Windclan's Hope

Chapter 22

Ivypaw padded to the moonstone behind Turtleheart, her heart pounding in her chest. "Ivypaw, you are ready to become a medicine cat. So by the power of our ancestors I will give you your full name. I now hail you by Ivypetal!" Turtleheart announced. "Ivypetal touch your nose to the moonstone, speak to our ancestors as a full medicine cat for the first time." She heard Mudheart, Whistlefall and Swiftclaw yowled her new name as she touched her nose to the stone. "Stems keep the roots of the clan alive, Ivy will heal the clan of its worries and Squirrels will fly into battle. The rivers will collide into the wall of wind, all will end in peace." Some cat spoke. She knew the voice. Whitepaw. Tears grew in Ivypetals eyes. "Whitepaw, where are you?" She yowled. The tom padded to her. "I knew you'd come. I missed you, Ivypetal." He rubbed his muzzle on hers. "How can I do this?" She asked. "You can, Ivypetal." He whispered. "Go home, all will be well. Windclan will be safe from Riverclan." He faded.
    Ivypetal padded into camp with her head held high, she sighed and stretched. Laying in her nest she felt the cold winds come through the entrance of the den. Shivering, she curled tighter in the nest. After a while of shivering she felt fur on her side, there was no cat. She felt the warmth of Whitepaw's fur on hers. Purring, she fell asleep quickly.
    She organized herbs, checking on Talonheart who was trying to leave the den. "Talonheart, you cannot go see Squirrelfoot right now. Your wounds are just beginning to heal, there is no reason for you to reinjure yourself." She scolded him like he was a kit. "Fine, but when she comes to you angry because i told her i'd share prey today it's your fault." He rolled his eyes and sat down in his nest. "Share prey here." She yawned. "Ivypetal, Stemstar has matters to discuss with us." Turtleheart mewed. She hurried to the leader's den, sitting next to Turtleheart. "We need to end this war with Riverclan. Shadowclan and Windclan need to catch them in surprise. Im sending Whiteclaw and Ivypetal to Shadowclan's camp to see if we can have a meeting at fourtrees tomorrow night." Stemstar said, "Just leaders, medicine cats, deputies and a few senior warriors." He decided. Ivypetal nodded and looked around the den. "Ivypetal, you are distant. Everything okay?" Turtleheart asked. "Yes, can we talk later?" She asked. "If you'd rather, i can have some other cat go if you want." He mewed. "No, ill go. Just need to talk to Turtleheart." She turned out of the den with her mother behind her.
    "What do you mean? Whitepaw is dead, you cant still be seeing and feeling him. Ivypetal, let it go." Turtleheart hissed over her whispers. "Turtleheart, you dont understand. He comforts me at night, last night when it was cold i was comforted and i could sleep." She smiled. "Whatever, he is dead. Go to Shadowclan and dont breathe a word of this. You are a medicine cat, he is dead. Leave it alone." Turtleheart walked away. Sadness fell over her as she walked from the den to meet Whiteclaw.
    Mudheart sat down next to Adderstar who was listening to Whiteclaw carefully. "We'll be there. Ill bring four warriors. Ill give you an escort home." Adderstar called to Marshclaw. "You and Crowpaw escort them back, take Larkshine and make a hunting trip out of it." The leader meowed. Marshclaw nodded and hurried to fetch the two others before leading them from camp.
    "How is hunting in Shadowclan?" Whiteclaw asked. "Scarce but we survive. Frogs are what we survive on mostly. Shadowclan is strong, we survive anything." Marshclaw replied. "I understand and agree." Whiteclaw meowed. Ivypetal walked next to Larkshine. "Is my sister okay," Ivypetal tilted her head "Lakespirit?" The Shadowclan she nodded. "Yes, you didn't know she was my sister?" Purring in amusement Ivypetal chuckled. "No, i didnt but yes she is well. Im getting the feeling she is thinking about having another litter of kits. Seedstalk and her talk about it plenty." Larkshine smiled. "I hope Stemstar lets me meet them if she does." Ivypelt nodded. "He must let you! If not ill make him." She grinned.
    At camp she laid down, looking around. Turtleheart is wrong. I can be here with you. Whitepaw's voice sounded. She purred and cleaned her muzzle of the mouse she'd had. "Ivypetal, one of Lilyfrost's kits has a cough. Fetch catmint." Turtleheart's yowl sounded from the nursery. She rushed to the herb stores before going to the medicine den. Pinekit was at the medicine cat's paws, coughing. Ivypetal looked at him, there was a white paw there pointing to something, she looked at the paw and saw juice on his cheek. "Deathberries." She blurted. "Come cat gave him death berries!" She yowled and ran to fetch yarrow. Once the kit ate the yarrow she gave him some juniper and watermint. "How did you see that? I never saw the juice on his cheek." Turtleheart questioned. "I just did, shouldn't you be proud?" She growled. "Was it Whitepaw?" Turtleheart scowled. "So if it was what does it matter? He saved one of our kits!" She hissed. "He left with Ratfur then came running back because of a tummy ache, or so he said." Turtleheart snarled. "You didn't see the red juice on his cheek then did you? I know what Ratfur did, he told him the berries were safe. He trained that poor apprentice up and killed him. While you are ears over paws for him i am here taking care of our clan while you continue dreaming. You should have never gotten your name. You should never have been a medicine apprentice." Turtleheart spat and walked away. Tears formed in her eyes. Did her own mother regret her choices? She ran from the den not knowing snow was falling so hard she could barely see. Rage, fear and sadness clouded her eyes.
    When she halted she was standing on Outlook rock. She blinked thinking her sight was messing up but really, the snow was falling so hard she couldn't see. "Whitepaw, is she right? Did Ratfur kill you? Was i too stupid to see it?" He did, but its not your fault. I shouldn't have gone with them. No, its her fault for not seeing it on me sooner. She blames herself and blamed you out of grief. You need to get home, Ivypetal. You'll freeze. "I cant see." She whined, fluffing her pelt. She closed her eyes, curling up. Shivering, she tried to sleep on top of the rock as the snow fell harder.
    When she woke the snow was still falling heavily, her paws ached and her nose was hurting. She heard voices yowlig her name but she was unable to call back to them, she felt stuck in her spot on the rock. She heard pawsteps coming up the rock, sniffling came behind it. "Ivypetal!" The cat cried. She opened her eyes again, seeing Squirrelfoot she let herself cry. "Im sorry." She wailed. Squirrelfoot yowled for Stemstar and began to lift her. "She may have frostbite on her paws. Eaglepaw, warn Turtleheart!" Stemstar yowled. "Can you stand, Ivypetal?" Squirrefoot asked. She shook her head. "My paws hurt." she whimpered.
    In the medicine den she heard Turtleheart's hushed voice. "Whitepaw didn't help you this time, did he?" She snarled. "He would have but he must have been busy." She snapped, ignoring the aching in her paws as they began to warm again. "You are lucky it wasnt frostbite. Starclan must love you." Turtleheart wrapped feathers and leaves over her paws. She rolled her eyes. "Mad because they didn't save you from having kits?" She retorted. "Maybe so. Maybe i shouldn't have had kits!" Turtleheart left the den. Shocked, she laid her head down. Squirrelfoot slunk into the den, tears in her eyes. "She regrets us..?" The she murmured. Ivypetal instantly turned into her motherly medicine cat self. "No, dear. She is in grief and she is mad at me." She purred. "Come lay with me." Ivypetal sniffed. Squirrelfoot curled up against her pelt, eyes wide and filled with grief. "She doesn't regret a thing, i promise." Ivypetal soothed, resting her tail on her sister's back.
    Ivypetal woke the next morning, Squirrelfoot was sleeping soundly next to her. She flexed her claws and unwrapped the leaves off her paws. Turtleheart hadn't returned to the den during the night, Ivypetal sighed. "Stemstar is calling for you." She nudged her sister. "Okay.." Squirrelfoot got up with a yawn.