Okay, so here is chapter 10. Hope you like it! Read and Review.
Jayfeather flicked his tail at Mosstalon and she continued dressing wounds as he moved out of the medicine den and into the nursery.
Over the next little while, she continued to dress wounds and listen to the yowls coming from the nursery. Finally it was quiet and Jayfeather reentered the medicine den. By that time, all the cats had been treated and Mosstalon was just checking on the cats that had to stay in the den. Dovewing, Cherrytail, and Robinpaw were seriously injured and Skypaw had refused to leave the injured apprentice's side.
She looked up as Jayfeather entered. "We have three new Clanmates, Dawnkit, Stormkit, and Pebblekit." Mosstalon purred and went back to nosing at Robinpaw. The young cat hadn't woken up since Lionblaze brought her in. She was breathing steadily, but she was extremely hot to the touch.
Jayfeather shook his head after he'd examined the three remaining cats. "We're lucky we didn't lose any cats. Dovewing and Cherrytail should be fine, but Robinpaw doesn't look too good. If she dies, Ivypool will be devastated." Mosstalon nodded and Jayfeather went on. "I'll watch her. You go ahead and look at the new kits."
Mosstalon padded out of the medicine den and into the nursery to gaze at the kits. Fernleaf was exhausted and was asleep curled around the kits. She woke when Mosstalon padded in and purred. She uncurled and gestured to each kit in turn.
"This is Stormkit," she said, pointing to a solid black she-kit with white feet, tail-tip, and ear-tips, "this is Dawnkit," she went on, pointing to a pale gray she-kit, "and this is Pebblekit," she pointed to a darker gray tom.
"They're beautiful," Mosstalon purred.
"How's Robinpaw?" Fernleaf asked quietly.
Mosstalon shook her head. "Not good. She won't wake up and she's burning with fever. I'm not sure if she will live through the night."
Fernleaf sighed. "Who were those cats? They didn't smell like any of the Clans."
"I don't know. They obviously don't live by the warrior code because one attacked me. Thankfully Thornclaw was there to save me. We haven't lost any cats yet, but with Robinpaw on the edge right now, we may suffer even more from this battle."
Before Fernleaf could reply, they heard Bramblestar's yowl from outside. "Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather here beneath the Highledge for a Clan meeting." Mosstalon dipped her head to the queen before nosing her way out of the nursery to sit beside her sister.
"We had a large battle with cats we did not recognize. We need to speak with the other Clans and see if they were attacked as well. If they were, we need to join together and hunt down these cats to teach them that they do not mess with the Clans. If the other Clans were not attacked, we'll hunt them down alone!"
Yowls of approval rose from most of the cats, but Ivypool stepped forward. "Bramblestar, my daughter was almost killed in this battle and may yet die. Is it really worth going to look for more fighting, with leaf-bare being so close? I understand going to talk to the other Clans, but we are all injured and if the other Clans were not attacked, they may see it as a chance to invade if we're too weak to defend ourselves."
Many cats hissed at the implication that they were weak, but there were a few, including Foxleap, who were nodding. Bramblestar gazed around at the cats assembled.
"Ivypool is right. We will step up patrols for now and keep an eye out for these cats, but for now, we'll leave the other Clans alone."
Mosstalon watched as the meeting broke up and Molefoot and Ivypool approached the Clan leader. "I know this is early," she heard Ivypool murmur, "but we may still lose Robinpaw. If she dies she will have given her life for the Clan. Is there any chance she will be allowed to greet StarClan as a warrior?"
Bramblestar seemed to think for a moment. "I suppose it is reasonable. She may have given her life for the Clan. Very well, I will speak to some of the older warriors who remember the ritual and I will come to the medicine den later to give her a warrior's name."
Ivypool nodded and followed Molefoot to the medicine den. Bramblestar moved off to sit beside Cloudtail and Brightheart. Mosstalon remembered hearing that Brightheart had been given the warrior name Lostface when she was close to death and Firestar had changed it when he became leader. Cloudtail would remember the ritual and hopefully Bramblestar wouldn't give Robinpaw such a cruel name.
Mosstalon followed Molefoot and Ivypool into the medicine den and watched as Ivypool groomed her daughter's pelt. "She shouldn't die in a battle that we don't even know the reason for," Molefoot murmured.
Ivypool nodded. "It's just not right." At that moment, Bramblestar padded in, followed by Cloudtail, Brightheart, and Foxleap. Skypaw jumped up from where he was resting next to Robinpaw and moved away to stand next to Mosstalon.
"It isn't right that this apprentice will die without being a warrior. She will receive her warrior name now." Bramblestar moved up to stand beside the injured apprentice. "I ask my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. She has learned the warrior code and has given up her life in the service of her Clan. Let StarClan receive her as a warrior. She will be known as Robinheart." Bramblestar bent to rest his nose on the apprentice's head. "It's done. She's a warrior now."
Skypaw nodded and padded up to rest beside his friend once more. Robinheart stirred a little as his pelt brushed hers and her eyes opened.
"Is it over?" she asked. "Did we win?" The cats rushed around her and quickly reassured her that they had indeed won. She quickly fell back into unconsciousness, and the cats around her moved away and out into the clearing. Skypaw never moved from her side, but continued to groom her pelt with gentle strokes of his tongue.
Mosstalon gazed at the young apprentice and the new warrior. If Robinheart survived, it would be a long time before she would be able to return to full warrior duties. Her brother and sister hadn't been made warriors yet and she knew that it would still be another moon before they were. In that time, Robinheart should be up and moving around.
Graypaw and Owlpaw nosed their way into the den and settled down beside their sister. Mosstalon knew they would make sure she was taken care of.