Heronpaw held his head high as he entered camp the next day. A fat squirrel hung from his mouth, its fluffy tail dragging on the ground. He had caught the creature as it tried to flee up a tree trunk. A mighty leap and good aim had brought the prey down. Kestrelfeather had been impressed.
"Heronpaw! Nice catch!" Dawnheart called. The cream-colored warrior was sharing a bird with Blackmoth beside the elder's den. Heronpaw waved his tail at them. Blackmoth nodded at the apprentice's squirrel. Heronpaw's heart lifted higher.
He had actually tried today. Talking to Morningpaw and Dawnheart the day before had convinced him that he needed to change his attitude. He had been a model apprentice; following orders, being proactive, and leaving his sour feelings behind. If Kestrelfeather was still annoyed with him it didn't show today. They had worked together and brought home a respectful amount of prey.
Together, mentor and apprentice padded up to the fresh-kill pile to deposit their offering. Several cats murmured with approval as Heronpaw passed. There would be prey for the stores today.
Heronpaw's mouth watered as he dropped the warm squirrel at the edge of the pile. Kestrelfeather looked at him. His green eyes were much softer than they had been the past quarter-moon.
"Take these to the queens and Plumleaf." The auburn warrior said, gesturing to the three mice they had caught. "Then you can take that squirrel and eat."
Heronpaw's ears perked up.
"Thanks, Kestrelfeather."
"You did well today." Kestrelfeather purred. "I'm glad you're feeling better."
The warrior pulled a shrew from the pile and padded off to where Runningriver was lounging near the warrior's den. Heronpaw watched his mentor approach the beautiful silver tabby and gently touch noses with her. Runningriver's blue eyes glowed as she looked at Kestrelfeather and the two sat close together, their pelts brushing.
Heronpaw shivered. Would a she-cat look at him like that one day? His thoughts flew to Petalpaw and her soft fur and kind eyes. He shook himself inwardly. Never Petalpaw. She was a medicine cat apprentice and had her duties to think about.
Heronpaw picked up the mice and made his way to the nursery. He stopped outside the entrance and announced himself.
"It's Heronpaw. I've brought mice."
"Come in!" A soft voice answered. Heronpaw squeezed past the thick outer layers of bracken and into the warm den. Honeyleaf was the only queen there. Her kits, Cyotekit and Wolfkit, were wrestling in a corner. Heronpaw was surprised to see three tiny bundles at the curve of Honeyleaf's belly.
"Where's Quailstep?" He asked, setting down two of the mice.
Honeyleaf reached over and dragged one towards her. "She needed some herbs for her cough." The queen mewed brightly. Her twitching tail betrayed her nerves. "She'll be back in no time."
Heronpaw's belly lurched. Quailstep was coughing? She couldn't be ill. She had these tiny kits to feed. He watched the little things wriggle at Honeyleaf's flank. One, a ginger she-cat like her father, gave a piteous wail and scrabbled at the queen's side.
Honeyleaf saw Heronpaw staring and she purred.
"Would you like to meet them?" she asked. Heronpaw nodded.
"The loud one is Waspkit." Honeyleaf said fondly. "She's always letting us know when she's grumpy." The cream she-cat rested her tail on the second kit, a fluffy gray she-cat with white spots. "This is Fawnkit."
Heronpaw's breath caught in his chest. The tiny she-kit reminded him forcibly of Dovekit. He pushed back the sudden wave of old grief and focused his attention on the final kit.
Honeyleaf brushed her tail over the little thing, a spotted tabby tom. "And this is Lynxkit."
"They're so small." Heronpaw breathed. He leaned in and looked at the precious kits. The future of CedarClan lay at his paws. He shivered again. Plumleaf would keep their mother healthy. He had to believe that.
Honeyleaf thanked him and with a polite nod, Heronpaw backed out of the nursery. He took the remaining mouse around the edge of the clearing to the medicine clearing. He set the mouse down and called out softly.
After a moment Petalpaw emerged from behind the rocks. Her eyes grew round at the sight of the mouse. She swiped her tongue around her jaws
"Is that for us?" she said.
Heronpaw purred and nodded. "How's Cloudpelt?" he added.
Petalpaw's hunger melted away and she flattened her ears in frustration. "He's not getting any better or worse." She sighed. "It has to be so hard for Morningpaw."
"She's handling it well." Heronpaw reassured her.
Petalpaw rolled her eyes. "Of course. It's Morningpaw."
Heronpaw purred. He looked into Petalpaw's eyes and felt his worry begin to melt away. If she wasn't afraid then he shouldn't be. A question gnawed at the back of his mind. He thought of the kits in the nursery and all that they represented.
"I have something I want to ask you." He blurted out.
Petalpaw looked at him and tilted her head. "Okay." She said in a leading tone.
Heronpaw shook his head. "Not here. Will you meet me at sunset by the entrance?"
Petalpaw's eyes grew round. She hesitated for a heartbeat, then nodded.
"Thank you." Heronpaw said. Relief washed over him. Maybe now he could get some answers.
The two apprentices parted ways. Heronpaw made his way back to the fresh-kill pile. His squirrel still lay untouched. Heronpaw grabbed it and dragged it to his eating spot beside the apprentice's den. He sat at the base of the stone that apprentices often used as a sunning spot and began to eat.
The squirrel was big. Heronpaw only managed half of it before feeling full. He pushed the prey aside and began washing his paws and muzzle. It wasn't long before Crowpaw and Talonscore entered the camp. Both were carrying birds. Heronpaw caught Crowpaw's attention as his brother added his catch to the pile. Crowpaw spotted the squirrel and bounded over.
"Did you catch that?" The black apprentice's blue eyes glowed with hunger at the sight of the plump animal.
Heronpaw nodded and gestured with his tail. "You can have the rest. I'm full."
Crowpaw purred appreciatively and sat down to tuck into his meal.
The brothers sat in relative silence for a while. Once Crowpaw was finished eating the two apprentices shared tongues in the fading evening light. A light snow began to fall by the time the sun had dipped below the tree line.
As the sun began to set, Heronpaw heard a commotion just outside of the camp entrance. He pricked his ears and raised his head off of his paws. Crowpaw did the same beside him as did other lounging warriors around the clearing.
After a moment, Hawkpaw burst through the camp entrance. His tail was bushed out and his eyes were wild. He skidded to a halt a few fox-lengths into camp and let out a panicked howl. "Plumleaf!"
Heronpaw jumped to his feet but Crowpaw was faster. He darted away to fetch the medicine cat. Heronpaw hurried over to Hawkpaw instead.
Whiteshade got to the frantic apprentice first. "What happened?" the deputy demanded.
Hawkpaw opened his mouth to respond but was interrupted by more cats coming through the entrance.
Swiftwing came through first. He was supporting Elkheart, Specklepaw's mentor, with his shoulder. The brown warrior was wheezing audibly. Just behind them came Falconstorm and Morningpaw. The calico she-cat was leaning heavily on the dark tabby's side. Her eyes and nose were streaming and her breath was as labored as Elkheart's. Specklepaw trailed after the others. Her blue eyes were stretched wide with fear.
A stone dropped into Heronpaw's belly. Two more sick cats? He watched, rooted to the spot, as Swiftwing and Falconstorm escorted their sick clanmates to where Plumleaf and Petalpaw had emerged from the medicine den.
Heronpaw's heart twisted as Petalpaw caught sight of her sister. The tabby she-cat let out a distressed wail and hurried forward to help steady Morningpaw.
Heronpaw could see his own fear reflected in his clanmates' eyes. They stood awkwardly on the edge of the clearing, sharing uncertain glances with one another. Many turned their eyes to Blizzardstar who, alongside his mate Sweetsorrel, had come out of his den to see what was happening. The expectant gazes of the clan turned to apprehension as their leader seemed to shrink at the sight of his daughters struggling across the clearing.
Sweetsorrel cried out and dashed over to her daughters. Shadowgrove intercepted the distraught queen and led her away.
Whiteshade whispered something into Blizzardstar's ear. Blizzardstar nodded and retreated back into his den. The deputy stepped forward and addressed the cats in the clearing with a loud voice.
"Go back to your dens. Let Plumleaf work."
Heronpaw watched as his clanmates obeyed without question. Ferntail greeted Falconstorm with a nervous lick on the cheek at the entrance to the warrior's den. Blackmoth hurried forward and led a dazed Specklepaw back to the apprentice's den.
"She just collapsed on patrol." Hawkpaw whispered.
Heronpaw turned and saw that his brother was staring after Morningpaw with unblinking eyes. Hawkpaw gripped the cold ground with his claws.
"I couldn't help her." He said through gritted teeth.
Heronpaw didn't know what to say. He didn't know how to ease Hawkpaw's fears when he himself had so many.
Hawkpaw shook his head and made his way toward the apprentice's den. His tail dragged in the dirt and snow.
Heronpaw watched him go, numb. Once the sick cats had disappeared into the medicine den the few cats still in the clearing retreated into their dens. Heronpaw walked back to his nest on unfeeling paws. He plopped down next to Crowpaw at the mouth of the den. They sat in silence until the colors of dusk had faded and nothing remained but the brightness of the stars.
Heronpaw looked at the sky. It was just after sunset. Would Petalpaw still want to meet? He might as well try. Perhaps she needed comfort. He got to his paws as casually as he could manage.
"I think I'm going to go for a walk." He said, stretching.
Crowpaw looked up and tilted his head. "Okay." He said after a pause.
Heronpaw waved his tail, trying to look normal. He padded across the clearing and to the camp entrance. He slipped through the tunnel, relieved to find that the night guard had yet to be posted. He didn't want anycat becoming suspicious.
He stopped and gave the frozen air a sniff. No sign of Petalpaw's herb-laden scent. He padded a few tail-lengths away from the entrance and sat down between some ferns to wait. A few heartbeats passed before Heronpaw heard rustling. His ears perked up as Petalpaw emerged from the tunnel. She was carrying a leaf wrap and her ears were twitching nervously.
"Are you okay?" Heronpaw asked as the tabby she-cat drew near. She shook her head and gestured further into the forest. Heronpaw followed her lead.
She led him away from the camp and, Heronpaw assumed, prying eyes and ears. They headed down towards the stream for a bit before Petalpaw veered to the left into a clump of brambles. Heronpaw faltered, wincing. He was about to call out and ask if she was okay when he noticed that she had seemingly disappeared. He stepped back, confused.
Petalpaw's tabby head poked out of the brambles a moment later.
"Come in." She said. She pulled her head back and vanished again. Heronpaw took a tentative step forward. As he got closer he realized that there was a well-hidden hole in the brambles just large enough for a cat to slip into. Heronpaw squeezed into the hole, wincing as the thorns scraped his shoulders.
Beyond the thorns was a small hollow against the base of a tree. The brambles formed a cocoon around the hollow, blocking out the chill wind and gray sky. The ground was clear of snow here and the air was slightly warmer. Bunches of green plants still grew, safe from frost and snow. Heronpaw marveled.
"What is this place?" He said reverently.
Petalpaw looked up from where she was going through the herbs in her leaf wrap.
"It's Plumleaf's herb place." She said. "Some of the more resilient herbs can grow here even in leaf-bare." She returned to sorting herbs.
"What are those for?" Heronpaw asked. Petalpaw didn't reply right away. She finished separating the herbs into two piles before sighing and looking up to meet Heronpaw's gaze.
The close quarters made Heronpaw's pelt shiver. Petalpaw was so close, her sweet scent making Heronpaw feel dizzy. She gazed at him with beautiful green eyes.
"Petalpaw…"
"I need to go to the Moontree." Petalpaw said suddenly.
Heronpaw blinked. "Why?"
"Morningpaw is sick." Petalpaw dropped her gaze to her paws. Her voice shook. "Morningpaw is sick and there's nothing I can do for her!" she repeated in a wail.
"Surely Plumleaf can cure whitecough." Heronpaw said. He moved forward and pressed his flank to Petalpaw's. Petalpaw shook her head. Her green eyes shone with despair.
"Not without catmint. It's the only cure, and WillowClan won't give us any." She said.
Heronpaw's belly twisted with shock. He looked at the sparse greenery dotting the ground at their paws. "CedarClan doesn't have any at all?"
Petalpaw shook her head. "What little we do have was killed in the early frost. That's why I need to go to the Moontree." She stood up and faced Heronpaw. The fear in her eyes was replaced with a fire of determination. "StarClan will show me where to find more catmint."
Heronpaw was confused.
"What about Plumleaf?" he said. Petalpaw looked away.
"She thinks we can still find some on our own. StarClan helps cats who help themselves." She said bitterly.
"You don't think so?"
Petalpaw looked at him again.
"I think it's too risky. Beepelt is an elder. Quailstep has kits. Brushfire was still recovering from her injuries. If greencough comes then we could lose them all."
"The Moontree is across three Clan territories." Heronpaw reminded her.
"And halfway up the mountain. I know." Petalpaw said. "It would be dangerous in this weather."
Heronpaw looked at her and then to the two piles of herbs at her paws. Realization hit him.
"You want me to come with you." He whispered.
Petalpaw nodded. "I trust you." She said simply.
They looked at each other for a few moments. Heronpaw's heart was beating loudly in his ears. Petalpaw was right. Too many cats were at risk. Catmint was rare from what he had heard, and it could take moons to find more that hadn't been killed by the cold.
But taking off across multiple Clan territories without permission would surely get them into more trouble than they had ever been in. Would the other Clans even allow a medicine cat apprentice passage? Would they make it to the Moontree on its rocky peak in this snow and cold?
Heronpaw searched Petalpaw's face. Her concern for her Clan had driven her to consider disobeying her mentor and possibly breaking the warrior code and she had chosen him as her confidant and companion.
He thought of Quailstep's kits, tiny and vulnerable. If they caught the sickness they would surely die. He thought of the white cat. She had been overwhelmed by freezing water. Was that a warning? Was she trying to tell Heronpaw that cold could kill his Clan?
He set his jaw. His decision was made. "When do we leave?"
Petalpaw's tense face melted into an expression gratitude and relief. "Tonight." She said.
Heronpaw nodded hesitantly.
"I brought travel herbs. They'll keep us strong for the journey." Petalpaw gestured to the piles of herbs.
Heronpaw scooted over so he could lick up his share. He paused. "How long will it take us?" he asked.
"We should make it there by sunrise." She bent to eat the herbs. Suddenly she stiffened and her head shot back up. "I hear someone!" she hissed. Heronpaw jumped and strained his ears. He could hear a shuffling noise from outside their hiding place.
"Heronpaw?" A low mew sounded just beyond the hidden hole.
Heronpaw was startled to recognize Crowpaw's voice. Had he followed them? Heronpaw shot a glance at Petalpaw. She looked back and shook her head.
"What are you doing?" Crowpaw's voice became less muffled as the black apprentice poked his head into the hollow. His blue eyes widened as he took in the tiny clearing and its herbs.
"Wha- "He cut off when he saw Petalpaw. His eyes shot back and forth between his brother and the medicine cat apprentice. A look of comprehension dawned on Crowpaw's narrow face. His pupils shrank to slits and he backed out of the hollow without a word. Heronpaw scrambled to his paws ready to race after his brother. Crowpaw had obviously gotten the wrong idea.
"Wait!" Petalpaw cried. "He won't tell, will he?"
"He's seen us. We can't leave tonight." Heronpaw said. "I promise we'll leave soon." He added quickly when Petalpaw looked upset. Heronpaw leaned forward and touched his nose to hers.
"The weather is bad. What would happen to the sick cats if we never came back?" he mewed softly. Petalpaw shifted from paw to paw. She caught Heronpaw's eye and nodded.
"Okay." She said. "Go after Crowpaw."
Heronpaw turned and squeezed out of the bramble hole. The snowfall had increased substantially in the time he and Petalpaw had been inside. A fresh blanket had already begun to cover Crowpaw's pawsteps. Thankfully his scent was still discernible. Heronpaw opened his mouth to let his littermate's familiar scent wash over his tongue. Crowpaw had headed in the direction of the lake. Heronpaw set out after him.
It didn't take long before Heronpaw caught up to his brother. The snow was falling thicker still. Crowpaw's black pelt stuck out like a sore paw against the white curtains of snow. He was sitting at the base of a tree. Snow was dusting his ears and back but he didn't bother shaking it off. Heronpaw slowed his gait as he approached. Crowpaw didn't look up.
"I was helping her look for herbs." Heronpaw panted. Crowpaw said nothing.
"I promise that's all- "
Heronpaw cut off as Crowpaw's head shot up. His blue eyes were blazing with anger. Heronpaw took a step back. Crowpaw didn't get angry. Annoyed, yes, but never angry. Not like this.
"I'm not stupid." Crowpaw hissed. He stood up, his neck and tail fur fluffed out. "You can't stay away from her, can you? Don't you know she's a medicine cat?" His words were harsh and short. Heronpaw tried to say something but Crowpaw interrupted.
"Petalpaw loves being a medicine cat. Do you understand that?"
"Of course I do." Heronpaw managed to sputter.
Crowpaw's face twisted in a snarl. "Clearly you don't." he hissed. "But I do, and I'll do anything to protect her future." With that Crowpaw shoved Heronpaw aside and bounded off into the storm.
Heronpaw watched him go, angry and bewildered. Petalpaw was his friend. Sure, he thought she was beautiful but that was all. He wasn't doing anything to jeopardize her future as a medicine cat. Was he?
He shivered. The snow was still coming down heavily. He needed to get back to camp to avoid getting sick. He turned around and came face to face with the white cat. Heronpaw's stomach lurched and he jumped back a few paces.
The white cat didn't react. She just stared at him. Heronpaw took a few breaths and composed himself. He raised his head and looked the phantom in the eyes.
"Is this what you were warning me about?" he demanded. Silence.
Frustration surged through Heronpaw's pelt. All of the injustices and suffering he and his Clan had been through in the past moon and this blank, emotionless, aimless thing was doing nothing but stare at him?
"What do you want?" He yowled, taking a step forward. "Are you warning me? Are you causing this?"
Still there was nothing. Heronpaw had had enough. He took a deep breath and charged past the white cat. There was no resistance where his shoulder met her form. She dissipated at his touch. Heronpaw didn't care. He stalked away from her strange presence and her cryptic gaze.
If she wouldn't give him answers he would have to find them elsewhere. It didn't matter if it was dangerous. It didn't matter if it was a stupid decision.
He was going to the Moontree.
. . .
Crowpaw watched his brother demanding answers from nothing but the freezing air. His blood ran cold under his warm pelt.
See? The voice whispered into his ear. He's breaking. He's dangerous.
Crowpaw hadn't wanted to believe it. He had been half convinced the quiet voice that had been muttering to him for the past half-moon was his own deep thoughts. But here was proof. Proof that Heronpaw was losing his mind.
Crowpaw backed away on silent paws. He turned and stared into the snowy forest. What was he supposed to do now?
Do not worry. I will guide you.
Crowpaw nodded to no one. The voice had promised to keep Petalpaw and all that Crowpaw loved safe. He would have to trust it.