Hello! Here is Chapter 22, on time! Warning, the end is kind of.. well, it's kind of disturbing to me personally. I apologize, but I hope that you enjoy the chapter!
"Hey Mistshade, can you go out with Leopardleaf to collect more marigold?" Cedareyes called from the medicine cat den, shaking out his gray pelt. "We're running low and the first snow is coming any day now, we need to stock up."
Mistshade nodded and took a last bite of her vole, then she let Rockstorm eat the rest of it, going over to the leopard-patterned she-cat, who was waiting impatiently. "We're going over by the Poppyclan border." She mewed. "And it's raining out."
Ugh. Mistshade let out a groan. "Fine. Let's get this over with."
Leopardleaf faked a gasp of hurt. "Do you not want to spend time with your sister in the rain?"
"Of course I do." Mistshade grinned. "Because I wanted to go in the rain instead of staying warm and dry in the caves. My fur is longer than yours, after all."
They padded towards the cave that led out to the Poppyclan border, and Mistshade felt the harsh wind blowing towards the tunnel towards them, bringing a wet mist.
"How is Curlflight doing?" Mistshade asked, trying to start a conversation. "I haven't visited her in the nursery yet."
"She's doing well. I think that she's already antsy." Leopardleaf laughed. "Unfortunately, she has a while longer before she'll be out of the nursery."
She raised an eyebrow. "Are you and Rockstorm going to have any kits?"
"No." Mistshade mewed immediately. She hesitated before answering. "Well, I don't know at this point. We haven't really talked about it yet, but both of us kind of want to and don't want to at the same time. I personally know that I wouldn't want to be stuck in the nursery, not much unlike Curlflight, and I don't really see myself as the mother type."
"That's okay." They padded into the rain, and Mistshade's pelt was soaked within seconds, her gray-and-white fur hanging off her pelt, heavy with water.
Leopardleaf seemed to like the rain, a small smile on her face. She turned to look at Mistshade.
"I think that you would find yourself to love your kits either way, even if you don't seem like a mother type."
"You're probably right." Mistshade admitted. "I'm just not ready for that yet. I have plenty of time to have kits in my life, I don't want to rush."
Leopardleaf nodded. "Smart."
The Poppyclan border came up in front of them, though their markers were nearly impossible to smell because of the rain. I wonder if a new leader has been picked yet. They can't wait much longer.
"Marigold is over here." Her sister padded over to a clump of small plants that seemed almost wilted by the cold weather and began to bite off clumps.
Mistshade joined her, and soon the two had gathered enough to most likely please Cedareyes. "I hope this is enough."
Mistshade mewed in between her bundle.
"It should be." Leopardleaf replied. "We don't have a high need for marigold during leaf-bare except for if there's battles, which hopefully shouldn't happen."
The way back was mostly silent, as both of their mouths were full of marigold. Perhaps I can go on a hunting patrol when I get back… I just want to stay inside the caves, that's all. It's miserable out here.
They padded back into the caves, and Mistshade shook out her fur gratefully, splattering water all over the sides of the cave.
"Really?" Leopardleaf grumbled. "Now I'm wet opposed to soaked. Thanks."
"It's the same thing." Mistshade shot back. "Besides, your pelt is probably cleaner."
When they padded into camp, Leopardleaf turned to Mistshade. "Here, give me that." Mistshade obliged, and Leopardleaf padded into the medicine den with the marigold without another word.
She may be odd, but she is my sister.
—
(Leopardleaf's POV)
Leopardleaf padded up to the entrance of the den, marigold in her jaws. She began to lay it beside the entrance of the den, letting it dry on the cave floor.
I need to give something to Darkspot for his aching joints… she snorted. He always has some kind of problem that takes up my time.
She heard voices from the medicine den and pricked her ears, eavesdropping. Well, it's not really eavesdropping, I just want to listen.
She picked up Birchears's voice. "I was hunting when I trod on a sharp stone."
"Alright, happens to everyone." Cedareyes sighed. "Let me take a look. It shouldn't be too bad."
There was a sound of movement and then a hiss of pain, Birchears's paw must have a stone in it. Leopardleaf crouched closer and peered into the medicine den.
I'm just bored, honestly. Can I help at all?
"Ah. That's a large stone indeed." Cedareyes held Birchears's paw carefully and glanced at the stone, with a sharp tug he yanked it out.
"Ouch!" Birchears snatched her paw away and glared at her brother. "Why didn't you warn me?"
"You're a warrior, aren't you?" Cedareyes tossed the stone into the corner of the den. Um, one of us is going to trod on that now.
"You can handle me pulling out a rock."
Birchears glanced at her injured paw, which was beginning to bleed. "And now it's bleeding."
"Expected." Cedareyes headed to the back of the den where the herbs were. "Lick it."
"Really?" Birchears raised an eyebrow. "You don't have some medicine cat cure for it?"
"It's literally a pebble." Cedareyes looked exasperated. "You can heal it yourself. Sometimes it just takes a little logic to heal your problems, not herbs."
"Are you calling me a fool, Cedareyes?" Birchears hissed, shoving her muzzle in her brother's face.
Cedareyes didn't blink. "I never called you a fool."
Birchears turned away, heading for the entrance of the den. Leopardleaf ducked out of sight, pretending to sort the marigold again, when she heard Birchears mutter.
"Useless excuse for a cat. I bet that the only reason that he became a medicine cat is because he couldn't hunt or fight."
Cedareyes froze. His usually warm brown eyes blazed with anger as he turned to face her. "Say that again, will you?"
Birchears spun. "I said that you're a useless excuse for a cat, and that the only reason that you became a medicine cat is because you couldn't hunt or fight!"
Cedareyes narrowed his eyes. "That's a lie. You're still mad that I was special, aren't you?"
"Shut up!" Birchears spat at him, her face screwed up with anger. "You're useless, and you know it!"
"And what are you?" Cedareyes challenged, clearly reaching the end of his patience.
Leopardleaf was scared, she had never seen her mentor this way before.
"I'm a regular warrior who at least can do things right!" Birchears growled, going nose to nose with her brother. "Not a stupid screw-up that somehow became a medicine cat and ruined his family's reputation! Not a disappointment to their Clan! Not like you!"
Cedareyes's voice was deathly calm as he responded. "Get out."
"What?" Birchears seemed taken aback by Cedareyes's calmness.
"I said get out." Cedareyes repeated, more forcefully this time. "You have insulted and mocked me in every way that you possibly could. I have nothing more to say to you. I healed your scratch, now get out of my den. Don't show up here again unless you're dying, and even then, I might not help you."
Birchears sat there for a second in stunned silence, then she whipped around and stormed out of the den, nearly knocking into Leopardleaf, who drew her head back hurriedly.
"I'm not surprised you were spying." Birchears spat at her, storming away.
Leopardleaf padded into the medicine den with the marigold, putting it out to dry.
"Cedareyes?" She called softly.
"Did you get the marigold?" Cedareyes seemed to have shaken off his sister's insults fairly quickly.
"Yep. It's still wet, though."
"Everything's wet because of the rain." Cedareyes shrugged, yawning. "Besides, it will dry overnight and we can put it away tomorrow."
Leopardleaf nodded. "I was planning to go out and get more mallow, actually, tomorrow morning."
"Two medicine cats were attacked by that mallow patch. Be careful." Cedareyes warned.
"It'll be fine." Leopardleaf shrugged it off. "I'm going to go to sleep."
"Alright, goodnight." Cedareyes mewed, beginning to put comfrey back in the hole where it was stored.
Leopardleaf was about to go into her nest, but a sudden worry popped into her head.
"Cedareyes, I um, heard what Birchears said to you earlier, and it's not true at all."
"Thanks." Cedareyes responded, giving a small smile. "It's not the first time that she's told me that, though."
Leopardleaf cast a nervous glance at her mentor, his normally energetic brown eyes were dull and he seemed to be forcing indifference to the entire situation.
"Well, um, goodnight then." Leopardleaf mewed awkwardly, curling up in her nest.
"Goodnight." Cedareyes responded softly. She swore that she saw him cast a sad glance over at her, but as soon as it came, it was gone, his attention focused on the herbs in front of him.
Leopardleaf shook it off. It's probably nothing anyways.
—
Leopardleaf yawned and staggered to her paws the next morning, glancing at Cedareyes's nest, which was empty.
He must have already gone out to collect herbs.
Her gaze traveled around the den and landed on a lump of motionless gray fur in the corner, the light wind from the entrance ruffling the fur. Leopardleaf rushed over and saw it was Cedareyes, lying motionless by the entrance.
No wounds were on his pelt, but his body was cold and he was very much dead. His brown eyes were open, full of sorrow and regret.
What? Leopardleaf sank to the ground.
Who did this to him? What happened? I shouldn't have gone to sleep early. I shouldn't have left him.
Suddenly she noticed the red berries that lay by his paws. Deathberries. Cedareyes didn't die by accident.
Leopardleaf gasped and let out a ear-splitting wail, tears streaming down her face.
Um... What is it with me and killing medicine cats? I'm sorry about that one though, I did like Cedareyes. Anyways, Chapter 3 of the Outcasts should be coming out soon, so yeah, be ready for that! Review please, they make my day and I love to hear your opinions and theories! You can PM me your theories and questions as well, but my answers probably won't be helpful. Anyways, I hope that everyone is staying safe!
Have a good day (or night), and keep writing!
-Mintflight