Firespirit busied himself with tending to his store.
He'd gone out for fresh herbs the prior day, so today's duties were to sort them into their piles.
As he added some dried dock to a pile, his ear twitched to catch a sound from the entrance to his den.
Looking over his shoulder, he spotted Bluestar entering.
He turned, standing, to face her and dipped his head politely. "Bluestar."
The leader returned the gesture, her tail twitching. "Firespirit. I'll be traveling to Highstones tomorrow with Redtail and Darkstripe. Tigerclaw, Whitestorm, and Lionheart will watch the camp while I'm gone but I need you to do the same. With both myself and Redtail out of the camp, you're next in charge."
Blinking, the medicine cat nodded. "Sure. I assume Redtail and Darkstripe will need their traveling herbs prepared?"
Bluestar's ear twitched as he nodded. "Yes. They'll be stopping by in a bit."
Firespirit nodded, flicking his tail dismissively. "Very well. Is that all then?" He turned back to his herbs, starting to pull them out for the traveling cats."
The leader paused, not expecting the young tom to be so curt, then turned and left without another word.
The medic pulled the herbs into two neat piles, wrapping them each with a long blade of grass. He picked them up and set them near the entrance as the two warriors approached.
Redtail smiled, dipping his head in greeting to the tom. "Firespirit! Bluestar asked for the herbs, right?"
Snorting, the medic nodded. "Right here. One pile each, take them right before you leave." He brushed past the two, not interested in conversation, and ducked into the nursery.
Frostfur and Goldenflower had requested that he check on the kits before they become apprentices. The five kits were five moons old and would be six moons right after the next gathering. The queens just wanted to make sure the little ones would be in perfect health for their ceremony and training.
Firespirit dipped his head in greeting, the queens being some of the only cats he truly respected. "Hello Frostfur, Goldenflower. Any issues with the kits?"
Speckletail was napping in the back and chose to remain asleep while the other cats talked.
Brindleface was out on a hunting patrol, so she also wasn't present for the conversation.
Frostfur perked up as he entered, smiling at the medicine cat. "No, Firespirit. They seem fine."
Goldenflower purred, giving her son a lick on the cheek. "They seem healthy, we just want to be sure."
He smiled, moving closer. "Of course. It's only natural that you worry. I don't mind." He crouched near the five kits as they huddled between the queens, sniffing each in turn to scent for illness. Finding nothing wrong with their scents, he carefully inspected each one's face.
Satisfied, he sat up. "They're all fine. If you like, a few days before the ceremony they can take a bit of tansy just in case." He glanced at the kits, offering a smile. "I'll even let them take it with some honey so it's not so bitter."
The kits' eyes widened at this, cheering at the prospect of a sweet treat.
Goldenflower sighed, smiling. "Thank you, Firespirit."
He nodded to the queens, turning and trotting back out to the clearing. He stretched, shaking out his pelt as he looked around camp.
An itch beginning to form, he carefully scratched at his blinded eye, irritated.
Huffing, he strode towards the prey pile and pulled out a vole.
Tigerclaw stalked over, his tail flicking. "Firespirit. I assume Bluestar told you of her plans tomorrow?"
The medicine cat nodded, glancing at the warrior. "Redtail and Darkstripe have already gotten their traveling herbs."
Tilting his head, the tabby snorted. "Did she explain why she wanted to go? I find it odd she's leaving the clan without its leader and deputy for the day."
Shaking his head no, Firespirit took his prey and left for his den.
Firespirit glared out of his den, tail flicking with irritation as he watched the leader and her patrol leave. Snorting, he decided to settle on a sun-warmed slab of rock to watch the clan for a while.
Longtail trotted over, head tilted with a silent question.
Nodding, the ginger tabby scooted over a little.
The pale warrior joined him on the stone, loafing in the sun.
Whitestorm and Lionheart sat under the Highrock, watching the clan as they spoke.
Brow furrowing, Firespirit got up and padded over to the senior warriors. Head tilted, he frowned. "Where's Tigerclaw?"
The two exchanged a glance and Lionheart shrugged.
Whitestorm nodded to the camp entrance. "He went out for a solo hike a bit ago. Said he was going to hunt most of the day."
Lionheart's ear flicked as he licked a paw and drew it over his head. "We can handle watching the camp, so we don't really mind."
Firespirit huffed, rolling his eyes and returning to his spot beside Longtail.
After a short while, Tigerclaw crashed through the entrance. Looking around wildly, he stopped on the ginger. "Firespirit! Bluestar's patrol was attacked! Come quickly." He glanced at the other senior warriors. "Stay to guard camp."
The medic sprung to his feet, racing out of the camp behind the warrior. For a moment he thought of going back to get herbs, but quickly disregarded the thought. In the rush Tigerclaw was in, there likely wasn't time.
They ran in silence for a short while until they reached the edge of ThunderClan territory, right by Fourtrees.
Firespirit smelled the blood and tracked down the wounded cats quickly. Between the three, he immediately went to the worst off: Redtail. He dove into his work, looking at each wound and checking over the deputy.
Tigerclaw watched with keen interest, his amber eyes glittering. "Well? How are they?"
The medic hissed, recoiling from the deputy as he looked away. "Redtail has already been taken by StarClan." He moved on to the leader, Darkstripe already standing and seeming better off.
Bluestar was still, her wounds slowly closing.
Sighing, the medic turned back to Tigerclaw. "Redtail is dead, Bluestar has lost at least one life." He looked at the other warrior, eyes narrowed. "What about you? How do you feel, Darkstripe?"
The warrior dipped his head to the medic. "I'm alright. Only a few shallow scratches." He paused, glancing at the nearby dark tabby before continuing. "It was Brokenstar's rouges. They targeted Bluestar and Redtail specifically."
Firespirit's eyes widened, his fur going on end. "She may have lost more than one life then. Tigerclaw, carefully hold Bluestar on your back. Darkstripe, get Redtail's body. The clan will want to mourn and I need to keep an eye on Bluestar."
Both warriors nodded, each taking their respective body onto their backs.
The medicine cat led the way, quickly trotting back towards the center of their territory.
In short time, they returned to camp.
Firespirit took a deep breath before entering and immediately leapt onto the High Rock, calling the entire Clan together. "Earlier today, the Highstones patrol was attacked by Brokenstar's rogues." He nodded to the warriors as they entered. "Redtail was slain, and Bluestar was badly injured. Tigerclaw, please move her to my den." He narrowed his eyes as he looked down at the Clan. "We mourn the loss of our deputy. Tonight, we will hold vigil for his body."
Dustpelt was the first to race forward, crouching near his fallen mentor as he sobbed.
The medic jumped down from the stone, rushing past the crowd to reach his den.
Tigerclaw was just setting the leader down, stepping back as the medic took over.
Crouching close, the ginger was relieved to see the leader's body already stitched fully together.
It didn't take long for the blue-gray she-cat to wake up, gasping as her eyes flew open.
Bluestar looked around wildly before her eyes settled on the two toms standing nearby. "Where-?"
Firespirit gestured for the warrior to explain, rushing to his store to fetch thyme and brought it back to the she-cat.
Tigerclaw was growling as he explained. "Blackfoot and the other exiles attacked your patrol as you reached Fourtrees. I was tracking them as I scented them in our territory. I found you once you'd already lost a life and helped Darkstripe finish fending the exiles off. Once they were gone I ran back to camp to get Firespirit. Redtail was dead by the time we returned."
Bluestar nodded solemnly, lapping up the thyme. "I see. StarClan informed me that, due to the extent of my wounds, I lost two lives."
The warrior snarled, glaring at his paws. "How many is that now?"
"I've got three left." She responded, monotone.
Firespirit stiffened, his tail flicking. He hadn't thought she was so far into her lives. Shaking his head, he gently nudged the she-cat. "Apologies, Bluestar, but you need to choose a new deputy before Moon-High. The moon has already appeared in the sky."
She let out a sigh, her eyes dark with grief, as she struggled to her paws. "Right. Come then, you two."
The trio of cats slowly made their way to the center of the clearing, Bluestar slowly making her way onto the High Rock.
Calling the Clan together, she looked down at the cats below. "Before we can continue our grief, I must name our new deputy. I say these words before Redtail's body, so he may hear and approve my choice." She lifted her chin, looking at the stars. "Tigerclaw will be the new deputy of ThunderClan."