Cursed (Book 2 of the Outcast Quartet) Is Cancelled

Chapter 12 (Juniperpaw)

“I need some time to think this over,” Sweetstar sighed and I took that as I sign to leave. Dipping my head I turned and slowly slunk out of the den. I hope I made the vision’s description realistic enough. I had never had a dream from StarClan so I didn’t really know too much about it but from what Softheart had told me, I knew that they were rather cryptic.

            “Sweetstar believes me… she has to,” I murmured to myself as I hurried across the clearing and returned to my den. Now I should concentrate on work, what good would it do if all I did was fret about it… I took out some of the herbs to sort out the older ones but a few heart beats later I was pacing the confines of my den. “How will she react? Will she declare war on the rogues? Surely not. Our Clan isn’t big enough to face that many cats…” I froze when I noticed Bird standing casually by the den entrance.

            “Hope I’m not interrupting anything,” he greeted before strolling up to me. “I heard from Soul about what you found… you shouldn’t worry too much.”

            “Easy for you to say,” I sighed before a brilliant idea popped into my mind. “Bird come herb gathering with me! We could gather some herbs to help with wounds, I’m sure they’ll come in handy eventually.”

            “Well if it’ll help you calm down, then sure,” I shot Bird a smile of relief before hurrying past him.

            “Are you going herb gathering?” Foxhowl, the current lookout stationed by the entrance, asked me as I approached the camp exit. “Remember, it’s dangerous if you go alone.”

            “Don’t worry Bird’ll be with me,” I replied to the shaggy ginger cat before heading past him. That’s right, everyone still thinks I have that illness. I wonder how they’d react if they ever found out… not like I’ll ever let them find out

            “So what herbs do you need?” I practically jumped out of my fur as Bird came up from behind. I wish he’d stop sneaking up on me like that.

            “Oh um uh… we need dock leaves and goldenrod,” with Bird following, I made my way across the moorland. I wasn’t entirely sure where the goldenrod was but the dock leaves were pretty easy to find. At the edge of the patch of forest, hidden among a bunch of ferns, was a clump of dock. It was one of the few herbs Softheart had shown me before she died.

            “Are you sure you know where the goldenrod is?” Bird meowed around the dock leaves he carried and resisted letting out a sigh. I had hoped we would find them if we just wondered around. “If you don’t, maybe you should get Night to help you. She used to be a healer before she became cursed.”

            “Seriously?” in my shock I practically spat out all the leaves.

            “Ah but she doesn’t like to bring up the past so maybe you should wait until she comes to you,” Bird added and I let out a sigh. Of course I understood why she wouldn’t want to bring up the past, it was probably painful for her to remember after all, but I still wanted to learn as soon as possible.

            “By the way, what do you think about the rogues?” I gathered up the scattered dock leaves.

            “I think if we can locate and take out the leader, the rogues will leave us alone.”

            “But how will we know who the leader is? When I was there, the leader was away at the time.”

            “Then someone needs to infiltrate their ranks, gain their trust and then kill their leader,” he made it sound so simple. Well maybe it was, for an immortal… Wait don’t tell me he wants us to that! Seeing the realization in my gaze he smiled and nodded. “Who better for the job than a couple of cursed. Besides if you decide to do this, most likely you’ll be able to locate your target.”

            I froze as he brought up my mission. Due to the threat towards my Clan I had completely forgotten about it. “Alright… I’ll spy on them. Just can you accompany me, I don’t think I’ll be able to do it alone.”

            “Of course,” Bird smiled. “Let’s drop off these dock leaves and head over there now.”