Another chapter. Just warning you, in the next chapter, it gets kind of crazy I think.
Chapter Twelve
Ivypool cheered for Cherrysky and Molefoot with the rest of the Clan. She flicked her tail at Cherrysky,
"Congratulations. Even if I do think you're an annoying furball, well done." Cherrysky purred and nodded.
"Thanks Ivypool." Ivypool moved away and headed towards the medicine den. She peered inside. Jayfeather was working on Icecloud. Briarlight was hurrying around fetching herbs and cobwebs.
"Hey. Can I help?" Jayfeather glanced up.
"No. Her life is in StarClan's paws now. I've done the best I can." Ivypool gulped. She looked at Icecloud; her white pelt was matted with herb poultices. Foxleap burst through the entrance, frantically sniffing his sister's pelt.
"Will she be all right?" he meowed anxiously. "Please don't let her die, Dustpelt's already lost Ferncloud! And kits before!" Ivypool hurried out and padded into the nursery. Dovewing was grooming her pelt. She glanced up happily when Ivypool came in.
"Ivypool! It's great to see you." Ivypool purred.
"Hey Dovewing. How much longer until your kits arrive?" Dovewing shrugged.
"Jayfeather says maybe a half-moon?" Wow. That's soon.
"Er, cool. Good luck!" she waved her tail in farewell and walked out of the den. She ducked inside her own den and settled into her nest. Since Cherrysky and Molefoot were out doing their vigil, the den felt lonely. Toadstep poked his head in.
"Hey Ivypool. I thought you might want some company." Ivypool wondered how he always knew just what to say.
"I do actually. Thanks." Toadstep shaped a nest next to hers and curled up.
"Goodnight Ivypool."
"Goodnight Toadstep." Ivypool fell asleep to the warmth of his pelt pressed against hers.
The next morning, she woke up and stretched, feeling her pelt brush against Toadstep's she glanced over at him, and saw him looking right back at her. Ivypool's pelt prickled with embarrassment.
"So, do you want me to go and wake our apprentices?" Toadstep shook his head.
"Lionblaze organized an apprentice training program for today with the senior warriors. We have the day off, and I was thinking we could get up later." He rolled back over, his pelt feeling soft and thick against hers. Ivypool buried her muzzle in her nest and drifted off.
Jayfeather licked a stray daisy leaf off his flank. He dug his paw into one of the herb stores.
"Catmint, catmint," he muttered to himself. He breathed a sigh of relief when he found their store. It wasn't large, but it would be enough to treat Fernkit, as small as she was. Jayfeather picked up the bundle in his jaws. He hoped Fernkit hadn't developed Greencough or Whitecough during the night.
"Millie? I've brought some herbs for Fernkit." Millie stood up in her nest.
"Thank StarClan. I think she's getting worse." Jayfeather leaned down and listened to the kit's breathing.
"Actually Millie, she's getting better. Just have her eat this and I'm sure she'll be fine." He dropped the bundle and started to head back to his den. Birchfall came hopping forward.
"Jayfeather, I've got a thorn in my pad." Jayfeather sighed.
"Come to my den." Birchfall followed him. Next, it was Rosepetal.
"I have a belly ache." Jayfeather rolled his sightless blue eyes.
"Come to my den." Just as they were about to reach the medicine den, Seedpaw came limping over.
"Jayfeather, I think I sprained my paw."
"Just get into my den, now." Jayfeather stalked into his den. He grabbed a mouthful of watermint and shoved it towards Seedpaw.
"Will this help my paw?" she asked, looking confused. Jayfeather growled in exasperation and snatched it to put it in front of Rosepetal.
"Eat this and rest." She licked them up, and headed for her den. Next, he picked up a bundle of comfrey and quickly wrapped up Seedpaw's leg. He dropped some dock next to Birchfall.
"I'll pull out the thorn, then you can chew this, and put it on your pad." Birchfall nodded. Jayfeather grasped the thorn with his teeth and pulled. Birchfall yelped and began licking his paw. Jayfeather pushed the dock towards him, then turned away from him. He heard Birchfall exit the den, still licking his paw.
Lionblaze stood on highrock. Bramblestar had told him to send a patrol to fight the badgers.
"I will lead a patrol to banish the badgers from our territory!" he called. "I want Berrynose, Foxleap, Brackenfur, Cloudtail, Toadstep and Ivypool. Berrynose, Cloudtail, Toadstep and Ivypool, are your apprentices ready to go?" The warriors nodded. "Okay then. I also want Cherrysky and Molefoot." The cats he called hurried towards him. Lionblaze leapt down leapt down and led the patrol out of camp. They crept through the undergrowth, careful not to let the badgers scent them. Foxleap inched forward.
"The set is over there. We should be quiet, they'll hear us if we get any closer." Lionblaze nodded and signaled for the patrol to spread out and stay low. Lionblaze hit the ground as a huge badger stormed out of the set. At Lionblaze's hissed command, the patrol scattered and climbed trees. Lionblaze lunged forward at the badger, and raked his claws down the side of his head. The badger lumbered forward and swiped a heavy forepaw at him. Lionblaze dodged to the side, trying to leap up and land on the badger's back. Suddenly, he felt sharp claws digging into his back, and another badger pulled him down. He heard Ivypool yowl and leap down from the tree, and on top of the first badger. Brackenfur and Cloudtail followed, lunging into battle.
"Lionblaze, go!" Berrynose spat blood out of his mouth, slashing his claws down the badger's course fur. The badger rumbled a growl and turned on Berrynose. Lionblaze's pelt was bloody, this time with his own blood. Maybe his power was only relevant to when he was fighting other cats. He turned and sunk his teeth into whatever flesh he could find. He felt strong teeth clamp around his forepaw and he yowled. Clawing at its eye, he reared up and brought down his other foreleg down hard on the badger's head. It roared in pain, and Lionblaze whirled around. He was alone. As far as he could see, it was just he and the badgers. Have the others gone down fighting? Lionblaze refused to give up, although felt himself weakening with every blow. As he aimed a swipe at a badger's eye, he felt himself flying through the clearing, then everything went dark.
Ooh. Toadstep and Ivypool. And Lionblaze just got thrown into a tree.