A New Horizon Book 2: The Dying Forest {COMPLETE}

Chapter 4

AshClan's territory was quiet, the only noise that could be heard was the sound of Blackpaw walking through the forest, disturbing the pine needles on the ground. He moved through his territory with confidence, carrying the burdock root in his jaws. Encountering the SunClan apprentice Falconpaw had soured his mood, that furball had enough arrogance for the entirety of AshClan to share, and AshClan had it's fair share of arrogant warriors. Falconpaw, however, was the worst of them all.

Blackpaw neared his camp, the thorn entrance slowly rising up in the distance along with the tall, towering pines that surrounded AshClan's camp. When he stepped inside the camp, brushing past the thorn barrier, he noticed that life in AshClan was starting to begin. Puddleclaw was sunning herself outside the nursery, her kits resting inside. Stormheart approached her, dropping a piece of fresh-kill for his mate.

Ravensong was talking closely with Silvermoon and Lilyclaw as the three of them shared a piece of fresh-kill. Blackpaw walked past his Clanmates towards his own den where his mentor, Skyfeather was sorting herbs.

"Did you get that burdock root?" Skyfeather questioned as he heard Blackpaw approach, he looked over his shoulder. Blackpaw dropped the herbs. "

That's the last that was growing in that area, but there should be more in the back of the territory."

"It's not a big deal." Skyfeather replied, taking the burdock root in his jaws and putting it with the rest of the herbs. The two medicine cats kept their herbs in a hole in the ground, covered by thick moss and lichen to protect it and keep it hidden. "There's not a lot of rats around this time, I just want to make sure we're prepared."

Every since the journey to the moonstone the other night, Skyfeather had been incredibly paranoid. Blackpaw was normally visited by the former AshClan medicine cat, Moonwhisker who was very kind and calm, but last night she was terrified of something. Skyfeather had experienced something similar, and Blackpaw could only assume that the other medicine cats had seen the same thing.

What Moonwhisker had told Blackpaw crept in the back of his mind like a shadow, she warned him that there was a danger lurking in the forest, and to watch for something he couldn't see. Blackpaw had no idea what she meant, how could Blackpaw find something that he couldn't see? He tried his best to hide his fears from Skyfeather and the rest of AshClan, but it wasn't easy. Skyfeather hadn't even told Riverstar about their dreams.

"Riverstar doesn't need that to worry about right now, you see how she's been acting. She's unstable, and she needs time to just be a normal leader." Skyfeather had told Blackpaw about keeping silent and he was right. Blackpaw barely recalled the time before Riverstar became leader, he was born just before the battle that nearly wiped out AshClan. Blackpaw had been just a kit at the time, he had little to no memories of AshClan before then.

"Are you listening?" Skyfeather's sharp mew pulled Blackpaw out of his thoughts, his blue eyes narrow.

"Yeah, sorry." Blackpaw apologized, his pelt heating up slightly. "What did you need?" He questioned.

"Can you take Silvermoon some ragwort? Ashblaze told me she was complaining about joint pain earlier." Skyfeather nudged the leaves toward Blackpaw. Blackpaw nodded are carefully picked up the leaves. He crossed the camp to the nursery.

As he stepped inside he nearly tripped over Hailkit, one of the newly born kits. Daughter to Puddleclaw and Stormheart. "Sorry, Blackpaw." Puddleclaw brought her daughter close to her. "She's quite the wanderer for a kit who can't see yet."

Blackpaw let out a chuckle in response and set down the herbs in front of Silvermoon who lifted her head. "Some ragwort for your aching joints."

"Thank you, Blackpaw." Silvermoon purred and quickly ate the leaves, making a face as she did so. Ragwort was not the best tasting herb out there. He asked Puddleclaw if everything was fine with her and the kits and if she was produce enough milk for them. When she said all was good, Blackpaw left.