The journey back to camp had been completely and utterly silent.

And truthfully, Slatepaw didn't mind it.

As he slipped into camp, his sharpened yellow gaze caught on Finchpaw's pelt. His tail flicked slightly as he glanced around for permission to be dismissed. Usually he got this from Peonystrike.

His gray-and-white furred mentor was nowhere to be found. She had come back with them... he thought so, anyway. He seemed to search for a moment more and then swallowed heavily. Concern stirred momentarily in his belly as he turned and trotted rather quickly to Finchpaw - almost as if leaving the concern behind him.

"Slatepaw," she turned to face him, green eyes shimmery, tail flicking behind her almost impatiently.

"Come on, we've gotta talk," hissed the wiry-furred tom in a low voice, eyes narrowing further and sweeping the area around. They needed to talk about the patrol, but couldn't just do it out in the open. It would be asking to be caught.

Quickly Slatepaw's mind whirred to try and think of ideas as to why they would seemingly dissipate from the middle of the camp.

Consequently, his belly rumbled.

"Finchpaw, I'm hungry.. can you get something from the pile and meet me in the apprentice's den?" Slatepaw mewed, ear twitching. He hoped that his casual voice was working well.

Confusion seemed to swamp the she-cat before a light of understanding dawned within her green gaze.

She nodded and quickly scampered off, and so Slatepaw turned and trotted toward the den, deliberately being relaxed in his pawsteps. Being quick would be suspicious.

Eventually, he had settled down rather comfortably in a vacant nest. It would do no good to sit in his own nest- he'd mess it up from being to jumpy.

Glancing momentarily around the den, Slatepaw looked up as Finchpaw ducked into the den. His tail flicked in a silent greeting as she gently laid down the chosen piece of prey that had previously been hanging from her jaws.

It was a nice, rather rotund vole, with a meaty form that appeared to be very delicious. Licking his lips, Slatepaw took the first bite, savoring the delectable taste upon his tongue before nudging it lightly to Finchpaw.

"Alright, so... I know the plan is that we run in and yell about the intruders, but how are we supposed to get all the rebellion cats together?" Slatepaw started, tipping his head a little as he continued, "Sure, they may all be friends, but that's not a surefire way to say that they'll all be together at that time."

Finchpaw's ears flattened in thought; they tended to do that a lot and it gave the she-cat a rather cute look.

"I don't know... they'll all have to be on the same patrol," speculated Finchpaw, taking an absent bite of the prey at her paws.

A momentary silence settled over them before Finchpaw spoke again, this time in a more inquisitive tone.

"What if we get one of the older warriors in on the plan? Then they can set up the patrol, right?"

"No," answered Slatepaw immediately, "No other members of the Clan must know, that's way too dangerous for us. And besides, then we're putting the other rebellion members in danger too."

Other members...

Slatepaw's mind seemed to quickly spur to life within a few moments that had passed. Excitement clambered up within him for a moment and he felt as if he were about to leap straight into a monologue.

"Oh! Wait! How about we say there's a traitor?" Finchpaw mewed- the excitement that Slatepaw seemed to hold had seemingly been transferred to her, as now her ears were perked with anticipation.

"How?" Slatepaw asked, taking a bite of the delicious vole once more and licking his lips shortly after. It was really good.

Finchpaw started, "After we figure out what to do for the actual set up of the invasion or intruder, we to go Brightstar and suggest that there is a traitor among us. We'll say that we saw something or something like that and then we'll list off all the cats that are confirmed as cats who can be trusted."

"And that'll be the rebellion members," meowed the gray-furred apprentice, catching onto her idea rather quickly. Once more excitement boomed inside of him.

"And then we'll get the patrol, lead it there—"

"Perfect!" exclaimed Slatepaw. He hadn't really meant to cut her off but that was the summary of the idea. And besides, speaking for too long too loudly would cause issues.

Finchpaw nodded, a bright grin stretching over her muzzle as she looked at Slatepaw.

"We can do this!" She whispered.

He nodded confidently, "Everything is going to be so much better after this is finally over. I can't wait- I really can't wait!" His tail flicked with anticipation, almost as if he was ready to go execute the plan right now with no more discussion or any other concerns for anything.

He wanted fairness - now. He wanted it to be even among the Clan. Nobody knew how great it would be until it actually came. Slatepaw wanted it to be completely fair and he wanted the Clan to be free of Brightstar's terrible reign. Irritation sprung within him at the very thought of her evil deputy... how dare she even appoint-

"Slatepaw? Do you want it or not?"

Finchpaw's questioning voice broke him from his thoughts.

"Sorry, you can have it." He answered a moment later, flashing a grin at her as he nudged it over.

"Thanks," Finchpaw swiftly dug into the delicious creature.

Meanwhile, Slatepaw's mind continue to whirl with ideas and how truly great it would be when it was all over. The apprentice honestly couldn't wait, yet he stood up anyways and retreated to his nest.

Laying his head on his paws, he murmured a quick "goodnight" to Finchpaw. The moonlight from outside was now seeping into the den, painting everything in a silvery shade that seemed to glow all the more brighter by the moment.

"Goodnight," she whispered back and promptly after he fell asleep.

Written by Lamb
Edited by Whisper