Chapter 6
Forestkit woke with a sharp gasp of pain and sat up from where he was laying. Where am I? he thought. The first thing that he noticed was the scent of herbs that hung in the air. Underneath it was the scent of running water, and a very faint smell of fish. Streamclan! As his eyes adjusted, he realized that the sun was shining, and that there were cats moving around outside.
Not wishing to be discovered yet, Forestkit ducked down and pretended to still be sleeping. That cat that saved me must have been a Streamclan cat! he thought, remembering the pair of blue eyes that he had seen. That's how I ended up here! Perking his ears up a little, Forestkit tried to find out what was happening outside the den he was in. However, his head was still pounding from the sharp stab of pain that had woken him. Did I hit my head on a rock? he wondered. Surely nearly drowning does not cause one's head to hurt. The pain prevented Forestkit from being able to concentrate on what he was hearing.
Knowing that there was nothing he could do, Forestkit grudgingly sat up. Now where's the medicine cat? he thought, glancing around. He didn't know who the Streamclan medicine cat was. But I suppose she does, he thought, noticing a black she-cat with dazzling amber eyes watching him with a small smirk. The she-cat turned and headed toward what looked like the second largest den. After a short while she came out again with a slightly larger tortoiseshell she-cat with green eyes. They followed each other across the clearing until the tortoiseshell said something that could have been 'Thank you' and they parted ways. She trotted up to him.
"I'm glad you're awake," she purred, but Forestkit could tell that she couldn't care less. "You've been sleeping for a while. You must've had a nasty tumble out there!"
"Are you the medicine cat?" Forestkit blurted out. He wanted to get out of here as soon as possible, and talking to someone who wasn't the clan leader or medicine cat would only waste time. The she-cat's eyes narrowed dangerously.
"I'm the medicine cat apprentice," she snapped, "and I'm the best thing you going to get right now, as Glowshine is out collecting herbs. Don't forget you're in enemy territory right now, you have no right to be rude with me!"
When the tortoiseshell did not continue, Forestkit dared to ask. "What's your name? Mine's Forestkit."
The green-eyed she-cat glared at Forestkit for a moment longer before answering. "Rosepaw. And I have to make sure you are okay before you are allowed to go back to your clan."
After that, Rosepaw told him exactly what had happened after the blue-eyed cat, (who was actually Lilypaw, Rosepaw's sister) had fished him out of the river. She had also explained which herbs she and Glowsine had used to treat him. Thyme for the shock, poppy seeds to help him sleep, and a little bit of honey to warm him up. Rosepaw had then asked him if he felt that anything was wrong, any stiffness in the muscles or a scratchy throat. Forestkit had asked about headaches, but all Rosepaw had said was, "Not unless you hit a rock, but then you would be dead!"
By the time Rosepaw was finished, a white she-cat with green eyes dashed up to them.
"I'm back," she cried, almost flinging herself at Forestkit's paws, "I trust you checked him over." At Rosepaw's nod, her eyes started shining. "I'm so proud of you Rosepaw! At this rate you will have your full medicine cat name very soon!" Rosepaw hid the faintest of smiles.
"I'll go get Sparkstar." the reddish-brown tortoiseshell said, and trotted away. Soon after a large, well-muscled, gray tom padded over. Forestkit assumed that he was Sparkstar.
"Hello Forestkit, I am Sparkstar, leader of Streamclan." he sat down with his tail wrapped around his paws, "I'm going to help you get back to your clan, but you're going to have to tell us which clan you come from." Sparkstar's luminous yellow eyes met Forestkit's green. The effect was quite intimidating, and Forestkit had to force himself not to flinch, but he glared back at Sparkstar with the same amount of intensity that was used on him. You don't scare me, he tried to say in his gaze.
"Shadeclan," he declared "and I want to get back there as soon as possible"
Sparkstar's eyes narrowed, his yellow eyes slits. "Very well, we will leave immediately. Drizzletail! Darkdove!" he called "Are you up for a mission to Shadeclan?" The two cats bounded over with vigorous nods. "Good. Lets go."
As Forestkit followed the Streamclan leader out of the camp, his eyes strayed around the camp. He hoped to remember as much of this enemy camp as he possibly could, so his fall into the river won't be completely without profit. As he did, his eyes met with those of a young, light brown kit's. A shiver ran through him, as if something long forgotten was waking up. Suddenly, a flash of recognition flew through him, although he still didn't know who this kit was or why she was affecting him like this. Something moved in the depths of the kit's gray eyes, and she turned away. Forestkit bristled.
