Warrior Cats Book 1: A Dark Path- Dusk of the Clans

Chapter 13

"Hey Shadowpaw, come with me to get traveling herbs, and I want to check Foxpaw before we go as well." Ivyleaf called back to the black she-cat. Shadowpaw nodded and pushed through the brambles after the medicine cat. Foxpaw was still asleep when they arrived, and Shadowpaw felt another prickle of guilt for the other apprentice.

Ivyleaf's voice snapped her out of her thoughtful daze, "Here are your traveling herbs, they'll be bitter but you'll be glad for them in the end."

Shadowpaw dipped her head in thanks and lapped up the leaves, their sharp taste causing her to wrinkle her nose. Ivyleaf's tail flicked slowly as she gently sniffed Foxpaw's wounds, "He should be fine if he rests, we have a lot of ground to cover, lets head out."

Shadowpaw stretched, her sleek black fur glinting in the sun. The medicine cat ducked through the tunnel, Shadowpaw following close behind. The clan cats still left in camp meowed their farewells and wished the two cats good luck. Shadowpaw let out a sigh once they padded out into the forest, the grass cool under her paws. "RiverClan is closest, we will travel there first." Ivyleaf meowed, twining through trees and ducking to avoids the dense undergrowth.

Before long Shadowpaw's ears perked at the sound of trickling water, which steadily grew into the louder rush of the river. The cool, fresh scent of water followed the sound.

Shadowpaw wrinkled her nose as the stench of RiverClan hit the roof of her mouth. Ivyleaf led the way over the stepping stones and onto the RiverClan side of the shore.

Sharp pebbles dug into the pads on Shadowpaw's paws, causing her to wince. Ivyleaf continued toward the camp, "Keep your fur flat, we don't want to look hostile."

Shadowpaw made sure to flatten her sleek pelt, "Got it." She meowed in reply. Blinking her eyes against the bright shafts of light Shadowpaw saw the colorful reeds and ferns of the RiverClan camp ahead, and the flashes of fur through patches in the wall confirmed her thoughts.

Ivyleaf approached the entrance, and two RiverClan guards leaped to their paws, the fur on their shoulders rising. The first one, a large bramble tabby narrowed his eyes, "Why have you come!"

Ivyleaf kept her meow steady, "I am ThunderClans medicine cat, or have you forgotten?" Shadowpaw giggled inwardly at the medicine cats sharp remark.

The other warrior ground his teeth and meowed, "Why are you in RiverClan?" Ivyleaf met his eyes with a calm gaze, "I must speak to Elmcloud."

The RiverClan warriors narrowed their eyes, then stepped aside for the two cats to pass. Shadowpaw kept her gaze ahead as she followed the medicine cat into the camp.

A large tom stood and padded forward to greet the two cats, Ivyleaf dipped her head in greeting, "Shellstar." The tom dipped his head, "My apologies for the guards, two of our warriors were murdered so we have increased patrols." Ivyleaf looked surprised, and Shadowpaw mocked the look convincingly.

The RiverClan leader whisked his tail to dismiss the thought, "Why have you come to RiverClan? Nothing bad I hope."

Ivyleaf shifted her paws slightly, "A troubling vision." The leaders eyes flashed and he nodded, his lowering his voice, "Go right ahead to speak with her, she should be back in her den." Shadowpaw dipped her head quietly to the leader, and padded with the medicine cat. "Shadowpaw, will you wait here please, and don't cause trouble." The she-cat winked and padded through the wall of reeds. Shadowpaw rolled her eyes and settled down, her gaze sweeping over the RiverClan cats.

A silver and white she-cat padded over with a smile, "Hello." Shadowpaw blinked and dipped her head, "Hello." She meowed.

The RiverClan cat sat next to her, "I'm Silverfrost, and you are?" Shadowpaw was taken aback by the other clan cats friendliness, "Shadowpaw, I'm Shadowpaw." The black cat meowed. Silverfrost was about t say something when a dark gray tom called, "Silverfrost, we need you on the hunting patrol!" The she-cat sighed, "Coming Stormpool!"

Shadowpaw dipped her head in a polite farewell as the RiverClan cat padded off, disappearing through the reeds. Not that much time passed before Ivyleaf padded out once again, looking troubled, "Elmcloud had the same vision, she's going to WindClan, and it's up to us to visit ShadowClan."

Shadowpaw nodded, stretching and following the medicine cat out of the RiverClan camp after quick and polite farewells.

Shadowpaw was glad to be away from RiverClan, and let her thoughts wander as they padded toward ShadowClan. The trees began to grow closer together, and rank smell of ShadowClan grew stronger.

Shadowpaw gazed curiously around the dark forest as the medicine cat trekked onward. The marshy pine covered earth below her paws almost reminded her of the Dark Forest.

Ivyleaf halted abruptly, sending Shadowpaw crashing from her thoughts. The she-cat tensed as cats melted from the shadows, surrounding them.

One of the warriors glared at them with fierce eyes, "Why are you in our territory ThunderClan spies!" She spat.

Ivyleaf met the cats gaze, "We are not spies, we have come because we must speak with Gingerleaf." A dark pelted tom gently shouldered the she-cat, "Come on Jaywing, let's take them to camp, two cats are no threat to our clan."

The she-cat looked like she wanted to argue, but kept her jaws clamped shut. The ShadowClan cats nudged the ThunderClan cats through the darkly lit forest.

Shadowpaw dug her claws into the ground as a tom nudged her rudely from behind. "Get a move on Tinypaw." The tom teased. Shadowpaw clenched her jaws as anger surged through her pelt. A densely built wall of brambles appeared ahead, and the ShadowClan cats ducked into the well hidden entrance.?

F Curious gazes set upon the newcomers, and a small she-cat poked through the crowd. "Ivyleaf, good to see you old friend, what brings you here to ShadowClan?" The two cats touched noses in a polite greeting. Ivyleaf lowered her voice and meowed quietly, the ShadowClan medicine cats eyes widened and she meowed, "Go on and continue your duties, I must speak with Ivyleaf." Shadowpaw waited in the shaded clearing, her eyes on her paws as she thought.

After what seemed like moons before Ivyleaf finally padded back out, motioning for Shadowpaw to follow her out of camp. "So far ThunderClan, RiverClan, and ShadowClan have had the same vision, I'm guessing WindClan has to. Whatever StarClan is warning us about, whatever is lurking in the shadows ahead, it's going to be disastrous."

(Wow lots of stuff I've been doing! Really busy stuff, but I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter, sorry it took like 19248733 days to come out! <3 Jade)