Chapter 7

Gullstar nodded to Seedthorn. "Since you have chosen the path of a medicine cat, your new mentor will be Seedthorn. Clan dismissed."

Wasppaw grinned as he looked to his new mentor. Moonpaw grinned warmly for her friend. This is what he wanted, and she wasn't going to stop him. She didn't stop him.

Seedthorn flicked his tail. "Come, I've to show you where the herbs of the forest are."

Wasppaw and Seedthorn together left the Clan. It made Moonpaw wonder what would happen while they were gone from the Clan? She shook her head, everything should be perfectly fine. Bamboostep looked down at the Clan. "Moonpaw, I'd like you to train Acornpaw and his mentor in the mossy hollow today. I'll go with you to watch your progress."

Moonpaw nodded. It was only natural for her father to be curious on her progress as a warrior. She blinked as Acornpaw, who had just finished up eating a chipmunk. He scampered over to the two cats with Swallowheart following. The blue-grey and white tabby tom entered through the fern entrance with the two apprentices and deputy following close behind.

The forest floor didn't gleam with warm sunlight. Leaf-fall had finally hit the Clan, leaves the color of flames scattered the soft and damp earth from the last night's frost.

Acornpaw rushed through the trees into the hollow. He winced seeing the moss.

Moonpaw observed to see the clumps of moss sticking up, frozen from the frost, cold and prickly. Her paws flinched from the frost. Bamboostep walked to the moss as well. He stood in the middle and waved his tail. "I want Acornpaw and Moonpaw to tackle me."

Moonpaw lowered her ears. "N-Now?" She asked skittishly.

He nodded. "Don't worry, I'll be fine."

Swallowheart sighed and shivered his tail as well.

Acornpaw pressed close to Moonpaw, Moonpaw being able to feel his soft and warm fur on her flesh. The silver she-cat felt her ear-tips grow incredibly hot. She rushed ahead, Acornpaw following after and pouncing onto the deputy's flank.

Moonpaw skidded to a halt when she spotted her father flop onto his back and press Acornpaw into the frosted moss. The tom squeaked in alarm and wriggled out from under the sleek deputy. Acornpaw stood up and shook the moss from his pelt. "I wasn't expecting that!" He growled.

Swallowheart shrugged. "Know your enemy, Acornpaw. And know that Bamboostep is a clever cat."

Moonpaw chuckled softly under her breath.

Bamboostep turned to her. "Moonpaw, you held back."

She flicked her ear and meowed, "I saw him pounce on you, I knew what-"

"You didn't help me." Acornpaw mewed in a sour tone, licking his chest from embarrassment. He shot a dark amber glare at the apprentice. Moonpaw shuddered until he smirked. "You're smart." He suddenly laughed.

Moonpaw chuckled nervously, looking away. Even Bamboostep noticed her unease. He ruffled his shoulder fur. "I suppose she is." The deputy informed. "Let us continue. I will teach you two how to evade a roll-over counterattack."

Moonpaw was going back to camp, scenting that Wasppaw had come in recently. She suddenly blinked and perked up her ears. Eveningfern was wailing in despair, similar to the other day. She trotted quickly into the camp. "What's going on-"

Wasppaw was anxiously treating Goldenfoot, his body very slow in breathing and dark blood pooling around his body. "I can save him!" Wasppaw gasped.

Seedthorn stayed silent. Then he met eyes with Moonpaw. He sighed and lowered his head. Moonpaw swallowed hard. They both knew that Wasppaw didn't have enough experience at all to be able to save Goldenfoot; whatever happened to him.

Gullstar stared on sadly, not saying a word.

Eveningfern was sobbing into her mate's fur.

"What happened?" Acornpaw whispered to his sister, Brookpaw who was standing nearby.

The gray tabby sadly shook her head. She was covered in scratches. "Goldenfoot, Frostflurry, Oakwish and I were on patrol together. Suddenly, MortalClan cats attacked us near the cliff. Oakwish nearly fell off of it, but a MortalClan cat and Goldenfoot saved her mid-battle. But while Goldenfoot was helping her, the deputy attacked a-and… and killed him." Brookpaw swallowed hard. "He's dead. Goldenfoot is dead."

Moonpaw looked back at Wasppaw's feeble and desperate attempts in healing his father. But nothing worked. Wasppaw was in denial and he could not accept that his father has died, been killed no less.

Gullstar slowly raised her muzzle. "Weaseltalon will not go unpunished. As of right now, Bamboostep, Brookpaw and I will enter their camp and demand for the compensation of a strong and beloved warrior." She flicked her tail. "Come."

Bamboostep and Brookpaw dipped their heads and said in unison, "Yes, Gullstar."

The three cats left the camp, hackles raised in pure anger.

Moonpaw began to wonder what Gullstar would demand? Would she demand for prey or territory? Or perhaps even the death of one of Brindlestar's warriors?

Wasppaw wailed in harmony with his mother, sobbing together into the soft, rose-painted sky. Moonpaw began to cry. Why is this happening? Why is everything in HavenClan falling apart?

Fruitpaw watched as they left as she remarked, "Goldenfoot was a fine warrior."

Smokepaw nodded in agreement. "Yes." Then the two looked over to Wasppaw.

Fishpaw scoffed silently. "What a weakling, I didn't sob like that when Quietweed disowned Minnowfin."

Moonpaw's ears burst. Quietweed left Minnowfin? Now that she came to think of it, they never sat together any longer when a meeting occurred and they never shared tongues again ever since their kits left the nursery. Moonpaw would admit, Minnowfin was always overbearing and protective of her and the kits. While Quietweed seemed a little bored of these advances and gestures.

It made Moonpaw's heart sink. Weren't mates supposed to love each other forever?

Acornpaw caught Moonpaw's gaze. He padded over and sighed. "I liked Goldenfoot. He was a really nice cat." He glanced at Wasppaw. "He looks just like he did. Amber eyes and everything." Then he blinked awkwardly at Moonpaw. "And your eyes aren't a kit's blue anymore. They're a bright yellow."

Moonpaw twitched her tail and blushed. "I-I suppose."

"What color are mine, now?"

The she-cat looked into Acornpaw's eyes, seeing a sweet, dark amber, the color of honey. "They're a honey colored." She answered softly. "But is now really the time to be talking abou-"

"Of course it is!" He interrupted. "It's a hard time in the Clan right now, and as soon as we become warriors, we're going to need to bear kits for HavenClan."

Kits!?

Moonpaw chuckled nervously and took a step back. "K-Kits? Acornpaw, we're still only apprentices. We can't really think about that right now."

"But we should!" He mewed insistently, taking a step forward, causing Moonpaw to take a few backward. He noticed this. He tipped his head and smiled. "Just… think about it, okay?"

Moonpaw's whiskers quivered nervously. "O-Of course, I'll think about it. But I'll only really start considering it once I'm a warrior."

Acornpaw shrugged. "Okay." Then without another word, he trotted off to the aprpentice den.

How could he think about mates and kits at a time like this? Moonpaw had only just recently become an apprentice anyway. They should be grieving Goldenfoot, not talking about having kits for StarClan's sake!

Moonpaw turned back to Wasppaw. She dismissed Acornpaw in her mind. She needed to care about Wasppaw. He was heavily grieving right now, and they promised each other that they'll be there for one another.

The silver she-cat sat close to her friend and pressed her shoulder to his. "I'm sorry, Wasppaw…" she whispered gently, licking his shoulder in comfort. "No one should have to go through this."

"I could have saved him-" he choked out. "I'm a medicine cat, I'm supposed to save cats!"

Moonpaw shushed him. "You're only just become an apprentice today. There's no way you could have saved him."

"What if there was?" He cried.

"No, no there wasn't…" Moonpaw soothed. He sniffled and lowered his head in response. Moonpaw shut her eyes and buried her nose in Wasppaw's fur as he dug his in his father's pelt. No cat should have to go through this. If she had to watch Bamboostep die, she would likely kill herself.