Chapter 5
"I'm tired, John, can we stop, please?" It had been a short time since they started, mainly because of John's story and explaining why they were cats. There had been many questions, some that John couldn't answer, that had put him behind his journey to Thunderclan. "See those trees? That's where Thunderclan is. I think. We'll stop soon. I promise." He saw a road that was silent. No cars were passing that he saw. Old man Hickory's truck had been in for repairs for a month. So they say. He saw one car pass but then it was safe to cross. The forest was close by. "C'mon, guys, it's safe to pass now." They started to cross the road, when he heard a shriek of terror form one of his brothers. "Help!" thump ka-thump. He looked back, and saw his brother on the rocky road, crippled and bleeding. "Ashton!" he ran to his brother, and thought, Oh, no! I told mom and dad I'd take care of my siblings. But I need to get him to a doctor. I think Thunderclan has a doctor. He picked him up by the scruff of the neck. "Guys, get to the forest, and call for help!" He called through the side of his mouth. They scattered in the forest and he followed them, panicking and sweating. His nose scented something. The smell of Thunderclan! That cat in my dream smelled like this! He followed the scent, occasionally smelling the scent of blood, reminding him to hurry. I'm getting closer! Thump! A light brown she-cat tumbled backwards, and he shook his head. His brother groaned, mewing and thrashing. "Help, help me…" The she-cat he bumped into mewed, "you poor thing! Let me help you." She took his brother and started licking him. He was going to yell at her, but she looked as if she knew what she was doing. She grabbed some seeds and gave them to Ashton. Then she took some black roots and chewed them, putting the strange poultice on his wounds. While she was doing this, John's other brother and two sisters watched her, mouths agape in amazement. His other brother looked at her endearingly. "Rob, stop staring." He whispered. "Are you the kit's father?" she mewed. "N…no ma'am, I mean doctor… uh…" John stuttered. "Well then, I…" she looked up at him. She was silent. "H-hello?" he mewed. "Gustfoot!" the she-cat mewed. Another she-cat came and gave the same stare as though they were looking through him. "Is it them, Gustfoot?" the light brown she-cat asked. "Yes I do believe so, Leafpool." "Hello? Have you forgotten about my brother?" "Oh!" the cat named Leafpool gasped. "I'll get right to it." The other cat named Gustfoot came up to him and stared. "Where's Thunderclan?" He asked. "Right this way, uh… what's your name?" "John." He mewed. "Uh…John, right this way." She led him to a clearing with many cats. They smelled him and hissed, backing into little dens. She took him into a den and a ginger tom cat looked at him and his siblings with respect. "I am Firestar. Welcome to Thunderclan. "Hello. I am John. And this is Ashley, Rachel and…" he looked for his brother. Where was he? Oh, no he was with that cat that was curing Ashton! "One sec!" he ran off, almost bumping into the same cat. "Oops! Sorry!" she padded past him with Rob in tow. "Come here!" Rob was staring after her, dreamy eyed. "Rob, she is not interested! And I don't think you are old enough!" he ran after him and grabbed his scruff. He had a glazed look in his eyes. "She is so pretty…" "Rob! You are not old enough!" "And I can't fall in love anyway. I'm a medicine cat." Leafpool mewed. "Really?" John mewed. "Aren't you lonely?" "No. Medicine cats are forbidden to love. But I do miss…" she looked sad. As if she gave up something or someone dear to her to have what she wanted. Even Rob was feeling bad about what troubled her. She sighed. "Well, your brother is doing fine. I put some comfrey and yarrow on his wounds." "Okay…can I talk to um… Firestar, right?" "Yes. Follow me." He followed her to Firestar's den. "Hello again, John." We need to talk."
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"What?!?" John exclaimed. "Me? I…no it can't be!" "It might be a shock to you, but you are supposed to save us from things a normal cat couldn't. You must save Thunderclan."