Darkleaf raised his imaginary cat-eyebrows. "Yes Wingpaw, you do. What do you think the elders would say next time they got a stomach ache if you didn't?"

"I would say, 'Darkleaf, you should have gotten it yourself you lazy furball,'" Angeltouch growled, emerging from the camp and settling next to the medicine cats. "You should be ashamed of yourself, making poor little Wingpaw do all of your work for you!"

Darkleaf groaned. "Angeltouch, what a surprise seeing you here. Shouldn't you be dead-- I mean sleeping?"

"Ha ha," Angeltouch said sarcastically, "Can't you see I'm laughing my fur off? Go get the flowers Darkleaf."

Darkleaf stifled a chuckle at the old cat and gave a sigh. The stream wasn't too deep, it would only freeze his paws. He took a few steps into the stream and shivered. He snatched the lotus up with his teeth, careful not to damage the petals, pawing the other one to shore easily in the light current. He dropped them on the ground and shivered again, licking his cold feet. 

Darkleaf snorted, flicked some of the frigid water at Wingpaw's face. "I'll get it, I'm no kit," he snapped, snatching the bright flowers and rushing back to camp, taking care to be quiet as he entered the den. But Fatepaw was already awake. He was grooming himself. Darkleaf growled slightly and put the lotus in storage. "And what was wrong with your own den last night, Fatepaw?" he demanded. "You only had a belly-ache."

Fatepaw jumped slightly, having not noticed Darkleaf. He opened his mouth, and then shut it, unable to think of a logical response. "I'll be leaving now then. Want anything from the fresh-kill pile?" he asked hopefully.

Darkleaf shook his head. "I'm no elder, I can feed myself. Now scram."

Fatepaw gulped and scrambled out of the medicine cat's den to see if his brother was awake. 

((What's WHILS? I don't believe I play it...))

Flareblink purred loudly. "There's plenty of prey on the pile," he answered happily, heading out of the Warrior's den to the center of camp. He plucked a fat hawk off of the pile and began to knead the feathers away from its skin for Goldstream.

Sageburn hissed with annoyance, blinking awake to Blackpaw's voice. "Blackpaw, could it not have waited another few minutes? Some cats are still asleep." 

((heh heh... sorry))

"I will not have that attitude!" Sageburn snapped angrily. "I should just make you do elder tasks all day, how does that sound?"

Flareblink purred in amusement, brushing the last of the feathers away with his tail. He nudged the naked bird to his mate, allowing her to take the first bite and eat her fill before starting himself. 

Sageburn growled, walking ahead of Blackpaw and sitting in front of him, her gaze fixed with a stubborn glare. "Do I need to get Gladestar over here, or will you do what I say?" she said in a dangerously calm voice.

"Not hungry?" Flareblink said, somewhat worried. 

Bladeheart's ears twitched with surprise. "Of course Winterfrost," she said, obeying the deputy without question. Minnowfoot was already ready to go out, and it only took a minute to have Orangepaw up and ready to train.

Sageburn sat calmly, her tail swishing with annoyance, but she smiled at Thunderbird, "Today is going to be Blackpaw's first hunting *censored*essment. I was hoping to have you come with me to watch Blackpaw hunt and *censored*ess his learning so far."

Bladeheart's fur ruffled and her claws slid out. "This has potential to be fun," she purred. "Will you be coming Winterfrost?" Bladeheart asked.

Orangepaw gazed up at his mentor hopefully, his eyes shining with excitement. "Oh, please come Winterfrost!" he pleaded.

"Warriors don't plead," Minnowfoot said sternly, "Winterfrost has more important things to do than dawn patrol."

Orangepaw sighed, but pretended not to be disappointed. "Yes, Minnowfoot." 

---

Sageburn cast a glance at Thunderbird, but ignored Blackpaw's comment. "Blackpaw, you will be hunting on the flats on the far side of the mountain. You've been there before, it shouldn't be difficult." 

"Focus on the large birds, remember how I taught you to use the small mice? Do that. But watch out for eagles, they could take you down. Oh, and Fatepaw's going with you as well," Sageburn decided as the younger apprentice strode out into the clearing.

Fatepaw blinked at Sageburn, "Going where exactly?" he asked, casting a short glance at Blackpaw as well.

"As.sessment," Sageburn answered, "on the flats. Thunderbird and I will walk you all the way up to King Hill, then you'll go out and hunt until sunfall."

Orangepaw smiled at Winterfrost to hide his disappointment. We haven't trained in days now. He nodded obediently, somewhat hurt that his own mentor would think that he would disobey commands from any warrior. She hadn't said it directly, but she implied it. "Of course Winterfrost."

"Wingpaw, did you weigh those romaine leaves down with rocks yesterday like I asked?" Darkleaf asked, "I need them to finish a poultice for Goldstream, to help along her pregnancy, and I'm afraid romaine won't grow for another moon, as.sumng leaf-bare doesn't come early, then it'll be seasons!"