Two Brothers Ch. 4

The sun shown down through the swaying tree tops as Adderstar, Tawnyhaze, Pinefrost and Snakepaw made their way through the undergrowth towards the border with Shadowclan. Butterflies fluttered in the apprentice's belly as he padded alongside his mentor, each pawstep making the nerves even worse as he played scenarios in his head about what may transpire in the Shadowclan camp. Copperstar wasn't known to be the easiest cat to speak to, nor the nicest, and if his clan was being accused of stealing prey then it was most likely going to end badly.

"What are you going to say to Copperstar, Adderstar?" meowed Pinefrost, breaking Snakepaw out of his thoughts so suddenly that he slightly jumped. If Tawnyhaze took notice of the act, she certainly didn't show any hint of it. Snakepaw hoped she hadn't noticed.

"I will tell him that our patrols have discovered Shadowclan scent on our side of the border, as well as fresh blood not spilled by any of our warriors," Adderstar meowed confidently, "we shall see where it goes from there."

"That isn't much of a plan, Adderstar" Tawnyhaze scolded.

The older leader looked over his shoulder, casting the deputy a grin and she shook her head with a sigh.

Immediately, Snakepaw wondered what his father's true plans were for dealing with the other leader, seeing as he obviously knew that Copperstar could easily become aggressive. Unfortunately he didn't have long to dwell on the idea, seeing as the group had reached the border. Adderstar took a seat on the grass on their side, curling his tail over his paws and staring off into the forest of pine trees on the other side. The other warriors took his lead, but Snakepaw was too nervous to sit and instead kneeded the ground, tearing up the grass with his claws. A long stretch of painful silence soon followed, making Snakepaw's unease increase as time seemed to slow and he could hear his own heartbeat as loudly as if it were right in his ears.

"Snakepaw," meowed Adderstar, causing the young cat to jump in alarm, but when he looked to his father his eyes were still on the Shadowclan side of the border.

"Y-Yes, Adderstar?" he stammered, his paws stilling.

The older cat turned his head towards him, his yellow eyes gentle as a smile crossed his featured. Snakepaw hadn't seen him look at him that way since he was a kit in the nursery. "It will be fine, relax yourself."

With a gulp, the apprentice nodded and tried to still himself, but he didn't have long before shapes appeared amongst the pines, walking in a line. When the cat at the head of the patrol spotted the small Thunderclan group, a yowl was heard and the three cats started to run towards them, skidding to a halt on their side of the border, but as close as they could get.

"What do we owe the honor, Adderstar?" sneered the head of the patrol, a black and white scarred tom with an unusual split in his tongue, which Snakepaw only noticed as the cat spoke. Beside him, Tawnyhaze tensed and he saw Pinefrost's hackles raise as the other patrol got dangerously close to his leader.

"Greetings, Snaketongue," Adderstar meowed cooly, keeping a calm about him despite the other clan's obvious hostility. "We wish to speak to Copperstar about a some business,"

"Why don't you tell us and we can send a message back for you," meowed a she-cat behind the larger tom. It was then that Snakepaw took notice of the other two cats in the patrol. The last he had seen them they were Applepaw and Ivypaw, he had met the two sisters at a gathering two moons ago.They had been older than him by several moons and looking at them now, he wasn't surprised at all.

"Quiet Ivybird!" snapped Snaketongue, glaring at the brown she-cat, who glared back but didn't say another word.

When the black tom turned back towards the Thunderclan cats, his eyes had not softened any, still bitter hostility shining in his eyes.

"Fine, we will take you to Copperstar," he grumbled, "but do not expect too much!"

The Thunderclan leader nodded his head calmly in response. Beside him, Pinefrost's tabby fur was still fluffed up, and his green eyes glared at the Shadowclan patrol. Tawnyhaze looked uneasy as well, but once the others turned and started to lead them away. One by one, Adderstar, Tawnyhaze, Pinefrost, and Snakepaw crossed the border, the later being extremely timid about stepping even one paw across the border.

Once the group started their journey to the Shadowclan camp, Snakepaw had picked up his pace so that he could stand between his mentor and Adderstar, feeling safe next to his kin. His nerves had flared up again the farther they traveled into unfamiliar territory.