CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
The smell of lavender overpowered the scent of death and blood as Whisperpaw laid Amberpool in a nest in the medicine den. She had wrenched her shoulder and needed to rest it for a while. None of the other wounds were that severe besides the cats they had lost. Her heart ached for Puddleheart who was now sitting limply in the middle of the clearing with Beestar, Slateleaf, and Shadowclaw. She wanted to join them but there was too much to do first.
Please understand, Puddleheart, she thought silently as she crossed the clearing to where Springpaw was sitting beside Birchwing, they had a few scratches she had yet to attend to and then she was done for the night.
"Hey Whisperpaw," Springpaw mewed softly so he didn't disturb the cats sitting vigil. "Now that Puddleheart has passed, how will you get your warrior name?"
Shock struck her. She hadn't even thought about that. How would she get her warrior name now? Her mentor was dead. She quickly cleared her throat and began applying cobwebs to Birchwing's wounds. "Well I'll have to speak with one of the other medicine cats to see if they'll give me my warrior name," she mewed, not feeling very optimistic about her chances. "Windflower has seen my progress, I'm sure she'd be happy to."
Birchwing muttered something to his apprentice and her brother and Springpaw sat quietly while she applied cobwebs to their wounds. Her mind couldn't get off how she would get her full name now though.
Wintersky was sitting outside the nursery with her two kits who were watching the cats in the middle of the clearing with wide eyes. Stonefang was beside them. Flowerstem and Dovesong were inside the nursery. Nightpaw and Hollypaw were sent to their nests in the apprentices den and the rest of the cats were either sleeping or sitting vigil.
Whisperpaw padded away from Birchwing and Springpaw and towards the medicine den where Amberpool was sound asleep. Whisperpaw climbed into her nest and looked over at where Puddleheart's old nest was. It was empty and her heart lurched a little. He would never be there again.
She curled up tightly and let herself drift into a dark sleep.
"Congratulations, Whisperpaw. You have fulfilled your prophecy with great skill. Exactly what we expected." Yellowfang's familiar body appeared in front of Whisperpaw. She'd came to her once before to give her a prophecy.
She nodded at Yellowfang. "Will I get to keep my voice?"
Yellowfang's eyes narrowed. "Yes, you will. And do not worry about your name. StarClan will give it to you on the half-moon." And then the old medicine cat disappeared.
The half-moon shone brightly in the sky as Whisperpaw padded beside Jayfeather and Gingerpaw who were quiet with grief for Puddleheart, whom Gingerpaw had only met a few times.
The moonpool was up ahead and she could see the other medicine cats, Windflower and Willowshine. They looked surprised as we approached without Puddleheart.
"Is Puddleheart sick?" Windflower chimed in, tilting her head with question. "Are their some sickly cats in ShadowClan? I have some great remedies!" Her smile widened.
Whisperpaw shook her head, struggling to find the words. "N-No, Puddleheart is no longer with us." She closed her eyes and lowered her head and she could feel the shock radiating off the two medicine cats. The happiness was gone.
"Come on, let's get down there," Jayfeather mumbled and pushed the cats down into the moonpool with him going in last and Whisperpaw going in front of him with Gingerpaw in front of her. Willowshine, who remained silent, let them through the darkness and the tightening tunnel.
But Whisperpaw knew it would open up soon to the moonpool. It felt empty without Puddleheart. She had gained her voice but she lost her friend. Her heart ripped a little.
The tunnel widened into the giant cave where the glowing water was moving a little, tiny waves splashing onto the stone floor where Whisperpaw settled down, Windflower on her left and Gingerpaw on her right, both letting their pelts brush hers for comfort.
She closed her eyes after lapping up water and let the dreams come.
"Whisperpaw, you have suffered greatly and waited a long time for this moment," a familiar voice mewed from in front of her and her eyes flickered open.
Puddleheart's familiar white pelt with the same brown splotches instantly soothed her. "Are you going to give me my name?" she asked in a quiet voice, noticing several other cats gathering around them, all of them having stars in their pelts.
He seemed surprised that she asked and his familiar laugh echoed around her. She felt warmth throughout her pelt. "Of course, Whisperpaw. You are my apprentice afterall."
She felt a tail on her shoulder and turned her head to see Windflower smiling at her, eyes shining with happiness for her.
"I, Puddleheart, medicine cat of ShadowClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down upon this apprentice. She has trained hard to understand the way of a medicine cat, and with your help she will serve her Clan for many moons," Puddleheart began loudly. "Whisperpaw, do you promise to uphold the ways of a medicine cat, to stand apart from rivalry between Clan and Clan, and to protect all cats equally, even at the cost of your life?"
Whisperpaw spoke loudly, "I do, Puddleheart."
"Then by the powers of StarClan I give you your true name as a medicine cat. Whisperpaw, from this moment, with StarClan and Windflower as witness, you will be known as Whispersong. StarClan honors your wisdom, strength, and warmth and we welcome you as a full medicine cat of ShadowClan!" Puddleheart finished and set his muzzle on her head.
Loud cheers from the StarClan cats, as well as Windflower, echoed around her. She felt her pride growing and the happiness in her chest grew as she gazed into Puddleheart's familiar green eyes. They were shining with pride as he gazed at her.
"Whispersong! Whispersong!" StarClan cheered and slowly they began to fade and Puddleheart gazed down at her.
"I'll never forget you!" Whispersong promised him and he blinked at her warmly before disappearing into the blackness.
"Today we congratulate Whispersong for earning her name from StarClan and becoming ShadowClan's full medicine cat!" Beestar yowled to the Clan with Whispersong standing beside Lionfur underneath the hazel branch.
"Whispersong! Whispersong!" the Clan cheered with Wintersky and her kits being the loudest.
She dipped her head to her Clan. "Thank you all. I know ShadowClan has had some struggles in the past but I am always here to heal my Clan and bend us back together." She glanced at Lionfur who had a small smile on her face as she gazed out at the crowd.
There were some yowls of agreement and then Beestar jumped down from the hazel branch and the crowd broke off, most of them padding up to Lionfur to be put on patrol. Dovesong slowly entered the nursery with Wintersky supporting her. She was due in about a quarter-moon. Amberpool was still in the medicine den resting her wrenched shoulder but she was getting stronger every day and her brother Springpaw would be a warrior sometime soon as well.
Whispersong watched Fangclaw lead Whiteeyes, Yellowbird, and Hollypaw out of camp followed by Sunclaw, Shadowclaw, Birchwing, and Springpaw. She noted that the leaders of these patrols were some of Lionfur's close followers. If any cat went missing from those patrols she would know who to turn to.
Amberpool was laying in her nest, her amber eyes lighting up when Whispersong entered the nest. She was growing bored of sitting there but she really hadn't been in here that long. Whispersong found comfort in her presence in the den, it soothed her.
"Congratulations, Whispersong!" Amberpool purred with a warm smile, shifting around a little. "Can you take a look at my shoulder? It's aching again."
She grabbed some chamomile and padded over to Amberpool, sniffing her shoulder. "I might have to set it back into place," she admitted and watched Amberpool shiver in fear. "Here, eat this." She fed her the chamomile and then quickly grabbed her shoulder and twisted it out, hearing a sick cracking noise and Amberpool let out a small shriek.
"I wasn't prepared for that!" she gasped once she'd caught her breath. Her eyes still wide. "So that's it? I should get better now?"
Whispersong nodded firmly at her. "That is correct. It shouldn't be much longer. I'll come back and wrap it in a bit. Do not move!" she ordered and padded towards the entrance of her den. "I'm going to check on Wintersky and Dovesong." She slipped out of the den and into the clearing where it was rather empty beside the elders who were laying in the sun. Lionfur must've took most of the Clan out for battle training.
Calmly, she padded across the clearing to the nursery, hearing the small kits squealing inside and she slipped in, seeing Dovesong was talking to Wintersky softly while she threw a moss ball for Snowkit and Fallenkit.
"Whispersong!" Fallenkit gasped and bowed his head to her and Snowkit copied, looking a little excited.
She chuckled in amusement and licked the top of Fallenkit's head. "You don't have to bow to me, Fallenkit. I am just your medicine cat. Although I appreciate the gesture." She flicked her tail in Snowkit's face and the small white she-kit giggled softly.
Fallenkit stood up tall and straight. "Mom said that we must respect our higher ranks and we must respect those who have gone through trauma," he mewed loud and clearly, glancing over at Wintersky who seemed amused. "She also said to respect our elders but you're not old so you fit into two of those three categories."
Whispersong tilted her head at the tom. "Your mother is a wise cat," she purred softly and touched her nose to Fallenkit. "However, instead of bowing you can just dip your head. Like this." She dipped her head to the kit. "You try."
Snowkit's green eyes that matched Stonefang's lit up and she copied and Fallenkit did too. "That's way easier than bowing!" Fallenkit gasped and then tackled his sister who let out a loud meow of surprise.
"Nice to see you, Whispersong," Wintersky purred to her when she padded over and Dovesong smiled. "How may I help you? Congratulations also."
The den had a light breeze through it and it ruffled through Whispersong's pelt. She felt herself relaxing as she gazed at Wintersky with warmth. "Just coming to check on our queens and kits," she mewed with a smile and heard cats padding into camp.
"Sounds like Lionfur is back with the Clan," Wintersky mewed, glancing at the entrance with worry in her gaze. "Fallenkit, Snowkit, stay here with Dovesong." She rose to her paws and silently padded over to the entrance of the den and slipped outside.
Whispersong glanced at the kits who crouched down low against the floor and crawled over to Dovesong and then she slipped out after Wintersky and watched the queen looked at the wounds the Clan now had from Lionfur's battle patrol.
Lionfur turned to Wintersky and smiled. "Your kits are old enough for battle training," she purred and tilted her head at Wintersky. "Bring them over." She licked her paw and drew it over her bleeding ear.
"They are sleeping…" Wintersky mewed quietly and Whispersong watched as Sunclaw, Fangclaw, and Mudstorm pricked their ears and looked at Wintersky with interest. They were Lionfur's biggest followers. "Maybe another time."
The deputy stopped and looked at Wintersky with hard eyes. "Why are you lying to me, Wintersky?" she mewed with a monotone voice and Whispersong watched as Stonefang stood beside his mate. "They need to be trained." Lionfur rose to her paws and Whispersong watched her muscles under her pelt rippled and her claws dug into the ground. They were long and sharp.
Wintersky tensed up and glanced at Lionfur's claws. "They can be trained when they are apprentices," she mewed in a shaky voice and stood taller, not matching Lionfur's height or size. "You will not train them until then and you will go nowhere near them." She held her ground and Stonefang put his tail on her shoulder.
Her yellow fur rippled as she took another step forward. "I will do what I what because I am the deputy and you will listen to me. Fetch them. Now," she ordered and her tail lashed.
"No." Wintersky stepped forward and narrowed her eyes. "I will fight you for the deputy position." The white she-cat quivered as she stood head-to-head with ShadowClan's strongest warrior.
Lionfur tilted her head. "No, I couldn't possibly do that." She glanced back to Sunclaw who was glaring at Wintersky.
The white queen turned to Beestar who was watching with wide eyes from a tail length away. "Beestar, tell us the truth. Would you rather have Lionfur as deputy, or me? Lionfur trains kit-warriors and I take care of our Clan," she mewed with confidence.
Beestar looked at Wintersky, blinking slowly. "Lionfur is a strong deputy but Wintersky has supported us…" She nodded at us. "Fight it out."
Wintersky smirked and looked at Lionfur. "Fight me, Lionfur."
"If Beestar says it's okay…" Lionfur smirked back at Wintersky. "This'll be an easy kill." She darted forward and Stonefang jumped away just as Wintersky rolled to the left and dodged her rush and she whipped around.
Now the Clan had gathered around and Whispersong was crouched down beside Ravenclaw and Whiteeyes who was completely calm.
Lionfur faced Wintersky and bared her teeth, showing her sharp and long fangs and then she snapped her jaws directly on Wintersky's shoulder but she barely even flinched and instead she sunk both her claws into Lionfur's shoulders and raked her claws along her pelt and pulled Lionfur's teeth out of her own shoulder.
Wintersky hooked her claw in Lionfur's leg and pulled out with a heavy grunt and Lionfur stumbled towards Wintersky but didn't fall like Wintersky expected.
Whispersong's eyes widened in fear as Lionfur easily regained her balance and sunk her teeth into Wintersky's neck and brung her down to the ground and Wintersky's light blue eyes went wide and she laid on the ground, her mouth open wide, but not with shock. Everyone knew Wintersky was a good fighter, but she hadn't fought in a long time.
The entire Clan tensed up beside Sunclaw, Fangclaw, and Mudstorm who smiled with victory as Lionfur looked down at Wintersky with a smirk.
"And this is where it ends." She darted forward and dug her claws deep into Wintersky's stomach.
Whispersong hissed at Lionfur, flattening her ears on her head. "Kill her Lionfur," she growled and the she-cat looked at Whispersong curiously. "The Clan sees how ruthless and violent you are. Killing her would prove this." Her eyes narrowed. Even if Lionfur remained deputy after this, at least Whispersong and Wintersky tried.
Lionfur stepped away from Wintersky, staring down at her bloody white pelt and her chest as it struggled to go up and down. "Whispersong…" Lionfur looked at her with a small smile. "You're really getting in my way…" She bared her teeth and darted to Whispersong and pushed her to the ground, growling lowly in her ear.
"That's enough, Lionfur!" Beestar yowled and the yellow she-cat turned her head to look at Beestar and Whispersong let out a battle cry and lashed out at her shoulder where Wintersky hit her. She let out a whimper and fell to the ground, glaring up at Whispersong. "Lionfur, I see what power has done to you and I realize that you are no longer fit for the deputy position."
Stonefang was leaning over Wintersky and licking her wounds and Whispersong padded over to them too and examined her wounds. The only one that was bad was the one in her neck. She would make it through.
Beestar looked at the gathered cats who were nodding in agreement. "Lionfur, I believe you need to relearn the warrior code so I hereby demote you to an apprentice." She glanced around and her eyes lit up. "Raindusk will be your mentor until he believes you know the warrior code once more and only then you may regain your warrior name back." Beestar looked at Raindusk and blinked at him a few times and he nodded at her.
"Who will be the new deputy?" Sunclaw asked, flexing her muscles and tilting her head.
The leader cleared her throat loudly. "I know Wintersky fought hard against Lionfur but because she has kits and I don't see her taking this path, I name Ravenclaw as the new deputy. I hope StarClan approves my choice."
Ravenclaw's eyes widened and the smile from his face disappeared as the Clan cheered loudly. "T-Thank you Beestar for this opportunity to show my Clan how strong we really are without the need for fighting. I will lead under Beestar for as long as I can and if the time comes, StarClan forbid, that she passes on, I will be honored to be leader to ShadowClan." He looked grimly at his Clanmates, all of which seemed proud of him.
"Ravenclaw! Ravenclaw!" the Clan cheered loudly and Wintersky joined in with a weak voice.
"Stonefang," Whispersong mewed quietly as the Clan crowded around Ravenclaw, "do you think you can help me move Wintersky to the medicine den?"
The gray warrior smiled and nodded, slowly sliding his mate onto his back and Whispersong supported her neck and head as they slowly walked to the medicine den and slipped inside.
Instantly, Amberpool was watching as we set her down in the nest next to Amberpool and Whispersong rushed to her supplies, grabbing cobwebs and dock. She rushed back over to the she-cat, chewing the dock and then dripping the juice into her wounds and covering them in cobwebs.
Amberpool watched with wide eyes but she said nothing as Whispersong covered Wintersky's wounds.
"You should go to your kits," Whispersong mewed to Stonefang. "They need their father…" She glanced at Wintersky who let out a small groan of pain, almost like she agreed.
The gray warrior dipped his head. "Very well. You take care of her," he mewed sternly and left the den in silence.
"So Ravenclaw as deputy?" Amberpool mewed, gazing down at Wintersky curiously. "He's loyal and trustworthy and intelligent. He'll be good for ShadowClan." She met Whispersong's gaze steadily.
Whispersong said nothing as she turned to her herbs and grabbed two sticks and bindweed, turning back to Amberpool she wrapped the bindweed around her leg and the sticks to help keep her shoulder in place.
Suddenly, Dewnose slipped into her mind and she felt her heart race a little. "I'm going to find more cobwebs," she mewed slowly to Amberpool, trying to seem cool as if she wasn't going to rush out of camp and to the ThunderClan border. "If any cat needs me you tell them I've gone to look for herbs." She turned around and speed-walked out of the den and entered the clearing where Ravenclaw had sent out two patrols and the rest of the Clan was sharing tongues. The sun was dropping in the sky.
She rushed across the clearing quietly, not drawing any attention to herself as she slipped out of camp and into the darkening forest. She headed towards the ThunderClan border at a brisk pace, hoping he'd be close by since she didn't want to leave Wintersky alone for so long.
As the ThunderClan border got closer, a patrol led by Moonshine veered off towards the greenleaf twoleg place and she felt some relief. At least she wouldn't have to deal with questions.
The same bush Whispersong always hid in was now in front of her and she slipped inside. The ThunderClan border was faint and she knew a patrol would be around soon. Please dear StarClan let him be on it! she thought silently and closed her eyes tightly for a heartbeat.
Voices made her eyes flicker back open. It was dusk now, she had fallen asleep but not for too long. She strained to make out the voices and heard Sparkflower's faint voice as well as Whitefur and Frozenpaw. They were coming her way but she didn't hear Dewnose's voice.
Her heart sunk in her chest as she made out Sparkflower's orange tabby pelt marking the border and Frozenpaw helping while Whitefur gazed across the border.
"Are you going to stand there all day?" huffed a familiar voice and a familiar gray-and-white tom pushed his way past Whitefur. Dewnose glanced at the bush she was in and instantly he smiled. "I'll finish this up, you guys go ahead."
Sparkflower paused and looked at Dewnose curiously. She huffed loudly. "Very well, Dewnose. Don't be too long." The she-cat glanced at Whispersong's bush but didn't show any signs she knew as she led the two other cats away from Dewnose.
Whispersong slid out of the bushes and silently padded over to the ThunderClan tom who continued to smile at her. "It's good to see you," she purred softly.
For a heartbeat, he looked alarmed and then he relaxed and shook his head. "I've forgotten you could speak now… It's been so long since I last saw you." He licked her muzzle and pulled back suddenly. "I am so sorry you lost Puddleheart."
She felt herself get light-headed when she thought about Puddleheart. Was he watching her? "I know, I can't stay long but I've missed you." Whispersong rubbed her muzzle against his. "We could lay down for a bit if you like?" she suggested, nodding towards a tree that they could slid under the roots.
"Yes," he agreed and padded over, barely small enough to fit underneath and Whispersong slipped in after him. They barely had enough room under the tree to looked at each other and their pelts were brushing. "I thought you had forgot about me."
Whispersong was startled at this. "Of course I haven't! I just became the full and only medicine cat of ShadowClan. I've been busy." She licked his ear and purred softly. She missed the gray-and-white warrior.
"Here, just lay down for a while." He scooted closer and curled as far as he could around her while she laid her head in his pelt and purred more. He was way softer than her nest in camp. She'd have to see if one of the apprentices could get her some feathers.
She stifled a yawn and closed her eyes, feeling sleep overcome her.
"Whispersong! Whispersong!" a voice hissed in her ear and she jumped up, hitting her head on something hard she blinked a few times to get use to the dim light and realized she was starting into Dewnose's amber eyes. He looked panicked. "We fell asleep in ShadowClan territory and there's a patrol coming!"
Her heart skipped a beat and she wiggled out from under the tree, looking around and smelling the air. He was right; Birchwing, Springpaw, and Oakstorm were headed this way. They were probably doing Springpaw's assignment right about now.
"Come on!" she growled to Dewnose who slipped out from under the tree and began rushing towards the ThunderClan border. She'd never seen a ThunderClan cat run so fast but she could still smell Dewnose's scent and she looked around quickly, feeling her panic rising.
Some wild garlic just a few steps away made her calm a little as she ripped it out of the ground and rubbed in on herself and then threw it into the bushes where Dewnose disappeared.
"Whispersong?" Springpaw mewed and she turned her head to see her brother looking at her with a tilted head. "What're you doing out here?"
She struggled for words and cleared her throat loudly. "I set out early this morning to look for herbs. With Wintersky and Amberpool in my den I've run low…" She felt uncomfortable as Birchwing and Oakstorm stepped up to stand beside her apprentice. It was a believable lie.
Birchwing nodded. "At sunhigh we'll be doing Springpaw's assignment. Make sure you're back in camp before then." He flicked his tail at the two cats and led the way around her, avoiding the bushes Dewnose had raced through.
Letting out a breath of relief she glanced around and then sniffed the air for herbs. Her mind stayed on Dewnose however as she searched. I hope he made it back okay. I hope I see him again soon…