The Surviving Few (Warrior Cats)

Chapter eight - a healer's instinct

Miraculously, Leafwillow returned, only a short while after her and her sisters argument, a plump bird hanging from her jaws. Crimson blood was smeared across her mouth and muzzle; the sun highlighted the red liquid, making it look as if on fire. Breathing heavily, through a mouthful of feathers, Leafwillow mumbled, "put up... quite...the fight, this one." She dropped it somewhere near the middle of the gathered cats. "It's enough for everyone."

At this, Poppypaw began to cough, though Raindrop did not think the two things were connected in any way. She moved forward, almost instinctively, as if Poppypaw was a Clanmate in need of her aid. In a way, she was, now.

Honeydusk, however, was faster. She walked forward, seeming determined not to meet Leafewillow's gaze, stopping as she reached where Poppypaw lay. The apology, it seemed, would have to wait.

Honeydusk crouched down beside a coughing Poppypaw, whose face bore a pained expression. She began massaging Poppypaw's ginger flank, her paws moving slowly, rhythmically. Sharpsight looked as if he wanted to interfere, but he, too, knew that none could help his friend better than a medicine cat as skilled as Honeydusk. Still, he frowned as he gazed at them, squinting slightly at the warm but harsh sunlight that met his darkened orange eyes. Its light fell upon ground and cats alike, and their fur looked as if glowing under the open sky.

"Water," meowed Honeydusk then. "Someone — bring me water. Soak a piece of moss — quickly — then bring it here. Please."

Sharpsight, seizing the opportunity, rose to his paws, swifter and more determined than Raindrop had ever seen a ShadowClan warrior move. He hurried off, back toward where the twoleg bridge lay, separating RiverClan territory from the outside world. Or, Raindrop saw, he headed for the river that ran below it. Raindrop felt rather useless as she watched him go.

Ryespring sat beside Raindrop, distractedly cleaning his claws, intently watching Poppypaw, whose coughing had gotten quieter and softer by the second. Honeydusk's strange massage seemed to be at least somewhat successful.

"She'll be fine," Raindrop mewed to her brother, though why, she did not know. Ryespring merely nodded.

The bird lay untouched before them.

...

"Will she be okay?" Raindrop heard Leafwillow ask Honeydusk, carefully, as if to not upset her further. Water seemed to have cured Poppypaw's cough, at least temporarily. She and Sharpsight had once again moved out of earshot.

"Yes, for now. She'll survive ... can we talk? Properly?"

Silently Raindrop applauded Honeydusk's courage.

Leafwillow's eyes widened slightly. She mewed, "oh ... of course, um, but let me get this first." She walked toward her catch. Rays of sunlight fell onto her brown pelt, and blood was no longer shining in her light chest fur. She gazed around, as if making sure she was not about to be attacked, rogue or predator alike, then tore off a piece of bird meat and moved back to her sister, carrying it from her powerful jaws. She spat out a couple of feathers in the process.

" I thought we'd share this. Like we used to," she meowed, sounding cautious still.

Honeydusk's eyes seemed to darken. She nodded weakly in response.

"I'm sorry," Honeydusk said then, her voice breaking. "I didn't mean what I said. Really. I'm very sorry. I couldn't be here — survive here — without you."

"I'm sorry too," Leafwillow replied, pushing the prey toward Honeydusk. "And I don't want you to starve yourself. Please, eat."

Honeydusk looked down, then up again, meeting her sister's gaze. "Oh ... thank you. I won't, I guess. Sorry."

And together they finished their piece of the bird, a sense of calm settling in the warm air and atmosphere that surrounded them.

...

"I don't want you to starve yourself, either. Come on," meowed Ryespring, nudging Raindrop to her paws. He padded toward the bird and, with a quick glance at Leafwillow, tore off a piece. Raindrop looked over at Poppypaw and Sharpsight. They were walking toward them, now, as if Leafwillow had called out, 'come eat!'. She had not, however, and was now giving her pelt a throughout wash, while Honeydusk watched her, quiet, seeming at ease for once.

Raindrop was amazed by how fast the sisters had forgiven each other. She was amazed they had even managed to talk their argument out at all; she remembered the times when she and Ryespring had fought. There had not been much apologizing, then, but it had not exactly been their fault alone, either. Stupid Sparkclaw just had to come and ruin everything. In a way, Raindrop was kind of glad she no longer lived. What..? I can't think like that. She gave her head a shake. Pull yourself together, she told herself.

"Are you coming?" Ryespring asked suddenly. He gazed at Raindrop, his dark eyes curious. She shook her head again. Then, rather abruptly, she nodded, mumbling, "of course. Yes."

Poppypaw and Sharpsight approached, too. Leafwillow gave a nod of her head, and so they, Raindrop and Ryespring finished the bird together. Raindrop felt comfortably full. She did not know nor care how Leafwillow had managed to catch such a huge bird.

Honeydusk met Raindrop's gaze. Her eyes shone warmly and, bathed in sunlight, Raindrop thought she was the prettiest she-cat she had ever seen.