A Light in the Dark

Chapter Two

"Let all those old enough to hunt gather beneath the Large Stone for a Clan meeting," Blossomtail heard Goldenstar call. She walked outside to see the white tom ontop the meeting Stone. The blood from earlier was cleaned up to the best ability, and Goldenstar's pelt shown white once more.

Sunpaw and Cedarpaw were huddling close together near the rock. Their pelts were still caked with blood and dust from their spar with the leader. Blossomtail sat near Tigermask, feeling her tense up. She looked at her sad clan, only 4 warriors, counting the deputy Frostedshoe, were sitting in the clearing. Willowfoot was sitting just outside the nursery with Mossgoose and Greenkit. The elders, Lightningmoon, Briartooth, and Shrewbreeze sat towards the front, looking sympathetic at the apprentices. 

Goldenstar awaited everyone to get settled before continuing: "As you all know, Sunpaw and Cedarpaw had their assessment today." He paused, silence rining through camp. "I have thought long and hard about this, and here is my final statement." He paused again, and Blossomtail held her breath.

Goldenstar looked at the cats, nothing betrayed his gaze. "Sunpaw and Cedarpaw, you are exiled," he said. "After sunset today, you leave. Go to Blossomtail for one last treatment and learning of basic herbs. At sundown, you must leave camp and the territory. At sunrise tomorrow, we'll treat you as any enemy if you are seen within our borders."

Sunpaw and Cedarpaw looked at their paws in shame. Before the meeting was dismissed, Sprucespring leaped to his paws.

"That isn't fair!" he yowled. Blossomtail stared at him horrified.

"Shut up, shut up!" she thought. "You'll be in trouble too!"

"Tigermask and i know you've been too hard on these apprentices during their assessment," he snarled. "You almost killed both Sunpaw and Cedarpaw."

Goldenstar stared coldly at him. "They must know what it's like to go to battle," he replied.

"You never gave Cedarpaw a chance!" he yowled back. 

"He had all the time in the world to get himself in gear!" he shouted back. "A surprise attack could happen any moment and he should be ready! If you feel that way, you can leave with them." He snarled the last part.

"Then i will," Sprucespring replied.

"What are you doing, Goldenstar?" Blossomtail thought. "Do you want to drive all our warriors away?"

"Meeting dismissed!" Goldenstar vanished in his den with Frostedshoe. 

Blossomtail met the leaving trio in her den. She sighed, fixing Sunpaw's bandages and adding another poultice. She did the same with Cedarpaw, telling Sprucespring the basic herbs, like marigold or horsetail to keep off infection, poppy seeds for sleep and pain, and catmint for greencough.

"If it's too much, go to RushClan," she rasped. "They should accept you."

"Thanks for everything, Blossomtail," Cedarpaw thanked. "Without you, all this would be for nothing."

"I do everything for my clanmates," she replies, nuzzling him.

At sundown, everyone gathered to see them leave. Goldenstar glared at Sprucespring and he glared back.

"It is time for you to leave," the leader says icily. "Anything you wanna say before you go die?"

Sprucespring raises his chin and says, "I only want to say one thing: you better shape up Goldenstar. The clans won't appreciate you. This clan... is a disgrace. There are good cats here, but what we have come to has shamed me all my years. Watch your back. You'll need to."

Goldenstar doesn't think about the threat. He growls as Sprucespring passes by. The warrior touches noses with Tigermask, whispering, "Take care of them." Blossomtail watches his tail vanish behind the ferns. Once they are gone, the clan returns to their dens to sleep. Blossomtail lays in her nest, restless. Sleep is hard to come, but it eventually grabs her in its claws.