The Blood Of Forbidden Love II: Leafpool's Betrayal
Chapter 2
Barkface was wandering around the medicine cat den, taking inventory, Crowfeather assumed. A Gathering was coming soon and Crowfeather could find out what was wrong with Leafpool. He hadn't forgotten Feathertail's prophecy or Squirrelflight and Brambleclaw's strange behavior. Usually, his two old friends greeted him happily and he was the bitter one about it.
"Hello, Crowfeather. I'm just taking inventory. I'll give you some poppy seeds in a bit. Now, let's get some cobweb first. The scar on your side is bleeding a bit," Barkface walked to the other side of the room, grabbed some cobweb in his mouth, and fitted it on Crowfeather's wound.
"Ouch," meowed Crowfeather.
"Oh, stop your mewing. I'll get some poppy seeds."
Crowfeather licked up the seeds and walked outside the den. He suddenly had a troubled thought. What if he wasn't permitted to attend the Gathering? Then he'd never know what's wrong with Leafpool!
"Fox dung! I have to do something great…to attend the Gathering,"
Crowfeather went back to the den. He needed a cat to talk to, one from his own Clan. Barkface would be fair about it he hoped.
"Barkface?" Crowfeather mewed quietly into the medicine cat den.
"Yes, Crowfeather?" Barkface appeared from behind a shelf, covered in thorns. "One of the apprentices stumbled into thorns while chasing a squirrel. He did catch it though and, luckily, it was large enough for me and you to share."
Crowfeather laid down and began to eat his share of the squirrel.
"Uh, Barkface, I need to attend the Gathering."
"I'm afraid that's not going to happen, most likely. Onestar is still quite fierce about you and Leafpool."
"But I have to. I was out by the border and I saw Squirrelflight and Brambleclaw by a bush on the other side. Yes, I know I shouldn't have left camp but I had a dream and I was a little discouraged. They said something's wrong with Leafpool and they weren't allowed to say what. Apparently, I did it to her and I don't know what! I need to see her!"
"First of all, I see why you need to attend. Secondly, I won't tell Onestar about your little escapade to the border. Thirdly, what were Brambleclaw and Leafpool doing? Lastly, why are you telling me this?"
"I don't know what they were doing. I need to attend, as you know, and I need help figuring out how to do something great…so I can attend."
"Oh, I see. Well, the fresh kill pile is a bit low…but you're not allowed to hunt. I'll talk to Onestar. In the meantime, help the elders, help me with herbs, and don't run off to the border again!"
"I'll go see the elders and bring them some fresh kill," Crowfeather's tail drooped.
"Great and be happy about it! If Onestar notices how happy you are, he might think you've learned your lesson…which you've clearly have not."
Crowfeather's tail flew up in the air and he began to purr forcibly. He grabbed a large, plump rabbit for the elders and he took them some fresh bedding. When he arrived, he plopped the rabbit in front of them, still purring, and began to change their bedding.
"Who forced you to do this, Crowfeather?" One of the elders asked.
"No one. I just wanted to help. Do any of you have ticks? I'll go get some mouse bile if you do. Then, I'll bring some water…" Crowfeather was still purring.
"I have a couple ticks. And water would be great!" Another elder meowed. Crowfeather happily ran off to the medicine cat den. He hoped to see Onestar there, so he could tell him what he was doing if asked. Fortunately, Onestar was there.
"What are you doing here, Crowfeather? And where were you, anyway?" Onestar looked curiously at him.
"Oh, hello, Onestar! I'm helping out the elders. Barkface? Can I have some mouse bile? One of the elders has ticks. I also need some water. Can I go get some?"
"No, that won't be necessary. I have some by my bedding. Here's some mouse bile. Don't forget to wash your paws and don't get any of it in your mouth. Make sure the elders have some water before you use the mouse bile, that way you can wash your paws afterwards. Take them a mouse. I know you gave them a rabbit but they could still be hungry."
"We don't have enough prey for that, Barkface."
Crowfeather saw his oppurtunity. "I'll go hunt and take a couple cats with me…if it's allright?"
"Allright. But finish with the elders first and take two warriors with you. If you bring back enough prey to fill the pile, I'll let you go to the Gathering. But stay with Barkface at the Gathering," Turning to Barkface, Onestar meowed at him. "You keep an eye on him. He's still a traitor."
Crowfeather hurried to the elders and finished, doing exactly what Barkface said (except the mouse).
When he was hunting Crowfeather scented the stale smell of ThunderClan, RiverClan, ShadowClan, and WindClan. But he knew Barkface was with them and the other night was a half moon. They were just going to Highstone, thought Crowfeather. He smelled stale fox and reminded himself to inform Onestar. He caught three rabbits, two squirrels, and a mouse. Plently enough for the pile.
"Onestar! I smelled stale fox near the ThunderClan border. I also caught enough for the pile."
Onestar inspected the pile and nodded, giving permission to attend the Gathering.