[886 words]
“Sandflower, you will be leading morning hunting patrol with Lizardpaw and Turkeyhop,” Mulepelt pauses and waits for his sister’s response in a nod before continueing, “Torntalon and Dustwind will accompany me to patrol close to the northern border while Timberfang will take Ebonyfoot and Redcinders along the Cattle Field border. Dismissed”
The deputy rose to his paws and waved the cats off with a flick of his tail. Everyone parted to start their morning tasks. Dustwind looked around the camp and saw Torntalon had already made his way to the camp entrance to wait. He watched Mulepelt make his way towards the largest warrior in the clan and so Dustwind slinked up to Mulepelt’s side. He was like Mulepelt’s second shadow, always there and always watching.
“I heard there were coyotes camping out near the north boarder. Why are we going that way?” Dustwind hissed fearfully into Mulepelt’s ear.
“Yes, I know they are there. Just follow my orders Dustwind.” A low growl came from Mulepelt’s through and there was a slight flick of his tail out of annoyance. Dustwind noticed the irritation in his former apprentice and knew it was better to do as he was told. Not many cats knew the true Mulepelt like Dustwind did and he prayed to Starclan no one else in Muleclan would ever see it. Although, he doubted Starclan was listening because Mulepelt’s temper seemed to be rising more and more. Dustwind knew it was only a matter of time.
Torntalon joined the two cats and the small patrol slipped out of camp making their way towards the north border. Mulepelt led the patrol through the long yellow grass following a path that would take them around the Lion Caverns. Dustwind tried to keep his eyes in front of him as they walked but every now and again a movement above him would catch his eyes. He’d look up to see the looming black figures of vultures circling in the air. No doubt the coyote pack had mercilessly killed another creature. Thinking about the coyotes made fear prickle at his spine causing his tail to fluff up slightly. It felt like they were actively looking for the coyotes. If only he knew what Mulepelt was thinking.
As they drew closer to the boarder Mulepelt paused to sniff the air while Torntalon stood protectively close. The chocolate tom towered over everyone and everything, had Dustwind not known his parents he would’ve sworn Torntalon was part bobcat. Knowing that the clan’s only berserk warrior was with them put some of Dustwind’s anxiety at ease.
“From the looks of the vultures and the smell in the air I’d say those flea pelts were here recently.”
“Mulepelt, look.”
Torntalon tips his nose towards a path that looks as if a coyote had drug its prey through. The two toms nod and trot off in down the path. Dustwind hung back for a moment to debate if he’d really want to follow Mulepelt to the jaws of some blood thirsty coyotes. In the end did he really have a choice? He did vow to serve and follow Mulepelt to the end without a second thought. It was only right for him to live his life respecting his former mentor and Mulepelt’s father, Coyotepelt. With a low hiss Dustwind slinked after his clan mates.
“Why are we here?”
He gave out another low hiss as he approached Mulepelt who was peering through some bushes. The tom didn’t move a muscle as Dustwind approached.
“Research my friend.”
Dustwind looked through the thick branches of the bush when he heard a loud yip sound. Beyond the bush was a reddish brown pelted coyote that he immediately knew as Razor, the leader of the coyote pack. The mangy looking canine was scraping with another coyote over what looked like a dead jack rabbit.
“Are we going to chase them off?” A part of Dustwind prayed Mulepelt would say no but he knew better.
Mulepelt doesn't even acknowledge his question. He just turns and says, “Torntalon are you ready?”
The large tom nodded his long fluffy head at Mulepelt in response before he bunched his legs under him preparing for an attack. Dustwind hissed angrily before following Mulepelt’s actions. With the signal from Mulepelt flicking his tail Torntalon charged through the bushes giving a large yowl as he went. There never is much of a fight when Torntalon is involved; the two coyotes took off after the large tom’s claws sliced along the lower ranking coyote’s face.
“Are you going to explain now, Mulepelt?”
Torntalon’s deep voice rumbled through the air as he sat on his back haunches and cleaned his claws. The deputy’s piercing copper eyes looked them over in thought before replying.
“We are going to use them.”
“Use them how?”
“I will tell you when I feel you need to know, Dustwind. Now let’s continue our patrol. We need to remark the border.”
Dustwind tried to not let Mulepelt's words bother him but they did. He knew that whatever they were going to use the coyotes for it was going to cost the clan a life. If they turned Mulepelt against them though, there was no saving them from this fate. Dustwind pushed the thoughts from his head as he focused on remarking the clan's border.
“Sandflower, you will be leading morning hunting patrol with Lizardpaw and Turkeyhop,” Mulepelt pauses and waits for his sister’s response in a nod before continueing, “Torntalon and Dustwind will accompany me to patrol close to the northern border while Timberfang will take Ebonyfoot and Redcinders along the Cattle Field border. Dismissed”
The deputy rose to his paws and waved the cats off with a flick of his tail. Everyone parted to start their morning tasks. Dustwind looked around the camp and saw Torntalon had already made his way to the camp entrance to wait. He watched Mulepelt make his way towards the largest warrior in the clan and so Dustwind slinked up to Mulepelt’s side. He was like Mulepelt’s second shadow, always there and always watching.
“I heard there were coyotes camping out near the north boarder. Why are we going that way?” Dustwind hissed fearfully into Mulepelt’s ear.
“Yes, I know they are there. Just follow my orders Dustwind.” A low growl came from Mulepelt’s through and there was a slight flick of his tail out of annoyance. Dustwind noticed the irritation in his former apprentice and knew it was better to do as he was told. Not many cats knew the true Mulepelt like Dustwind did and he prayed to Starclan no one else in Muleclan would ever see it. Although, he doubted Starclan was listening because Mulepelt’s temper seemed to be rising more and more. Dustwind knew it was only a matter of time.
Torntalon joined the two cats and the small patrol slipped out of camp making their way towards the north border. Mulepelt led the patrol through the long yellow grass following a path that would take them around the Lion Caverns. Dustwind tried to keep his eyes in front of him as they walked but every now and again a movement above him would catch his eyes. He’d look up to see the looming black figures of vultures circling in the air. No doubt the coyote pack had mercilessly killed another creature. Thinking about the coyotes made fear prickle at his spine causing his tail to fluff up slightly. It felt like they were actively looking for the coyotes. If only he knew what Mulepelt was thinking.
As they drew closer to the boarder Mulepelt paused to sniff the air while Torntalon stood protectively close. The chocolate tom towered over everyone and everything, had Dustwind not known his parents he would’ve sworn Torntalon was part bobcat. Knowing that the clan’s only berserk warrior was with them put some of Dustwind’s anxiety at ease.
“From the looks of the vultures and the smell in the air I’d say those flea pelts were here recently.”
“Mulepelt, look.”
Torntalon tips his nose towards a path that looks as if a coyote had drug its prey through. The two toms nod and trot off in down the path. Dustwind hung back for a moment to debate if he’d really want to follow Mulepelt to the jaws of some blood thirsty coyotes. In the end did he really have a choice? He did vow to serve and follow Mulepelt to the end without a second thought. It was only right for him to live his life respecting his former mentor and Mulepelt’s father, Coyotepelt. With a low hiss Dustwind slinked after his clan mates.
“Why are we here?”
He gave out another low hiss as he approached Mulepelt who was peering through some bushes. The tom didn’t move a muscle as Dustwind approached.
“Research my friend.”
Dustwind looked through the thick branches of the bush when he heard a loud yip sound. Beyond the bush was a reddish brown pelted coyote that he immediately knew as Razor, the leader of the coyote pack. The mangy looking canine was scraping with another coyote over what looked like a dead jack rabbit.
“Are we going to chase them off?” A part of Dustwind prayed Mulepelt would say no but he knew better.
Mulepelt doesn't even acknowledge his question. He just turns and says, “Torntalon are you ready?”
The large tom nodded his long fluffy head at Mulepelt in response before he bunched his legs under him preparing for an attack. Dustwind hissed angrily before following Mulepelt’s actions. With the signal from Mulepelt flicking his tail Torntalon charged through the bushes giving a large yowl as he went. There never is much of a fight when Torntalon is involved; the two coyotes took off after the large tom’s claws sliced along the lower ranking coyote’s face.
“Are you going to explain now, Mulepelt?”
Torntalon’s deep voice rumbled through the air as he sat on his back haunches and cleaned his claws. The deputy’s piercing copper eyes looked them over in thought before replying.
“We are going to use them.”
“Use them how?”
“I will tell you when I feel you need to know, Dustwind. Now let’s continue our patrol. We need to remark the border.”
Dustwind tried to not let Mulepelt's words bother him but they did. He knew that whatever they were going to use the coyotes for it was going to cost the clan a life. If they turned Mulepelt against them though, there was no saving them from this fate. Dustwind pushed the thoughts from his head as he focused on remarking the clan's border.