Snakeshade awoke with a start, his head shooting up as he was unaware of his surroundings. It took him a moment to remember that the reason the scent of RiverClan and herbs were all around him was because he was staying in RiverClan's medicine den. Swallowtail, RiverClan's medicine cat, dozed silently in her nest. Beside her was Fennelpaw, her apprentice.
Through the entrance of the den, Snakeshade could tell that dawn had only just broken. The whole camp would be awake soon, beginning their day. His jaw broke in a yawn and he stretched, arching his back and tail. The tips of his claws extended outward and he quickly shook himself and then gave his pelt a few brisk licks. Snakeshade realized he hadn't groomed himself in days, and he probably looked like some loner to the cats of RiverClan.
Crowstar hadn't come to him with a decision last night, not that he expected her to. It was a lot to ask of another Clan's leader. He figured he would be here for a couple of days before Crowstar decided whether or not to help him.
As he groomed his fur, Swallowtail began to stir. She stretched as well and then sat up, taking a few moments before she turned to Snakeshade with a purr.
"I hope you slept well," she meowed as she got to her paws. She shook out moss from her pelt and then moved to begin work on her herb stores, her back facing him.
"I did, thank you," Snakeshade replied. He stretched out his muscles and just as he was about to speak to Swallowtail again angry hisses and yowls sounded from the clearing outside. Both he and the medicine cat perked their ears.
"I wonder what all the noise is about," she meowed and padded to the den entrance. Slowly, Snakeshade followed her and peaked out.
A crowd of RiverClan warriors were clustered in the middle of the camp, their tails and fur raised, growls echoed around as they seemed to be surrounding something. The crowd shifted just enough for a flash of silver and black fur to be seen, as well as scared blue eyes.
Silentpaw!
"Wait!" He yowled, shooting out of the medicine den, "Stop please! She's my apprentice!" At the sound of his voice, Silentpaw's expression lightened and she looked hopeful, though she was still pressed close to the dirt with her tail curled in tightly to her.
A yellow tom spun and hissed at him, "Is this some kind of delayed attack?"
"You ThunderClan cats think you can do anything you want!" Snarled Seedfoot, a brown she-cat at his side.
"No no, please listen," Snakeshade begged, "She's mute! She must have followed me here. She isn't a danger to-"
"What is going on here?" Crowstar's voice drowned out his own and Snakeshade's head snapped around to see the RiverClan leader approach with Swallowtail and Troutbelly following behind. Her eyes flicked between the crowd, Silentpaw, and then came to rest on Snakeshade again.
"Care to explain?" Crowstar asked him.
"She's my apprentice," he said again, "I had no idea she would follow me here. I was chased out of camp after Tawnyhaze's vigil. She hasn't been an apprentice for long, please show her mercy."
Crowstar stared at him for a few heartbeats and then looked back to Silentpaw. "She is only an apprentice," she said after a moment, "leave her be and I will handle her."
The crowd dispersed with growls, whispers and eyes casted in their direction. Snakeshade let out a breath of relief and looked to Crowstar. "Thank you," he said.
"Don't thank me just yet," she said, "you didn't say anything about your apprentice following you here."
Silentpaw crept up to Snakeshade, pressing her fur against his and looked up at Crowstar and Troutbelly with large eyes. Her ears lay flat against her head and she was trembling. Obviously she was very frightened to be sitting in the middle of another Clan's camp.
"Like I just told you," Snakeshade said as he rested his tail against Silentpaw's pelt, "I didn't know she would. Before Adderstar was killed we were sitting vigil for Tawnyhaze, she was still with her when I got chased out." Thinking back on the events of that evening, he remembered the look on Sweetgrass and her face as he looked at the Clan from across the border.
Crowstar seemed to be thinking about what he said and it left him feeling uneasy.
"Please let her stay," Snakeshade begged, "I know I have asked a lot of you and your Clan, but I fear for her safety if she were to return to ThunderClan now. Her father seemed to have been in on the plot to kill Adderstar."
His winced as his words caused Troutbelly's fur to spike and he let out a low hiss, "So she could be a spy! Here to tell Robinwing that RiverClan is housing a traitor!"
Crowstar raised her tail, "Be calm, Troutbelly," she said and her deputy retreated, ducking his head. She turned her gaze to the two of them, "Snakeshade, I have thought all night about what you have asked of me and my Clan…"
Anxiety rippled under the brown tom's pelt. iPlease do not kick us out… /i
"RiverClan will aid you in your intent to take back ThunderClan. If it is as you say, then a false leader in any Clan is a danger to us all."
"But Crowstar-" Troutbelly tried to object but he was silenced by a flick of her tail.
"My word is final," she declared.
With her declaration she gave the two of them permission to stay with Swallowtail, as there was little room in both the warriors' and apprentices' den. They were also to help aid in RiverClan's daily duties if they were to stay. Snakeshade could continue to train Silentpaw and they would hunt and patrol for RiverClan as long as they were with them. To him, Crowstar was more than generous with them. She had given them a place to stay for the time being, able to recuperate from the shock of losing both Tawnyhaze and Adderstar in one day, and being driven out by their Clan.
When Crowstar left them, Silentpaw looked at him, her eyes and expression conveying everything she was feeling. She was sad, and worried for her Clanmates. Whatever Viperthorn had planned for ThunderClan it likely wasn't good.
"Don't worry, Silentpaw," he said as he gave the top of her head a quick lick. "I won't let him get away with this. We'll stop him."
Silentpaw gave him a slow blink and then nuzzled her face into his fur.
Fear gripped his heart as he wondered how he was going to do that. RiverClan had already agreed to help, but would they be willing to risk their lives? He wasn't sure.