Cloverpaw's Shadow

Chapter 6

"We need some more chervil," Needlenose said. He disappeared back into the slit where the herbs were stored.

Poolpaw laid the coltsfoot she was separating aside. Stretching, she trotted out of the medicine den.

Bright sunlight shone down on her, making her wish for the cool breezes of newleaf.  Nodding to Ravenwhisper, who was on guard at the tunnel entrance, she slipped out into the forest.

She breathed in the sweet scents of the forest as she absentmindedly wandered through the trees. Chirping filled in the silence. She spotted some chervil and settled down to collect some.

Trouble is ahead.

Her head shot up. What was that?

Look for the light in the darkest hour.

Suddenly a bright flash seared in her vision. Stumbling up with a cry, she watched, fixated, as a series of scenes passed in front of her eyes.

First a cat, racing through the trees. Falling down, dazed. Then a massive black shape appearing out from the woods behind it. The cat paused and turned slowly around. The look in the cats eyes turned from annoyed to terrified.

Poolpaw gasped, dropping the chervil in her jaws. She recognized that cat! The green eyes that glittered in the weak ray of sunshine shifting through the trees were unmistakable.

It was Cloverpaw.

Poolpaw watched, horrified as the badger advanced. It lifted its paw and brought it down on her white-pelted friend.

Poolpaw couldn't hear anything, but she could imagine the crunch of bone, and the wails of Cloverpaw. The badger fell back down and flung the body away. It lumbered off into the trees.

Poolpaw staggered back. She raced through the forest, tracking the faint scent of Cloverpaw.

Where is she?

She entered upon a clearing and stopped dead in her tracks.

Cloverpaw was lying a few tail-lengths away, broken and bloody. Rushing up to her, she let out a cry of relief when she saw that her friend was still breathing. She was alive, but barely.

Then the realization of the situation hit her like a bolt of lightning. She couldn't leave Cloverpaw here. There wasn't enough time to race back to camp and alert Needlenose. She couldn't drag Cloverpaw without risking further injury. And if she didn't get Cloverpaw medical help soon, she would die.

Starclan help me! She sent out a silent plea to her warrior ancestors. I don't want my best friend to die!

Three cats appeared out of the shadows of the trees. A hunting patrol!

"Over here!" Poolpaw cried desperately. She heard several gasps, and Moonpelt rushed over.

"What happened?" She asked.

Poolpaw glanced at her with a look of terror. "A badger attacked her! We need to get her to Needlenose!"

"You're a medicine cat," Another voice said. It was Firefang. "Why don't you heal her?"

Poolpaw shook her head. "I can't do that without proper herbs." And I don't know how to deal with this! She wailed inwardly.

Moonpelt lifted Cloverpaw over her shoulders, and ran as fast as she could through the trees. Poolpaw followed miserably.

***

When they reached camp, Poolpaw sprinted across the clearing to the medicine den.

"Needlenose!" She cried.

Needlenose poked his head out of the den. "Poolpaw? What's going on?"

Moonpelt appeared behind Poolpaw and Needlenose gasped. He directed Moonpelt to an empty nest. Moonpelt laid Cloverpaw's body down and dipped her head to Needlenose. "I hope you can fix her," She whispered. She ducked back out of the den.

Poolpaw was in a daze. She collected various herbs that Needlenose said he needed, and was vaguely aware of other cats coming into the den.

After what seemed like moons to Poolpaw, Needlenose cleared everyone out of the den and called Poolpaw over to him.

He had a look of sadness in his eyes. "I tried my best. She's in the paws of Starclan now."

Poolpaw gazed down at her friend. Lowering herself to her Cloverpaw's body, she whispered, "I know you can get through this. You're awesome and brave and strong. Please, Cloverpaw. Don't die on me."

She closed her eyes and counted Cloverpaw's breaths, afraid each one was her last. She stood there for an eternity until Needlenose laid his tail on her shoulder. "Get some sleep."

Poolpaw sighed and wandered over to her nest. Curling up, she whispered one last thing.

"Thunderclan needs you."