Chapter 12: Loner to Medicine Cat Apprentice

It had been a rough moon for Hawk, her paws were working endlessly to try and heal the infection on Minteye's scratched eye. After so long, it had finally recovered. However, Poppyclaw was doubtful that the she-cat would ever be able to see again. Hawk had to agree, it was still ugly to look at compared to the strangely clouded blue eye that stared blankly as it was.

Thankfully, Hawk felt accomplished and more situated with her gifts. She was never the best hunter, but hungry bellies were quick on their paws in a time of need. Although, she was surprised to overhear Poppyclaw talking to Blackdapple about the white she-cat. She paused by them, dumbly as she heard the concern in Poppyclaw's mew.

"She hasn't been able to catch anything at all?" the medicine cat meowed incredously.

The white she-cat dappled with black spots nodded. "I'm not sure why. Then again, lately she has been squinting after a session of hunting. I'm not sure why she would be. It's not that bright out usually."

"How strange. We will have to conduct a test." Poppyclaw decided. "At sunset we will head out and I will shadow her to make sure she is hunting properly."

Of course, Hawk had to open her big dumb mouth. "Is something the matter with her?"

Blackdapple shot her a distrustful glare. "Nothing you can help with." she responded in a tight mew.

Poppyclaw ignored his clan-mate. "Icepaw, the white she-cat with very pale blue eyes, has been squinting after being out hunting and hasn't caught a single thing."

"Why consult with her?" the she-cat fumed, her tail lashing. "She doesn't know anything about clan-life."

Hawk blinked, padding closer. "I may not know anything about clan-life, but I know white furred cats can hunt." Blackdapple snapped her gaze onto her in surprise.

"White furred cats?"

"Solid white." Hawk confirmed, her gaze flicking to Poppyclaw. "The only ones who never could are the ones whose eyes are kind of pink or purple-like in color. They always stared blankly like Minteye's cloudy one does."

"Is there a reason why?" her mentor asked, tilting his head to one side.

She looked away. "I don't know, myself. But I spoke to one once and they told me that one day things got hazy and colors blurred and before they knew it they woke up one day and it was dark. They said white cats usually can't hear, but some times one will be born white furred and strange eyes that will one day no longer see."

"Icepaw won't be." Blackdapple hissed.

"You don't know that." Hawk explained. "Nobody does. For now, it's best that we just see what happens. Think of it as a health assessment. It's for Icepaw's health that we help figure out what the problem is. If it's the sun, we can have her do dusk-hunting to give her more time to become a warrior."

"There is no guarantee that it will work out." Poppyclaw grumbled, "But it's worth a try. After all, what do we have to loose? Icepaw is an excellent fighter, but to be a warrior she must be an excellent hunter as well."

Blackdapple looked at them, uneasy. "I'll speak to Nightstar about this matter."

That was the last Hawk had seen of her. On her long travels for moons she had seen many cats. She knew that they would be fine, but in the end, she had to hope it wasn't what she spoke about. Or else there would be another young cat in the elder's den much earlier then they should be.

.

Hawk had received the news that the plan would unfold and she would also take part in shadowing Icepaw. She wished she could decline, but she was never part of the meeting. She had no plans to take over for Poppyclaw, but she would if she must. After all, StarClan did say her path is to the Moonstone. She just wished it was a much clearer path.

Quickly, the young apprentice headed into the growing shadows to hunt. Hawk followed Poppyclaw into the brush to watch. She was careful with each step, making sure her fur didn't brush against any ferns or caught on any gorse or twigs. She could spot Icepaw from a long distance, her white pelt glowing a flaming orange in the setting sun as she picked her way through the scraggly trees.

Hawk blinked, surprised with how the she-cat moved swift but steady through the undergrowth. Her paw-steps moving slowly as she spotted a squirrel. The white she-cat was frozen, holding still as she checked the wind and moved accordingly. Hawk nodded slightly, knowing this was all the proper movements of a hunter.

The squirrel froze, tail flicking as it lifted it's pointed head before running off with a shrill call. Hawk blinked, shocked even as Icepaw gave chase, her paws flying as she pelted through the trees. Quickly Poppyclaw and Hawk followed, just in time to see the apprentice lashing her tail crossly with a frustrated hiss. Hawk looked to Poppyclaw, sure of it now.

"Well, do you have a diagnosis?" Her mentor asked.

She nodded. "Perhaps if she disguises her fur with soil, it will help her blend in better."

"Anything else you can tell?"

"Dawn and Dusk are proper times to hunt for her." she recommended. "But to have a proper diagnosis I will have to see her hunt tomorrow at sun-high."

Poppyclaw snorted, "Of course, talking like a proper medicine cat."

"Well that's what you taught me." Hawk replied warmly, "Maybe StarClan will come to us and let us know if we are able to help Icepaw."

"StarClan brought you here to become a medicine cat." Poppyclaw reminded her, "There is a chance you were meant to be here for us."

"You said StarClan works in mysterious ways. After all, you did say Icepaw was apprenticed a moon early. Are we sure Nightstar made the proper choice? I mean, Icepaw is excellent in hunting, but hunting is harder for her. It could be a sign that she can't be a warrior."

The dark ginger tom looked away to where Blackdapple was bringing Icepaw to them. "She has to be if you are here." He mewed stubbornly.

The black dappled white she-cat padded up to them, green eyes coldly resting on the medicine cat apprentice. "So, Hawk, what is the verdict?"

"Dawn and Dusk for hunting would be good as well as rolling in soil to blend in better."

"Any cat could have thought of that!" The she-cat snapped, turning her furious glare onto Poppyclaw. "What on earth is StarClan thinking!? She's not even a mouse tail's worth of help!"

"She needs to see Icepaw hunt again tomorrow at sun-high to be sure." Poppyclaw rumbled. "Which is to see what you have been so she can decide it for sure."

"We were fine with just you, we don't need some stranger!" Blackdapple's neck fur was fluffed up with rage.

Hawk looked to Icepaw who looked despondent to the situation. "Young Icepaw, do you feel awful for not hunting well?"

"I could have caught it." she murmured.

"I know you can." she tried to encourage the young cat. "My sister is a timid cat, she ad trouble learning to hunt because she was overwhelmed by sounds. She got the hang of it eventually. Then again, she was twice your age. So that's not much competition."

Icepaw looked up at her, ice-blue eyes gleaming, her pupils slightly red in the growing twilight. "Really? Cats that old can't hunt?"

"Well she was a kittypet and most of them don't bother with hunting. Some do. In fact, I was always an awful huntress. I get lost in my thoughts, or hearing things or even seeing faded cats. They lead me here in a way, I want to find out why. More importantly, I want to find a way to help you become the best hunter you can be. So please, try everything even if it sounds uncomfortable."

The young she-cat nodded, seeming to be cheered up a little. "I will."

"You were saying about not needing some stranger?" Poppyclaw huffed, getting to his paws. "Let's try the soil to blend in for Icepaw. Perhaps even the scent of earth will keep the prey confused as well."

"Right now?" The white apprentice mewed, shocked.

"It's best we do so we can see if you hunt well with that technique." The medicine cat looked up at Blackdapple, "Don't you agree?"

"Fine, but if it doesn't work than it was just a waste of time getting her dirty." She growled, shooting a distrustful glare to Hawk.

She could only ignore them as she scratched up the grass to get to the earth. It was hard, but Hawk was going to do everything she could to help Icepaw's progress. Even if it wasn't a lot or just a little. It was the most the young apprentice would need. A cat who couldn't hunt would feel like a burden, Hawk would know. She felt that way whenever she couldn't bring prey back for her brother and sister.

A sharp pang of loneliness clutched at her heart like a pair of eagle talons. She missed Shadow and Dusk a lot; much more than she can say. Yet, she knew their paths would possibly never converge peacefully again.

Author Note:

Hawk gives an encouraging talk and continues to angst about the losses she made for StarClan's sake. - Nightsky