Raptorclaw watched the sun rise over the two-leg dens. It had been about five or six days since she, Leopardroar, Rabbitpaw, and Robinpaw had left Fallowclan and come to the Two-leg place to recruit for cats. Raptorclaw remembered yesterday, when she had told the cats that she wasn't a clan-born cat, and she was born a rogue. The newly recruited cats weren't affected too much by it, for they didn't really care if she was clan- or rogue-born.
But Leopardroar, Rabbitpaw, and Robinpaw were shocked. Leopardroar had wondered how, and he wondered why his family wouldn't tell him sooner. He promised that he would talk to Silverstripe about it when they went back to the clan territories. Rabbitpaw and Robinpaw were also shocked to find their best friend wasn't born in Fallowclan. Raptorclaw had prayed to Starclan that they would still talk and be friends with her even if she wasn't clan-born. But Robinpaw promised they could still be friends, much to Raptorclaw's relief
Indigo approached Raptorclaw while she was watching the sun rise. Raptorclaw turned to the slender, light grey she-cat, "Yes, Indigo? Is something wrong?" She asked.
"Umm.." Indigo thought for a while, thinking and choosing her words carefully, "If there is going to be a fight..I..I don't really want to fight.." The slender she-cat said, her head drooping slightly. Raptorclaw wasn't all too shocked. The light grey she-cat, unlike her sister, Violet, who loved hunting and battle training, wasn't all too interested in fighting. Raptorclaw thought for a moment, trying to think of a way to keep the she-cat and not have to lose her. Then an idea popped into her head.
"Well, you can be a medicine cat. They heal sick and injured cats and they don't have to fight. The only time they fight is if they are in danger, of course." Raptorclaw said, a smile spreading on her muzzle. Indigo's purple eyes brightened,
"R..Really? You mean, I don't have to leave?"
"No, of course not, but since you will be medicine cat, that means giving up on hunting and fighting, and taking on herbal medicines and remedies and communicating with Starclan."
"That will be great! Thank you so much, Raptorclaw! You're the best!" She exclaimed, nuzzling Raptorclaw on the neck. Raptorclaw chuckled, almost embarrassed. Indigo backed away and looked at her, "So umm..When do we get started? How do I communicate with Starclan?"
"Well," Raptorclaw started,
"I don't really know much about herbal remedies. I can teach you some things I picked up when in Fallowclan, but then you may have to learn the rest yourself. Communicating with Starclan isn't too hard. They will likely visit you in your dreams and give you visions. And during every half-moon, you can join the other medicine cats to go talk with Starclan. If you are OK with that, of course."
"That's alright, Raptorclaw. I would really prefer to work with herbs and medicines rather than fighting. I hate it that cats would willingly kill another cat.." She said. Raptorclaw frowned,
"Well..The cats we will go up against tomorrow morning..Most of them have killed before. I watched as their leader, an evil cat named Foxstar, killed one of my friend's mentor. It was horrible. Our medicine cat didn't get there in time and she died. My friend was devastated. It was the first time she saw some cat, well it was the first time me or my friend saw any cat get killed. I will be honest. I wish I had never been there that day. It was horrible and I...I will run to the moon and back if it means I can keep you guys alive and safe." Raptorclaw said. Indigo was shocked, a sad look in her eyes. She pawed at Raptorclaw's shoulder,
"I don't know what to say." She said sadly, tears pricking the ends of her eyes.
"Well.." Raptorclaw said, recomposing herself as she shook her head, "How about we start with some simple herbs?" She asked, her red eyes gleaming as she guided Indigo out of the alley to gather the herbs she would learn about.
"This is Cobweb. You wrap it around the wound and it will slow the bleeding. You can also use raspberry leaves to stop bleeding, but cobwebs are more common to find then raspberry bushes most of the time. Sometimes these spider webs can also be used to help broken bones heal." Raptorclaw said, pointing to the spider's web. She had just gathered several herbs to teach to Indigo. She had now started teaching. Indigo was a fast learner as she nodded to the explanation of the cobweb.
"What's this next one?" She asked, pointing her paw to the large brown root. Raptorclaw nodded,
"That's Comfrey root. They have a lot of uses. They can be used to help broken bones, itching, wrenched claws, stiff joints and much more! This herb can be very useful, and it's always good to have an extra or two." Raptorclaw said, "I learned about this herb when I accidentally tripped as a kit and hurt my claw. The comfrey root helped it heal in only about a day. Also, if a cat hurts their paw or leg, make sure they stay off that leg for a few days." Raptorclaw nodded.
"Of course," Indigo giggled, her tail swishing, "I'm pretty sure all cats' know to stay off a hurt leg." She said, smiling. Raptorclaw laughed too,
"You're right. But I'm also serious, some ambitious cats will try to walk on an injured paw." She nodded. Raptorclaw was about to continue when Rabbitpaw called over,
"Raptorclaw! Look!" Raptorclaw looked up as Leopardroar, Apple, and Shadow walked slowly into the alley. Between the three of them was a she-cat. Below the she-cat, weaving between her legs, were two kittens. Raptorclaw stood up, and Indigo looked at the mother-cat.
"What's going on?" Indigo asked. The she-cat, who was tan with darker stripes and green eyes, backed up, her back arched slightly. Raptorclaw took a closer look at her and saw she had a scratch on her shoulder. It was red, but not bleeding. As Raptorstar looked her over, she didn't have any more wounds on her.
"What happened?" She asked, pointing to her shoulder, "You didn't scratch her did you?" She asked Leopardroar. Her brother shook his head,
"She was like that when we found her. She was in another alley, laying down, curled around her kits. Thank Starclan we could get her over here for help..Stubborn.." He breathed the last word under his breath. Indigo approached the she-cat.
"B-Back off!" She stuttered, her paws protecting her two kits. "I-I-I'll claw you if you take another step towards my kits!" Indigo didn't move any closer to the she-cat, but she still spoke,
"I won't hurt you. We are here to help you. Let me look at that scratch on your soldier." She said, in a kind and caring tone. The mother relaxed, and the kits poked out from under her belly. The kits' must have been about 1 or 2 moons old, and it broke Raptorclaw's heart seeing them in a world like this, with no comfy nests or clan to protect them from danger. The first kit was dark tan with jade eyes, and the second was brown with a grey undercoat and bright green eyes. Indigo slowly approached the she-cat and sniffed the wound, and looked at Raptorclaw, asking what she should do first,
"Make sure to put cob webs on it, first." Raptorclaw said. Indigo quickly nodded. The rest of the cats watched as Indigo grabbed the cobweb and walked towards the mother. She backed up immediately,
"Wh..What is that? Is that a spider web?" She asked.
"It's safe, I promise. It will help your shoulder.." She said as she began to apply the cobweb to her shoulder, "It will prevent bleeding."
"Alright.." The mother said. "Umm..You guys look strong..You wouldn't mind if I stayed with you?" She asked Indigo. Indigo chuckled,
"That's for Raptorclaw to decide. She runs it around here." She smiled as she inspected her work. {Again with the leadership thing..} Raptorclaw thought. "That's Raptorclaw over there." Indigo said, pointing with her tail. The mother turned to her,
"You wouldn't mind if I stayed with you?" She asked, her head and tail low with respect.
"Umm.." Raptorclaw looked back at their den. It would be a bit cramped. Raptorclaw thought for a minute. There was certainly enough food to go around, rats and birds were plentiful in the Two-Leg Place, but she was worried there wouldn't be enough space for them to sleep. But when she looked back at the mother, and the two kits huddled underneath her stomach, and the black she-cat simply couldn't refuse. "Of course you can stay with us. Leopardroar, and Robinpaw, I need to speak with you as well. Indigo, make sure this mother and her kittens are fed."
Raptorclaw said. As Indigo escorted her away, she heard the she-cat mention that her name was Goldy. {What a pretty name..} She thought to herself as she went to talk with Robinpaw and Leopardroar. The two toms looked at her,
"What's wrong Raptorclaw?" Robinpaw asked, his head tilted slightly.
"I need to ask you a favor. That she-cat, Goldy, and her two kits need someplace to sleep. You two wouldn't mind giving up your sleeping spots for her and her kittens, would you?" She asked, slight pleading in her voice. Robinpaw instantly agreed,
"Of course! I would do anything for those cute kittens!" He exclaimed. Leopardroar, on the other paw, was a little more hesitant.
"Where will I sleep?" He asked. Raptorclaw frowned.
"You can sleep right beside the large dumpster. If you sleep outside beside it you can keep a better ear or eye out for danger, should it appear. And I will sleep on the High rock, so you won't be alone." Raptorclaw said, trying to sugar coat it. Leopardroar apparently fell for it, and nodded,
"Alright." He said, and walked beside the dumpster and started to make a nest for himself out of leaves and moss. Robinpaw joined him, bringing over some Two-leg material to sleep on. After talking with Robinpaw, and inching away from the Two-leg material, Leopardroar just sighed, "I think I will just stand watch tonight."
"I don't think so Leopardroar. We still need to go back to the territories tomorrow morning and ask Lionstar for his help in overthrowing Foxstar." Raptorclaw said, her tail swishing. Her brother sighed, and he lay down on the material. "Anyway, it's not like you will be alone out here. I will be sleeping on the High rock." She nodded her head towards the trash can. Leopardroar nodded. Raptorclaw walked over to Indigo, who was talking with Goldy. She saw Raptorclaw and moved herself protectively over her kits.
"Don't worry Goldy." Indigo said in a soothing tone, "Raptorclaw is our leader. You can trust her."
"Ok.." She said, sitting down slowly. "Indigo said that you are going to fight another cat in the morning? Are we going to be safe?" She asked in a worried tone.
"Don't worry, Goldy. We have trained our cats. And anyway, the clan we are going up against..they are very mean cats. We will be doing the right thing by overthrowing their leader and his followers."
"I don't have to fight, right? I want to make sure my kits are safe. I don't want to fight." She said, looking down at her two kittens then back up at Raptorclaw.
"It's alright, you won't have to fight. In fact, you can help Indigo heal our injured cats. I will teach you both about some of the herbs, and Indigo can teach you the two that you weren't here for."
"A-Alright.." Goldy said, moving over in front of the sample herbs that Raptorclaw and Indigo had found. "Where do we start?"
"Well," Raptorclaw said, "let's start now."