I woke up after a peaceful sleep next to my mate, Shadestar. He was still snoring, so I christened myself allowed to leave. I padded out of the den, jumping down inside the large hollow tree that was Shadestar's den. A hole onto a branch allowed him to address the clan, and a small area above his den gave all deputies a spot to sleep, even though I slept with him. I pushed outside of the sycamore and blinked against the bright sunshine. My sister, Brierfall, padded up to me.
"Who should I take on our dawn patrol?" She asked. I though a moment.
"Take Mousetail, Ravenclaw, and Maypaw. Go up to the Great Tree and towards Largecave. Catch any prey you happen to find, until each of you has two pieces at most."
"Ok, sure, Tussleclaw. Bye, sis!" She gathered the chosen cats and they left quickly. Our mother, Brightstorm, was laying in the sun over in the elders den, telling stories to the kits. Storkfall's oldest kit, a spotted tan she-cat with hazel eyes was talking.
"Brightstorm, how did you become blind?"
"I got old, Leopardkit." The fluffy kit was very inquisitive. I smiled at her energy. I felt a pelt beside me, it was Shadestar.
"Hey Tussleclaw." He purred. I nodded to him and breathed in his comforting scent. He looked at me and smiled back.
"Clan life is good." He said.
"Mmm-hmmm." I agreed. Quick pawsteps alerted me from the entrance to camp. I looked up and Shadestar and I walked up together. Brierfall's patrol came in leading a black she-cat I knew as the Breezeclan deputy.
"Leafclaw?" The cat was terrified and clearly worried.
"Tussleclaw! Please, one of our kits, Jaguarkit, has gone missing! Gracklescreech is frantic! And worse, supposedly Lightningclan had foxes yesterday! Oh, Tussleclaw, I'm afraid they got the little kit!" Her voice was rushed. My eyes opened wide in shock.
"I will organize you into groups of two, search where Leafclaw sends you!" My warriors nodded in assent.
"Fallenberry! I know you're a medicine cat, but take Jadepaw and follow Leafclaw! Mousetail, you and I will search together, Patchfoot, you and Greenpaw go, and Brierfall and Ravenclaw stay here, just in case... Not that I don't trust you, Leafclaw." Leafclaw nodded in understanding.
"What about me?" It was Maypaw.
"If Ravenclaw wants you too, go with Leafclaw. We'll need your nose. If not, stay with Brierfall and Ravenclaw." Ravenclaw nodded to the enthusiastic apprentice. Maypaw bounded over to
Leafclaw.
"Alright! Darkclan, let's go find a lost kit!"