The Best Offense is a Strong Defense [Whinchatpaw]

Patrols had brought back more sticks and decently-sized branches for the camp's defense, and Beechfang had been glad to take the chance to help organize them and drag them toward the edge of camp. Her father had recently been captured by twolegs, and it was taking everything in Beechfang not to go rushing out and search twolegplace. Were she still exiled, she might've done just that, but now she was home. She had a clan and had to pull her weight. And seeing to the camp's defenses - that had been Bloodstrike's idea, too - was something to keep her paws busy.

Bloodstrike had escaped twolegs before, just as she had. Hopefully, he would be able to do so again.

With a shake of her head, Beechfang lifted a twig, carefully placing it next to another. Some leaf litter to place on top of it would hide it well from anyone who thought they could get in camp any place but the entrance, and heavy paws would make the branch snap loudly if they tried. Satisfied, Beechfang moved on to the next one. One of the apprentices was supposed to show up to help, but an early start to the work never hurt anyone.

The apprentice showed up, probably still tired from his night guard duties. Or that he was still recovering, the scarring across his leg gained from the mishap at the gathering couldn't have been pleasant. They never were. Being struck by lightning, the smell of burnt flesh... It wasn't something Beechfang would have wished on her worst enemies, and certainly not apprentices who weren't even in the clans that made fools out of themselves.

"Whinchatpaw." Beechfang greeted. "How are you?"

At his question, her fluffy tail waving at the sizable pile that the limb patrols had left. "We'll work our way around the camp perimeter from here. Mostly filling in gaps and layering the new twigs in a way that looks natural." Since he'd asked, she simply went right for what needed to be done.

Whinchatpaw certainly seemed to be in a good mood for someone still tired from night guard duties... Beechfang did not comment on it, though. She wasn't so cruel as to embarrass an apprentice... Well, not anymore, at least.

"And your injuries? Lightning and fire isn't something I'd wish on my worst enemy... They are healing well, though not as fast as you want, I'm guessing." Beechfang had been shocked to see the two apprentices who had come into camp with Skyclan's gathering party. Shocked and furious. It wasn't the fault of anyone in Skyclan, but Starclan had always been the sort to jump to the last resort first without care of innocents caught in the crossfire. Thankfully, Whinchatpaw spoke up, distracting her from her thoughts.

"Sounds good to me." Beechfang nodded at him, picking up a small bundle of sticks to start with.