Brightshade
I rushed to the WindClan border as fast as my paws could carry me. I needed Stormkit to survive! I quickly paced to their scent markers, and wrinkled my nose as WindClan scent filled my lungs. I crossed the stream that bordered the two Clans, perking up my ears as I listened for a border patrol. Luckily, there was a rustling in the bushes, and a pair of cats emerged form the bushes, baring their teeth. I recognized them as Acorntooth and Mudpool.
Acorntooth growled. My pelt bristled in fury. He came up close to my fur, unsheathing his claws.
I mewed impatiently. s a matter of life and death.Theret go back onto your side of the border, you mangy flea-pelt,How dare you!You-STOP!What Yellowdawn asked, giving her mate, Acorntooth, a stern look.
Acorntooth explained.
t you a mouse-brain!Any cat with half a brain would be able to see that she is a medicine cat. Mudpool gave a confused stare at me, and released my pelt from his claws, as did Acorntooth. I gave my wounds a quick lick and limped next to Ambershine.
Yellowdawn asked.
ll escort you to her den.Who asked one of Larksteps white tail curved curiously.
Larkstep murmured, gathering her kits together and pulling them into the nursery. I frowned. No one respected a medicine cat. I glanced at Acorntooth and Mudpool. Especially not them.
Instead of bringing me to the medicine cats den. Hollystar sat inside, talking to her deputy, Sparrowflight.
Hollystar asked, motioning for Sparrowflight to leave. Acorntooth shuffled forward.
Ambershine interrupted.
Hollystar nodded to me.
m on medicine cat business.Then you should get to the medicine , please escort She hesitated.
Yellowdawn brushed her cream pelt against mine, and nodded respectfully to Hollystar. She then motioned with her tail for me to follow her. Yellowdawn led me to a den sheltered by branches,
Yellowdawn called. A blue-gray she-cat poked her head out of the den. Her harsh gaze softened as she recognized my flame-red pelt.
Rainywillow exclaimed. s so good to see you!s pawsteps faded away.
Rainywillow mewed, turning, and walking deeper into the den, focusing on a light, cream kit that sat on her haunches. Rainywillow softly pressed her mouth the kitNow, Larkkit, don She nodded.
Larkkit bounded out of the medicine den, giving me a curious, but excited look in my direction as she passed me. Rainywillow examined my solemn expression.
s wrong?One of the ThunderClan kits, Stormkit, has gotten dreadfully sick with greencough, and we dont tell her that we didn Rainywillow padded over to her stores of herbs and rooted through them. As I waited a tail-length away, her scent became more and more fear-filled, and I knew that she didnBrightshade Her voice trailed off. m sorry. I don My heart dropped down to my stomach. How was I supposed to heal Stormkit without the catmint? Badgerstep would be devastated.
Rainywillow suggested. I hesitated. I had told Stormkit that I would be home by nightfall.
I answered, giving in.
ll come with you.No. Your Clan needs my best friend needs me can
m coming with you whether you like it or not.
s blood on you,Who did this to you?Acorntooth and ?They thought I was some warrior crossing the ever seen,Can She picked up a few cobwebs and pushed them onto my flank and back right leg. She chewed up some marigold leaves and placed them on my wounds to prevent infection.
Rainywillow added. I shook my head.
re about the same distance away.It like the horses that we have to pass to get
Deertail, where she demanded.
Deertail answered. She glanced suspiciously at me.
s none of your business,Oneleap, can you tell Hollystar that Brightshade and I are going on a journey? We Oneleap nodded.
After that, Rainywillow and I walked through the clearing, the grasses tickling the pads on our paws. Along the way, I thought of herbs to get my mind off of the long journey and the sore pain in my flank. Ash shoots are good for snake bites. Borage helps queens get enough milk to feed their kits. Poppy seeds make cats sleep. Celadine is used to strengthen weak eyes. Comfrey heals broken bones. Honey- A sudden halt in RainywillowWhat I questioned.
We Rainywillow muttered. She looked up at me. s nowhere to take cover.No Twolegs,Come ?And WindClan? They must be planning an she laughed. re medicine cats? You mouse-brain!Newtpaw!Get off me!All of the prey Minttail complained. Olivetail took a few pawsteps close to us.
she exclaimed. Rainywillow stepped forward.
Olivetail nodded, and then pointed her tail towards ShadowClan camp.
she mewed. Tanglepaw and Newtpaw were slowly creeping away, as though to escape the fury of the deputy, but Olivetail noticed right away.
den,Don I reminded her.
she mewed. I nodded, memories spilling through my head.
I added.
Soon enough, we reached ShadowClan camp, and half the cats glanced at us doubtfully. The other half, however, was appreciative and nodded in respect at us. Leafstem, a ShadowClan queen, looked at me with pride and honor, with her tail curled around her two kits, Maplekit and Honeykit, while Stoneheart, her mate, rested his head on her shoulder.
she mewed, dipping her head.
I reminded her.
Leafstem lifted her chin and gazed into my eyes with nobility and a great deal of thanks. When Leafstem began birthing her kits, Pineheart, the old medicine cat, was ill and could not gather the strength to even leave the medicine den. Sweetbrook, or Sweetpaw then, didns kits would be dead.
Rainywillow and I ran to the medicine den to find Sweetbrook and Woodpaw inside.
s willow,Brightshade, Rainywillow? What are you doing here?Do you have any catmint?Is some near the RiverClan border. Rainywillow dashed off to the RiverClan border, while I stayed with Sweetbrook, searching the stores. I pawed through the leaves, roots, and blossoms, searching for the leaves that would save Stormkit. My heart rose as I found a few tiny dark leaves in the very back of the stores.
Sweetbrook asked.
s going to die without this,Of course. I hope the kit gets better. See you at the Moonpool!Run! Run!What I managed to gasp out. My chest burned and ached with soreness, as did my injured leg, and it didnDogs she rasped. At that same moment, a bark echoed through the trees, and pounded in my ears. I tried to run faster, but my leg buckled, and pain clouded my vision, I collapsed onto the ground, panting, and the dogs shining yellow teeth and vicious claws were the last thing I saw, until the spots in front of my eyes brought me to darkness.
