The Rise of a Tyrant

Chapter 10 // Pooldune

Pooldune bent over and dug his claws into the earth. In front of him lay the bodies of Flamingopelt and Peachnettle - mother and daughter, as well as Fishtongue, taken by this horrible poison. The world seemed to blur around the tom as he sat before the cats he had failed.

"Don't look so guilty, there was nothing you could do." Pigeonwing approached from the side, sounding sombre.

"Wasn't there?" Pooldune muttered darkly.

Pigeonwing shook his head with complete certainty. "The moment they took a bite of the sea-kill, there was no preventing this."

Pooldune lashed his tail, thinking about what Turtleclaw had told him - the skypool being red, just like the vision Pooldune had had all those days ago.

But why warn us only when its too late?  Pooldune wondered. Why do we have to wait before the crimson moon? What is the crimson moon, and what is blooming in the water?

Pooldune turned, his grey cheek fluff blowing in his eyes as he walked. He turned to fetch rosemary from the medicine den, walking back toward the three bodies. The moonlight barely lit the clearing for Pooldune to see. His eyes drooped with drowsiness, but he kept walking, placing down the leaves. He couldn't use lavender to prevent the smell of death - not when they needed it for the seizures.

Foamwave, Tornadowind, Turtleclaw and Silvertuft all remained vigil around the bodies, not making a sound as they grieved for their loved ones. Other cats had either grown too tired to go on, or didn't want to disturb the others. Pigeonwing seemed to be there to assist Pooldune, but all the other Tideclan cats were either lying awake, sick, or asleep in their dens. Crashcloud had come up with the poison, told Pooldune not to waste his time, and willingly lost a life.

He only has three left, now. Pooldune realised, trying to stay awake in case the clan still needed him.

"Go to your nest," Pigeonwing nudged him. Pooldune bristled.

"No!" He whispered at the white tom. "The clan needs me awake!"

Pigeonwing frowned. "You've done enough. You can rest."
Pooldune hesitated, looking at the heartbroken cats sitting around their loved ones. But have I done enough? If I had, they might still be alive.

Pigeonwing saw the guilty expression once again plastered on Pooldune's face, and dragged him away from the other cats.
"There's only so much you're capable of, Pooldune!" He exclaimed quietly, his green eyes blazing. "They're herbs, it's not like you can perform miracles!"
"But two cats just lost their mates. We lost a queen!" Pooldune shivered, his mind flicking to Swirlkit who was asleep in the nursery, blissfully unaware of her mothers passing. He felt his throat tighten, paws growing sweaty. "It's only a matter of time before the clan wakes up."

"Well, Raventalon will wake up and take your place soon. You need to make sure you can get a good rest as soon as possible. Don't any cats have common sense here?" Pigeonwing complained, nudging Pooldune forward.
Pooldune rolled his eyes. "Why do you even care so much?" He mewed. "Are you a medicine cat?"
Pigeonwing blinked at him. "A cat doesn't need healing abilities to to care about others."

Pooldune stood up and sighed. "You're right, Pigeonwing. Sorry."

The white tom blinked tiredly in response. "I'm going back to my den, too." He mewed, gritting his teeth like he was holding back a yawn. Pooldune nodded, smoothing down his ruffled, herb-tasting fur with his tongue.

"May Cloudclan light their paths."

***

Pooldune blinked open his eyes, squinting as the light of sunhigh touched them. The grey tom frowned and shook his head, rising up out of the beams of light. Then he paused, stomach tightening as he remembered the tragedy that had struck. He'd slept in past sunhigh!

Panic flared in Pooldune's chest, and he frantically glanced around the den as his eyes adjusted. What he immediately noticed was how quiet camp was. It shouldn't be this peaceful, what if something's wrong?

Pooldune then adjusted to the light, and he saw with a shock that Beachpaw wasn't in his nest. He gasped, racing out of the den into the light of camp. Scanning the area, he noticed Beachpaw was sitting in the sun on one of the catrocks. He sighed, relief flowing through him.

"Beachpaw, are you feeling better?" Pooldune padded up to the tom, feeling a salty breeze ruffle his fur in the gentle sunlight. Beachpaw's ear flicked and he slowly turned his head towards the medicine cat, his blue eyes glistening and dazed.

"Maybe." He mewed quietly. Pooldune felt a stab of guilt that he couldn't help when he saw the two poppies laying on the rocks beside the apprentice. He's mourning over his mother, Famingopelt.

But Pooldune felt his healing experience rush back, and his anxiety lit a fuse again. "Beachpaw, you can't be walking around. I understand you're going through a lot right now, but..."

"It was only a walk. I'm fine." Beachpaw croaked. Pooldune paused, slowly blinking with sympathy as he calmed down.

"Okay, but please, take it easy." He whispered, feeling his voice crack. "You have your whole life ahead of you..."

***

"May all cats old enough to cross the dunes gather below the fallen tree for a clan meeting."

Pooldune set down his herbs and exited the medicine den, crossing the boulder at the entrance and walking into the clearing of gathering cats. Beachpaw walked out from the apprentice den, it was his first day sleeping in there again. It had been a few more sunrises since he talked to Beachpaw on the catrocks, and that night would be the full moon. Crashcloud sat patiently on the Fallen tree, looking around at the cats in the crowd. Turtleclaw sat next to the log facing the clan, the deputy's gaze was clouded as he stared into space.

Pooldune made his way past Orangetail, the dark tabby queen looking poorly-groomed as she kept her focus on Swirlkit and Coconutkit. She finished on her son and turned to groom Swirlkit.

"I'm so excited!" Coconutkit mewed, his fur puffing as he undid his mother's work.
Orangetail lifted her head from licking the cream she-kit. "Stand still, or I'll have to do it again!" She hissed.

There was little amusement in the queens' mew, and Pooldune felt a stab of sympathy. Since Peachnettle died, she'd been alone in the nursery, but it must be nicer now that she's about to get out.

The medicine cat moved past Orangetail and made his way to sit in between Raventalon and Graybeach, hearing a squeak of protest from the black she-cat as he broke the two apart. Other warriors and apprentices gathered around them, Stormpaw standing out as he sat taller than the rest.

"Is every cat here?" The leader's voice raised over the crowd as the mews of other cats slowly died down. "Good." Crashcloud flicked his fluffy white tail to silence the clan.

"Cats of Tideclan, it's been a tough moon, but with all these hardships we will push through and find new strength." The leader looked down at the crowd with his assertive yellow eyes. "Swirlkit, could you please come up to the fallentree." He called, and Pooldune heard a whimper from behind him.

"Come on, you have to go." Orangetail hissed, nudging the small cream tabby forward. Swirkit's ears flattened with embarrassment and she hastily trotted up to Crashcloud.
"Swirlkit, from now on, you will be known as Swirlpaw." The leader mewed as the cream tabby arrived. "I hope for you to become a fine warrior one day, just like your mother." Pooldune flinched at those words. Did he really have to mention Peachnettle so soon?
"Foamwave," Crashcloud turned to his mate, starling the white she-cat. "You will be Swirlpaw's mentor. I know you'll be the perfect guide for this new apprentice, so may you shape her path towards success."

As the mentor and apprentice exchanged greetings, Pooldune thought he heard Swirlpaw purr. He grinned, knowing the apprentice would be happier now.

Then Coconutkit was called up, and apprenticed to Tornadowind.
Pooldune had made his way back into the medicine den happily after the ceremony when he heard a nervous voice behind him.

"Pooldune?" It was Raventalon.

The speckled grey tom turned around. "Yes?" He was alarmed to make contact with such fearful eyes.

"I have to tell you something." Raventalon shuffled, lowering her voice. "Something important."