Sunfur's ears pricked forward and the tip of his tail twitched as he saw Maplestream speaking fervently with their deputy across camp. Although he didn't feel it, he could understand the much younger warrior's frustration at being sent on a search party to find a cat who wasn't missing. Shifting his paws in the snow, he sat back on his haunches and tried to relax. They were back in camp, and everything, as far as he knew, was okay. At his relaxation however, he opened his jaws and caught a scent that was very unfamiliar. If he could pick up the scent, then shouldn't that mean everyone else could too? He wondered why no one was speaking of it, or attempting to investigate in any way. Tilting his head in confusion, he glanced around the camp to only see Duskwing, crouched outside the nursery and no sign of Spidernose, Honeypaw or Moosepaw. Why is Duskwing posted outside the nursery? We don't have any kits. . . What's going on? Returning his attention to Stormfur's question, he thought it better to not interrupt the deputy's conversation with Maplestream. They would be able to talk with Stonefall shortly. Shaking out his pelt, he replied, "Let's not interrupt their conversation. I'm sure Stonefall will notice we're back, if he hasn't already and will address us when he can. I think the best thing for us to do right now is rest and wait for Fernstar and Blackpelt to return." Glancing towards the place the fresh kill pile usually was, he realized with worry there wasn't a single piece of prey to be found. His fur spiking with worry, he glanced at Stormfur again and asked, "I know we just got back to camp and our paws ache, but there's not so much as a mouse on the fresh kill pile. Clearly Stonefall is busy with Maplestream and Duskwing is guarding the nursery for some reason, so we should go out and see if we can bring back some prey. I'm going to slip into the Warrior's den and see if Spidernose is around. Her and I can go on our own if you really feel too tired to come, but three warriors hunting is always better than two. I'll be right back."
He turned his back on Stormfur and trotted towards the Warrior's den, nodding a greeting to Duskwing as he passed by. To his relief, as he grew closer to the Warrior's den, he could hear Spidernose talking about battle techniques, he assumed to Honeypaw. Amidst the confusion, he felt a small flicker of hope in his broad chest at the thought of WillowClan training a new apprentice. He pushed through the entrance to the den, trying not to scare anyone inside. "Hey Spidernose? Stormfur and I just got back to camp and we noticed there isn't a scrap of fresh kill on the pile. We were hoping you could come on a hunting patrol with us? Stonefall seems to be busy with Mapestream right now and I'm sure he would appreciate some cat taking the lead to bring back prey. Would you come with us?"