Bloodpool's Whispers

Chapter 3

Bloodpaw padded up the ridge that led to the Moonpool. He looked on in awe at the pool that looked as though it were filled with stars. He padded to the edge of the pool with the other medicine cats."Before we begin, I must present my apprentice to StarClan," Dewpelt told the others he padded to the edge of the water, and looked up to the stars. "Warriors of StarClan!" He said loudly. "I present to you this apprentice. Please accept this apprentice and walk with him, both in life and death. Allow him to learn all the secrets of StarClan," Dewpelt finished, his head bowed in respect to the ancient warriors."Bloodpaw! Bloodpaw! Bloodpaw!" The medicine cats chanted.Bloodpaw held his head high with the pride of hearing his name being called by the medicine cats."Now let us share with StarClan," Eartheart rasped as he lied down and touched his nose to the pool.The other medicine cats did the same, and finally Bloodpaw touched his nose to the pool, wincing at the icy water, he closed his eyes. When he opened his eyes, he was still in the hollow. He lowered his head in disappointment."You look as if you just lost the best fish in the lake!" A voice sounded behind him.Bloodpaw turned his head, and saw a cat that looked like Dawndapple, but he had stars glimmering in his pelt, standing behind him. "Dawndapple?" Bloodpaw asked."Why do you look so surprised?" He purred."Sorry! I- I just didn't expect to see you!""Well, here I am. But I wanted to thank you for helping Crowstar. I was worried about how she would take my death. I was worried she would go mad, but then you helped her get her sense back," he mewed, dipping his head. "Thank you.""But- but I just wanted to help!" Bloodpaw said."I didn't think you would though, Bloodpaw. You hesitated for so long," he replied."I didn't know how I could help," Bloodpaw murmured, scuffing his paw on the rock in embarrassment."But you still did. That's the important thing. Thank you, Bloodpaw. You saved my mate," Dawndapple replied before Bloodpaw woke up, next to the Moonpool again.The medicine cats were rousing beside him as he sat up. They stood up and stretched from laying on the hard rock for so long. As they exited the hollow, Bloodpaw chatted with the other apprentices, Whitepaw from ThunderClan, and Eaglepaw from WindClan."Poor little kit," Bloodpaw murmured as Whitepaw told him about one of their kits who had gotten a thorn in her eye after falling in a patch of nettles."But I soothed the stings with dock. Flameblaze took care of the scratch on her eye," Whitepaw boasted."Is she getting better?" Eaglepaw asked."Much better! The swelling around her eye has gone down, and the stinging is completely gone, according to her," Whitepaw told them.Bloodpaw had felt a faint stinging at the base of his tail for a couple days. "Put dock leaf at the base of her tail.""Why? She says the stinging is gone!""Just do it!" Bloodpaw snapped. "It's better to be safe than sorry," he continued more softly. He knew he couldn't let anyone know about his power and how a great evil was coming to the Clans."Thank you for the advice, Bloodpaw," Whitepaw replied sarcastically."I've learned that when it comes to stinging nettles, it's best to keep covering the stings with the dock juice for a couple more days after the cat says the sting has gone away," Bloodpaw lied, trying to hide the nervousness he felt about lying to the other medicine cats."Bloodpaw's right," Flameblaze called from up ahead. "You should keep putting the dock leaf's juice on the stings for a few more days, just to be sure the sting is fully gone. The dock leaf soothes the sting for a little while, so while it may feel okay to the cat, but it might still sting once the juice wears off," the ThunderClan medicine cat advised.Bloodpaw shrank away from the white apprentice's harsh glare. He could tell what the apprentice was thinking. He was thinking, "How could this brand new apprentice already know more than me?""I'm sorry, Whitepaw," Bloodpaw apologized, hanging his head. "I just hate to think that a kit might be in pain. I might be new, but I had already learned many things about herbs when I was still a kit.""How did you-" Whitepaw started before shaking his head. "Never mind. I should just be thankful for the advice.""You're welcome. I'm glad I could help you and the little kit out," Bloodpaw replied, closing his eyes in relief. My secret is safe, he thought. But for how long?"Okay, now what is this?" Nightmist asked, pointing to a soft leaf."Marigold. It's used for preventing and treating infected wounds.""Good. That's all the herbs in the store! Good job, Bloodpaw!" Nightmist praised around her mouthful of marigold as she padded into the herb store to put it back. "You're well on your way to becoming a full medicine cat!""Really? I'll get my medicine cat name too!" Bloodpaw said happily."No, I didn't say that," Nightmist shook her head. "Yes, you know all the herbs and their uses, but we still need to teach you how to interpret dreams and omens from StarClan. Even the way the clouds move through the sky might be an omen. A piece of prey of the fresh-kill pile might be an omen. And you need to be able to properly advise your leader. Herbs are only a small part," Nightmist told Bloodpaw."Well, I still have plenty of time to learn," Bloodpaw replied."But you also need to control your power. What happens if a cat is nearly dead from a wound, and you're crippled with their pain? You wouldn't be able to help. You need to be able to suppress the pain just enough to be able to tell where it is on your patient," Nightmist told him as she looked him in the eye."But I don't know how!" Bloodpaw wailed."Shh... you can learn. You will learn," Nightmist soothed, licking the top of his head as she padded to the entrance of the den.As Bloodpaw followed her out, he tried to catch his mother's eye. She had been avoiding him since he had been made an apprentice, as if she hated him for his choice. "She hates me," he murmured sadly, not wanting to tap into her thoughts in fear of what he might find."No she doesn't. She just took our brother's death very hard, that's all. She thinks it was because he was a medicine cat, being around all those sick cats, that he died. But the bout of greencough just as easily been caught by her too. Anyone could have caught it, but he chose to be around all those cats who were sick because he cared. He knew he was just increasing his chance of catching it himself, but was willing to take that chance for the sake of his clanmates," Nightmist whispered to him."But it's been over half a moon since I became you and Dewpelt's apprentice, and she still won't even look at me, let alone talk to me," he murmured."She'll get over it sooner or later. And if she doesn't, I'll have a talk with her.""Thank you Nightmist," Bloodpaw replied."Can you go and gather some marigold and tansy for me?" Nightmist asked.Bloodpaw nodded before bounding out of the camp, and when he was half way to the grove of trees where the tansy and marigold grew, he suddenly bent over with pain. It felt as if claws were slicing through his ear. Faint yowls of battle came from the WindClan border. He tried to push the pain away, like he did when Dawndapple had first come to the camp with the wound that had killed him. He bounded to the grove of trees to grab the herbs, and on his way to the battle, he wrapped cobwebs around his tail. Before he got to the battle, he closed his eyes to trace the pain back to the wounded cat.When Bloodpaw saw the cat in his mind, and raced forward, dropping his herbs next to his clanmate, Rushtail, who had fallen unconscious, blood flowing from the wound in his belly. Bloodpaw chewed up the poultice of marigold, and spread it on the wound before layering cobwebs on top. Rushtail's breathing was shallow, and Bloodpaw stood in front of the immobile cat, ready to protect his clanmate from further injury.The battle raged around him as cats threw themselves at each other, clawing at each other's pelts. Bloodpaw was fed up with the needless skirmish. "Stop!" He yowled over the screeching of the fighting cats.They stopped and turned to him. "Bloodpaw? What are you doing here?" One of his clanmates asked."What in the name of StarClan is this all about?" Bloodpaw hissed as he padded forward. "I could hear you halfway from camp!""They crossed the border!" A WindClan cat spat, glaring at him."We did no such thing," Bloodpaw's clanmate, Streamtail, hissed."The border is back there, you know," the WindClan cat pointed out."It was crossed when we were fighting," Streamtail replied, lashing his tail in fury."I don't care who crossed who's border," Bloodpaw spat. "Rushtail needs to get back to camp. This fight is over," he spat out the last word like a piece of crow-food. He collected his clanmates with a sweep of his tail. Streamtail and Clawfoot carried Rushtail back to camp, slowly as to not open his wound even more.When Bloodpaw and the border patrol entered the camp, Bloodpaw carrying the herbs, they moved Rushtail into the medicine den. Bloodpaw set the herbs into the store before he padded to Crowstar's den."Crowstar?" He called."Come in, Bloodpaw," she replied."There was a fight at the WindClan border again. Rushtail has been wounded badly. I was close enough to help him in time, but I don't know if he'll be okay," Bloodpaw told her, dipping his head in respect to his leader."Thank you, Bloodpaw," Crowstar replied. "Can you fetch Moonclaw, Dewpelt, Nightmist, Mistmoor, and Witheringrose? I need to decide what to do about WindClan. You may join us," she added, dismissing him with a flick of her tail.Bloodpaw stuck his head into the elder's den. "Witheringrose? Crowstar would like to speak with you. Meet in her den," he told her."Of course, Bloodpaw," Witheringrose replied, padding towards the leader's den.Bloodpaw heard paw steps as two cats padded into the camp. "Mistmoor? Moonclaw?" He asked as he padded up to them. "Crowstar needs to meet with you in her den," he told them as walked past to find his mentors. He found them by their supply of horsetail, each gathering a small bundle. "Crowstar needs to speak with us," Bloodpaw told them.Nightmist's ears pricked in surprise as she padded after Bloodpaw."Rushtail's been wounded. I've put a poultice of marigold on the wound, so he should be fine while we speak with Crowstar," Bloodpaw mewed as he padded with his mentors to the camp.When the three medicine cats reached the camp, Dewpelt and Nightmist quickly deposited their fresh herbs into the store.Bloodpaw sat down in Crowstar's den, as he waited for his mentors to come. As soon as Dewpelt and Nightmist padded into the den, Crowstar started the small meeting."We need to talk about our problem with WindClan," Crowstar announced."Two of our warriors have been gravely wounded, one of which died from their wounds," Dewpelt added."That's right. We need to teach WindClan a lesson," Crowstar nodded."But StarClan wants peace in the Clans!" Witheringrose rasped."But we aren't the ones starting it," Mistmoor replied. "WindClan started it by attacking our patrol.""But leafbare is just around the corner. We can't risk using all of our supplies of herbs," Nightmist told them. "The supplies will already be low without having to treat wounds.""Then we need to attack as soon as possible," Mistmoor told the medicine cat. "WindClan can't go on attacking our patrols without any consequences!" The senior warrior added, turning to Crowstar."Nightmist, Dewpelt, can you stock up on the herbs we would need for wounds? You have Bloodpaw to help now, too," Crowstar said decisively."But-" Nightmist started before Dewpelt slapped his tail across her muzzle."Of course, Crowstar," Dewpelt dipped his head, shooting a glare at Nightmist."Thank you. You may go," Crowstar dipped her head to the gathered cats. "Not you, Bloodpaw. I need to talk with you."Bloodpaw hadn't moved, and he sat listening to his leader as Dewpelt and Nightmist left the den."Bloodpaw, remember how when Dawndapple died, you told me you entered my thoughts?" She asked.Bloodpaw nodded slowly."I need you to enter a WindClan cat's thoughts.""What?" Bloodpaw exclaimed, disgusted by the suggestion of entering another cat's mind if it wasn't to help them. "Why should I enter the minds of those rabbit-chasers?""Because, we need to know if we are right to attack them or not. I don't want needless bloodshed," she said, shaking her head."Fine," Bloodpaw spat. "But I still don't like it," he growled."You need to enter Vulturestar's mind. Vulturestar is their leader," she added at Bloodpaw's confused look. "She has a brown and golden pelt.""I'll do it soon," Bloodpaw replied, flicking his tail as he left."What did Crowstar want?" Dewpelt asked."For me to do something I'll come to regret," Bloodpaw growled, lashing his tail.Dewpelt took a surprised step back at Bloodpaw's hostility.Bloodpaw padded away, his ears twitching with frustration. He settled himself at the edge of camp, away from prying eyes, and closed his eyes. He concentrated on the description Crowstar had given him, along with the name. When he blinked open his eyes, he was wandering through a night sky, the stars forming places to set his paws as he padded along. He saw many cats, each unaware of the others around them. The cats all looked the same, only as he padded along, the cats started to look older.He knew he was in Vulturestar's thoughts and memories. As he padded along the path filled with memories, he suddenly reached a small pool of swirling light, knowing that it was the WindClan's leader waking senses. He stepped into the swirling portal, his vision going black."Silverlight!" Vulturestar yowled, racing across the clearing. "Silverlight! It's happened again!" She yowled bursting into the medicine cat's den."We must stop this!" Silverlight hissed, as she tended a cat who barley breathing."But what can we do? No cat in this Clan has ever seen this sickness before!" Vulturestar replied, bending down to lick her clanmate's head before Silverlight stopped her."No!" She hissed. "It might be contagious, and we can't risk you getting sick as well. The Clan needs you, Vulturestar!""But I can't bare to look at my precious clanmates in so much pain!" She replied, her eyes wide with worry."But we can't afford to lose our leader! We don't know if it will take more than one of your lives! Besides, you can't afford to waste them!" Silverlight replied, soothing the worried leader. "But who's caught the sickness?""Runningcloud," Vulturestar sighed. "He just stopped breathing while out on a hunting patrol.""Is Eaglepaw with him?""Yes. He was the one who sent Clawscar to tell me.""Oh, StarClan what did we do to deserve this?" Silverlight wailed."And our border patrols have been clashing with RiverClan. If they don't stop, RiverClan might retaliate, and StarClan knows we already have enough to worry about," Vulturestar said as Eaglepaw dragged his clanmate into the den."Eaglepaw! Is he doing any better?" Silverlight asked.He shook his head in reply. "I wish I had gotten there sooner!" He growled."The cats affected have had trouble breathing, before they stopped altogether. Check all the Clan," Vulturestar ordered.Silverlight and Eaglepaw nodded, before padding out and checking the clan."StarClan, save us. What did we do to deserve this?" She whispered to herself before padding out after the two medicine cats.When Bloodpaw blinked open his eyes, the sun had begun to set. He had seen the horrible problem that WindClan was facing, and he knew that there couldn't be a battle. He raced to Crowstar's den, calling her name as he raced across the clearing. He skidded to halt as the leader emerged wide-eyed from her den."Bloodpaw! What in the name of StarClan happened? You're acting like a hoard of badgers is attacking the camp!" She exclaimed."We can't attack WindClan!" He told her."Why?" Crowstar asked, leading him into her den."They have a sickness that's causing their clanmates to suddenly stop breathing! We have to help them! They're expecting retaliation, but we can't retaliate! Half their Clan is barley able to stand!" Bloodpaw hissed."We must visit them then, tell them we will help. StarClan wants peace, and that's what we'll give them," she nodded, before padding out, and calling over Dewpelt, Nightmist, and Moonclaw. "We must go to WindClan.""What? Why?" Moonclaw asked, taken aback by the news."Tell them, Bloodpaw," she mewed, stepping back to let the apprentice tell them."I've had a vision," he began, telling them about what he saw. He hated lying to his clanmates, but he felt as if they couldn't know about his powers.Moonclaw stared in shock as he finished. "But- but why would StarClan send it to you, instead of the other two medicine cats in the Clan?" He asked, flicking his tail to gesture towards Dewpelt and Nightmist."I guess that's just how StarClan works," Bloodpaw shrugged."We need to leave," Crowstar mewed, padding out of the camp.The four cats followed close behind as they padded to the border they shared with WindClan."Why don't we just go over?" Bloodpaw asked."Tensions are already running high between us and WindClan. Crossing the border without permission will be seen as an act of aggression, causing a war to break out," Nightmist whispered in his ear.Bloodpaw nodded in understanding before settling down to wait. A few heartbeats later, a patrol padded along the border. Bloodpaw followed his leader's lead by standing up."Roseclaw! Greetings!" Crowstar called.The patrol of cats raced over the moor to meet Crowstar. "What are you doing here, Crowstar?" Roseclaw growled."I would like to speak with Vulturestar," she mewed, dipping her head."Fine," she spat. She flicked her tail, and a cat with light brown fur raced across the moor, where Bloodpaw guessed, was the direction of the camp.The other two warriors in the WindClan patrol flanked the RiverClan patrol, as they slowly walked towards the camp. As they reached the camp, Vulturestar, and the rest of her able warriors, were standing outside the camp."What is it, Crowstar?" Vulturestar asked. Bloodpaw could tell she was trying to force down her nervousness, and forcing a growl in her voice.