Turtleheart's Path

Chapter 21

Turtleheart padded into the hollow at fourtrees, it had been only a few sunrises since she'd seen Brackentail at this very place. She sat down in the same spot they'd met eachother, trying to wash the scent away from the spot. She looked around, almost forgetting that Sparrowfeather had remained behind. In the last few days Yellowwhisker and Briarfang had gotten greencough and moved into the spare den. Lightpelt was getting worse but Redcall was getting better. Birhckit was completely free of his cough. Lastly, Stoneclaw was healed of his cough and chest tightness, the elderly tom was very grateful for her help, he had expressed his gratitude many times over the last few days.
Turtleheart sat next to Berryspots and laid on her belly. "Otterstar is ill, greencough is bad in Shadowclan. He insisted I go to the gathering and make sure Adderclaw speaks well." Sweetwhisker turned her head. "Adderclaw is the new Shadowclan deputy? What happened to Mossheart?" She asked. "Rat bite took her to hunt with Starclan." Berryspots sighed. "We will miss her dearly." Turtleheart murmured a sorry to Berryspots and looked around. "Greencough is horrible in Windclan also. Five victims, warriors and a kit. Birchkit is better and they will be getting their apprentice names soon." She reported to the other medicine cats. "Thunderclan is lucky we have no greencough plus, Swiftclaw is a very good medicine cat. He will do well when I pass." Lakepurr smiled. "Luckily, that shouldn't be soon." Sweetwhisker smiled then turned to the Riverclan medicine cat. "Are Graypounce and Brackentail still close? Will Riverclan have more kits?" Berryspots frowned. "No actually. Brackentail seems distant. From the entire clan, actually. Like he is hiding something." Sweetwhisker tilted her head. "Have you tried following him or watching where he goes?" Turtleheart froze. She looked at the three older medicine cats then to Swiftclaw who was chatting with some Shadowclan cats. She padded away from the medicine cats area and sat alone before Brackentail settled next to her. "Its chilly now that Leaffall is close. I heard Greencough is making an early strike, is Windclan doing okay?" He mewed. She stayed silent and from the corner of her eye she saw the tom narrow his eyes. "Turtleheart, what's wrong?" He asked. "Berryspots has noticed you've been distant. They are suggesting she follow you when you leave camp to find me!" She mewed in a hushed tone. "Mouse dung!" He spat. "Dont worry, ill make sure she doesn't see us. When can we meet?" He purred quietly. "At the quarter moon." She decided after a moment of silence. "It seems we are starting, good talking to you, Turtleheart." He mewed as Branchfur padded over with Graypounce at her side. The two she cats eyed her as she trotted back to her spot under the rock. Not looking where she was going she ran into a large, black tom-cat. "Oh! I'm sorry!" She burst out, scrambling back to her paws. "No worries. You are Turtleheart, the Windclan medicine cat?" He rumbled. "Yes, and you are?" She replied. "Raventuft, the Riverclan deputy. I was a rogue but I proved to Sunstar i was as good a leader as any clanborn cat." He boasted. "How did the other deputy die?" She asked, keeping her suspicions to herself. "He went on a lone patrol and I found him not long later, mauled by a badger or another cat." Raventuft mewed.
As they traveled back up the moor the words "Badger or another cat" rolled through her head. How could one not tell the difference between badger claws or cat claws? Or bites even. Turtleheart looked around but the clan was all filed into camp when she wanted to ask. She bounded up to Sparrowfeather who was grooming his fur after a long night. "Sparrowfeather, is Bramblestar awake?" She asked. "This sounds urgent. Yes, she is. Dont worry, she is healthy. Just worried about her clan." Sparrowfeather mewed. "Can you come with me to talk to her? You should hear it too." She added as he went to step away. Sparrowfeather nodded and followed her as she entered the leader's den.
"Raventuft said that no cat knew if he was killed by a cat or badger but how could you not tell the difference between their claws?" She said after telling the encounter with the Riverclan deputy. "That is strange. Did you ask Berryspots about it?" She shook her head. "I was trying to figure it out myself. How could she have not known about it?" She wondered. "Tomorrow, you travel to Riverclan and talk to her about it." Sparrowfeather decided. "If Bramblestar is okay with it?" Her mother nodded and yawned. "We should all sleep then." The brown tabby padded from the den followed by Turtleheart. "How will i get on their territory? We are still at war with them. What if they attack me?" She questioned. "They dare attack a medicine cat!" Sparrowfeather spat, "but you have a point. Take Whiteclaw with you." He said and disappeared into the medicine den Turtleheart turned and bounded to the warrior sleeping near the fresh kill pile. "Hey, Whiteclaw." She whispered, prodding him. He lifted his head slowly. "What?" He muttered. "You are my escort tomorrow. I will be traveling to Riverclan." He nodded before falling asleep again. Turtleheart returned to her den and fell asleep also.