Warriors: Part Three

        “From this day on until you receive your warrior name you shall be known as Moonpaw.”

         Spottedclaw cheered with the other cats as the young cat was finally made an apprentice. The clan was having a meeting tonight, and more than one thing had changed. Moontail was going to move into the warriors den, and Icestar had chosen the cats to go on the patrol over to Rockclan. Spottedclaw, along with Graniteclaw, Wildheart, Snowfur, and Fernfeather, had been chosen to go with Icestar. That would leave Moonheart, Creamfur, Moontail, and all the apprentices to guard the camp while they were gone.
      “We will leave tomorrow morning,” Icestar said. “While we are gone Moonheart will be in charge. I would advise that all the cats that are going with me tomorrow should go rest now; you will need all your strength tomorrow.
       Spottedclaw walked to the warriors den and slipped inside, followed by the other cats that had been picked for the patrol. He curled up in his nest beside Creamfur and quickly fell asleep, the sun outside casting a red hue over everything as it dipped below the horizon. Meanwhile in the clearing Fernfeather watched the sky anxiously, wondering if the red tint was a bad omen for tomorrow.


         Spottedclaw woke with a start the next morning, a paw poking him in the side. He looked up to see Wildheart looming over him.
       “It’s almost time to go. You need to go see Fernfeather to get some strengthening herbs,” the deputy said as he backed out of the den. Spottedclaw sat up and blinked against the bright light filtering in through to the den entrance. He looked around the den. He was the last one to wake up. He gave himself a few quick licks and then climbed out of his nest. He pushed his way out of his nest to find Wolfpaw nose to nose with him.
        “Can I come? Please, please, please,” his apprentice pleaded with him.
        “No you have to say here,” Spottedclaw said and added, “You need to stay here and guard the camp,” as he saw his apprentice’s tail droop. “Look after the younger apprentices, and practice some battle moves with them so they’re ready if the fight comes here.”
        “Ok,” Wolfpaw said and raced off to gather up the other apprentices.
         Spottedclaw headed over to Fernfeather to get his herbs. Fernfeather was just finishing up with Graniteclaw and Spottedclaw listened as she talked with the young warrior.
        “Don’t start any fights, Graniteclaw,” she said.
        “I’m not stupid.” Graniteclaw grumbled.
        “I never said you were. But I know how fearless you are, and it could get you into trouble.”
        “I’ll keep an eye on him,” Spottedclaw said as he walked up to them.
       “I’m not an apprentice anymore, I don’t need looking after,” Graniteclaw hissed at Spottedclaw.
        “Never mind Graniteclaw why don’t you just go give Moonpaw some last minute instructions,” Fernfeather said. Spottedclaw rolled his eyes as the younger cat walked stiffly away. “Give him a chance, Spottedclaw. He’s still young. He’ll learn that it’s not all about fighting,” Fernfeather meowed.
       “Well he better learn quickly. Wildheart said you had some herbs for me?”
        “Yes, here they are,” Fernfeather said pushing a small pile of herbs towards him. “They won’t taste good, but they will help you if there is a fight.”
       “You don’t think Rockclan will attack us?” Spottedclaw asked her.
       “No. They will not be happy, but I think they may be weak.”
         Spottedclaw looked expectantly at Fernfeather but after a few moments it was clear she had no more to say. Spottedclaw crouched down and licked up the herbs in front of him. As he sat back up he saw Icestar walked over to him.
        “We’re leaving now,” she said and walked past him to the other cats gathered at the entrance to the camp. “We will return as quickly as we can,” she said addressing the clan. “Let us hope Rockclan does not attack us.” With that she flicked her tail and leaped through the bushes that served as the camp entrance.
         Spottedclaw ran through the forest after Icestar, his paws seeming to fly over the earth. It seemed like they had only been running for a few minutes when Icestar held up her tail for them to slow down. They were at Rockclan’s border.
         Icestar turned to address the cats with her. “We do not know how they are going to react, so keep your wits about you. But do not fight unless they attack you,” she said looking at each cat in turn. “We will wait here for a border patrol,” she said and sat down in the grass. Spottedclaw and the other cats sat down around her and waited.
        After seemed like ages a Rockclan patrol finally came into sight. When the Rockclan warriors caught sight of Icestar and her cats sitting at the border they hissed in alarm and raced over.
       “What do you want?” hissed Tornclaw, Rockclan’s deputy.
       “We wish to speak with Redstar,” Icestar replied calmly.
       Tornclaw looked nervously at the other cats in his patrol before replying. “Fine, but if you try anything you’ll be attacked immediately,” he replied flicking his tail for them to follow. The other cats in his patrol gathered around the Waterclan warriors, and the group of cats set off.
        Spottedclaw looked at the cat next to him. It was Roseleaf, a pale gray she-cat. At first it didn’t seem like anything was wrong with her, but when she turned to look at him she had a strange dull look in her eyes.
        “What are you looking at,” she hissed. Spottedclaw just shook his head and looked away. But after a few seconds he glanced back at her, and as he did she stumbled over a branch. He put paw out to steady her. As she stood back up she didn’t hiss at him as he had expected. Instead she stood leaning against him, her sides heaving as if she had just run through the whole forest.
        “Thank you,” she said as she drew away from him. “We’ve fallen behind come on,” she said and raced off ahead of him. He took off after her and quickly caught up. He kept an eye on her to make sure she didn’t fall again, but she was fine and they quickly caught up with the patrol again.
         Spottedclaw didn’t say anything to Roseleaf the rest of the way there.
         The entrance to Rockclan was hidden between two thick tree roots. There were brambles around it, and Spottedclaw had to be careful not to snag his fur in the thorns. Spottedclaw looked around as they emerged into a clearing.
          All of the dens were made out of tightly woven brambles, except for one den that was made from a hollowed out tree. Spottedclaw took his time looking at all of the cats in the clearing. A dark brown she-cat was sorting though herbs, and Spottedclaw guessed that it had to be Brownheart, Rockclan’s medicine cat. Behind her in the medicine cat’s den was golden colored she-cat who looked very sick.
         “That’s Goldentail,” Roseleaf whispered in his ear. “Patchclaw and Badgerpelt,” she said pointing at two black and white toms. “They’re brothers.” Roseleaf then pointed at two apprentices. “Earthpaw,” she said as she pointed at a dark brown tom, “and Shadowpaw,” she said pointing at a dark gray she-cat.
         Spottedclaw saw a brown tabby queen and her kits peering out from the nursery.
         “That’s Ringtail and her kits; Branchkit and Graykit. And there is her mate,” Roseleaf explained, pointing at a golden colored tom. “His name’s Longclaw.”
          “Why are you telling me this?” Spottedclaw asked her.
          “I trust you,” she replied, and then was quiet.
            Spottedclaw watched as Tornclaw slipped into the den made from the tree, and Spottedclaw realized it must be the leader’s den.
           “What do you want Icestar,” Redstar growled as he came out of his den. Spottedclaw flinched as the reddish-brown tom started coughing. Redstar took a moment to recover and then looked at Icestar. I will speak to you in my den. You may bring your medicine cat, deputy, and one warrior, but the rest must stay outside.
        Icestar nodded. “Spottedclaw,” she called.
        “Yes Icestar?”
        “I’m choosing you as the warrior that gets to come.”
         Redstar looked at the cat around him. “Roseleaf, you will come with us.”
         The eight cats had to squeeze into the den so they could all fit, but after some hissing and tails being stepped on they managed to find enough room for everyone. Spottedclaw was sitting in between Fernfeather and Roseleaf.
         “I’ll ask you again, Icestar. Why are you here?” Redstar growled.
          “It should seem obvious why we’re here. You’ve crossed to border more than once, and Fernfeather found evidence that you’ve been stealing prey,” Icestar replied.
          “And what if I denied it,” Redstar hissed, only to start coughing again. Icestar jerked back in surprise.
           “Redstar, what is going on? Half you clan is coughing, and the half that isn’t seem to have no energy,” she meowed, concern in her voice.
            “We are as strong as ever,” Redstar replied, his voice cracking.
           Roseleaf looked in concern at her leader. “Redstar maybe we should tell them,” she whispered quietly.
        “No,” he hissed.
        “Redstar if you tell us maybe we can help you,” Icestar said gently.
        “Fine, go on and tell them Roseleaf,” he growled at the young warrior as he started coughing again.
         Roseleaf looked at the cats staring at her nervously before starting. “Almost all the prey in our territory has become sick. We think it has something to do with the river that runs through our territory. Any cat that eats a piece of prey that’s sick becomes sick too. They start coughing and…,” she paused looking at Spottedclaw. “And you have no energy and you feel very weak,” she finished.
        So she is sick Spottedclaw thought to himself.
        “This is very disturbing Redstar but I can’t have you hunting on my territory. Especially if all of your cats are sick,” Icestar started slowly.
         “Then what are we supposed to do?” rasped Redstar. “Is Waterclan just going to watch as Rockclan starves to death?”
         “No. If I can have your permission I will send warriors along the river to see if we can find what is causing this sickness.”
          “Icestar, why are we helping them?” Wildheart asked.
           “Because, Wildheart, I will not sit and watched innocent cats be poisoned. And because Rockclan is being forced to hunt on our territory.”
           “And what are we suppose if you can’t find what the problem is?” Redstar asked, gazing intently at Icestar.
          “I am doing all I can, Redstar. My territory can’t support both of our clans.”
           Redstar hissed. “How do I know you’ll even send warriors? Or you could find it and do nothing. Then Rockclan would be driven away and you would have no competition.”
          “Redstar, I will only give you this offer once, so choose your choice wisely,” Icestar said.
           “We don’t need your helped,” Redstar growled. “We can find this problem on our own.
           “Very well,” Icestar said coldly. “Then stay off my territory.” Icestar got up and walked out of the Redstar’s den. Fernfeather, Wildheart and Spottedclaw followed her, and only until he was halfway across the clearing did he realize that Roseleaf was walking beside him. He stopped and glared at her.
          “What do you want,” he asked.
          “Help us. Please. Redstar is sick and doesn’t know what he’s talking about,” Roseleaf pleaded.
          “You heard Redstar. He doesn’t want our help, so he won’t get it,” Spottedclaw growled.
           “Please help us… help me.” Roseleaf gazed into Spottedclaw eyes.
            No! She’s from a different clan. Spottedclaw told himself. “I-I can’t.” He said whipping around and racing out the camp entrance. He ignored Icestar’s look of surprise as he pushed past her. He tried desperately to push Roseleaf’s pleading gaze from his mind but it kept coming back.
          Spottedclaw slowed down as he neared the Waterclan’s camp, and only then did he notice to thorn that was stuck in his paw.

To be continued...