Chapter 27 Healing and a Possible Fight
Cloudberry, Lightclaw, and Glowfur walked past the fresh-kill pile while Stormpaw dropped his prey into it, then followed the group to the medicine cat den. As they entered, Cloudberry went ahead and grabbed the herbs to heal battle wounds. Lightclaw and Stormpaw laid in nests while Glowfur sat down a few feet from Lightclaw. Cloudberry mixed the herbs and approached Glowfur. She padded the mixture on his cheek and Glowfur flinched in pain.
"Your scratch should heal in a few days, Glowfur, but I want you to be careful, alright?" Cloudberry informed.
"Alright, thanks Cloudberry." He meowed.
She stopped padding him and Glowfur left the medicine cat den, but before giving a glare at Lightclaw. Lightclaw glared back and barred his teeth as Glowfur left the den. Cloudberry then approached Stormpaw and started padding on the scratch on his shoulder. Lightclaw calmed down and Stormpaw yowled in pain.
"I'm sorry Stormpaw, but this is something you're gonna have to get used to, especially if you get battle wounds." Cloudberry meowed.
"I know, but all this pain comes from just one scratch?!" he asked; gritting his teeth in pain.
Yes, but that burning means that the wound is healing." Cloudberry meowed.
"Worth it." Stormpaw grunted smiling.
Cloudberry laughed in amusement and Lightclaw smiled.
"Now, like Glowfur, your scratch will heal in a few days, so you'll be fine. Just be careful, alright? You fought very bravely today." She meowed.
"Thanks." Stormpaw meowed.
"You should go get cleaned, you look a bit dirty." Cloudberry meowed.
Stormpaw nodded. He got up and left the medicine cat den. Cloudberry approached Lightclaw and padded on one of the scratches he had. A burning pain struck him, but it didn't hurt as bad as he thought. Cloudberry stopped.
"I apologize Lightclaw, it seems the pulp is dry. Give me a minute, will you?" Cloudberry asked.
Lightclaw nodded and Cloudberry went ahead and got the next batch of herbs ready. Lightclaw looked around and saw Poppycloud sleeping on the nest in front of him. She looked dirty and Lightclaw thought he heard rasp snoring.
"Poppycloud…" he meowed shocked.
"Yeah, she's still recovering from greencough, but there's been on and off again fits. I'm a bit worried." Cloudberry meowed.
Lightclaw was worried too. Poppycloud had been his friend since he was a kit and she was his mother's mentor. Lightclaw couldn't lose any more friends, he already lost his best friend, how many more was he going to lose? He realized that death was apart of life, but loss hurts like hell. Lightclaw prayed to Starclan that Poppycloud would get better and that he wouldn't have to endure another loss. Cloudberry finished mixing the herbs and approached Lightclaw. She padded on his scratches; causing him to feel agonizing burns that other cats feel when they get battle wounds, but Lightclaw didn't flinch, he had been through this before; after Darkpaw's death.
"The nerve of Glowfur and Shinefur, especially Shinefur. I thought she would intervene, scold Glowfur, or help out in the fight." Cloudberry meowed.
"Well, you're not the only one." Lightclaw meowed.
"Are you okay, is the pulp working?" Cloudberry asked.
"I'm fine. It's just I'm used to the pain." Lightclaw meowed.
"Are you sure? The last time I put this stuff on you was after that fight between you and Moon." Cloudberry meowed confused.
"After I was knocked out by her." Lightclaw murmured.
Cloudberry and Lightclaw remained silent. Cloudberry continued padding Lightclaw's scratches; each one opening up more agonizing burns, but it didn't phase Lightclaw; after all, he was used to it. He felt the burns after he woke up, but if he could endure that type of pain, he could endure anything.
"Now, your wounds will heal in a week, but just be careful, okay? I don't want them opening up." Cloudberry meowed.
"Alright." Lightclaw meowed.
Cloudberry stopped padding and went to bury the dry leaves. Lightclaw got up and left the den. He looked around and saw Stormpaw grooming himself, Crystalheart and Feathershine eating prey together, Snaketooth bathing in the sunlight, Frozenpelt waiting outside the slave medicine cat den and Foxwhisker stretching. Lightclaw approached the slave medicine cat den.
"LIGHTCLAW!" a voice yowled.
Lightclaw stopped when he saw Dustfoot approaching him with Nettlespring behind her. Both cats stopped with Dustfoot panting, then looked at Lightclaw and smiled.
"Lightclaw, thank you so much for saving our kits." She meowed tearfully.
"We really appreciate it." Nettlespring added.
"Oh, it was no problem. I was just doing what…" Lightclaw begin.
He was cut off when he saw other slaves leave their dens and approach him, while Darkheart, Duskpaw, Sunpelt, Tinydawn, Blackfur, Blossomsnow, Applepaw, Gingerpaw, and Leaftumble left the slave medicine cat den and Frozenpelt approached Blossomsnow; he greeted her and they both talked. Lightclaw saw Cloudberry enter the slave medicine cat den and the slaves that left the den approached the crowd and got in front. Every cat had a smile on their face and their eyes were full of pride and joy.
"Lightclaw, the slaves thank you for your help in fighting the foxes. May Starclan honor you." Darkheart meowed.
"Yes, thank you!" Tinydawn yowled.
"May Starclan honor you, Lightclaw." Blackfur meowed.
"May Starclan free us!" Sunpelt yowled.
"You're a hero." Duskpaw meowed.
Yowls of praise and cheers came from every cat as Lightclaw felt warmth and pride within his heart. If this is what respect and praise felt like, then he would continue with his goal. True, there were other ways to earn respect, but to Lightclaw, being leader was the only way, especially because no cat would dare challenge him. Lightclaw purred with joy and smiled.
"Look at this." A voice sneered.
Lightclaw turned around and saw Wolffang and Brightshine; looking smug and sneering.
"I'm surprised you slaves wanted help." Brightshine sneered.
"After all, you slaves do want your freedom, don't you?" Wolffang sneered.
"I can't believe you guys needed a warrior to protect you. After all, you'll never be real warriors like us." Brightshine sneered.
Both cats laughed mockingly and the slaves glared at them. Lightclaw approached Brightshine and Wolffang; he was both angry and enraged. He got into Wolffang's face and made a grim smile.
"That's funny, and here I thought you two wanted to fight like real warriors." Lightclaw taunted.
Brightshine and Wolffang were shocked by the reaction and Wolffang was angry.
"Are you calling me weak?!" he growled.
"Of course I am. Unless, you want to fight to prove you are a real warrior." Lightclaw challenged.
"Wolffang don't, he'll kill you." Brightshine warned.
He didn't listen, neither did Lightclaw. He wanted to kill Wolffang, he wanted him to pay and if there was anyway he could hurt Brightshine, killing the cat she loved would be it. Lightclaw got into a battle stance and unsheathed his claws. Wolffang unsheathed his claws and barred his teeth.
"Come on, prove to me you're a real warrior." Lightclaw taunted.
Wolffang got into a battle stance and was about to pounce. The slaves and Brightshine stared at them in horror.
"LIGHTCLAW, WOLFFANG!" a voice yowled.
Everyone looked and saw Daisypetal approaching the two toms.
"Lightclaw, Frozenpelt, Whitestar wants to see you in his den." She meowed.
Daisypetal turned around and headed to Whitestar's den. Frozenpelt followed her and Lightclaw and Wolffang got out of their battle stances. Wolffang glared at Lightclaw, but Brightshine got in front of him.
"Come on, lets go." She whispered gently.
Brightshine directed Wolffang away from the crowd. Lightclaw was enraged, he wanted to kill Wolffang, but he couldn't. Lightclaw headed to his father's den, but not before Tinydawn stopped him.
"Your mother is proud of you, you know." She meowed.
"I know." Lightclaw meowed.
"May Starclan honor you, Lightclaw." Blackfur meowed.
"I hope so." He murmured.
Lightclaw headed to his father's den and the slaves separated.