Spiderpaw yawned, dragging his feet every step.Step.Step.STEP.

"When will we take a break?"Spiderpaw whined, staring at Ripplestrike who was walking right in front of him.

"Soon."Ripplestrike replied flatly.

It had been another day, and the whole patrol was tired and cranky.

No one was talking.Well, Birchpaw was giving an effort, but other than her, no one. Especially, Spiderpaw.

"Look,"Shakenpaw pointed his tail to a cave. "We can sleep in there!"

"It's too dangerous,"Deerspots narrowed his eyes. "What if a huge, mean creature lives in there?"

"I don't care,"Spiderpaw snorted, thrusting his way into the cave. "It'll fear me and my awesomeness."

He didn't have to be out there to know they all rolled their eyes in unison.

"It's nice and dry in here!"he called out.

It looked fine it here.

Pawsteps echoed around the stone cave as Birchpaw poked her head in, then slowly walked over to him. "It's a decent size, too!"

Shakenpaw was next, stumbling over to where Birchpaw sat, staring at a beetle crawling on the ground.

Then Dewmelody and Ripplestrike hurried in, blinking.

Lastly, Deerspots sauntered in, glaring at the walls of stone. "I still don't like it."he mumbled.

"Whatever."Spiderpaw shrugged. "Who's going to hunt?"

They all looked at him.

"I'm way too exhausted."Ripplestrike heaved a sigh, flopping down on her stomach.

"Me, too."Dewmelody nodded, curling up next to the Clan deputy.

"I'm going to explore this cave!"Birchpaw meowed, already disappearing into the darkness.

"I'm afraid of the dark!"Shakenpaw yelped, pressing himself up against the wall.

"It's probably more dark in here than out there."Spiderpaw rolled his eyes.

"It's only almost sunset time."

"I'm not sure you want me to hunt for you."Deerspots started grooming his pelt, a smug look on his face as he realized he wouldn't have to do anything.

"Seriously?"Spiderpaw groaned, stalking out of the den.

"If they don't want to hunt the StarClan forsaken prey, then why should I?"

he grumbled under his breath, stomping along toward a line of trees.

Once he entered the small wood, he became quiet, trying to sniff out something to eat.

There was a snap somewhere around him, and he froze, eyes widening.

He pressed his body into the ground,

letting out a small whimper.

Owls hooted; snaps cracked; leaves rustled; Spiderpaw shivered.

Then, a huge racket came from a bush directly in front of Spiderpaw.

"StarClan save me!"he whimpered.

A blueish gray tom suddenly leapt out from the bush. "ARGHHHHHH!"

"AHHHHHHHHH!"Spiderpaw screeched, leaping five feet in the air.

"AHHHHHHHHH!"Brookstorm screamed, also leaping in the air.

Both cats panted, claws digging into the ground.

They lifted their heads to glare at each other.

"Brookstorm,"Spiderpaw said slowly. "What are you doing here-?"

"Following your patrol."he mewed, sitting down.

"Why?"

"I wanted something to do.(I was being neglected)."he pouted.

Spiderpaw rolled his eyes. "Fine, whatever.We're staying in that cave over there."he pointed his nose in the direction of the cave, although it was lost in the trees.

"Then what are you doing out here?"Brookstorm scoffed.

"Hunting,"Spiderpaw muttered. "Because no one else wanted to."

"Ah, yes.Continue your night hunting then.I'll be in the cave."

he grinned, limping off toward the cave.

Spiderpaw snorted. "Great.More mouths to feed.Just what we needed."

"Any-cat else want to join the party!? The more the merrier!"he screeched into the darkening sky.

- - - - - -

Spiderpaw returned to the cave with a couple of mice dangling from his mouth and a hare draped across his back.He set them down in the middle of the den, sitting back.

Birchpaw and Shakenpaw were asleep in the corner, both lightly snoring or mumbling something.

Dewmelody and Ripplestrike seemed half awake, half asleep, and were curled up beside each other.

Deerspots was gone, which Spiderpaw surprisingly didn't find shocking.

That guy did whatever he wanted to.

Brookstorm was the only one fully awake.He was sitting on a small boulder. "Can I have the hare?"

"Uhhh, mabye we should let the apprentices share it?"Spiderpaw replied cautiously.

"Oh....alright.I knew no one cared about me."Brookstorm fixed a sad look on his face.

"Ugh! Fine, take it."Spiderpaw hurled the hare up to Brookstorm's paws, who grinned and started digging in.

Birchpaw's nose twitched, and her eyes blinked open. "I smell prey."

she mumbled.

"I'm back from hunting."Spiderpaw nodded to the pile of mice.

Birchpaw nudged Shakenpaw, who flinched awake, and started over to find a mouse.

Dewmelody and Ripplestrike also woke up, grabbing mice for themselves, too.

Spiderpaw saw one left.Shakenpaw, Deerspots and himself still hadn't eaten.

I was the one who hunted.

He reached over and snatched up the remaining mouse, spying Shakenpaw's face crumble.

"Brookstorm? What are you doing here!?"Dewmelody gasped, staring up in shock at the regal tom perched on the rock.

"About time some-cat noticed me."

he rolled his eyes.

"He was bored, so he followed us."Spiderpaw muttered.

"That....makes sense?"Dewmelody tried.

"Not really."Spiderpaw heard Ripplestrike mew quietly.

Spiderpaw flicked his gaze over to Birchpaw and Shakenpaw.

Birchpaw had seen Shakenpaw's sad face, and slid the remaining of her mouse over to him, where he'd gratuitously devoured it.

Whatever.

Deerspots then slid into the cave, his lungs heaving and his eyes wide and wild.He glanced at Brookstorm but shrugged it off. "We have to....go! Now!"he wheezed.

"What? Why!?"Ripplestrike bristled, standing up alertly.

"Bear!"he shouted, glancing behind him.

"Out at night? Doubtful."Spiderpaw scoffed.

Then realization hit them all, and they shared fearful looks.

"Wait,"Shakenpaw blurted. "This is that bear's home!?"

Then chaos erupted.

"Run!"Brookstorm yelped, staggering and falling off the boulder he was on, hare blood still dripping from his muzzle.

"It's right outside! We can't get out that way!"Deerspots howled.

"I know a way out!"Birchpaw was continuously yelling, although no one was paying attention.

Spiderpaw was cowering in a corner, trying to think.

Shakenpaw was running around the cave, slipping, sliding and screaming.

"Guys!"Birchpaw hissed. "There's a tunnel that leads outside!"

Spiderpaw was the only one who heard her.He inched over to her.

"We're all going to die!"Ripplestrike screeched, which didn't really sound like the usually calm and collected deputy Spiderpaw knew.

"Where?!"Spiderpaw pressed, gazing into Birchpaw's eyes.

"Through the back.When I was exploring, I went through a path and saw forest on the other side.We can use that to escape."Birchpaw rushed, excitement sparkling in her eyes.

"Then let's go!"Spiderpaw grabbed Shakenpaw's scruff as he ran by and started roughly dragging the tom with him.

"HELP! SPIDERPAW IS CAT-NAPPING ME!"Shakenpaw wailed, his paws dragging across the rocks and dirt.

Birchpaw took the lead, and Spiderpaw heard pawsteps behind him, indicating the others were following.

Birchpaw raced through path after path, and Spiderpaw began to wonder how long she was exploring.

Finally, he saw the end of the path, and light! Oh, glorious light!

Forest scents and animal smells flooded his nose, and he dropped Shakenpaw, leaping out into the forest.

Wham!

He collided with fur.

"Careful!"Birchpaw's hiss of annoyance made Spiderpaw sit up.

Before him, was a rushing stream.

The current strongly carried fish and debris through the water.

"Wait,"Dewmelody murmured, standing beside Spiderpaw. "I thought it was nighttime-?"

"Mabye we were in that cave for a very long time?"Shakenpaw suggested.

"Mabye."Dewmelody didn't sound convinced.

"Well, it's light out."Spiderpaw shrugged it off, working his way down the side of the stream, trying to find a way to cross.

"If we head straight across, then we will still be on the right track."he stated.

"You sure?"Brookstorm appeared at his side.

"100%."

Dewmelody, Birchpaw, Brookstorm, Ripplestrike and Deerspots crowded around.

"So, does everyone think it'll work?"Spiderpaw asked, glancing doubtfully at the dead tree that leaned beside them.

"Yes."Dewmelody and Deerspots nodded.

"I guess so."Brookstorm shrugged. "What else do we do?"

"Alright then.."Spiderpaw padded over to the tree and reared back on his hind legs.Ripplestrike and Deerspots joined him, on both sides.

Then all together, they smashed down on the tree.A groan came from the tree, but it remained still.

They did it again, and it groaned louder.

Dewmelody hurried over and reared up to help.The third time, a loud split was heard.

"Get away!"Birchpaw shouted.

All four cats leapt away, and the tree came crashing down, right over the stream.

"Y'a hoo!"Spiderpaw cheered, grinning at Birchpaw, who smiled.

"Let's cross."Deerspots started forward.

"Wait!"Birchpaw looked around.

"Where's, Shakenpaw?!"

(Word count: 1434)