Yellowfang gnawed on a mouse bone, idly picking her teeth, and glanced at Barley as he padded by. The black and white tom stopped and looked at her for a moment, then spoke.
"Any particular reason your clan hasn't taken you back?"
"So eager to get rid of me?" Yellowfang asked dryly, tossing the bone into a pile of them off to the side of where she had made a den for herself at the back of the barn. "When was the last time you heard of a clan taking back a cat they cast out?"
"…Never, on account of not being up on clan news," came the equally dry reply.
Yellowfang shrugged. "They haven't asked, nor do I feel inclined to invite myself back in. They're doing well enough without me, by the sound of things. Runningnose, bless him, tries, and Littlepaw seems to be growing into the role nicely. They're in good paws."
Her ears flicked and she turned to gaze towards the barn doors. "Are those two done killing each other yet?"
"That's what I'm going to check," Barley mewed with a sigh. "Also bringing some herbs just in case they need them."
"Goldenrod, dock, marigold and horsetail may come in handy," Yellowfang meowed. "Although they're both smart cats, so they should know how not to rip each other to pieces."
Barley nodded. "I've got some dock, comfrey, and cobwebs."
"That should be fine." Yellowfang got to her paws, slowly stretching. "Might as well see how they're getting on."
Barley frowned. "You're not worried about Tigerclaw?"
Yellowfang snorted. "Why? The one who wants me dead is dead, and I've got no issue with him. If he's got issue with me, let him say it to my face."
Barley hesitated as she walked by, before sighing and followed her.
Spottedleaf opened her eyes as she rose from the depths of her Moonstone dream and she found herself back in the cave where the stone lay, no longer lit by moonlight from the hole in the ceiling. Firepaw was no longer with her, although her scent led outside.
Spottedleaf found her sitting outside the entrance, tail wrapped around her paws. Her ears turned towards Spottedleaf as she approached and took a seat beside her.
"I couldn't find you in the dream," Spottedleaf mewed. "Usually one medicine cat names another, but I guess they had something special for you?"
"I was given the name Fireleap by Mothflight," Fireleap mewed.
"The first medicine cat," Spottedleaf noted, shivering in the night breeze. "An interesting honor. Congratulations."
Fireleap nodded, eyes sparkling. "Couldn't have gotten to this point without your help, so thanks for that." She gazed out towards the clan territories. The barn where they'd left Tigerclaw was just across the Thunderpath, and she wondered how he was getting along.
"I suppose we should collect Tigerclaw and be on our way home," Spottedleaf mewed, getting to her paws and stretching.
"I do hope he hasn't started a fight with Rusty," Fireleap sighed. "Although Rusty doesn't seem the type to goad someone on, but Tigerclaw's the type to pick a fight for the thrill of it, so…"
"Well, at least Yellowfang's there. And us, so that's at least three of us who can patch them up if they're ripping each other's fur off," Spottedleaf pointed out. Fireleap snorted, getting to her paws to trot after her as she headed towards the barn.
Rusty didn't consider himself much of a fighter, and he had heard tales of Tigerclaw's prowess as a warrior, so part of him wasn't all that surprised that Tigerclaw could keep out of his reach while delivering the occasional slap of a paw. Rusty thanked his lucky stars the warrior kept his claws sheathed, and clearly wasn't using his full strength. It rankled a bit, but Rusty knew better than to ask for Tigerclaw to attack him seriously.
He dodged Tigerclaw's swipe and kept dancing backwards on his paws as the warrior moved towards him. Tigerclaw's sheer size was enough to make him a threat, and Rusty felt sorry for the queen who had kitted him.
"I think that's enough, you two," came an irritated mew, and the two paused in their bout to stare towards the door of the barn, where Yellowfang had materialized, followed by Barley. "I'm sure you've seen enough of each other at this point."
Tigerclaw stepped back from Rusty, letting his fur settle before licking and grooming the errant bits straight. "You fight well," he meowed to Rusty. "So I am not opposed to you training our apprentices should they ask for it."
"You flatter me," Rusty mewed in reply, dipping his head. "You've taught me a few things as well by showing me my shortcomings, so I will strive to overcome them and pass on what I have learned, should it be asked of me."
Tigerclaw chuckled, a deep rumble in his chest, and got to his paws. "I shall hunt, if that's alright. I suspect we'll be joined by Spottedleaf and her apprentice shortly as well, and the traveling herbs they ate only last so long."
"Good hunting to you," Rusty said as Tigerclaw strode towards the barn. He paused by Yellowfang, stared at her, then inclined his head politely before continuing on.
"I think he likes you," Yellowfang mewed as she padded over to Rusty. "Did he scratch you?"
"He kept his claws sheathed and was lithe enough to avoid mine," Rusty mewed. "Surprisingly speedy for such a large cat."
"He's a terror on the battlefield, as any RiverClan cat can tell you," Barley meowed.
"Yet he's never strong enough to get Sunningrocks back," Yellowfang mewed dryly. "Thanks to Oakheart, at any rate, who's probably the only cat of the clans who can challenge him."
Rusty blinked. "Sounds like a scary guy. All the more reason for me to stay out of the clans' business, I suppose."
He then pricked his ears as a pair of felas emerged from the northern field.
"Welcome back," Rusty mewed to the two medicine cats. "How was your trip?"
"Quite eventful," Spottedleaf mewed, brushing her tail over the ginger beside her. "Say hello to Fireleap."
"Fireleap," Rusty meowed, rolling the name on his tongue. "Suits you, and your namesake. Have you ever seen fire, by any chance?"
"My Twolegs kept it in a glass case during the cold parts of the season," Fireleap mewed, tail twitching. "Can't imagine I'll be doing much leaping as a medicine cat though."
"You will when I send you out to replenish our stocks," Spottedleaf pointed out. "Not all of it is on the ground or nearby."
Fireleap pouted at her. "And what will you be doing while I'm away?" She glanced at Rusty. "Daydreaming?"
"Ha. Ha." Spottedleaf rolled her eyes. "Don't be daft. There's plenty for everyone to do. Besides, being a medicine cat isn't all about healing. You can go out and make friends same as anyone else. Technically easier because medicine cats are exempt from a lot of traveling restrictions like warriors are."
Fireleap perked up at that. "Oh really?"
"And if someone strikes your fancy, you can actually court them now, although please tell me beforehand so I don't decide to court someone and we accidentally deprive ThunderClan of both its medicine cats at the same time."
"The thought hadn't crossed my mind, actually," Fireleap mewed. "Been too busy with the whole apprentice thing lately."
"Glad to hear it," Spottedleaf mewed.
Tigerclaw emerged from the barn, jaws full of prey, and he dropped it on the ground. "Welcome back," he purred. "Did it go well?"
"I'm Fireleap now," Fireleap mewed, taking a mouse and tearing into it as though she hadn't eaten in moons.
"Glad to hear it," Tigerclaw meowed. "ThunderClan gratefully welcomes another medicine cat alongside one of the best in the business."
"Laying it on a bit thick, Tigerclaw," Yellowfang mewed. "It doesn't suit you."
"You're right, it doesn't," he admitted. "But it's true nonetheless, by ThunderClan standards."
"Thank you for looking after Tigerclaw," Spottedleaf mewed to Barley. "Sorry if he's been troubling you," she added to Rusty, who shook his head.
"He's been extremely helpful," Rusty purred. "A much better teacher than me, that's for sure, so if you need anything, don't hesitate to ask him."
"That's a relief to hear," Fireleap mewed, as Spottedleaf made ready to leave, quietly bidding farewell to the loners. "Thank you, both of you, for helping ThunderClan as well as you have. I just hope you can pass your kindness on to other clans as well."
"We shall see what the next Gathering brings us," Tigerclaw meowed. "And who will be willing to listen to it."