𝑺𝒊𝒏𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝑭𝒆𝒆𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔: 𝑨 𝒘𝒂𝒓𝒓𝒊𝒐𝒓 𝒄𝒂𝒕 𝑭𝒂𝒏𝒇𝒊𝒄

CHAPTER 16

"Well?" Maplepaw asked, brushing off the leader's facial expression as though it were a mere gnat.

"Y-y-y-you passed. W-w-well done, Maplepaw," the leader whispered, trying to keep her emotions under control, but looked utterly shaken by the skull Maplepaw had brought forth. Despite Shadepaw and Cloudpaw both completing their assessments before her, Cinderstar only stared at the skull, the other two pieces of bone completely forgotten.

"Well done for completing both assessments successfully," Waspsting spoke for the leader. "You may rest until sundown in which we will gift you your warrior names."

Maplepaw limped towards the medicine cats' den, the pain completely unbearable now that the adrenaline from the assessment had worn off.

"Ghostwhisper," Maplepaw called, a strangled voice coming from her throat.

"I'm coming," Ghostwhisper responded.

As he felt her arm, she gave a sudden screech when he pressed on her shoulder.

"A fracture, I think," he responded. "We get them pretty often after apprentices come back from their assessments. I'm going to warn you though, the treatment process will be anything but smooth."

"Just do it," Maplepaw commanded.

Ghostwhisper sighed and said, "Ok. But I'll need to find some cat to hold you down, just in case."

As he left, Maplepaw saw Ashpool's soft blue eyes connect with hers and he approached her, dropping the bundle he was carrying in his mouth, revealing a pawful of bright red berries.

"Eat them," Ashpool meowed. "They'll take the pain away."

Maplepaw just reached out to take a berry in her mouth when Ashpool spinned around, back facing her. She took a closer look at the berries, a brown seed coated in the fleshy red berry.

She flinched as she saw the seed, gasping at the berries before her, scrambling away from them, as best as she could with her malfunctioning leg.

~~~~

Maplekit giggled as she glanced at Silentkit, who had tumbled into a muddy puddle, then rolled into the medicine cats' den, getting all sorts of herbs stuck on her fur.

"Hehe!" Maplekit laughed. "I win!"

"Hey!" Silentkit protested, shaking some of the herbs off her fur. "That's not fair! You pushed me!"

"I still won!" Maplepaw exclaimed triumphantly.

"Whatever," Silentkit meowed, indignantly, rolling her eyes, but Maplekit could still see the happiness that shone brightly in those pale blue eyes of hers. "Let's check out the medicine cats' den!"

"Sure," Maplekit responded, following her sister.

"I know so many herbs already!" Silentkit exclaimed after a while and began pointing at several herbs, berries and seeds while saying, "Borage, comfrey, poppy seeds, juniper berries, feverfew, catmint, watermint..."

A bright red flash took Maplekit's attention as she turned around and looked at a couple of bright red berries, with a small brown seed inside. As she reached for one, ready to put it in her mouth, Silentkit smacked her on the face.

Maplekit, shocked, dropped the berry and glared at Silentkit. Her sister never raised her voice or temper at anyone. She snapped at her, annoyed that Silentkit had chosen her of all cats to inflict her temper on, "What was that for?"

"Thank me later, but those are deathberries. If you eat one, you'll be dead before the sun's down," Silentkit meowed back harshly, anger burning in her pale blue eyes.