The Darkest Moons (Warrior Cats)

26. A New Warning

     The half-moon glowed brightly in the sky, illuminating Echopaw's path. Despite the clear skies and gentle air, she couldn't force away her agitation. Cobweb had refused to go with her, leaving her alone on her trek to the Moonpool.

I should tell the other medicine cats about Clearwhisker. It's time they knew. Her hackles began to rise. On the day of the last fight with the rogues, four days ago, she had asked Blackstar to receive help and training from another medicine cat. He had refused. "We don't know who we can trust." They would help me! Medicine cats aren't bound by the same code! She forced her fur to flatten and breathed deeply, exhaling slowly. At least it won't rain tonight. Or snow.

As she glanced up at the stars, she thought of Clearwhisker. It's been at least a moon since he died. Of all the times that Cobweb could abandon me. She gave way to a forlorn sigh and continued the climb. The others will probably already be there and waiting. She wanted to ask them for help, no matter what her leader's orders were. He only has one life. He never went to receive the approval of StarClan. Whatever he says may not even matter.

But I have Cobweb. He may not know all of the herbs, but he knows how to do things. And I know the herbs; I just don't know how to actually work with things. She almost laughed. We're just two apprentices making the best of things, she thought warmly. It's hard to believe that he's done what he has. He looks so sad when he sees Tinypetal and Patchback. He regrets his actions. What he did was wrong, but he had good intentions.

"There she is!" Meowed a cat, Whisperheart of FireClan. Echopaw climbed over the ledge and shook her pelt free of grime.

"We thought you'd never get here," purred Finchfeather. The PlainClan medicine cat pressed her nose to Echopaw's ear affectionately. "You look well. But you smell like smoke." She pulled away. "Has something happened?"

Whisperheart's eyes grew as wide as full moons. "We would have seen if there was another fire!"

"There wasn't one!" Echopaw urged. Is it from Cobweb? She turned to sniff her fur. "I must of have slept in some ash or something. You never know what gets left behind."

"We should start," Brokenbark grumbled. Frozenfoot of MarshClan nodded.

Echopaw glanced around. "Where's Dustfoot? And Shatteredpaw?"

"I don't think they're coming," Finchfeather said gravely. "I'm certain they have their reasons. Dustfoot-"

"I'm here!" Called a cat. The brown she-cat clambered up, followed by her apprentice. "I apologize for the delay. Beetlestar wouldn't stop jabbering." Dustfoot purred, though it sounded forced. When Echopaw looked to Shatteredpaw, he turned away coldly. What's wrong with him?

"Shall we?" Dustfoot asked, eager to start. Echopaw cleared her throat.

"I have news," She meowed. "It's- It's bad."

The medicine cats looked to her with both curiosity and dread. "Clearwhisker died last half-moon."

"And Blackstar didn't mention it?" Whisperheart gaped.

Finchfeather's head dropped. "I'm so sorry."

Dustfoot's eyes were wide with horror. "You're- You're alone? You have no mentor?"

Brokenbark looked between Dustfoot and Echopaw in horror. "Then DarkClan has no medicine cat."

"Echopaw is DarkClan's medicine cat," Finchfeather said. "StarClan would not have taken Clearwhisker if they did not think she could fill his pawprints. All will be fine."