The Decision: Chapter 2

Chapter 2

    Emberpaw dragged back her thrush and two mice back into camp just short of sunhigh. She thought that she had done quite well, actually. Tigerpaw proudly strutted behind her in with his own squirrel and shrew. They deposited their prey into the freshkill pile and padded over to the elders den.
    "White-eye, Goldenfur? What piece of prey would you like? I caught a thrush and two mice, and there is another thrush, a vole, and plenty more mice on the pile too." Emberpaw mewed happily, flicking her tail toward the freshkill pile.
    "And I caught a squirrel and a shrew! What would you like Grayfoot? We can fetch the prey for you." Tigerpaw said as he eagerly thrashed his tail.
    "My, my." Goldenfur meowed. "What skilled apprentices, and so soon into training too! I think I'll have your thrush. What about you, White-eye?" The elder turned to the she-cat and winked.
    "I think I'll have one of your mice, Emberpaw. A nice warm mouse sounds good right about now." White-eye said with a smile, glancing back at Goldenfur.
    "Hurrumph. I suppose you two did a good job. Eh, I'll have the shrew. Haven't had one in awhile." Grayfoot mumbled grumpily. He tried his best to look menacing.
    "Okay! I'll go fetch my prey!" Emberpaw squeaked as she raced off, ignoring Grayfoot's rough tone.
    "I'll get the shrew!" Tigerpaw yelled, and ran after Emberpaw.
    Goldenfur chuckled. "Don't you just love apprentices? I remember when I was that excited about bringing back prey to feed the clan. We have to fuel the excitement, because they bring so much joy from it.”
    "Yes, I wish we had that much energy still. What I wouldn't give to be able to race through camp again." White-eye said, reminiscing.
    "Humph. I just want to eat and go back to sleep." Grayfoot grumbled and rolled over in his nest.
    The two apprentices brought the elders their freshkill and then padded back over to the pile. Tigerpaw grabbed the squirrel he caught and drug it over to where Squirrelpelt was sharing tongues with Cindercloud. He dropped it at Squirrelpelt's feet.
    "See, I told you I'd catch one for you!" Tigerpaw mewed proudly, and nudged the squirrel.
    "I see that! Well done. You both did a good job." Squirrelpelt replied as Emberpaw trotted up behind Tigerpaw. "You may eat after you fetch the other two apprentices and change the moss in the nursery."
    "Okay!" Tigerpaw said, and the two apprentices raced off to find Tigerpaw's litter mates.
    "Would you like to share this with me, Cindercloud?" Squirrelpelt mewed, touching his tail to her ear. She purred and licked his cheek.
    "Of course I would. The apprentices did well today, I am proud of all of them. Especially Emberpaw and Tigerpaw. They're progressing quite well." She replied, and flicked her tail against Squirrelpelt's flank.
    "I agree. I think we should let them go to the gathering in a few days. I believe they're ready." He said, and bit down into the squirrel.

Later, the apprentices had cleared out the old moss and were dragging in new moss to pad the nursery flooring. Between the four of them, they had enough moss that they didn't need to make a second trip. The queens had taken the kits outside to play, so they had plenty of time to work. Emberpaw, Tigerpaw, Hazelpaw, and Shrewpaw dropped their moss in a pile and started to shred it to make a softer bedding.
         Hazelpaw kept to herself most of the time. She really didn't speak much and was really shy. The olive she-cat was small and lithe, and was a good hunter. Hazelpaw wasn't the best at fighting, but she learns quickly. Her brother, Shrewpaw, sat beside her. The light brown tom was as happy go lucky as they come. Slightly careless, he always jumped into things without thinking. However, he promised to be an excellent fighter, with his strong build and quick attacks. Being the larger and stronger Tigerpaw's litter mates, the two apprentices were always trying to live up to their brother's image. Even though they were the same age, Tigerpaw excelled at fighting, even more than Shrewpaw. He could knock a full grown warrior off his feet faster that a mouse could twitch a whisker.
         The apprentices chatted while they shredded. Their paws were working just as fast as their mouths, so they made quick work of the moss.
         “I wonder who's going to the gathering?” Emberpaw wondered aloud. The four of them had just been made apprentices a few days before the last gathering, so none of them had been able to go. This would be the first gathering for them, if any of them went.
         “I hope I get to go.” Shrewpaw piped up. “I bet it will be exciting!” He threw up a ball of moss and batted at it, falling into Hazelpaw.
         “Hey! Watch it.” Hazelpaw growled. “Yeah, I hope we all get to go. They'll be a ton of other apprentices there! Too many cats for me...” Hazelpaw looked at her paws.
         “Aww, it'll be okay, Hazelpaw.” Tigerpaw reassured. “We'll have our clan there. And who knows? Maybe we'll make new friends. Come on, it'll be fun!” He finished with his portion of moss and started spreading it around the nursery.
         “Friends? We can get to know the other apprentices, but we shouldn't get too close. Our loyalties lie with Thunderclan alone.” Emberpaw reminded the striped tom. “Besides, Thunderclan is the best clan ever! Who would want a stinky Riverclan cat, a bony Windclan cat, or a creepy Shadowclan cat for a friend?” She giggled and looked at the others. They all burst out laughing.
         Leaftail popped her head in. “What's going on in here? I can hear you all the way from the freshkill pile! Let's see some work getting done here.” She tried to frown, but failed and broke into a smile. “I mean, it's great that you're having fun, but aren't you hungry? You should hurry up and finish so you can eat!” Leaftail winked and flicked her tail as she waddled back out. She would kit very soon.
         “Ooh, food!” Tigerpaw gleamed. “Let's hurry!” He started flinging moss all over the den and accidentally flung some on Shrewpaw.
         “Eeee!!!!” Shrewpaw screamed and leaped back. “Spider!!!” He pranced all over the den, flicking his tail over his shoulder where the moss had hit him. The apprentices burst out laughing again.
         “You mousebrain,” Emberpaw laughed, “it was just a bit of moss. Come on, we're almost done. Race you to the freshkill pile!” She threw her last piece of moss in the corner and darted out. The other three followed suit, giggling with every step.