Chapter 6

The den was empty and hollow. She felt the same way. Like she lost a part of her soul. Of course she did, she gave it away. Trying to stand up, she winced in pain and tumbled back down. What a wound and bummer. Quinpaw was quite powerful, she'll give her that. Was it really a wise choise to give away-

"You're awake. Hello again Snowpaw." Metalclaw creeped up from her direction.

"Oh, hello Metalclaw. How are you? What happened while I was asleep? Wait, was it rude to fall asleep like that?" Snowpaw sounded distressed. Metalclaw laughed and shook his head.

"No, no. It's alright. You were meant to fall asleep. That was what those poppy seeds were for too. Mostly to ease the pain to be honest." He spoke. Snowpaw looked up. Her weirdly, multi-coloured eyes glowed as the sunrise rose from behind. Metalclaw jerked his head. "You are one strange cat. I will give you that." He laughed.

"What do you mean? Oh, you mean my fur and eyes?" her voice died away into melancholy and her ears drooped her head fell down to her paws. Metalclaw padded to her.

"Do not seem sad. It is alright. You are actually quite special." Snowpaw's eyes glowed in hope again and looked up at him. She smiled and they both locked eyes for a few heartbeats until Metalclaw stood up and began to walk over to his stash of medicine berries. Was he going to give her more berries? Soon, he came back holding leaves. He chewed on them and spread them on Snowpaw's wound. It stung horribly. "Dried oak leaves. This way, there surely will not be an infection." Snowpaw flinched but resisted, knowing it was good for her. She turned her head towards the sun. However, questions hit her. How will I resume my training? I'll have a lot of catching up. Will they all think I'm weak? Or just trying to make drama. And most importantly, how is my wound still open?

The sky turned all sorts of colours. Pink and blue. The same colour as part of her fur and eyes. Pink clouds and blue sky. She turned her head back down to look at her wounded shoulders. They were starting to look better. A scent hit her nose. She recognised it like the back of her paw. Lionfoot! She turned her head with joy on her face to see the ginger cat standing at the entrance, standing big and tall. As soon as he entered, he jumped and snuggled right into Snowpaw. "Lionfoot!" she laughed. The tom looked up at her and smiled.

"I couldn't keep my strong act seeing my poor kit harmed. Sirentail told me what happened. Quinpaw got quite the scolding." they both laughed.

"It wasn't her fault though. Mostly mine to be honest." she turned her head to only show half. Lionfoot stood up and looked down at Snowpaw sympathetically. "Snowpaw, once you are well, our training will resume. We will go easy if you need to." Snowpaw drew back. Go... Easy?! How could he think that? My own father and mentor? Pain drew itself into her heart. She couldn't be kind anymore, nor polite, not after what Lionfoot had just said. "How could you!" she cried. Lionfoot took a step back in shock. "Lionfoot, I am not that weak! It's just two cuts! Just two cuts and you think that we need to go easy?!" Lionfoot opened his mouth but Snowpaw didn't let him speak. "No, Lionfoot! I will train! And I will not hold back! Watch me!" Knowing the pain and risk this was going to cost, she stood up. Metalclaw immediately jumped to her. "Please, Snowpaw. You must sit back down. Your wound will open once more." But his confort was like a tiny fire trying to melt an iceberg. The stared her mentor down, not moving. However, she knew better than to disobey a medicine cat. She slowly sat back down and turned away from him in a flash. Lionfoot nodded to Metalclaw as goodbye and began to leave. Snowpaw felt so much guilt, but she didn't have a reason to. Another voice was heard from behind. Mothpaw entered. Snowpaw was delighted to see him. "Mothpaw! I-"

"Snowpaw, please. Keep your words to yourself. I have come for a different purpose." Mothpaw interrupted. This wasn't like him. Acting so heartless, was exactly the opposite of what he was. She was going to act the same way then.

"Then state your purpose." Metalclaw spoke for her. It surprised them both. "I do not want you wasting nor your or my time to treat you injured sister."

Mothpaw stuttered "I came with a message from Silverstar. She hopes that you get better soon. She could not say this herself as she has a lot of duties to serve the Clan. And sorry for my heartlessness. I was just joking around. Hope I didn't make you sad, Snowpaw." Silverstar? That was surprising. But was that all Silverstar had to say. "Also, since Leaf-bare is coming soon, she wanted to ask if you could heal Snowpaw's wound and get her back in shape as quickly as possible to hunt for us." Mothpaw added "Even though we shouldn't worry since we have Honeywing." They all purred in amusement.

"Tell her, I have gotten her message and will work as quickly as I can. It can be hard without an apprentice of my own. That begs the question, shouldn't you be training right now?" Metalclaw asked.

"Yeah, Darkfang is a good mentor, isn't he? What'd you learn?" Snowpaw chimed in.

"Well, he had to go on a patrol with Ironblaze, Browndust, Stalewing and Cherrypaw. That'll explain why Quinpaw isn't training right now eigther. Though why did they have go? Couldn't I go with them?" he sounded dissapointed.

"Usually there can only be a few warrioes and up to two apprentices." Metalclaw replied calmly as he turned to grab another herb. Snowpaw felt a jab of pain when she looked to see her open wound. Mothpaw ran to her to sit with her in her pain. "Don't worry brother. I'll be fine. Ow, but why does it keep opening? At this point, I might as well die from an infection-"

"Don't you dare say that!" Mothpaw cried "If I would have lost you, I would search a whole bush of Deathberries and eat them just to see you in StarClan!" Snowpaw was moved by his brother's affection. So much for trying to be heartless as well. Metalclaw returned with small yellow flowers. "Here, this should dry the wound." he recommended.

"What herb is this?" a new voice came from behind, reading their minds. It was Quinpaw.

"Why, it is Wood Sorrel, dear Quinpaw. What brings you here?" Metalclaw answered. He seemed much more interested when she entered. Mothpaw narrowed his eyes at the sight of her. Snowpaw wondered why. Placing the Wood Sorrel on her wound made her flinch, but she knew that it would resume her apprentice training as soon as possible. She was sitting in that medicine den for more than two days. Shouldn't have to take that long.

"Metalclaw. I have something to tell you. Something important. Yesterday, I had a dream, a prophecy, from StarClan." All eyes were wide and on her. Mothpaw stared suspiciously.

"What about Quinpaw?" Metalclaw looked even more interested; Like he was waiting for her to say certain words. "I saw Wingpaw." Everyone flinched and drew back at the name. Wingpaw was the previous medicine cat apprentice that had died from a ShadowClan raid. "She told me she was dissapointed in you, Metalclaw, for your offer. She told me, no matter what, I must decline. And I wouldn't disagree. I would decline anyways." Metalclaw looked so ashamed with shock he fell to the ground. "And the prophecy. I-I saw the sky turn red and the ground glow white. Though in the distance I saw a brown tom. And that scared me. The only brown toms I know, are Browndust and my brother," she turned to face Mothpaw and stared into his amber eyes "Mothpaw." she looked down but was in deep distress. All cats remained silent. Even Metalclaw.

"I do not know what this means but I will tell Silverstar that I had the dream since you are not a medicine cat." Metalclaw suggested, standing up to leave.

"Wise choice, Metalclaw" Quinpaw called after him, not turning around. Metalclaw didn't waste another moment and bounded to find Silverstar. "Take care of Snowpaw for me!" was the last thing he called before his pelt disappeared in the bushes.

"What offer-" Snowpaw started.

"Don't worry about it."