Chapter 11

"We're in need of tansy and celandine," Brackenfur meowed. "Between Longtail's eyes and Dappletail's failing sight we're running short."

Shadepaw nodded. "I'll get looking right away."

Trees creaked overhead. Shadepaw scanned the foliage all around them, trying to find either of the plants that Brackenfur needed. It was nice to be out of camp, away from the hustle and bustle of others… and away from Nightpaw. This far into the forest, her brother's prickly wall of emotion was barely a tickle in Shadepaw's head.

"This rain has been StarClan-sent," Brackenfur sighed, his tail swishing in the damp leaves. "Without it, surely all these plants would have died."

"I know," Shadepaw sighed. "I don't see any tansy or celandine, Brackenfur," she meowed. "What else do we need?"

"Unfortunate. Comfry," Brackenfur pointed out. "Do you remember what comfry looks like?"

Shadepaw closed her eyes. "Purple flowers and long, pointed leaves. Right?"

"Yes."

Shadepaw opened her eyes. She spotted a clump near the base of a birch tree not a few fox-lengths away. The bell-like flowers were gone, but she recognized the leaves. Shadepaw padded over to the plant, sniffing just to make sure, remembering how hard it'd been to tell comfry leaves apart from other plants in Brackenfur's stores.

She began to pick the leaves off, working meticulously to ensure she got as much as she could without damaging the plant. That was part of being a medicine cat, too – if the plant died from being trimmed badly, then how would the medicine cat heal her Clan?

Shadepaw found comfort in the activity, even as her eyes stung from herb juices and the smell of comfry. She soon had a respectable pile at her paws, and she gathered it up in her jaws. Brackenfur will be delighted! She thought. We've enough to get through leaf-bare!

She spotted Brackenfur digging at the roots of a tree. He must've found burdock, she thought. Even if they couldn't find celandine or tansy, at least they had found something. There were other parts of the forest to look, and plenty of daylight left to do the looking. Shadepaw adjusted her comfry bundle in her jaws before trotting over to meet her mentor.

As she walked, she found quickly that her vision was becoming obscured. Shadepaw paused, tail trembling, as she watched the forest all around she and her mentor fill up with a thick fog. Shadepaw dropped her comfry as even the sunlight seemed swallowed up by the sudden mist.

"B-Brackenfur?" she called.

There was no reply. Shadepaw looked around, suddenly finding that she couldn't see her mentor – all she could make out were her own paws and the ghostly gray trees rising above the phenomenon. Shadepaw planted her paws, unsure of what to do.

A catlike shape made its way through the mist, lean and long-furred, with a plumy tail. Shadepaw's eyes widened as she recognized the figure. Mistyfoot!

Another shape formed beside Mistyfoot, small and low-bodied. It was easy to tell by the shape of the ears that it wasn't Tinystar, but Nightpaw.

Shadepaw stared in awe as more shapes appeared behind Mistyfoot and Nightpaw – uncountable cats, none of which Shadepaw could really recognize in the mist. Shadepaw found herself wondering whether or not she ought to be afraid of this vision – and yet… the mist was comforting. Protective. Shadepaw felt no fear as Mistyfoot's shape locked eyes with her and dipped her head.

And then as soon as the mist had gathered, it was gone.

Dazed, Shadepaw blinked rapidly, shocked at the sudden brightness of the world around her. Had that… been a vision from StarClan? She wondered.

"Shadepaw! Shadepaw, there you are!" panted Brackenfur.

The golden brown tom was beside Shadepaw, his sides heaving and his eyes wide. His fur was standing on end, and fear-scent rolled off of him.

"Did you see that?" Shadepaw breathed, unable to keep the awe out of her voice. "Brackenfur, that was a sign from StarClan!"

"I know," Brackenfur meowed. The look in his eyes made Shadepaw's tail lower. "I saw."

"Mistyfoot looked so strong and happy!" Shadepaw pointed out. "I haven't seen her like that since before Shrewpaw died, and…" Shadepaw's mew died in her throat as she really took in Brackenfur's expression, which was growing graver with every word. A sinking feeling settled in Shadepaw's stomach.

"We need to see Tinystar." Brackenfur's voice was unusually clipped. "Immediately."

Sandstorm and Tinystar were grooming in the shadow of the Highrock when Brackenfur and Shadepaw returned. The camp was quiet, with warriors off hunting and patrolling, so thankfully no cat really paid much mind to Brackenfur's expression and pace as he led the way to Tinystar.

Tinystar looked up from Sandstorm's flank, his jaws open to greet his medicine cat until he caught on to Brackenfur's trembling tail and the way the golden brown tom's claws dug into the earth.

"What is it?" he asked, quietly.

Sandstorm stirred, looking up from where she lay. Her tail twitched as she observed.

"I've had a sign," Brackenfur murmured gravely.

Shadepaw listened in shock as Brackenfur described the mist vision: "It clouded the entire forest, blocking sight and sound," he meowed sternly, "and it was cold like ice to my bones. I couldn't even recognize the trees, Tinystar! Within the mist I saw Mistyfoot, leading a group of cats. The way she looked at me… it was like seeing Bluestar all over again."

Tinystar's eyes narrowed. "Are you sure?"

Brackenfur nodded his head.

Confusion and alarm sparked in Shadepaw. "Brackenfur, that's not what I saw at all!" she blurted. Before Brackenfur could interject, Shadepaw went on, "I saw the mist, and Mistyfoot, yes – but it didn't feel cold or unwelcoming! It was warm, and I felt safe! Mistyfoot didn't look anything like a tyrant."

Sandstorm and Tinystar shared a look, confusion passing between them. "Then who is right?" Sandstorm wondered.

Brackenfur frowned. "Shadepaw, don't you think you may be misinterpreting what you saw?" he meowed carefully. "This is your first vision from StarClan."

Shadepaw's shoulders bristled. "I am not misinterpreting anything!" she insisted. "I know what I saw, and what I felt! I don't see some ghost of the past every time I look at Mistyfoot!"

Brackenfur shut his jaws.

"Don't talk to your mentor that way, Shadepaw," Sandstorm hissed.

Shadepaw turned her head away from her parents, feeling both anger and shame prickling her pelt like fire ants. I shouldn't have said that, she thought ruefully. Curse my temper!

"Regardless," Tinystar meowed, his tone drawn and careful, "of who is right here… it is clear that we need to keep an eye on Mistyfoot." He glanced between the gathered cats. "It is paramount that no cat here tells Mistyfoot about this vision; not until we know what's going on. Understood?"

"Of course, Tinystar," Brackenfur meowed.

"Shadepaw?" Tinystar asked.

Shadepaw forced herself to meet her father's eyes. His icy blue gaze was unreadable. Was he ashamed of his daughter? "Of course."

"How dare you!"

Shadepaw flinched. She looked back at Brackenfur as he limped into the medicine cat's den, the ferns closing behind him. His golden eyes were blazing with annoyance, his tail lashing to and fro.

"I am the full medicine cat here, Shadepaw," he snapped sternly, "and you have no idea how to interpret signs from StarClan! You had no business speaking up like that, especially in front of Tinystar!"

Shadepaw looked down at her paws, feeling shame wash over her. "I know how I felt," she insisted. "Mistyfoot isn't an omen of evil – why is what I saw and felt wrong?"

Brackenfur sighed, the frustration in his eyes fading. "You're just an apprentice, Shadepaw," he reminded her. Shadepaw's pelt prickled with anger. "You just don't have enough experience with signs from StarClan to make that kind of call. Your connection to StarClan is amazing, but you've no idea how to handle it yet."

Shadepaw's temper flared, making her shoulders bristle. "It's my 'amazing' connection to StarClan, and I will see things as I am meant to!" she snapped. Anger flared white-hot in her vision. "I'll bet a whole juniper bush you didn't tell Mosspaw what she did or didn't see when she had visions!"

Brackenfur bristled now, his eyes flashing with pain. "This argument is over!" he hissed.

Shadepaw lashed her tail. "Fine!" she growled. Regret panged her heart, but it was swallowed up by her growing frustration. "I'm going to go collect the herbs we left in the forest!"

Brackenfur didn't stop her as she stalked out of the medicine cat den and through the clearing. He didn't stop her as she plunged out into the forest and broke into a run, her anger pulsing through her paws. Blindly she crashed through the forest, passing even the herbs she had promised to gather.

I'm right! Shadepaw thought, her claws tearing at the turf before her paws. Anger blazed through her, a gift from her father. I know it!

Why doesn't he see it? Why can't he just trust me?!