The Rogue Traitor #1 - Beginning of the Curse

Chapter Twenty One

Birdpaw was not sure how to respond. Her first thought was having little Flowerstem and Whiskerstar look-alikes tumbling around camp and getting under everybody's paws. But then she remembered the battle, with all blood-shed and Whiskerstar fighting. Fear spiralled through her, but she pushed the worrying thought aside.

"Congratulations," she said to Flowerstem, who breathed out a sigh of relief.

"I was wondering how you would react," she said, her posture much more relaxed, like the news was a weight on her back, "I know it is forbidden to have a mate, let alone to have kits, when you are a medicine cat."

"Have you told anyone else yet?" asked Birdpaw. The medicine cat shook her head and took another bite out of her mouse.

"To admit," she said around the flesh, "I am a bit scared to tell Whiskerstar. I don't know how he will react. He will know that it is against the warrior code."

"He will not kick you out of the Clan," replied the apprentice, putting her tail on the medicine cat's shoulder, "you're his mate. You should tell him sooner rather than later, and don't be nervous, it will go fine."

"You're right," said Flowerstem, confidence lighting in her green eyes, "I will go talk to him now. Thank you Birdpaw." The medicine cat stood up and moved off to the Highrock, where Whiskerstar had finished his conversation with Stagleap. Birdpaw could definitely notice the slight roundness of the medicine cat's belly now that she knew of the kits. She was distracted by the thought of little kits and didn't even hear her littermate, Emberpaw, sneak up on her. She let out a startled yowl as he dug his claws into her and she flipped over, trying to dislodge him. They rolled around on the dusty camp floor, growling as they mock battled. Birdpaw was purring between her growls, enjoying something that finally was not serious, or anything to do with her weird-power-thing. This is what she thought her life would be as an apprentice, without any power or expectation or the whole Clan's life resting on her shoulder.

But unfortunately, the fun couldn't last forever, and soon Whiskerstar came walking over to the two apprentices, his blue eyes stern and slightly angry.

"Will you two stop acting like kits?" he said, the two apprentices' instantly breaking apart at the sound of their leader's voice.

"Sorry Whiskerstar," they both mumbled, hanging their heads with embarrassment. Birdpaw felt shame prickling her pelt but she wished that the play-fight fight had gone on for a little longer. Sparkclaw looked up from where he was talking to Foxleap and padded over next to the grey tom.

"What is happening?" he asked sharply, looking down at his apprentice with a look that would have made anyone shrink in their pelt. Whiskerstar turned to the warrior.

"These two were acting like two kits," he said and Birdpaw looked over at her brother, who looked like he wished the ground would just swallow him up, "in front of the whole Clan. I was also in the middle of an important conversation when they both interrupted. It is up to you to punish your own apprentice." Sparkclaw nodded and turned his stern gaze to Emberpaw, jerking his chin before walking away. Birdpaw gave her brother a "you can do this" look, kind of feeling sorry for him, she would hate to have a mentor as strict at Sparkclaw. Whiskerstar watched them walk away before turning back to his own apprentice, with a stern look in his eye that made Birdpaw look up at him sheepishly.

"I expect better from you, Birdpaw," he said, "you are the most mature of all your littermates, you are not a kit anymore." The tortoiseshell and white apprentice sighed and nodded, feeling like that at some point her would mention how her powers make her special and that she should set a good example and blah blah blah.

"As your punishment," he continued, "I will be putting you on medicine cat duty, to help Flowerstem since Chiveleaf has gone gathering for more herbs before leaf-fall comes." Birdpaw nodded, not sure how it was a punishment since she and Flowerstem were good friends. "I was going to invite you on a hunting patrol but when you started acting immature, I changed my mind."

"Never mind," thought Birdpaw, "there is the punishment."

"I will still be going on the patrol," said the leader, "and I expect a good report back from Flowerstem." The apprentice nodded again and Whiskerstar turned around, walking to the camp entrance, where Vineleaf, Honeypaw and Petalsplash were waiting. She turned around and walked into the medicine cat den, her nose instinctively wrinkling at the sharp tang of herbs.

"Hello again Birdpaw," said Flowerstem walking up from the back of the den, "I heard you got a punishment with us."

"It isn't that much of a punishment," replied the tortoiseshell and white apprentice, "except the fact that I am missing out on a hunting patrol."

"Well," came Chiveleaf's voice from the back of the den and she walked forward, "for once I am glad for you to be here. We need some extra help in here, since some she-cat has been indulging herself with too much food." The cream medicine cat glared over at her former apprentice, who curled her white and brown tail around her unborn kits.

"You might want to get started," snapped the cream medicine cat, "and you can start with cleaning out all of the herbs in the shelf."

"This is going to be a long day," thought the apprentice.