A New Dawn 3

"Be sure to look out for foxes as well!" Magpieclaw ordered. "Oakstar wants us to track down the fox and find out where it is staying and if it has made a den anywhere near."

Amberpetal nodded and walked a couple steps away to investigate a scent trail. She called for the rest of the patrol to come, saying, "I smelled something!"

"What is it?" Magpieclaw asked warily, her fur bristling. She and Hollowbirch went over to where Amberpetal stood, sniffing a clump of bushes.

"It smells like-ShadowClan!" Hollowbirch said. Just then Witherstar appeared through the bushes on the border between ThunderClan territory and ShadowClan.

"Why hello, my ThunderClan friends!" Witherstar said, with Patchpelt, Saptooth and Toadclaw following not far behind. They managed to get through the thick brush, while doing so crossing the border. Witherstar sat down and elegantly began licking his back leg.

Magpieclaw let out a hiss of fury and said, "ShadowClan! What are you doing trespassing on ThunderClan land?" Her fur bristled and she let her teeth show.

"Can a leader not visit his old friend?" Witherstar asked innocently. He stood up, his fur flat as if he was used to the smell of ThunderClan.

Magpieclaw narrowed her eyes and glanced at Amberpetal and Hollowbirch. They shot glances back at her, seeming to think what she thought. The leader had brought three warriors with him, hardly seeming like a welcoming patrol and enough to defeat their dawn patrol in a quick fight. Magpieclaw, in the lead of the patrol, growled and said, "Leave behind your warriors and we can escort you to Oakstar."

"Oh but you see-" Witherstar began, taking a step forward, "My warriors are here to protect me. How am I supposed to trust ThunderClan after they stole prey from ShadowClan territory?"

Amberpetal growled, and Magpieclaw saw her dig her claws into the bracken. "We never stole your prey!" She spat.

As much as Magpieclaw wanted to tear Witherstar's face apart for making that outrageous false claim, she held back. She knew they were outnumbered and it wouldn't be wise to start a fight. "Quiet," she said instead, receiving a surprised look from the rest of her patrol. "You know we never stole any prey from you and we never trespassed. We can protect you as well as your warriors. It's either leave them behind or go back to your own territory."

Witherstar let out a low growl and Magpieclaw figured he was weighing the consequences of leaving his warriors or not. "Then let me at least take Saptooth," he said and Saptooth stood up, beaming at Toadclaw.

Magpieclaw glanced at the other ThunderClan cats and said, "Fine." At least they would outnumber the ShadowClan cats. Magpieclaw flicked her tail for Amberpetal to lag behind to make sure the other ShadowClan cats didn't sneak up to attack. *There's no way I'm leading Witherstar to ThunderClan camp! No, I'm going to take him to Snakerocks. Twitterfluff is leading a hunting patrol there and I can get her to fetch Oakstar for me. Or vice versa,* Magpieclaw thought, knowing that Twitterfluff would probably take forever to get Oakstar. *Better be me then.*

***...***

Magpieclaw led Witherstar and Saptooth to Snakerocks. Hollowbirch had tried asking what they were doing in ThunderClan territory in the first place but Witherstar refused to say why. Magpie slowed down when she saw Deertail, Twitterfluff, Rowanberry and Orangefoot. Sugarpaw was beaming with a mouse in her jaws as Rowanberry congratulated her. Dewpaw searched through the undergrowth for prey with her mentor, Deertail, trying to encourage her.

Magpieclaw called out, "Nice catch!" To Sugarpaw.

Sugarpaw turned around and saw Magpieclaw and yelled a little too loudly, "Thanks! Did you see me catch it mom? It didn't stand a chance!"

Magpieclaw laughed and said, "I'm sure it did."

Rowanberry came up and scolded Sugarpaw, saying, "And you just scared all the prey away that Dewpaw could have caught with your yelling."

Sugarpaw lowered her head and said sheepishly, "Sorry."

"Just don't do it again." Rowanberry lifted his eyes to Magpieclaw and asked, "I thought you were on the dawn patrol. Is something wrong?"

Orangefoot came out of the bushes, growling. "I almost had a shrew if it weren't for Sugarpaw!" He turned his head and saw Magpieclaw. He called out, "Magpieclaw, Hollowbirch, why do you smell of Shado-" he stopped, seeing Witherstar. "What's *he* doing *here*?" He asked, startled. The other cats in the hunting patrol turned to stare.

"I am here to see Oakstar," Witherstar said. He walked forward a couple paces and frowned. "This isn't ThunderClan camp. Where is Oakstar?" he snarled.

"Oakstar is out hunting and I will fetch him," Magpieclaw said.

"Oh so now ThunderClan doesn't even trust ShadowClan enough to let their leader visit their camp? Typical," Witherstar scoffed. "Always so worried about invasion, always so secretive, never trusting."

Deertail raised an eye at Witherstar. "That's an oddly specific reason for ThunderClan not to lead you to our camp," she said, which Magpieclaw secretly agreed.

Magpieclaw decided it wasn't worth arguing about. She would tell Oakstar later what the ShadowClan leader had said. Right now wasn't a good time to pick a fight and she just wanted to summon Oakstar and be on her way so she and her patrol could finish marking their territory before sun high. "Well he isn't going to camp. I'm going to go get Oakstar, you watch Witherstar and Saptooth."

Magpieclaw didn't wait for a response from the other cats and she leapt in the direction of Sunningrocks. Once she knew no one was watching, she turned around and headed for camp.

"Oakstar!" Magpieclaw called out when she entered the camp. Several of her clanmates turned to stare at her.

"What's going on?" Redbird asked.

Magpieclaw didn't answer, since Oakstar had just come out of his den. Yawning, he asked, "What is it Magpieclaw?"

"Witherstar wants to see you. I led him to Snakerocks, since he was acting suspicious about coming to camp. He is waiting for you to come see him while the hunting patrol there is making sure they don't step out of line." Magpieclaw answered, dipping her head.

"Thank you Magpieclaw but I'm sure Witherstar doesn't mean any harm." Oakstar said. "The only thing not letting him into camp does is make them think that we are weak. If Witherstar really wanted to attack our camp, we have plenty of warriors to defend ourselves and they wouldn't need to devise a huge plan to be led here to find the camp."

Magpieclaw dipped her head, knowing it was no use to argue with the leader. "Do you want me to lead you to Witherstar?"

"I can find Snakerocks by myself," Oakstar said. "Larkfeather, Grackletail, come with me."

Oakstar's deputy and medicine cat, Larkfeather and Grackletail, followed Oakstar outside of the camp. Magpieclaw watched them go and followed behind so she could get Hollowbirch and Amberpetal from Snakerocks to continue the dawn patrol.

Magpieclaw padded on in silence. She wondered what Witherstar was here for and what ShadowClan might be up to all the way until she saw the first of Snakerocks.

"Ah Oakstar, how nice it is to see you!" Witherstar called out, raising his tail non threateningly.

Oakstar narrowed his eyes. "I'd expect you to bring a cat with you, but why Saptooth and not your deputy, Shadepelt?"

Witherstar rolled his eyes. "Do I always have to bring my deputy everywhere? It turns out he doesn't share as many opinions as Saptooth does with me."

"Well then you haven't chosen your deputy well, I see," Oakstar said. "Anyways, you called for a meeting?"

Witherstar dipped his head. "Why yes," he said. "I wanted to discuss something important."

Oakstar led them a couple of paces from Snakerocks and flicked his tail for Witherstar, Saptooth, Larkfeather and Grackletail to follow. Magpieclaw stayed behind and got Hollowbirch and Amberpetal, who had by that time caught up to them at Snakerocks, and led them back to their job.

Larkfeather followed Oakstar to the meeting, wary of Witherstar. *What is he planning?*

Witherstar, when they were a fair distance from the hunting patrol, sat down. "You and I both know the clans have had trouble sticking to certain aspects of the warrior code." Witherstar began, not waiting for the rest of the cats to sit down. "Now, with the amount of cats disobeying it there must be a reason. We have not seen real consequences other than cats have been forced to leave their clans or abandon their kits with half clan relationships, but yet again that was only because of the warrior code. I say we try to ignore it for a while and see how it goes and if anything goes wrong then we can abandon the plan."

Oakstar shook his head. "Are you really saying for us to give up the warrior code just to make a few cats happy?"

"Currentstar of RiverClan and Hawkstar of SkyClan agreed to abandon the warrior code between ShadowClan and themselves for a moon."

*Even RiverClan? What would Irisheart have thought?* Larkfeather wondered, worried. *Does this mean Irisheart and I can be together now?*

"Doesn't mean ThunderClan should," Oakstar growled. "Are you out of your minds? The warrior code is here for a reason. The founders of the clans created it! We can't just get rid of it."

"But you see, the first leaders of the clans aren't alive anymore," Witherstar continued. "It's just us now. Thunderstar isn't here now, and now is different from then. The warrior code may have been a good thing to have had back then but things have changed since then and it is no longer relavant. The code needs to adapt or disappear."

"You can't be series," Oakstar muttered. "I don't know what's gotten into you but the code is the one thing keeping the clans strong and together. Tear apart the code and you tear apart the clans."

"Or," Witherstar offered, "Join the clans and replace the code with a better fitted set of rules. Let all five leaders of all five clans join together to rule as a council over one large group of cats."

"You are not as experienced as the other leaders, you don't know what you're talking about and what you're messing with," Oakstar growled. Larkfeather knew from his tone that he wasn't going to change his mind.

"Currentstar and Hawkstar agreed, didn't they?" Witherstar said.

"What about Sheepstar?" Oakstar asked.

Witherstar shrugged. "I haven't gone to WindClan yet. All the leaders that have been presented by the idea have accepted it but you. Why not try it, just for a moon? See how it works out. Then by the end of the moon all of us leaders can hold a gathering to vote on if the warrior code shall stay or not. Deal?" He said in a sweet voice.

*If the warrior code doesn't matter anymore, then that would include no more forbidden relationships.*Larkfeather mused. "Oakstar," he said, "Maybe we can just try it and see what happens. If doesn't seem like it could do any harm."

"No," he said. "Have you lost your honor? Have you no sense of pride in the clans and your ancestors? We must listen to StarClan and we must follow the warrior code or bad things could happen. It is wrong to forsake it. I don't want to hear any talk about this, whether it be from the other clans or my own clan. Especially not from my own son who is supposed to support me as leader." Oakstar growled, making Larkfeather flinch some.

"Fine then," Witherstar spat. "Have your perfect wholesome clan. Feel free to join us at Fourtrees next quarter moon, but you won't be welcomed." He turned around and led Saptooth in the direction of WindClan territory.

Larkfeather started forwards to escort them to the border but Oakstar but his tail in front of him, stopping him. "They know the way and something tells me they aren't too keen on staying around our territory. Come on, let's go."

*I have to see Irisheart and see if she is alright. Maybe then I can also figure out what Witherstar is up to and what he said to make the other leaders agree with him.* "Um Oakstar?" Larkfeather asked, catching up to his father.

"Hm? What is it?" Oakstar asked, continuing to walk towards camp.

"I um," Larkfeather started, trying to think of an excuse. "May I actually go off hunting? I caught a whiff of squirrel back where Witherstar was."

Oakstar looked at Larkfeather, incredulous, but said, "Sure, Larkfeather. You may-hunt."

"Thank you," he said and then scampered off back in the area of Snakerocks.

Larkfeather looked around to make sure no one was following him and then he ran off into the direction of RiverClan territory instead. He made it to the stepping stones at the border between RiverClan territory and ThunderClan territory. He padded across them, trying to avoid getting wet. He didn't know why RiverClan tolerated this amount of water, but he figured he would just have to get used to it if he were to continue visiting. "Irisheart! Irisheart? You there?" He called out, not too loud in case of a patrol, which he highly doubted at this time of day.

Larkfeather looked around, expecting Irisheart to pop up from the bushes any second. They had planned to meet at the stepping stones at sun high. Larkfeather looked up and saw it was slightly past sun high and hoped he wasn't too late. He sat down and watched for a cat to appear on the ThunderClan side of the border, while also casually looking for prey that he could catch to bring back to camp.

*Did something happen in RiverClan that is preventing Irisheart from coming? Is she in trouble or just busy? Since RiverClan isn't going by the warrior code for a moon, does that mean they also don't have to obey their leader's command?* Larkfeather was startled from his thinking when he heard a rustling in the brush and turned to see it was just a squirrel. *Maybe she can't come and I should just focus on catching some prey to bring back to camp so I don't seem like I didn't hunt at all.*

Larkfeather jumped up suddenly when the squirrel was close enough and landed on top of it. He sunk his claws into the squirrel and quickly killed it with a nip to the neck.

"Larkfeather?" Larkfeather turned around to see Irisheart padding towards the border.

"Oh hi," Larkfeather said with the squirrel in his mouth. He dropped it at his feet and buried it. "I was worried I was late or that you wouldn't be able to come. Are the kits ok?"

Irisheart said, "Yes the kits are fine." She looked at Larkfeather and continued, "Listen, Witherstar came to RiverClan offer-"

"I heard, he came by ThunderClan and mentioned he had spread the news to SkyClan and RiverClan," Larkfeather interrupted, not wanting to waste Irisheart's breath on something he already knew.

"He did? Did Oakstar agree?" Irisheart asked. Larkfeather thought he heard a twinge of hope in her voice.

"No," Larkfeather said. "I tried to get him to agree but he had already made up his mind. How is RiverClan faring with the lack of the warrior code?" He asked, curious.

"SkyClan, ShadowClan and RiverClan have sort of merged together. Without the code, the borders don't really have any meaning between us so we are allowed to roam and hunt wherever we want within the territories. Even so, most of the cats stick to their own clan's territories since that's what we're used to. Nothing else has changed much other than ShadowClan has had difficulty with the elders getting enough food with the warriors not worrying about feeding them first." Irisheart said.

"I've been thinking..." Larkfeather began. Irisheart waited patiently for him to continue. "What if I went to RiverClan to live with you and the kits? I can't bear the thought of not being there to raise them and I would never want to take them away from you. And with the lack of code it can be the perfect opportunity for me to join and us to announce us as a couple while not being charged with breaking the warrior code."

"But you would have to leave your clan behind. What about ThunderClan? You're their deputy." Irisheart argued.

"I know," Larkfeather said, nuzzling Irisheart. "I've thought it through and made up my mind and now all I have to do is that I have to go back and face my father and my clan. I'll tell them my decision and then I'll come back to RiverClan to be with you."

Irisheart watched as Larkfeather ran off towards ThunderClan camp.

Larkfeather padded into camp. Oakstar stopped pacing and glared at his son. "Where were you?" He demanded. "I sent patrols searching for you but you were no where to be found! Sunspirit thought the fox must have gotten the best of you!"

Larkfeather dipped his head. "I'm not going to lie any longer. Irisheart and I-"

Oakheart stopped and whipped his head to Larkfeather. "Irisheart? The RiverClan she-cat? What does she have to do with any of this?" He growled.

Larkfeather took a deep breath and continued, "Irisheat and I love each other. I decided to go live with her in RiverClan."

Yowls and hisses broke out among the camp. Oakstar looked around, not noticing that the camp had started to steadily fill with ThunderClan cats after Larkfeather had showed up. "Is this a joke?" Oakstar asked, incredulous and dumbfounded. "You are ThunderClan deputy! You belong here! You aren't some filthy code breaker." He shook his head in disbelief.

Amongst the yowls, several voices could be heard above the rest, saying things like,

"Traitor!"

"Spy!"

"I *knew* something was off between Irisheart and Larkfeather!"

Oakstar turned to see that it was Coalspark who had hissed it. Her fur was fluffed and her teeth bared like so many of the other cats. Out of the commotion, Oakstar had a fleeting thought, wondering why Coalspark could tell when she wasn't in any way close to either of the other cats and how she had figured it out before any of the other warriors. He narrowed his eyes but turned back to Larkfeather. "I'll give you one chance to change your mind and forget all this nonsense." He growled.

Larkfeather shook his head. "I'm sorry, but I made up my mind. I'm going to live in RiverClan. My mate is with kits. I can't just leave them, even if that means I could be

leader of ThunderClan like you."

Oakstar sighed and said, "Well I'm not like you. I'm afraid I'll have to exile you for this." His voice cracked as he said the next part but he forced himself to go on for the good of the clans. "Larkfeather, henceforth you shall no longer be known as a cat of ThunderClan. Dustleaf, Sugarpaw and Deertail, escort Larkfeather to the border."

Sugarpaw, despite the situation, bounced in joy at the prospect of being a part of the patrol but quickly stopped when she locked eyes with Oakstar.

"Wait!" Larkfeather called out. "I came here to have one last goodbye. May I at least have the privilege of wishing my best regards to my clan?"

Oakstar sighed, knowing he couldn't deny his son for that. "Fine, you may. But make it quick." He looked around his clan, not wanting to let them think that he favored his kin more than his clan. *Which I do. I just can't let any cat see that in me.*

Larkfeather walked around camp, dipping his head and saying his goodbyes to one clanmate at a time. Oakstar watched with a piercing gaze until Larkfeather turned his head to him and came up. He watched as Larkfeather lowered his head and said, "Look, I'm sorry this had to happen. I-I just can't leave my kits and abandon them. You have to understand that. Surely you would do the same if we were in another clan?"

Oakstar wanted to say yes. In fact, he wanted to follow Larkfeather all the way to RiverClan. But he couldn't. His role and his clanmates and the rest of his kin tied him too tight to his clan. "No, I wouldn't." He said, sensing the gaze of many of the ThunderClan cats on him. "I have my duties to attend to and I have to care for my clan. If you do not think the same, then you are no ThunderClan cat." He lowered his gaze, not wanting to meet Larkfeather in the eyes.

Larkfeather sighed and said, "Sometimes I just don't understand you. But I'll leave, and you can continue to lead ThunderClan." Oakstar could hear footsteps leading away and he lifted his head to see Larkfeather leaving to say bye to Sunspirit.

When Larkfeather was done, the cats he had named earlier to escort him out walked over and led Larkfeather out of ThunderClan camp. Oakstar watched them leave and then he padded to his den, his thoughts muddled with grief. His deputy, Larkfeather, had abandoned his clan for a RiverClan she-cat in the middle of leaf-bare and he would most likely now only see his traitorous son at gatherings. He slumped down onto his nest, feeling as if it were full of thorns even though he knew it had been cleared out recently by Sugarpaw who was always getting into trouble. Oakstar sighed, knowing he had to appoint a new deputy by moonhigh.

He lowered his head to think through the cats. *Dustleaf? No, she wouldn't make a good leader. Twitterfluff? No way, she is too lazy and doesn't care too much. Plus she isn't the smartest cat ever.* continued thinking about every warrior of the clan and trying to figure out which would be the best fit for the new ThunderClan deputy. He heard a cat walk in and turned to find Sunspirit.

"Are you ok?" Sunspirit asked. "Do you need any help finding a new deputy? Do you need some food?"

Oakstar sighed, saying, "No, I'm fine." He paused, thinking, and then asked, "Would you like to be my deputy? I can't think of a cat I can trust more than you."

Sunspirit shook her head. "I'm sorry, but I'm afraid I'd decline. Your last deputy, Larkfeather, is our son. Think about how the clan would feel if you elected me, your mate, as deputy next. Theyd feel like you don't trust them enough to give them the position." Sunspirit sighed. "Besides, I'm old. I don't want to be deputy, since by the time you've spent your last life, I would probably die of old age. And that would leave ThunderClan with an inexperienced deputy and leader. Pick someone younger who would be more capable for the job, please."

Oakstar sighed. "I guess that is a good point, but I wish it were you who were my deputy."

"I know," Sunspirit said. "I can help you think of another. Deertail is empathetic and sticks to the warrior code, and is good at mediating arguments. Or Magpieclaw. She's fierce and loyal and is good at taking the leadership role when patrolling and wouldn't let the other clans take advantage of ThunderClan."

"Maybe," Oakstar said. "But Magpieclaw would likely start battles with other clans for minuscule reasons such as a trespassing cat while Deertail would avoid fighting even when that's the best decision."

"Every cat has their flaws and you have to pick some cat," Sunspirit reasoned.

"I know," Oakstar said. "I will think about it."

Magpieclaw made it back to camp with Hollowbirch and Amberpetal not far behind. The dawn patrol, which was supposed to have been finished by sun high had taken almost the entire day after it was delayed by ShadowClan. She was glad to finally be back in camp and sighed, rummaging through the fresh-kill pile for something to eat after making sure the other warriors were eating so she knew she could too. Magpieclaw chose a fat vole and sat next to Dusksong, Twitterfluff and Amberpetal to eat. She noticed more and more cats who had been out of patrols and been busy hunting had begun to gather around Twitterfluff. Magpieclaw shrugged and sat down, curious what the crowd was for.

"You're joking!" Orangefoot said, putting down his squirrel. "Larkfeather? Really?"

Twitterfluff shook her head, eyes gleaming with all the attention she was getting. "I'm serious. Larkfeather left ThunderClan for the RiverClan she-cat Irisheart!"

Magpieclaw's jaw gaped in surprise. She hadn't expected that. She turned to risk a glance at Dustleaf, who looked just as shocked as she was. Magpieclaw knew Dustleaf had a crush on Larkfeather, and she felt bad that her hopes of being with him were ruined. "That-that mangepelt!" Dustleaf exclaimed through a bite of rabbit. Magpieclaw was certain out of all the warriors gathered, Dustleaf was the most stricken and angry at what had happened. "That lousy unloyal vermin! Has he got a swarm of bees in his brain?"

Several of the other cats gathered, not catching on to why Dustleaf was so distraught, agreed. "Good riddance!" Amberpetal called. "We have no need for code breakers who have no respect for the clan or our ancestors."

Orangefoot said, "Let RiverClan deal with him. ThunderClan doesn't need him! We can have a far better deputy than Larkfeather!"

Magpieclaw spoke up, saying, "Any cat who is willing to leave their clan for the sake of a cat from another clan doesn't deserve to be a warrior at all! If I were RiverClan leader, I wouldn't accept him. Even if I were, he wouldn't come as a warrior. He would be made an apprentice, forced to learn loyalty and what it means to live in a clan!"

Several of the other cats nodded in their agreement.

"All cats old enough to catch prey, come beneath the high ledge for a clan meeting!" The call rang out, leaving the cats Magpieclaw was eating with along with herself to drop their fresh-kill and gather around. All the cats looked up at their leader expectantly in silence. Magpieclaw came to the sudden realization that with Larkfeather gone Oakstar would have to pick a new deputy by moon high. *This must be the reason for the clan meeting,* she thought. She waited to see who would be named as next deputy.

"As many of you are well aware, Larkfeather has left ThunderClan." Oakstar said. Several yowls and hisses broke out at the news. Clearly not all of the cats had found out about this. Oakstar ignored the cats and kept going on above the roar, "He left for Irisheart of RiverClan. With him gone, I no longer have a deputy which is why I must appoint one."

The cats eventually started to calm down and Oakstar waited for there to be silence, shooting a glance at Sugarpaw and Dewpaw who were the last to stop talking. "By the powers of StarClan, I appoint Magpieclaw as my newest deputy! May StarClan honor your courage and bravery. Do you accept?"

Magpieclaw was stunned. *Me? They really want me as deputy? What about Deertail? Or Orangefoot?*She swallowed her thoughts and said, "I do." She had imagined her voice sounding calm and reassuring but instead it cracked at the end, letting cats know she was caught off guard.

Oakstar gestured for Magpieclaw to come up onto the rock and she did. Magpieclaw touched noses with the ThunderClan leader.

"Magpieclaw!"

"Magpieclaw!"

Magpieclaw looked around the clearing at her clanmates, closest friends and kin called out her name with joy and pride. She puffed up her chest and walked down the rock and thanked them. She could still hardly believe what had happened herself.

Dusksong barged in front of her and mewed, "Congratulations, Magpieclaw!" He dipped his head and Magpieclaw dutifully said thanks.

Sugarpaw leapt onto Magpieclaw fiercely and called out for all the cats to hear, "My mother is the bestest cat in all the clans! She's going to be leader!"

"Really? Is that true?" Dewpaw asked, padding up behind.

"Of course it is, silly!" Sugarpaw said. "Oakstar has only chosen deputies that are his closest family. He could've chosen his mate, but he didn't! He chose mother!"

"That is true," Dusksong said. Sugarpaw never ceased to amaze Magpieclaw every day with her smarts and good thinking.

Magpieclaw licked her chest fur, flattered. "I'm sure he would've picked anyone else," she said.

"Except he picked you out of all the cats," Sugarpaw insisted. She turned around to brag to the younger warriors about her mother being made deputy.

Magpieclaw twitched her whiskers in amusement. She was still getting used to the idea of being deputy. Next gathering she would be sitting with Shadepelt, Eddieleap, Jaywind and Harecrouch, the other deputies. She sat up and curled her tail around her paws with pride and happiness with her new rank in ThunderClan and thought of all the responsibilities she was yet to take care of as part of her duty.

Springheart was crouching in a thick clump of weeds stalking a fat frog. It sat on a river bank, and she knew she had to be careful to make sure she didn't give it time to swim away. After the warrior code had been temporarily removed, she was allowed into RiverClan territory to hunt and she had taken advantage of the over flooding amount of prey that hadn't been hunted by the RiverClan cats. Of course, she still didn't know how to swim. Springheart just had to make sure she cornered her prey before chasing it.

Springheart lowered herself when she saw the frog look up and it seemed to stare at her. Springheart stayed still and crouched in an uncomfortable position. She let out her breath, not realizing she had held it in, when the frog averted its gaze to hunt for bugs. She snuck a few paw steps forward and then lunged, pinning the frog and swiftly killed it.

Springheart silently thanked StarClan for the prey and then picked it up and walked over to the spot where she had buried her previous catches. She dug them out, retrieving another frog, a vole and a mouse. Springheart picked up her catches and brought them to the RiverClan camp since it was the closest to her and the moon was about to rise.

Springheart walked into camp and dropped all of the prey she had caught on the pile except for the frog she had just caught. She decided to walk over to sit next to Irisheart, Eddieleap, Sagewhisker, Carpsong and Finchbeak.