p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Chapter Three/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Moonshine continued her way along the rest of the StoneClan border, contemplating the meeting with StoneClan's patrol. Snowfall had been polite, although she sensed a discomfort moving beneath her pelt, caution flashing behind her eyes. She'd seen it in all of the clan cats lately, ever since a group of cats had broken away from StoneClan and formed CaveClan, named after Stonestar's brother and their new leader, as well as the instigator of the ordeal, Caveshadow. Or she guessed it was Cave/spanspan style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"star/spanspan style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" now. Although the other clans had accepted this new division, you could tell a lot of them weren't happy with it./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Well, if it makes those cats happy to live in the caves beneath us all, then why not let them. What harm could they really do?/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"It appeared that she'd had no idea what this new clan was capable of./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"As they made their way back down the border and made to turn back towards camp, a flash of movements caught Moonshine's attention. Cats were swarming the mountains that were Stoneclan territory, and heading down towards the caves. She recognized Cavestar in the lead, with Batnose and Willowpelt following him. /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Stripewhisker! I think something's wrong!" She called to the tom ahead of her. He stopped short, turning to the scene where cats still trickled to the claves. /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Stripewhisker narrowed his eyes, the yellow color bleeding into the shadow of his fur. "What is the whole of CaveClan doing on StoneClan territory? Did they try to return?"/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""I don't think so." Oakpaw meowed quietly. "It looks like they're wounded, and I doubt Stonestar would willingly harm his former clanmates." /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""He's right." Moonshine agreed, fright snaking it's way under her pelt. "Oh, I hope it wasn't what I think it was…" No sooner than she'd spoken did a mournful wail pierced the air, driving straight into her bones. She recognized the voice of the StoneClan medicine cat Lakesong, and her fur stood on end. Only one thing could make a cat emit a sound like that. The white she-cat's heart hurt for the other./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"The sound of hurried pawsteps came from behind them as Yarrowtail, Mossheart, Stormcloud, and Riverpaw stopped beside them. /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Is any cat hurt?" Mossheart asked, his fur standing on end. Riverpaw paced beside Yarrowtail, eyes looking for an injured clanmate./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Not any of us. It came from StoneClan." Clovertail said darkly. "I think CaveClan attacked them." The tabby edged closer to her mate, looking grim. The expression was mirrored by the other patrol./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""We should alert Fernshade at once." Stormcloud spoke up for the first time. "We can't be sure they won't attack us next." The very thought made Moonshine go ridged. Would CaveClan really start attacking all of the clans? /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"The two patrols headed back to the camp at a hurried pace. No cat spoke, but it was clear that they all wanted to get back before CaveClan got a chance to attack them./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"As they entered the camp, Moonshine hardly felt the pull of the brambles, adrenaline rushing through her veins and making her numb to everything but her task. Fernshade turned to see them, shock radiating over her face as she took in the solemn expressions./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Has something happened? I heard that yowl, but I thought it was to far off to be one of our warriors." /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""It was a StoneClan cat, we think. We spotted CaveClan fleeing their territory covered in wounds. I think they attacked them." Stripewhisker reported, voice surprisingly steady./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""StoneClan?" Fernshade let out a gasp. She had been one of the first cats to arrive at the lake alongside Stonestar, and the two cats were good friends despite their different clans./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""What should we do?" Moonshine asked quietly. "Shouldn't we at least make sure they're alright? If they were attacked, who knows what CaveClan did. And that yowl….some cat has died, I'm certain." Fernshade looked at her, horror leaking into her eyes. /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Certain? How can that be?"/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""There is nothing else in all of StarClan that would make a cat sound like that." Moonshine met her eyes gravely. "Believe me, I know." She saw Clovertail stiffen, eyes going wide. Moonshine had never so much as hinted at the incident that gave her this knowledge before now, although the entire clan already knew about it./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Fernshade finally nodded after a long pause. "Regardless of whether or not a cat has died, we are obligated to at least make sure they have herbs and fresh-kill for their injured clanmates. I'll send a patrol at once." As she made to leap onto Hollow Tree, she looked over her shoulder at Moonshine. "Would you be okay to join it?" /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Moonshine nodded slowly. She knew how to handle a sudden death well, or at the very least was the only one to have dealt with it recently./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Satisfied with her answer, Fernshade climbed her way to the top of the tree. "Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather for a clan meeting!" The black she-cat yowled. The other members of the clan began making their way over; Wrenfeather and Goldeneye pushing out of the elders den and settling beside Breezenose, whose belly was so big that Moonshine expected her to give birth any day now./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Fernshade waited until everyone had gathered beneath the tree, before raising her voice again. "We have reason to believe that StoneClan has been attacked. This said, I have decided to send a patrol to make sure they have the means necessary to help their clanmates recover."/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Why? How does StoneClan being attacked affect us?" Petalwhisker asked./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""StoneClan has always helped us when we needed them, and so we must return the favor. And it is against the warrior code to let another cat die, regardless of their clan, if we can do something to help them." Fernshade fixed her with a hard stare. "Now, I will tell you who is on the patrol. Remember, we go /spanspan style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"peacefully." /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Scarletpelt, Mintfur, Drizzleleaf, Moonshine, Stormcloud, and Pinepaw." She locked eyes with each cat as if to remind them of her previous statement. When her emerald gaze landed on Moonshine, her eyes darkened with worry. The snowy she-cat nodded back, her expression grave. /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"The chosen cats started for the entrance of brambles, and this time Moonshine was careful to keep her pelt as far away from the prickly vines as possible. Stormcloud looked over at her, gaze lit with amusement as she exited the wall. "Are you trying to become a hedgehog?"/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Shut up, bee-brain!" She huffed and stalked past him, pelt fluffed up so it was even fluffier than usual. She made for the StoneClan border, hesitating before she set her paws gingerly on the stone surface of the mountain slope and heading the direction she'd seen CaveClan fleeing from. /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"The StoneClan camp was in a shallow dip in the stone, like the training hollow in MeadowClan territory. As the patrol entered it, the gazes of StoneClan warriors scorched their pelts. It was obvious that they were all wounded and terrified, the scars on their pelts as wide as their fearful eyes. Scarletpelt opened his jaws to speak, but Moonshine knew that whatever he said would be harsh. Speaking before he could, she kept her voice gentle and even./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""We saw CaveClan leaving here wounded, and we wanted to find out what happened, although it's obvious there was a battle. If you need anything to aid your injured clanmates...please allow us to offer assistance." She looked Stonestar in the eyes as she spoke, willing him to see here sincerity. /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"He blinked at her. "StoneClan is grateful. We could use some more marigold and thyme…and lavender." Stonestar paused. "We need a lot of things, actually."/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Moonshine nodded. "Of course." Dipping her head she looked around for the bodies and spotted one near what had to be the Medicine Den. A cat with long, red fur. Crouched over it, looking stricken, was Lakesong. Beside her was a small cat with patches of different colors in her fur, the medicine cat apprentice Dapplepaw. /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Turning to her clanmates, she flicked her tail. "We should hurry. The longer we wait, the more time there is for infection to set in." Scarletpelt nodded, although his eyes smoldered with the fact that she'd usurped his power. Moonshine longed to tell him that this hadn't even been his patrol from the beginning, but she held her tongue. Drizzleleaf smoothed her tail along his spine, eyes sad. Mintfur stood close to his apprentice, Pinepaw, who was taking in all the injured cats with wide eyes. Stormcloud, however, met her eyes with no surprise. He just nodded and turned away as the made to leave the camp./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Wait, take some of my cats with you. Please, some of these injuries need to be treated immediately and they can tell you what we need." Stonestar's calm voice was edged in panic. Moonshine glanced around at her patrol and nodded. "Alright."/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"A black tom, orange she-cat, red tabby, and an apprentice with fiery blue eyes supported by a silver apprentice made their way toward them. The apprentice shrugged off her denmate and limped to fall in beside them all. With an eye on the injured cats, the MeadowClan patrol made their way down the mountain./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"The trees overtook them, and the scent of forest invaded Moonshine's senses like a warm embrace, a welcome change from the blood-streaked stone. Turning to the cat beside her, she finally spoke up. "We'll be there soon."/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Yeah, I can smell it, mouse-brain." The blue eyed apprentice snapped. She had a thick, black and white pelt with white streaks leading from her eyes to her muzzle, her pretty appearance contrasting starkly with her sharp tongue./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""I can't really tell, I've gotten so used to smelling it that I guess I don't notice it anymore." She mewed back politely, trying not to flinch under her gaze. For an apprentice, she was definitely intimidating! /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"The apprentice snorted. "Whatever you say." Moonshine huffed. "I'm serious! Do /spanspan style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"you /spanspan style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"walk around camp thinking, /spanspan style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"my clanmates are a few fox-lengths away, now they're on the other side-" /spanspan style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Okay, I get it!" The she-cat snapped, rolling her eyes. "Jeez, you don't seem like a warrior at all!"/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Well, I've only been a warrior since last night." Moonshine muttered in embarrassment. The small she-cat's eyes went wide. "Really? And you already led a patrol?" The older cat shook her head. "No, it was Scarletpelt's patrol. I just figured...it's hard losing a clanmate. You deserved some kindness." Her vision blurred and she shook her pelt. "Hey, we're here. You can be treated for that." She nodded to the long slashes on her pelt. The apprentice rolled her eyes. "I'm fine." She smirked through her irritation. "Who'd have guessed Cavestar himself would attack me?" /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"The walked through the entrance, and Moonshine took care to keep the bramble's away from the injured cats. Stormcloud joined the effort, glaring as the rest of their patrol walked straight through without a word. "Fox-hearts." He muttered. Moonshine sighed and walked toward the black she-cat in the center of camp. "Fernshade."/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Fernshade turned, eyes widening at the sight of the four injured StoneClan cats. "What's going on?" Moonshine dipped her head. "Stonestar requested we take the most injured cats here and just send back the herbs with them." In a softer voice she murmured, "One cat died, Rednose."/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"The deputy shuddered as if the loss were her own. "Thank you for the report...send the injured straight to Tansyfur. I hope everyone was...considerate?" The deputy seemed lost. Her leader was ill and on her last life, and it seemed the clans were in danger. Moonshine could sympathize with the feeling of being ripped out of your pelt and placed in a new one made of stones. "I interrupted before that could happen." She reassured her. The deputy blinked gratefully. "I know I'm being unfair, setting so much on your shoulders when you've only just been made a warrior." Guilt edged her mew. /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""No time for that." The white she-cat meowed briskly. "We'll speak later." Turning, she hurried over to where the cats were heading to the medicine den. Tansyfur and Thornpaw ran to meet them, and soon the StoneClan cats were matted with poultices and cleaned of blood. The fiery apprentice was glaring at the medicine cat as he licked marigold pulp into a stinging wound. "Well ouch." Tansyfur ignored her./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Moonshine! Come help me with these, would you?" Stormcloud blinked at her. Drizzleleaf had decided to be helpful and was carrying part of a mountain of herbs. Moonshine picked up her own bundle, wincing at the bitter taste. Padding after Stormcloud, they exited camp again and hurried on to StoneClan for the second time that day./span /p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Moonshine continued her way along the rest of the StoneClan border, contemplating the meeting with StoneClan's patrol. Snowfall had been polite, although she sensed a discomfort moving beneath her pelt, caution flashing behind her eyes. She'd seen it in all of the clan cats lately, ever since a group of cats had broken away from StoneClan and formed CaveClan, named after Stonestar's brother and their new leader, as well as the instigator of the ordeal, Caveshadow. Or she guessed it was Cave/spanspan style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"star/spanspan style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" now. Although the other clans had accepted this new division, you could tell a lot of them weren't happy with it./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Well, if it makes those cats happy to live in the caves beneath us all, then why not let them. What harm could they really do?/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"It appeared that she'd had no idea what this new clan was capable of./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"As they made their way back down the border and made to turn back towards camp, a flash of movements caught Moonshine's attention. Cats were swarming the mountains that were Stoneclan territory, and heading down towards the caves. She recognized Cavestar in the lead, with Batnose and Willowpelt following him. /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Stripewhisker! I think something's wrong!" She called to the tom ahead of her. He stopped short, turning to the scene where cats still trickled to the claves. /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Stripewhisker narrowed his eyes, the yellow color bleeding into the shadow of his fur. "What is the whole of CaveClan doing on StoneClan territory? Did they try to return?"/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""I don't think so." Oakpaw meowed quietly. "It looks like they're wounded, and I doubt Stonestar would willingly harm his former clanmates." /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""He's right." Moonshine agreed, fright snaking it's way under her pelt. "Oh, I hope it wasn't what I think it was…" No sooner than she'd spoken did a mournful wail pierced the air, driving straight into her bones. She recognized the voice of the StoneClan medicine cat Lakesong, and her fur stood on end. Only one thing could make a cat emit a sound like that. The white she-cat's heart hurt for the other./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"The sound of hurried pawsteps came from behind them as Yarrowtail, Mossheart, Stormcloud, and Riverpaw stopped beside them. /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Is any cat hurt?" Mossheart asked, his fur standing on end. Riverpaw paced beside Yarrowtail, eyes looking for an injured clanmate./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Not any of us. It came from StoneClan." Clovertail said darkly. "I think CaveClan attacked them." The tabby edged closer to her mate, looking grim. The expression was mirrored by the other patrol./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""We should alert Fernshade at once." Stormcloud spoke up for the first time. "We can't be sure they won't attack us next." The very thought made Moonshine go ridged. Would CaveClan really start attacking all of the clans? /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"The two patrols headed back to the camp at a hurried pace. No cat spoke, but it was clear that they all wanted to get back before CaveClan got a chance to attack them./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"As they entered the camp, Moonshine hardly felt the pull of the brambles, adrenaline rushing through her veins and making her numb to everything but her task. Fernshade turned to see them, shock radiating over her face as she took in the solemn expressions./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Has something happened? I heard that yowl, but I thought it was to far off to be one of our warriors." /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""It was a StoneClan cat, we think. We spotted CaveClan fleeing their territory covered in wounds. I think they attacked them." Stripewhisker reported, voice surprisingly steady./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""StoneClan?" Fernshade let out a gasp. She had been one of the first cats to arrive at the lake alongside Stonestar, and the two cats were good friends despite their different clans./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""What should we do?" Moonshine asked quietly. "Shouldn't we at least make sure they're alright? If they were attacked, who knows what CaveClan did. And that yowl….some cat has died, I'm certain." Fernshade looked at her, horror leaking into her eyes. /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Certain? How can that be?"/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""There is nothing else in all of StarClan that would make a cat sound like that." Moonshine met her eyes gravely. "Believe me, I know." She saw Clovertail stiffen, eyes going wide. Moonshine had never so much as hinted at the incident that gave her this knowledge before now, although the entire clan already knew about it./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Fernshade finally nodded after a long pause. "Regardless of whether or not a cat has died, we are obligated to at least make sure they have herbs and fresh-kill for their injured clanmates. I'll send a patrol at once." As she made to leap onto Hollow Tree, she looked over her shoulder at Moonshine. "Would you be okay to join it?" /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Moonshine nodded slowly. She knew how to handle a sudden death well, or at the very least was the only one to have dealt with it recently./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Satisfied with her answer, Fernshade climbed her way to the top of the tree. "Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather for a clan meeting!" The black she-cat yowled. The other members of the clan began making their way over; Wrenfeather and Goldeneye pushing out of the elders den and settling beside Breezenose, whose belly was so big that Moonshine expected her to give birth any day now./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Fernshade waited until everyone had gathered beneath the tree, before raising her voice again. "We have reason to believe that StoneClan has been attacked. This said, I have decided to send a patrol to make sure they have the means necessary to help their clanmates recover."/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Why? How does StoneClan being attacked affect us?" Petalwhisker asked./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""StoneClan has always helped us when we needed them, and so we must return the favor. And it is against the warrior code to let another cat die, regardless of their clan, if we can do something to help them." Fernshade fixed her with a hard stare. "Now, I will tell you who is on the patrol. Remember, we go /spanspan style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"peacefully." /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Scarletpelt, Mintfur, Drizzleleaf, Moonshine, Stormcloud, and Pinepaw." She locked eyes with each cat as if to remind them of her previous statement. When her emerald gaze landed on Moonshine, her eyes darkened with worry. The snowy she-cat nodded back, her expression grave. /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"The chosen cats started for the entrance of brambles, and this time Moonshine was careful to keep her pelt as far away from the prickly vines as possible. Stormcloud looked over at her, gaze lit with amusement as she exited the wall. "Are you trying to become a hedgehog?"/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Shut up, bee-brain!" She huffed and stalked past him, pelt fluffed up so it was even fluffier than usual. She made for the StoneClan border, hesitating before she set her paws gingerly on the stone surface of the mountain slope and heading the direction she'd seen CaveClan fleeing from. /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"The StoneClan camp was in a shallow dip in the stone, like the training hollow in MeadowClan territory. As the patrol entered it, the gazes of StoneClan warriors scorched their pelts. It was obvious that they were all wounded and terrified, the scars on their pelts as wide as their fearful eyes. Scarletpelt opened his jaws to speak, but Moonshine knew that whatever he said would be harsh. Speaking before he could, she kept her voice gentle and even./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""We saw CaveClan leaving here wounded, and we wanted to find out what happened, although it's obvious there was a battle. If you need anything to aid your injured clanmates...please allow us to offer assistance." She looked Stonestar in the eyes as she spoke, willing him to see here sincerity. /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"He blinked at her. "StoneClan is grateful. We could use some more marigold and thyme…and lavender." Stonestar paused. "We need a lot of things, actually."/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Moonshine nodded. "Of course." Dipping her head she looked around for the bodies and spotted one near what had to be the Medicine Den. A cat with long, red fur. Crouched over it, looking stricken, was Lakesong. Beside her was a small cat with patches of different colors in her fur, the medicine cat apprentice Dapplepaw. /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Turning to her clanmates, she flicked her tail. "We should hurry. The longer we wait, the more time there is for infection to set in." Scarletpelt nodded, although his eyes smoldered with the fact that she'd usurped his power. Moonshine longed to tell him that this hadn't even been his patrol from the beginning, but she held her tongue. Drizzleleaf smoothed her tail along his spine, eyes sad. Mintfur stood close to his apprentice, Pinepaw, who was taking in all the injured cats with wide eyes. Stormcloud, however, met her eyes with no surprise. He just nodded and turned away as the made to leave the camp./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Wait, take some of my cats with you. Please, some of these injuries need to be treated immediately and they can tell you what we need." Stonestar's calm voice was edged in panic. Moonshine glanced around at her patrol and nodded. "Alright."/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"A black tom, orange she-cat, red tabby, and an apprentice with fiery blue eyes supported by a silver apprentice made their way toward them. The apprentice shrugged off her denmate and limped to fall in beside them all. With an eye on the injured cats, the MeadowClan patrol made their way down the mountain./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"The trees overtook them, and the scent of forest invaded Moonshine's senses like a warm embrace, a welcome change from the blood-streaked stone. Turning to the cat beside her, she finally spoke up. "We'll be there soon."/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Yeah, I can smell it, mouse-brain." The blue eyed apprentice snapped. She had a thick, black and white pelt with white streaks leading from her eyes to her muzzle, her pretty appearance contrasting starkly with her sharp tongue./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""I can't really tell, I've gotten so used to smelling it that I guess I don't notice it anymore." She mewed back politely, trying not to flinch under her gaze. For an apprentice, she was definitely intimidating! /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"The apprentice snorted. "Whatever you say." Moonshine huffed. "I'm serious! Do /spanspan style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"you /spanspan style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"walk around camp thinking, /spanspan style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"my clanmates are a few fox-lengths away, now they're on the other side-" /spanspan style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Okay, I get it!" The she-cat snapped, rolling her eyes. "Jeez, you don't seem like a warrior at all!"/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Well, I've only been a warrior since last night." Moonshine muttered in embarrassment. The small she-cat's eyes went wide. "Really? And you already led a patrol?" The older cat shook her head. "No, it was Scarletpelt's patrol. I just figured...it's hard losing a clanmate. You deserved some kindness." Her vision blurred and she shook her pelt. "Hey, we're here. You can be treated for that." She nodded to the long slashes on her pelt. The apprentice rolled her eyes. "I'm fine." She smirked through her irritation. "Who'd have guessed Cavestar himself would attack me?" /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"The walked through the entrance, and Moonshine took care to keep the bramble's away from the injured cats. Stormcloud joined the effort, glaring as the rest of their patrol walked straight through without a word. "Fox-hearts." He muttered. Moonshine sighed and walked toward the black she-cat in the center of camp. "Fernshade."/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Fernshade turned, eyes widening at the sight of the four injured StoneClan cats. "What's going on?" Moonshine dipped her head. "Stonestar requested we take the most injured cats here and just send back the herbs with them." In a softer voice she murmured, "One cat died, Rednose."/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"The deputy shuddered as if the loss were her own. "Thank you for the report...send the injured straight to Tansyfur. I hope everyone was...considerate?" The deputy seemed lost. Her leader was ill and on her last life, and it seemed the clans were in danger. Moonshine could sympathize with the feeling of being ripped out of your pelt and placed in a new one made of stones. "I interrupted before that could happen." She reassured her. The deputy blinked gratefully. "I know I'm being unfair, setting so much on your shoulders when you've only just been made a warrior." Guilt edged her mew. /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""No time for that." The white she-cat meowed briskly. "We'll speak later." Turning, she hurried over to where the cats were heading to the medicine den. Tansyfur and Thornpaw ran to meet them, and soon the StoneClan cats were matted with poultices and cleaned of blood. The fiery apprentice was glaring at the medicine cat as he licked marigold pulp into a stinging wound. "Well ouch." Tansyfur ignored her./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Moonshine! Come help me with these, would you?" Stormcloud blinked at her. Drizzleleaf had decided to be helpful and was carrying part of a mountain of herbs. Moonshine picked up her own bundle, wincing at the bitter taste. Padding after Stormcloud, they exited camp again and hurried on to StoneClan for the second time that day./span /p