Rising Moon
Jedi Goat
Disclaimer: I don't own Warriors.
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Chapter 15
"All right," Moonpaw declared, glancing about the medicine cat's den. There were herbs stacked neatly near the back, looking as if they had been untouched. Cougarpelt doesn't know what they are, Moonpaw realized. Cobwebs and marigold were in the front, the stocks low. "We'll probably need more of those," she pointed out.
Cougarpelt nodded. "I'll ask for a patrol as soon as possible."
"I'd like to see the injured cats. Then I'll know exactly what we'll need."
"Okay." Cougarpelt shrugged. "Everyone has little injuries. I haven't really treated those, because I need all the herbs for the worst ones. This way." He padded out of the den.
Moonpaw followed him out, glancing up at Silverpelt, glittering in the sky. StarClan, please help me! she prayed, I need to do the right thing.
Cougarpelt led her to the nearest gorse bush. "Usually, this is the nursery," he whispered, "But for now I'm keeping the injured cats in here."
Moonpaw nodded, slipping under the bush. A strong scent of blood, fear and sickness washed over her. Coughing, she mumbled, "Maybe you should bring them out into open air."
Cougarpelt ducked his head in embarrassment. "You're right." Raising his voice, he called out, "We're going outside, everyone."
Moonpaw backed out of the bush and waited as cats rustled out to lie down in the clearing. "Get a patrol to find moss or other soft bedding," she ordered.
As Cougarpelt went to find Crowfeather, Moonpaw observed the collection of cats. A light brown tom was stretched out on his side, a long gash down his back. The wound was no longer bleeding, though it would take a while to heal. As Moonpaw nudged him gently, the tom moaned, "Nooo. I don't want to go hunting. Don't make me, Tornear!"
Moonpaw backed away from the feverish tom and instead approached a black she-cat. Her left forepaw was bleeding slightly, the fur all around it bloodstained. She looked exhausted. When Moonpaw inquired to her about names, she sighed, "That's Owlwhisker. I'm Nightcloud." Raising her head weakly, she nodded to a nearby ginger tom. "That's Weaselfur. And over there is Snowpaw."
Her head dropped back down to her paws and in moments she was asleep.
Moonpaw quietly padded over to Weaselfur. The tom's pelt was bloody, and a sticky mass of cobwebs covered his side. He glanced up at her dazedly but didn't speak.
The last patient, Snowpaw, was a tiny white she-cat. She had various cuts and bruises all over, but her blue eyes were wide with fear. She jolted away when Moonpaw touched her shoulder.
"Don't hurt me!" she yelped.
Moonpaw licked her ears a few times to calm her down. "It's okay. The wolves are all gone." For now, she added silently.
Cougarpelt, Crowfeather and a dark gray tom Moonpaw didn't recognize appeared just as she was finishing her inspection.
"What herbs do you need?" Crowfeather asked, looking eager to help.
Moonpaw went to check the herb collection Cougarpelt already had before replying, "Cobwebs and marigold. If you can't find enough cobwebs, bring dock leaves." She turned to add to Cougarpelt, "I want to check the whole clan for injuries. We can't have them getting infected." Back to the two warriors, she continued, "Some horsetail and wild garlic, if you can find any. A bit of thyme and feverfew. Lots of juniper berries, and if you could get some bedding, too, that would be nice."
Crowfeather and the other tom nodded. After quickly reiterating the list, the two cats raced out of camp. Moonpaw turned to Cougarpelt. "Could you get all cats to come check in with me sometime tomorrow?"
"Okay." He headed off to Onestar's den.
Moonpaw looked over the cats in her charge. Most of them were now drifting off to sleep; it reminded her of how tired she was.
Taking the last of the cobwebs from Cougarpelt's den, she applied them to Nightcloud's leg and Weaselfur's injury. The other cats could do without tonight. She took some marigold to Owlwhisker, who continued complaining and moaning. Moonpaw hoped Crowfeather could find feverfew, for his sake.
Snowpaw was still wide awake, so Moonpaw gave her a few poppy seeds before sitting down, watching over the resting cats.
Cougarpelt appeared at her side. "Good work," he mewed, gazing around in amazement.
"I think they should stay out here," Moonpaw whispered. "There's more air, and they're probably more comfortable."
Cougarpelt nodded. "You're the medicine cat." He looked away, sighing, "I'm not very good at this, am I?"
Moonpaw gave his ear a quick lick. "Of course you are! You just need someone to mentor you."
"Yeah, but you're so good at it. I don't even know what herbs to use."
"Yet," Moonpaw pointed out. "I wasn't a master when I first was apprenticed, you know."
Cougarpelt sighed, bowing his head. He suddenly looked like the young apprentice he was.
Moonpaw nudged him. "Get some sleep. I'll watch over them for a while."
"Are you sure?"
"Of course I am. You look like you forgot what sleep was," Moonpaw purred.
Cougarpelt smiled slightly. "Okay. Thanks."
He padded inside the log. Moonpaw shook her head in amusement and gazed up at the sky, thoughts drifting back to ThunderClan.
I wonder what Oakpaw's doing right now…
When Moonpaw's eyelids finally felt as heavy as boulders, she stood from her spot as sentry. Yawning and stretching out her sleeping limbs, Moonpaw then padded inside the log.
The den was pleasantly dark, moonlight filtering in through cracks in the wood. A musky scent of herbs drifted in her nostrils, making her all the more sleepy.
Moonpaw saw the small brown bundle of fur that was Cougarpelt, curled up in the largest moonbeam. His silver-tinted pelt rose and fell steadily as he slept.
Settling in next to him, Moonpaw closed her eyes. She could still feel his warmth, comforting at her side.
However, she couldn't help but wish it was a different tom who slept beside her.
Moonpaw blinked awake to see she was in the middle of the ThunderClan camp. The clearing was silent, trees whispering in the background.
A ghostly gray cat stepped out of the shadows. "Moonpaw!"
"Dawnpaw? Is that you?" Moonpaw raised her head.
"Yes, it's me, you stupid furball," Dawnpaw giggled. She bounced over to her, giving her healing shoulder a rapid lick. "Except I have news. I'm no longer Dawnpaw…"
Pausing dramatically, she announced, "I'm Dawnbreak now!"
Moonpaw pushed her nose into her sister's fur, inhaling her sweet scent. "That's good for you," she purred.
Stepping back, she asked nervously, "Is StarClan mad at me? After what I've done?"
"That is not for you to know," Dawnbreak chided gently. She turned away, hiding her eyes as she mewed, "StarClan have something to show you."
The clearing changed; it was still ThunderClan camp, but it was filled with cats. Moonpaw could make out friends in the crowd. Over all the cats came a loud chant:
"Oakheart! Oakheart!"
"Oh…" Moonpaw breathed. He's a warrior now! she thought excitedly.
Then she saw the white-and-brown tom, amber eyes gazing about the clearing. His eyes settled on her for a moment – no, through her, Moonpaw knew. She was not really there.
But still, she raised her head, eyes shining, hoping that wherever her friend was, he knew she was proud of him.
To be continued...
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