Turtleheart's Path

Chapter 19

"Turtlepaw, do you promise to always follow the ways of a medicine cat and to never take a mate or have kits? Do you promise to reject the rules and rivalries of the clans and to carry out your duty as a medicine cat as if the rivalries never existed?" Sparrowfeather mewed. "I do." Turtlepaw mewed. "Then as Starclan watches I hail you by your full medicine cat name: Turtleheart!" She touched her nose to the stone, the dream came again. She heard the cats yowling her name again but a worried voice speaking to another cat. "She will lose her path! Keep her on it or she'll be lost forever!" Turtleheart narrowed her eyes, forcing herself to remain in the dream longer. She looked around, the cats began to fade but the conversation continued. "Sparrowfeather, she is already lost. I am sorry but now, it is you to save her from the rest of the clan. They will shame, they will hate, they will ridicule, but you must have her back. Save her from them and redirect her. Starclan will watch and guide as much as we can." Then the dream faded. Turtleheart knew what they were talking about. She lifted her head, seeing the disappointed face on her mentor. Turtleheart took a deep breath and acted as if she had never heard anything. "Sparrowfeather, what's the matter?" She asked. "Nothing, Turtleheart. Come on, Bramblestar said she would meet us at outlook rock. Though I'm worried that the badger has moved back since Leaffall is on its way. We must hurry." Sparrowfeather bounded into the darkness of the tunnel.
They sprinted acros the Thunderpath, seeing Bramblestar and Haresprint writhing with a large badger. "I was right! Run!" Sparrowfeather screeched and leapt onto the badger, hooking claws into its eyes. "Fetch Mumblejaw and Lionoak, they are hunting nearby!" Bramblestar yelped as the badger fell on her. Turtleheart shook her head and shrieked. "Help!" Before leaping onto the badger. If anyone heard it they'd come help.
Turtleheart hooked her claws into the badger's fur, hauling it off her mother with greater strength than she knew she had. Sparrowfeather clawed its eyes while Haresprint hauled Bramblestar from under the creature. She then heard pawsteps and a loud yowl coming from nearby. Mumblejaw's long gray fur moved closer. Lionoak's golden fur flashed in front of Sparrowfeather. The warrior shoved the medicine cat away and hissed. "You're a medicine cat, get out of the way." Turtleheart snarled at her brother before biting the badger. The badger began to struggle and she let it go. "Ill increase patrols here." Mumblejaw growled. "Echolight never did so, that is why they always return." Turtleheart padded to Bramblestar's side. "Another life lost. I am on my sixth." She huffed under her breath. Turtleheart watched as Sparrowfeather began to heal the various wounds on their leader. "Lionoak, a word?" She meowed sternly. Her brother rolled his eyes and followed her down where they coudnt be heard. "I heard what you said to Sparrowfeather. Who taught you that medicine cats can't fight?" She demanded. "Hawkgrowl? If it was Hawkgrowl I'm going to tear-" Lionoak growled. "Cedarstar was right. You are crazy, just like Bramblestar." His words hit harder than the firecest blow she'd ever taken. "I never want to speak to you or Briarfang again." She growled, all trust she had left in her siblings was gone. "You are outsiders to be. Ivykit would be very disappointed." She turned before her brother could speak but she knew he was shocked at her words.