Feathertail looked to the entrance of the den as Leafpaw stepped in. Barkface did not look up. "How are they?" He asked.
"They all seem healthy, though Goosekit still doesn't want to talk much. Whitetail's looking good too," Leafpaw responded. "I was able to feel hers."
"Sometimes kits take a bit longer to learn to speak," Barkface replied. "How many are there?"
"I believe I felt four." The tom nodded and Leafpaw continued, "Also, Frostkit is forming stripes?" She looked at her mentor questioningly. Feathertail's ears pricked, surprised. She had not heard of anything like that happening before. The tom nodded, removing his paw from Feathertail's haunch.
"Some cat's coloration forms after birth," He meowed. "Has Goosekit formed any?" Leafpaw shook her head.
"Is that common?" Feathertail asked. The medicine cat looked at her.
"It's not as common as just being born a tabby or tortoiseshell but it's not uncommon either." Barkface glanced at her haunch again, continuing, "It's healing well. I believe you can do more now without worrying about the skin being torn." Feathertail's ears pricked.
"Can I go out?" Feathertail was getting restless, most of what she knew about the territory was from what others had told her. She wanted to see it. There was a pause before Barkface responded.
"Yes, but bring someone with you – and be careful until more fur has grown back."
"Can I go on patrol?" She wanted so badly to serve her Clan again.
"You can hunt – small things for right now." He shot her a look, "we don't need a hare clawing you open." Feathertail rose to her paws, excitement engulfing her.
"Can I go out now?"
"Yes," Barkface decided.
"Thank you." Feathertail looked at Leafpaw, who had raised her tail as she headed out of the den. The warrior's tail lashed excitedly; she would just need to find someone to come with her.
She padded over to Mistyfoot, who was finishing a meal. She looked up to the silver she-cat, meowing a greeting.
"Do you want to go out?" Feathertail asked. "Barkface said I could – even try hunting a bit!"
"Already?" Feathertail nodded and the older warrior responded, "Of course, I haven't got any patrols until this evening." She finished the prey quickly, rising to her paws. Feathertail led the way out, her feet tingling.
"Which way do you want to go?" Mistyfoot asked. "We could go fishing." Feathertail shook her head.
"Where's the best place for mice?" She asked. The warrior knew she could catch fish, she wanted land prey.
"We'll have to head toward the farm." Feathertail nodded and the pair started forward.
"Not long before you came over, Brambleheart came rushing by with what I believe were some shells in his jaws?" Mistyfoot gave the other cat a questioning look, "Any idea what that's about?"
"I reckon he brought them into the warrior's den," Feathertail replied. "He brought feathers and heather earlier – I believe he's trying to prove himself to Stormfur."
"Really?" Mistyfoot asked. "Stormfur never seemed like he cared either way about RiverClan traditions."
"He doesn't, that's all on Brambleheart. Though I'm sure he appreciates it." Feathertail took a deep breath as they entered the next down. It had been a minute now since the journey had ended. She had not walked much recently. "I think Brambleheart feels obliged. Like it's his duty." Mistyfoot chuckled.
"What a ThunderClan reasoning."
"It's a Brambleheart reasoning."
"He was raised by a ThunderClan cat," Mistyfoot pointed out. "They always take things so seriously – though, it's good to know that one of you three was actually listening when I would tell you stories as apprentices." There was an air of humor to her voice and though Feathertail knew she was teasing; she did not respond right away.
It was not that they were not paying attention, she knew she and Stormfur had but in RiverClan, they were treated as though they were ThunderClan, and after –
They were not RiverClan. None of them were ThunderClan. Of course, they were all WindClan but it was strange when the older warriors spoke of before. There was nothing they truly had to embrace.
"Feathertail?" Mistyfoot paused in her step, blue eyes focused on the tabby.
"Do you ever miss RiverClan?" She asked. A serious look came across the warrior's face.
"I do," She admitted. "The RiverClan of before – with Stonefur, Crookedstar, my kits. I miss my Clanmates then."
"Would you go back?" Mistyfoot gave Feathertail a questioning look. Feathertail held her gaze. It was a question she had had for some of the older warriors. She did not remember a time before Tigerstar, but they did.
"I am forever grateful to Firestar and Tallstar for what they have done for us – for what you and Stormfur have been able to grow into." Mistyfoot licked Feathertail's cheek and she did not pull away. "However, I am RiverClan." She looked toward the water, "That has not changed." Feathertail slowly nodded, turning to continue toward the farm.
Mistyfoot had always been strong. Feathertail could not remember a time she had ever truly looked weak, even during their imprisonment. She did not know if she could look Leopardstar in the eyes after all of this and Mistyfoot certainly would.
"Here's a good spot." They stopped as Mistyfoot spoke, sniffing the air. They were not too far from the fence. Feathertail opened her mouth, taking in the scent of a vole. The older warrior looked at her and she took a deep breath, heading after the scent.
As she crouched, frustration came over Feathertail. She knew she was putting too much pressure on her back paw. She felt clumsy and her kick-off was not going to be strong enough. Feathertail hissed as she missed it. Her tail lashed as she headed to the other she-cat.
"Can you show me how you're crouching?" Mistyfoot asked. Feathertail lowered herself. She was silent as the warrior looked her over.
"You've got too much weight on your back leg," She meowed.
"I know."
"And the missing part of your tail is affecting balance." Mistyfoot suggested, "Try shifting more weight to your front paws. Spread out what your other leg should be supporting." Feathertail glanced at her, shifting forward.
"Pretend there's some prey in that heather."
"Are you my mentor again?" Feathertail asked, creeping forward. She was amazed, her rear paw felt lighter on the ground.
"Always," Mistyfoot answered. "I'd do the same thing with Rockfall, too." Feathertail's whiskers twitched. She braced herself before leaping into the patch.
That was better! Excitement rose in the warrior but it quickly disappeared as an unfamiliar scent hit her nose.
Feathertail turned, her back arching as she faced the unknown cat. Pale blue eyes widened and the cat stepped away from the warrior. This cat was not TigerClan. Feathertail growled at her.
"Daisy?" Both turned as Mistyfoot moved to them, waving her tail at Feathertail. The young warrior relaxed. She had yet to meet any of the farm cats, but she knew who Daisy was. A few border patrols had met her and the other residents of the farm. "What are you doing here? It's a fair bit inside the border."
"Hello, it's – Mistyfoot, right?" Mistyfoot nodded and the pale ginger queen continued, "I was over at the border but I smelled you two."
"What do you want?" Feathertail asked, blinking as Daisy looked nervously at her. She ignored it as she realized the loner had glanced at her haunch.
"I was hoping to ask Firestar for help."
Leafpaw's ears were pricked as Daisy finished her explanation. A crowd had surrounded her upon her arrival with Feathertail and Mistyfoot. The queen's tail was wrapped around three kits, pressed against her paws.
"I don't want to lose them like Floss lost hers," She meowed. "Please, Firestar." Leafpaw looked at Firestar. Tornear was at his side, eying Daisy suspiciously. They did not truly know this cat and they were not in a place to be trusting outsiders.
Firestar's gaze went to the three bundles. The leader's face softened. "Mistyfoot, Whitetail, show Daisy to the nursery, please."
Relief showed in Daisy's eyes as she mewed her thanks, picking up a gray and white kit. Meows rose as they stepped away.
"We're going to trust her?" Bounceheart asked. "TigerClan borders the farm, too!" Voices rose in support.
"He's not going to ask an outsider to spy on us, fleabrain." Squirrelflight shot the tom a look, "Especially one with young kits."
"Squirrelflight's right, though she could have worded that better." Firestar eyed his daughter, "If Tigerstar asks rogues to infiltrate our camp, it would not be a cat like Daisy." He looked across the Clan, "It is our duty as Clan cats to protect any kit. As Daisy does not want them to be taken by the Twolegs, we will help her. She is to be treated as a Clanmate, is that understood?"
"She'll need a warrior name," Tornear remarked, his tail twitching.
"Shrew doesn't have his name yet," Leafpaw pointed out. Attention shifted to the young black tom, who stood near the edge of the crowd. He was still anxious, but he had come on this journey and he was going on patrols. Anxiety certainly was not something that inherently stopped a cat from becoming a warrior.
"She'll earn it," Firestar said. "Petalnose and Clovertail did not gain their names immediately – and I need to take Shrew to be assessed." The last bit was a mutter.
Leafpaw headed toward the nursery as the crowd dissipated.
"– Clan cats can be wary, it's nothing personal," Petalnose was assuring Daisy. "I was born outside the Clan, too. They'll warm up to you." The loner shakily nodded, licking one of the kits.
Frostkit, Goosekit, and Beechkit were standing near the nest Daisy had settled into. Excited mews came from them. "Hello!" Beechkit mewed, her tail raised high. "Do you want to play?" Daisy's kits were looking at them with wide eyes.
"Not right now, let them rest." Petalnose ushered hers off.
"Hi," Leafpaw stepped toward Daisy, blinking. "My name is Leafpaw, I'm the medicine cat apprentice. I just wanted to make sure they're alright – it's a long journey for little legs."
"She's a good one," Mistyfoot meowed. "Leafpaw knows how to check them." Daisy nodded, pulling her tail away from the kits.
"What are their names?" Leafpaw asked as she started to examine a pale ginger tom.
"That one's Berry," Daisy replied. "The other tom's Mouse and the she-cat is Hazel."
"Berrykit, Mousekit, and Hazelkit, then," Whitetail said. Daisy's ears went back.
"I don't know about that," She began.
"That's how Clan kits are named," Petalnose meowed. She had settled into her nest. "My older two became Mintkit and Sagekit when we joined."
"It's fine if you don't want that," Mistyfoot meowed quickly. Leafpaw gave the warrior a questioning look before she realized that Daisy was looking more nervous.
"She's right," Leafpaw added. "That's fine." She shifted her attention to the she-kit, "Hello, Hazel." She blinked. This was something that could be worked on later.
"Hi," The kit squeaked. Daisy nodded, licking the back of Mouse's head.
Leafpaw chuckled.
"I don't know about that," she said. "Although –" Leafpaw shook her head, interrupting herself. "We're off-topic," She meowed.
"Oh," Mothwing meowed. "You're right – sorry." She looked nervous. Leafpaw shook her head.
"It's fine. Now," The apprentice cleared her throat. "Mallow – it's just the leaves we use. They grow down by the shore and are used for bellyaches."
"What do they look like?" Mothwing asked.
"Purple flowers and they've got fuzzy leaves. They grow in clumps." Mothwing nodded.
They continued to converse, Leafpaw making sure to stay on topic. She had originally been reminded of teaching Echo back at the gorge but this was different.
Mothwing was easy to talk to. Much easier than Crowpaw and it was good not having Barkface hanging over her shoulder like with Echo. Despite the danger presented, this talk was fun.
"Now," Leafpaw paused as a sweet scent entered her nose. She turned, looking back toward the hills. Her eyes rounded at the sight before her.
They were at the tree line; the brook lay behind Leafpaw. A glow came from the water's surface. The apprentice rose to her paws.
"Leafpaw?" Mothwing hissed, alarmed. "What is it?"
"Look at the water," She whispered. "The light." The queen stepped up on Leafpaw's side, looking at the brook.
"What…do you see?" The warrior sounded puzzled.
Leafpaw did not respond, padding toward the water. She looked upstream and her eyes rounded as more seemed to appear, almost as if Silverpelt had fallen into it.
"We need to follow it," She meowed.
"Why?" Mothwing sounded alarmed.
"There's something at the end of this brook that we need to find." Leafpaw looked back at Mothwing, her tail had risen. "This is a sign. Mothwing, this is part of being a medicine cat!"
"Alright," the warrior agreed. Leafpaw turned, her paws tingling as she led the way.
The apprentice hesitated as the brook turned into the forest. Her tail twitched, her father's warnings filling her brain and TigerClan scent filling her nose. Her gaze went to some bracken near a trunk. She rolled into it, covering her scent.
Leafpaw's heartbeat quickened as they stepped into the woods.
The stream continued toward the mountains. "How much further?" Leafpaw looked back at Mothwing, surprised as she was panting. She shook herself; the other cat's belly was so swollen. She should not have come in the first place!
"I'm sorry – you can go back," Leafpaw offered. She needed to know where this led.
"You're on my territory," Mothwing replied, shaking her head.
"Well, I don't know," Leafpaw admitted. "Let me know if you need a break." The other cat nodded.
They continued past the back border. The forest here was denser and Leafpaw's tail was beginning to lash. The stars in the brook seemed to glow brighter.
Suddenly, there was a break in the forest. Leafpaw's breath caught at the sight before her.
A stoney hallow lay ahead. Rocks encompassed a pool. A waterfall trickled down the back. The pool looked as though it was filled with stars.
Leafpaw's tail lashed excitedly as she started down to the water's edge. Her eyes widened as she looked down. Pawprints lay beneath her paws. "Great StarClan," Leafpaw breathed as she came to its edge. "This is it."
"What is it?" Leafpaw looked back, surprised to see that Mothwing had stayed at the edge of the hollow.
"Don't you see it?" Leafpaw asked. It was blaring obvious to her, was it not to Mothwing?
"It's a pretty hollow," Mothwing replied, starting cautiously toward Mothwing. Her eyes rounded as she caught sight of the pawsteps. "Cats have been here before."
"They have," Leafpaw agreed. She looked back to the starry water. "Mothwing, we've found our new Moonstone!"
Mothwing's eyes rounded, something between excitement and surprise filling them. Leafpaw looked back to the pool.
This was it.
