ASHPAW
Mistycloud woke up one leaf-bare morning, ready for the dawn patrol. She had a dream last night only that she couldn't remember what it was about. She padded to the gorse tunnel, waiting for Longtail, Mousefur and Ashpaw. She didn't have to wait long. Ashpaw was the first one up, followed by the two warriors. They raced out of the gorse tunnel together.
"We will follow the border passed the Great Sycamore, along the Thunderpath and toward Fourtrees," Longtail meowed. The rest of the patrol meowed in agreement. Once they reached Fourtrees, Mistycloud was started to get hungry. Ashpaw echoed her thoughts, "I'm hungry, can we stop to hunt?"
"I guess so," Mousefur agreed. Mistycloud was relieved to sit down after the long trek. A few rabbit hops away, she saw a magpie forcing a worm out of its soil. Mistycloud dropped into a hunters crouch, studying the magpies' position. She started to creep toward her prey when suddenly a loud yowl rose from Mousefur's throat. Mistycloud whipped around and saw Mousefur cowering below an owl in the sky. Where was Ashpaw? Did the owl take him? Then suddenly, the owl swooped down and started pecking Mousefur. Mistycloud ran over and jumped at the bird. Landing on the owl's back, getting a beating by its wings.
Then, out of nowhere, Ashpaw ran out from Mousefur's guard and pulled Mistycloud off the owl. The owl then gave chase to the frightened Ashpaw and he went for cover. Longtail was nowhere to be seen. Perhaps he went hunting further away, but before she had even finished her thought, Longtail jumped onto the owl and pinned it to the ground. Slashing its throat with his powerful claws. Mousefur jumped up racing to the place where Ashpaw disappeared, Mistycloud following. What they saw there was overpowering. Ashpaw was bleeding heavily on his flank and one of his ears was missing. Longtail came in last breathing heavily and a scratch on his muzzle.
"Mistycloud, you're fastest, fetch Yellowfang!" Mistycloud ran like she'd never run before, by the time she got back to camp, she was out of breath. She raced to Yellowfang's den and called out.
"You'd better have a good reason for waking me up from my dozing," Yellowfang snapped. Relief washed over Mistycloud.
"It's Ashpaw; he got attacked by an owl! He's bleeding badly and lost and ear!"
"Wait here, I've got to get the right herbs and materials." Mistycloud waited what felt like a moon but she didn't protest, if Ashpaw was to survive, he would need the right materials. Finally, Yellowfang appeared at the entrance. She flicked her tail as a sign for Mistycloud to lead the way. They both raced out of the gorse tunnel and headed toward Fourtrees. By the time they got there, Ashpaw was starting to get spasms throughout his body. Mousefur, Longtail and Mistycloud went out of Yellowfang's way so she could tend to Ashpaw's wounds.
What felt like the rest of leaf-bare, Yellowfang healed Ashpaw and they were allowed to see him. His flank was already starting to heal but his ear was beyond repair, at least the bleeding has stopped.
The way back to camp was slow and silent. Yellowfang was at the back of the group, her head hung low. Mistycloud reminded herself that Yellowfang's time to join StarClan was not far off, and before that she would have to join the elders too. Mistycloud slowed her pace to match Yellowfang's.
"You did really well. With anyone else, he probably would have died," Mistycloud encouraged.
"I guess," Yellowfang replied, her eyes unfocused, seeing into her mysterious past.