Twilight

Chapter 13

"I'll be glad when newleaf comes," Mothwing remarked, turning over her store of juniper berries with one paw. "We're very short of herbs."

"It's just as bad in ThunderClan," Leafpool told her, touching her shoulder sympathetically with the tip of her tail. "This has been a long leaf-bare, and we don't know the best places yet to find supplies. At least your cats are getting well now."

"Yes, thanks to you." Mothwing let out a purr, then turned to Willowkit, who was standing just outside the medicine cat's den, shifting from paw to paw. "Give two juniper berries to each cat— except Minnowkit and Pebblekit. They can have one each. Can you remember what juniper berry is for?"

The small gray kit paused with one paw raised, ready to snag a couple of berries on her claws. "Bellyache," she began, eyes narrowed with the effort of remembering, "but they're getting better, and their bellies aren't aching anymore." She hesitated, puzzled; then her eyes brightened. "Strength!" she mewed triumphantly. "You're giving them juniper so they'll get strong again."

"Very good!" Mothwing purred. She watched the young kit as she tottered away to give the juniper to Dawnflower. "She's been such a help—and so have you, Leafpool. My Clanmates would have died without you."

"I don't think so," Leafpool meowed, embarrassed by her friend's praise. "You knew what to treat them with all along."

Her third night in the RiverClan camp was drawing to an end. Dew glittered on every leaf and blade of grass in the slanting rays of the sun, and Leafpool was convinced it felt warmer than before. Newleaf could not be far off. No more RiverClan cats had fallen ill. Mistyfoot had organized the fittest warriors to clean up any traces of the silver-green liquid they found in and around the camp, while Hawkfrost had finished the barrier around the Twoleg thing and made sure every cat knew they had to avoid it.

Meanwhile, all the remaining cats who had been poisoned by the sticky stuff were recovering. Heavystep had already returned to the warriors' den, while Minnowkit and Pebblekit were feeling well enough to get into mischief. They were down by the stream now, dabbing a paw into the water as if they were pretending to fish.

"Stay away from the edge!" Mothwing called out. "I don't have time to rescue you if you fall in."

The two kits glanced at each other and drew back a couple of pawsteps, then started to chase each other in a circle.

"They'll have to go back to the nursery," Mothwing sighed. "Dawnflower isn't really strong enough to look after them yet, but I'm sure Feathertail and Mistyfoot won't mind watching over them. They'll only get into trouble if they stay here. I caught Minnowkit sniffing around my herb store yesterday."

Leafpool let out a mrrow of amusement. "You'd think they'd had enough bellyache without stuffing themselves with the wrong sort of herbs."

She stood up and gave herself a good long stretch. Along the bank of the stream the sick cats were stirring: Dawnflower had rolled onto her side to wash her belly fur, while Beechpaw was sitting up with his jaws parted in an enormous yawn. No cat looked uncomfortable or in pain.

"It's time I was leaving," Leafpool meowed. "You don't need me anymore."

Mothwing nodded, although there was a flash of regret in her eyes. "It's been great, having another medicine cat to work with. But I know you have to go home to your Clan."

"You're leaving?" Willowkit bounced up to them to collect another dose of juniper berries. "We'll miss you, Leafpool."

Hesitantly she added to Mothwing, "Will you still need me to help?"

"Of course I will," Mothwing reassured her.

Willowkit's tail pointed straight up and her eyes shone.

Leafpool padded along the bank to say good-bye to those cats who were awake. When she returned to Mothwing's den she saw that Leopardstar had appeared.