Wasp's Orchid

Chapter 9. Broken

Crab'sMoss entered the den, holding a large rabbit and two scrawny mice. He walked over to Rattle'sPaw and dropped the rabbit right in front of his sleeping face.
Rattle'sPaw sniffed as the rabbit landed, his eyes opened at the delicious scent.

"This looks too big for me." He admitted weakly, he had always been small and scrawny and never had much of an appetite.

"When you're healing you need protein." Crab'sMoss said harshly tearing at his own mice.

"But aren't I done healing? I can walk now." Rattle'sPaw suggested simply, as he took a tiny bite of his rabbit.

"Hah! Oh please.. you won't be done healing for a Long time.. if ever! I've been trying to get through to Wasp'Whisker and tell her you need way more time before you can do hour long patrols.. tsk, she's so scared of falling behind on patrols..". Crab'sMoss explained, seemingly irritated by Wasp'Whisker.

So Crab'sMoss doesn't like Wasp'Whisker.. Who's the pale one... and she's afraid of falling behind in patrols for some reason..

"Why.. is she scared of falling behind on patrols?" Rattle'sPaw asked curiously, fiddling with his paws as he looked over at Crab'sMoss.

"My guess.?

Rattle'sPaw liked to keep track of this kind of stuff, know who likes who and who hates what..

Rattle'sPaw kept taking small bites at his rabbit, as if it would kill him. He wanted to do something for a clan that had taken him in so selflessly. With his paw he was useless and nothing of worth.

"Can't I do.. something for the clan?" Rattle'sPaw asked lifting his head from the half-eaten rabbit.

"I suppose you could fix up moss nests, or clear out the plants in side the camp. Wasp'Whisker and Orchid really want the camp rid of plants.." explained Crab'sMoss, Rattle'sPaw smiles, he could do something!

"Anything that doesn't require you to be moving too much.. but most cats already fix their own nests and pretty much all plants have been cleared.." added Crab'sMoss drearily, Rattle'sPaw frowned. He was useless!

Crab'sMoss looked at Rattle'sPaw as if sensing his disappointment, he gave a from to Rattle'sPaw.

"If you want to help THAT bad why don't you organize my herbs while I go get some more?" Crab'sMoss suggested already half out of the den, "and do NOT put pressure on your paw without me!" He added as his tail escaped the den.

Rattle'sPaw was never one to disobey rules, but he wanted to do something.. he slowly stood up, wobbling over to the shelf of herbs. The shelf was a bit too tall for him to reach on all four paws..

He reached his good forepaw up, gripping the shelf as he kept his weight on his back paws. He lifted his bad paw and rose slowly until he could see all the herbs clearly and could reach them with his paws.

He pushed some berries together with his bad paw gently, the red ones went in one corner, the blue ones in another, the blue ones with a different shape in a different one..

After a few moments of pushing berries around he stretched his neck and tried to lean closer in but slipped.

He reached his bad paw away from his body as to not squish it. He thankfully caught himself with his good paw but wobbled a lot. He carefully stood on his bad paw again, wincing slightly before looking around.

"Maybe I could reach it better if I stood on a rock or log.." he thought to himself, he couldn't get one from the camp, the entrance to the med den was too slippery and steep for him to climb.

He spotted a semi large rock and went over to it. He crouched and pushed his back on it, pushing it slightly. It screeched against the ground as it moved from its previous spot, revealing small bugs and worms squirming around before digging back into the ground.

He winced, having to remind himself not to put any weight on his paw. He pushed the rock again, and again, and again. After what felt like forever he slowly climbed onto the rock.

Perfect!

He continued to organize the herbs, even plants that looked similar he could tell weren't the same. He kept at it for a long while until he heard the screech of claws sliding on wood and Crab'sMoss elegantly and gracefully slid into the medicine den.

"Oh!" Crab'sMoss seemed rather impressed by Rattle'Paw's organization, "Interesting plan to make up for your... lack luster height."

"I made sure not to put weight on my paw!" Rattle'sPaw said proudly.

"Good, I'm honestly shocked you can walk, much less push a rock across the den." Crab'sMoss murmured looking at the trail the rock had left behind.

"So.. does that mean I'll be able to leave the den soon? I've shown so much progress after all?" Rattle'sPaw suggested leaning up to Crab'sMoss with a pleading look.

Crab'sMoss seemed to give a panicked look his eyes wide looking away in a second-

OH NO.

Something made Rattle'sPaw have a sinking feeling he wouldn't be able to leave den.. he hated when anyone avoided questions..

"Crab'sMoss- I AM going to be able to leave soon? Right?" Rattle'sPaw begged for assurance, giving Crab'sMoss an awkward smile and panicked look.

Crab'sMoss looked away with clenched teeth..

"Crab'sMoss... Answer the question Crab'sMoss!" Rattle'sPaw pleaded shakily.

"Er.. you'll not be able to leave.. this den... for.. Many.. MANY.. MOONS." Crab'sMoss explained sheepishly, this was weird. Crab'sMoss always answered questions bluntly and borderline harshly.. why was he so sheepish to admit this?

He couldn't dwell on Crab'sMoss's strange way of speaking. Because the actual news delivered practically shattered his entire hope.

I can't hunt.  I can't spy.  I can't patrol.  I can't be of use.  I am useless. 

He walked back, slowly sinking into his moss nest.. he sat there depressingly with a sad frowns and widened eyes.

"Rattle'sPaw, you could always just be a medicine cat..?"  Crab'sMoss suggested weakly. 

Rattle'sPaw didn't hate the idea, but he still felt bad he couldn't leave the den. 

"But YOU'RE the medicine cat!" he murmured, he didn't want to be some secondary choice! He wanted to be of immediate use!

I'm useless.. and I won't leave this stupid den for an extremely too long time.. many many moons.. how many moons?  Wish Crab'sMoss mentioned that..

"Hey Crab'sMoss.. when I CAN leave the den.. can I try patrols, spying.. or hunting?" Rattle'sPaw asked weakly.

Crab'sMoss sighed,
"If you really want to try them I could maybe help you up the log.." he murmured fiddling with rocks under his paws.. "but it might be a bit hard.."

"Really..? Please?" Rattle'sPaw pleaded, Crab'sMoss gave a sigh.

"I don't want to risk you hurting your paw anymore.. if you slip on the log it could be damaged worse..".

Finally Crab'sMoss conceded, and begrudgingly grabbed Rattle'sPaw by the scruff. He dragged the scrawny apprentice up the log, seeming worried about his wellbeing...

Wow so Ihaven't updated this book since November!  I do love all these characters I've just been more focused on