𝔅𝔯𝔦𝔤𝔥𝔱ℭ𝔩𝔞𝔫

Mousepaw brightened at his mentor's affirmation of his bragging. He was always glad he was assigned a mentor who was kind and patient with his antics, and shuddered to think of how dreary days would be with a stern warrior who made him work all the time. The tiny tabby was even more excited when Mushroomclaw promised him continued training. "Oh good! I was worried I'd be cooped up with all the other apprentices until the patrol returned," he mewed, his nose wrinkling, "I may be small, but even I feel cramped in that den for too long. But with Rainpaw, Cloudpaw and Darkpaw gone, maybe there'll be a little more nest room." As he babbled forward, he tried to remember back a moon ago, when Icepaw, Shallowpaw, and Honeypaw had been stuffed in their den as well. The young tom felt a wave of shame running his tongue about a packed den when three of his denmates may never even come back.

"Thank you, Eaglefrost," Badgerheart replied, still in a low tone. With his plan of emergency safe with his trusted clanmate, he turned to Dandelionfur as the white she-cat joined them. "Dandelionfur, we were just about to find you and Stormbreak. Eaglefrost spoke right, that's our plan for when we cross the thunderpath. Of course, we'll need to see what's in the dark woods for ourselves before we come up with any other plan. I just hope their scents haven't faded." He doubted Honeypaw's trail would linger still, as she had been gone for nearly a moon. But he still held hope for tracking Shallowpaw and Icepaw, his own apprentice's trail he could follow well. If their suspicions were right, the apprentices would all be in a similar direction.

Dandelionfur's offer was noble of her, and Badgerheart nodded in thanks. "I'm glad you're prepared. We'll break the patrol into shifts, if we all take turns scouting a little ahead, it will make sure we don't get separated too distantly, and give us all a chance to track to the best of our ability." With the reality of the situation setting in, Badgerheart knew there was little planning that could be done now. He glanced over to Snowdapple as she chided their son Sleekpaw, a sight he would sorely miss as soon as he left. Badgerheart dipped his head to the warriors. "I'll let you make your final preparations with your apprentices, and make sure we all sleep well tonight. We'll have plenty to eat before dawn, and we'll be on our way." Not wishing to linger upon the patrol as anything more than a warrior's expected duty, he saved his emotions for the journey itself.

Having excused himself, Badgerheart made his way to Snowdapple. Sleekpaw made his way back toward the apprentices den, having had his fill of riling up his mother and grandfather. "I'm sorry I didn't speak to you right after the meeting." He knew she would understand, as he had chosen a mate who was just as dutiful and work-minded as himself. "I wanted to make sure we had enough time to speak."

Sleekpaw slunk away like a shadow, as he habitually moved. The last thing he wanted was to run into one of the apprentices who were chosen for the patrol. How could Sparrowstar send three apprentices, and none of them were himself or Patchpaw, who were the oldest? The broody tom made a point to avoid his sister as she spoke to Darkpaw, the lucky younger tom. He wandered over to the fresh-kill pile for a meal. Spotting Ivypaw with a hefty amount of prey, the skinny tom meowed, "What has you so hungry?"