Chapter four: Ivypool
"Are you okay?" Ivypool called, rushing out of her den. She was woken up earlier when a group of cats were rushed out of camp to fight an unknown creature. She remembered Dovewing crashing out of Jayfeathers den yelling at everyone to follow her.
Ivypool sprinted up to Dovewing, who was side by side with Bumblestripe. "Is everything okay?" I asked with wonder. "What happened?" I asked.
Dovewing chuckled, "Everything's alright, Ivypool." She insisted. "It was only a group of foxes. They won't be coming back any time soon!" She added, digging her claws in the dirt with excitement.
Bumblestripe narrowed his eyes at Dovewing. "Yes, but look at your wounds." He pointed out. Large gashes were opened back up, with new wounds spilling with blood. "We better find Jayfeather."
Ivypool took a closer look at Dovewing, then back up to Bumblestripe with a worried gaze. "Wasn't Lionblaze on that patrol? He's alright too… right?" She asked. Dovewing just nodded her head. It was silent.
"I'll go find Jayfeather." She said, breaking the silence and sneaking off into the warm medicines cat den. She spotted Briarlight in the corner, her eyes wide and ears back. "Is everything okay?" Ivypool asked softly.
The brown cat started into her eyes. "No. J-Jayfeather left to get herbs this morning. He never returned and I just heard about the foxes." She said. "He's still out there!" She cried, dragging herself out of the den to look around the clearing. "What if the foxes got to him before they found the others? What if he's hurt! We have to send someone to find him!" She yelped in panic.
Ivypool looked around for the grumpy medicine cat, but Briarlight was right. "Don't worry. I'm sure he's safe. Plus, I'm sure no fox would come close to him with his strong herbal sent." She joked, trying to get Brairlight to relax. She quickly realized that it wasn't working.
"Look, there's Bramblestar." She added quickly "I'll go speak with him. In the meanwhile, why don't you go help the injured cats? I bet you know a lot about herbs." I said looking at Dovewing.
Briarlight sighed. "All right." She mewed before dragging herself away to look at the other cats.
Bramblestar was speaking with Squirrelflight when Ivypool came up to him. "Anything wrong Ivypool?" He asked, turning his head from his deputy.
Ivypool nodded her head. "Yes, I'm getting concerned about Jayfeather. He has not returned back to camp since morning and now he's not here to treat the injured cats" She explained calmly, unlike Briarlight who was searching around camp like a mad cat.
Bramblestar's ear twitched. "Is that so? Well, if he doesn't return earlier than dawn, we'll send a search party to find him. Right now we have Brairlight to help the wounded. Too many cats are hurt, and we can risk more cats getting attacked if there are more foxes waiting for us." He answered. "Jayfeather is strong. He's going to be alright." Bramblestar promised.
Ivypool said nothing else. She dipped her head, and turned away to find work to do, but turned to see two little kits running up to her side. It was Cherrykit and Molekit.
Cherrykit was bigger than her brother, almost looking a moon older. She yipped at Ivypool and crawled onto her back. "Ivypool! Did you hear about the fight with the foxes today?" She squeaked with excitement.
Ivypool smiled, bending down to let her off. The little kit jumped off and sat to listen. "If course I did, little one." She replied.
"I bet I could have fought all of them at once!" Blurted Molekit, who was crouching down to the ground, looking ready to fight.
Cherrykit laughed. "You? You taking on five foxes?" She grinned. "You can't barley pin me down!" She smirked.
Molekit frowned. "Can too!" he hissed. His sister just laughed, as she crouched down too. "Is that a challenge?" Molekit growled, but Cherrykit was already in the air, as she tumbled on top of him. They both giggled as thy wrestled each other, making fox noses.
Ivypool watched, wanting to show them properly how to crouch and fight, but knew they were too young. Ivypool walked away thinking about being a mentor of her own. She thought about it and felt as if she was ready to train a kitten to become a warrior.
With that thought on her mind, she remembered training in the Dark Forest with cats from the other clans. How terrible it was to fight as if it was real, ripping there pelts with her sharp claws. Trying her hardest to keeping her clan safe. That's over now. There is no need to think about that no more. She told herself, making her way to one part of the camp.
There lied bodies from the night before. ThunderClan cats that died because of the battle. She sat down next to Hollyleafs , and dug her nose in her fur. She could almost see Hollyleaf rushing up to save her from Thristleclaw and Hawkfrost when they cornered her. The vision stained her memory, as she thought about what would of happened if Hollyleaf never came back.
Hollyleaf's lifeless body smelt of death, and blood stained her fur. Hey eyes were closed, making Ivypool wanting them to open, and for her to be alive. She just wanted her again. To say good bye.
Ivypool sat up, knowing it was going to be hard to see her be covered away by twigs and leaves. She was a true friend.
Ivypool got up, watching the Clan being busy. The warriors den was almost complete, and was made much bigger than before. The tree that once laid in the center of the camp was destroyed, so cats were working on using the wood on making bigger dens.
Camp started to look like home again, and now all Ivypool wanted to do was live her life as normally as she could.