Chapter 29


BushClan/Tumbleheart

The claw scratch of a moon had appeared in the sky among the vast expanse of blue sky. Puffy clouds, yellow-bellied with snow that had yet to fall, were on the horizon. The snow-bearing clouds were threatening to come by dusk to bury the world in one last flurry for the season. Looking ahead, she was already confident on what was to happen. They all took turns reinforcing the elders and nursery dens to protect precious cats. All the while, Jasmine and Poppyclaw helped Icepaw reinforce the medicine den.

Everything was moving smoothly, however it wouldn't be long until the no-moon arrived and the foxes would attempt to strike. Tumbleheart narrowed her green eyes against the bright sun. It was sun-high and soon sunset would come. Flicking her tail, she allowed Rubypaw to go on ahead to hunt without her watching him. He had to, to prove to her that the lessons was being acknowledged by the tom. Swiftly, she went on the hunt in the vicinity for a mouse or even a shrew who dared to surface from their little hole. The soft rustle reached her ear fur as she pounced blindly into the brush. Lifting her head in triumph, she caught a mouse. It was scrawny from the harsh leafbare, but it was far better then nothing.

All the preparations were being completed. After this hunting session, she would be helping Morningstar with the new apprentices to learn how to take on a fox should they break into the camp a night earlier then expected. They had to try everything to prepare them. It brought back memories of when Turtlepaw, Flamepaw, Icepaw, and their late brother, Drizzlepaw, had been forced into training early with only fighting skills in preparation of the looming threat from across the Twoleg Bridge.

Ever since the conflict that stole Nightstar's final life, FearClan had been silent. The loner turned medicine cat. Hawksight, had been taken by them to look after Cedar, that was the last time any of them had seen her alive. Then with leafbare was the foxes and now she was positive that nothing would remain the same for as long as they live. The Twolegs haven't bothered them, so they just continued to hunt and survive without them paying them much mind.

Yet, as the Clan grows she wondered just when the Twolegs will decide they cannot stay anymore. She heard the stories from Leaftail. When Twolegs decided there was too many cats in the Giant Garden, they were captured and chased off. Which led to the eventual formation of "Fragments" and eventually BushClan when the stars called upon Poppyclaw and Bushstar. Somehow it also led to the creation of FearClan and a never ending feud that she had to grow up within.

Sometimes, she worried that the Twolegs would come after them, but she wasn't so sure anymore. Glancing into the brush, she could see the flickers of russet tabby fur. Before the melancholic thoughts could fully take over, Rubypaw appeared with a pigeon in his jaws. It would be the best meal they had had in moons. Twolegs often fed them, so it had to be the plumpest prey they would be taking back to camp.

"How did you get that?" she asked, astonished. Birds had twig-like legs that could sense even the tiniest movement. Eyes that could somehow see them without even turning their tiny heads!

Rubypaw blinked warmly. "It wasn't easy, but it was busy pecking at some Twoleg rubbish before I pounced on it."

Tumbleheart purred in pride, clearly it had been the right decision to bring Rubypaw into the Clan. "I'm proud of your quick thinking. We can divide this up for the elders and queens. I'm sure they wouldn't mind sharing."

"I hope so, it won't be easy trying to get another like it." Rubypaw admitted with a flick of his ears.

"Right, we should head back anyway. It's past sun-high now and we should be meeting Morningstar and Crowpaw for battle training." Tumbleheart mewed. "I would rather keep hunting, but we have to prepare you both for the hard battle that is to come."

"Those foxes will regret chasing you to Twoleg Place." Rubypaw growled from behind his pigeon.

"And they will regret what they have done to Stone and Rat." Tumbleheart lashed her tail before taking the lead back to camp. "Let's hurry. We're late enough."

Tumbleheart hurried as fast as she could go, attempting to make the mad dash to the camp. The sooner they reach camp the sooner they could get fight training in before the sun set. Tonight was going to be the thinnest of the claw-moon. So thin, it would seem to be a no-moon. Her heart pounded at the thought of the foxes coming a night early.

The winding trails through the brush, rabbit trails that lead them deeper into the spindly-tree forest allowed them to follow the well trodden path with ease. Soon enough, the scent of cats filled Tumbleheart's nose. They were close to camp so she began to slow her pace, Rubypaw close behind her. They found the fern tunnel that had gorse and brambles reinforcing it. The thorns and sharp, jagged leaves raking through her pelt as she thrusted her way to the other side.

Her mouse small and pathetic in her jaws. Blinking, she took note of Icepaw finding her way around with her head low to the ground. Her whiskers brushing the surface of the icy earth while her indigo eyes were in slits against the glare of snow-covered plants. Her tail sweeping behind her to clear her path of snow and ice the best she could. Clearly making a path should any cat need to come to the medicine den.

In her mind she could picture the nearly half-grown she-cat so nervous and uncertain of her ability to hunt. So small and new to the harsh reality of being a warrior. Yet, now she could see that she had grown well. No longer a nervous wreck, far more comfortable with herself and her blindness. Whether it was just an act to not worry anyone, she felt proud to call the she-cat her friend. Their paths no longer crossed as often as it would as before, yet she knew she could count on Icepaw to look after her health when necessary.

Tumbleheart knew that her friend was far from the five moon old kit she had to look after. The kit who had seen the disappearance of her brother and his mentor, the death of her mother, and now she was going through a world she could not see clearly. She was far braver then any cat she knew. Whether Icepaw knows it or not, she was a cat the young warrior could look up to. Had the medicine cat apprentice remained a warrior apprentice, she would have finished her training by now.

The stark white she-cat stopped, her indigo eyes catching her form as her whiskers twitched, her jaws parted slightly before a small light of recognition seemed to spark within the frosty depths of her eyes. Her tail raised in greeting as she strode over to her confidently. With a trill, she held onto her mouse while Rubypaw stood beside her, waiting patiently as the medicine cat approached.

"You've brought prey back?" Icepaw asked in her usual soft and gentle mew.

Tumbleheart purred softly. "Of course, we wanted to bring prey to the elders and queens right away."

"Good, they should keep their strength up to make it through the last bits of leafbare. I trust you to give them as much as they are able to have." Icepaw meowed.

With a final nod she led the way to the elder's den first to allow the cats there to eat while they still could. She even made sure to brush her tail along the whiskers of her friend so she knew which direction they were going. Before she knew it, she was slipping into the elder's den and placed her mouse down. Shadewhisker and Talonshine looked up from the scent of prey and seemed to be very eager.

"Is that for us?" Shadewhisker asked excitedly.

Rubypaw nodded. "I caught the pigeon for the Clan to share, but I don't know if it would be enough now."

"Nonsense," Talonshine murmured, "We can take the feathers to keep the nests nice and warm first."

Jasmin nodded from where he had been grooming himself. "That would be a fair start in seeing how much flesh there really is on it."

"We can even invite Minteye and her kits to come eat with us." Shadewhisker added in with a flick of his ears. "Applemist and her kit, even Blackdapple's kits."

Tumbleheart flicked her gaze up in surprise. Blackdapple was once Icepaw's mentor and had become Morningstar's mate soon after. Now that she had thought about it, Blackdapple had taken to bringing order to the camp since their deputy, Tangletooth, was sick. Blinking, she wondered if this was a sign that their current deputy may not be able to survive the sickness.

"Is Blackdapple no longer looking after them?" she found herself asking before she could stop herself.

Shadewhisker shook his head. "Since she is the eldest cat who hasn't fallen ill, she decided to take it upon herself to play the role of deputy for now. She still looks after her kits, but it is a concern."

"We don't even know if it is forbidden for a replacement deputy to have kits, let alone a leader." Talonshine grumbled.

Jasmine flicked his tail. "I don't see why not. Even adult cats act like kits. A she-cat can be just as great as a leader as a tom who is a father. It will just make them strive to be a fair leader and not give special treatment."

"That is only something we can hope for, Jasmine." Shadewhisker sighed softly.

Rubypaw shifted slightly beside her, his yellow-green eyes scanning the den curiously. "Where's Poppyclaw?"

"Checking on Tangletooth." Jasmin answered, his tone softened to hardly a whisper. "Icepaw was afraid he might be slipping away, so he is double checking to see if she is correct."

As though summoned by the cream and white tom, Poppyclaw padded into the den, pushing his way through. He looked as though he had aged between the last time Tumbleheart had seen him. He looked defeated and miserable. He didn't meet any of their gazes as he seemed to shamble his way to his nest before plopping himself there chest first. He stared into the back of the den, amber eyes seeming to have become dull with grief.

"She's correct isn't she?" Jasmine asked softly.

The dark ginger tom simply dipped his head. "Tangletooth's life is in the paws of StarClan now. There is nothing more we can do. He will either pull through the night or cease to walk among us in the waking world."

"I'm so sorry." Jasmine murmured, sidling up beside his mate.

Tumbleheart watched, feeling as though a piece of her heart was cracking. She could only imagine the pain he must have felt when her mother passed away in battle. The feeling of horror of seeing a she-cat whom he raised as his own kit no longer alive. It was a wonder how Poppyclaw had found the strength to move forward all these moons. Her paws seemed to have grown roots as she could see how much it pained the usually tough medicine cat.

In the past Poppyclaw would be solemn, but never show this much grief or emotion over the loss of any life. He somehow powered through and faced death bravely to be a strong and powerful stone for the Clan to cling to. Yet, now she could see that he was like any other cat, affected by the cycles of life and death and all their causes. Yet, it seemed he sought the comfort of someone he treasured with all of his heart as well. Willing to be weak after many moons of being strong all alone for the Clan.

"He really should remain a medicine cat of the Clan." Tumbleheart murmured.

"It is not the way the stars taught him though." Talonshine told her firmly. "It wouldn't work, it never could. We wish it could, but nothing would ever make it work. They were sure of it."

She held her tongue, shaking her head slightly before turning to leave. "We have training to do. Morningstar and Crowpaw must be waiting." she mewed flatly.

How true was it that it was impossible? How true was it that a medicine cat could not have a mate? Poppyclaw had lived with the grief of believing his mate was dead for moons. Now they had reunited, could it simply be that their love would get in the way? If so, how? Every medicine cat would have family and they still would treat them as any other patient. Was everything they were taught to believe in flawed?

The walk to the training clearing was silent. Tumbleheart didn't feel as though she could focus on training her apprentice. Her mood having shifted so easily from the news that would soon spread like wildfire. They waited together in the middle of the clearing, the long grasses and peaty ground felt familiar beneath her pads. She had many sessions of learning to fight here. All for the war they were having with FearClan. A war that seemed to never end when every one of the kits born are targeted as apprentices to prevent their ranks from growing.

Even when Morningstar had padded into the clearing with Crowpaw for fox-fighting techniques she was hardly focusing and running on instinct alone. How many kits had died before her birth? How many apprentices had been kidnapped and killed by FearClan before Drizzlepaw and Spottedstorm? So many questions plagued her and yet the only real answer was to win against the foxes first and then attempt to end the war that lasted for as long as Poppyclaw had been their medicine cat.

The apprentices swarmed her, their claws sheathed, even as she attempted to fight them off with her own soft-paws. She writhed, kicking to shove them away like a fox would. Her jaws snapping shut just a whisker from their legs as they managed to keep just out of reach as she scrambled to her paws. Her mind quickly refocused onto the training session. She was the fox, that much she knew. With a snarl, she leapt forward, unaware of Morningstar jumping onto her back from behind her.

She let out a yelp as the tom clung with soft-paws and dragged her to the earth. She rolled over to try and smother him beneath her. However, with her belly exposed, the apprentices attacked by lashing their sheathed paws across it. She got free of Morningstar, panting from the effort. The group of toms looked vicious, making her tail twitch in pride.

"If I really was a fox, I would have turn tail and ran seeing you three!" she meowed at last. "Honestly, that was swift work there."

Morningstar softened his gaze, shoulder fur lying flat. "Just as it should be." The pale cream tom glanced to the russet and black toms. "You did excellent work. Even with her mind elsewhere, she fought like a fox would attempt to. Of course, we are naturally bigger than she-cats, but that doesn't make them any less cunning."

"Correct." Tumbleheart added in, padding towards them. "And good work on going for the belly while I rolled onto my back. But keep in mind my muzzle is much shorter then a foxes and they are much bigger with longer legs. They can kick and slash at you, so even when attempting that, be as swift as you can."

"Now, I will play the role of a fox." Morningstar began, "Tumbleheart will be a kit who thought she could handle fighting a fox and escaped the nursery to help. To save her, you have to work together..."

Tumbleheart was catching her breath as she prepared to get into the moment to help the toms learn. The sooner they knew how to handle a situation, the better. After all, nothing could ever be up to par with a kit who blindly believes they are stronger then a fox, a creature they have never smelled or seen before. Rubypaw and Crowpaw were both intently listening to Morningstar and answering questions with the most logical answers they could give. It was all pretend, but as the sun slowly sank in the horizon beyond their spindly-tree forest it was bound to become a reality.


Author Note:

First Icepaw questions whether StarClan's rules
are truly helping BushClan, now Tumbleheart!

It seems that things may be going a little out of hand.
Also I apologize if I am not putting too much effort in the training their doing.
I never had to write something like it before, but I'm doing my best.

Anyways, Thank you for reading and have a wonderful day/night! - NightSky