Warriors: Escaping Fate

Chapter 13 - Meeting Darkstep

The half-moon cast a dark shadow over the medicine cat den as Redmoon fell into a restless sleep. Tossing and turning, the events of the battle she saw in the prophecy shifted and swayed in her dream. She felt as if she were holding onto a branch that she couldn't let go and she was being swept away by the current. Nothing made any sense at all. Greenleaf, her father's injury was healed, her leader's jaws and pelt were covered in blood, and the entire battle took place at ShadowClan. Did Willowbranch know something she didn't? And what did it all mean? It wasn't long before a paw shook her awake.

"It's time to get up Redmoon."

With a groan, Redmoon shrugged off the paw that had been prodding her side and groggily rolled onto her paws. After rubbing the sleep from her eyes, Flamestar's blurry muzzle came into focus. After half a day of making her rounds treating injuries with little to no sleep, she felt like she could sleep through a forest fire.

Suddenly, she became aware of a warm scent flooding the den and noticed that Icebreath was digging into a squirrel. When they met each other's gaze, she threw a morsel towards her, which she ate famished.

"It's almost time to go," Flamestar mewed. "Did you eat the traveling herbs?"

"Traveling herbs?" Redmoon swallowed the prey. "I don't think Willowbranch taught me that." She flattened her ears. She wanted to forget all about her mentor, but the gray tabby just wouldn't leave her mind.

"Ah, I know what they look like," Flamestar said as he padded over to the herb storage.

Redmoon quickly rose to her paws and leaped in front of him, stopping him in his tracks. "Oh no, don't worry about those," she mewed quickly, "we need to save them for emergencies. The other medicine cats can show me what they look like." The last thing she wanted to happen was for her leader to find out about their low stash of herbs or pull out something that could potentially poison her.

Icebreath cocked her head to the side. "I thought you said didn't have any-" Redmoon jammed her tail into her mouth, silencing her instantly.

Flamestar looked up thoughtfully. "Well, I guess if you don't need them..." his voice trailed off. "Are you ready to go then?"

Redmoon gave Icebreath a nasty stare, daring her to say something else, and then moved her tail away. "I'm ready."

The sun was at its highest point, warming the ground below with its soft rays, defrosting the snow-covered leaves, and making the snow feel like slush underpaw. As soon as she stepped out of camp, Redmoon sniffed the crisp noon air. Carried on its breeze was the scent of oak and prey and the faint scents of the hunting patrol, which consisted of Leopardstrike, Cloverpaw, and Flintfoot who had returned to camp not too long ago. The scent of a blackbird made her mouth water; their hunt was a success.

The further they moved along into unfamiliar territory, the more nervous Redmoon became and soon she became hyper-aware of her surroundings. Every sound made her jump, every new scent sent shivers down her spine, and every time she glanced towards Flamestar, she saw his blood-covered pelt and his dark, beady eyes staring her down amidst a huge, mischievous grin. Redmoon shook the vision from her mind and flattened her ears. She realized she had no idea who he really was, and he was acting extremely suspicious. Why did he cover up her mentor's death and blame it all on her father? Was that prophecy she saw supposed to be a warning from StarClan? What did they want her to do?

Maybe...she should just...

Redmoon unsheathed her claws, taking deep breaths as the thought of what she needed to do caused prickles of anxiety to roll down her spine. Her heart pounding, Redmoon attempted to steady herself.