salt in the wound || warrior cats

chapter 21

hero

~~~

YELLOWLEAF WAS A STERN, yellow tom with grumpy green eyes. White fur was flecked around his muzzle, revealing his old age and years of wisdom. His voice, though, was sharper than any Violetpaw's ever heard. 

When Ravenpaw saw SkyClan's medicine cat, along with two other warriors, coming to transport Violetpaw to the medicine den, he flicked his tail a little in panic. 

"Violetpaw, Yellowleaf doesn't look like he messes around. He'll see right through you," he hissed quietly. "He-"

"Shut up," Violetpaw whispered back, despite her increasing heartbeat from anxiety. "They're coming. I'll see you after moonhigh."

The black tom's eyes narrowed, but he held his tongue. Thankfully, too, because that was the moment Yellowleaf swept in, Treefrost and Oakbounce on his tail.

They didn't say anything to Ravenpaw. It was quick. Treefrost helped maneuver Violetpaw onto Oakbounce's back, and the dark gray tom ducked out, carrying the ThunderClan apprentice over to the medicine den.  

Oakbounce must want me to wake up soon so that he'll finally be able to avenge his mother's death, Violetpaw found herself thinking suddenly. Too bad the Ghost Assassin is just a nursery tale.

But that struck the question, who did kill Ashbird? Even if the cats of ThunderClan claim that Ashbird slipped, Violetdust was murdered too, wasn't she? In a similar fashion to the SkyClan she-cat. 

Violetpaw's stomach churned uncomfortably at the thought. Maybe the Ghost Assassin was real.

"Over there." Yellowleaf's stern voice broke through the silence, and before long, Violetpaw felt herself drop onto a bed of moss. The foliage felt nice after nights of laying on the cold, hard ground. "Wet a moss ball and bring it over."

A low grumble came from Treefrost. "This is ridiculous."

Yellowleaf's ears didn't seem to miss a single thing. "What was that?"

Even Violetpaw knew that challenging the SkyClan medicine cat wasn't a good idea, but Treefrost spoke up again anyway.

"This entire thing is ridiculous. Housing these ThunderClan apprentices, feeding them - for StarClan's sake, we don't even know if this one"- he gave Violetpaw a harsh poke -"actually knows who the Ghost Assassin is!"

"But it's worth a try." Oakbounce's voice sounded quietly, a little further away. "If we finally avenge Mom's death, then Crowstar could finally be at peace."

"Yeah." Treefrost snorted. "He has gone a little crazy since his daughter died, hasn't he? Well, I guess you wouldn't have been old enough to remember. Ashbird would've just given birth to you then."

Violetpaw thought Treefrost's words were wildly insensitive, but Oakbounce didn't say anything.

Finally, it was Yellowleaf who shot the black tom down. "That's no way to talk about your leader. This is what Crowstar wants to do, and you have to respect it. Now get me that moss ball and get out."

More grumblings came from Treefrost, but the tom obediently followed the medicine cat's directions before he and Oakbounce shuffled out of the den. Then, Violetpaw felt Yellowleaf near her, his presence drawing closer and closer, until she could feel his green eyes staring into her soul.

Stay as still as possible, Violetpaw told herself, not daring to even breathe. Stay still, stay still...

However, the longer this went on, the more she felt herself slip into despair. Ravenpaw was right. Yellowleaf would see right through her. He'd get Crowstar now. This plan wasn't going to work.