Spark { Warrior Cats Fanfiction ; Complete }

{three}

Sparkfur took only a moment to glance back at Berryfoot beforeturning sharply, her face hard and expressionless.

"You should go get Mintstar." She meowed steadily, not wanting to ask Berryfoot. That backstabbing horse-face.

Asterfoot nodded, just barely noting the fact the siblings had just fought. He turned and dashed in the general direction of the High Oak. Sparkfur was about to enter the medicine den to see for herself when out came a shaky, but walking, white she-cat.

She was thin and small with sleek, bright white fur. Her eyes were odd; one blue and one a yellow-green, dull with tiredness. There was a compound of herbs and cobwebs on her injury, Sparkfur assumed a marigold/goldenrod poultice, based on scent and appearance.

It wasn't long before Asterfoot was leading Mintstar, the deputies, and several of the bramble den warriors out into the clearing. Mintstar didn't seem ready to dismiss the foreigner, but he did briefly glance over to Sparkfur. The golden warrior returned the glance.

"Who are you?" Mintstar started out, sitting to the left of her. He was bigger than her in height and build.

She did not respond, just looked blankly at him.

"She couldn't have suffered any memory loss." Amberleaf reported from the opening to the medicine den. Still, a hazy look was on her face.

"Hey! How dare you disrespect Mintstar!" Waspclaw hissed from the right side of the white she-cat, and her odd colored eyes lit up with recognition. Sparkfur knew what was wrong. Waspclaw leaped out to the FogClan medicine cat, claws unsheathed, potentially about to claw her up. Sparkfur jumped and stood in front of the stranger.

"Leave her alone, Waspclaw!" Mintstar tipped his head, interested. The suddenly bold she-cat glanced around at the questioning looks of the watching clan mates. "She can't hear from one ear." She said bluntly.

"I-I'm sorry!" The small white medic crouched down, her feathery tail tucking under her. "I-I can't hear from one ear.... I should have said something--I'm sorry!" Waspclaw growled something under his breath and sheathed his claws, backing away. Sparkfur returned to her spot next to Asterfoot, the blue gray tom touching his tail tip to her tail.

"Let's start again...," Mintstar moved to the side that the young she-cat could hear on, "who are you?"

"My name is Frostleaf, a medicine cat from FogClan. Well...," she had gradually sat up from her scared crouch, "ex-medicine cat. Some warriors returned from a patrol wounded pretty badly after an encounter with the Rogues." She swallowed. Uncomfortable, Sparkfur noted. "A-and Adderstream was hurt real bad. I tried my hardest to save him b-but there was so much blood-- and it was raining!"

She had a spooked look on her thin, narrow face. Waspclaw looked bored and annoyed. "He didn't make it through the night. His wounds were too deep... Gooseberry told me it was the rogues fault Adderstream died but..." She blinked, quivering. "Redfang, one of the deputies.. He said it was my fault. He attacked me and banished me." She looked down at her paws.

"That's great, but Mintstar really, there's no point in her being here." Waspclaw turned to the gray leader.

"P-please!" Frostleaf's fur actually stood on end. "The rogues will kill me-- I can't fight! I can only heal...." Mintstar nodded.

"Mintstar..!" Amberleaf whined. "All the medicine cat spots are full." She glared at the outcast. "And even if there was a spot open we couldn't have the likes of her healing our cats. She's not one of us!" The sharp words stung the young white cat.

"This is ridiculous. All she has to do is run fast enough and maybe the rogues won't catch her!" Waspclaw backed up Amberleaf. "She has no input in the clan. She can't fight or hunt and we have no need for more medicine cats." Mintstar seemed to actually consider this. He nodded.

"Uh--Wha-?!" Sparkfur's sharp fur was on end. Waspclaw laughed.

"Wow, got her speechless! That's a first!" He meowed quietly, flicking his thin, winding tail.

"You can't actually be considering leaving her to her death?!" Sparkfur growled. Frostleaf looked scared out of her mind. She had a right to be.

"I agree with Sparkfur. We'd be killing her, and I won't have that on my conscious." Berryfoot spoke up. Sparkfur glared at him.

"But she has no input to the clan!" Amberleaf retorted, her thick fur on end.

"Then we'd teach her." A tom spoke up. He was white with a patch of gray tabby on his face and front leg.

"Don't be silly, Cloudstream." Waspclaw rolled his eyes, "nobody wants to train an outcast."

"I will do it." Berryfoot volunteered.

"Not necessary Berryfoot." Mintstar finally spoke up, padding next to the white she-cat under debate. "Sparkfur will do it." Sparkfur's eyes grew wide.

"Wha-- no, I'm sure Berryfoot wil--"

"Are you defying an order from your leader?" the broad gray tom neared Sparkfur, looking her up and down.

"Well, no, I just..."

"Then you'll start tomorrow. You'll teach the outcast to hunt and defend herself. And if in three moons the clan decides she should stay, she'll stay. Otherwise..." He looked Sparkfur in the eye. "She's out. Even if it means she dies."