Turtleheart's Path

Chapter 15

"Brackenpaw, how is your chill?" She teased. The apprentice rolled his eyes. "Berryspots said something about that then?" Turtlepaw nodded and turned to Berryspots who had stopped and shook her head. "I should go…" She picked up a paw. Brackenpaw sighed. "I'm sorry about him… Ill see you soon?" He asked. Turtlepaw nodded. "Tomorrow night? I need to talk to you about something anyways." Brackenpaw nodded and purred before leaving. Berryspots was speaking to Graytooth, soothing her. "Turtlepaw, fetch thyme for all five of them." The Riverclan medicine cat nodded to Graytooth and their four kits who were crowding around. Lightpelt and Sheepfur's flanks were heaving. Turtlepaw nodded and pelted to a spot on the moor where thyme grew, the snow was still falling but it was getting heavier. "I better hurry." She said to herself and carefully picked some thyme leaves.
Timberwisp's body lay in the clearing of camp, cats gathered around it. They were pushed close together to keep warm. Turtlepaw crouched in her den, during the walk home she'd realized that this was her fault. If she had been faster and known what to do, he could have been saved. She looked at the ground, not noticing pawsteps until a slight shadow loomed over her. The sun was setting and the snow was piling on the sandy ground of the hollow. "Why are you sulking?" Sparrowfeather mewed. Turtlepaw shook her head. "I didnt save him. I couldn't save him." She whispered. Sparrowfeather sat down and sighed. "You can't save everyone. I heard you tended to wounds otherwise. Birdnose's wounds look excellently tended to." Turtlepaw glared up at him, "I lost a cat." She hissed. "I lost many before your kitting, i lost your sister and i'm not sulking. I couldn't just sulk, I had my clan to tend to. Turtlepaw you lost one today, it may have been your first but it won't be your last. Get up, I'll teach you how to save a cat." Sparrowfeather meowed and rasped his tongue over her ear.
Turtlepaw smiled slightly at the praise as Sparrowfeather watched her pushing a pile of snow they'd pulled up to practice. She ignored her paws being cold as she pulled away from the snow. "Warm your paws under your body or lick them wrong." Sparrowfeather flattened the snow again. He stretched, "It's almost moonhigh now. No cat brought us prey so go find a rabbit and we'll share." Turtlepaw trotted into the clearing, trying to be as quiet as possible while Whiteclaw, Sheepfur, Lightpelt, Birdnose and Graytooth laid next to each other, looking down at Timberwisp sadly. She pushed the snow from a rabbit and dragged it off the pile and into the medicine den. She saw that Graytooth was standing there. "Sparrowfeather i cant have these kits without him." Turtlepaw stayed silent and watched as Sparrowfeather gave the she cat some thyme and sent her back. "I didn't know she was expecting." Turtlepaw dropped the rabbit and tore it in half. "I found out two days ago, she hasnt told many so dont tell anyone." Sparrowfeather meowed as he ate. Suddenly, a yowl split the camp. Turtlepaw left the rest of her rabbit and darted towards the nursery. Sparrowfeather followed behind. "Turtlepaw, Yellowwhisker started her kitting. Watch carefully." The brown tabby mewed.