The Prophesied

Chapter 20 - Nightpaw

 "Stop fidgeting!" Nightpaw scolded the fidgeting kit, Swiftkit growled, "Well if you weren't taking so long I wouldn't be fidgety!" the she-kit snapped, "Hush, Swiftkit." Poppyclaw silenced her kit, Swiftkit held her tongue grumpily as Nightpaw pulled the thorn out of Swiftkit's paw pad with her teeth. "There, now let me wrap your paw with dock leaves." Nightpaw said, Swiftkit groaned in annoyance, "It'll be quicker if you don't fidget." Nightpaw remarked, raising an eyebrow at the kit, Nightpaw spat out the thorn and took a few of the emerald green leaves, she began to wrap them around the kit's wounded paw.

 Once she had them wrapped firmly around Swiftkit's paw, Nightpaw sat up. "Swiftkit will be alright, just don't let her take off the leaves, it will help her paw get better." Nightpaw told Poppyclaw, then she glanced at the kit, "No rough playing until that paw gets better," Nightpaw added, Swiftkit stared at Nightpaw in disbelief, "You mean, I can't play anymore!?" Swiftkit squeaked in horror, "Not forever, just until your wound is all better." Nightpaw said, then she turned to Poppyclaw, "You may go, if Swiftkit somehow gets it off, come back to me and I'll apply some new leaves." Nightpaw told Poppyclaw, who nodded and led Swiftkit out of the medicine cat's den, "Thanks Nightpaw!" Poppyclaw called over her shoulder, "Anytime!" Nightpaw called back.

 Rabbitrun was walking through the entrance as she passed Poppyclaw and the complaining kit, "You getting good at this, Nightpaw." Rabbitrun said, muffled through the marigold leaves she held in her mouth, Nightpaw beamed at her mentor. She had been improving on her skills as a medicine cat apprentice, she had held up well through the past moons that went by throughout her training, she had learned much and was able to help her Clan in more than hunting and fighting. Nightpaw had figured out that Guststar did not trust Wrenleap and Rabbitrun, his own deputy and medicine cat! Nightpaw was quite surprised when she found this out, because when Guststar held back Haypaw and Narrowpaw from becoming warriors when Wrenleap had said they passed their assessment. Rabbitrun and Wrenleap had quarreled with Guststar about neglecting their naming ceremony and Guststar said they would be made warriors with Petalpaw and Ryepaw, Nightpaw had realized if she was still training as a warrior she would be the age of becoming a warrior as well! Nightpaw had tried to not take any sides when she was dragged into Rabbitrun's and Wrenleap's arguments with Guststar. She didn't want to seem untrustworthy to her leader, a Clan leader needed a medicine cat and deputy they could trust, she did not want to ruin that relationship when she became a full medicine cat. But it wasn't the only problem, the warrior Kindlestep, Toadsky's mate and Palepaw's mother had ended up disappearing on a hunting patrol and was later found killed by an unknown enemy, Palepaw didn't seem the same after that day, always unsure of Guststar's commands and reports he told the Clan, and never wanted to be anywhere near Guststar. Nightpaw didn't know why she started acting that way, maybe it was just her mothers death that upset her.

 Rabbitrun nudged Nightpaw, bringing her back to reality from her train of thought. "Huh?" Nightpaw asked, "I was asking you if you could help the other appendices replace all the moss in the elders den? It's been a while since you last spent time with them," Rabbitrun explained patiently, Nightpaw nodded, it would be nice to spend time with her littermate again.

 Rabbitrun sent Nightpaw to the elders den and as she was walking across the clearing she saw Wrenleap walking out of Guststar's den with a frustrated expression, Wrenleap saw Nightpaw staring at him and flicked his tail in greeting as he turned to walk into the medicine cats den, probably to speak to Rabbitrun about Guststar again.

 Nightpaw walked into the elders den and found all the apprentices in the den except Petalpaw and Ryepaw, they were most likely out doing some last minute hunting before they were assessed. "Hi Haypaw!" Nightpaw meowed, Haypaw looked up and Palepaw ran towards her, "Hiya Nightpaw! How's being a medicine cat apprentice going?" Palepaw asked enthusiastically, Nightpaw smiled, "It's going great! I'm learning a lot!" Nightpaw told her, "The medicine apprentice can finally spare a few moments to be with her former denmates again, what's the occasion?" Narrowpaw asked without looking up, "Leave her alone, Narrowpaw!" Palepaw scolded, and Narrowpaw smiled slightly, Nightpaw smiled, Narrowpaw meant it as a joke, not to scold Nightpaw.