𝘞𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘰𝘳𝘴: 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘉𝘳𝘰𝘬𝘦𝘯 𝘛𝘦𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺 (BOOK 1) (ROS)

𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘵𝘦𝘳 1

The clouds were gray and gloomy like always, the sun was never here in this territory.

River'lily, the medicine cat of MurkClan, roamed the tall grasses of the Marshlands looking for viable sources of herbs. Some cats have started to get sick from an unknown cough. River'lily was able to volunteer her work in curing her clan and willingly left during a small storm. Her brown fur was touched from the soft rain drops landing on her back. She traveled discreetly and quickly. She wished to get this over with before the storms could get worse. It's possible that a flood could occur, which commonly happens in this swamp. But that was the least of her worries.

She was more concerned about what had happened to an ex-mate, who was from a different clan. Despite their past and how he had treated her, she still couldn't help but be worried. River'lily hoped that this small little hunt of herbs could distract her, but the other side wanted to know if StarClan was aware of what had happened last moon.

 She did see the beach far from the marshlands, where BeachClan warriors were hunting for food in the water, specifically fish. 

Her ears fluttered, hearing the rustling of a bush, she turned around, her leaf pouch around her neck gently rocking from the sharp movement.

A small mew is heard, with yellow eyes peeking, as well as his paws. It was Mushroom'paw, an apprentice of the same clan as River'lily's. 

The medicine cat screeched, followed by a hiss. Her pupil went dilated until it went back into its normal circular form. River'lily had a look of irritation staring at Mushroom'paw, who was too shy to even approach her. "Don't scare me like that." The medicine cat scolded. "You would've gotten hurt." She had a broad, straightforward voice that can turn strict if needed. 

Mushroom'paw crawled out of the bush, he lowered his head. "I'm sorry." He spoke. "I was looking for you. There was a meeting you missed, and I got assigned to be your apprentice, a medicine apprentice to be exact." 

River'lily became annoyed, Marsh'star haven't reason her with this decision. Especially during an important time where the elders and some of the warriors had gotten sick. The other side of her felt neutral, she needed another paw to help her, and to kill the stress she has. She huffed, making a final decision. "If that's the case," she says. "Then you must help me gather some herbs, it is important that we should overstock our storage, so the cats can get the help they need." She leans her head close to him, judging him silently with her bold, pale blue eyes, just glaring.

Mushroom'paw nodded, he looked terrified of River'lily, but at the same time, he was excited. He had always thought of becoming a medicine cat, he couldn't ruin this chance now. River'lily stepped away, she gave Mushroom'paw one more look until she turned around, expecting her newly apprentice to follow. The shy apprentice followed behind her tail, walking in a fast, anxiously way. It had gotten silent now.

The birds chirped, the adders rattled and hiss. The two cats had to be mindful of what they were going so they wouldn't accidentally step on one.

Mushroom'paw wanted to initiate a conversation, hoping his mentor could at least light up a little. 

"So," The tom began to start. "Did.. you hear about Flood'fall becoming a father?" 

"Yes, yes, I heard." River'lily nodded, as she traveled through the tall grass, Mushroom'paw looked at the ground, as he followed his mentor. 

"Flood'fall and Brook'stem seems to be happy." The apprentice says. "But honestly? I don't see the appeal in Flood'fall."  

River'lily's pupils moved to Mushroom'paw's direction. "You don't?" She asked, her voice sounding slightly intrigued. The apprentice looked at his mentor before turning his head away, looking at the ground. "He acts like a dirt every time, and he used to bully me back when I was a kit." There was a gruff in his voice that tells his resentment towards the warrior. River'lily didn't really care for what he was saying anyways, but his way of explaining did intrigue her.

"He's quite unpleasant then." The medicine cat commented. Mushroom'paw raises his head, looking at her with admiration, she was the only one that agreed with him.  During their walk, River'lily spots a small group of yellow flowers growing below an old tree that sat in a decently sized land among the shallow swamp waters. They were considered to be called the coltsfoot. 

"Get those flowers." River'lily ordered. This was going to be the first lesson of becoming a medicine cat. Mushroom'paw scurried across the waters and ran up to the small hill. He leaned his head toward the flower and grabbed the leaves using his jaw. He took a mouthful and clumsily ran towards his mentor and spitting it back in the pouch. The pouch was overflowed by other herbs. 

But a feeling of rain simmered above them, the weather was starting to get worse, ever since the suns had faded away. Mushroom'paw could smell the rain ahead of him, and the rumbling of storms above the mountains. Despite being the first day of training her apprentice, she cared too much for him to stay out with her and to get wet. "It's best that you meet me in camp." River'lily spoke to the apprentice, with a hint of her usual strictness, but also with worry. "I can't let you get caught in the storm with me."

Mushroom'paw pinned his ears, he got upset. "Can I stay and help you a little longer? You'll catch a cough during the rain!" 

River'lily wasn't changing her answer soon. "No." Her voice is loud, but firm.

The apprentice huffed, lowering his head in frustration. "Okay." He said, and just turned around the other way, leaving his mentor behind. he was disappointed to have his herb training end so shortly. River'lily watched Mushroom'paw disappear into the tall grass. Her body jolted, hearing the strike of thunder. She heard the quick footsteps of Mushroom'paw taking off running. The rain instantly pouring onto her fur. 

She then bolted just as her apprentice left, she could feel the tense winds rushing over the marshlands, the old tree creaking. The tall grass moving and making scratchy noises stressed the she-cat. The dreams of chaos she was having, felt true. Everything had got so rough after the incident of the deputy dying from crushed rocks, and what the visions believed, could be the end times. It was only just starting.

River'lily raced across the muddy territory and forming floods just to make to her camp safely. Unfortunately, she lost a few herbs on the way. Her paws pounced on the ground, causing a mess of mud staining her fur, and her face. Her paws thumped against the ground; a rush of adrenaline rushed to her heart that sounded like a march of drums roaming around her. 

She spotted the flat, grassy and watery terrain of MurkClan, she slowed her walking, and the rain calmed its pouring. Everything was just as it should be, safe from the dangers, and focusing on what was in front of her. When she approached the entrance, gasping. Her sharp eyes did narrow closely to the area of the leader, Marsh'star, speaking to a large, white cat with blue eyes and stripes. Her heart dropped only to realize who it was, that stepped into the clan.