Tallstar’s Revenge

“Hi, Dawnstripe.” Tallpaw flicked his tail. “Are we going to check all the borders?” This was his first dawn patrol.

Dawnstripe shook her head. “That would take too long.” She jerked her muzzle toward the long grass where more cats were emerging into the open. “Stagleap, Ryestalk, and Larksplash will patrol the moor-edge and gorge with us. Hareflight, Shrewpaw, Doespring, and Appledawn will re-mark the borders near Fourtrees and ShadowClan.”

Shrewpaw padded, yawning, from the apprentices’ den. “Is there time to raid the prey heap before we leave?” His belly growled.

Tallpaw glanced across the clearing. There was only a stiff vole and a squashed mouse in the pile. “Perhaps you’ll catch something while you’re patrolling.”

Dawnstripe’s ear twitched. “No hunting until the borders have been checked.”

Shrewpaw’s belly rumbled louder.

“Heatherstar will send out a hunting patrol soon.” Dawnstripe tipped her head sympathetically. “There’ll be prey on the heap by the time you get back.”

“How can you be hungry?” Tallpaw was too excited to eat. He padded around Dawnstripe.

Shrewpaw sat down and began to wash his face. “I’ve done dawn patrol before, remember?”

“You can’t be bored of it!” Tallpaw tasted the air, wondering what the moor was like this early. “What if we see an intruder?” he asked Dawnstripe. “Can we chase it?”

“Larksplash is leading the patrol,” Dawnstripe meowed. “You’ll have to ask her.”

Larksplash was already heading toward them. Tallpaw raced to meet her. “If we spot an intruder, can we chase it?”

“It depends.” Larksplash padded past him.

Tallpaw bounced after her. “On what?”

“On whether it’s a sheep or a dog or a rogue.” Larksplash stopped beside Dawnstripe. “If it’s a threat to the Clan, then we chase it.”

Tallpaw’s imagination began to whirl. What if they surprised a RiverClan patrol trying to invade the moor? What if a stray dog needed to be chased off? “When are we leaving?” he mewed to Dawnstripe.

Larksplash answered. “When Ryestalk and Stagleap stop gossiping and join us.”

The young warriors stood at the top of the Meeting Hollow with Doespring. They’d been warriors for a half moon. Tallpaw had watched their ceremony, secretly proud that he’d helped with their assessment. He’d nearly outrun them then, and he was even faster now. With a little more training, he was sure he’d be the fastest cat in the Clan.

“Ryestalk!” Larksplash flicked her tail and the gray she-cat looked up.

“Coming!” Ryestalk leaped over the tussocks with Stagleap close behind. “Sorry!” She skidded to a halt on the wet grass.

Stagleap’s eyes brightened. “Is Tallpaw patrolling with us?”

“Yes.” Tallpaw puffed out his chest.

“Want to race?” Stagleap plucked the ground excitedly.

“Yes, please—”

Larksplash stepped between them. “We’re patrolling, not racing,” she meowed sternly. “I want your attention focused on the borders.”

Tallpaw glanced at his paws, peeking at Stagleap from under his fur.

The dark brown tom’s whiskers were twitching with amusement. “Sorry, Larksplash.” He straightened his tail respectfully, but his whiskers kept twitching.

Tallpaw swallowed a purr. “No racing, I promise. No having fun whatsoever on the dawn patrol.”

Huffing, Larksplash turned away and headed through the entrance.

Ryestalk brushed past Tallpaw. “She doesn’t mean to be bad-tempered,” she whispered. “She’s just not a dawn cat.”

“I know the feeling.” Shrewpaw stared blearily at the rest of his patrol as they headed toward him.

“You’ll feel better once the wind’s in your fur,” Ryestalk promised as she followed Dawnstripe through the entrance.

Outside, the air was sweet with heather blossom. The sun was climbing into a pale blue sky. Tallpaw narrowed his eyes against the glare. He could make out pockets of mist pooling in dips and hollows across the moor. Heat would burn them away before long. It was going to be another scorching day.

Tallpaw felt the breeze in his tail. “Which way?” he asked Larksplash.

She was already heading upslope, toward the high-moor. “We’ll reset the markers along the Thunderpath first.”

“But there’s no Clan beyond that border.” Tallpaw caught up to her, weaving around a clump of heather to stay near her. “Why do we have to mark it?”

“There are rogues and loners out there,” Larksplash reminded him. “It’s only fair to warn them that they’ve reached Clan territory.”

I thought we welcomed rogues. Tallpaw glanced over his shoulder at Dawnstripe. She was watching the horizon. Was she looking out for their greenleaf visitors?

Stagleap caught up. “I know you said no racing.” He turned his round, amber gaze on Larksplash. “But we’re not at the border yet.”

Ryestalk popped up beside her brother. “We’d get there quicker if we ran.”

Larksplash rolled her eyes. “Okay, then. But don’t get too excited, and be careful of the Thunderpath.”

“We’re not ’paws anymore,” Stagleap retorted.

“Tallpaw is,” Larksplash reminded him. “So be careful.”

Stagleap caught Tallpaw’s eye. “Ready?”

“Ready!” Tallpaw tensed, feeling energy surge beneath his pelt.