Chapter 11

Ivyleaf pushed past a sapling, squirrel hanging from her jaws, brushing against the ground. She padded into the Windclan camp, preparing for Larkstar to yowl at her for bringing one piece of prey, like he always did.

'Ivyleaf! I thought I said two! Not one, wheres the rest of your prey?' Larkstar ranted, padding up to her, tail lashing.
Ivyleaf sighed internally and put the prey down. 'The prey is still in the forest, it was too big to carry with this.' She gestured to the squirrel at her feet.

Larkstar looked slightly surprised, but recovered quickly and leaned close, growling; '(Go get it then.)'

Ivyleaf hurried off, muttering under her breath, 'Every time, right on schedule.' She glanced back to see Larkstar completely ignoring her, sharing tongues with Pathfoot.

As Ivyleaf padded through the forest, she felt a sense of calm, and as she pushed past a fern, she realized why. She was on the edge of the Burying Grounds, and she lowered her eyes in respect, but then heard sniffling, she looked up in surprise, and saw Fallowwing and Harefoot, mourning over a fresh mound of dirt. Ivyleaf shrunk back, about to leave, but then something occurred to her.

"Why would they be here? The Rowankit isn't buried yet.)"

Her eyes narrowed to slits, and she watched as they pulled at their paws, ripping a claw out. Ivyleaf gasped quietly.

She watched them leave, after she was sure they were gone, she hurried forward, smelling around the grave. She kept herself from gagging at the smell of decay surrounding the mound.

She looked at the claws left by Fallowwing and Harefoot, head turned in confusion. She thought about digging the grave up, to see what they were mourning, but then cast that thought away quickly, and left, realizing it was none of her business.

Ivyleaf padded through the entrance, carrying a limp rabbit. She placed it on the freshkill pile, and grabbed a small mouse for herself. 'Hey Ivyleaf! You should come sit with us!' Pathfoot called, still over with Larkstar, but Hallowswoop had joined them. She padded over reluctantly, and plopped down in between Pathfoot and Hallowswoop. 'Man, that rabit you brought in was big! How fast was it?' Pathfoot shot out quickly, keeping Ivyleaf from taking a bite of her mouse. 'It was actually quite speedy, I only got it because it hit a tree.' She replied, taking a bite of her mouse swiftly.

'A tree hunted your prey for you? I thought I trained you better than that.' Larkstar prodded, eyes baring into her. Everyone froze, then Pathfoot chuckled nervously, glancing around. 'Well, any prey is good prey, no matter how you get it right?' She chuckled again. Ivyleaf swallowed, glancing at Larkstar nervously. She cleared her throat and turned to Hallowswoop. 'How was your day? What other prey did you get?' Ivyleaf said awkwardly.

Hallowswoop jumped slightly, but then relaxed. 'I actually almost got a blackbird, but I fell from the tree I was on, into a hole. How do Thunderclan cats do it?' He showed her his tail, which was bandaged tightly. 'I didn't even notice! I do hope it heals quickly!' Pathfoot butted in, before Ivyleaf could say anything.

Ivyleaf gave her an irritated glance, and ducked down to smell Hallowswoop's tail. The faint smell of herb, fur, and Hallowswoop's scent. But under that was sourness. 'I smells infected, you should see Heatherbloom again, the herb's not on the wound, rather it's on the other side of your tail. Who treated it?' Ivyleaf studied him with concern. 'It was Pebblesong, they seem to be distracted lately haven't they?' Hallowswoop called as he padded off toward the medicine den.

Ivyleaf turned back to Larkstar and Pathfoot, who were both studying her intently. 'What? Do I have mouse in my whiskers?' She rubbed her face quickly, not feeling anything on her soft pads.
'Maybe you should have been a Medicine cat, to at least replace that buffoon Pebblesong.' Larkstar growled, glaring in the direction of the medicine den, which Hallowswoop's shadow was just entering.

'I just think he's worried about everything, I would imagine it's a stressful role.' Ivyleaf defended, taken aback by his sudden anger.

He tsked, then turned to Pathfoot, nuzzling her.

Ivyleaf finished her mouse quickly, and padded up to the medicine den, little mouse stomach in her jaws, careful to not pop it. 'Heatherbloom I brought bile.' She called, placing it in the herb storage with other bile.

'Oh you startled me Ivyleaf!' Hallowswoop meowed, stretching from the patient nest. 'Oh, um yeah, I just needed to put the bile, um, away.' Ivyleaf stammered. 'She looked away from the herb storage to see Hallowswoop studying her. 'How's your tail?' Ivyleaf asked abruptly, flinching away from his gaze.

Hallowswoop looked disappointed for a moment, recovering he said; 'You were right about the herb, Pebblesong is getting ticks off the Elders, Heatherbloom chewed him out.'

Hallowswoop chuckled at the idea. 'I wonder what's distracting him? Maybe he got a prophecy?' Ivyleaf said, thinking.
'I dunno, but what would Starclan send him?' Hallowswoop said, thinking too.

They lasped into a comfortable silence, only interrupted by Larkstar calling Ivyleaf. 'Oh, uh, guess I'll see you later?' Ivyleaf asked, eyes hopeful. 'Yeah, but maybe when I'm cleared first.' Ivyleaf chuckled, and left sudden yearning to not talk to Larkstar, but still she walked to the leader, who was where he was when she left, only Pathfoot was replaced by Bleakfur, a pale moldy grey she-cat. 'Yes Larkstar?' Ivyleaf asked, preparing herself mentally. 'I need you to announce to the clan that Bleakfur and I are having kits!'

Ivyleaf stared at the brown tom. 'Ivyleaf, shoo, go do it.' Larkstar meowed, tail twitching in annoyance.

Ivyleaf sighed, padding up a log that had fallen in moons ago, wedged in the corners of the camp. She cleared her throught loudly. 'All cats old enough to catch their own prey, gather beneath the Announcer.' Ivyleaf called to the clan, using an opening in the bark to echo it around the camp.

The Announcer was a funnel shaped knot in the tree, making it echo loudly, and was only found recently, before, the tree was just called The Caller.

Clan cats gathered, and mutters broke out from the crowd, eyes glancing around nervously. 'Larkstar and Bleakfur ae expecting kits!' Ivyleaf called, with fake enthusiasm.

The clan immediately broke out in cheers, running up to the couple, congratulating them.

Ivyleaf saw Hallowswoop padding out of te medicine den, cleared and confused on whats going on.

Ivyleaf hurried offthe log, and padded up to him. 'So, are you cleared? Or are you disgracing Heatherbloom, again?' She purred, teasing him. 'Hey! I was only an apprentice, and she was in a bad mood!' Hallowswoop defended, pushing Ivyleaf slightly. 'And yes I am cleared, so when should we hang out? Moonhigh?' Ivyleaf blanched for a moment, but recovered quickly, saying; 'Yeah, Moonhigh seems good, see you then.' Ivyleaf said, hurrying away.

I DID IT! I actually uploaded and I only started writing on Sunday! *Woo!* I hope you guys, gals, or anything you identify by, enjoyed!

Tell me any mistakes or how to improve with a review! Bye!

o/ *Waves*