Cinder and Holly Book #1: The Wrong Path

Chapter 21

Cinderpaw's fur brushed against the soft, yet cool nest she laid on. She needed some time to relax after her mission. Yet, she felt bad for the cats she was supposed to be treating, and she wanted to run to the herb store, and gather as many herbs as she could. But Leafstripe insisted on letting her rest, and he told her that he didn't want to see her doing any jobs.

Fogpaw padded passed the clump of ferns, it swished against his fur, making him quiver. Cinderpaw tipped her head, she wondered why Leaf-fall was colder than usual.

"Cinderpaw!" Leafstripe padded into the bramble-filled den entrance, and he spun to the she-cat with a smile. "You can go back to your duties now."

Cinderpaw drew her lips to a smile, "Really?" She asked. Leafstripe nodded, making her let out a sigh of relief. She scrambled to her paws, and padded over to an entrance that was near the patient nests, and as she entered, she headed to the small holes that filled the walls.

I can finally help them! She thought as she grabbed a leaf from the neatly stacked pile of leaves. She glanced around the small holes, and spotted pale seeds from the bottom. She dipped her head to the hole at the bottom, and placed some of the seeds into the leaf wrap. She spun to the entrance of the herb store, and padded into the bramble-filled entrance.

As she padded down the medicine den clearing, she glanced over to Sagesight, who was trembling on his nest. Leafstripe frowned at her, flicking the tip of his tail.

Cinderpaw spun to the tom, and she bounded over to him. She crouched to stare at the tom, his nose was running, and his eyes looked so weary. Leafstripe told her he had greencough, which made her swallow. She placed the leaf wrap down. "Chew these and then swallow," She meowed. "It'll help you sleep."

Sagesight gazed at her and then the herb for a moment, then he wearily ducked his head, and gobbled down the seeds. He chewed the seeds for a moment, and then he took a massive swallow.

"Thank you, Cinderpaw." He meowed. He then wearily ducked his head on the soft moss, and he closed his eyes, quickly drifting into dreams.

She let out a sigh, she glanced over to the den entrance, and then glanced at Leafstripe. "Do we need any herbs?" She asked. Leafstripe nodded to her. "We need burdock root, feverfew, and catmint."

Cinderpaw's heart sank with fear. "No catmint...?" She muttered out. Leafstripe frowned at her, but suddenly drew his lips to a smile. "Hey, don't worry, you can probably find it." He attempted to reassure her, but Cinderpaw couldn't help couldn't help but she suddenly felt frightened. What if I don't find any catmint? She thought as she spun to the den entrance, and then padded into the camp clearing. She then stopped her tracks, and turned her head to Leafstripe. Or worse...?

Cinderpaw padded down the forest clearing, her paws trembled with fear as a crisp breeze swept through her fur.

She glanced around the clearing, tasting the air, but all she could smell was the leaf-fall leaves and the smells of FlameClan cats. Wait, FlameClan? She suddenly tipped her head. The scent of FlameClan was awfully close, it made her quiver with fright. Are they in our territory?

Leaves fell onto a prickly thorn bush, but a cool breeze swept through, making it blow away into the depths of the forest. Cinderpaw stood still, she was frozen, she couldn't move.

She pricked her ears so she could hear some kind of noise, but she heard nothing. I'm over-exaggerating, FlameClan warriors aren't here. I'm probably just near the border.

Cinderpaw glanced around cautiously, and then continued to pad down the forest clearing. The air was filled with the scent of water, grass, prey, and more. It made Cinderpaw calm. She glanced beside her, a small swamp-like pond sat in the middle of the forest. She drew her lips to a grin, she padded down to the pond, bounding through clumps of bracken.

Cinderpaw skidded to a halt, she stared at the pond for a moment. Lily-pads laid on the surface of the water, small frogs laying on top of them. Cinderpaw tipped her head in curiosity, she padded down the forest clearing, and stopped her tracks when she reached the pond, and she glanced over at the edge of the pond, and she spotted something.

Catmint. She thought. Her mind was filled with enjoyment, but she didn't react on the outside. She gazed around cautiously, and then glanced over to the pile of purple-like flowers. She crouched, and crawled toward the catmint. It's so little, She thought. But, it'll be worth it.

She stopped her tracks as she reached the catmint, she gazed around the clearing yet again, and she lifted her head farther toward the clump of catmint.

Her teeth sunk into the long herb, and dragged it away from the ground it planted on. The catmint was freed away from the dirt ground, and it was captured by Cinderpaw. I—I can't believe it, She thought with her eyes sparkling. I have catmint!

She spun behind, and she pushed through the clump of bracken. She smiled with delight as she darted down the damp forest. She felt something in her that she felt before. She felt this when Hollypaw comforted her back when the camp was set on fire. I can't believe it, She thought. Leafstripe will be so proud of me! Sagesight will be treated, and Fogpaw won't be so mean!

As she padded down the forest, she imagined the faces of her mentor and Fogpaw when she came back with catmint in her jaws.

Cinderpaw nervously pushed her way into the bramble-filled entrance, her mind filled with thousands of thoughts. As she entered the medicine den, she padded over to Leafstripe, who was talking with Fogpaw.

Leafstripe glanced at her as she stopped her tracks, she felt sweat on the side of her forehead. "You found catmint?" He asked, surprise in his voice. Fogpaw grumbled. "She didn't find Feverfew or Burdock root, though."

Leafstripe's lips drew to a frown. "That is true." He muttered. Cinderpaw froze, how could she forget? Maybe I was so happy about finding catmint, that I didn't bother to find the other herbs!

Cinderpaw felt sadness inside of her. How could I be so stupid... Leafstripe suddenly shook his head, his lips drew to a smile. "That doesn't matter," He mewed, attempting to comfort her. "You found catmint! It'll treat Sagesight's greencough."

Cinderpaw gave a small smile. Leafstripe turned his head to Fogpaw. "I'll just find them with Fogpaw," He assured. "You can go feed Sagesight catmint, but put the others in the herb shelves."

Cinderpaw nodded. She padded over to the dark gray tom, who laid on his nest. "Sagesight?" She whispered gently. Sagesight flicked his eyes open, he wearily lifted his head up, and he set his eyes on Cinderpaw. "Oh, hello there." He mewed, but then broke into a few coughs.

Cinderpaw frowned, she was worried for Sagesight. Oh StarClan, please let this work! She placed one of the catmints in front of Sagesight. "E—Eat this," She stammered with worry in her voice. "Hopefully it'll work."

Sagesight drew his lips to a smile. "I'm sure it will."

Cinderpaw watched as Sagesight consumed the catmint, and began to chew. As he swallowed, he stuck his tongue out. Cinderpaw giggled. "Do you feel a bit better?" She asked, her tail whisking nervously.

"A bit," He assured Cinderpaw. "I hope I get back to warrior duties soon."

Cinderpaw let out a smile. "You should sleep now," Cinderpaw told him. Sagesight nodded. He laid his head onto the soft moss, and he closed his eyes. He drifted into dreams.

Cinderpaw smiled. "I helped Sagesight," She murmured. "I am pretty useful."