The entire Clan had been a deep cloud of worry since their head warrior had almost drowned and was still suffering from a raging fever. The nights were getting colder as leaf-fall began to grip the forest. Leopardshadow was slowly recovering, but heat still pulsed from her pelt from the raging fever, as the Clan was told by Shinestream. Sun had began sneezing and coughing, Shadowsong always by her side when she staggered while hacking wretchedly. A black and white tom, Darkshadow, was always bringing prey and soaked moss for the ill head warrior, always curled up beside her in case something changed about her status. Tornadostar looked moons older, worrying about her head warrior. Her fur was ragged and ungroomed, her eyes always seeming as if she was starring at something her warriors couldn't see. Not even Lightningbolt could comfort his mate, as far as Windrunner could see.
He'd kept his eye on Hazelcloud, making sure she didn't slip away; she'd been acting strange, her blue eyes always looking sorta moony. He saw movement at the front of the camp, and rustling as the some cats padding in, carrying mouth-watering fresh-kill. Berrysplash stood at the front her fur gleaming from a thorough wash she had given herself at sunhigh, and held her tail high in pride of her squirrel. Windrunner's heart seem to skip a beat as he starred, jaws hanging open at her captivating spell. She met his gaze flirtatiously and flicked her tail in acknowledgement. He looked away, his mouth suddenly, looking at the other cats padding behind the young tortoiseshell warrior.
Ravenfeather padded to the pile, distributing a mouse and two voles. Spottedpaw and Dewflower strode in behind the black she-cat. He could see from the barely visible anger in her eyes that Dewflower had seen him starring at Berrysplash. Dewflower's apprentice, Spottedpaw, dropped a shrew, a mouse, and 2 wood pigeons to the pile. Windrunner had to admit her apprentice was doing excellent. He even saw Stargaze, the Clan deputy, nod in notice of the young spotted apprentice's successful hunting. He glanced back around for Berrysplash and saw a tail tip disappear into the warriors den. A touch to his shoulder made him leap a tail-length in the air. He turned around and saw Cricketchirp behind him, looking at him expectantly.
"Jumpy, are we?" she murmured, twitching her whiskers at him. Windrunner flattened his ears in embarrassment.
"No, you just surprised me! That's all!" he protested, purring at the she-cat. Even though the black and gray warrior was shy and quiet, she was really nice.
"I was wondering if you've seen Wildpaw? Moonleaf has been looking for her everywhere and we can't find her," she explained, causing Windrunner to have to strain his ears towards her, her mew was so quiet. Windrunner saw the pretty gray she-cat was going from warrior to warrior, mewing anxiously to each one. They all shook their head and every time another cat being questioned by Moonleaf shook their head, her clear blue gaze became even more distraught. He bid farewell to Cricketchirp, who looked taken aback by his sudden intensified meow. They needed apprentices!!! He was about to go and talk to Moonleaf when she appeared in front of him, causing him to leap into the air, startled.
"I didn't know cats could fly," purred Seamist, trotting with her friend, Lightfeather, with Wishkit stumbling behind. Windrunner shot her a playful glare and she returned it for a heartbeat, then went back to chattering. He turned to Moonleaf and she was starring at him desperately.
"Please tell me you have seen Wildpaw! She's missing and her nest is cold and the other apprentices haven't seen her since this morning when she asked Stargaze if she could go out hunting by herself! She said she'd be back by sunhigh, but it's well past sunhigh and, oh, I'm a terrible mentor.." the she-cat sank to her paws, horror and desperation reflecting in her blue eyes. He looked at her then whisked off to Tornadostar's den.
