CHAPTER EIGHT

HAZELPAW | THUNDERCLAN FOREST

"Honeypool wanted us to check the border  that we don't share with anyone," argued Buzzardtuft.

    "Honeypool doesn't know anything." Fallowbriar snapped irritably. "We should be checking WindClan's border for suspicious activity, not this border."

    "He already sent out a border patrol over there - and don't you dare disrespect him again!" Buzzardtuft hissed.

    Hazelpaw watched from the caboose of the patrol, Palefang next to her shoulder. Stormpaw, Fallowbriar's apprentice, was in between the two arguing warriors, looking uncomfortable.

    Fallowbriar scowled at Buzzardtuft. "Fine! We will go to the border he assigned us with and nothing eventful will happen. Nothing has ever happened there."

    Palefang snorted. "Can you two shut up?" Being the oldest warrior here, the two younger warriors couldn't tell her to mind her own business. Fallowbriar shot Palefang the death glare though.

    Hazelpaw twitched her whiskers, amused. She didn't say anything snarky because she didn't want that death stare on her.

    "Let's hurry up with this patrol." Buzzardtuft fluffed his pelt out as a strong wind blew through, the promising smell of rain tickling Hazelpaw's nose. When Hazelpaw looked up, sure enough, there were dark gray storm clouds off on the horizon, racing toward the lake. "I don't want to be soaked."

    The patrol sprinted through the forest, soon arriving at the edge of the forest. On the other side was a large meadow, but it wasn't apart of WindClan's territory. If you squinted hard enough, you could see the faint outline of a Twolegplace, but it would take a long time to walk over there.

    It was a perfectly livable place... but it'd be too much territory to patrol. ThunderClan warriors occasionally crossed over the border to hunt during leaf-bare, but the prey was still sparse, no matter how many times they went.

    "Look, nothing-" Fallowbriar caught herself, nose twitching. "Is that a rogue I smell?"

    "The rogue crossed the border!" Stormpaw growled, sniffing at the border. She followed the scent until she disappeared into the trees.

    "Stormpaw!" Fallowbriar sighed, exasperated. She chased after her apprentice.

    "And Fallowbriar said nothing ever happened here." Buzzardtuft smirked, walking after Fallowbriar. Palefang and Hazelpaw stayed, marking the border.

    A surprised shriek caused birds to flap out of the trees. Palefang and Hazelpaw shared a startled glance before racing in the direction the shriek came from.

    "It's the rogue!" Stormpaw's exclamation reached Hazelpaw's ears. Palefang and Hazelpaw crashed through the ferns just as the first drop of rain splashed Hazelpaw's nose.

    A dark blue-gray - nearly black under the trees - she-cat cowered underneath Fallowbriar's withering look.

    "Why are you on ThunderClan territory?" Fallowbriar spat, tail curling in disgust.

    The she-cat flinched away, dark blue eyes widening in fear. "I-I did not mean to encroach upon your territory." Rain was pouring now, getting all the cats wet. "My kits and I-"

    "Don't tell me your sob story." Fallowbriar was frothing in anger now. Hazelpaw was frightened, and the anger wasn't even directed at her.

    "Fallowbriar!" Palefang boomed, storming up to the ginger she-cat. "You aren't the one in charge here. I am. And since I am in charge, we will take this she-cat to our camp." Palefang paused, almost adding the last sentence as an afterthought. "And her kits?"

    Fallowbriar cringed away, looking ashamed and embarrassed at being scolded at. The blue-gray she-cat looked between the two before speaking.

    "Y-Yes, I have kits." The she-cat disappeared under the roots of a tree, carrying one kit out. She did the same with two others kits, setting them somewhere dry.

    "Stormpaw, Hazelpaw, each of you grab one kit." Palefang ordered. "Keep them close and under your chin so they don't get wet."

    Hazelpaw stepped forward, taking one of the kits. The she-cat watched her closely, jerking forward as though she was about to stop her, but pulled back and grabbed a black-and-white she-kit. Hazelpaw studied the kit she held to the best of her ability. The kit seemed to be a she-kit and looked like the loner in front of her.

    Stormpaw grabbed another black-and-white she-kit, taking extra care to protect the kit from the cold rain. Hazelpaw mimicked the older apprentice, ducking her head so the rain only battered the kit's tail and dangling hind legs.

    The three kits mewled loudly, protesting against the rain and wind. Thunder boomed in the distance, scaring the kits even more.

    "Let's hurry." Palefang dove into the wet forest, not glancing over her shoulder to see if they were following.

    Hazelpaw bounded after her, doing her best to keep the kit dry at the same time. It was hard with the uneven ground, and multiple times Hazelpaw's head bobbed up, accidentally soaking the she-kit.

    After a wet run, they were at the entrance of camp. Palefang led the way in, Hazelpaw and Stormpaw hard on her heels. The loner was next, then Buzzardtuft and Fallowbriar (who was still embarrassed, but fuming now).

    "Nectarstar!" Palefang yowled above the downpour of rain. She raced up a pile of rocks, shooting into a dark, unwelcoming mouth of a small cave.

    The gold-furred leader appeared with Palefang behind him. His yellow eyes trailed mindlessly over Hazelpaw and Stormpaw, sharpening with displeasure on the loner. "Who are you and why were you found on ThunderClan territory?" he hissed, walking down the rocks and up to the quaking she-cat.

    "I-I am Aqua a-and I was trying to find one of the Clans. You, I guess."

    Nectarstar scowled. "You wasted your time. Now get out of my sight-"

    A smooth, soft voice interrupted Nectarstar. Honeypool sidled up to Nectarstar's shoulder, gazing kindly at Aqua. "This is no way to treat a mother with kits, Nectarstar."

    Hazelpaw could tell Aqua took an instant liking to Honeypool. Everyone did, if she was being honest. Every cat was waiting for Nectarstar to die or retire so Honeypool would lead the Clan. He was patient and understanding, but when need be, he'd be stern.

    "Why did you want to find the Clans?" Honeypool's voice warmed Hazelpaw's bones despite the cold rain.

    "I want to give my kits to one of the Clans - they still need to be weaned however, but in a moon, they will be able to eat prey. On that note, once they are able to, I will be gone." Aqua meowed, shooting nervous glances at Nectarstar every there and then.

    "You can stay here however long you'd like." Honeypool offered.

    Aqua shook her head. "I would be a burden on your shoulders. Besides, I like freedom and doing whatever I like. I want my kits to grow up and be able to defend themselves, though, and I have been told this is the place I should go." Her eyes flashed in remorse.

    One of the kits mewling broke the moment, sounding as though she was begging to go somewhere dry.

    "Well, follow me to the nursery." Honeypool turned around, padding gracefully to the nursery.

    Hazelpaw followed, glancing over her shoulder. Nectarstar was left standing there, looking angry about how his brother took over as though he was the leader.

    He practically is. A voice sneered in her head. Nobody likes you, Nectarstar.

    A little revolted by her nasty thoughts, she hurried into the nursery, dripping wet.

    One of the queens, Ravenwhisker, pulled her kits closer. "Don't you dare get my kits wet!"

    Honeypool hummed. "We won't, Ravenwhisker."

    Noticing Aqua, Ravenwhisker frowned. "Who is she?"

    "This is Aqua. She will be staying with us for a moon with her kits." Honeypool explained without looking at the black-and-white queen.

    Ravenwhisker widened her eyes. "Nectarstar let a loner and her filthy kits into the Clan?"

    Honeypool turned on the queen, tail bristling. Hazelpaw leaned away, knowing Ravenwhisker shattered Honeypool's toleration. She also made sure the kit looked away - not like its eyes were open anyway.

    "As long as Aqua and her kittens stay here, I do not want to hear a single insult about her from you. Understand?" Honeypool growled.

    Ravenwhisker curled tighter around her kits, voice shaking. "I-I understand, Honeypool."

    "Good. Now, here is your nest, Aqua."

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