Turtleheart's Path

Chapter 2

Turtlekit scrambled to her paws, yowling in fear as a badger backed up towards her. She saw Ivykit being set back behind a rock before Birdpaw leapt after the badger. She hooked claws into the badgers front legs as Waspear clawed its back. "Get them out of here!" Waspear snarled, biting his teeth deep into the badger's shoulder as it fell. Birdpaw grabbed Turtlekit's scruff, swinging her around as she ran. "Ivykit get on my back and hold on tight." She said around Turtlekit's fur. Her sister climbed onto Birdpaw's back and hooked sharp claws into her back. Birdpaw winced slightly and leapt around a badger and back to camp. Stoneclaw's yowl sounded as they got far enough.
Turtlekit trembled in the medicine den as she sat in a corner. Ivykit was bleeding, thorns scratched her pelt and left dirt inside the wounds. She watched as Sparrowfeather worked carefully and gradually, curiosity came through and she crept forwards and to the medicine cat's side. "Can I watch?" She whispered. "Indeed," He mewed, applying the cobwebs to the small wound. "See that poultice?" He asked. Turtlekit nodded. "Yeah." Sparrowfeather set down the stick that held the cobwebs back in the pile. "That is chervil and marigold mixed together. While the wound was light dirt got in it. Chervil will heal it while marigold prevents infection." He explained. "Cool! Then the cobwebs hold it all together?" She guessed. "Yep!" The medicine cat purred. "Now these are poppy seeds, they'll help her sleep. Since Ivykit is little, she gets one and a half. Watch as I cut this one in half." He said, leaning down and slicing the small seed with his sharp claw. Turtlekit gasped, "What about the other half?" Sparrowfeather fed the seeds to Ivykit. "That's for you. It's sunset now and you are still trembling. I'll give you more thyme for your shock and this half-seed to sleep. You can sleep in this nest with your sister." Turtlekit ate the herbs and stretched, curling up with her sister.
She lifted her head the next morning and opened her eyes. "Ivykit?" She mewed yet no response sounded. "Ivykit?" She sprang to her paws, her eyes looking wildly around. Sparrowfeather walked towards her nest. "I moved her, she started mewling last night. Her wound broke open and infection began to settle. It is bad, Turtlekit." Turtlekit flattened her ears. "You can save her, though, right?" She whispered. "It is in Starclan's paws now. Why don't you go see Lionkit and Briarkit?" Sparrowfeather suggested. Turtlekit hesitated. "Okay, Sparrowfeather." She decided and bounded from the den. She passed Hawkgrowl who came to bring prey and visit Ivykit. "Hey there's Turtlekit! Bramblestar wanted to talk to you in the leader's den." Lionkit said, pulling away from Briarkit's grasp. Turtlekit shuddered, she was going to get in trouble for leaving camp yesterday.