AshClan's Future {COMPLETE}

Chapter 35

AshClan is growing every day. Riverstorm thought as she stepped away from the ceremony. AshClan had just welcomed the new warriors of Blossomheart and Roseshine and just a few days before, Graypelt and Hazelfern's kits had been named apprentices with Spiderheart, Hollytail and Mousetail as their mentors.

AshClan was a powerful force full of strong warriors, Riverstorm couldn't be prouder of what her Clan had grown into. It had been three moons since the death of Graywillow, and the Clan had recovered from the loss, as had Riverstorm. The wound her leg healed up without issue, leaving only a faint scar and her shoulder was completely healed as well. She was able to return to training Batpaw after about a moon and a half of recovery. She finally felt back to her normal self, happy to get Batpaw's training back on track.

Riverstorm glanced towards the nursery for a brief moment, she saw Robinflight watching her sole kit, Foxkit playing with a pinecone while she watched. That had been a very unexpected series of events, Berryleaf announces that Robinflight is missing from camp and she returns along with Echoheart and a single kit.

She gave the story that she was captured by twolegs when she was expecting kits and they wouldn't giver her her kit back, but the story just didn't fit right to Riverstorm. She couldn't help but feel slightly distrustful, especially since Robinflight refused to come forward about who Foxkit's father was. She knew that a queen didn't have to say who the father was if she wanted, but she couldn't help but feel that something else was going on.

Is the father of Foxkit a kittypet? Riverstorm wondered, but at least Robinflight was home and with her kit. Robinflight chose the life of a warrior and so did her kit. Foxkit had accidentally let slip that she had two sisters, but that Robinflight had been unable to free them from the kittypet. Foxkit didn't ever mention her father, and she rarely talked about her two sisters.

Whatever the case is, Riverstorm thought. At least Foxkit will grow up to be a loyal AshClan warrior. Riverstorm let out a sigh and started searching for Batpaw, they had their training to do and she wasn't going to waste any time. She found Batpaw leaving the elder's den with Crowpaw, it had recently become more crowded when Dustclaw, Duskwhisker and Cinderflower all moved in across the last few moons.

"Batpaw!" She called to her apprentice, he looked towards Riverstorm and swiftly trotted in her direction.

"Hi, Riverstorm." He greeted with excited eyes. "What are we doing today?"

"I was thinking some more battle practice."

"Hey, Riverstorm!" She heard a call and looked over her shoulder to see Moonwhisker trotting over to her and Batpaw. "Are you busy right now?"

"Not yet, why?" She could see something was off about her sister, she looked to be a little frantic.

"If you and Batpaw have some time, would you mind helping me? Eagleclaw and I are trying to prepare for leaf-bare."

"Isn't leaf-bare like a long time away?" Batpaw tilted his head.

"It's only two moons at most, and our supply of catmint is smaller than it was last leaf-bare, and we know what happened then." Riverstorm thought back to the last leaf-bare that AshClan had suffered through which had claimed the lives of Scorchlight, Ripplestep and their mother, Mistypool. Riverstorm usually wasn't one for collecting herbs, but she could see how frantic Moonwhisker was. Plus, Goldenstar only has one life left. I don't need her getting sick, the Clan still needs her.

"Of course, Batpaw and I would love to help." Riverstorm agreed. "Lead the way." Batpaw seemed excited about this, he was never one to complain about his training. They followed Moonwhisker out of camp and towards the back end of AshClan territory. She stopped them at a lush area and Riverstorm could very faintly smell catmint.

"This is all that's grown." Moonwhisker let out a sigh as she motioned with her muzzle towards a pathetic looking patch of catmint. It didn't look like enough for even two cats, let alone a Clan as big as AshClan. "I can't even collect all of it for fear that it won't grow back. We may have to venture into the twolegplace to get it this season, which is the last thing we want to do."

"Is there anyway to make it grow faster?"

"We've been trying since last season, Eagleclaw is usually pretty good about getting it to grow but it refuses. If we get a serious out break of greencough and we don't have enough catmint to treat it, then we could lose so many warriors."

"Aren't there other herbs you can use to treat greencough?"
"There's chickweed, which we have a decent supply of and tansy but those don't come close to be as effective as catmint." Moonwhisker sighed and started picking a small amount of the catmint. "I'm scared, Riverstorm." Moonwhisker lowered her voice. "I'm worried about our Clan, if we can't get enough catmint and we get a severe outbreak..." She slowly shook her head. "Then there's nothing that Eagleclaw and I will be able to do for them."

Riverstorm could see the genuine fear in her sister's eyes. Is leaf-bare really going to be that bad this year? She wondered. I should talk to Goldenstar about this. Riverstorm made a mental note to speak to the leader after she was done helping her sister.

She and Batpaw helped Moonwhisker gather as much chickweed and tansy as they possibly could before returning to the camp. Riverstorm and Batpaw helped her put the herbs away as well.

"Thank you two so much." Moonwhisker dipped her head. "I'm sorry for dumping all of worries on you, I just needed to talk to someone about it."

"Don't worry about it." Riverstorm touched her tail to Moonwhisker's pelt. "I'm always here if you need to talk."

"Thank you." Moonwhisker sighed, she looked visibly exhausted.

"I'll leave you to your herbs, come on Batpaw." Riverstorm left the medicine cat with Batpaw following her and they stepped into the main camp. "Thank you for your hard work today, go ahead and get yourself some prey and we'll do more training a little later. I'm going to talk to Goldenstar."

"Alright, Riverstorm! Thanks!" Batpaw happily bounded off, she was glad that he hadn't heard much about the looming threat of leaf-bare, he had been shaken up enough by the fox attack and she wanted him to keep his hopes high. He doesn't need anything else to worry about. Riverstorm told herself.

But I have something to do. Riverstorm crossed the camp until she reached Goldenstar's den, she was inside as usual with Ivyheart by her side. "May I come in, Goldenstar?" She called to the leader.

"Of course, Riverstorm." Goldenstar mewed and Riverstorm stepped inside. "What dd you need?"

"I was just out helping my sister collect some herbs. She told me that she and Eagleclaw barely have enough catmint for the Clan, she warned me that we could be facing an incredibly difficult leaf-bare and they won't have the herbs to properly treat the Clan."

A shadow of concern crossed Goldenstar's face. "This is rather concerning." She mewed quietly. "Us warriors can't do much in terms of healing but I say we start working extra hard to keep AshClan strong and healthy." She turned to Ivyheart. "I want you to step up hunting patrols, AshClan is a huge Clan att he moment and we have a lot of strong warriors, we need to get hunting in order. When leaf-bare starts I may have Riverstorm help with patrols again. This way we can be prepared for leaf-bare before it even arrives."

"Understood, Goldenstar." Ivyheart gave the leader a nod of confirmation. "I will start having warriors look for extra catmint as well, just in case."

"Thank you for letting me know, Riverstorm. The sooner we prepare for this the better, AshClan is the strongest Clan in the entire forest and we will prove it time and time again. Leaf-bare will be a struggle, but I know that we will survive."

"I know, Goldenstar." Riverstorm bowed her head respectfully and stepped out of the den. Despite Goldenstar's motivational words, Riverstorm still felt doubt creep in. Yes, AshClan was strong but sickness proved time and time to be a powerful force, greencough could kill even the strongest warriors.

Riverstorm took a moment to look around the camp, she feared the worst for her Clanmates. How many lives will greencough take from his this season? She glanced over her shoulder, back towards the leader's den. And will Goldenstar be one of them?