A Fox's Journey Book 7: Lavender Willow's Dream; Part Two

Chapter V-- The Hidden Cave

As the healers got closer to the meeting place the other healers met up with them to talk before the gathering.

"Hello Polar Blaze. Is this your apprentice and why are there so many of you guys here tonight? This is my apprentice Heather Paw and she is really showing great potential in being a healer."

"Hi, Thunder Storm! Yes this is my apprentice Tiny Paw. There are so many of us here tonight because, well I will explain that to you later." Polar Blaze calmly told Thunder Storm who in turn greeted Tiny Paw warmly.

"This must be your first Hidden Cave gathering then? Huh, I didn't see ya at the last gathering either, so is this also your first time being out of your camp?" Heather Paw excitedly asked Tiny Paw who nodded, but looked a bit overwhelmed. Polar Blaze then gave a signal with her tail to get Tiny Paw's attention.

"Once we get to the cave Tiny Paw I will show you what to do, but if you see something you must only conferr it with me." Polar Blaze told Tiny Paw solemnly who nodded.

"Yes of course Polar Blaze since I can only see two other healers does that mean we will meet the rest of them at the cave?" Tiny Paw anxiously asked Polar Blaze.

"Yes, but only if for StarRange's forsaken spirit know if and why any of them won't be there." Polar Blaze said with a shake of her head. Shortly they arrived at the cave and all of the other healers were there. At the foot of the cave Polar Blaze gave a nod and they went in.

"Welcome all of you to the Hidden Cave gathering. Before we begin I have an apprentice that needs to be approved by StarRange. Our survivor ancestors I call upon you to approve of my apprentice Tiny Paw. Come here Tiny Paw lap at some of the water now." Polar Blaze announced confidently to StarRange. Tiny Paw then did as she was told to and cautiously drank from the water. Then she heard the others lap silently at the calm waters too. Before Tiny Paw went to StarRange she noticed that Polar Blaze had not lapped at the waters, but instead was sleeping. I will have to ask her about that later, Tiny Paw thought. Suddenly she was swept to her Range's home turf.

"Welcome, Tiny Paw we have a warning for you not to heed, but to except. Darkness is starting to cloud all judgement and only a heart that is pure and blind can run through the mist and save all from destruction."A fox of StarRange told Tiny Paw silently. That was when Tiny Paw felt something shaking her.

"Tiny Paw wake up your having a bad dream." Heather Paw nervously called to Tiny Paw trying to wake her up. Tiny Paw could feel the other healers waking up around her, but she was still stuck on a blood stained battle field.

"Thunder Storm something must be wrong because Tiny Paw won't wake up and I have tried every possible trick." Heather Paw Screeched at her mentor because she was afraid for her new friends live. Thunder Storm looked down at the unconscious apprentice and then looked to Polar Blaze who too had been awoken by the commotion.

"Polar Blaze was there anything wrong with your apprentice before you left your camp?" Thunder Storm asked Polar Blaze in a serious tone.

"What the heck is going on Nettle Herb and I were just about to find a huge badger to hunt, but then we heard screaming." River Song asked grumily as she looked at Tiny Paw.

"River Song honestly sometimes I think that you enjoy being the grumpiest fox in MountainRange, and Tiny Paw is now stuck in a coma. This is why I never trusted there to be dead foxes that could speak to you, so coyote dung to all of you." Polar Blaze shouted at River Song as she tried to wake her sleeping apprentice.

"Both of you stop this nonsense complaining won't make anything better. Now let's get Tiny Paw back to the camp." Rip Tide said solemnly, but at the same time calmly.

"Wait before you go please sent a messenger to WaterfallRange when she wakes up just to let us know that she is okay. I mean since there will be no gathering next month." Heather Paw begged Polar Blaze who grunted and nodded. Then with help from Nettle Herb, Rip Tide carried Tiny Paw back to the camp where they met Lavender Willow and Pine Cone.

"What has happened to her! Why is she looking like this!" Pine Cone shouted at Polar Blaze who just shook her head.

"Their stupid StarRange has sent her into a coma. This is one of the reasons that I lost insight in them." Polar Blaze told them angrily. Lavender Willow looked down at Tiny Paw and looked like she was thinking for a moment and then she nodded at Pine Cone to leave.

"Polar Blaze what kind of talk is that now I understand if you are upset, but how can you even be a healer without your belief in StarRange?" Lavender Willow asked Polar Blaze unevenly.

"Well, this is all wolf brained if you asked me. You know I can still get certain visions without my belief in some dead foxes whom some think they can see. Also healing isn't all about that anyway as long as I can heal that is all I need. Plus you have four other healers now that do believe in them, so why would you even need me?" Polar Blaze said curly to Lavender Willow who shook her head in disbelief.

"We just do need you, but this is not something I have the power to control. All I must ask is what about your mother Willow Frost where do you think she is right now?" Lavender Willow asked Polar Blaze with growing apprehension.

"Then you see my point and I am not the only one who doesn't believe in dead foxes. I believe that Willow Frost is probably in a better place right now living more peacefully then us, and I also believe that I will get to see her again one day alive and not dead." Polar Blaze told Lavender Willow with sudden sadness in her voice.

"You must miss our mother dearly Polar Blaze, but don't you think that she is StarRange?" Lavender Willow asked Polar Blaze who looked at her paws and then moved on.

"You guys it is time to move on Tiny Paw we hope you have Swift hunting and successful running wherever you may be now." Polar Blaze said as she looked down at her dead apprentice who had died two days ago to a deadly sickness that she couldn't handle.

"Heather Paw there you are I have some news." Polar Blaze told Heather Paw sadly.

"Hi, Polar Blaze. My name is Heather Breeze now. What is it?" Heather Breeze asked.

"Tiny Song has died she woke up just barely to get her healing name." Polar Blaze responded.

"Oh, that's awful."

"Yes I know, Tiny Song had the makings of a really good healer." Polar Blaze told Heather Breeze as she watched her put herbs in her herb stock.

"You must take sympathies for her back to MountainRange from all of WaterfallRange on my behalf." Heather Breeze said sympathetically to Polar Blaze.

"Polar Blaze you must leave now I am so sorry, but my Range sees you as a trespasser. I am so sorry I shall send an escort with you back to the border." Moon Light came into tell Polar Blaze.

"I shall not need that escort thank you very much. I can see and I do know the way back to my territory and for StarRange's sake can't you leaders make up some rule in your stupid code to allow healers to pass in peace?" Polar Blaze asked Moon Light offensively.

"Good night, Polar Blaze I hope to see you soon." Heather Breeze called to Polar Blaze before she had left. Soon Polar Blaze was well on her way back home and to safety. She only shook her head at the burial for Tiny Song.