The Medicine Cat Code

Chapter Twenty

***DRAMATIC FLASHBACK COMMENCES***

Heatherpaw bounded lopsidedly across the WindClan moor, her leg throbbing profusely. Blood rushed swiftly from a large gash situated towards her paw and spilled harshly against the soft, pastel grass. She recalled her previous motives as she began to tire; what was she thinking? A WindClan cat couldn't climb trees, even if they'd managed to launch a prize rabbit into the tops of a grand oak. She was a useless hunter, no cat could deny. Heatherpaw found solace as she neared the ShadowClan border, leaping into a nearby bush. She felt the spines of a holly plant pierce her skin, but no prick could mask the pain she felt on her leg. Will I ever run again?

"What'cha doin' in this 'ere bush, m'lady," an unfamiliar voice asked, tipping their invisible fedora.

Heatherpaw jumped out of her skin, flailing to the floor in a mound of bones. The cat shrugged and left-

***I'M KIDDING I'M KIDDING I JUST REALLY WANTED TO WRITE THAT SOZ***

Heatherpaw almost jumped out of her skin, darting around to find the culprit of the question. She laid eyes on a pale brown tom, his muscles popping beneath his short fur. He had gentle copper eyes that sparked in the sun, and his fur was so light that it almost resembled a pink colour. His tail was elongated and waving in curiosity, and she soon found herself lulled into a sense of security by its movement. A hypnotising gesture, was it not?

"Sorry, did I frighten you's?" he asked sincerely, an accent twanging his words.

"Uh... No, not at all! I'm fine, just, leave me alone," Heatherpaw dismissed him untruthfully.

The tom tilted his head, turning his attention to her bleeding leg. "You's is hurt m'lady, can I be of assistance's to ya?"

Heatherpaw grumbled, gazing down at her pulsing leg. She knew it'd become infected if she dragged it back to WindClan in such a state, but she didn't trust this stranger.

"I ain't unprofessional you know's, I'm a trainee in hurtin' legs!" he teased gently, and Heatherpaw giggled.

"Can you really help me?" she questioned him worriedly, whimpering as pain surged through her.

He smiled. "'Course I can! Just give me a minute 'n' I'll be healin' that foot 'o yours in no time!"

He backed away swiftly, the leaves batting forward as his figure left. Heatherpaw watched his shadow move with wide, concerned eyes. Could she trust a cat she'd never met to mend her leg? It wasn't like she had much of a choice but, would he hurt her even more? She bent down and groomed her wound, the foul taste of blood running down her throat. She winced at the metallic flavour as it hung on her tongue; she hoped he'd be back soon, whoever he was.

"Alrighty, I've got you's some marigold 'n' cobweb, no need to fear! Gimme your leg m'lady," he mewed positively, gesturing for her approval.

Heatherpaw nodded, and the tom crept through the bush past her. She smelt his scent as his pelt brushed against her nose, and she felt at ease by his foreign aroma. He nestled down beside her leg, and with a pawful of dampened moss he bathed it softly. She gritted her teeth at the pain, and he lashed his tail towards her and rested it on her paw. Heatherpaw gazed up in confusion and was met with a gentle smile. He's so wonderful...

"The pain's over m'lady, it's gon' be alright" he assured her truthfully, wrapping the marigold in a cobweb and securing it around her leg.

"Thank you... I never caught your name?" she pressed.

"Salmonpaw, at your services," he introduced himself gleefully.

Heatherpaw grinned. "I'm Heatherpaw, thank you for helping me."

"That's some pretty name m'lady, how's about we gets you out 'o this bush 'n' back to WindClan, aye?" he suggested enticingly, rubbing against her fur.

He hauled her onto her paws and made her an exit from the bush she lied in, the sunlight blaring in her eyes. She squinted it back, feeling his tail twine with hers. She felt herself heating up, her heart fluttering. He's such a romantic cat... Wait... How did he know-?

"Bright ol' day today, huh?" he commented.

Heatherpaw scowled. "How did you know I was from WindClan?"

Salmonpaw ignored her. "You got pretty eyes m'lady."

"Stop dodging my question! How did you know I was from WindClan?"

Salmonpaw sighed, lowering his gaze. "I saw you's huntin' that rabbit, 'n' I saw's it leap in the tree."

Heatherpaw's eyes widened and she averted her eyes. Embarrassment rose in her blood at the thought of him seeing such a dramatic failure, but Salmonpaw didn't care. He padded towards the tree in which the rabbit flew into and picked up something at the stump. He brought it back to her and dropped it at her paws, and to her amazement it was the same rabbit, donning a feather on its scales.

"You got my rabbit... Now my Clan won't give me the name Heatherfail! Thank you!" she cried, nosing him.

Salmonpaw chuckled. "I hope they give you the name Heatherfeather."

Heatherpaw purred. "Why? Because of this beautiful feather?"

Salmonpaw paused, a purr rising in his own throat.

"No, because you looked like a feather trampling down that moor SYKE GET REKT 360 NOSCOPED AYYYYYYY."

Heatherpaw screeched in outrage as Salmonpaw fled the scene, waving his tail in amusement as he went. She tried to chase after him in fury, but her leg stopped her. Grunting, she let out an almighty scream.

"I HOPE THEY CALL YOU SALMONFLOP, BECAUSE YOU JUST FLOPPED ON GETTING A CAT AS FABULOUS AS ME!"

And with that, Heatherpaw sauntered at the pace of a snail back to WindClan, head held high. Salmonflop would always be in her heart for helping her, but only as the flop he was.

She grumbled to herself. "Flopping idiot."

~ Written by Hazel, who is actually on leave/on a trip but still updates anyway because she's nice like that~

*** the author making fun of Rio's serious stars last time. What, you thought I used them because I thought they looked pretty?