Turtleheart's Path

Chapter 22

Turtleheart sat down in front of the bridge, waiting for a Riverclan patrol. Whiteclaw's tense shoulders rippled as he clawed the ground below him. "All is fine, Whiteclaw." She promised. Just then a patrol came rushing towards them. Brackentail, Branchfur, and two other cats she'd never seen halted in front of them. "I am Turtleheart, medicine cat of Windclan. I must sp-" A blue tom interrupted her. "No. Go home." He snarled. Brackentail pushed his way next to the blue tom. "Blueash, let her speak. Windclan knows we are at war, this must be important medicine cat business if they dare to travel here." He said to the tom. Brackentail looked at her, a loving look in his eyes. "Fine. Whistlepaw, run back and warn Berryspots, Sunstar and Raventuft we have company." Blueash ordered the apprentice who darted off. "Come on." The tom turned to her and beckoned his tail. "Brackentail, walk on her side. Branchfur, walk on his side." Blueash said, flicking his tail to her and Whiteclaw before taking the lead.
"Sunstar please, you must let me speak to Berryspots!" She begged, the Riverclan leader sat on a rock in the middle of camp. The rock was surrounded by a pool of water. The clan was gathered around, their fur bristled. "No. Berryspots is busy and she doesnt need a medicine apprentice bothering her." From the corner of her eye, she saw Brackentail bristle in anger and his eyes narrow. She flicked her tail. "May we speak in private?" She mewed to the Riverclan leader, straightening herself. "Fine." Sunstar huffed. Raventuft leapt onto the rock. "Who are we, Riverclan cats, to take orders from a Windclan medicine apprentice? We should chase these two fox hearts out of our camp!" The deputy yowled. Sunstar flicked his tail. "I will speak to her in private, if i do not see her reasons fit, you may chase them out yourself." He decided before leading the two Windclan cats into the leader's den. "You better be a good speaker, Turtleheart. My claws can't protect you from that mange pelt." Whiteclaw whispered in her ear. Turtleheart took a deep breath and sat down in front of Sunstar. "Sunstar, i cannot disclose all information to you, as mch as i feel i need to in this situation, i can't. As a medicine cat, I do not have enemies. The clan cats are my kits, I help them all no matter what enemies my clan has. Berryspots needs to hear this information I have to give her. She would be angry if you sent me away." She said, flattening her ears. Sunstar stayed silent before nodding. "Raventuft, show them to Berryspots' den." He mewed. The deputy's shoulders fell and his ears pinned. "Yes, Sunstar." He mewed. Turtleheart and Whiteclaw followed the Riverclan deputy through the camp, next to the nursery the medicine den opening gaped through.
Turtleheart padded into the back of the den and sat down. "Berryspots, I have a question for you. Do not lie to me." She began. After telling the entire situation she looked in the medicine cat's eyes. Berryspots looked terrified. "You are smart, Turtleheart." She said, her voice wavering. "I- You must promise you will not speak of this to any cat but, I lied to Sunstar." She meowed.