Flamestripe's POV

The early morning sun shone into the warrioirs den. Stretching Flamestripe got out of his nest. Another day to deal with Featherpaw. He thought, feeling a great weight fall in his stomach. Maybe I should discuss it with Foxshade. He considered. It wasn't that he didn't like her, it was just she was so impulsive, and most of all fiercely independent. She was a very fast learner, but she resented his help and was short tempered, often disagreeing with the other apprentices. And on top of that, Flamestripe couldn't help notice her disappearances and her unique fighting moves. Maybe she is training with the dark forest. As he left the warriors den he caugh sight of Foxshade arranging patrols. "I can lead a hunting patrol!" Gingerheart called, standing up.
"Great. Take Sandfur, Mousenose, Ashpaw and Rainpaw."
Gingerheart nodded, flicking his tail to the cats that had been called out.
"Thorntail, can you lead border patrol?" Foxshade continued his fluffy white tail high.
"Sure. Who should I take?" Thorntail asked, getting to his paws and shaking his brown pelt.
"Snowpelt, Cherryfrost and Nightsoul." The cats that had been called out got up and left the camp. The other cats split into smaller groups, talking idly. Flamestripe crossed the camp and approached Foxshade, his old mentor and someone he still asked for advice. "Hey Flamestripe." Foxshade mewed, inclining his head slightly.
"Hi. I wanted to ask you something." Flamestripe began, not really knowing how to ask without sounding like he was accusing anyone. Foxshade was after all Featherpaw's father. "Ask away." Foxshade invited. Flamestripe hesitated. "Sit down." Foxshade meowed sitting down, wrapping his tail around his orange paws and gesturing to the packed earth next to him. Flamestripe sat, feeling like an apprentice again. "It's about Featherpaw." He started.
Foxshade tilted his head. "What about her?"
"I don't know if you've noticed her behavior, but the kit who was known as Featherkit isn't the same cat as Featherpaw."
"If your talking about her defensiveness and fighting skills-"
"It more than that." Flamestripe interrupted. "She's-she's different." He mewed, shaking his head slightly. "The way she fights. It's more that just natural skill. She refuses my help and yet can win practically any fight."
"You're suggesting...?"
"I'm suggesting that she is training with someone." Flamestripe blurted out.
"Perhaps." Foxshade mewed. "I will talk to her. It might be that all she needs is a little understanding and some trust." He eyed Flamestripe firmly, clearly indicating that he should stop being so suspicious. Maybe she just feels lonely and untrusted...
Before he could open his mouth again Ashpaw pelted towards them, barreling straight into Foxshade who hissed and pushed him away. Ashpaw turned, eyes wide with worry, apparently not noticing that he had collided with the deputy. "Have you seen Featherpaw?" He demanded of them.
"No, why?" Flamestripe asked, springing to his paws a dull sinking feeling.
"She was acting a bit weirdly last night and when I woke she was gone and her nest cold. She's been gone almost all night." Ashpaw meowed in a rush.
"Flamestripe, you take a patrol and follow Featherpaw's scent." Foxshade ordered. "I'll tell all cats to keep an eye out."
Flamestripe nodded and tore over the camp he scrambled over to Blackthorn and Darksky who were sharing a mouse. "Can you come with me? We need to find Featherpaw."
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"We followed her trail to the Three Stones. There it mixed with several other cats scents and left our territory." Flamestripe reported heavily to the clan.
"Did she go join RockClan?" Greyear called.
"She always was close to those foxhearts." Thorntail hissed lashing his tail.
"That is a possibility." Flamestripe mewed, nodding his head to Greyear.
"Traitor!" Snowpelt hissed.
"How dare she?" Cherryfrost spat, tail lashing. "They're our enemies!"
"Silence!" Stormstar yowled over the chattering cats. "If she went and joined RockClan we must respect her decision. We won't try and force her to come home."