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

~Hidden In Darkness: Chapter 11~

As Firpaw had predicted, the early morning was busy. The clearing was filled with frustrated or agitated warriors while Echokit and Amberkit played outside the nursery under the watchful blue gaze of their mother.
"It should happen soon," Frostpaw murmured as she passed Russetfire. She watched Ashpelt's apprentice trot over to her brothers near the fresh-kill pile, confused by the young apprentice's statement.
"We need to get the patrols sorted out properly or there'll be no prey on the fresh-kill pile throughout the newleaf," Whitestripe complained from her spot outside the warriors' den. She and Iris-Eye were sitting, more than likely gossiping. It irritated Russetfire sometimes how often they'd talk about other cats. While she knew they weren't often criticizing their Clanmates, it did get a bit tedious from time to time because she'd have to listen to their complaints if someone heard the two talking.
She's right though, Russetfire thought. She felt unusually happy this morning. Even though Fernstar was still asleep and probably sick, her mood had brightened after seeing her brother.
"Hi, Russetfire," said Darkclaw, one of Ashpelt's younger siblings. "I think Beeflower needed you in the elders' den."
"I'll go over there now," Russetfire said. "Where is Tigerfur?" she asked, standing and moving away to grab some moss.
"He's disappeared," Darkclaw said slowly.
Russetfire froze. Fernstar was unwell. If Tigerfur was dead and Fernstar didn't appoint a new deputy by dusk...
She shook her head. They'd gone a day or two without a deputy after Stonestar died. Surely if Tigerfur was dead it wouldn't make any difference?
No, don't think like that, she reminded herself. You're a medicine cat! Which means... if Tigerfur is absent and Fernstar is ill, that leaves the patrols to... hopefully the next senior warrior.
"Did Tigerfur say where he would be?" Russetfire asked, holding a clump of moss between her jaws.
"Not that I can remember, no," Darkclaw said. Russetfire heard him shuffling by the entrance of the medicine den.
Uncomfortable with the growing silence, she said, "Tell everyone to meet me underneath the Highledge when I'm done with Beeflower."
"Okay," Darkclaw said, rushing quickly off to the different dens.
Russetfire gave a brief smile and padded off to the elders' den.
"Good morning, Beeflower," Russetfire said, dropping the moss. "Darkclaw said you wanted me?"
"Hello, Russetfire," the old brown tabby greeted her. "I wanted to ask you a question."
"Oh?"
"I notice Frostpaw has been lingering," Beeflower began. "Have you thought about perhaps having an apprentice?"
"She's Ashpelt's apprentice," Russetfire pointed out. "Besides, I still have some things to learn that Crookedfire hadn't taught me."
Beeflower winced at the mention of Crookedfire, but quickly brushed it off and continued. "Things like that have changed before... long ago, in the past, when we lived in a forest."
"Things like what?"
"A warrior apprentice becoming a medicine cat," Beeflower said simply. "How do you think Shadedclaw became a medicine cat? He was injured as an apprentice, and he only ever wanted to fight for his Clan.
"Instead of being moved to the elders' den as an apprentice, at such a young age, the medicine cat of that time decided to teach him about herbs, sicknesses and poultices. Shadedclaw grew to be a fine medicine cat and passed his knowledge onto Russetwhisker, and she passed her knowledge onto Crookedfire.
"Despite his intentions, he was a good medicine cat when it counted. He passed as much knowledge as he could onto you so the ones he truly cared about wouldn't die so young or feel so much pain."
I didn't come here for a lesson, I only thought you were ill, Russetfire thought disapprovingly. Although she thought it best not to share her thoughts aloud, Beeflower's history with medicine cats could get quite tedious.
As though she had noticed her impatience, Beeflower sighed and sat up. "The point I'm trying to make to you is to keep your eyes open and your mind sharp. Acknowledge what cats tell you, but do not follow their orders if your gut tells you something is wrong. What does your gut say about Frostpaw?"
My gut in general says it's hungry. After hesitating more than once, Russetfire took Beeflower's words into account. Maybe she was ready for an apprentice. But if what Beeflower had stated was true, and that most medicine cats only got their apprentices due to friends of friends or injuries, then she wouldn't wish anything bad to happen to the young apprentice. No matter how badly she would ever want company in the medicine den, she would never stoop so low as to wishing the worst on an innocent cat.
"I'll consider it," Russetfire said to the elder. "Do you need anything before I go?"
"Perhaps a vole, but health wise, I think I'm fine," Beeflower said with a smile.
Russetfire padded back to her den with the moss after leaving a vole in the elders' den for Beeflower. The young medicine cat spotted Rockhopper observing the camp, almost as though he was keeping an eye out for something.
"Russetfire," Darkclaw said happily. "What did Beeflower want?"
"She was just... telling me some things," Russetfire replied between sorting out the herbs on her shelf. "Did you tell everyone to meet me outside?"
"I did," Darkclaw responded. "Spidertail is suspicious as to why you want to call a meeting though."
"So? Who cares what that mangy old fleabag thinks? If Tigerfur isn't here and Fernstar is sick, somebody needs to sort things out and set things right in the camp."
Darkclaw nodded in agreement. "I'll be waiting outside with everyone else when you're ready."
Russetfire nodded as he left the den, anxiety beginning to well up inside her chest. Should I do this? she thought uncertainly.
It's only sorting out the patrols for the morning, she reminded herself silently. What's the worst that could happen?
The worst... The worst that could happen is the camp is attacked while all the warriors are away, whispered a dark side of her brain.
Enough worrying! I'll just go out and do it.
Was this the stress and doubt that the warriors had to deal with? She was glad she was a medicine cat. Medicine cats didn't have to sort out what patrols went where or hold ceremonies for new members of the Clan. A medicine cat's only job was to sort herbs and heal her Clanmates.
Russetfire left her herbs on the shelf and clambered up onto the Highledge. The cats of ThunderClan began to gather below, most of them wearing uncertain or doubtful looks.
"Where's Fernstar?" she heard Brackenpaw whisper to Flameclaw. The ginger tom merely shrugged, his gaze returning to the Highledge.
Darkclaw looked up hopefully as she sat on the Highledge under the watchful eyes of her Clanmates.
They're like hawks, she thought anxiously. Gathering some confidence, she cleared her throat and began.
"Cats of ThunderClan," Russetfire started, "Fernstar is unwell and Tigerfur is not here. As ThunderClan's medicine cat, I feel it necessary to sort out the border patrols and hunting patrols while both are absent."
"Who gave you the permission to do this?" Spidertail shouted from beside Willowleaf.
"Is she allowed to call Clan meetings?" Coldpaw murmured to his littermates.
Ignoring these statements and remarks, she continued. "Mossgaze, Windcaller, Flameclaw and Brackenpaw will go out on a border patrol to make sure our border markers are still fresh and to make sure ShadowClan isn't up to anything on our territory.
"Reedtail, you will lead a hunting patrol with Coldpaw, Whiteshine, Darkclaw and Spidertail." He can make himself useful rather than pester me about sorting the patrols! she thought angrily.
Spidertail looked offended when he heard Reedtail would be leading the hunting party.
"Ashpelt, I'd like you and Frostpaw to help Rockhopper, Fuzzyear and Voleroach reinforce the nursery and warriors' den. Afterwards, you can fetch Reedtail and Coldpaw and allow your apprentices to spar if they wish."
"What about the rest of us?" Whitestripe interjected.
"Whitestripe, you and Stripedfur can guard the camp until the patrols return," Russetfire ordered. "Two more patrols will be sent out at sunhigh to catch, or unbury, any more prey that was forgotten or left behind and to keep an eye on the borders. Spiraltail, I want you and Darkclaw to accompany me later tonight."
"What for?" Spiraltail asked, sounding genuinely confused.
"I have an errand to run and a place to be," Russetfire answered simply. "Swiftflight, the only job you have is to watch after your kits."
Swiftflight looked both relieved and angry.
Russetfire dismissed the meeting with a flick of her tail. As the crowd dispersed, Russetfire padded back to the medicine den to check on Fernstar, but was stopped halfway there by Spiraltail.
"You're probably busy at the moment," Spiraltail observed, noting her impatient scowl, "but what will we do if Tigerfur does not return by dusk?"
"That's another reason I want you and Darkclaw to come with me later," Russetfire said. She had actually wanted to go out and collect more herbs, and maybe visit the Spirit Tree on her way there, but she thought it would also be a decent opportunity to find any missing Clanmates.
Spiraltail nodded, hesitating before she left. "You know, I always thought you'd make a decent deputy."
"Is that so?" Russetfire said, her paws itching to get back to work. Why do warriors always want to talk so much? she thought impatiently.
"I never expected Crookedfire to take you in as a medicine cat apprentice. Personally, I thought Darkclaw would've enjoyed you being a warrior," the grey-blue she-cat said with a grin, a mischievous glint in her yellow eyes. "I've heard you're quite fond of each other."
Russetfire's ears burned with embarrassment. "I don't know what you're talking about!"
"I remember you two playing as kits," Spiraltail pointed out smugly. "It's fine. It may be against the warrior code though..."
Nothing new there, Russetfire thought. Cats in ThunderClan barely follow the warrior code now anyways. Ashpelt is in love with a kittypet and Tigerfur's probably in love with a WindClan or ShadowClan she-cat, not to mention Reedtail and her possible affair with a cat who isn't even Clanborn.
"I need to get back to my den," Russetfire said with a flick of her tail.
"Let me know if you need any herbs!" Spiraltail called.
Russetfire sat in her den, sorting her herbs. The day had just begun, but she could tell it was going to be a long one.