Turtleheart's Path

Chapter 18

Turtlepaw stood in front of the moonstone, her eyes closed in thought. It had been three moons since the fight at fourtrees with Brackenpaw and her siblings. She'd not spoken to them much, even in the battles there had been with Riverclan. Lionpaw and Briarpaw were doing their assessments in the morning. Mumblejaw had injured his leg in a battle and was upset he couldnt watch Lionpaw. Haresprint had become the tom's mentor when Graytooth finally moved to the nursery two moons earlier.
"Turtlepaw, ready to head back? Sparrowfeather will need your help gathering herbs since it's finally Newleaf." Swiftpaw mewed, looking at her. Turtlepaw got back to her paws and padded down the tunnel behind the patrol of medicine cats. Sparrowfeather had stayed behind, Echolight's illness had gotten worse. It wasnt just greencough, it was something unhealable. Plus, Woolfur was fading each day that passed. It was just better for a medicine cat to remain in camp.
Turtlepaw padded up the moor, looking at the dawnlight that was breaking the air. Brackenpaw had been at the latest battle on the border next to the bridge but this time, he was heavily injured by Briarpaw. Turtlepaw resented her sister for injuring him but she could never show it. She sighed and grabbed some comfrey and coltsfoot before heading into camp. She thought about Berryspots' words, "Brackenpaw and Graypaw are having their assessments soon, they have been hunting together and doing so well! I can't wait for some new kits in Riverclan camp." At that moment, jealousy had flooded over Brackenpaw's words that night. Graypaw must obviously love Brackenpaw. A cat from his own clan and a warrior. It must be easier that way. Turtlepaw laid down after putting the herbs out to dry from the morning dew that had laid on the grass. She fell asleep but at sunhigh a howl of grief split the air. Owlkit and Birchkit scrambled from the nursery, huddling close to their sister, Lilykit who was trying to comfort them over the tears that poured from their eyes. Yellowwhisker entered the den, dragging Woolfur's limp body by the scruff. Turtlepaw watched from the entrance of the den before turning to stifled breaths of Echolight. She got up from her nest and sniffed him. Starclan was calling two of their clan today.
Sparrowfeather helped her drag Echolight's body from the medicine den where Bramblestar sat next to Woolfur, murmuring a few words. "While you weren't always my friend, you were a loyal warrior." Turtlepaw and Sparrowfeather looked at each other before laying the deputies body down in front of Bramblestar who wailed in grief. "Who will replace you.." She wailed. "Needn't decide now, Bramblestar." Sparrowfeather mewed, "You've always known who will be your deputy." The medicine cat turned his head to the gray, long furred tom who limped from the medicine den. Bramblestar nodded. "Of course I have." She leapt onto Tall rock with no need to call the already gathered clan, she continued. "We have lost two brave cats today, Woolfur and Echolight will be missed by many. But as Starclan calls and goes on, we shall too. Windclan, your new deputy shall be Mumblejaw." She announced. The gray tom froze, his eyes wide with shock. "Do you accept?" Bramblestar looked at her closest friend who nodded, still speechless. "Mumblejaw! Mumblejaw!" The clan chanted.
Turtlepaw watched as Stoneclaw and Bramblestar buried the two bodies along with Lionpaw and Briarpaw who had passed their assessments earlier in the day before she'd woken. "I will announce your warrior names when the sun falls, for now, have a feast." Bramblestar told them once the job was done. "Mumblejaw, send out patrols to the Riverclan border immediately, two of them. Their stench fills my nose even from here." The scarred leader gave orders. Mumblejaw flattened his ears. "Yes, Bramblestar." He began to gather cats together and sent them off, watching them go and looking at his leg. Turtlepaw padded forwards. "I can check it, I see you are eager to go patrol and fight." She offered. "Thank you, Turtlepaw." The medicine apprentice smelled the claw wound, there was no sour scent present. A scab was beginning to form. "Come, I shall put some herbs on it to ensure a strong scab and scar." She mewed, flicking her tail to him to follow.
Turtlepaw sat in front of Tall rock, paying close attention as Bramblestar said the familiar words of the warrior ceremony. "I, Bramblestar, leader of Windclan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on these apprentices as they earn their warrior names. Lionpaw and Brairpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code as long as you live?" She asked. The two nodded and looked at each other with smiles, purring loudly. "Lionpaw, you shall be known as Lionoak. Briarpaw, you shall be known as Briarfang." Bramblestar yowled. "Lionoak! Briarfang!" The clan cheered. "These two shall hold their warrior vigil tonight as we all sleep." Bramblestar leapt down, licking her kit's ears. Turtlepaw went to the medicine den, ignoring her siblings and not giving any praises. She grabbed the comfrey and coltsfoot which were dry now and put them away quietly. "You didn't congratulate your siblings. Why is that? You three haven't been close for moons now." Sparrowfeather sat down next to her. Turtlepaw shrugged and looked at the sandy floor below her paws. "They are warriors, I have a connection to Starclan and they don't." She said, looking at him. "I see. Would you like to tell me any other reasons why?" He asked. Turtlepaw's heart dropped, what did Sparrowfeather know? "No other reasons." She lied, not looking up from her paws. "Fine. Turtlepaw, whatever you are hiding, I'll find out." Sparrowfeather glared at her for a minute more before going to give Lionoak and Briarfang congratulations. Turtlepaw unburied all the herbs, reorganizing on the rock shelves. The light faded from the den, clouds covering the sky. Turtlepaw finished organizing herbs at about moonhigh, Sparrowfeather was asleep in his nest. Turtlepaw peeked her head from the den, seeing Lionoak at one entrance of camp and Briarfang at the other. How would she get out of camp? She sat back on her haunches and began to think. A howl interrupted her thoughts. "Ow!" Turtlepaw leapt to her paws, Graytooth must have started her kitting. She turned her head, Sparrowfeather hadn't heard the queen, he was still sleeping. She grabbed raspberry leaves and borage before darting to the nursery. Birdnose, Whiteclaw, Sheepfur, and Lightpelt were behind her. Her low storage of herbs disappointed her. "Birdnose and Sheepfur, fetch Raspberry leaves and borage!" She ordered. "Whiteclaw, fetch a stick, a sturdy one she can bite on. Lightpelt, if Sparrowfeather wakes tell him what is happening, otherwise, dont wake him." The four warriors nodded and went to do what they were told. Turtlepaw felt Graytooth's belly, focusing on the task and not the clan stirring.
Turtlepaw looked at the four kits snuggled up to the queen's belly, her four eldest kits waited outside to meet their siblings. Sparrowfeather had woken but had only watched Turtlepaw approvingly. She backed from the nursery, letting Birdnose into the den first. "One at a time, you four." She purred in amusement and turned to Sparrowfeather. "Good morning, sleepyhead." She teased. Sparrowfeather chuckled. "You did well, I'm proud. I think its time for you to get your full name." He said, "We'll go tonight." Turtlepaw stood there, shocked. "R… really?" She gasped. Sparrowfeather nodded. "Of course. You earned it." Turtlepaw rubbed her muzzle on her mentor's shoulder. She'd meet Brackenpaw tonight and tell him! "Can I go out real quick?" She asked. "To do what?" Sparrowfeather's eyes narrowed. "Just on a walk. I guess the scare of kitting just now hit me, I'm trembling." She meowed. It was true, her paws were trembling now worse than during the process. "Fine, don't take long." Sparrowfeather sighed. Now the sun was rising, she padded from camp and towards Fourtrees, she hoped Brackenpaw would be waiting for her.
Trotting into the hollow, it was sunhigh already. She looked around, seeing a shadow coming from the bridge. "Brackenpaw!" She gasped, purring in excitement. "Guess what?" She smiled. "You'll need to call me Brackentail now." He purred, licking her ears gently. "Brackentail! That's wonderful! I'll be getting my full medicine cat name tonight too!" Brackentail gasped. "Already? You learn so fast! I'm proud of you, Turtlepaw." Turtlepaw stretched. "I wonder what Sparrowfeather will call me? Turtleclaw? Turtlenose? Turtlefur?" She wondered. "I bet he calls you Turtleheart." Sparrowfeather stood again. "I must go hunt, I was on patrol. Sunstar is worried that leaffall will be rougher than leafbare was last time it came around." Turtlepaw nodded. "Good hunting, i'll see you at the gathering?" Brackentail nodded and bounded off. Turtlepaw went to turn before hearing another voice. "Turtlepaw, i havent seen you in a while!" She turned to see Bugpaw trotting into fourtrees with Splashfur behind him. "Oh, hey Bugpaw." She mewed. "Bugface now, his first patrol as a warrior!" Splashfur purred. "Now who was that that you were talking to?" He looked towards the bridge. "I saw a Riverclan warrior hunting on Fourtrees hunting." She lied. Splashfur narrowed his eyes. "Traitors." Bugface growled. "We should report back to Mothstar, deputy of Thunderclan." The new warrior turned, teasing his former mentor. "Your deputy now, Splashfur?" Turtlepaw smiled. "Yes, isnt it great? So young to be a deputy! Mothstar said I was the most fit warrior in camp for the job." The thunderclan cat boasted. "Congratulations." Turtlepaw said, parting ways with the thunderclan patrol.
"Bramblestar! Guess what!" Turtlepaw bounded into the clearing after explaining to Sparrowfeather why she'd been gone so long. "What is it, Turtlepaw?" The Windclan leader turned. "I saw Splashfur and Bugface while on a walk, Splashfur is the Thunderclan deputy now!" She purred. "That's amazing, he'll be a fine leader. Mothstar is sure to have very few lives left though she'll make them last. She is the eldest leader in the forest." Her mother meowed. "Here, Haresprint caught this rabbit for you. He said his former apprentice will need to eat before getting her full name." She pushed the rabbit towards her. "Tell him thanks, or, ill tell him myself. Let me take it to the den." Turtlepaw grabbed the rabbit, dragging it into the medicine den.
Turtlepaw and Sparrowfeather bounded across the moor, the sun was setting and they'd left later than they should have due to Owlkit getting a thorn in his paw. Lilykit and Birchkit insisted on being in the den while their brother was being healed. They sprinted across the dark surface of the Thunderpath and didn't stop until they made it to Mothermouth.