Webstream was confused as she sat by the medicine cat den. It had been four days since she nearly drown in the river, and now no cats would interact with her. Ripplingminnow would always avoid her, never coming even close enough for her to speak with him. Turtleheart and Sedgetalon stayed away from her as much as possible, Sedgetalon sending her quick glances from time to time while Turtleheart looked the completely opposite way.
It upset the she-cat more than knowing that she was scarred for life. Sagewhisper had informed her this morning that her wounds would heal over the next few days if she didn't go on long walks daily, and she could start warrior duties in half a moon, but her pelt would always be scarred. It angered her, but she kept it held within. There was no way she would give these cats the benefit of torturing her.
She suddenly stood up, determined to speak with Whisperwinds, Ripplingminnow's brother. She snuck across the clearing, where the tom was speaking with Nightscar and Hawkstrike. She stood behind Whisperwinds, the tom suddenly noticing her smell as Hawkstrike hissed and Nightscar unsheathed her claws.
The two she-cats were her long hated enemies. Hawkstrike was violent and enjoyed battles far too much. Nightscar used to be a nice cat, but one fight too many had turned her into an easily provoked badger of a she-cat. Whisperwinds was calm, and could handle speaking with them where most cats couldn't. Webstream was among those cats.
"Whisperwinds, could I speak to you without the ears of those two?" She asked the tom kindly, flicking her tail in warning at the other she-cats.
Whisperwinds nodded and turned, looking straight at Webstream with no falter in his gaze. When he did so, Webstream noticed a strange scar on the side of his neck that she had never seen before. Where did that come from?
"Sure, we can go on a border patrol and speak at the same time." The tom suggested, standing up and waiting on Webstream's answer. He was more like a deputy than Ripplingminnow, who simply went through the motions. He actually had denied the task of deputy, much like Turtleheart and Sedgetalon had before when Frogstorm was deputy. He was now an elder though.
"I couldn't agree any more. Mossclan border?" She suggested, walking towards the entrance to the camp. Whisperwinds nodded, and started to walk next to her, on her scarred side. He looked at her calmly, his gaze unwavering.
"You hoping to find a certain tom on patrol?" He asked her, his green eyes showing a spark of fire.
Webstream smiled. "No, I am not stupid. I know that I am not ready to take Snowfury on again yet, but I can help ensure that we aren't weak." She informed the tom.
"I wouldn't expect less from you." He purred, pushing her gently with his shoulder. "Race you to the half way point?" He asked as they stepped out of the entrance. Without waiting on her words of protest and complaint, he was running through the territory.
Webstream grunted and chased after him, her stride short and rather choppy at first. As her muscles began to loosen, she noticed it was easier to run. She was actually running again! She laughed at herself and chased after him. She caught up with him after a bit, slowing down and panting as the tom was looking back at her.
"That was so much fun!" She mewed, laughing as she did so.
"You seemed rather tense, figured the least I could do was help you out. I wondered how long it would be before you sought me out." He said, licking his fur flat.
Webstream looked at him puzzled. "What do you mean?" She asked, not understanding why she would seek him out. The only times they ever really talked was on patrols, or when she was with Minnowfoot. Not even Ripplingminnow would bring her near him, it was more like they avoided him when they were together, and she just realized it.
"Well most cats would like to thank their savior." He said, tilting his head and looking at her.
"What?" She mewed, confused now more than ever. He must be talking about the battle! Maybe he thought somehow he saved her. "I don't remember you saving me during the battle. I know that Minnowfoot had died saving me, and then I passed out. Were you the one that brought me back to camp?" She asked, figuring out that he must have been the one to do that.
"Minnowfoot was killed by Grasswhisker and Rainear. I was the one that knocked Snowfury off of you." He told her, figuring her mind must be jumbled due to the damage that was dealt by Snowfury. He suddenly felt even more anger towards the deputy of Mossclan. "If he messed up your memory…" He trailed off, his eyes glowing with anger that Webstream hadn't seen before.
"No! He didn't mess up my memory. I remember the silver tabby figure of Minnowfoot clearly jumping over me and fighting Snowfury, who killed him. You must be confused!" She said, hoping she was right. Ripplingminnow had never pointed out that Minnowfoot had never tried to save her, he always spoke like it was true, so it must be!
"Think! Minnowfoot and I look nearly identical! You think it was him because he died! Think of the tom you saw saving you. Did he have long white stripes on his legs?" He asked, his green eyes focused on Webstream.
The she-cat thought back to the battle. She saw the tom again, the silver figure's side flying passed her and right into the side of Snowfury, the two toms turning into heavy battle. She focused on his leg, letting the image replay in her mind over and over again. No, his legs were like Minnowfoot's, not like Ripplingminnows. That also meant his legs were like Whisperwinds.
"No, he didn't. They were like Minnowfoot and yours." She stated, still firm on it being Minnowfoot who saved her.
"Now think! When you were flat on the ground, right before you closed your eyes! I looked right at you! I had to be sure you weren't dead! I looked at you with my eyes, and my white face." He mewed at her.
Webstream continued the replay of the battle. Her head hit the ground, her vision starting to dim. She couldn't help it though. She had looked to watch to the best of her ability at her savior and enemy fight. She saw it then. A pair of green eyes darted at her momentarily, and a white masked face. Green eyes and a white masked face. The same green eyes and white masked face standing in front of her right now. She started crying, shaking with the tears that escaped her body. "Why? Why would you save me if your brother was fighting his own death?" She asked, her voice raspy and choked.
Whisperwind didn't falter, and instead stepped close to Webstream, resting his head comfortingly on her back. He closed his eyes and let the battle run through his mind as he told Webstream what had happened.
Yowls were everywhere. Mossclan and Robinclan both. War had been started because of prey stealing and border crossing Mossclan. The silver tabby tom knocked the black she-cat he was fighting over, jumping back as Hawkstrike attacked the she-cat, being chased by a blue gray tom. Nightscar was behind the blue gray tom, the two she-cats teaming up on the Mossclan cats.
The silver tom pulled away, having to find and make sure that she was okay. He started for where he smelt her, but a strange yowl pulled his attention from where she was fighting with Snowfury. He knew she could handle the tom, so he started towards his brother who was fighting two blood thirsty black toms. He knew Minnowfoot's smaller size would die beneath their power. As he started to yowl, it caught in his throat.
Webstream's yowl rang loud in his ears, and the tom looked over to see Snowfury readying to kill her. No! He wanted to rip himself in half, but he had to help his brother. She didn't even hardly realize he existed, but Minnowfoot meant a lot to both of them. As he turned to his brother, Minnowfoot was looking at him. Rainear had flattened him on the ground, and Grasswhisker's claws were on his throat.
"Any last words Minnowfoot?" Rainear asked tauntingly. Minnowfoot's words came out clear to Whisperwinds.
"You need her more." He said, smiling.
Whisperwinds hadn't waited any longer, knowing the words were for him, and while Minnowfoot gave his last fight to the confused black toms, the green eyed tom was already plowing into the side of Snowfury. He was NOT going to kill Webstream!
"I just couldn't let him kill you." He told Webstream, his head wrapped around her to keep her steady. He was taller than her, and it helped him. He was the second tallest cat in the clan, second to only Turtleheart.
Webstream just stayed speechless. She had never known that Whisperwinds cared about her so strongly! "Minnowfoot felt the same didn't he?" She asked the tom.
"Yes, there is something about you. You don't realize it, but there are actually five of us toms. You haven't ever noticed it because we have never told you so." He told her, not letting her fall as she shook.
"Tell me who. I need to know what toms will do something so stupid so I can prevent it." She demanded, her voice shaky with emotion.
"Minnowfoot…" He felt a shudder run through Webstream, and he knew it was one of great greif. "Are you sure? You know us all, some more than others, but you know us all." He informed her.
"Tell me now!" She hissed, pulling away from Whisperwinds so she was facing him. Even weak, injured, and shaking with emotion, she looked formidable.
"Minnowfoot, Me, Sedgetalon…" He let the three names sink into her head, and she was obviously saddened at it. Two toms that she cared strongly about, and the clan knew it. Then Whisperwind. The next two would hit her harder. "Ripplingminnow and Turtleheart." He finished, causing the she-cat to yowl out and fall down, sobbing.
"Go back to camp Whisperwinds! Just go back!" She yowled at the tom as he started to walk towards her. He paused, looking at her with sadness before turning and walking slowly back to camp, her sobs clear in his hearing.
