TBC02 - The Silent Thaw

waiting for him outside the fern entrance. He flicked
his tail irritably as Rootpaw scrambled down the slope
toward him.
“Sorry!” Rootpaw puffed.
“We’re supposed to be stalking prey.” Dewspring
stared at him.
“We still can,” Rootpaw mewed apologetically.
Dewspring huffed. “A warrior arrives on time.”
“I got distracted.” Rootpaw glanced at his paws. It
was a lame excuse, but how could he tell his mentor
that he thought he’d seen a ghost of a cat who wasn’t
even dead? Besides, he didn’t want Dewspring to think
he was as strange as Tree.
Dewspring whisked his tail. “Don’t let it happen
again,” he mewed. “You’ve still got a lot to learn. If
you want to become a warrior before greenleaf, we
don’t have time to waste.”
As Rootpaw dipped his head, the frost-browned
ferns rustled and Hawkwing pushed his way out of
camp. Plumwillow and Nettlesplash followed at his
heels.
“Hi, Dewspring.” The SkyClan deputy paused
beside the gray tom. He glanced at Rootpaw. “How’s