Sorry I've disappeared again, lol. I was working on stuff on my deviantart page and my twitter page.
If you're interested in seeing any of those pages, I'll leave links in my profile.
Anyway, here's the chapter!
Mumblebee was in his den, mashing together a large poultice.
Most likely for Feather, if Cindercall had to guess.
"You've made it," he mewed, not looking up at them as he worked. "Good."
"I was told you needed me for something?" She asks, stepping forward.
"Yes," he folded the poultice onto a large leaf, picking it up carefully in his jaws. "I need you to translate some questions to Feather for me," he mumbled behind the leaf-wrapping. "Nettlepelt, could you grab a clump of cobwebs for me?"
"Of course," the brown tom shifted past Mumblebee, heading to the cobwebs storage, as Mumblebee headed out of the den, Cindercall limping after him.
"Are you alright?" He asks, glancing at her, his voice still garbled from the leaf.
"Yeah, just a small thing," she mewed. "I figured I just need rest. If it hurts tomorrow, I'll stop by for you to inspect it."
Mumblebee paused, before nodding.
"Alright." He glanced behind him as Nettlepelt came out of the den, a giant wad of cobwebs wrapped around his paw. He then lead the two warriors out of the camp, glancing behind them briefly as he did so.
The three moved through the forest, heading towards the training meadow, moving slowly due to what they carried.
When they arrived outside of Feather's cave, Mumblebee briefly placed down the leaf wrapping, meowing a greeting into the cave.
A soft yip returned it, and he lifted up the leaf wrapping, guiding them inside.
Feather was lying on her side when they entered, her ears perked towards them as she watched them enter. She lifted her head when she saw Cindercall, her eyes glowing with curiosity.
Mumblebee and Nettlepelt got to work replacing her old bindings with fresh poultice and cobwebs.
"How's she coming along, by the way?" Cindercall asked, inspecting the wolf carefully. Feather met her gaze, eyeing her with the same look.
"Well, the infection's almost died down," Mumblebee mewed. "Had we been a day later, she wouldn't be alive right now." Feather yipped as they moved over some harsh wounds. Mumblebee sighed. "Most of her wounds have scabbed over, but some of them are still being persistent. So long as she doesn't overexert herself, she should be fine soon enough."
"Good," she murmured. "What questions did you have for her?"
"I wanted to ask her where it hurt the most," Mumblebee mewed. "It's difficult searching through her thick fur, and she still seems to be feverish from the infection, but I can't see what the issue is. She should be just fine."
"Alright."
Cindercall cleared her throat.
"Feather?" She mewed, looking up at the wolf.
"Ah, I was wondering when you'd speak to me," the wolf yipped softly. "You were mumbling in the cat-tongue. I can't understand it like Scorch does, unfortunately."
"Yeah, I figured," she grumbled slightly. "Look, Mumblebee is having trouble looking for any wounds he might've missed through your fur. Is there anything that's seriously bothering you?"
"Ah, yes," she nodded, before wincing. "Right on my shoulder blades. Branch had—" She froze. "I mean, Scorch had gotten me pretty well there."
Cindercall's ears twitched slightly at the stammered sentence, but she slid past Feather's shoulder, moving up to part the fur on her shoulders. It was difficult to sort through, but it wasn't long before she found the nasty cut that marred her skin.
"Here, Mumblebee!" She called. The tom squeezed in beside her, poultice readied in his paws as he began to treat her wound. "Anywhere else, Feather?" She asks, glancing at the wolf.
"No," she replied. "Only there..." Her eyes shut and she seemed to lean into Mumblebee's paws. "That feels incredibly wonderful..."
"I imagine it does," Cindercall muttered.
She squeezed past Mumblebee, before sitting in front of Feather, her tail tip twitching.
"Since I'm here," she mewed. "I might as well get information from you."
Feather paused, ears twitching as she looked to Cindercall.
"Oh?" She paused. "Well... How about this? I'll give you information if you give me information as well."
"What?" Cindercall's gaze narrowed, her ears low. "Why would I do that?"
Feather paused at the grey cat's hostility, before blinking. "Oh! No! Not what I meant! I just want to know more about the Clans. Like what do you all do, and why you don't take the long walk to find more prey!"
Cindercall paused, her ears twitching.
"The... Long walk?"
Feather nodded.
"Our pack... We used to always travel. Whenever we'd stay somewhere, there'd be plenty of prey, but then suddenly it would all disappear," she rumbled. "So we'd always take the long walk to search for more prey. We've seen much of the world, you know."
Cindercall's ears twitched with a sudden curiosity that swelled in her chest.
Feather had seen much of the world? The whole pack has?
What have they seen?
Have they run across the Original Clans? She pondered. Perhaps they've even battled them!
Focus, Cindercall! She hissed inwardly to herself, fluffing out her fur.
She pulled a defiant gaze up to Feather.
"I want information, Feather." She stated clearly. "I hope you'll comply willingly."
Feather glanced at Mumblebee and Nettlepelt, before returning Cindercall's defiant gaze.
"I shall," she agreed gently. "What do you wish to know?"
The grey warrior's gaze only hardened.
"I want to know everything about Scorch."
"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather here beneath the Stone Pile for a Clan meeting!" Eelstar's yowl rang across the camp, echoing through the stony hollow with sheer power.
Fleetpaw lifted his head from where he was basking in the minor sunlight drifting through the hollow's opening, the remains of his mouse left by his paws.
With Cindercall gone, he had taken care of the elders, the queens, and even watched Eaglewhisker's kits for a short bit while she went to make dirt. Afterwards, he had eaten briefly.
And now, Eelstar had called a meeting.
He wondered why, his whiskers twitching as he watched the small black tom atop the Stone Pile.
"Hey, kitten," a familiar voice made him jump, and he whipped around to see Junipersky looming over him, her thick fur sleek and shiny in the sunlight.
"Uh, Junipersky!" He squeaked, embarrassment and awkwardness prickling his pelt.
He still hadn't found the right time to apologize to her, and his ears lowered.
"Don't just sit around," she purred sweetly. "C'mon; Eelstar called a meeting, and you can catch your own prey, cantcha?"
"Wha—?" He blinked, confused on her words. She wasn't... Hostile? "Uh..."
"Well?" She offered. "You're standing there like a cornered rabbit, kitten." With a large push, she nudged him forward with her nose, and he blinked as he followed her to the Stone Pile.
"Uh, hey, Junipersky—"
"Huh, did Hollypetal go on a hunting trip?" The she-cat spoke, cutting him off. "She doesn't seem to be anywhere." The she-cat scanned the crowd, her gaze lingering over Larchsplash. The elder was once often seen around Hollypetal's side quite a bit back when she had been a warrior.
"Junipersky, look—"
"MoonClan," Eelstar cut off Fleetpaw once more, and he lowered his head. He needed to warrior-up and apologize, stat!
But, for now, his gaze lifted to his leader.
"I understand that you all may be curious as to why I gathered you here today," Eelstar mewed, his ears low. "But you are my Clan, and I cannot bring myself to hide information from you; those who I trust so dearly."
Fleetpaw's eyes widened.
What was Eelstar going to tell them?
Junipersky fell quiet, and so did all of the cats in MoonClan.
As Fleetpaw glanced around, however, he noticed a few cats missing.
Mumblebee, Nettlepelt, Cindercall, Hollypetal, and...
Redear.
His ears twitched, as he realized that Eelstar was continuing.
"—is time for you all to hear of the Prophecy that has been hidden from many of the young warriors thus far," he announced. "For with the Prophecy, we bring news of an... Ally of sorts."
Murmurs lifted in the Clan, and Fleetpaw's gaze only widened.
The Prophecy.
The hushed whispers in the nursery passed along on silent tongues.
Eelstar was going to tell them?
Eelstar's gaze darkened, but he lifted his head high.
"The Clans will thrive under soot and ash, but death will come with the fire. With the power of the wild, cinder alone can snuff out the flame, while peace will rise on the feather of wings."
The Clan fell silent as the words hung in the air, and Fleetpaw couldn't help but notice the pained expression on Larchsplash's face, as she lowered her gaze to the ground, her ears pinned to her head.
He glanced around once again to see that Andy and Silver; the two rogues that had silently been watching their Clan from afar, had been listening in, shaken by the words as well.
But the silence didn't last, as Eelstar raised his voice yet again.
"Understand that this foretells of coming dangers, and has already taken the lives of many, many warriors..." His gaze seemed to darken, his voice thickening slightly with grief. "But also understand that one day, our Clan will thrive and prosper after this fire has been snuffed out." His ears twitch. "Which comes to our ally that I spoke of previously."
Fleetpaw stiffened.
Now he understood
Feather... His gaze widened. He's going to tell everyone about Feather...
"We have discovered the feather of wings that the Prophecy foretold of," Eelstar mewed. "But... It is not who we expected in the slightest... For... For she is a wolf; our sworn enemy, and she resides within our boundaries as we speak."
Sudden surprised wails of fear rose from the cats, some leaping to their paws and bristling at the words of a wolf in their territory.
Junipersky's claws kneaded the ground, and Fleetpaw glanced at her, expecting rage and anger.
But instead, all he saw was doubt and worry. Fear.
"Eelstar you can't be serious!" A yowl rose above the crowd.
Cats turned to see Longspring; the blind elder, stumbling forward, Sweethawk supporting her father quickly.
Eelstar's ears lowered as the elder continued.
"Those creatures cannot be trusted!" He roared, his tail lashing. "They killed Jaggedstar! Ashwater!" His voice faltered. "Shiningdawn..."
Silence fell over the Clan.
"I know," Eelstar mewed after a moment. "I know how many lives they took. I know the danger they represent. But you also know Cindercall's opinions of them as well."
"Of course we do!" Sweethawk snapped back, glaring at her leader with rage. "She despises them! They stole her family away! Cursed her with this stupid Prophecy that turned someone against her when she needed her most!" Her glare whipped over to Larchsplash, who shrunk down in fear. "This Prophecy is all their fault! They've laid so much blame on Cindercall's shoulders! No cat deserves that!"
"Then know that it was not I who suggested we care for Feather within our boundaries." Eelstar's words made Sweethawk's jaws snap shut audibly. His gaze met hers. "Cindercall is the only one who can communicate with Feather. Cindercall was the one who retrieved Mumblebee to heal her, and Cindercall is currently getting information out of her. I know that wolves are not to be trifled with, and I will listen to any concerns you may hold, and I will try to ease all of your hearts. But please... Trust in me, your leader, I beg you. We cannot allow our Clan to fall apart in times like these. Not when the circumstances are so dire."
Longspring's ears pinned to his head, his tail lashing, but he didn't speak further.
Sweethawk, as well, fell silent, her gaze focused on the ground as she seemed to try and puzzle something together.
Fleetpaw continued his glance around, only for it to land on Kestrelpaw, who met his gaze with worry.
It was no secret now, that Cindercall was the cat in the Prophecy; as the only grey warrior with any aspect of fire in her name, it fit all too well.
Kestrelpaw must be worried for her mother...
He turned back to Junipersky, who's gaze lifted back to Eelstar as the tom spoke once more.
"That is all I have to announce. If you wish to speak to me, I shall be in my den. Please feel free to speak out to me."
And with that, he scampered down to his den, slipping inside, signaling the end of the meeting with a flick of his tail.
A few warriors went straight for his den, while Sweethawk and Pearlight guided Longspring back to the elder's den, Larchsplash hobbling after them silently with the help of Deadcreek and Heatherheart.
Fleetpaw glanced back to where Andy and Silver had been, but they had slunk off at some point during the meeting, most likely avoiding the Clan cats just like before.
And with the departure of Eaglewhisker, Lighteye, and Leila, it was just Fleetpaw and Junipersky left in the clearing, as the rest of the cats returned to their duties.
The large she-cat beside him seemed off put, still kneading the ground. But it was more thoughtful than afraid.
"You didn't act real surprised when he mentioned Feather, kitten," she mewed after a moment, much to his surprise.
He blinked, his fur ruffling with surprise.
"I, uh, er—well, I mean... uh..."
He struggled to find words, his ears flattening against his head.
Junipersky's gaze met his, and he swallowed.
"I—I'm sorry Junipersky!" He squawked after a moment.
The she-cat paused, squinting at him curiously and cocking her head.
"Sorry?" She echoed. "What for? I imagine Eelstar told you not to tell anyone."
"No, no, no," he shook his head. "I... uh... I was... still thinking about the other day..." He mumbled. "And I'm sorry I didn't respect you like a warrior. Just because you're not my mentor doesn't mean I shouldn't take your praise lightly. You worked hard to be a warrior, too..."
Junipersky cocked her head, her eyes widening with surprise.
"Oh... That..." Her ears lowered. "I figured you'd gone and forgotten about that. Didn't wanna spook you, since Whiskerdapple keeps telling me that that's what I do best. And after the Nettlepelt incident, I was trying to let go of grudges a bit more."
Her gaze softened.
"But, thanks. For the apology, I mean. It means quite a bit to me, even if I didn't act like it at first." She beamed proudly at him. "Now I know Cindercall probably chatted you up about it, but considering how she's not here making you apologize tells me you did it all on your own too! Which is pretty nifty! Good job, kitten!"
Fleetpaw's ears lowered, and he returned her bright gaze, albeit a bit sheepishly.
"Thanks," he mewed awkwardly. "But, seriously, stop calling me kitten."
"Haha, ask me that when you're a warrior and I'll see what I can do, kitten," she teased playfully. "Now c'mon. I know Cindercall's out doing business with that wolf or whatever, but that doesn't mean you can't train! I'll take a scolding from her if it comes to that!"
Fleetpaw blinked, looking up at her in surprise.
"Wait, me and you? Train?"
"Well, duh," she snickered. "What else would I mean?"
"Uh, I dunno, I just." He paused, his whiskers twitching thoughtfully, before he leapt to his paws. "Let's do it! Maybe we can learn more about stalking in that special way you showed us!"
"Exactly! C'mon, kitten!"
She bounded towards the entrance, ignoring Fleetpaw's huff over her nickname, as the apprentice followed her out into the forest beyond.
