I must have passed out along the way, because I hear worried voices above my head. I notice I have become rather warm, and blink my eyes sleepily. A cat- Reedheart, maybe? I don't know... He sighs in relief and begins to scold me worriedly. "Didn't I tell you not to fall asleep? What if you hadn't ever woken up? I hadn't been able to fully assess your condition-" He halts his pacing, a horrified expression coming across his face as some realization hits him. "Stormstar will be so disappointed! I put a life in danger! I-" A new cat sets their tail reassuringly on his shoulder, stepping rather creepily out of the shadows. I shift in my nest, which seems to be made of moss. My jaw drops; she is gorgeous. Pale grey with darker tabby markings and a white muzzle, drop-dead green eyes. It's love at first sight. For me at least. My eyes dart around the room- a musty cave scented with herbs of some sort. Reedheart mentioned being a healer. I look anywhere but the she-cat's face. Is it too obvious? I feel the heat rising to the tips of my ears as she speaks.
"I'm not disappointed." There is a note of authority in her tone. Is she their leader? "You did well, Reedheart. Now, focus on your patient, please." Reedheart flushes, and picks up a bundle of leaves and cobwebs. Stormstar turns to me, and I immediately avert my gaze to the ground. "How are you feeling. Sorrel, is it?" I nod, face hot. "I'm feeling a lot better. Thank you." My response sounds clipped and short, and a flash of hurt shows in her eyes, and I immediately follow up with an explanation. "Sorry. My throat hurts to talk." It's still hurried, and I wince as my throat stings. She nods her understanding, letting a smile slip. "Watch this one, Reedheart. Make sure she has your undivided attention."
I blush as she steps out, and Reedheart smirks. "She's a tough one to crack. But, if that's what you're into..." I blush even more furiously, turning away. "Well, aren't you attracted to her?" I ask haughtily, trying to cover up my embarrassment. Reedheart sighs. "Even if I was, I'm not allowed to pursue, or take, a mate. It's against what we call the 'warrior code'." He huffs at the end of his statement.
"I'm sorry."
"Don't be. I chose to be the Clan's medicine cat knowing full well that I wouldn't be able to have a significant other."
"Oh." I twitch my ears apologetically anyway. "So you're not attracted to her?"
"No." He laughs. "I'm not into she-cats. Not that she's not pretty, it's just... You know.."
"Yeah." Welp. There goes all chances with him. "Falconclaw, though?"
Reedheart immediately flushes a deep red, and I smirk knowingly. "Um. Well. I... Don't know what you're taking about." He says hurriedly, looking at his paws as he rewraps the cobwebs over my injured leg. "Oooooooooohhhhhhh, I think you do~" I tease, full out grinning now. He huffs and puffs like steam geyser, and it is freaking adorable. "Maybe. But it's not like we can ever be together anyway."
"Why not?" What is some stupid 'code' going to do to him? He gapes at me, a glint of fear in his eyes.
"I could be removed from my place as medicine cat! Or exiled! Or... Or worse!" Oh. Even so, I raise my brows in skepticism.
"Worse?"
"Okay, probably not worse. Only thing worse than being exiled is being killed or tortured, and Clans don't do that stuff." Clans? Multiple?
"There's more than just MountainClan?"
"Of course! As you know, we're MountainClan. We live in the gorge, and the river is the border between us and MistClan. They're easy enough to get along with, as long as they don't try to cross the river with their swimming prowess. The Lightning Tree marks the border with HollowClan. Their land is mostly barren of vegetation since a fire long before the Clans arrived. They manage though, and hunt best in open spaces. They're also not exactly a problem. MoorClan, though..." He pauses, and I notice just how drawn into the story I am, whiskers and ears bent forward with anticipation.
"MoorClan live in a marshy grassland just south of HollowClan. They're scum, just like their territory, and are constantly trying to get steal our hunting grounds. They've always been controlling, and even tried to capture the entirety of HollowClan once. They're better now that their tyrant of a leader has vanished, but I still don't trust them." He narrows his amber eyes, and I can see disbelief in them.
"You think their leader's defeat was staged?"
"And that he'll rise again, yes." A new voice joins our conversation. A small tortoiseshell she-cat peers over a ledge, her dusty brown fur on end. Her yellow gaze is on Reedheart as she speaks. "Sorry for eavesdropping, Reedheart, but you make everything sound so mysterious and interesting. You're such a conspirator."
Reedheart scoffs. "You're one to talk, Fawnleap. But really, you should get some rest. You'll have your warrior duties back in a few days, I promise."
Said she-cat groans and flops down what I assume to be a mossy nest like mine, letting out a sharp grunt of pain as whatever is injured hits the ground. I huff amusedly, and Reedheart chuckles. "Be careful, or you'll have to stay longer!"
Turning to me, he gives a short explanation of Fawnleap's injury. "Battle with MoorClan a half moon ago. She got a nasty scratch from her shoulder to her tail, and has been here since then."
"Can I see the camp?" I ask, and hear Fawnleap groan longingly as well.
"Tomorrow." Reedheart says simply. "Until then, get some rest." I drift off thinking about MountainClan's history, and Stormstar.
Allegiances
MountainClan
Leader: Stormstar- Grey tabby she-cat with white muzzle and green eyes
Deputy: Falconclaw- Tortoiseshell tom with green eyes
Apprentice: Robinpaw
Medicine Cat: Reedheart- Pale yellow tom with large paws and amber eyes
Warriors
Hollyfall- Black she-cat with white paws and green eyes
Apprentice: Slatepaw
Fawnleap- Brown tortoiseshell she-cat with yellow eyes
Mudtail- Brown tom with cream muzzle and yellow eyes
Sunstep- Gold tom with green eyes
Riverfur- White and grey she-cat with blue eyes
Rosefoot- Tortoiseshell and white she-cat with blue eyes
Apprentice: Smokepaw
Stonewhisker- Grey tom with green eyes
Brackenfang- Gold-brown tom with amber eyes
Queens
Cloudberry- White she-cat with blue eyes
Kits
Ivykit- Brown tabby she-kit with green eyes
Twigkit- Cream tom-kit with brown muzzle and yellow eyes
Apprentices
Robinpaw- Ginger she-cat with green eyes
Slatepaw- Dark grey tom with white muzzle and ears; blue eyes
Smokepaw- Grey tom with yellow eyes
Elders
Redflower- Ginger she-cat with yellow eyes
MistClan
Leader: Featherstar- Silver she-cat with green eyes
Deputy: Snowpetal- White she-cat with green eyes
Medicine Cat: Greywind- Grey tom with blue eyes
Apprentice: Ripplepaw
Warriors
Rainpelt- Dark grey she-cat with white paws and blue eyes
Thistletail- Grey tom with green eyes
Pebbleheart- Grey and white she-cat with grey eyes
Volewhisker- Brown tom with grey eyes
Beetleclaw- Black tom with green eyes
Apprentice: Hailpaw
Mintsong- White she-cat with green eyes
Poppystream- Tortoiseshell she-cat with blue eyes
Icefang- White tom with blue eyes
Queens
Mouseleap- Brown she-cat with amber eyes; expecting kits
Lightfoot- Pale yellow she-cat with green eyes
Kits
Dewkit- Grey tom-kit with blue eyes
Goldenkit- Gold she-kit with green eyes
Thrushkit- Grey tom-kit with green eyes
Apprentices
Hailpaw- White tom with grey eyes
Elders
Whiteleaf- White she-cat with green eyes
Adderclaw- Grey tom with yellow eyes
HollowClan
Leader: Cliffstar- Brown tom with yellow eyes
Apprentice: Leafpaw
Deputy: Ashpool- Grey she-cat with blue eyes
Medicine Cat: Fernstep- Grey she-cat with green eyes
Apprentice: Blazefur
Warriors
Flowerfall- White she-cat with grey eyes
Birchtail- Grey tom with amber eyes
Willowheart- Light brown she-cat with yellow eyes
Darkstripe- Dark tabby tom with green eyes
Newtclaw- Grey tom with olive eyes
Rockpelt- Brown and grey tabby tom with amber eyes
Silversnow- White she-cat with grey eyes
Mallowfoot- Brown tom with green eyes
Dapplepool- Tortoiseshell she-cat with blue eyes
Queens
Vinesplash- Grey and brown tabby she-cat with green eyes
Kits
Nightkit- Dark tabby she-cat with green eyes
Apprentices
Leafpaw- Tortoiseshell she-cat with green eyes
Blazefur- Ginger tom with amber eyes
Elders
Pinewhisker- Brown tom with green eyes
MoorClan
Leader: Swanstar- White she-cat with yellow eyes
Deputy: Dustfang- Pale brown tom with amber eyes
Medicine Cat: Skyleap- White she-cat with grey paws and blue eyes
Warriors
Brightfang- Tortoiseshell she-cat with yellow eyes
Thornfall- Gold tom with amber eyes
Apprentice: Mothpaw
Blossomwing- Grey she-cat with green eyes
Cloudwhisker- White tom with grey eyes
Spottedheart- Spotted she-cat with yellow eyes
Littlethorn- Small white tom with amber eyes
Apprentice: Grasspaw
Wrenflight- Brown tabby she-cat with green eyes
Foxstep- Ginger tom with amber eyes
Tornleaf- Ragged grey tom with green eyes
Queens
Sandpool- Cream she-cat with brown paws and green eyes
Kits
Fogkit- Grey she-kit with green eyes
Apprentices
Mothpaw- Light brown tabby she-cat with green eyes
Grasspaw- Grey speckled tom with green eyes
Elders
Petalgleam- White she-cat with yellow eyes
Rogues
Moon- Silver she-cat with white paws and blue eyes
Boulderstar- Buff grey tom with yellow eyes
Snuffy- Tan tom with amber eyes
Crow- Black tom with grey eyes