Warriors | A Prophecy Reborn: Book 4. (Hidden In Darkness)

~Hidden In Darkness: Chapter 9~

When they got back to ThunderClan, worried mutterings surrounded the clearing.
"What happened?" Russetfire asked Stripedfur, who was a bit further from the crowd than the others. "Why does everyone seem agitated?"
"Because," Stripedfur said, "Fernstar had a fit while you were gone. Speaking of which, where were you? And where's Reedtail?"
"Fernstar didn't tell you where we were going?"
"She knew?" Stripedfur said in surprise.
"Of course she did!" Russetfire snapped. "Why else would I be gone?"
Oh, never mind! Russetfire thought bitterly. It's no use arguing with a feather-brained warrior!
"When did Fernstar start playing up?" Russetfire said, switching the subject.
"Just a short while before you lot reappeared. Nothing bad has happened to her, or nothing serious as far as I can tell, but I wasn't sure what to do so I left it for you."
"You could've at least checked if anything was broken," Russetfire grumbled, walked toward the leader and checking for any obvious wounds. "She hasn't been injured. Probably slightly bruised after falling on the rocks around the prey pile, but nothing serious. Where are Mossgaze and Tigerfur?"
"They were out on a hunting patrol before she starting twitching," Stripedfur explained. "They went out only some time before it happened. They should return soon."
"What about Flameclaw? Does he have Brackenpaw?"
"He does," Stripedfur said with a nod. "He and Brackenpaw accompanied Mossgaze and Tigerfur. He thought it would be a good time to teach him how to hunt properly, without being injured by a cat incapable of caring for his apprentice." Stripedfur shot an angry glance at Spidertail, who was sitting outside the nursery, talking to Willowleaf.
"And while it may not be my concern, where is Frostpaw?"
"She was rummaging around the medicine den in search of something to help with Fernstar," Stripedfur told her. Russetfire froze.
As though she had noticed Russetfire's hint of fear, she added, "She didn't throw anything out or move anything. She just went to look for you and you happened to be off elsewhere."
Thank StarClan the herbs aren't damaged, Russetfire thought with a sigh of relief. "Any clue where she is now?"
"Definitely not with Ashpelt," Stripedfur mumbled, shooting an accusatory glance at her older brother.
Russetfire, as well as the rest of ThunderClan, had recently found out that the reason Frostpaw had been learning so little during her time as an apprentice was because of Ashpelt having an affair with a kittypet.
Everyone, right down to ShadowClan, knew that mixing with the other Clans, or cats outside of them for that matter, was not allowed and was considered breaking the warrior code, the code they had followed for so long now.
It seemed Stripedfur thought of Ashpelt as irresponsible. She's definitely Whitestripe's sister, Russetfire thought. Russetfire didn't agree with some of Ashpelt's views sometimes, but she rarely agreed with the views of the older warriors either, let alone the views of her elders.
"Tigerfur took Frostpaw out. Apparently he knew where you guys went. I suppose he and Fernstar didn't see it appropriate or important enough to tell the rest of us."
"She's hunting then?" Russetfire prodded.
"She is! And where in StarClan's name is Reedtail?"
"She's busy running an errand for me," Russetfire improvised. She had a hunch as to what the black she-cat was up to, but she could care less and it really didn't bother her. It wasn't her job to make sure she followed the rules. All that concerned Russetfire was the health of her Clanmates, not their relationships.
"Could you and Windcaller help me carry Fernstar to my den?" Russetfire asked.
Stripedfur nodded and went to fetch the grey warrior. The three of them moved Fernstar to the medicine den and she dismissed Windcaller and Stripedfur so she could tend to the leader alone.