Turtleheart's Path

Chapter 23

"You lied? You are the medicine cat! You can't just lie to your leader." Turtleheart exclaimed, rising to her paws. "Hush!" Berryspots' voice became stern. "I couldn't tell the truth. Raventuft threatened me. Of course I knew they were cat claw marks, and I saw the black fur of Raventuft in Barkfur's claws. Lastly, Raventuft had injuries of his own. I'm no fool, Sunstar must be though." Berryspots sighed. "Riverclan is doomed. The war with Windclan is only killing us more but Sunstar is too proud to end it." Turtleheart shook her head. "I am sorry, Berryspots. I will do everything i can to protect you and help Sunstar realize his mistakes." She vowed before stretching, "I should head back, Windclan has greencough. I don't want to bring it to Riverclan." Berryspots hurried from the den to her herb stores. "Take some catmint! As gratitude from me." Berryspots laid a large bundle of catmint at her paws and touched her nose. "Goodbye, Turtleheart." She mewed.
"Hurry, I think Raventuft is following us." Whiteclaw mewed as they exited the camp with Branchfur and Brackentail as escorts. "He is, I'm sure of it." Brackentail growled. Branchfur rolled her eyes. "Raventuft finished out my apprenticeship when Barkfur died. He is a good cat. You fools have no reason to not trust him." She hissed. I do, Turtleheart wanted to retort. "We are at the edge of the territory. Goodbye, safe travels." Brackentail mewed. He blinked at Turtleheart before bounding away. Turtleheart and Whiteclaw darted up the moor. "Did you find out what you needed?" The warrior asked. "Yes, I did." She replied through the catmint bundle and halted at the entrance of camp. "Thanks for escorting me." She said before heading into the medicine den.
"Lightpelt was a good warrior, as we all grieve for her, we can remember all the good times we had with her." Bramblestar mewed. Turtleheart rubbed lavender petals in the warrior's fur and sat back on her haunches. She looked at Graytooth and Lightpelt's siblings who lay near her body. Even the kits, who were barely three moons old, lay there quietly.
When the morning came she lifted her head, she'd accidentally dozed off that night. She watched as Stoneclaw and Owlkit, Birchkit and Lilykit helped bury the fallen warrior and as they reentered camp Bramblestar called a meeting. "Let all cats gather around to hear my words!" She yowled. Turtleheart settled next to Sparrowfeather and watched as the three kits bounded into the middle of the meeting. "These three kits are six moons old today and are ready for their apprentice names." She began. "You three shall be known as Owlpaw, Birchpaw and Lilypaw. Owlpaw's mentor will be Whiteclaw. Birchpaw's mentor will be Hawkgrowl. Lilypaw's mentor will be Mumblejaw." The apprentices stood and touched noses with their mentors, the clearing sounded with loud purring. As the meeting dissolved the new apprentices crowded their mentors wondering what they'd do first.