CHAPTER FORTY TWO

Time felt as if it had slowed down when Spruceleaf watched the Tribe cats regroup. The battle had been quick and painful. She could still feel the sting of a Tribe cat's claws from where they tried pinning her down and delivering a final blow. It was only thanks to Strike that she had survived that attack. Seeing the tabby now, she noticed that he looked as if he'd suffered the most injuries. She glanced at Stormshadow and Flamestrike warily when she noticed they were all sitting together with Oakfire.

Not for the first time, she wondered if all the Clans would continuously feel divided. Acorntail and Reedriver looked equally uneasy, while Birdpaw remained with the SkyClan cats who had fought with her. Spruceleaf was more than relieved that she hadn't suffered from any severe injuries. It was impossible to tell who had suffered the worst, but, Spruceleaf noticed with a start that the Tribe cats seemed smaller and frailer than ever.

A shiver of unease swept through her when Strike limped over to the creamy white she-cat who'd argued against their Tribemate. She was lying on her side, pelt barely moving. Spruceleaf felt her stomach lurch with dread as she wondered if the she-cat was dead. If she wasn't, it didn't look as if she'd survive much longer.

"I'm sorry, Whisper," Strike murmured softly as he knelt down and nuzzled her, sorrow gleaming within his eyes, "None of this would have happened if we had seen what Stone was capable of."

"Whisper is Strike's sister," another she-cat who was sitting close to Spruceleaf whispered. She stiffened in surprise at that, "They were always close, because their mother died giving birth to them."

Not a single Clan cat dared to speak out at that moment. It wasn't in their place to speak, as far as Spruceleaf was concerned. She hadn't missed the way everyone was looking at one another uneasily, as if they were afraid these cats would retaliate against them. She highly doubted that was the case, given the circumstances.

"Who will be the next Stoneteller?" another cat asked anxiously as the rest of the group began to regather and collect themselves, "He never took on an apprentice."

"If what Stoneteller told us is true, than, The Tribe of Endless Hunting will share with us who the next leader will be," the she-cat from earlier meowed, blinking warily.

Spruceleaf gave her chest fur a thoughtful lick. If anything happened to the Tribe, she had a feeling the Clans would be the first to know. She just hoped they could get themselves in order once a new Stoneteller was found. She decided to take the initiative and reached Strike, knowing he would have been hit the hardest.

"I'm sorry about your sister," she whispered. She often wondered what it would have been like to have a sibling. Spruceleaf found herself lucky knowing that her uncle was still alive, along with her kin, "I know what it's like to watch family die."

"How would you know what it's like to watch family die?" Strike snapped, turning to glare at her.

She nearly rolled her eyes at that, knowing it wouldn't do either of them any good if they started arguing, now, "My father died before I was born. I watched my own mother die at the claws of my leader," she explained in an even voice.

Strike's eyes widened in disbelief when he realized just what she had suffered from. To lose her mother and father hurt more than she would ever admit out loud. Larksong used to tell her stories all the time about her father. Leopardheart had been brave, and selfless. It was that bravery that had cost him his life.

"I'm sorry, too," he sighed, muscles flexing slightly as he stood up. "It's been difficult."

She nodded in agreement, watching as the rest of SkyClan cats emerged from the cave they had been kept in. Spruceleaf understood that these cats had also been through difficult times. Her heart wrenched with pity when she noticed just how bad they looked. In the cave, Emberstar had seemed so strong and courageous. Now, it was a whole different story as he slipped in beside his Clanmates.

"Your Clan is free to leave," the she-cat meowed, dipping her head in acknowledgement, "I apologize in the name of the Tribe of Rushing Waters for what you suffered from."

"I apologize for what you have suffered from, these past moons," Emberstar nodded in agreement before his gaze raked the Clan cats.

Oakfire, Stormshadow and Acorntail were all staring back as if they couldn't quite believe what they were hearing. Spruceleaf wondered what was going on in their minds, now. She knew that it would take time for the other Clans to accept the fact that SkyClan was real. What worried her more than anything, though, was how they would fit in with the lake territory.

"I'm afraid I cannot make the journey back." Spruceleaf stiffened at the sound of Blizzardwind's voice. Her heart nearly skipped a beat when she noticed just how badly wounded the medicine cat was. Acorntail and Reedriver looked at her in alarm when they realized what she meant by that, "If I go with you, I won't recover from these injuries," she added, lowering her gaze for a moment.

"You can't just abandon your Clan," Reedriver snapped, ignoring the look Acorntail was giving him, "They still need you!"

"No, they don't," she retorted. "Scarletpaw is more than ready to become a full medicine cat. She has proven herself worthy."

Fear wormed its way in Spruceleaf's belly as she wondered what Blizzardwind would do from there. Staying with the Tribe didn't necessarily seem fair, for her. She could only imagine what that would be like, to die in unfamiliar territory surrounded by unfamiliar cats.

"Blizzardwind, the Clan will never forget the service you have given to us," Acorntail added, lowering his muzzle as the medicine cat nodded.

"Please, tell my mother and my sisters that I love them," she whispered as they touched muzzles. "And, remember, four must become five."

Spruceleaf's whiskers twitched in confusion when she said that.

Four must become five... is she referring to the prophecy? she wondered. She shook her head at the thought, knowing that nothing good would come out of it. There was a time when Spruceleaf would have jumped at the opportunity to figure out everything she needed. Now, she'd changed thanks to this journey.

"It doesn't even feel real," she heard Flamestrike sigh when he reached her. She hardly even noticed Reedriver and Birdpaw had joined her moments later. Knowing that they would have to work together if what the prophecy had said was true, she realized it was better they stick together, "This battle ended almost too easily."

"I'm just happy that awful leader was banished," Birdpaw murmured, keeping her voice low enough that the others couldn't hear.

The discussions that followed was something that Spruceleaf took mild interest in. She understood that a lot of what had happened was so suddenly that the Tribe didn't even have time to react. When Strike spoke of Stone, who had been banished along with his gang of followers, she suspected that no one had a chance to act against him. Those who did were likely punished, and, Spruceleaf had no doubt that those punishments were brutal.

"Blizzardwind said she could teach Strike about herbs and how they work, since there aren't any other cats with that kind of knowledge," Reedriver muttered when he wrapped his tail around his paws.

Spruceleaf tilted her head to one side, feeling concerned for Blizzardwind's safety. The fact that she had chosen to stay behind only aggravated both Reedriver and Acorntail. Spruceleaf couldn't blame Blizzardwind for wanting to stay, though.

The silver-furred cat had endured worst injuries from everyone else. Seeing the fact that she seemed to fit in with these cats told her that Blizzardwind would at least die peacefully, among those she trusted. Spruceleaf wouldn't want it any other way, as far as she was concerned.

"I don't get why he's so upset," Birdpaw whispered under her breath once Reedriver finally left them to join Acorntail. Even though they hadn't been particularly close, Reedriver must have felt obligated because of Clan loyalty, "She's making this choice on her own."

"Which is why they're both upset," Flamestrike shook his head, understanding flashing within his eyes, "I'd be upset too if my medicine cat suddenly decided to leave everyone behind."

She dipped her head in understanding as Spruceleaf realized what he meant by that. To a Clan, loyalty meant everything. Suddenly turning your back on the Clan could only lead to possible dangers. Whatever the case, Spruceleaf hoped she found peace in the end. Now, they needed to go home to the Clans and figure out where SkyClan would be moved.