<^> IceClan <^> Part 1 <^> A Fresh Start <^>

Sparkpetal trotted into the leaders den. "Hello?"

" Yes?" Silentstar asked, voice cracked.

"Are you okay?" She asked.

" Not really." Silentstar mumbled.

Sparkpetal nodded. "Here! I heard you panting." She mumbled, droping poppy seeds.

"You might want to stay out of the forest today, to prevent that from coming true," Windfoot recommended. "When I'm on my hunting patrol, I'll be extra careful to check for other traps, and protect not only you, but the rest of the Clan as well. When should I go out?"

Silentstar took the poppy seeds, nodding in thanks. " Yes, thank you Windfoot. Right now would be good." Silentstar said.

Splash-eye woke up. Mostly, anyway. "Who hid the ice mouse?" she asked sleepily, and lay there a bit longer.

Silentstar took a poppy seed, and sighed.

Sparkpetal looked at her. "WEll, I-I heard a yelp last night, rouge probly." She admitted.

" Great.." Silentstar muttered.

Sparkpatel sighed and left.

"Okay." Windfoot nodded quickly. "Wishpaw's been out a lot lately. At first I thought about going alone, since she might be tired, but if she wants to come, that's fine with me. What do you think?"

Silentstar nodded. " Yes, if she wants to come." Silentstar paused. " And Windfoot?"
~~~
Wishpaw layed in her nest, fidgeting.

"What is it?" Windfoot asked, looking back at Silentstar.

((On the front page, you have me in two places... just thought I should let you know.))

(( I know. I did that for a reason, your deputy but your still a warrior, right? ))

" Your the deputy." Silentstar said simply.

Windfoot stood there, wide-eyed, for a moment, then said, "All right! I'll work hard!"

She headed to the medicine cat den, her mien suddnely soft. "Wishpaw, do you feel well enough to go out on a patrol?"

Silentstar smiled.
~~~
Wishpaw jumped up. " Yes!" She chimed.

"All right," Windfoot said, heading out. "We're looking for any traps we might have missed, and a morning hunting patrol."

She paused a few bounds out of the entrance. "Now, what do you smell?"

Wishpaw paused, " Vole. And mouse, but the mouse is stale." Wishppaw saiid.

"The mice must have moved a bit further into the territory," Windfoot noted. "Do you know what approximate direction the vole scent is coming from?"

" West.. Not to far from here." Wishpaw said, knowing exactly.

"All right. Good," she said, nodding. She looked once down at the ground, to inspect her shadow, and started padding west. It wasn't long before the vole scent became stronger.

"I'll show you the crouch." Windfoot knew that Wishpaw would know what she meant. She dropped so that she could step without making much noise. "Make sure it doesn't feel you. Step very lightly, and make sure your pounce is long."

((Shouldn't we have an announcement that Windfoot's the deputy? You know, like "let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather here" announcement?))

(( I'm going to. ))

Wishpaw nodded, and crouched like Windfoot.

"All right. Aim for where you think the vole is, and pounce quickly but quietly," the gray she-cat recommended.

There was a small sound of skittering feet in the undergrowth just ahead. A small mouse-like creature poked its head out of its hole, facing away from Wishpaw.