Chapter 26: Former Medicine Cat Apprentice

Hawk was staring blankly at the reeds that were woven to make a protective den. Admiring how intricate they were as she took her time to awaken. Her pale green eyes searching the woven den walls for an answer. She could hear whispers, familiar now. Twitching her ears, she looked to one side, spotting another unfamiliar faded-cat. Their yellow eyes glimmered in the evening sunlight that managed to shine through.

She tilted her head, observing the strange cat that rose to their paws and padded outside. Starlight flecked their paws. Hawk blinked slowly, recognition trickling into her. This was a StarClan cat, one that she never knew existed. She started to sit up before a familiar creamy brown head shoved through the entrance.

"She-cat, come out here now." Heather snarled coldly, her honey-colored eyes boring holes into her.

Hawk stretched, taking her time to let the angry rogue leader a chance to give her room. Instantly, she could hear the small rogue-clan's meows. Their voices filled with rage as they questioned what to do with her. Like the StarClan cat she saw, she stepped out with her head high and her tail low and curled to the tip. Their mews became hushed as she kept a lethargic and dignified stride.

Heather was waiting, her tail tip twitching furiously. Beside her was Shadow, pale green eyes coldly watching her as she reached the middle of the clearing. With her shoulders squared, she was prepared for the punishment that was to take place. Among the gathered cats was Lion, whose amber gaze seemed guarded. She didn't take it to heart. From what she learned from their talk, Lion was curious and cautious. She blinked warmly to Lion, before turning her attention back onto Heather. No hard feelings taken, Lion. I understand that this is what you feel you must do. Hawk conceded in her thoughts.

The creamy brown rogue leader drew herself up, her posture was rigid and her claws were deep in the gnarled roots, as she addressed FearClan. "As you all know, Cedar passed away this morning." she paused, allowing the soft murmurs of grief pass through before continuing, "Hawk caused the wounds that took our cherished leader away. However, she did try to save her life only to fail."

A black and brown tom let out a low yowl, "We should rip her to shreds!"

Heather dipped her head to the tom. "She is also kin to the kits by default of Shadow and Dusk. Therefore, she will be punished by Shadow, but kept alive to provide for these kits with prey."

"She doesn't deserve to live!" a cream tabby hissed.

"I acknowledge that," the rogue leader mewed coldly, "But this is Shadow's problem. She is his kin by blood, he will boss her around. Should he see it fit to kill her after the kits are of age, then who am I to stop him?"

Shadow rose to his paws as Heather crouched down to let him speak. "I promise you, I will not go easy on her. I will not be gentle. Cedar was my mate, the mother of my kits. I will avenge her death by making her suffer for every breath she takes."

The gathered cats began to cheer, yowling and screeching in excitement. Hawk kept her head high, knowing it was going to happen now. She could tell, at his eyes were as frosty as ever. She braced herself as he bounded down from the willow roots and stalked up to her, tail lashing.

"What do you have to say for yourself?" Shadow spat, "Give me a reason to even let you live after my kits are full-grown."

Hawk matched his gaze steadily, her heart was pounding despite her calm exterior. "I have done all I could to save Cedar. I never meant to wound her that badly." He curled his lips in a wordless sneer, unsheathing his claws as she went on, "Any reason I could give, I know you would claim as an excuse. So go ahead, show how ruthless you are to your kits."

He hesitated, her challenge caught him off guard. His kits were in the crowd of gathered cats. Hawk knew they had to be, after all, how could they rest with all the noise? Finally, Shadow sprang with a wordless yowl and began the punishment. Before she had fallen asleep, Lion had walked her through on letting it happen as fighting back could make it worse.

So, that was what she did. She let Shadow slash her fur, bite her shoulder and pummel her flank. She protected her soft belly and would thrust a foreleg in the way of her throat. He could wound her all he liked, she wasn't going to try and fight back. She was a medicine cat first, thus she was putting his kits first even if he wasn't. They needed someone to teach them more than blind hate.

Dusk may not be able to do it alone, so Hawk ended it with a swift kick to her brother's ribs. He was launched off of her, sprawling onto the ground while she got to her paws slowly. Blood dripped from her torn up pelt, but she was alive and watching the black tabby gasp for air. She flicked her gaze to Heather, who blinked, surprised.

"Is the punishment over?" a golden tabby tom asked, his ice-blue eyes looking to the rogue leader.

Heather was silent before raising her tail. "I declare it to be over." Shadow tried to speak, but only coughed and wheezed while she turned her honey-colored eyes onto Hawk in curiosity. "A curious creature, aren't you?"

Hawk stared up at her and retorted, "I've fought thunderpath-cats who fight more vicious than that. He can claw my pelt off all he wants, but it will never bring Cedar back."

The rouge leader flinched, her shocked expression quickly replaced with bitter rage. "Lick your wounds kittypet. Tomorrow, when the sun rises, you will be hunting until it sets."

Hawk held her tongue, she was a lousy hunter, but if StarClan walked among the living-cats in this camp; then perhaps they can help her catch prey to do what they wanted. She nodded stiffly, pain throbbing in each bleeding wound before padding back to Lion's den. Her head still held high, with pride of her secret mission. She wasn't going to give up on those kits. Especially for the silver tabby kit that she saw in her dreams.

He needed her, even if Shadow would rather to not have them meet.