The Medicine Den

Medicine Den - Part 8

A yowl.

Hazelbreeze closed her eyes, anxiety prickling in her pelt. That sound is too familiar... "I have to go," she turned toward Sandpuddle, his soft blue eyes were filled with worry. Rain patterned down onto the forest floor, mud pools surrounded them. "What's wrong?" He asked, his light creamy fur spiking. Hazelbreeze hesitated, she needed to find Ashcloud, something bad could have happened. But I don't want to leave him. The brown-ginger she-cat leaned forward and licked Sandpuddle between the ears, were she could reach because he was quite short. "See you soon" She whispered, still drowning in his beautiful blue oceans for eyes. As Hazelbreeze dragged herself away from him and padded into the rainy forest, she heard another scream. Fur on end, she pelted as fast as she could toward the sound of Ashcloud.

Rouge smell hit her nose, putrid sour rouges. The rain fell harder as Hazelbreeze stumbled on, following the sound of her apprentice. She stopped as she glimpsed pelts through the bracken. Hazelbreeze ducked her head and hid behind a raspberry bush. The rain hid her scent, she peered through leaves to see a band of cats circling the small shape of Ashcloud. There's to many, the she-cat's heart quickened. She ran as quietly as possible and as fast as she could to the MapleClan camp.

Mintleaf and Fircloud were standing guard, Mintleaf's black pelt slick from the rain-which had stopped. Hazelbreeze panted, almost crashing into the cats. "Quick!" She puffed, fur spiking. "Ashcloud i-is being captured by r-rouges" the she-cat stammered, desperately trying to get them to understand. Fircloud yowled and dashed inside the thorn tunnel, Mintleaf fixed her gaze past Hazelbreeze "Where is she?" The black she-cat demanded, "Not far from the Mouse Maple" Hazelbreeze sighed a relief as a patrol filed out of the camp, Orchidshade in the lead. The ginger-brown she-cat could hear mewling inside "But I want to go!" Foxkit wailed "No. This is a mission for the warriors" Her mother, Rosespeckle said sternly. Still anxious, Hazelbreeze slipped inside the thorn tunnel. Vinestar paced in the clearing, his green eyes sparking with uncertainty. Orangefur was sunning himself next to Goldendawn, their heads bent in quiet conversation. The smell of dew was calming to Hazelbreeze, she padded across the lush green clearing to the welcoming sight of the Medicine Den. A dark ginger shape blurred in front her, Squirrelkit crashed into the thin body of Palekit. His fluffy white tail still bobbing up and down. "Get of me you fur-ball" Palekit shoved his brother of with tiny white paws "That's not how you play the game" Squirrelkit frowned as he got up, a piece of moss stuck behind his ear "Well, I don't care" He stuck his chin up into the air and strutted across the clearing to join Foxkit, who was still grumbling about not going with the patrol. Hazelbreeze purred, pushing through the ivy leaves and smelling the tangy scent of herbs.

The patrol had come back with Ashcloud, fear scent tinged the breeze. Hazelbreeze rushed out of her Den, relieved when she saw a speckled grey she-cat. It was dark by the time they had arrived, the stars glittered like tiny silver eyes in the dusky sky. A gentle breeze stirred the tall grass around the camp. Hazelbreeze could still hear the faint twittering of birds as she started across the pale glade toward the patrol. Latemoon chatted with Orchidshade, probably talking about the rogues. Amberfall walked with Fernbreeze to the fresh-kill pile, which was looking a bit low. Foxkit and her brother, Squirrelkit were eagerly asking question to Blackfire, who was describing the rouges. Ashcloud stood off to the side, staring at her paws. "Are you okay?" Hazelbreeze asked scanning a deep wound in her shoulder, she growled "Where were you" she meowed evenly. Hazelbreeze's heart stopped, did Ashcloud know that she was meeting with Sandpuddle? No. She thought, How would she know anyways? "I was gathering herbs, the I heard you yowling, so I got help" She lied. Ashcloud turned away, clearly embarrassed of being attacked by the rogues. "How about we treat those wounds?", "I can do it myself" The speckled she-cat stalked off to the Medicine Den, twitching her tail. Hazelbreeze sighed, Maybe I shouldn't have met up with him...