Chapter 4: The Punishment

Rougefoot dipped his head to his father and put the pieces of prey on the kill pile. Snapstar watched him the whole time. Rougefoot looked at his father curiously. "Snapstar." He meowed. "Do you need something?"

"Yes I do Rougefoot…" He meowed sternly.

"Yes?" Rougefoot meowed respectfully.

"I have been told by Brambleleg that you were sighted in SunClan territory saving a kit from Cornfoot."

"Yes I was Snapstar." Rougefoot meowed.

"You should have let that kit go. If Cornfoot would have killed it so be it. It needs to learn how to survive on its own."

"That's mean Snapstar! That kit was barely a moon old. It can't survive without its mother."

Snapstar snarled. "Maybe if you didn't have such a soft heart you would have let the kit alone. You are weak. You need to toughen up. Learn to live how to be a real cat, not a scavenger."

Rougefoot bowed his head. "I learned that it was better to be nice to all cats, especially ones in need."

Snapstar bared his teeth farther. They were fully showing. The razor sharp weapons were ready to be used. "You shall help Cindertail and Shortleg for a moon. That is your punishment." Snapstar stalked off into his den.

Rougefoot sighed and shook his head. He walked over to Shortleg's den. He stuck his head in. "Shortleg I have been ordered to help you and Cindertail for a moon."

Shortleg turned around and stared at Rougefoot with sad yellow eyes. "Tough luck. It won't be that bad. I heard you saved that kit, good job to you."

"My father doesn't think so. I just want to be accepted. I don't think I ever will." Rougefoot bowed his head.

Shortleg ushered Rougefoot into his den farther. He spoke in low quick words as if it was important, but not to be spoken. "Your father. His mother abandoned him when he was less than a moon old. My grandmother found him out in the forest and nursed him. She told him when he grew into a warrior, and that's where he got his bad attitude. He loves you Rougefoot. Always remember that."

"How do you know that?" Rougefoot asked Shortleg.

"My grandmother was the great Angelstar. It got passed down in my family and I was told. I was forced to keep it a secret. Please do not tell anyone I told you." Shortleg pleaded.

"It'll be kept in me forever." Rougefoot meowed.

"You should go see your father. Tell him you love him and that you are sorry." Shortleg meowed.

"Thank you Shortleg. I'll do that. Then I'll get back to helping you."

"Thank you Rougefoot. It will be a pleasure." Shortleg meowed. "Now get going." He pushed Rougefoot out of his den with his black nose.

Rougefoot gulped. He did not want to confront his father after all of this fighting they just had but he had to. He mustered his strength and walked in his father's den. Snapstar's head was bowed and he looked very sad.

Rougefoot lay down beside his father. He pressed his dark gray head in his fathers flame red shoulder. "I love you Snapstar." He meowed softly.

"I'm so sorry Rougefoot. It's just hard for me because I didn't have a mother… I'm proud of you for saving that kit. I love you too."

"Feel better." Rougefoot meowed. "Well I have to help Shortleg now so I will see you later I guess."

"Goodbye. Have fun." Snapstar meowed. He seemed a lot stronger and happier.

Rougefoot walked over to Shortleg's den. "Anything I can do Shortleg?" Rougefoot meowed.

"Yes, I need you to fetch some burdock root. It should be near the EarthClan border. Dig it out and bite off the stems. I need the roots off it. It has a really strong smell. You can't miss it. Then you can rest until Peak Sun tomorrow."

"Thank you Shortleg," Rougefoot meowed before walking out of the camp. He dashed to the EarthClan border, relying on his memory and sense of smell to lead him. As he neared the EarthClan border he slowed down. The steady beat of his pawsteps eased.

He sniffed around until he found a very strong smelling plant. 'This must be burdock root.' Rougefoot thought. He dug down and pulled out the roots of the tall grassy plant. He bit off the stem just as Shortleg had ordered. He brought the roots home to him. Shortleg inspected the roots then placed them in a pool of water.

"Good job," he meowed. "You can go to sleep now. I will wake you at Peak Sun." Shortleg meowed.

"Thank you Shortleg." Rougefoot meowed. He walked out of the strong smelling medicine cat den and into his own nest by the foot of his father's rock. He fell into a deep trance like sleep.

He woke at Peak Sun and walked over to Shortleg's den. Slashpaw had tripped over a protruding branch and sprained his paw. Shortleg was tending to it expertly.

"Great timing Rougefoot," Shortleg meowed. "I need you to fetch a poppy seed from the back."

Rougefoot walked into the back of Shortleg's den. There were several herbs. Soon he found a dried poppy head and shook out a seed. He rolled it over to Shortleg, who in turn gave it to Slashpaw.

"Thanks," Slashpaw meowed.

"You better stay here for the day and take your training easy for the next few days."

Slashpaw yawned. "Will do Shortleg." He curled up into a ball and fell asleep.

"Young ones," Shortleg meowed, amused.

"What were you like when you were young Shortleg?" Rougefoot asked.

"Well… I was a very dignified young cat. The great Angelstar was on her last life and I was a medicine cat apprentice in training. I had to be very respectful and not speak out my opinion. Your father was the deputy and he would not allow cats to speak out against anything really… He was a strong cat and he knew what was best for the Clan… but he could get ahead of himself sometimes. Well my mentor, Ivyfoot passed on and I was made the medicine cat. I was around 8 seasons old and I wasn't very experienced. Angelstar was very helpful and wise. She knew a lot about medicine and she taught me everything I knew. Well then she went on with the ancestors one fateful morning in a Roaring path accident. She was killed on impact. My mother was very grief ridden. Your father took control and everything changed. He's a very defiant cat, and he thinks he is indestructible. He still does what is best for the Clan, yet he still does not let cats speak out. If you haven't noticed if we have to talk we must do so very secretly. All of us are dignified in front of him and if there is a slight indication that you would speak out, you would be punished. So pretty much I was really dignified and unspoken in my younger days."

"Wow," Rougefoot meowed. "You've mentioned this Angelstar twice now. She was the leader before my father right?"

"Yes. She was also my grandmother. She was a beautiful unmarked gray she-cat with stunning blue eyes. She was kind hearted and helped every cat in need. She looks…"

"She looks like what?" Rougefoot asked.

"She looks just like you…" Shortleg meowed quietly.

"Like me?" Rougefoot meowed.

"Well maybe a little lighter fur color but all and all the same cat…"

"That's amazing." Rougefoot meowed.

"Yes it is. I believe her spirit was reborn into you. You are a lucky cat Rougefoot."

"Thank you."

"You're welcome. Well I don't need anything else for the day so why don't you go out hunting and you can have the rest of the day off."

"Thanks a lot Shortleg!" Rougefoot meowed gleefully.

He bounded out of the camp into the pine forest he called his home. It was almost High Moon by the time he was done hunting and feeding himself. 'Time to meet Icechest.' He thought happily. He bounced over to the border and hid in a clump of ferns. He saw Icechest come out of the bushes looking somewhat alarmed. He puffed his chest out and walked towards her.

"Hi Icechest," he whispered.

She ran across the border to greet him. "Oh Rougefoot I missed you so much." She rubbed her cheek up against his.

He led her back across her border. "I missed you too."

"How's FireClan?" She meowed.

"I got caught saving a SunClan kit and I was punished to help Shortleg and Cindertail for a moon. It isn't half bad though. Shortleg has a lot of great stories. How's MoonClan?"

"They are really anxious, my brother wonders why I'm so distracted and so does Dogstar. I'm worried they are going to find out what I'm doing."

"Let's hope not. I love seeing you."

"I do too, and even if they catch me I'm going to keep meeting you."

"Me too. Nothing can make me stop." Rougefoot meowed.

They heard a few voices. They were MoonClan cats. Rougefoot dashed into the bushes and Icechest started sniffing at some ferns, pretending to look for prey.

A patrol of Foxclaw, Nightclaw, and Dogstar walked out. Nightclaw delivered her kits several moons earlier and they were about ready to be apprenticed so she could go out on patrol.

Icechest continued to sniff the bush. She caught a scent of a mouse and she followed it into the trees. She caught it and brought it back to the patrol. They were too far away to hear what they were saying but it didn't seem good.

Dogstar walked up to the border and sniffed along it very carefully. He could smell Icechest's scent on the other side. He stared across it and snarled. "Come out cat."

Rougefoot walked out of the bush he was hiding in. He stood tall and proud over Dogstar. "Hello Dogstar."

"What happened here?" Dogstar scowled.

"She accidentally strayed across the border chasing some prey. It was a simple mistake." Rougefoot meowed flatly.

"Your stories match." Nightclaw growled.

"I will let you go this one time." Dogstar growled to Icechest. "Cross the border again and you're done for."

Nightclaw and Dogstar left. Foxclaw stayed behind.

"This is the second time Icechest, please be careful. I care for you." Foxclaw meowed to his sister.

"I'm sorry Foxclaw. I'll pay more attention next time."

"You should be getting home soon." Foxclaw meowed.

"I want to hunt some more. I'll be home by Rising Sun."

"Suit yourself," Foxclaw meowed as he walked away.

"That was a close one Icechest." Rougefoot meowed to her.

"I know Rougefoot." She meowed quietly. She was trembling all over.

Rougefoot sat down and began to lick her gently. Her trembling eased after a little while. Rougefoot continued to lick her back, smoothing down her puffed out red fur. She started to groom Rougefoot. After they were done they sat down on their own side of the border and talked for a little while.

"Well Rougefoot," Icechest meowed. "My brother would be worrying. I need to start hunting soon to bring back prey."

"I do too." Rougefoot meowed.

"Meet back here tonight?" Icechest asked.

"I'll be here." He licked her head one last time as they parted.

Rougefoot searched around for the first few signs of prey. He caught a thin mouse, two voles, and a sad looking rabbit. He carried his catch back to camp. The kill pile was depleting rapidly. Leaf Bare was almost here and the prey that was caught was getting thinner and thinner. Rougefoot walked with heavy feet to Shortleg's den.

Shortleg was sorting through herbs. Slashpaw was gone.

"Hey Shortleg." Rougefoot yawned.

"Hello Rougefoot. You sound tired. Out for a late night mission?"

Rougefoot's eyes got wide, then returned to normal size. His heart started racing. He thought it would explode. "Umm… Sure." He meowed.

Shortleg eyed him curiously.

"Need any help?" Rougefoot meowed.

"No, not today. I think I got it all under control. Go ask Cindertail if he needs anything."

"Ok bye Shortleg." Rougefoot meowed.

"Bye." He meowed without looking at Rougefoot.

Rougefoot dragged himself over to Cindertail's tree. "Cindertail do you need anything?" He yawned.

"Yes please young one. I want you to tell me what's going on but before that can you fetch me some more pine needles. These are getting worn out."

"I will do as you wish." Rougefoot meowed.

Cindertail walked out of his den. Rougefoot cleared out the old pine needles and went out into the forest for some more. He came back with a mouthful of the prickly needles. He set them down inside Cindertail's den and spread them out carefully. Cindertail walked back into his den, circled a few times and lay down.

"Now Rougefoot." Cindertail meowed. "Please tell me what is going on."