Chapter Four
Crowpaw wrinkled her nose at the scent of all the herbs being carried around the camp. She glared at the cats all around her, fur bristling and tail twitching. Crowpaw laid her head on her paws with her ears flat, clearly not happy with the situation. I can take care of myself, bee-brains! She thought to herself bitterly as she watched the puffy white she-cat that had escorted her into Meadowclan exit the camp again.
Crowpaw lifted her head and glanced at her flank, feeling the soreness of the deep wound. The she-paw tried to get up, but a heavy paw laid on her flank, pushing her down. Crowpaw hissed as she swung her head around to see the tortoiseshell tom. He was quite young to be a medicine cat, but he seemed to know what he was doing. Tansyfur hissed "Stay still!" he snorted "You Stoneclan cats sure are fidgety!" The she-paw hissed "Maybe if my flank didn't hurt I wouldn't be fidgety! Use your magic healing powers medicine cat!" She snapped, her tone very bitter. The tom looked hurt, but then anger flooded into his eyes "Fine, sit here until your wounds become infected!" He hissed and stalked off to help another cat. Crowpaw sneered at him as she shakily got up and stalked over to a shaded spot under a lavender bush. The she-paw sighed and flopped down on her side. Her nostrils filled with the scent of lavender and her eyelids grew heavy, until she could no longer stay awake.
Crowpaw woke up to a stinging pain in her flank as a paw prodded her. She stifled a yawn as she opened her eyes to see a handsome brown tom with black spots staring at her with amber eyes.
His bold meow startled her. "It's time to go, why don't I help you?" he smiled, helping her to her paws. Crowpaw winched at the pain in her flank. She looked over her shoulder to her cobwebs plastered on it. He must have waited until I was asleep to treat it, clever mouse-heart. She sighed as she began to walk, before a cheerful mew sounded from the clearing as the medicine cat trotted over to them. "I'd like to come with you! I need to deliver herbs and see how Lakesong's doing…" His gaze darkened as he began to walk in front of them. As Crowpaw stiffly walked through the tunnel, she gazed at the top of it. Am I really that small…? She asked herself.
Once the patrol entered the camp, Crowpaw rushed to the fresh kill pile. Her stomach growled at the sight of in. Before she could grab a rabbit out of the pile, a silver tom rushed at her with joy in his eyes. Crowpaw winced as he bundled into her. Silverpaw meowed happily, relief flooding into his voice "Crowpaw! You're okay!" He purred. The she-paw looked at him, and she gave a faint smile before nudging him off of her "Hey watch it Silverpaw! I'm still sore!" She twitched her whiskers as Bearpaw, Silverpaw's brother, called him over "Come on mouse-brain! We need to go help the others." He chuckled as Silverpaw bounded over to him. Crowpaw watched them for a couple heartbeats before turning back to the rabbit in the pile. She dragged it to a shady spot and had begun to bite into it when she heard voices. She looked over to see Stonestar talking to Lakesong, Rainpaw, Whitepaw, and Ashpaw. Crowpaw strained her ears to listen. She caught Stonestars voice, "Lakesong, you went against the warrior code...These are your kits?" His mew was uneasy as he looked over at the three paws. Lakesong dipped her head in shame "Yes, they are mine.." Ashpaw and Whitepaw bristled in surprise as Rainpaw looked at her with sad eyes. Stonestar shook his head slowly "I will not punish you,You are a good medicine cat and you have lost someone dear to you. You deserve a second chance,Plus your apprentice is not ready to be a full medicine cat.." His voice trailed off as Ashpaw hissed a retort "She is not our mother! Appledawn is!" Ashpaw looked away angrily and stalked off. Whitepaw followed him, but Rainpaw nuzzled her real mother as Lakesong let out a low groan of sadness. Stonestar stalked over to his deputy, unable to continue watching the scene. Crowpaw's eyes widened with surprise.
Lakesong is their mother?!