"Come on," urged Winterstorm. "Let's pay our last respects." And he ever so gently nudged Skypool with his nose.
"Not so fast, Winterstorm," growled Peppernose. And to the rest of the clan, he said, "all of you need to be attended to. Then you can say your last words to Foxpaw. I'll start with you, Bluefrost. Echopaw, can you fetch me more cobwebs from my den?"
Echopaw looked up from kneeling by her sister in astonishment. "What?"
"I'll go get some, Peppernose!" chirped Palepaw, who was surprisingly full of life. But Peppernose didn't hear him because he was already in that medicine cat zone. Winterstorm looked over Skypool. "You're wounds aren't that bad. Let's go see Foxpaw, unless it's too much." Skypool's eyes were incredibly blank, and didn't respond to him. Winterstorm lightly brushed his tail against her flank and padded over to Peppernose.
"Can you give anything for Skypool?"
"Are her wounds bad? I'll see to her after Bluefrost."
"I meant for her heart," explained Winterstorm softly.
Peppernose frowned. "What's wrong with it?" Winterstorm twitched his tail, but before he could respond, Palepaw stumbled out of the medicine cat's den, completely covered in cobwebs, the strands stuck to his pelt.
"Is th-this enough, P-p-pepp -ppernose?" asked Palepaw. Peppernose hissed something about incompetence before twitching his tail, motioning for Palepaw to stand near him so he could peel of the webs and stick them on Bluefrost. He shot a glance to his left and saw that Winterstorm had left him and returned to Skypool, gently licking her pelt.
"Peppernose, guess what?" Peppernose swung his head over to Palepaw, and saw that there was a spark in his pale green eyes that was never there. "I'm alive."
"Clearly," commented Peppernose.
"No-oo—really. I'm alive. I just, I'm so alive. I'm not d-dead! Can you believe it, Peppernose?!"
"Hardly."
"I mean—"
"Shut up and let me work. Or you won't be saying that you're alive anymore, got it?"
Blazingstar had already paid his respects to Foxpaw and was sitting outside of his den, waiting for Spiceheart and Mintyheart to return. They had won the battle, but there were loses. Foxpaw's death; the clan was diminished because of that. Skypool, Echopaw, and Spiceheart would all be affected by her death. Bluefrost's wounds would take a few moons to fully recover. In fact, every cat looked worse for wear, including himself. He would never admit it, but his own body was sore and stiff. He then heard some padding of feet and he looked up to see Mintyheart come into the clearing, quickly followed by Spiceheart. A sense of relief flooded him. He stood up to make his way towards them, but then he saw Mintyheart shake his head and come over to him.
"I brought her back, but…"
Blazingstar glanced at Spiceheart, who glared furiously at him before so obviously turning her back on him, her shoulder jutted out, and going to share tongues with Foxpaw.
"… I never said anything about her liking you," finished Mintyheart. "Just give her some time. But I'm pretty sure she won't attack you anymore."
"Great. How do you think I can mend things with her?"
Mintyheart thought a moment. "I think mostly time will heal her. But you know she won't ever really get over Foxpaw's death? She's still not over Juniperpaw's. Then again, they were sisters." He paused. "You know, sometimes I can still hear Juniperpaw's laugh. Heh, those two were the life of ForestClan sometimes. They were so light-hearted, even though everything was so bleak." Mintyheart shucked his head. "Look at me. Being sentimental."
"What did you say to her?" asked Blazingstar.
"Oh, I dunno. Just a few choice words."
Mintyheart occasionally sniffed to make sure that he was on Spiceheart's trail, but he was pretty sure he knew where she was going. A few moments later and he was proved right. Spiceheart was in a little niche. A fallen tree was propped up against a stump creating a little area safe from the elements.
"Knew I would find you here."
Spiceheart jumped up, fur fluffed out, poised to attack before she realized it was Mintyheart who was speaking. She gave a soft growl before sitting back down and curling up.
"You always come here when you need to get away. How'd you find this, anyways?"
Silence. Then – "Juniperpaw loved to come here. And I showed… I showed Foxpaw, too. And she liked it. And it was our secret. I don't think she even told Echopaw." It was then Mintyheart realized how much Foxpaw meant to Spiceheart, if she showed her something like this.. Then it hit him – Foxpaw became Juniperpaw to Spiceheart.
"They kind of looked alike didn't they? Foxpaw and Juniperpaw," commented Mintyheart. Spiceheart nodded. "I'm sorry." Spiceheart winced, her eyes scrunched up.
"I would have given anything – anything!—if it was me instead of Juniperpaw. Same with Foxpaw," murmured Spiceheart.
"I'm pretty sure they don't feel that way." Spiceheart looked up at him.
"How do you know?"
"I can tell that you loved Juniperpaw and Foxpaw very much. Spiceheart, that's who you are. You are full of love. Even when times are bad, you are loving life, loving being alive. There's no one in the clan like you. You never get down about not enough food, or our duties, or battles and wounds. The only time I saw you sad is when Juniperpaw died, and now. And that's when someone you love very much goes away. And honestly, seeing you like this, is just as sad as Foxpaw's death. And I'm sure, that Juniperpaw and Foxpaw up in StarClan are aching because of your sadness, because they want you to be happy."
"Shut up! How do you know how Juniperpaw feels!?"
"She was my friend too," he replied calmly. She growled in response, but she didn't attack him like she did Blazingstar. "You know it's true; she always wanted you to be happy. Just as you know that it isn't Blazingstar's fault." She unsheathed her claws. "We had to fight ShadeClan. You know that! You even supported Blazingstar in front of all the other warriors! We all knew the risks, even Foxpaw, and especially Blazingstar. Don't blame Blazingstar, and please don't blame yourself." He didn't say anything so she could let it sink in. After some time, Mintyheart said, "Come on, friend. Let's go back to camp and share tongues with Foxpaw." After a moment, Spiceheart nodded and stood up and they slowly padded back to camp.
A cold breeze woke Mintyheart from his sleep. Blinking he looked around him. Most of his clanmates were in their nests. The smell of blood and herbs filled the air. It smells like Peppernose' den. Mintyheart thought to himself. Picking his way through the warriors he stepped out into the cold pre-dawn air. Shaking his pelt he was quickly reminded of the battle last night as pain prickled his pelt. Looking out over the camp he saw that Spiceheart, Echopaw, Shimmerpaw, Skypool and Winterstorm had spent the night alongside Foxpaw. The white warrior seemed to be asleep with his pelt pressed against Skypool sharing his warmth with her. Shimmerpaw was sleeping on her paws with her nose in her adopted sister's pelt. Skypool and Spiceheart's eyes were open and clouded with grief, while Echopaw's amber eyes still burned. Palepaw was fast asleep in the apprentice's den, his light golden tail hanging out into the clearing. He must have been up all night helping Peppernose. I'll wake him when I get back. Mintyheart mewed to himself. Padding across the camp he saw that the fresh-kill pile was low. Turning he headed towards the camp's entrance. Padding through he found Blazingstar sitting just outside the camp, on guard.
"Good morning Blazingstar."
"Going hunting?" Blazingstar asked, sadness billowing out of his golden eyes.
"Yes." Mintyheart breathed padding over to his leader and sitting at his side. "Don't beat yourself up about Foxpaw. You're not to blame for her death."
"I'm not?" Blazingstar questioned looking into the silver tom's blue eyes. "I was the one who ordered her into battle. Spiceheart was right, she was too young. I'm no better than the cat who was before me." Blazingstar dropped his gaze.
Mintyheart pressed his pelt closer to his longtime friend. "You didn't force any cat in that battle. We all followed you willingly, Foxpaw included. She may have been young but she was well trained." Silence fell between the two toms till Mintyheart spoke, "In the long run, the clan is much safer and our prey is protected, so our clan will be fed now that leaf-bare is almost here. The pain of her death hurts now but with time the wound will be healed and she will look down and be proud of her clan."
Blazingstar nodded, silently thanking Mintyheart and held his head high. "The prey won't leap into your paws you know."
"It will if you're Palepaw." Mintyheart purred as he padded off into the forest. After a light jog Mintyheart stopped and opened his mouth scenting for prey. It will just be waking Mintyheart thought. Leaves moved up ahead and the smell of mouse flooded Mintyheart's mouth. Padding silently he glided across the ground, inching closer to the mouse. With a swift leap he ended the mouse's life and thanked Starclan. Suddenly he remembered the black tom who strung him up in a tree and saved his life the night before. I'll have to hunt a lot today, He thought, half growling to himself but still slightly eager to see the tom again and ask him about the battle last night. Burying the mouse he set out to find more prey.
The black tom lay in his nest of warm hay, woken by the mews of kits not far off. The voice was of their mothers scolding them for being loud and warning them not to come towards his nest. The soft staggering of kits met his ears and the scents of Haze, Thistle, and Tumble drawing closer.
"Okay, so Boo is sleeping, all we need to do is jump on him." The older kit mewed.
Haze nodded to Thistle, agreeing with him. "We should all pounce at once."
"Okay." The little brown she-cat mewed. "One two THREE~!"
Three sets of tiny claws pricked Boo's thick pelt. Opening his eyes he acted surprised. Rolling over, he sent the kits gently tumbling off him. Icicle padded over, "I'm so sorry Boo." Turning to the kits she scolded, "I told you to leave him alone."
The kits looked up from where they were they were chasing Boo's black tail.
"It's okay." Boo yawned. "I needed to get up anyway."
Icicle didn't look convinced. "Haze, Tumble. Go back by your sister and stay by Thistle's mother."
The kits looked up at her, "But..."
"Now." She meowed. "I need to talk to Boo a moment." The kits padded off tails drooping, till they saw some hay blowing across the barn and tried to follow it.
"Did you end up going?" The white she-cat mewed to her brother.
"I did."
"Were you right?"
"Yeah. There was a battle between two of the four clans." The black tom mewed.
Icicle looked uncomfortable talking about the clans but continued. "So I guess all that worrying and pacing wasn't in vain. Did you find the silver tom?"
"Yeah, he was in the battle. I helped out a bit." He began to groom his pelt.
"Oh really. You helped the moonlight dappled cat?"
"Yeah." Boo was surprised by the teasing in her mew. "I mean, he owes me prey. I couldn't let that go to waste." He purred. Standing he shook his groomed pelt. "I'll be back soon."
"Bring back something." The thin she-cat mewed.Boo flicked his tail in response and padded into the think green pasture grass. The black tom padded through the woods, he didn't know much about the clans but he knew that the clans had territories. He padded thru the pine woods till the woods got denser and the pine trees turned into large leafy oaks. A strong smell of cat met his nose, This must be a border. Looking around, he padded into a clump of ferns and disappeared. Mintyheart looked down at his catches. One squirrel, two mice, and a woodpecker. No bad He thought. The only problem was that he had to give some away. Well he really didn't have too...but he had promised and he never broke a promise. He hid the squirrel and a mouse and padded towards the Shadeclan border where he last saw Charming. Being by the border might not be the greatest idea he thought. As he padded along a sweet scent met his nose. Turning he spotted Charming padding out of some ferns. His sleek black fur catching the sun's rays. Mintyheart dropped the prey lightly on the leaves below. "Hello Charming." He mewed.
"Hello Mintyheart." The black tom mewed, meeting the silver tom's blue eyes.
"Thanks for last night." Mintyheart mewed under his breath.
"You're welcome. That tom was out of line." Letting his golden eyes wander over Mintyheart's pelt, taking note of every scratch.
"How did you get in the Shadeclan camp?" Mintyheart questioned, sitting down.
" Well I went for a walk in the woods because I had this weird feeling that something was going that night. Then I found a scent trail of you and cats that smelled like you on this side of the scent markers." He twitched his tail towards Shadeclan's territory. "So I followed your scent to their camp and hide in the shadows and watched you fight." He looked down all of a sudden. "I don't mean sound creepy, but you're an impressive fighter. The only reason that other tom had a chance was that he didn't seem to be fighting with the same respect as you were."
"That's cause he wasn't fighting according to the warrior code." Mintyheart mumbled under his breath.
"What's the warrior code?"
Mintyheart looked up at Charming, seeing the interest sparkle in his sunray eyes. "It governs how the clans live. How we hunt, fight, set up camps, cats roles, and Starclan."
Charming's eyes glittered.
"For example, I'm a warrior of Forestclan. Because of this there is certain ways I do things. Like in battle the goal isn't to kill the other cat, only get your point across. And when hunting, we don't eat the prey right after we catch it. We take it back to the clan and make sure they are fed before feeding yourself."
The black tom nodded, "It's all new to me but it makes perfect sense. You all look after each other. I think that's a great way to live."
A purr rumbled in Mintyheart. He liked sharing information about what clan cats really were.
"The little ginger cat that was injured badly. Did she make it?"
"No." Mintyheart's head dropped. "She hunts with Starclan now. She was my friend Spiceheart's apprentice."
"I'm sorry." Charming mewed softly. "It must be hard on a clan losing a cat." He placed his tail in Mintyheart flank and was happily surprised when the silver tom didn't flinch away.
"It is." Mintyheart let his mind wander to Skypool, Spiceheart, and Echopaw. I can't imagine.
After some silence Charming asked, "An apprentice is a warrior in training then?"
"Yes," he said, his trance broken. "When a kit is 6 moons old they become an apprentice and train under a warrior, their mentor, till they have all the skills and understanding of the code, and then the leader gives them their new name."
"Do you have an apprentice?"
"I do. His name is Palepaw. He was the light ginger fighting close to me."
"He was fast. Do you like being a mentor?"
"I do." Mintyheart purred. "Palepaw is my first apprentice but I love it. He's a bit timid but he will be a great warrior someday. He'll make his clan proud."
"With you as his mentor I'm sure he'll do far more then make them proud."
Mintyheart's ice blue eyes stared into the black tom's, "Thank you. Here is your prey. Better take it back before it gets cold." Mintyheart stood and shook his pelt.
Watching the clan cat shake sent chills up Charming's spin. This tom is special. I could sit here, talking to him for moons and not even notice time pass. I wonder if he feels the same? "So I'll see you tomorrow morning then." Charming ventured, twitching his tail tip.
"Yeah. I'll get the rest of your prey, Charming." Mintyheart was surprised by the coolness in his voice. He had enjoyed talking with the pitch black tom.
"Thanks for telling me about your clan's ways. I think it's really interesting." Charming mewed softly.
"You're welcome. I enjoyed it too. Better come with more questions tomorrow or I might lose interest in you Charming," Mintyheart teased, flicking his tail playfully. "And be careful around Shadeclan. They aren't the friendly type and I'd hate that pelt of yours to lose its glossy look." Concern and play mixed in his meow. Turning Mintyheart padded towards his other prey. glancing back he saw Charming picking up his prey. Their eyes met. Turning away quickly Mintyheart jogged over to his buried prey. That tom is distracting...in a good way.Mintyheart purred to himself. Still, Mintyheart could shake the feeling that he was supposed to be doing something. I hunted for the clan...I'll take Palepaw out when I get back... Pain in his lungs made the silver tom stop and lick at his side. Stupid rib.Mintyheart hissed. Picking up the prey he continued. It wasn't till he was heading down the slope near the camp that he remembered, I was supposed to meet with Featherstep...He paused. Charming had taken up more time than he thought...Featherstep will be fine. I'll see him at a gathering soon anyway. Besides, he's a Meadowclan cat...there could never be anything between us.
"But I'm a rogue." Charming's mew sounded in his head.
"Yeah, but I'm only bringing you prey because you blackmailed from me."Mintyheart silently retorted.
