Rivers and Trees: A Warriors Fanfiction

Chapter 3: Newcomer

Creampaw had been sorting through herbs when Eaglepaw entered the thorny bush that was used as a medicine cat den.

"Hi Creampaw, Snowfern," He greeted them.

"Hello, Eaglepaw, what do you need? I hope you washed your paws in the river after finishing with the mouse-bile," Snowfern sighed.

"I did," Eaglepaw rolled his eyes, "I'm not mouse-brained. Anyways, I came to see if Creampaw wants to go on an herb patrol with me, Foxfoot, and Poppyheart. Adderstar says you don't have enough herbs, and he asked me to ask you if you want to come too. It would help if a medicine cat came," Eaglepaw asked.

"Oh, sure, if Snowfern allows me," Creampaw looked back at her mentor, who gave her a nod.

"Great! Oh, I forgot to tell you, Adderstar is going to call a meeting before we go. I think it's Birchpaw's and Beechpaw's warrior ceremony," Eaglepaw told her. Just then, Creampaw heard Adderstar's yowl coming from Highrock. Eaglepaw looked back at Creampaw and Snowfern and beckoned them with his tail. They walked out into the clearing where the clan was gathering.

After all the cats were in the clearing, Adderstar began the meeting. "I, Adderstar, leader of RiverClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on these apprentices. They have trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend them to you as warriors in their turn. Do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend this Clan, even at the cost of your lives?"

"I do," Birchpaw vowed solemnly.

"I do!" Beechpaw bounced. A mrrow of laughter rippled through the sea of cats.

"Then, by the powers of StarClan I grant you your warrior names. Birchpaw, StarClan honors your courage, strength, and your ability to hunt like no other. From now on your new name is Birchclaw. Your old life is no more. And Beechpaw, StarClan honors your stealth, kindness, and your ability to make others laugh. From now on your new name is Beechheart. Your old life is no more."

"Birchclaw! Beechheart!" The cats chanted.

"Eaglepaw!" Foxfoot demanded, "Get your friend and join the herb patrol!"

"Er, coming!" Eaglepaw replied. "Are you ready to come, Creampaw?" There was a hint of happiness in the way Eaglepaw asked, even though he had just been scolded by the deputy.

"Yes," Creampaw mewed happily. Suddenly, Creampaw felt troubled, but she had no idea why. The patrol made up of four cats padded over to the river, where Creampaw knew they would find a bit of good herbs, including Watermint, burdock root, and reeds.

"Hey, Creampaw! Look over there! Isn't that Watermint?" Eaglepaw led the cats to a leafy plant with purple flowers dotting it.

"No, it's not Watermint, but it is burdock, which is great for rat bites!" Creampaw replied enthusiastically. The group of cats raced over and started biting roots off. Once they had enough, they continued to look by the river for more herbs.

"Watermint, over there!" Creampaw bounded over to a tall, bright green plant with rounded leaves. "This will be great for Ashpaw's bellyache!"

"Well, then let's get some!" Poppyheart energetically started biting leaves off. The other cats started joining in. Once every cat had a mouthful of burdock roots and Watermint leaves, they went back to camp.

"Wow! That's plenty of Watermint! Thank StarClan Ashpaw had a bellyache in Greenleaf, and not Leaf-bare," Snowfern sighed thankfully.

"We also have burdock root," Eaglepaw meowed to Snowfern.

"Thank you, Eaglepaw, Foxfoot, Poppyheart," Snowfern meowed gratefully. The three cats padded out of the medicine den and went out of sight.

"Creampaw," Snowfern sounded very worried and serious.

"W-what?" Creampaw didn't like Snowfern's tone.

"Remember, you are a medicine cat and you have made a vow," Snowfern narrowed her eyes.

"I know!" Creampaw retorted, standing up.

"I was just making sure," Snowfern sighed, "You seem awfully close to Eaglepaw."

"No! We're just friends, and I would never disobey the medicine cat code! Why would you think such a thing?" Creampaw shot out of the den. Is she right...?

"Creampaw! Come back and help sort herbs," Snowfern demanded, but Creampaw could hardly hear. She bounded to the river next to ThunderClan territory. I can't believe Snowfern doesn't trust me! Creampaw thought. She started to realize how empty she felt. Just then, a ThunderClan apprentice crossed the river, obviously not noticing Creampaw. What is that cat doing? This is RiverClan territory! Creampaw padded over to where the apprentice was.

"What are you doing?" Creampaw asked kindly, hoping the cat would have a good explanation. The apprentice jumped on top of her clawing at her back.

"Get off! I'm a medicine cat!" Creampaw yowled. The apprentice reluctantly got off. Now that Creampaw could see more closely, she could see that the apprentice was a brown tabby she-cat with deep, amber eyes.

"Creampaw? I've seen you at the gathering! I'm so sorry, I should have remembered you were a medicine cat..." The tabby apologized.

"Why are you here?" Creampaw questioned her.

"Er, could I talk to Adderstar? I'm Woodpaw," she told Creampaw. Reluctantly, Creampaw lead her to camp.

"Why did you attack me if you want to see the leader?" Creampaw asked.

"I, uh," Woodpaw hesitated. "I thought you were a fox," She turned her head embarrassedly.

"A fox? How do I resemble a fox?" Creampaw's fur stood on end.

"Well, I scented fox, and I didn't pay attention to your fur," Woodpaw's face scrunched in embarrassment.

"Fox?" Creampaw shrieked.

"Don't worry! It was stale," Woodpaw reassured Creampaw. By then the two she-cats were at the leader's den.

"Adderstar? We have a visitor," Creampaw called to Adderstar from outside his den.

"How am I to trust a stranger in my den?" Adderstar questioned Creampaw.

"I came alone, and I'm an apprentice!" Woodpaw retorted.

"Come in," Adderstar sighed. Creampaw waited outside the den. Woodpaw trotted out of the den with her eyes gleaming.

"I might be joining the clan!" Woodpaw squealed softly.

"What? You're joining the clan? Why?" Creampaw was surprised. This was a ThunderClan cat. It would take quite a bit of getting used to for joining RiverClan.

Woodpaw sighed. "I have good reasons..." Her eyes clouded with grief.