Chapter 2 A Forgotten Leader
Mosspaw yelped as a thorn in the dirt hit her pad. She was digging out some burdock roots and her claws and pads felt like they would fall off any minute. Bluerain and Mosspaw had taken 4 trips since they left the camp and Mosspaw was not pleased. She wished so many herbs weren't growing but at the same time, she was grateful that StarClan had blessed their territory with this many.
Mosspaw finally let the thick root emerge from the ground, and added it to her pile. She plopped down her haunches and heaved a tired sigh. Bluerain glanced at her as she nipped at a feverfew bush. "Come on Mosspaw! Progress is not complete when you rest!" Bluerain meowed aloud. Mosspaw pushed herself up, and began to dig at the earth some more. She gave up in digging out the roots and started to search for some goldenrod. The Clan had not seen some in quite some time and Mosspaw was worried she wouldn't find some. Not to mention their pile in the medicine den. Mosspaw yawned at the thought of being home at her nest. Just keep working Mosspaw. Progress is not complete when you rest. Mosspaw searched around some trees, and a couple of thorn bushes but saw nothing. Maybe a patch will grow near when we get deeper into new-leaf. Mosspaw thought, trying to encourage herself. She started back off the where her and Bluerain were working, and stuffed as much herbs she could into her small mouth. That whole trip she collected, burdock root, marigold, catmint, dock, comfrey, and watermint. Bluerain had so far collected, tansy, cobwebs, thyme, yarrow, juniper berries, horsetail, and feverfew. She had collected much more than Mosspaw had in the day. But Mosspaw didn't care. This much herbs at once could surely make a cat die of sneezing. Mosspaw clamped down her catmint and comfrey in her jaws and started to walk back to camp. Bluerain snatched some of hers and followed Mosspaw.
Mosspaw placed the herbs in their separate piles, and went back to collect the rest.
They day had been so long and was almost over. Mosspaw loved the feeling of being home and having the opportunity to rest. It seemed like moons had passed when she was out collecting herbs. Mosspaw thought she had never felt so tired in her life. She swayed in front of her nest in tiredness, and let herself fall down into her soft grassy nest. She savored the moment and stretched a little before she dozed off into a deep sleep.
Mosspaw awoke in a muddy, wet area. She scrambled up to her paws and looked around. Behind her, a current of a fast river was gurgling and spitting at her. Sending little droplets onto her face. She winced as one hit her in the eye, and quickly blinked it out. Where am I? She thought turning away from the obnoxious river. She decided to look around and began walking towards some more thick woodland. She opened her jaws and tasted the air. She scented nothing but mud, and pine. She flicked her ears as a talking sound came near. Other cats are coming! Mosspaw thought. And they're coming right towards me! Mosspaw darted towards the nearest bush and stayed still. Soon enough, a grey tom, a black she-cat and little tabby tom came rustling on a path in front of her. They were chattering non-stop like the birds do in the morning. Mosspaw watched them curiously and tried not to breathe too hard. She watched as they confidently dunked themselves in the water and swam all the way across. Mosspaw breathed in astonishment. Wow! I've never known a cat alive that can swim like that! Mosspaw watched in envy as they easily swam across the fast water. Mosspaw wondered how they weren't getting tugged away by the fast current. When they got to the other side, the little tabby caught a fish. It almost slipped in between his claws but he had a good hold of it and punctured it's slippery body to let it die quickly. Mosspaw concluded that he must be an apprentice. Then, the grey tom stole the fish away from the apprentice and threw it towards the black she-cat with caught it swiftly and passed it back to the tom. The apprentice was in the middle and whimpering "Hey! That's my fish! I caught it!" Mosspaw couldn't stand watching him cry in impatience so she darted toward the cats.
"Hey! Give him his catch back!" Mosspaw growled. The cats all stopped and stared at her. Well what are they staring at? Give him his fish back! But the cats just stared at her. Mosspaw hissed under her breath and meowed, "What are you waiting for? Give it back." The cats oddly enough started to vanish and melt into the little breeze. Where are they going? Mosspaw thought annoyed. Come back! Mosspaw urged anxiously. "Come back!" She finally meowed aloud. But nothing happened, and no cat stirred once more.
Mosspaw awoke back in her nest. It was now moon-high. Mosspaw hadn't realized she'd slept that long. The bright moon sat on her fur, turning it to silver. "Stupid dream," she quietly muttered. Mosspaw wished she could have done something for the poor apprentice, but he was long gone now. Washing away in her thoughts. Mosspaw thought she would just let it pass. It was just a dream Mosspaw. She hoped it didn't mean anything. Mosspaw stood up and padded outside the medicine den. She thought she would just get some air. She let the cool night breeze ruffle her brown and white fur, and closed her eyes in sympathy. Just a dream… just a dream.
Mosspaw awoke to the piercing sound of a mewling kit. She got out of her nest, and took a look around the medicine den. Bluerain was holding Dunekit down and trying to unwrap his cobwebs at the same time. Where's Thunderwind? Mosspaw thought. She could be helping. It's her kit. Mosspaw padded over to Bluerain and the kit and asked, "Want me to help?" Bluerain looked back at Mosspaw and meowed in relief.
"Yes!"
Mosspaw began to hold Dunekit down and let Bluerain unwrap the cobwebs. Why is he freaking out anyway? Mosspaw thought, annoyed. They're just cobwebs. As soon as Bluerain was done, Mosspaw sighed in relief and released the little kit. He turned right towards Mosspaw and started to growl and arche his little back.
"Why did you hold me down!?" The kit hissed.
Mosspaw looked up from licking her paw and answered, "Because you're not patient enough to just sit still."
Bluerain came over and said, "Alright that's enough," She meowed in amusement. "Dunekit, you can go back to the nursery now. I trust you'll be able to go without any assistance." 8 Bluerain meowed to Dunekit. Mosspaw thought he better have some assistance. That kit never listened anyway!
Dunekit dragged his attention to Bluerain and muttered, "Of course I can," Dunekit trudged out the medicine den. Mosspaw noticed he was muttering a couple of rude remarks under his breath. When will that kit learn to have some manners? Mosspaw thought to herself.
"How do you deal with such patients?" Mosspaw asked to Bluerain as she mixed up an ointment to take to one of the elders.
"Easy," Bluerain meowed. "You just gotta have patience." She added, still mixing.
Well than I'll be a horrible medicine cat. Mosspaw thought. How could Bluerain be so patient anyway? Especially with kits like Dunekit. Then again, Bluerain had been the medicine cat for quite some time, so she's probably had worse patients than Dunekit. Mosspaw knew that if she ever had a patient like him, she would bite some of his tail off for a punishment.
Mosspaw realized she hadn't eaten in a while so she headed out the medicine den. The fresh-kill pile was pretty full. It was a time like this in new-leaf where the prey was starting to get more active and Mosspaw, including the whole Clan, was loving it. She chose a squirrel from the pile, and went and ate it happily in her favorite corner. Behind the apprentice's den. Mosspaw heard a rustle and saw Dewpaw and Icepaw emerge from the apprentice's den. They were heading towards the fresh-kill pile too. Their two mentors, Whiteblade and Mudsplash, were sitting just beside it chatting. Mosspaw was too far away to hear them.
"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather here beneath the highrock for a Clan meeting!" Goldenstar's powerful voice rung out over the camp. He looked in a better mood than he had been lately. That's a surprise. Mosspaw thought.
Bluerain padded up to Mosspaw and they began walking into the middle of the clearing to hear what Goldenstar had to say. Meadowbreeze came out of the nursery with her two kits tumbling out behind her.
"Come along now," the beautiful queen mewed to her kits.
When everyone was gathered, Goldenstar stared at his paws. What is he waiting for? Start the meeting!
Goldenstar looked up at the sky in doubt. "Cats of MeadowClan," Goldenstar began. "I think StarClan is giving up on us."
His son, Hawkfeather, glanced up at his father in curiosity. The rest of the Clan was meowing and whispering to each other in shock and worry.
"Why do you think that?" A meow from somewhere in the crowd spoke out.
"Because," Goldenstar blaintly answered. "I've been having dreams."
"What kind of dreams?" Another cat sounded from the crowd.
I think Goldenstar is going more crazy than we thought he already was. Mosspaw meowed in her head, annoyed and confused.
"Well," Goldenstar started. "the dream was pretty fuzzy."
"Of course! It probably didn't even mean anything!" That time Mosspaw identified Greyshadow's brisk voice. Greyshadow's mother, Shimmerpelt, jerked her head towards Greyshadow and gave her a very mean glance. Instantly telling Greyshadow to shut her mouth in her sparkling eyes. Greyshadow rolled her eyes at her mother and flicked her ears.
Mosspaw noticed Goldenstar was also staring at Greyshadow with pure hatred. "No wonder…" He whispered very quietly. Mosspaw thought that she was the only one that heard it since he was so quiet. "In the dream," Goldenstar started again. "StarClan gave me a message-I'm pretty sure it might have been a prophecy-"
"Well tell us already!" Another cat spat in the gathering. Mosspaw didn't have the patience to know who it was and seeped her little claws into the grassy floor.
Goldenstar ignored the cat and held up his tail in silence. Hawkfeather was giving a sharp nod to the cat who spoke out. "The message they sent me said: Your Clan will fall desperately. With only the blood of your kin protecting it. The rest, with purposely fall.
The Clan began to give anxious meows between one another at the sound of this.
"This means I can't trust anyone anymore… besides my kin and only my kin." Goldenstar meowed above all the cats. This made everyone go silent. He gave an affectionate glance at his mate, Larksong.
"Larksong isn't kin to you! That means you can't trust her either?" Greyshadow corrupted again.
Goldenstar dragged his golden gaze back to her. "I mean, to my kin, and my family as well. Only cats I love." Goldenstar replied.
Another cat yowled protest, "You love your Clan don't you? So you can trust us too right?" That time it was Robinfur. Mosspaw found his voice very easy to identify.
"Nope. I don't love any of you anymore." Goldenstar meowed, lifting his chin up in triumph.
This time Larksong stretched her eyes wide at her mate, clearly shocked by what he just said. Mosspaw herself felt very hurt. My own Clan leader doesn't love me? How dare he say anything like that! Bluerain sharply wrapped her tail around Mosspaw, anger flaring her grey eyes. Mosspaw had never saw her mentor so mad. Especially at her own leader.
"You mange pelted piece of crow-food!" Bluerain growled. All the cats turned their attention to her in shock. Woah Bluerain! Mosspaw thought. Mosspaw had never imagined Bluerain saying something like that.
"Excuse me?" Goldenstar declared, standing up now. His jaws were dropped open in shock as he looked at the mad medicine cat.
"You heard me!" Bluerain snapped in reply. Her tail unwrapped from Mosspaw's back, and she stood up, snarling at the leader. "How could you stop loving your own Clan!? I guess MeadowClan's leader has finally shown his true colors."
Goldenstar arched his back, his fur bristling all over. "This was the message StarClan has chosen to share with me. Are you saying to not believe the words of my own ancestors? I guess MeadowClan's medicine cat has shown her true colors too. This must be what StarClan was talking about. They were right! I can't trust any of you! Not even my own medicine cat!"
Mosspaw could smell fear, and anger in the air. Most of the anger was radiating off Bluerain's pelt.
"Stop!" Larksong yowled above all protests. Everyone, even Mosspaw, turned their attention to her. "Goldenstar, listen, I know you should believe the words of your ancestors, but please, trust all your cats. Part of being the leader is loving your own Clan above all. Besides, all of us are practically like family. Even if some of these cats don't have your blood running through their veins, we're still all family. StarClan probably just meant trust your Clan and family, and stay away from the other Clans."
Goldenstar laid his fur flat, and sat back down. "Larksong, honey, I'm pretty sure I understand my own prophecy. Now stay out of this. Would you like me to quit trusting you too? I'd think not from my own mate."
Larksong stretched her green eyes even more wide, her kits, Whiteblade, Dirtwind, and Goldenheart all came sitting beside her. Mosspaw could tell Hawkfeather was about to as well. "How...how could you?" Larksong whispered.
"Mom, it's okay," Whiteblade soothed, running her tail up and down her mothers back. But Larksong looked too hurt to even notice. Hey, at least he still loves you. Mosspaw thought.
She didn't realize how much it hurt to have her own Clan leader to not even care about her. She might as well be a rogue if this was the kind of respect she'd get from her own leader. She worshiped him for StarClan's sake. Shouldn't he care about her too? Mosspaw looked at the ground. She quickly looked back at Larksong, and saw a tear rising up from her eye. Mosspaw whimpered under her breath and pelted closer beside Bluerain. Bluerain licked in between her ears.
"Don't worry dear Larksong, I still love you." Goldenstar meowed in sympathy.
Larksong began to shake in anger, her fur bristling and her claws sliding out in a heartbeat. "Stop! Just stop! If you can't trust your own Clan, you may as well not trust me either! I don't even know you anymore! Stay away from me and my Clan! At least I actually love them! Unlike my own mate!"
The light from Goldenstar's eyes began to fade, and they turned to hollow pieces of golden. "Fine," he rasped. "if that's how you want it, that's how it will be. Hawkfeather, please excuse all these pieces of fox-dung from my camp."
Hawkfeather stared at the ground in an empty stare. "No," he mumbled.
"What did you just say?" Mosspaw looked up at Hawkfeather in surprise.
"No, Goldenstar." Hawkfeather meowed, looking right at his father now. "Larksong is right. You should trust your Clan as long as your family and kin. What have you turned into? Clearly not my father anymore." Hawkfeather then jumped down from his place on the high-rock, and sat by his mother.
Goldenstar stared at his son in astonishment. "How dare you!" Goldenstar unsheathed his claws, and scratched at the ground, his claws making little nicks in the stone. His fur was fluffed up and was bristling like no other. Mosspaw looked at her leader in fright and ran to the medicine den. I want to leave! I want to leave MeadowClan! Forever!
Mosspaw hated the fact that she was even having the ability to think anything like that. She didn't want to be in a Clan full of hatred and sorrow. Especially not a Clan with a crazy leader. What was happening to Goldenstar? Should MeadowClan drive him out? It wouldn't be such a bad idea. He was causing trouble for everyone and Mosspaw was pretty sure no one liked him.
Mosspaw's belly lurched as she remembered the gathering was tonight. What would Goldenstar say? What would he do? Would he even send his Clan to go? Probably not.
Mosspaw curled up in her nest, her back facing the entrance. She didn't want to hear anything any cat had to say. All she wanted to do, was curl up and dream of a better somewhere.
Mosspaw awoke in a medicine den. Great, time to get up. But when Mosspaw arose from her nest and looked out, the medicine den she had always knew was some what different. It looked somehow lighter, and happier instead of gloomy, and musky. Mosspaw poked her head out, and spotted a black she-cat with a white tipped tail and white toes. Who are you and what are you doing here?
Mosspaw padded out bravely and confronted the mysterious she-cat. "Hello?" The she-cat looked up from mixing some sort of mixture and smiled at her.
"Good morning Bluepaw. You slept a long while."
Mosspaw was caught off guard. My name is not Bluepaw… My name is Mosspaw. Mosspaw concluded that this had to be a dream. She hoped it was because she did not like this place. It was her medicine den and she knew that, she just didn't know who this weird cat was and what realm of time she was in right now.
Mosspaw decided to act natural around this cat and walked over to a small stream. She lapped at it, and licked her jaws. She looked at the water again, and didn't see herself. She saw another cat. She saw a blue-grey she-cat with grey sparkling eyes. I-I'm living as Bluerain when she was an apprentice!
Mosspaw gaped her jaws in shock, and quickly shut them up again so she didn't look like a crazy old apprentice that had just seen themselves for the first time.
Mosspaw padded back over to the she-cat and watched her mix up the herbs. She saw dock, and horsetail. She knew dock had been used for soothing scratches, and horsetail for stopping infection. Cats must be wounded right now. Mosspaw thought.
"Why don't you go take this poultice I made to Robinswing? He got some bad scratches from yesterday's battle," the she-cat asked, putting the poultice in a leaf.
Mosspaw nodded and grabbed the leaf in her jaws. Robinswing must still be a warrior. Mosspaw thought. In present day MeadowClan, Robingswing was now sleeping in the elders den. I wonder who MeadowClan were battling last night. Mosspaw thought.
As she was about to walk out of the den, a very light grey she-cat with baby blue eyes emerged in the den. Mosspaw noticed Shimmerpelt, but she looked much younger. "Swancloud! Fawnbreeze is having her kits!" Mosspaw noticed that the black she-cat she had just spoken to was Swancloud; Bluerain's former mentor. But then the other cat that was mentioned, Fawnbreeze, made Mosspaw feel dizzy and sick inside, Fawnbreeze was Mosspaw's mother. Fawnbreeze died when Mosspaw was about 5 moons. A very vicious group of adders was founded close to the camp, and Fawnbreeze was bitten. Adders were feared by all the Clans, for they were very poisonous and could kill a cat in less than five minutes.
Mosspaw… or Bluepaw whipped around to look at Swancloud. Swancloud looked around in panic and then looked back at Mosspaw. "Bluepaw, I want you to quickly give Robinswing his medicine. Tell one of the apprentices', how about Whitepaw, to apply to Robinswing's wounds. Hurry too!" Swancloud ordered.
Mosspaw quickly scuddled out of the medicine den, and a rise of panic began to take over. Who's Whitepaw? Mosspaw looked around anxiously to find a white she-cat. Right then, a white she-cat with black stripes came walking out of the Clan entrance. Whiteblade! That must be Whitepaw. Mosspaw hurried over to Whitepaw. "Whitepaw, can you go take this to Robinswing and apply it to his scratches? It was an order from Swan...um...cloud to do it since Fawnbreeze is going into labor." Mosspaw lashed her tail knowing that she almost messed up on Swancloud's name.
"Sure," Whitepaw quickly grabbed the leaf and padded over to the warriors den.
Mosspaw sighed relief and ran back to the medicine den. When she got in, no one was there. Mosspaw curiously looked around and realized they must be in the nursery. How mouse-brained am I? Mosspaw thought.
She ran to the nursery, and without any hesitation, pushed herself through the nursery fronds. She looked around for Swancloud and instantly saw her sitting beside Fawnbreeze. Mosspaw's heart ached seeing her mother again. Her light brown fur and little white dots sticking straight up in a bristle. She must just be in pain. Mosspaw thought.
Mosspawwalked towards the queen, and gasped at the sight of her beautiful mother.
"Bluepaw, since this is your first time witnessing a queen having kits, I'd like you to place your paw on Fawnbreeze's belly and tell me what you feel." Swancloud ordered.
Mosspaw lifted out a paw, and gently placed it on top of Fawnbreeze's swollen belly. It was hot, and she could feel little movement in there. The kits were ready to come out.
"It feels her kits are moving around alot. Does that mean they want to come out?" Mosspaw asked, looking up at her temporary mentor. Swancloud nodded with a smile.
Mosspaw winced as she heard Fawnbreeze groaning in pain. Soon enough, a black tom kit came in a little sack. Swancloud began to lap at the little kit, breaking the sack and letting him scramble over to his mother to suckle.
"When a kit comes out, you want to lick off all the membrane sack to let it breathe," Swancloud explained as another kit came out. "you can work on the next one."
Mosspaw nodded and watched as Swancloud lick off the membrane. The next kit came. It was a little chocolate tortoiseshell. Mosspaw gasped as she noticed something. That's me! Mosspaw quickly launched herself at the kit and licked it.
"Slow down Bluepaw," Swancloud warned, gently pushing the second kitten over to Fawnbreeze's belly.
"Sorry," Mosspaw mewed. I can't believe I'm licking myself as a kit!
As soon as Mosspaw finished licking her kit self, she gently pushed it over to Fawnbreeze's belly as Swancloud did. Mosspaw purred at the sight of the three newborn kits. This is like a practice run for when I really help a queen give birth. Mosspaw thought, inspired.
"What are you going to name them?" Swancloud asked Fawnbreeze.
"Oh," Fawnbreeze purred. Mosspaw loved the sound of her mothers voice. "I'll name the black one Leopardkit, the grey one Riverkit, and this tortoiseshell one Mosskit."
Swancloud nodded and purred very loudly. Wait, I don't have a brother… or a sister. Mosspaw thought curiously. What happened to them? Because they're sure not alive today.
"Congratulations, Fawnbreeze." Mosspaw mewed, licking Fawnbreeze's shoulder. Fawnbreeze brushed her cheek on Mosspaw's.
"Thank you, Bluepaw." Fawnbreeze replied, staring at Mosspaw in gratitude. Mosspaw nodded. Even though my name isn't Bluepaw. Mosspaw growled in her mind. Swancloud wrapped her tail around Mosspaw.
"We best be getting back to the medicine den." Swanbreeze meowed. She turned around and started to pad out of the nursery. "Come along now, Bluepaw."
Mosspaw trotted up to Swancloud, and glanced one more look at her mother. Bye mommy. I'll miss you. Mosspaw whispered in her head.
When they got back to the den, a voice sounded from outside. "Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey, gather here beneath the high-rock for a Clan meeting,"
Mosspaw began to pad out of the den. The cat was obviously Goldenstar. I wonder if he's still crazy and mean. Mosspaw thought.
When she gathered at the back of the settled cats, Goldenstar looked very strong and brave. His muscles were rippling from under his fur, and he had a nice grin on his face. As soon as everyone had sat down and were ready to listen, the bold Clan leader began to talk.
"I know we just had a battle last night, and I thank Swancloud and Bluepaw for helping with everything. But last night, we had a very tragic death." Mosspaw held her breath and felt Swancloud's fur turn to ice. Why is she nervous? It could have been a cat from another Clan or something. "No one but Larksong and I witnessed the death and that is why I'm reporting it now. Last night we lost…" Goldenstar froze for a second and looked at the ground in sorrow. "we lost Oakriver."
A huge wave of tension, anger, and sadness swept over the Clan like a huge wave. Who's that? I've never heard of a cat with the name of Oakriver.
"As you all know, Oakriver was our deputy. I know all of us will surely miss him. And I know each of our hearts will ache everyday that passes that we do not have him here anymore. Especially to the cats were close to him," he flicked his tail to Meadowbreeze. That must be Meadowpaw as of now. She was probably Oakriver's apprentice. "but just know StarClan has gained a new star. A star that will shine the brightest tonight." Goldenstar hung his head down and Hawkfeather… or Hawkpaw, and his mate Larksong. They nodded and padded inside the leader's den.
After a couple heartbeats, they dragged the warrior's dead body out from the den. He was a dark tabby tom with thick fur. Mosspaw gasped as she saw the cat's bloody body. Though the blood was dry, he looked very beat up. Why didn't they send him to Bluepaw and Swancloud? Mosspaw thought anxiously.
As soon as Larksong and Hawkpaw set the tabby deputy in the center of the clearing, Goldenstar spoke up once more, "The vigil starts now," he announced. Padding down from the high-rock to go sit vigil with his dead deputy. Some other cats Mosspaw didn't recognize joined Goldenstar in the vigil with Oakriver. Including Meadowpaw. Mosspaw wasn't close to Oakriver at all so she decided not to join. She didn't even know him at all so what was the point?
Mosspaw padded back to the medicine den, and hung down her head and let her tail droop down to pretend she was sad that this former deputy died. She plucked at her nest for a s econd and thought, wow. Goldenstar used to be really nice and caring. That won't last long. Now, he's rude and untrustworthy. Unloyal to his Clan, and ferocious to the cats who are in it. He's not my leader anymore. He's not the leader I used to know. He's just some cat I wish was gone. I hate saying it, but it needs to be said. Mosspaw felt her face get hot with sadness, and anger. Her eyes began to water, and a hot tear dragged down her face. She closed her eyes shut, and wished this leader would pass soon enough. She couldn't wait until Hawkfeather turned to Hawkstar, and made MeadowClan a better place. Goldenstar… please come back. Please resume to being the leader that everyone wanted. You've let everyone down. Even the ones you loved the most. Please…?