Brightnose quickly shook herself off and looked around the camp, searching for her apprentice. Seeing Fawnpaw's unusual coat in the apprentice's den the mentor rushed to her, gently prodding the cat on her side.
"We're gonna go hunting!" Brightnose exclaimed.
Fawnpaw opened one eye with a moan,'We went hunting this afternoon though!' It felt like she had shut her eyes before she would have to be up on her paws again. Even though the pain in her paws and muscles ere gone, it didn't mean that the tiredness didn't still linger there.
Brightnose's burrow knitted but then she sighed deeply.
"Yes, I know Fawnpaw. You must be tired.... When you wake up if we have time we'll hunt or if you wake up later we'll just join the border patrol...." the mentor mumbled, hitting herself for not remembering the young cat must be exhausted.
Fawnpaw's deep breathing had already returned before the she-cat finished speaking. She was exhausted after all the training they had done, but she was satisfied to learn all those new tricks! Something was still troubling Fawnpaw. Why was Brightnose acting so... weird? It seemed like she was hiding something from Fawnpaw. I wonder what she's planning... The small apprentice twitched in her sleep with the questions that sought and seeped into her mind like a sponge.
~~~~~~ HOURS PASSED ~~~~~~~~
Brightnose impatiently was pacing around the entrance of Riverclan, waiting for Fawnpaw to get up. The she-cat had gone on a border patrol and hunting patrol but wanted to spend more time with her new apprentice. She had gone to tell Photoflash with Wavestar about what happened and the Tom simply shrugged and went off with another apprentice, also his daughter.
Fawnpaw shuffled out of the apprentice den with a yawn. She was fully rested after her hour long nap, and it always felt good to have a nice break from the days' duties.
Brightnose snorted and quickly padded over to her apprentice, eyebrow raised.
"The sunset patrol has already left." the she-cat growled and flicked her tail.
'I'm sorry Brightnose.' She bashfully fluttered her eyelashes with a cute grin that would get her out of any predicament. 'You knew I was really tired.'
Brightnose sighed loudly and led the way out, muttering under her breath.
"Well, let's see you hunt then." the she-cat mewed, knowing the in the dark it was harder to see your prey.
'It's easier at night! They can't see us, but our smell and hearing gives us an advantage over them.' She traced off into the brush, leading the way like a hunting dog, towards a hole that was scented with mice. A mice family must live in there! She got down and squeezed her paws down deep into it; fortunately, the hole wasn't that deep, and that meant the mice were trapped. She neatly killed two adult mice and dragged out about six smaller ones that were almost full grown. 'Brightnose! Jackpot!'
Brightnose padded over, two large pigeon's in her jaw.
"Excellent work." the she-cat mewed, then made a large hole to put all of their prey in.
"Let's swim."
'My pleasure.' The apprentice purred and bounded off toward the river with her usual bounce in her step. 'Race?' The she-cat was always up for a little, friendly competition. Especially against Brightnose! She purred with delight for she knew a short cut she could use if the warrior accepted.
Brightnose's face turned into a smile and the she-cat quickly jumped in and flicked her tail for Fawnpaw to join her.
"Three mice, two mi-" the warrior quickly dived away, to a fern island with had a shortcut underground.
Fawnpaw kicked off her back legs with a powerful force as she bounded forward. The she-cat recognized the direction Brightnose was heading, and she knew where she could block off the exit, so Brightnose would have to go all the way back - losing! The apprentice let out a small laugh before quickening her pace to get there before she exited the hole.
Brightnose ran past the island and quickly dived into a tunnel, racing at maximum speed and seeing light again, widening her eyes as she saw bracken and fern at the end. Taking a sharp turn to the left the warrior stepped onto the finishing line triumphantly.
"Secret emergency exit tunnel!" the warrior sang, dancing around.
Fawnpaw padded out of the brush and flicked her tail with a triumphant look in her eyes,'Took you long enough!'
"Cheater!" the mentor yelled and tackled Fawnpaw, pinning her to the ground.
An oof! escaped her as she was tackled and pinned to the ground. 'It's called friendly competition!' She laughed in delight at her clever ways. Reaching up with her slender neck, she touched noses with Brightnose with a purr erupting form her throat.
Brightnose sighed again and rolled off, lying on her back and looking up to Silverpelt.
"We're going to be up there one day...." the new mentor murmured, blinking wistfully at the stars.
'Hopefully it isn't any time soon though.' She cast a worried glance at Brightnose. The apprentice hated to admit it, but she didn't want to die. Didn't want Brightnose, or Brightpaw, or Casper -- anyone, to die.