Chapter 9

Mothpaw watched her mentor lead the way to the Moonstone. They stepped quickly, watching the moon about to reach its peak. Mudfur was too busy explaining the ritual to his newest apprentice, Nutpaw, to notice the clump of herbs in front of him. All seven medicine cats stopped and stared at what appeared to be Catmint. "How is it growing in this season?" breathed Cinderpelt hoarsely.

Nutpaw leapt on it, snarling, "I claim it for RiverClan!"

"Nonsense! We don't know why it grows there. Let us first see what our ancestors have to say." Decided Barkface gruffly shoving Nutpaw back to her mentor.

Nutpaw was the daughter of a rouge cat found in RiverClan. Her mother died driving a badger away from the camp, and in return for her sacrifice, Leopardstar took in the rouge's two kits; Nutpaw and Molepaw.

The medicine cats nodded in agreement with Barkface, and as they padded through the tunnel into the sacred cave, Mothpaw asked her mentor, "Was it a sign?"

Runningnose huffed, "Whatever it is, it'll have to be settled. It would be useful though, like I said Lightningkit's cough has only gotten worse the past few nights."

"But it started a moon ago, remember? It was when Troutleap and Hawkclaw had their warrior ceremony!" Mothpaw pointed out.

Runningnose nodded grimly, and added, "It is time!"

Mothpaw gasped as he stopped the others before the Moonstone, and began, "I, Runningnose, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down upon this apprentice. She has trained hard to learn the ways of a medicine cat, and with your help she will serve her clan for many moons. Mothpaw do you promise to uphold the ways of a medicine cat? To stand apart from rivalry between clan and clan, and to treat all cats equally even at the cost of your life?"

"I do."

"Then by the powers of StarClan I give you your warrior name. Mothpaw from this moment onward shall be known as Mothflutter. StarClan honors your kind heart and gentle nature, and we welcome you as a full medicine cat of ShadowClan!"

The other cats called out her name as Mothflutter licked her mentor's shoulder, and he nodded at her proudly. Sighing with a mixture of nervousness and relief, Mothflutter fell into a dream. She opened her eyes to see a starry gray she-cat with her back turned. Mothflutter padded to her side, and saw with excitement the warm gaze of Yellowfang. The wise she-cat murmured, "ShadowClan will have many bountiful moons ahead of them. I am glad you have made it this far young one."

Mothflutter blushed, "It is an honor to serve ShadowClan, at Runningnose's side. I… I honestly am doing most of it to make father happy. He expects a lot from us."

Yellowfang snorted, and Mothflutter recalled what Cinderpelt had said. Yellowfang didn't trust Tigerstar. Yellowfang rose to her paws, and decided, "I must leave now, oh, and your dream isn't over yet."

Mothflutter dipped her head respectfully, and watched a new cat pad towards her. This time however, it was Sagewhisker. The old medicine cat purred when she came closer. Mothflutter bowed her head, "I'm worried for Lightningkit. His health hasn't improved and he's only getting weaker with the whitecough."

Sagewhisker flicked her tail, and suddenly every medicine cats appeared with her. Sagewhisker now stood alongside Spottedleaf, Brambleberry, and Hawkheart. Spottedleaf stepped forward, and meowed, "You all saw the catmint left just outside the Moonstone. It is a gift from us, and we only intended it for a clan who needs it. Has any warrior shown signs of greencough?"

"Lightningkit has!" Mothflutter spoke up instantly.

Nutpaw glared at her evenly, and snarled, "Heavystep has been sick for days!"

"But he only has an infection which can be treated with sweet sage. A kit with greencough is far more serious Nutpaw." Brambleberry pointed out.

Nutpaw retorted, "Heavystep is a great warrior, worth the lives of two kits a the very least!"

Mudfur cuffed the apprentice's ear, and Hawkheart spat, "You dare mock your warrior ancestors?"

Nutpaw blushed, and muttered, "No! Please forgive me Brambleberry!"

Brambleberry looked down at her gravely, but said nothing. Barkface stepped forward, "All of WindClan are healthy."

Cinderpelt agreed, "As are ThunderClan. We have plenty of catmint."

"Then it's settled, ShadowClan may claim the catmint." Purred Spottedleaf.

Slowly, Mothflutter blinked open her eyes slowly. She looked around, but all the others were still asleep. Mothflutter yawned, and padded outside to collect the catmint. To her astonishment, it had been replaced by a few measly Borage leaves. Mothflutter spat furiously, and raced back to tell Runningnose. It was then that she realized something different. "Where's Nutpaw" Mothflutter flattened her ears as Mudfur spoke her thoughts.

Mothflutter blurted out, "The catmint is gone, someone replaced it with Borage!"

Cinderpelt gasped, and began to nudge Runningnose. Mothflutter growled, "I'm going out right now to find that apprentice!"

Before any cat could object, the new medicine cat stormed out of the den. She easily picked up the clumsy apprentice's scent trail, and followed it back to the WindClan border. She's trying to take it back to RiverClan! Mothflutter began to bristle. She flew after the trail, until she caught sight of a bushy brown tail. Nutpaw! The young she-cat was carrying the precious herbs with a look of ease and contempt. Mothflutter sprang out, and collapsed on top of the apprentice. Nutpaw clenched the leaves harder, causing them to rip. The tiny pieces fluttered to the ground, while Nutpaw spat, "Now look what you did! You ShadowClan cats are useless!"

"Nutpaw! I am ashamed of you!" the voice came from Mudfur, who emerged from just behind Mothflutter.

He gazed at Mothflutter with a grief stricken expression, and breathed, "Mothflutter, I am so sorry. Runningnose just had a heart attack, he's gone to join our ancestors now,"

Mothflutter stopped as the ground beneath her swayed, before she wailed, "No! No this isn't happening! If I hadn't gone out searching for this, this piece of Fox-dung, I could have saved him!"

Nutpaw snapped, "Serves you right, ShadowClan filth!"

Mothflutter glared at the apprentice with fire in her eyes, but then remembered what Runningnose's first lesson had been. 'Sometimes, there is no point in starting a war. Though they won't like it your enemies will grow to see who you truly are.'

Nutpaw leapt on Mothflutter with a roar of defiance, but the young apprentice had no battle training skills. Mothflutter tossed her aside easily, leaving Mudfur to throw himself on his apprentice. Barkface popped his head out of the bushes, and rasped, "Mothflutter I cannot begin to describe my pity for you…would you like to share tongues with Runningnose? We'll help you carry him home."

Mothflutter shot him a grateful look, and followed him back to the Moonstone. The journey seemed much harder now, and as Mothflutter buried her nose in Runningnose's fur, she remembered how tired he had been for the past week. Cinderpelt's eyes were round with sorrow, and she gently helped the others lift their friend's body. They soon reached ShadowClan territory, where Mothflutter sighed, "I'll wait for a border patrol."

The others murmured farewells to Runningnose before turning to leave. Before she followed Mudfur, Nutpaw hissed in Mothflutter's ear, "I've heard what the others say about Darkpool. You're a kittypet! I'll never befriend you!"

She then turned away and snobbishly padded after her mentor. Mothflutter settled down beside Runningnose, and rested her head on his flank. "So cold," she murmured.

Suddenly, warriors came crashing through the undergrowth. Mothflutter sat up as Boulder faced her, lips drawn back in a snarl. Then he recognized her and relaxed, apologizing, "Sorry Mothpaw, we were expecting ThunderClan!"

"StarClan forbid!" gasped Skystalk as he caught sight of Runningnose.

The other three cats (Boulder, Skystalk, and Appleleaf) all rushed to his side. Mothflutter waited before mumbling, "Lets take him home."