Rising Storm

Chapter 19

"There, keep off that paw for now," Yellowfang ordered, finishing the wrap.

"Thanks, Yellowfang," meowed Thornpaw as he limped past Skyfall and out of the clearing.

Yellowfang turned to Skyfall. "Wait here," she ordered, and disappeared inside her den. She emerged with a mouthful of well-chewed herbs. "Now, where does it hurt?"

"This one's the worst," answered Skyfall, twisting her head to point to a bite on her shoulder.

"Right," meowed Yellowfang. She began to rub in some of the herb mixture with a gentle paw. "Bluestar's very shaken," she murmured, not looking up from her task.

"I know," Skyfall agreed. "I'm going to organize more patrols at once. That may calm her."

"It may help calm the rest of the Clan too," Yellowfang remarked. "They're really worried."

"They should be." Skyfall winced as Yellowfang pushed the herbs deep into her wound.

"How are the new apprentices coming along?" she asked, her voice deceptively calm.

Skyfall knew the old medicine cat was offering advice in her wise and indirect fashion. "I'll speed up their training, starting at dawn," she told her. Her throat tightened at the thought of Thunderpaw. The Clan needed him now more than ever but his shoulder had grown so bad that he was forced to sleep in a nest of herbs and he wasn't allowed to fight at all for the time being.

Yellowfang stopped massaging her shoulder.

"Have you finished?" she meowed.

"Nearly. I'll just put a little on those scratches; then you can go." The old cat blinked at her with wide orange eyes. "Have courage, young Skyfall. These are dark times for ThunderClan, but no cat could do more than you have." As she spoke, there was a low rumble of thunder in the distance, a hint of menace that sent a chill through Skyfall's fur in spite of the medicine cat's encouragement.

When she returned to the main clearing, her wounds numbed by Yellowfang's healing herbs, Skyfall was surprised to find many of the cats still awake. Bluestar and Whitestorm crouched below the Highrock, their heads bowed. The other cats lay in small groups, their eyes blinking in the shadows and their ears twitching nervously as they listened to the noises of the forest.

Mousefur limped past Skyfall, her eyes dull as she stared ahead, not showing any sign that she'd even seen Skyfall at all.

Skyfall lay down at the edge of the clearing. The stifling air made her fur prickle. The whole forest seemed to be waiting for the storm to break. A shadow moved near the edge of the clearing. Skyfall swung her head around. It was Darkstripe.

Skyfall beckoned the striped warrior closer with her tail. Darkstripe slowly padded toward her. "I want you to take out a second patrol as soon as the dawn patrol returns tomorrow," Skyfall meowed. "From now on there will be three extra patrols every day, and all patrols will have three warriors."

Darkstripe looked coolly at Skyfall. "But I'm taking Fernpaw out training tomorrow morning."

Skyfall's fur pricked with frustration. "Then take her with you," she snapped. "It'll be good experience. We need to speed up apprentice training anyway."

Darkstripe's ears flicked, but his gaze remained steady. "Yes, deputy," he murmured, his eyes glittering.

Skyfall wearily pushed her way into Bluestar's den. Even though it was not yet sunhigh, she'd been out on patrol twice already that day. And she would be taking Whitestorm's apprentice, Brightpaw, out hunting this afternoon. The days since the attack had been busy. All the warriors and apprentices were exhausted trying to keep up with the new patrols. With Willowpelt and Goldenflower in the nursery, Whitestorm reluctant to leave his kin, Thunderpaw out of commission, and Runningwind on the verge of death, Skyfall barely had time to eat and sleep.