Aspenleaf's Duty

Chapter 22

Thunderclan entered a kind of stupor after the death of the deputy. Ravencall had been the one who kept the clan running when Silverstar was unable to. Without him there, no-one was certain where they were meant to be and when.

Although Silverstar had announced one of the senior warriors, Shellclaw as the new deputy, the clan remained nervous. He was one of the oldest warriors in the clan and it surely wouldn't be long before he was making his way to the elders' den.

Aspenpaw however was torn between her grief for the foster father who had treated her like his own kit and worry for Drypaw. Robinblaze had carried his apprentice back to the camp and deposited her unconscious into the medicine den. Poppydust had warned that the shock and blood loss could prove too much for the diminutive she-cat.

Ravencall's vigil was a difficult time. Icepaw nestled close to his father's head, his mother close to his side. On the other side of the deputy's head, Aspenpaw settled herself beside the deputy, resting her nose against his shoulder fur. Shadowpaw sat beside her, his nose buried in his mentor's pelt. No cat spoke throughout the long cold night.

At dawn, the deputy was buried. Icepaw padded away with his mother to comfort her. The other three apprentices made their way to the medicine den where they settled beside Drypaw. At some point, their exhaustion took over they all four of them fell firmly asleep.

They woke to find Drypaw stirring and by sunset that day she had opened her eyes and even managed to eat something. When Poppydust had checked her tail a few sunrises later, she reported it was healing well with no signs of infection.

And so, a new routine seemed to start for them. Upon finishing their duties, they returned to the medicine den to spend their time with her. They soon found that the apprentice was struggling with balance and even standing seemed to be painful for her. None of them seemed sure how to approach this until Icepaw had stepped forward and gently nudged her to her paws and gently guided her on a lap of the camp letting her lean against him. In the subsequent days, the friends had made regular trips around the camp, Drypaw propped between them until she became steadier on her paws. Finally, after about a quarter moon, she could almost walk unaided.

Aspenpaw and Shadowpaw were sitting together, sharing a vole and watching as Icepaw was leading Drypaw back into the medicine den. Robinblaze happened to look up at that moment and followed them in. He had been in there almost as much as they had, his face furrowed in concern for his apprentice.

"He cares so much about her..." murmured Aspenpaw.

Shadowpaw nodded. "Would it surprise you at all if they became mates once she's made a warrior?"

She stared at him. "Why would you think that?"

He rolled his eyes. "Oh, come on! She's had a thing from him as long as I've known her... and as you said, he cares for her an awful lot too."

She shrugged. "Mentors care about their apprentices, it doesn't mean anything will come of it."

Almost as soon as she spoke, Tigerfang and Blackheart padded into the camp, their heads close together muttering. After a moment, Tigerfang glanced over at Aspenpaw, nodded to his brother and padded away towards the leader's den.

She tipped her head as her father made his way over to her. "How's the prey running you two?"

"What's Tigerfang doing?" she asked curiously, though she had a suspicion she knew the answer.

Shadowpaw rolled his eyes at her again. "Could it be the thing he's been doing every quarter moon for the last three moons, Aspenpaw? I feel like it would be highly likely."