Chapter 20: Medicine Cat Apprentice

The leaves began to change color, the leaves becoming a flaming red, gold, and yellow. The grass and bushes changing to a wheat color as Poppyclaw lead the way to the peaty patch of the forest. A training area for the apprentices to practice their fighting moves for the up coming battle. A war between rogues that took pride in their roots of the tattered BloodClan legacy and the clan-cats who adopted the faith and ancestry of StarClan.

Hawk had studied hard, knowing her time of her full medicine cat name was arriving. When leafbare's half-moon arrived, Poppyclaw would give it to her. StarClan had taught her well with Poppyclaw's guidance. The dark ginger tom's fluffy tail was waving in the air as he padded along. Late-season flowers beginning to wilt or bloom. The herb stores would have to be collected before the frost of leaf-fall destroyed their chances.

"Today," Poppyclaw began as they reached the clearing. "We will learn to fight. I know you are a loner and have fought when needed. But we have to fight much more ferociously and with honor. Warriors do not kill, neither should medicine cats."

"I understand." Hawk mewed.

"Good, we will go over what you do know in a mock-battle. Only then will I know what more I need to teach you to fight with the honor that clan-cats only have." He stopped in the middle of the clearing, his amber gaze sharp as though she were his enemy. "Come at me with all you have with sheathed claws."

The dark brown tabby lowered her body to the peaty ground. Her long fur brushing the ground as her back arched slightly, tail kept close to her for protection. She fought to keep her claws sheathed, much too used to unsheathing them in the heat of a battle. Poppyclaw waited, his dark ginger tail twitching with unconcealed impatience.

Finally, she sprang. Hawk pounced just short of Poppyclaw who had flinched. Amber eyes wide in surprise. Clearly, he was not suspecting her to jump so short. She lashed her paw at his ear, just as a dark ginger paw flashed and swatted her paw away. She would have torn a ragged slice of his ear from this simple move.

Yet, she whipped around, kicking out with her hind legs, knocking her mentor back without restraint. A startled and pained gasp escaped him as she fell into familiar movements. The very second Poppyclaw had skidded to a stop, she bowled him over and clung with soft paws as she battered his belly with her hind paws. Her jaws clutched carefully on his shoulder.

The medicine cat kicked her off, rolling over as he gasped and tried to breathe. Hawk hesitated, watching him pant with great effort. She twitched her ears as Poppyclaw began to meow in between gasps.

"Sly and sneaky," He licked his lips briefly. "Just what we need."

"Are you going to be alright?" Hawk mewed, tilting her head in worry.

"I'm fine." He puffed, padding up to her as he continued to speak. "Just winded."

"Very well." she conceded.

"Now, about your training for the war." He mewed, sounding much more stable. "You have basic understanding and ruthless skills that leave you open against multiple opponents. Against a single opponent you would survive, at least. Given that these rogues don't fight like spoiled kittypets or loners over contested territories of the Twoleg Place. We will have to stay close together to make sure you survive for certain."

"So you can fight?" Hawk asked, stepping closer.

"Of course. I was one of those rogues not long ago. Granted it was probably before you were kitted. I was a wily young tom myself, but StarClan spoke to me in dreams when we settled here. I was a tough fighter, but they have guided my paws to learn more than the lay of the territory we now walk."

"So you were there when BushClan was founded?" Hawk perked up, suddenly interested.

"Of course." His gaze darkened. "Bushstar was quick to adopt a few of StarClan's wishes. However, he was a BloodClan cat at heart. He fought as viciously as Cedar does now. I know what lead to it and how quickly his lives slipped through his claws like blood."

"How long ago was this?" she inquired, her mind racing with thoughts like a rabbit running for it's life.

"He was only a leader for roughly twelve moons. I barely kept him alive, but even he had to fight desperately. It has always been blood against blood. Only the younger members don't know it's been that long since Bushstar's reign."

Hawk listened, feeling as though this was much bigger than herself all over again. She looked out into the forest, trying to find the words she should say. However, there was nothing she could say. The divide was as shallow as a trickling creek. Her pale green eyes slowly traveled to their paws.

"Morningpelt plans to change it though." Poppyclaw mewed, taking Hawk by surprise.

"Change it? How?" she asked.

"Well, Bushstar and Nightstar fight like rogues over and over again. Morningpelt will try to break the cycle and have BushClan know they are clan-cats now and must fight with honor. Just as I must teach you. Killing bites and blows are not honorable." the medicine cat explained.

"What about the elders? How did they get to stay?" Hawk inquired.

"Easy, they were growing old and Bushstar did his best to help them. Violence isn't always the answer. However, Bushstar and Nightstar shared the ideals that it is." Poppyclaw mewed gently. "It's a lot of history, but all you need to know is that this is not a mere war. This is a lovers spat that had been going on for many moons."

"A lovers spat? If it was one then it became a war over time!" Hawk exclaimed in shock.

Her mentor looked away, the peaty grass much more interesting to him now. "You weren't there. You wouldn't understand what had happened. Love can do crazy things, broken hearts are worse is all. Come now, it's getting late. We should gather herbs while we can."

Hawk watched as Poppyclaw padded away from her, his tail low and sweeping from side to side. She had never considered asking what had happened or how long this had all been happening. Looking to the sky, she knew one thing. As scary as it all seemed, change was going to come and she had to use all of her knowledge and fighting skills.

All so she can survive in a territory where StarClan had yet to fully abandon until now.

Author Note:

I have a feeling the end of this story is coming, but I don't know for certain.
I will keep going as long as I can until this story is considered done.

And now, to answer some comments after some days:

WarriorKitten108 - Thank you very much! I know I'm very late in giving a response, it's my bad on that front. Anyway, I hope you continue to enjoy the story. I always work hard to try and write well. Grammar was never my strong suit let alone finishing stories, but I will continue to do my best to feel worthy of your review. c:

WyldClaw - I'm glad you like the descriptions and the prologue. I hope you continue to enjoy the story. I agree, there is a reason for everything even a leaders decision for his or her clan. Especially if there is a chance it could save their young's life.

Mintflight0245 - I like Poppyclaw, too. I have a soft spot for grumpy medicine cats as it is. I do like medicine cats as well, I'm just not as knowledgeable in the herbs they use really. I do my best to do research to make sure I use the right ones or just be ambiguous with them.

- NightSky