Turtleheart's Path

Chapter 14

Turtlepaw padded out of the den at sunhigh a quarter moon after the half moon meeting, "Flurries!" She saw Lionpaw leap up, catching one in his paws. Briarpaw laughed and caught one for herself. "Riverclan stole our prey!" Echolight tore into camp in front of Mumblejaw, Hawkgrowl, Redcall and Waspear. Their fur was prickled and their ears pinned. Echolight's tail lashed as Mumblejaw spit bones into the clearing. "Smell the Riverclan scent on this rabbit!" The deputy yowled. Bramblestar leapt down from her place on the rock where she had watched Lionpaw and Briarpaw play in their first snow. She smelled the bones and bristled her fur. "Graytooth, take Lionpaw and check the river. See if it's frozen. Lionpaw, listen carefully as you'll be on enemy land. You five wait on the border in case they get caught. Be alert." Bramblestar gave orders. "If a battle erupts, Lionpaw needs to come get us. I'll organize another battle patrol that will be ready for his words." She said and the seven cats left camp quickly. "Briarpaw and Birdnose, find the border patrol and hunting patrol I sent out. Lightpelt and Sheepfur stay alert until they return."
Soon the patrols returned and they gathered below Tall rock. "I will lead Timberwisp, Haresprint, Redcall, Whiteclaw and Birdnose along with Briarpaw and Lionpaw when he returns. Lightpelt and Sheepfur will remain here, you'll get your chance soon." She promised as the two sighed. "Sparrowfeather, do you want to go with us?" Bramblestar turned. "I will send Turtlepaw, she is smart and she knows her stuff. One of the best medicine cat apprentices I've seen. She will gain experience." Suddenly, it hit Turtlepaw. Sparrowfeather was the one answering in her dream. She scowled. This was a test wasn't it? She took a deep breath. "What should I take with me?" She approached Sparrowfeather. "This one is on you. I'll only correct, not tell." Turtlepaw bounded to the herb shelf. "Briarpaw, can you help me carry a few herbs on the way up here?" She asked. Briarpaw bounded over. "I can get a pile for Lionpaw, he will help too." Turtlepaw handed Briarpaw some dock leaves and cobwebs. "One of you carries these and the other carries those." She pointed her paw at each pile. "Thanks, Briarpaw. She called as her sister left the den. Turtlepaw turned again and grabbed chervil and horsetail before leaving the den. Suddenly, Lionpaw's yowl sounded. "Attack! Right at the bridge." Turtlepaw saw Briarpaw hand him the cobwebs and the two turned, ready to go with the patrol. "Follow at the back and don't join the battle unless it's to protect an already wounded. Your job is to get warriors on their paws and assess them in a matter of seconds." Sparrowfeather told her. Now go!" The patrol began to file out of camp. She approached her siblings. "I'm going to have my herbs on the path in the middle of it between the bridge and Fourtrees. Thanks for the help you two." She purred. The patrol reached the bridge and began their attack. Lionpaw and Briarpaw set down their herbs and joined the fight. Turtlepaw stood ready.
"Turtlepaw help!" Whiteclaw shrieked. He stood above Birdnose who had fallen. "Help me get her to my spot!" She darted over and began nosing the warrior to her paws. Birdnose staggered over to her herbs. "Help them fight and make sure I'm not attacked!" She shouted to Whiteclaw before turning to Birdnose. There was a large gash on her chest and a bite to her leg. Turtlepaw chewed the dock leaves and put it on the bite to the leg then chewed chervil and horsetail to put it on the chest wound. She applied cobwebs to each wound. "Fight if you want but if the wounds reopen you need to fall back!" She said and watched as Birdnose leapt back into battle.
Then she felt fur crash into her. She saw the brown fur of Branchpaw. Turtlepaw summoned her warrior strength from the moves Sparrowfeather had taught and tossed Branchpaw off. "Lionpaw!" She screeched, seeing the tom nearby. His ears flattened in anger as he turned, with all the power of Lionclan the tom leapt at Branchpaw and hauled her back to the battle. He spat insults as they fought together. She saw Brackenpaw in the corner of her eye, he was cornered by Briarpaw. Turtlepaw felt the anger she felt the quarter moon before and turned to Hawkgrowl staggering to her. "We are winning but Timberwisp is down and he can't get up, hurry!" Turtlepaw grabbed a few of her herbs and darted to the tom. "Create a circle around me and make sure I have room!" She ordered. Hawkgrowl began to haul Riverclan cats out of her way and other warriors began to circle around her. Turtlepaw began to chew herbs and apply them to the various wounds. Before long, the battle was over. "It's not working.." Turtlepaw muttered to herself. She whipped her head around. "Someone fetch Sparrowfeather!" She heard someone yowl. "It's no use." She called as Briarpaw turned towards camp. Her eyes looked around. "Getting there and back will take too long." She looked around wildly and saw Brackenpaw lingering. She called him. "Are you injured badly?" He shook his head. "Can you run?" He nodded. "Fetch Berryspots, tell her I can't get a warrior conscious. Hurry!" Brackenpaw must have seen the worry in her eyes as he darted off faster than she'd ever seen a cat from Riverclan run.
"Like this." Berryspots bounded up and began to push her paws on Timberwisp's chest quickly. Graytooth was sitting nearby trembling. Whiteclaw and Birdnose watched with glassy eyes. The crowd stayed silent and Turtlepaw stood. "All but Graytooth, Whiteclaw and Birdnose go home along with Lionpaw and Briarpaw to help carry supplies." She said, her eyes on Bramblestar as her leader nodded. "Wise call, Turtlepaw." Her leader said. "You heard her, let's go!" Bramblestar yowled. Turtlepaw rushed to her mother. "If Lightpelt and Sheepfur ask to come let them, they'll be no help in camp if they are worried about their kin." She mewed. Bramblestar flicked her ear in agreement. "Ill be sure to tell Sparrowfeather how amazing you did, I couldn't be prouder." Turtlepaw felt her pelt grow hot under the praise, she turned her head and saw Hawkgrowl scoffing and leaving with Haresprint. She sighed as she turned back to Berryspots who was still pushing on the tom's chest. Behind her, Brackenpaw lingered still. Turtlepaw approached the tom slowly.