The Darkest Moons (Warrior Cats)

23. Deciphering Situations

     "I'm going for herbs. I'll be fine," Echopaw meowed. She can't stop me. I'm the Clan's medicine cat. The thought brought a pang of pain to her, the memory of Clearwhisker's death shredding her heart with jagged claws.

Redwing crouched, and Echopaw shoved through the tunnel. Cobweb was on her mind, for whatever reason, lingering at the front of her brain. She wanted someone to talk to about everything going on – not that there was much since the last time she had spoken to him. He told me to find him if I needed him. There was something about spilling her feelings to Palepaw or Scorchpaw that made her lips curl – especially Palepaw. I can't begin to describe how embarrassing that would be. He'd scoff at me. "You're overreacting!" Because it's totally not stressful. Her chest tightened, and she took a detour, hoping to calm herself. I'm the Clan's medicine cat, and I've hardly gotten through training.

She hopped over a log and shook herself, absently hoping she could cast away her worries from her fur. She leaned against a tall oak and glanced up at the hole within. An owl used to live there. Echopaw felt a rush of warmth at the thought of the story Clearwhisker had told her of the old tree's ancient resident: a ragged owl with white feathers that was capable of seeing the future. It had been a kit's tale that surfaced when Clearwhisker had been young. It was never true, but it was sweet.

I miss him. More than anything.

She shook her head and stood, pushing onward. I hope Cobweb's well. He's probably really lonely. She picked up her pace, taking a new path to the clearing where the ghost stayed. I wonder if he's trapped there. The thought made her anxious as she imagined being confined only to the medicine den. I'd go mad.

She pushed through the brambles, which moved easily around her from common use. She looked around the clearing and hopped onto the fallen tree. Cobweb was looking into the water, thinking silently to himself. Echopaw stepped down and sat beside the white and black tom, whose scent was that of ash. "Hey," she greeted casually, and Cobweb flicked his ear.

"Hey." His voice was low and tired, heavy with thought. "Did you ever talk to the other medicine cats? About herbs?"

Echopaw's heart skipped a beat. How could I have forgotten that! "No," She squeaked, and Cobweb's face twisted into a look of annoyance. "I'm sorry!" She insisted. "A lot is going on. I'm sorry."

Cobweb didn't look at her, instead studying the calm water as it reflected the bright moon. "What all is going on?"

Echopaw looked to her paws. What was there to say? There were no signs of rogues, and no sickness either. Scorchpaw was still getting battered by Redwing, but that was commonplace. She stretched her thoughts to the other Clans — to FireClan's missing medicine cat and the rogues that kept stepping into their territory. "Rogues keep going into FireClan territory. Thrushfeather, FireClan's medicine cat apprentice, went missing." She had liked Thrushfeather very much, enjoying her gentle personality. I guess that was why I hadn't seen her at the last gathering at the Moonpool.

She dwelled on the Moonpool now, and of Dapplefoot's message. "The Tiger will hunt for the shadow. Look to the mist. It will either protect or destroy." Her paws felt numb beneath her. "I was told a prophecy."

This made Cobweb's ears prick, and he stared at her intensely. She shrunk beneath his gaze. "And I forgot it. It was the night Clearwhisker died."

Cobweb groaned, rolled his one eye, and turned back to the water. "Then tell it to me, and I'll help you remember." He muttered a quick "fluff-brain" afterwards, turning her fur hot with anger.