Turtleheart's Path

Chapter 8

It had been a moon since the battle with Riverclan. Lionpaw was no better than before, Sparrowfeather was unsure if he would even make it. Turtlepaw felt a weight in her chest everyday as she went out to train. She didn't feel like training, she felt herself longing to be in the medicine den and helping dress her brother's wound. She sighed and sat in front of Haresprint who looked concerned. "Turtlepaw, why do you not have your passion, your spirit anymore? You used to be so excited to train up until the battle." He mewed. "I just dont have fun training like this." She admitted. "I have seen you in the medicine den a lot. Does this have something to do with your brother?" Turtlepaw shrugged. "Somewhat. Haresprint, I enjoy helping Sparrowfeather dress wounds and mix herbs." She sighed. "You want to be a medicine cat? That's wonderful, Turtlepaw!" Haresprint purred. Turtlepaw shrugged again. "But isnt there supposed to be a sign from Starclan?" Haresprint meowed, "Sure but there's no harm in trying. Come on, we'll talk to Bramblestar." Turtlepaw hesitated. "What if she isn't proud? I mean, she is a clan leader. Won't she be mad?" Haresprint shook his head, flicking his tail over her ear. "She will be the most proud of you. You'll be a medicine cat!" The pair began to head back to camp, Turtlepaw let out a sigh of relief. She thought Haresprint would be angry with her decision.
Bramblestar was leaving the medicine den as they entered camp, Haresprint called to her. Her mother paused and looked at her. "What happened? Did Turtlepaw do something wrong?" Haresprint shook his head. "Get Sparrowfeather and meet us at Outlook rock, we all need to talk." He said and padded off again. Bramblestar slipped back into the den. Turtlepaw followed her mentor.
As they approached the rock a smell wafted upon her. "Badger!" Turtlepaw gasped. Haresprint hissed. "Fall back and tell Bramblestar then get Sparrowfeather into a safe place." Turtlepaw hesitated, he was going to attack the badger on his own! She darted back, practically running into her mother as she halted. "Badger at outlook rock, Haresprint-" Bramblestar rushed forwards. Turtlepaw turned to help but was called back by Sparrowfeather. "Stay out of the worst of it." The medicine cat followed her leader with extended claws. She'd heard stories that Sparrowfeather had saved her mother when they were younger, she didn't know if the medicine cat still used warrior moves. Turtlepaw followed at the heels of the medicine cat and halted as he leapt into battle with no hesitation. Turtlepaw saw as the badger was about to come crashing down on Bramblestar. She launched herself at the creature and grabbed its eyes with her claws. She stood on its shoulders with her hind legs and hauled it backwards. Bramblestar leapt from underneath it and grabbed onto its throat. Haresprint laid nearby, his claws sinking into the dirt in agony.
Turtlepaw grabbed yarrow and darted back to the rock, she chewed it as she'd learned from Sparrowfeather. "Bramblestar, get cobwebs from the badger set or the bridge!" She ordered, not seeing the shock on her mothers face. Sparrowfeather had gone to fetch marigold and poppy seeds. She applied the poultice and the cobwebs her mother had returned with as Sparrowfeather came back. "Looks good, Turtlepaw, we'll wait here for a bit before taking that off and applying marigold." The medicine cat mewed. "Can we pull him to the base of Outlook rock?" Turtlepaw suggested. "In case of anything? Once we do that I can go back to camp and check on Lionpaw and tell Echolight where we are." Sparrowfeather nodded and they began to carefully pull Haresprint to the base of outlook rock through the grass. Turtlepaw dipped her head to her mother and Sparrowfeather, guessing on what they'd talk about before pelting back to camp.
She halted in the medicine den, looking at Hawkgrowl as he sat near his son. "I need to check him." She mewed. "Go back to training, Turtlepaw. You arent a medicine cat." He growled. She pinned her ears. "I have orders from Sparrowfeather, your medicine cat, to check on him. Let me do so." Hawkgrowl shook his head. "Turtlepaw, you are a warrior. You will be a warrior." Her heart dropped, would she disappoint her father by becoming a medicine cat? "Bramblestar and Sparrowfeather are at outlook rock tending to Haresprint's wound. A badger attacked. If you want your son to die then let me check on him." She said, puffing her chest and glaring at the tom. Hawkgrowl snarled and moved out of the way. Cautiously, she moved around the tom and smelled the wound. It was still infected. Turtlepaw removed the lingering poultice then grabbed a mix of poultice and applied it to the wound. She put the cobwebs over it and wrapped it around his leg to hold it still. Lionpaw cried out and she saw her father flinch. Her eyes widened as she felt a blow on her head. Turtlepaw fell to the ground with a yelp.