This is my story for the medicine cat apprentice challenge. Hope you like it!
Cloverpaw matted the last of the cobwebs on the dirty bloody flesh and scurried out of the healing den, and into the nest den.
Cloverpaw's eyes drooped and exhaustion made it hard to focus. "Finally, a nap," she thought gratefully sinking into her nest. Rowanclaw, the clan deputy had been dragged in earlier this morning in a big bloody mess. A Monster had hit him. Cloverpaw couldn't stand to be in the same room as him, the smell and the sight made her sick.
A ginger Tom stalked in.
"Cloverpaw, I said to get cobwebs, not take a nap!" Fireclaw growled.
"Do I have to? He makes me sick!" whined Cloverpaw. Fireclaw's eyes widened in shock.
"How dare you talk that way! Rownaclaw was Shadowclan's deputy!" Fireclaw hissed.
"Was," thought Cloverpaw grumpily.
But Fireclaw wasn't finished, "And just for saying that you have to take full responsibility of him. This will be the test to get your Medicine cat name, you're almost ready." Cloverpaw shot her paw's.
"No fair!" she exclaimed.
"No, what happened to Rowanclaw isn't far. Now get your self into that room or I'll get Shadestar to back me up. Go on!" Fireclaw growled. Cloverpaw spun around and began padding towards the extra supplies.
"I didn't get the cobwebs yet," she meowed sulkily. Fireclaw rolled his eyes and settled down in his nest.
"I'll be right here if you need me," he yawned.
"Oh so you get to take a nap," thought Cloverpaw angrily. She grabbed some cobwebs in her mouth and stalked into the healing den. The sight of Rowanclaw almost made her puke. His ginger and black fur was completely gone and both his yellow eyes were missing. His front paws had been spared but his back paws were both twisted awkwardly forward. Scratches littered his entire body and he was missing an ear. Gross.
"I brought you some cobwebs," Cloverpaw meowed, her whole body shaking. He looked like some kind of monster. His jaws slowly opened thin trails of blood seeped out of his mouth.
"Thank you," he croaked. Shaking, she stepped forward and began plastering the cobwebs on. Her whole body shuddered with revulsion an fear.
"Just leave me alone. I know you want to. I'm disgusting. No ones saying but everyone's hoping I die," he meowed harshly. Cloverpaw jumped, not expecting to hear his voice again.
Mixed emotions rose up in her. Yes, it would be better if he died, he would out of his misery and no one would have to go through the pain of seeing their beloved deputy like this. But he couldn't die. None of Cloverpaw's patients had died yet and she wasn't going to ruin her clean record.
"You're not going to die! I won't let it!" she meowed forcefully. He twitched in surprise.
"Oh I will, eventually," he muttered. His slow breathing a few minutes later told Cloverpaw he was asleep. She got to work. First she dashed out side and soaked several moss balls with water. A few cat's eyed her strangely. Nether of the Medicine cats had been out in hours. The clan cats sat in gloomy groups that dotted camp.
Cloverpaw felt depression the air. Eager to get away from it she dashed back in side the Medcine cat den. She tore the cobwebs off and squeezed the water from the moss off onto Rowanclaw. The water washed off all the blood but new blood was already threatening to pour out of his many gashes. She quickly bandaged everything up with cobwebs. She left his face and back legs alone, he would need to help make those places better.
Once again exhaustion rushed over her. Eyelids drooping she dragged her body into the nest room, grabbed her nest in weary jaws, and then padded back to Rowanclaw. Cloverpaw lay down in her nest. Only then she realized that she still had Rownaclaw's dried blood caked on her. But it was too late to get up and wash, sleep had already claimed her.
"Cloverpaw," meowed a musical voice. She opened her eyes. She was in a starry forest. "Starclan," she realized.
Cloverpaw staggered to her feet. A tortoiseshell sat before her, a speckled tail wrapped around dainty paws.
"Uh, hi?" Cloverpaw meowed nervously.
"Cloverpaw, may I ask you a question?" she meowed hesitantly. Cloverpaw nodded, head cocked in confusion.
"Why are you trying to save Rownaclaw?" the she cat meowed.
"Because he's a cat. I can't let a fellow cat die, it's not right!" she exclaimed. Instantly guilt washed over here. A little while ago she didn't even want to go near him.
"Cloverpaw, I'm warning you, Rownaclaw's is beyond even Starclan's help..."
Cloverpaw woke up with a start. A dream like that would discourage most cat's but it only made Cloverpaw more determined. She picked her head up and peered around. Rowanclaw was in his nest but his rapid breathing told Cloverpaw he was awake.
She scrabbled to her feet, barely able to see in the small light that the moon cast into the den. Her gagging reflection activated when she saw Rowanclaw.
"I know I'm gross," Rowanclaw meowed.
"No you're not!" she meowed quickly, "Come on." she padded towards the entrance of the medicine cat den. He stared at her in shock.
"I can't!" he meowed angrily.
"Yes you can!" she meowed forcefully. She stalked forward and grabbed his hind legs. With powerful paws she forced them the right way. There was a grinding sound of bone on bone before they snapped into place. Well, one of them anyway.
"Owwwww!" screeched Rowanclaw. Tears streamed down his face. Gently she felt the leg that wouldn't go down.
"If I twist this it's going to snap off," she meowed quietly, gesturing towards his legs.
"Don't," he panted. She nodded.
"We're going to practice walking on this leg," she meowed. She gently ran a paw down the leg that she had just twisted back. He slowly put some weight on it.
"Great Starclan," he moaned. His bad leg gave way and his twisted leg banged the floor sharply.
Rowanclaw's face twisted in pain.
"I'm sorry!" cried Cloverpaw.
"No, don't be," he muttered. With a groan he heaved him self to his feet. Determination flashed through his eyes as he walked forward.
"Great! That's enough for tonight," meowed Cloverpaw.
Rowanclaw sank down into his nest. His labored breaths slowed and once he had drifted off again Cloverpaw dashed out of the medicine cat den. She needed fresh air.
Cloverpaw swept out of camp and into the pine trees. The familiar piney smell flooded her glands and the pine needles provided thick padding under her paws.
Cloverpaw bounded towards the river that twisted it's way through Shadowclan territory. It was trickling slowly and the surface was barely rippling. Slowly Cloverpaw waded into the clear cool water, relishing in the cold. The dried blood was washed off her fur and traveled downstream in a red cloud.
Everything felt so peaceful, the owls hooting, the crisp autumn wind. She closed her eyes.
After a while the first rays of sunlight peeked through the pine trees. Cloverpaw bounded out of the water, knowing she'd be missed if didn't get back soon. She shook her light brown and white dappled fur free of water and bounded back towards camp.
When she arrived she found that Rowanclaw was struggling towards the fresh kill pile. Cats stopped and watched respectfully as their deputy hauled him self to the fresh kill. Cloverpaw knew what she had to do but it made her nose wrinkle in distaste.
Wanting to get it over with she hurried to Rowanclaw's side and pressed up against his bloody flank, supporting him.
"Thank... Thank you," he panted. When he arrived at the pile he lifted his head triumphantly and took a giant rabbit.
"You going to eat all of that?" Cloverpaw meowed, forcing out a teasing tone.
"Probably not, you want to share?" he meowed happily. Cloverpaw's stomach twisted. Did she really have to take a bite out of the same piece of prey he was going to eat?
She was silent for a moment.
"Sorry, I know I'm kind of gross," he meowed quickly.
"No no!" she meowed. Rowanclaw looked grateful. He bent down and took a small bite, leaving a small coating of blood behind. Swallowing down her disgust, Cloverpaw bent forward and nibbled at the end of the mouse. When it was Rowanclaw's turn he hungrily began gobbling down the rabbit again.
"Sorry," he stopped, picking his head up guiltily.
"It's fine, you finish it. I'm not hungry," Cloverpaw lied. Rowanclaw smiled.
"You're a good kid, you know?" he meowed finishing the rest.
"Why don't you get some fresh air before the gathering tonight?" suggested Rowanclaw. She nodded obediently.
"Hey Cloverpaw! Come over here!" called a yellow apprentice. Cloverpaw flushed. It was Lionpaw, the best looking apprentice in Shadowclan.
"You better go," meowed Rowanclaw a small smile twisting his muzzle.
"See you later!" called Cloverpaw, bounding towards her friends. Lionpaw, Frogpaw and Whisperpaw were all waiting for her.
"We're going on a hunting patrol. Want to come with us and collect herbs?" asked Frogpaw, her brother, brightly.
"Sure!" Cloverpaw meowed. The three apprentice's mentors came over.
"You got Cloverpaw to come?" meowed the youngest mentor, Foxheart. Lionpaw nodded.
"Yeah, she must be glad to get away from that stinkball," Lionpaw meowed a small laugh emerging from his handsome muzzle.
Foxheart, his mentor, chuckled along too. The other two warriors and apprentices frowned.
"Lionpaw, I expected more of you. Rowanclaw is still our deputy," meowed Fogfur, a misty white senior warrior.
"And he deserves to treated with respect," added Coldfoot. Lionpaw rolled his eyes.
"Okay, okay," he snapped, "let's just get going."
Frogpaw fell in step with Cloverpaw.
"How come you let them get away with treating your patient like that?" her mottled brown and black brother asked curiously.
"They're kind of right," shrugged Cloverpaw. Whisperpaw spun around, her silver eyes flashing.
"If you think that's true for just a second then you're a mouse brain!" hissed Whisperpaw. Cloverpaw turned red. She hadn't remembered that Whisperpaw was Rowanclaw's daughter.
"Sorry," Cloverpaw muttered.
Tears welled up in Whisperpaw's eyes.
"No you're not!" she growled. Whisperpaw spun around and increased her pace, leaving Cloverpaw and Frogpaw behind.
"Whisperpaw's kind right," meowed Frogpaw hesitantly.
"You only think that cause you're in loooooove!" hissed Cloverpaw. This time it was Cloverpaw who quickened her pace. She caught up to Lionpaw with easy strides.
"Hey," smirked Lionpaw.
"Hi!" Cloverpaw meowed brightly.
The golden apprentice crouched down and snagged a squirrel.
"Wow," Cloverpaw meowed admiringly.
"Maybe you should have decided to become a warrior instead of taking care of an old bag of fleas," Lionpaw taunted. The insult hit Cloverpaw hard.
"You're a jerk," she hissed. With that Cloverpaw spun around and raced in the opposite direction. She finally came to a spot under a thickly nettled pine tree. Deep sobs racked her body and she collapsed n the cold earth.
Cloverpaw didn't know what to think. She agreed with Lionpaw to some level but. She kept seeing more and more of the old deputy alive in Rowanclaw. She found that she didn't want the old deputy to die. Not to ruin her clean record but because of the reason she told the Starclan cat. Because he was a cat that needed her help.
Soon the sobs subsided into silent tears and then finally into nothing. She just sat there, gently rocking back and forth. Back and forth. Back and forth. The motions calmed her down. By the time she recovered she didn't know how much time had passed.
"Cloverpaw!" called a voice. It was Fireclaw. Wearily she hauled her self to her paws and slowly padded out of her hiding spot. The ginger medicine cat jumped in surprise as she emerged.
"Cloverpaw! Where have you been?" he growled. But his eyes softened when he saw her tear streaked face.
"What happened?" he meowed quietly.
"Nothing," she muttered, brushing by him quickly. He frowned, but didn't force her to tell him. The two were silent on the way back to camp. When they arrived heads swiveled towards Cloverpaw.
"Cloverpaw!" cried a voice in relief. It was her mother, Whitefall.
"I'm fine," muttered Cloverpaw growled, pushing her mother aside.
"So glad you could join us Cloverpaw," meowed Shadestar icily. Cloverpaw flinched.
"It's fine, I told her to go take a walk," croaked a new voice. Murmurs of surprise swept through Shadowclan as Rowanclaw hoisted him self across the clearing. Cloverpaw sighed in relief as the attention turned to him and away from her.
"Why don't you go back to your den?" Shadestar meowed gently. Even with no eyes he managed to look surprise.
"What are you talking about? I'm the deputy, I'm coming to the gathering!" Rowanclaw snapped. Everyone went utterly silent. Cloverpaw's tail twitched nervously. Shadestar sighed.
"Fireclaw, is he well enough to come?" Shadestar asked.
"Ask Cloverpaw, he's her project," Fireclaw replied.
Anger shot through Cloverpaw.
"Rowanclaw is not a project! And yes. He's doing fine, he can go," hissed Cloverpaw. It was and lie and everyone knew it. But yet Shadestar nodded slowly
"Okay, lets move out," the leader meowed. The group chosen for the gathering began to make it's way out of camp. Rowanclaw struggled forward, breathing heavily.
"Are you sure you can make it?" asked Cloverpaw, surprised to feel concerned.
He spun around. If he could glare he would of.
"I'm fine," he hissed, lurching forward. Slowly they fell farther behind the group.
"We better go back," Cloverpaw meowed sadly.
"No!" exclaimed Rowanclaw. Sighing, Cloverpaw pressed her should against his bloody matted side, and helped him forward.
When they arrived the entire gathering place went silent.
"That's the Shadowclan deputy that got hit by a monster. I hear he's on the verge of death," muttered a Riverclan apprentice to his neighbor.
"Yeah, I heard that Starclan found out that he murdered a cat and made him get hit by a monster," whispered a Thunderclan apprentice back. Fury pounded through Cloverpaw. The two apprentice's realized that everyone could hear them. Guilty expressions crossed their faces but Cloverpaw didn't care.
With a furious yowl Cloverpaw launched her self at them. She didn't care about anything, only that these two apprentice's were going to het ripped to shreds. Her claw connected with the Thunderclan apprentice's face. He yowled in agony.
"Rushpaw!" he screamed. The Riverclan apprentice who Cloverpaw assumed was Rushpaw darted forward and raked Cloverpaw across the face.
"That's for Lighteningpaw!" she snarled. Lighteningpaw recovered from the original blow and tackled Cloverpaw. Fear exploded in Cloverpaw's chest. When she had first attacked she had known nothing but blind fury. She had never stopped to consider that these were warrior apprentice's. She was a medicine cat apprentice.
Lighteningpaw pinned her down and Rushpaw grabbed her face with her claws and dug them in. Cloverpaw had never known such pain. Why weren't the leaders stopping these two apprentice's? Her face felt like it was on fire. Faints voices reached her ears but all she knew was the pain.
"Cloverpaw!" This voice came out long and clear. And she knew who it belonged to. Rowanclaw. Someone lugged Lighteningpaw off her.
"Get Rushpaw!" she wanted to scream. Finally the claws came out of her face. The fiery pain subsided a little.
"Cloverpaw! Cloverpaw! Are you alright?" it was Fireclaw. She leaned against him wishing everything would just end.
"How dare you?" Shadestar hissed. Through her blood stained vision Cloverpaw could barely make out her leader confronting the two apprentice's. They cowered down.
"She attacked Ligteningpaw!" exclaimed Rushpaw hotly.
"So you had to do this! I mean really, how much damage could a medicine cat apprentice do to your precious little Lighteningpaw?" exploded Shadestar.
"Shadestar please!" meowed a pained voice. It was Stonestar, the Riverclan leader.
"She deserves to be taught a lesson. I doth care how much you like her, Rushpaw is a monster!" sneered Shadestar. Stonestar's eyes narrowed at his apprentice.
"Oh, Rushpaw will be punished. I just don't want her dead," the Riverclan leader growled. Rushpaw flinched. Shadestar looked satisfied.
"Back to camp everyone!" Shadestar announced. Fireclaw scooped up Cloverpaw.
By the time she got back to her nest she was fast asleep.
Okay, that's the first chapter. There's going to probably be about three chapters. Review and tell me what you think!