Firestar's Quest by Erin Hunter

apprentice. “Thanks, Firestar!” he meowed.
    â€œI’ll announce it later today,” Firestar promised. “Providing Longtail agrees.”
    â€œI’m sure he will,” Sootpaw put in. “I’ve been taking him fresh-kill and fixing his bedding, and I can still do that.”
    â€œGood.” Firestar gave him an approving nod. Needing to plunge himself back into the life of his Clan, he added, “I’ll join you on patrol, and Sootpaw, you can show me your tracking skills.”
    The apprentice’s eyes shone with excitement at the thought of training with his Clan leader. As Thornclaw ledthe way along the border toward the Thunderpath, Sootpaw kept his nose to the ground, pausing to scent the air every few pawsteps.
    â€œWhat can you smell?” Firestar meowed.
    â€œThe Thunderpath,” Sootpaw replied promptly. “And vole. And a Twoleg with a dog has been along here. No—two dogs.”
    â€œHow long ago?” Willowpelt asked.
    â€œNot today,” Sootpaw mewed. “The scent is stale. Maybe yesterday.”
    â€œThat’s what I think, too,” Firestar meowed, while Willowpelt let out a purr of satisfaction. “Okay, carry on. Sootpaw, tell me if you scent anything else.”
    They were so close to the Thunderpath that Firestar could hear the growling of the monsters as they rushed up and down. Soon they emerged from the undergrowth at the edge of the smooth black surface.
    Sootpaw wrinkled his nose. “It’s really yucky,” he complained. “It hides all the other scents.”
    â€œRight,” meowed Thornclaw. “That means you have to be extra careful.”
    With the rest of the patrol following, he picked his way along the edge of the Thunderpath, keeping well away from the huge black paws of the monsters. Firestar felt his fur buffeted by the wind as they passed by.
    He helped Thornclaw, Ashfur, and Willowpelt renew the border scent markings, and watched Sootpaw as the apprentice went on practicing his scenting skills. Suddenly theyoung black cat veered away from the border.
    â€œHey, where do you think you’re going?” Thornclaw called.
    Sootpaw glanced back, eyes alight with a mixture of excitement and apprehension. “I’ve found a really weird scent,” he explained.
    â€œWell, you can’t follow it now,” Thornclaw told him. “This isn’t a hunting patrol.”
    â€œWhat sort of weird?” Firestar asked. The reek of the Thunderpath was still blocking out most other scents.
    â€œStrong,” Sootpaw replied. “I’ve never smelled it before.”
    Firestar exchanged a glance with Thornclaw. “Okay, let’s follow it.”
    This time Sootpaw led the way deeper into the undergrowth, and as they left the Thunderpath behind, Firestar began to pick up the new scent. He halted, his fur prickling. “Badger!”
    â€œOh, no!” Willowpelt protested.
    Thornclaw snorted. “Just what we need.” Ashfur remained silent, but his blue eyes widened.
    â€œAre badgers bad?” Sootpaw asked.
    â€œPretty bad,” Ashfur replied.
    â€œWe certainly don’t want one on our territory,” Willowpelt agreed.
    Firestar remembered one leaf-bare, when snow was on the ground and prey was scarce. Cloudtail had been a kit then, and a hungry badger had attacked him in the ravine. Only swift action from Firestar and Brackenfur had saved him. Badgers didn’t normally prey on cats, but if they were hungryor scared they made formidable, deadly opponents.
    â€œThe scent’s fresh,” he meowed. “We’ll have to follow it to find out where the badger is and whether it’s going to make a den here. Well done, Sootpaw. That was a useful bit of tracking.”
    The apprentice’s eyes glowed.
    â€œFirestar’s right,” Thornclaw added. “Now, keep behind me, and let’s go.”
    He took the lead, with Sootpaw and