"We've lost," Mossstar meowed sadly, but firm "We're going. I don't know where, but we are going. Rainpaw (and any other apprentices) will help you carry your supplies." Mossstar and Rainpaw had just entered her den, solemn and sad.
Mousesky felt a sinking feeling come from deep inside her, but all she did was dip her head at her leader as Mossstar left the clearing.
"Fuzzypaw," Mousesky mewed briskly "you remember the juniper berries, right?
"Yes, Mousesky," Fuzzypaw replied "for stomach aches?"
"Right," Mousesky replied briskly "Grab that, will you?" Fuzzypaw bolted to get it. "Rainpaw, bury this." Mousesky pushed some watermint towards Rainpaw
"Why?" Rainpaw asked
"Watermint is also good from stomach aches," Mousesky explained quickly "we have better herbs to save right now."
Rainpaw nodded and hurried to obey Mousesky's orders. Fuzzypaw was back the next heartbeat.
"Bury that," Mousesky ordered. Fuzzypaw joined Rainpaw. Mousesky grabbed the yarrow ointment she had mixed the previous night
"Here, Rainpaw," she meowed, handing the leaves that surrounded the ointment over "You'll carry this. Fuzzypaw, you can go get some more apprentices."
Fuzzypaw hurried off, and Mousesky went back into her den. After sniffing around for a minute, she grabbed the cobwebs and poppy seeds. When she was back in the little clearing, she found Fuzzypaw, Rainpaw, Flowerpaw, and Icepaw hovering around awkwardly.
"Flowerpaw, what's wrong with that leg?" Mousesky asked
"Oh, this?" Flowerpaw lifted it slightly, wincing. "It's not too bad. Kestrelstar landed on it."
Mousesky winced in sympathy. "Will you be fine for a while? We have to leave soon, and I'm pretty busy here."
"I'll be fine," Flowerpaw reassured her. Mousesky eyed the paw suspiciously, but turned to Icepaw.
"Icepaw, Flowerpaw," Mousesky meowed through the poppy seeds and cobwebs "You take these." She watched as Icepaw picked up the poppy seeds in her mouth, and Flowerpaw copy her with the cobwebs "Rainpaw, Flowerpaw, and Icepaw thank you for the assistance. You'd best go back to your mentors now."
The three she-cats picked up their herbs, and padded toward the Longrock. Mousesky turned to Fuzzypaw.
"Go into the den," Mousesky commanded "grab the soaked moss – not with your teeth. Then bury it."
Fuzzypaw hurried to obey the command. When she came back, Mousesky commanded her, "Go and see what's going on." Once Fuzzypaw was gone, Mousesky went into her den, grabbing the marigold, yarrow, and borage. Once she was out again, she buried the borage.
By the time she returned, Fuzzypaw was back.
"What's happening?" Mousesky asked anxiously
"Swiftclaw is dead," Fuzzypaw meowed mournfully "killed by a warrior blow. I checked."
"There is no time to mourn him now," Mousesky meowed sadly but firmly "what else is there?"
"Mossstar is in her den talking with Kestrelstar and Skystar," Fuzzypaw meowed "the warriors say that it doesn't look good."
"Oh, StarClan!" Mousesky cried "what else could go on?"
"Wait, there's more," Fuzzypaw meowed unhapily "TreeClan is patrolling our territory to decide how to split it up between LightningClan and themselves. LightningClan is everywhere in the camp, except here. Dawntalon and the apprentices wouldn't let them in. There are two warriors, Goldenfrost and Snownose, are guarding the entrance. They won't let anyone in or out without questioning."
"Is there anything else . . . ?" Mousesky asked, not able to say the word 'dead.'
"Not as I know of," Fuzzypaw replied, shifting from foot to foot nervously
As if in response, Thornpaw stumbled into the clearing. Goldenfrost's head poked into the clearing, and she bared her teeth. Thornpaw stared furiously back at her until she disappeared.
"I don't know if I can live with this," Thornpaw commented as he padded forward "I hope Mossstar will come to her senses and get us out of here."
"Isn't that what she is planning to do?" asked Mousesky curiously
"That isn't what those guards were saying," Thornpaw commented, flicking his tail in their direction "It's terrible out there. They keep threatening people, and Leopardnose just got in a fight with a tom – Brightclaw doesn't like it. She wants me to stay here with you. If it's okay, that is."
"Of course, Thornpaw," Mousesky replied "you and Fuzzypaw can go out into the clearing and get the worst injured cats to me. Oh, and Swiftclaw." The apprentices dipped their heads, ready to obey her orders. When Mousesky poked her head into the clearing, she was shocked. The apprentices' descriptions hadn't prepared her fo this sight. MoonClan warriors – her warriors – were in a big circle in the middle of the clearing with LightningClan warriors on all sides of them. Shaking her head, she turned to the guards.
"The apprentices can come back and forth," she informed them, and then turned away, not waiting for an answer.
When she was alone, questions came swirling into her mind. Why were they being kept here? When would they leave? Would they leave? Whas this was the end of MoonClan? As she was searching for an answer to her questions, the branches behind her rustled. Mousesky turned, expecting to see one of the apprentices, but it was Rainface. Mousesky blinked in surprise.
"Mousesky!" Rainface hurried toward Mousesky "Oh, thank StarClan! I thought you were dead, with so many wounded cats out in the clearing."
"I'm fine," Mousesky pushed herself against her friend "what are you doing here?"
"I was bringing you some marigold," Rainface answered. She opened her mouth to say more, but the branches rustled again. Fuzzypaw emerged from the branches, with Thronpaw right behind her. They were carrying Swiftclaw, Bramblepaw close behind them, limping awkwardly. Rainface let out a small gasp.
"Rainface, this is Thornpaw," Mousesky meowed quietly "Bramblepaw, and this is Fuzzypaw, my apprentice."
There was a quick flash of joy in Rainface's eyes. Mousesky could see the she was happy for her. "Thornpaw," Mousesky ordered "go and tell Mossstar that we have a visitor. Ask her to come here."
Thornpaw hurried off with a dip of his head. Mousesky looked over, and saw that Rainface was making a temporary nest for Bramblepaw. Swiftclaw's body was still in the middle of the medicine cat clearing. Mousesky dragged him into her own den.
Mousesky bounded over quickly to Fuzzypaw. "Was he the worst wounded?" she asked
"No," Fuzzypaw answered "the warriors want the youngest helped first."
"Okay," Mousesky meowed "Come on, we'll go check the elders and Bluemask. Rainface, can you manage here?" Rainface nodded without looking up
They emerged into the clearing. Mousesky tried to ignore the stares that she could feel stinging her pelt. She hurried into the middle of the circle, where the elders and Bluemask were laying. The elders looked fine, but Bluemask was wheezing slightly.
"We'll bring them all to my den," Mousesky whispered into Fuzzypaw's ear "they are shocked, and some poppy seeds will do them no bad." Fuzzypaw nodded, and she nudged Tigerpelt up to his paws.
"You'll be in a nice, warm nest soon," Fuzzypaw reassured him, motioning to Redface to get up too.
"What about me?" a rouge meow asked. It was Runningtail.
"You? Come. You, too, Bluemask," Mousesky meowed
"Me?" Bluemask meowed, obviously shocked
"Yes, you," Mousesky meowed "you can expect your kitting any day now."
The two cats obediently got to their paws, and padded, heads down, to the medicine den. Mousesky looked around. Maybe she should grab the rest of the apprentices. Hawkpaw had a nasty gash on her shoulder. Mousesky motioned with her tail that she wanted the apprentices. They jumped up immediately. Mousesky led them into her den.
Rainface looked up in surprise. "Are they all fit?" she asked
"Fit enough," Mousesky replied "once we treat their wounds, anyway. "Thornpaw, Fuzzypaw, and Flowerpaw, could you please make some nests for Bluemask and the elders?"
The apprentices set to work. "Now, the rest of you," Mousesky meowed "sit down, and Rainface and I will see to your wounds."
Mousesky went to Hawkpaw first. She pressed some cobweb on it, and then chewed up a little bit of marigold.
"You're good," she meowed "give it a few good licks." While Hawkpaw obeyed, Mousesky watched briefly as Rainface helped Icepaw with a scratch above her eye. Then she moved on to Rainpaw, who had a scratch on her leg.
Mousesky and Rainface worked until the apprentices had been treated. Fuzzypaw had given each of the elders and Bluemask a few poppy seeds, and now they were sleeping peacefully.
"What are we low on?" Mousesky whispered into Fuzzypaw's ear
"Poppy seeds," Fuzzypaw answered promptly "and yarrow ointment."
"We'll need more of those," Mousesky pointed out quietly "later, you can lead a patrol of apprentices to fetch more poppy seeds and yarrow."
"Really?" Fuzzypaw asked
"Really," Mousesky confirmed "you're a great apprentice. You can handle tasks like this. I don't want you, or anyone else to leave the camp alone."
Fuzzypaw purred, and they stood there for a moment, forgetting what was outside the clearing for a moment, content to stand together as mentor and apprentice.
