Chapter 41
BushClan/Tumbleheart
Newleaf was quickly settling in all around Tumbleheart, her green eyes bright as she shadowed the russet-colored tabby tom. The turmoil of leafbare and newleaf battling between cold flashes and warmth had ended. However, she had to assess her apprentice, worry making her legs shaky as she kept her senses practically stretched thin for danger. The foxes were gone for now, but it wouldn't be long before FearClan struck. Her heart pounding as she stalked her apprentice, watching him hunt, check for scents, mark territory with his claws and keeping low and in the shadows of the growing brush. In her green eyes he was doing perfectly, all that was left was the sun-high battle assessment. The prey would be good for the Clan, not to mention it wouldn't be long before Morningstar would have to make a decision about the oldest kits in the nursery.
Tumbleheart had been worried about more early apprenticed kits. Currently Minteye's kits were the oldest and approaching their fifth moon. An age where Morningstar would have to decide on letting them have one more moon of peace or pick out mentors for them. Icepath and her littermates had been apprenticed a moon early, which lead to a lot of pain for those young cats. Even now, Icepath had been her closest friend, but they had drifted apart thanks to their responsibilities. Icepath was young though, which meant she had plenty of moons to live and serve her Clan without an apprentice. Which meant, there was a chance Morningstar would follow Nightstar's choices and give those kits a hard life. There was also the hope he wouldn't, as he was one of the younger cats and would make it a much fairer choice. Shaking her head out of the Clan's problems, she focused again on Rubypaw before heading to the clearing she would have to meet him at with Morningstar.
Her leader's pelt was well groomed as though he had come to wait a lot sooner, his golden-colored eyes waiting expectantly before the long haired black tom padded into view with some of the prey he had caught for BushClan. His green eyes seeming to shine with pride as he placed them down before going to fetch the rest. Warmth spread from her chest to the tips of her ears and paws. Her father was truly improving every day, his lessons with the leader obviously making him want to impress him with attentiveness and practice. Soon, Rubypaw padded into the clearing with his own catches. One trip after another, the apprentices had completed their task. Morningstar inspected their piles, sniffing them carefully and parting his jaws to taste their delicious scents before giving a nod and a good natured flick of his tail, raising it high with a delicate curled tip.
"There is no crowfood in any of these piles, thus this section of the assessment is completed." Morningstar announced, much to the relief of the apprentices. "You will rest until sun-high, that is when we will have Jaggedcloud and Pigeonstream assess if you are skilled enough against seasoned warriors."
"It will be a tough assessment." Tumbleheart warned, "With FearClan being so quiet, we have to be prepared and they are skilled fighters, but without honor. Thus, it will have three stages of battle. With a single rule: Your claws must be sheathed. The first stage will be a one on one of apprentice versus a seasoned warrior, a break before it is two on two, another break before the final stage at dusk. In that final piece of your assessment you will be doing a one on one of apprentice versus apprentice. We will watch to assess your skills in battle. If any claws come out and there is blood the one who draws the blood will fail the assessment."
"And to forfeit at any time, raise your tail and the assessment will cease. Knowing when to do so is acceptable and means you are heading to a medicine cat for aid." Morningstar added in. "We will remind you of all of this after we all eat and relax for a bit."
Crowpaw nodded, "Right." He looked to his fellow apprentice, worry dancing in his green eyes. A familiar one that even Tumbleheart remembered herself. A worry of not being able to do the next part of the assessment well. They were moons away from becoming warriors, but they had to prepare them for the worst battles and make sure the lessons are sticking and what should be touched on again. The looked Rubypaw gave to her father was no better, full of the same concern and worry. Making it clear that their Clan may have never been the best option for any wandering cat. They weren't lazing about in the sunlight, hunting for the fun of it, and sleeping whenever. No, this was a Clan that worked day in and day out with it's few warriors and apprentices.
With their dismissal, Morningstar began to show them the best way to carry a lot of prey in his jaws. Tumbleheart followed his example, watching as the apprentices managed to carry back what was left. Crowpaw had caught mostly small prey animals, such as shrews, mice, and a finch; pitiful for any budding hunter of the Clan, but it was clear that the seven pieces of prey had been his hard work from start to finish. Rubypaw, on the other paw, had caught two pigeons, four mice, and a gopher that dared to surface. However, even she knew he had missed a rabbit, two squirrels, and at least a shrew or two that escaped into their respective holes. Still, with newleaf arriving it was still a bountiful catch for BushClan. He was cautious, keeping down wind and to the shadows, while his posture during stalking and hunting were near perfect. He was still a heartbeat too slow for most birds, rabbits, and squirrels; but he always knew when to slow to a stop and let the prey go. Clearly, he was adapting well into the life of a warrior. A good sign in her eyes that he was learning to strengthen his skills.
Their leader a step ahead of them as he pushed his way through the barrier. Blackdapple having kept watch from the hill in the center of the clearing, her green eyes wide open to not miss a single movement as the kits played their games. Her black tipped tail twitching as Lightkit and Amberkit wrestled in the warm sun with mewls of excitement. While Shadewhisker lounged by the prey-pile greeting them with a good natured twitch of his ears and a gentle blink of welcome. The elder had made it his duty to ensure everyone had eaten, clearly having been protecting it from the sunlight by moving it closer and closer into the shadows of the brush.
"Very nice to see you four again." Shadewhisker purred warmly. "I take it that their assessment is going well so far?"
Morningstar deposited the prey he was carrying onto the pile. "So far it is, they are budding into wonderful hunters." He looked over to the apprentices who placed their prey down as well. "Take a piece of prey for yourselves, you have certainly earned it."
"Thank you Morningstar." Crowpaw mewed, picking up one of the pieces of prey he had caught for himself.
Rubypaw echoed his movement, his yellow-green eyes seeming to glow with pride as he looked to Tumbleheart in uncertainty. In response she gestured to his fellow apprentice. "Go and eat, Morningstar and I have a lot to discuss still about your assessments."
"Looks like they have mastered dispatching their prey." Shadewhisker murmured thoughtfully.
"I agree." Morningstar answered the elderly tom, taking a couple of mice, one that had been in the pile since that morning and the newest one that Crowpaw had caught. "Come Tumbleheart, pick what you want, I'll get Blackdapple to join our discussion."
"Very well." she replied back, dipping her head before picking a mouse up for herself before heading to their meeting spot in the shade. Not long after she had sat, the two mates padded their way to her. Their kits were nowhere to be seen, so she assumed that they had gone to Talonshine in the elder's den for the time being. The two were quiet as they began to tuck in, the worry in those usually confident green eyes made Tumbleheart's stomach feel like there was a bunch of butterflies in her own stomach.
Morningstar gave them a moment to have some prey before speaking. "Crowpaw is learning quite quickly, he missed a lot of prey, but catching as much as he did in the end is a good sign compared to the first assessment."
"I agree." Tumbleheart spoke up next, making sure to keep a respectful tone. "He has improved well in the hunting portion, so has Rubypaw. They both dispatch prey much more cleanly then before, which is an amazing feat after only a moon."
"They have probably been catching prey even before now." Blackdapple pointed out, her tone somewhat harsh but thoughtful. "We have simply helped them learn how to do that skill much better."
With a dip of his head, their pale cream leader meowed evenly. "That may be true, but we have yet to see how their fighting skills are now, if they have improved and what we can do to make sure they do."
"Get to the point." Blackdapple whispered, her mew sharp has the thorns in the barrier itself. "Are Minteye's kits going to be apprenticed early or not?"
Silence stretched between the three cats, their leader's golden gaze slowly becoming veiled with shadows. Horror dipped it's claws into Tumbleheart's very being as she held her breath. At last, the pale cream tom answered, his mew rough and just shy of a murmur. "I have decided all the kits will take fighting lessons. Not to become apprentices, but so they know what to do should an enemy enter the nursery. I want them to live a full six moons of being a kit, but I do not want them feeling defenseless and guilty should anything happen to their mothers."
"Maplekit is only two moons old." Blackdapple reminded him, her tone growing harsher.
"And he is a brave tom-kit." Morningstar countered. "I'm not saying they will be apprenticed, I am only saying we should give them the skills to work together and defend themselves."
"Applemist won't agree." she reminded him in a soft growl.
Tumbleheart opened her jaws, speaking for the first time since the concern was brought up. "Whether or not she agrees, it is for the best of her kit."
"What would you even know?" Blackdapple immediately glared at her.
"Kits have died in these battles because of FearClan rogues breaking into the nursery." She reminded her darkly. "We have no choice, we have to prepare them so they can live, especially if it means they learn the basics of team work."
The deputy eyed her, green eyes in thin narrow slits of displeasure, before looking away with a huff. "You'll understand when you have kits."
"Icepath would agree with me." Tumbleheart pointed out, a reminder of that past.
"She would never!" Blackdapple snapped.
Morningstar rested his tail against his mate, doing his best to soothe her. "Tumbleheart has a point, perhaps we should have Icepath speak with us to see what she thinks."
Blackdapple flicked her tail. "Fine, then the one who brought her into this chat should get her." She sent a nasty look to the young warrior.
Fluffing up her brown and tan tabby fur defensively before rising to her paws. "Very well." She mewed softly, padding away to the medicine den. The ferns that shrouded the underground den had grown quite a lot since the last half-moon. Slipping inside, she was greeted by the familiar stark white she-cat as she cleaned out the storage diligently. Crumpled, browning, and fuzzing herbs were on one side as she worked. Her paws swift, yet gentle enough to not break apart even the most fragile leaves. Her whiskers twitching with each delicate sniff of her pink nose and a flick of her ears that let the young warrior know that she was heard at all.
"Are you too busy?" Tumbleheart asked gently, knowing full well that she was.
She flicked her tail in response. "Depends on what it is you need of me."
"Morningstar and Blackdapple would like to speak with you." She informed her, seeing the way her tail swept the mess aside for her to add to. "Over prey and a personal matter."
Icepath rose to her paws, stepping daintly as she turned. "A personal matter about?" She prompted, her indigo eyes seeming to have a thought or two on what it could be.
"It's about the kits and giving them basic training to defend themselves." She explained, "Morningstar thinks he should, I do too, but Blackdapple isn't on board with the idea at all. She is positive that you wouldn't agree about it, so Morningstar wants your input on the matter."
"Battles shouldn't concern me." Icepath muttered softly, padding to her. "I'm supposed to be working on healing and gathering herbs, not pulled into this."
"I'm very sorry that you have to be."
"Well, let's hear the arguments." The young medicine cat mewed, already brushing by as though she could see as clear as day and leaving the den.
Tumbleheart watched her, finding it odd. She complained so softly to herself, but still obeyed. Clearly not wanting to be pulled into more fighting, or perhaps feeling as though her word may not hold the same weight regardless. After all, despite Icepath's complaints before Applemist's and Foxgaze's words held more power over Poppyclaw's decision to join the elder's den. Guilt filled her, nothing could be done about it, but unlike life, Icepath at least had enough control to try to move forward. Which made it seem much lonelier for the medicine cat to feel her entire life was rushed for the good of others and not herself. There was a chance she would remain soft spoken, but that only worried Tumbleheart more. If her friend couldn't put her paws down, was she ever fit to be a full medicine cat all alone?
Nonetheless, she followed her lead out and made sure she made it to the pair of mates who waited in an unsteady atmosphere. Icepath stepped before the mates, her tail tip twitching with what could be annoyance or something that Tumbleheart couldn't name. She waited patiently as Morningstar looked to Blackdapple for her to speak. The deputy who worked so hard despite her kits still needing her love and attention. Those green eyes blazed as she finally spoke up at last, her tone serious as she gave her side of the issue. A queen's perspective that had to be made in her eyes to earn favor. A perspective that she perhaps thought would win over the she-cat who had to leave behind a kit-hood.
"Applemist would never agree to let her only kit be taught how to fight." Blackdapple started, "It would be unfair for kits younger then three moons to be taught such things. They aren't big enough to really do anything. Even StarClan had told us that kits must be six moons old. Even you must agree with that, Icepath. You began your journey so early and it ended up with you as a medicine cat anyway. There is no need for kits to be involved with fighting. FearClan have a new leader, so they shouldn't fight that dirty."
"How do you know that for sure?" Icepath asked softly, her mew so quiet that it forced the deputy queen to listen. "Drizzlepaw was barely six moons old himself and FearClan killed him anyway. He wasn't a threat to them, but they did that to send a message of their cold-hearts, correct?" Blackdapple was silenced at once, her green eyes wide with the amount of pain on the young medicine cat's face. "Not to mention if it wasn't for Applemist I would still have a mentor to learn from. Do you really think her words hold any value to me? Those kits can be taught just as well as I have, their paths may diverge from one another, but they choose that path just as I chose my own in the end. Perhaps I would never be a great huntress or fighter, but I would have still tried if I felt encouraged. You encouraged me to not accept being blind and that helped me find solace with Poppyclaw. He accepts Applemist's judgement for him to no longer be a medicine cat, but I never did. I didn't have a choice in the matter, now I have to adapt to another loss. Kits playfight all the time, it's about time some warrior taught them how to be better at it so they can protect others. Minteye found her place with the kits, they made her happiest to work with. I found where I felt comfortable and that's as a medicine cat. It's time for you to understand, Blackdapple, that if I was a warrior I would have still taught those kits with and without Morningstar's permission. I'm blind, not mouse-brained."
"I never said you were." The deputy mewed softly, but guilt was in her eyes.
Tumbleheart felt her stomach drop. Blackdapple had used Icepath's failing sight to be a stepping-stone in her arguement. A stepping-stone that only sighted-warriors like herself can feel pity about. The medicine cat clearly had none of it, after all if there was any pity for the white she-cat it would have presented itself when Poppyclaw was still her mentor. Now, with him gone, she had to adapt to being the sole healer. Something that she would want on no one. On once paw Applemist treated her as a sighted-apprentice rather then one that was going blind. While Blackdapple was using her blindness as leverage. Clearly, the guilt in the deputy's heart was enough for her to close in on herself.
"If Applemist can consider me as a sighted-apprentice back then, you can consider me as a sighted-medicine cat, Blackdapple." Icepath meowed, looking to her leader's direction a little with her head. "Do what you think is best, Morningstar. You are leader and your word is law. I appreciate you want to hear everyone's opinions, but with this you should just go with how you feel. Now if you excuse me, I have dusty and moldy herbs to sift through and I do hope the next time my advice is needed it's not reminding your deputy about how my voice was never needed for what happened to Poppyclaw's position." With a flick of her tail, the medicine cat retreated back to her den.
"Whatever happened to that sweet she-cat she used to be?" Blackdapple whispered.
Morningstar snorted, "That's just her feelings and Poppyclaw's personality have been rubbed off on her. He spoke his mind when we was younger and now she has made sure to speak hers now that it actually holds weight."
"It should have before though." Tumbleheart murmured, catching the looks of sympathy in their gazes.
Something that made Tumbleheart glad that Icepath couldn't see. The medicine cat had been trying to become stronger emotionally and moving forward despite everything. Her misgivings about her Clanmates being spoken about now after being kept to herself for so long. No amount of guilt, pity, or sympathy will bring back or fix any of what had been done. All they could do was learn from it and become a better Clan overall. With that in mind, Tumbleheart stepped up to her leader and deputy, dipping her head in solemn respect. The gesture was returned politely as she rose her head once more as the pale cream tom spoke one last time.
"I will choose the gentlest and most patient cats to teach the kits to defend themselves." Blackdapple simply nodded, the guilt in her eyes still darkening them as she went back to eating in silence.
The decision had been made, leaving an eerie silence over the three of them. A silence that made it clear of how the responsibilities in the Clan had been skewed. For the first time Tumbleheart truly wondered if BushClan was ever ready for FearClan's aggressions. If it was all worth the pain and suffering they had to go through. With so little cats, it was becoming much harder for her to think if they were truly as close to the Clan-cats that were spoken of by the stars. The same stars who lead them onto this path. The very path that allowed Icepath to walk and speak with dead cats and so on. With a soft sigh, Tumbleheart tucked back into her meal to finish it off. Perhaps, StarClan could bring them inner peace and that was all it was good for. After all, they were all not that far from being like FearClan and it was only the rules they tried to live by and their belief of StarClan that set them apart.
Then, why are we still fighting FearClan if we are still so similar in other ways?
Author Note:
For reference, I am doing it this way because there is a lot of time skipping happening in this story. These are just them trying to prepare for the inevitable ahead of time. It should be touched on more soon though, so no worries! I don't plan on running through that fast after all!
Like always, thank you for reading and have a fantastic day/night. - NightSky
