with a warm smile, Lilypaw grinning brightly back at him, bounding over to pad next to him.
Foxflame led her along the borders, passing an exhausted Swanfeather after they went by the ShadowClan border, Lilypaw listening to his stories intently. The sun had already begun to lower when he started heading back to camp, both cats paws aching from the long walk. The small light brown and gold tortoiseshell apprentice looked worn out, so Foxflame stopped for a rest.
Lilypaw sat beside him with a sigh, and he looked at her, she reminded him so much of Shadowspirit, and he remembered what she had asked him during winter. *Flashback*- 'Hey Foxflame, do you know what the snow becomes when it melts?' She fixed him with a questioning glare, shaking puffs of white snow from her pelt. 'Doesn't it become water?' He replied, tossing a wad of snow at her. She laughed, 'It becomes newleaf mouse-brain!', he laughed and bowled her over, 'Now there's newleaf all over you!'-*End Flashback*
"Lilypaw, you remember the snow, right?" He asked his apprentice, she nodded, puzzled. "Then tell me, what does the snow become when it melts?"
She thought heard for a while, then looked at him, "Well, the snow melts when the cold goes away at the end of leaf-bare, so wouldn't it become newleaf?"
He looked at her in surprise, chuckling and cuffing her playfully on the ear, "You would be correct, lets go back to camp, we need rest for tomorrow!" She laughed and nodded, following beside him as they headed back to camp. Lilypaw reminds me so much of Shadowspirit, so cunning and fascinated by the world around her... Getting out and about helped take my mind off things, but I can't help but think that if this was just a warning from RiverClan, then what do they have in store for ThunderClan?