Rain had been falling down since sun down and even now as dawn patrol and the sunrise hunting party left camp. The ground was muddy and even as the warrior woke from slumber she could hear the complaining of the clan. Nightshade grumbled her body feeling stiff as she had fallen asleep, fur still wet and cold. Thornpad was already awake and was licking his fur. Eyes opening she got up and stretched. Tail curling and ears folding back as she tried to shake the heavy weight of sleep from her body. Hearing the sturr of his clan mate Thornpad turned to see the raven colored pelt of his kithood friend he purred softly as he stood from his nest. “Sleep well Nightshade? You were stirring a lot last night.” Her face grew warm at the concern in her voice as she purred softly in rensurence, “I slept alright, you know that the rain causes me to have strange dreams silly.” Standing too she bumped his side lightly before she walked out of the warriors den. Water dripped onto her fur as she stared out into the clearing. The sky was gray and air thick with the smell of wet leaves and dirt. Soon she felt the warm pelt of Thornpad against her side and she felt herself lean into his side, “Such a gloomy day. I’ll be surprised if the hunting party actually catches anything in this weather,” she admits softly with lowered ears. Soon the sound of a low hiss hit her ears as she turned around to see the heavy golden pelt of Lionheart, “Way to have faith in your clanmates Nightshade.” His voice was low and angered as he stood over her with narrowed eyes as he sat up straight in his nest. Thornpad dipped his head in respect, “Lionheart. I was thinking that we could take our apprentices out and you can show them some of the age-old tips like how you taught me when I was an apprentice.” Nightshade looked over at him with a small smile, he always tried to look at the bright side of things and make everyone happy. Feeling new found words, Nightshade followed after him with a smile, “I think that would be a great idea, it will also get you out of the camp.” Ever since Sparrowcall came to be expecting kits he never wanted to leave camp. The experienced warrior huffed, “I’m capable of leaving camp whenever I want, but that does sound nice.” Nodding Thornpad rested a tail over Nightshades shoulders and with a supporting look they both went to wake their apprentices. Puddlepaw yawned loudly behind her. “Why did we have to wake up so early? Especially with the rain it makes me slepppyyyy~” Skypaw bumped into her sister, “Oh stop complaining mouse-brain you’re starting to sound like Deertuft with how much you’ve been whining.” Suddenly laughter came from the two of them and even Nightshade couldn’t stop the quiet chuckle that left her causing her to feel the heavy shove from the tom next to her. Looking over she saw the glaring look of forest green eyes but even behind the stern look she could see the playful look and smile across his face. Purring she leaned closer, “You know it’s true. I remember her yowling even from when we were kits.” She could hear the low chuckle next to her knowing he agreed. Even if the rain had let up by the time the group left camp water still fell from the trees overhead causing the ground to still be muddy and even as the group walked Nightshade could feel her paws sinking into the ground as she walked next to Thornpad. Lionheart walked ahead of the group, Nightshade watched the large tom as he walked. Tail hovering over the muddy ground as his steps were full of power and demand. His chest puffed out and eyes staring ahead. “Skypaw what's the main advantages of our clan in battle?” Lionhearts voice asked sternly, causing Nightshade’s eyes to narrow and whiskers twitch, he could try to be at least a little nicer. Skypaw was quick to straighten her back at the question, “The trees! We use them to get high and surprise our enemies!” Her voice beaming with truth. Nightshade purred as she put a tail over her apprentice's back, “Good job, I knew you’d remember,” she praised with a loud purr. The golden tom scoffed, “Keep babying them and they’ll never become /real/ warriors Nightshade.” Nightshade bit her tongue as she kept back a snappy comment back to him when Thornpad spoke up.
“Yes but we’re also good on our paws, not as fast as Windclan but they are used to open spaces. We have the advantage of weaving between the trees and over the underbrush. You taught me that Lionheart,” He spoke softly as he looked over at his older mentor. Huffing he didn’t comment back as he continued walking. Soft giggling of Puddlepaw filled the air and the warriors looked over to see the gleaming eyes of her as bumped her sister playfully. “Yea but I bet I can still still run faster than you Skypaw!” The challenge in her voice almost made the black warrior smirk, she acted so much like her mother. Skypaw looked up at her mentor and with a smile she nodded in silent agreement. Shooting a returning challedging look Skypaw playfully glared at her sister, “Oh you’re on! Last one to the top of the hill needs to clean Deertufts fur!” Just like that they bolted off, kicking up mud in the process. Laughing Thornpad and Nightshade leaned into each other as they walked now, “Reminds me of someone.” she whispered as she looked up at him, her fur mixing with his. Chucking Thornpad nodded, “Just like how you and I were as apprentices I know. I could never beat you,” he sighed. Purring Nightshade smiled, “You sure tried though." Thats where the warriors left as they continued walking, their steps now taken in longer strides no longer having to slow for their apprentices as Nightshade listened to Thornpad talk with Lionheart. Soon the three warriors were nearing the top of the territory and the she-cat could see the panting frame of the two apprentices. That was before the ground started to shake. Whiskers twitched as Lionheart was first to react. Dashing over to the apprentices he threw Puddlepaw over to the other two. Yowling the shec-at landed with a thud as Nightshade was quick to pull her close her body trying to focus on everything when the edge of the cliff started to fall apart. Cracks formed and rock, dirt, and grass fell down into the gorge below. “Lionheart get out of there!” Nightshade heard Thornpad yowl as more land started to fall at the edge, gray fur moving as the tom ran over to try and grab the remaining apprentice. Nightshade’s eyes trained onto her apprentice as her tail curled around the shaking Puddlepaw. Skypaw’s soft gray fur now shaking as her body trembled with fear. Almost frozen in its place as the ground started to loosen under the small she-cat’s paws. “Skypaw!” Nightshade yowled, but then another flash came past the running gray tom as Lionheart grabbed Skypaw’s scruff and threw her just as the land collapsed. Nightshade’s eyes widened as the tom fell into the rocky gorge below. The shouts of Thornpad feel on deaf ears as ringing filled her own. The gorge was once a large flowing river that was now dried into a stone filled ravean, there was no way he would live, but he had too. She didn’t even realize that her breath was growing faster as a tightness grew in her chest. It took her apprentice to call her name did she seemed to snap out of it. Head jerking she stared down at the trembling Puddlepaw, “Puddlepaw I want you to run back to camp and get help. Go. NOW!” she yowled and with a shove she watched as the apprentice get to her paws and run down the hill. It was only then did she turn and run to Thornpad’s side.
