I finally got the time to update this:)
The patrol returned to camp just before moonhigh. There had been no sightings of the rogues that had attacked the camp or of the gigantic cat, Lark. All was well in the forest again; except Rustpaw was dead, Foxwhisker was being weird and Shadowheart was still depressed.
Shadefrost entered the camp behind the black she-cat. Shadowheart had not uttered a word during the entire patrol and Shadefrost had worried about her friend, instead of scenting the air for threats. Hollyfrost had noticed this and scolded Shadefrost for inattention. Apparently that was not allowed now that she was a warrior.
As they padded through the hollowed-out tree trunk, Shadefrost picked up her pace so that she was walking beside Shadowheart. "Hey," she mewed, trying to sound bright.
Shadowheart nodded at her but did not speak.
Shadefrost sighed and followed Shadowheart towards the centre of the clearing. "You are going to have to get over this soon, you know?" she meowed seriously. "Rustpaw's watching us from StarClan."
Shadowheart shook her head. "I know," she said, her voice barely audible. "But it's not the same."
"Oh Shadowheart!" Shadefrost pushed her pelt into her friend's. "I know it's not exactly the same but you need to just accept that he's gone."
Shadowheart pulled away. "I can't," she whispered and padded towards the warriors den.
Shadefrost was about to follow but a voice sounded from behind her. "Shadefrost." It was strong and commanding. She turned to see Hollyfrost, eyeing her cobweb-swathed ear. "You need to go and get that ear looked at or it might get infected. I can't have my warriors weakened in any way this time of year."
Shadefrost nodded. She had completely forgotten about her ear. Cloud had torn it just before she had slain him. "Okay Hollyfrost."
She turned to pad away but Hollyfrost stopped her. "Are you worried about Shadowheart, Shadefrost?" the deputy asked.
Shadefrost hesitated, surprised that Hollyfrost had noticed, then mewed, "I don't think she has quite gotten over his death yet." Yet again, she couldn't bring herself to say Rustpaw's name.
Hollyfrost nodded. "Don't worry," she mewed. "I'll have some cat cheer her up. Maybe Sootwhisker."
"Sootwhisker will have his work cut out," Shadefrost warned. "I've tried to make her happy but she won't listen."
Hollyfrost nodded. "Sootwhisker is good at that stuff," she mused.
"Alright." Shadefrost dipped her head respectfully at the deputy. "Thank you Hollyfrost."
Hollyfrost rested her tail on her shoulder. "We need good warriors and Shadowheart can't be that if she is grieving." Again, her eyes drifted to Shadefrost's ear. "And you can't be that if you have an infected ear. Go and see Swallowfeather, now."
Shadefrost nodded. "Okay but I don't think Swallowfeather will be very happy if I wake her up." She turned and padded across the clearing towards the medicine cat den.
The camp was well lit as the moon was almost full. A full moon signalled a gathering, in fact there was one tomorrow night. Shadefrost was not desperate to go but it would be nice to catch up with some of her friends from the other clans. And also it would be the first time she would see Scorchstorm since she had discovered they were related.
She entered the medicine cat den quietly, so that she did not wake any of the cats sleeping there. Inside, Shadefrost recognised the medicine cat apprentice, Silkpaw, who was sorting herbs into neat piles. Shadefrost was very close to Silkpaw, having been raised by her mother, Daisypelt. Daisypelt, unfortunately, had died in the battle against the rogues as well and Shadefrost grieved for her along with Flamefur and Rustpaw.
Silkpaw looked up when Shadefrost entered. "Hey," she mewed, smiling though her eyes portrayed her grief for her lost mother.
"Hello Silkpaw," Shadefrost mewed, padding over to her littermate.
"I haven't seen you since you were made a warrior," Silkpaw commented. "Congratulations!"
"Thanks." Shadefrost nosed Silkpaw's side. "What are you doing up at this time of night?"
"Swallowfeather sent me on an herb collecting mission." Her eyes glinted mysteriously. "Some herbs grow better at night."
Shadefrost frowned. She didn't understand the ways of a medicine cat much.
Silkpaw pushed a pile of herbs to one side. "What do you want Shadefrost?"
"Um, my ear," Shadefrost said. "Could you do it up, considering you're awake and all?"
"Oh, yeah sure." Silkpaw picked up her pile of herbs. "Just let me put these back in the store." She padded towards an overhanging rock and disappeared behind it. Shadefrost knew that Swallowfeather's nest resided there, along with the store of herbs.
Shadefrost sat down and curled her tail around her paws. Surveying the medicine cat den, she spotted Venompaw in his nest of moss. The young tom was squirming in his sleep. His injury was obviously bothering him. Venompaw's eye had been viciously clawed in the battle and, although he wasn't blinded, he would have a nasty scar stretching across one eye when he returned to training.
There was a hiss from behind the overhang and Silkpaw dashed out, looking guilty. Padding over to Shadefrost, she mewed, "I stood on Swallowfeather's tail when I was getting some cobwebs. She wasn't happy. Apparently she was having a dream about eating mice."
"That's too bad," Shadefrost sympathised. Swallowfeather was an extremely gentle medicine cat but if you got on her wrong side she could be cranky.
Silkpaw reached up to pull the cobwebs from Shadefrost's ear. "Well," she mewled, inspecting the tear. "At least it's stopped bleeding. You should be okay without cobwebs. Looks like I stood on Swallowfeather's tail for nothing."
Shadefrost scuffed her paws. "Sorry."
Silkpaw purred. "It's okay." She yawned. "Gosh, I am tired."
Shadefrost pressed her nose into her littermate's fur. "You should catch a few winks before sunrise."
Silkpaw smiled. "So should you. You look half-dead on your paws."
"Hmm." Shadefrost nodded, realising how tired she was. "I'll see you soon then Silkpaw."
"Yeah." Silkpaw waved her tail in farewell and Shadefrost exited the den.
Shadefrost traversed the gap to the warriors den quickly, eager to curl up in her warm nest. A chilly wind ruffled her fur and she shivered, even though her pelt had grown thick against the icy weather. She entered the den silently, slipping over to where she had slept earlier. Finchwing and Creekfall were curled up together, their chests rising and falling rhythmically in their slumber. Next to them, Shadowheart was stretched out in her nest, looking more peaceful in her sleep than she had since Rustpaw's death. Foxwhisker lay a few whiskerlengths away from her. He was twitching and turning in his sleep. As Shadefrost watched, she heard him mumble, "Mountains. No." She frowned. What kind of mousebrained dream was the ginger tom having? Troubled, she lay down beside him and let her pelt touch his. They were not in contact for long as the tom twisted in his slumber, rolling away from her. She shivered, longing for the warmth of his fur and let herself fall into an uneasy sleep.
So what do you think? Tell me in a review!
Sorry the update was a little slower than usual. I had to do revision:(
Thanks to all who reviewed the last chapter: Ripplewater, CRAZEDREADER96 x2, Silverdew of ThunderClan, Jellybean is me, Squirreltail, Clear Blue Rain, Pebbleclaw, ShadowInYourEyes, NessieXJacob-Mossfeather and Blossomgleam. I can't believe how many reviews I'm getting. Thank you! I'm really grateful:)
The next update may be slow because of exams. For now, please review!