after several attempts, duskhoney was able to catch a vole. now he carried it firmly in his mouth as he padded to orcaclan camp, the sun setting behind him.

he had kept an eye on the twoleg place fire, and it seemed to be out, so he was no longer worried about it.

he slipped through the camp entrance, nodding a greeting to thistlesun, tonight's guard.

duskhoney dropped the vole in the prey pile, and searched camp for his brother.

leopardstrike was the only family he had left, now. their dad had been killed by a rogue, and their mom ended up starving after she refused to eat, due to her grief.

it hurt the two brothers very much, but it pulled them closer together. they hardly left eachother's sides, now.

and duskhoney was glad to have him. not a day passed where he didn't appreciate leopardstrike.

duskhoney almost didn't notice leopardstrike's dark pelt in the shadows, but when he did he padded over to him.

leopardstrike lifted his head, and smiled warmly. "hi, duskhoney! did you catch anything?"

duskhoney sat down, licking his chest fur in embarrassment. "yeah... after like, a million tries though!"

leopardstrike chuckled, wrapping his tail around duskhoney's shoulders. "it's okay, you've always been a better fighter anyway."

duskhoney rolled his eyes. "yeah, but theres nothing to fight anyway! its too peaceful here."

"now, be appreciative. i know of other clans who are constantly attacked, it's not fun. we're lucky, duskhoney. which is a good thing." leopardstrike meowed, licking his paw.

duskhoney sighed. "i suppose you're right."

leopardstrike smiled. "i'm always right." he meowed, winking at his brother.

the two brothers shared a laugh, before leopardstrike stood up. "ah, alright. flamestar wanted to see me before i went to sleep. see you soon!"

duskhoney nodded, standing up to stretch.

sometimes he hated that leopardstrike was the deputy, but only because he was always so busy.

duskhoney often wished they were apprentices again, sneaking out of camp and getting into things they weren't supposed to get into.

it was fun. they were so... carefree. but now they had better things to do.

well, leopardstrike did. duskhoney felt bored in orcaclan.

he only had a few friends, and no one he would ever consider a lover.

he shook his head, frustrated in himself. he didnt like when he would think about being bored in the clan. his parents would be so disappointed.

he took his attention back to the present, looking around.

he watched silkblossom usher her kits back into the nursery, and the group of apprentices were talking to their mentors in the center of camp.

buzzardsnow was talking to pelicangulp outside of the medicine cat den, and cottonshade was carrying a leaf wrap to the elder's den.

duskhoney looked toward the warrior's den, trying to decide whether or not he would go to sleep.

"sleep it is." he whispered under his breath, walking to the den.

he circled his nest before lying down, tucking his muzzle under his tail.

"peaceful sleep, here i come."