Warriors: Starfaith's Fate (SOB short story) (COMPLETE)

Chapter 8

Starpaw sat inside the medicine den, quietly sorting herbs into piles. She cast a glance at the entrance of the den. Silverberry had gone to collect horsetail, and though Starpaw usually enjoyed her mentors company, she felt glad to have the den to herself. With everything that had happened recently, she needed time alone with her thoughts.

It had been several days since Icetail had gone mad and killed two of his newborn kits. To Starpaw's dismay, very few cats attended Icetail's vigil. Thunderjolt, Darkstorm, and several other warriors insisted that Icetail was a murderer who didn't deserve any respect, even in death. Very few cats forgave him for his crime. 

Starpaw had been one of the only cats to spend the night by Icetail's body, along with Silverberry, Gladestar, and Firetail. She knew that Icetail had been a good cat. She had seen him as a loving mate to Willowtail, and a loyal, skilled warrior. He never would have killed anyone, let alone his own kits if he'd been in the right state of mind.

The clan was still very much in shock over the tragedy, but no more than Willowtail. The loss of her kits and mate had deeply effected her. She was often seen shaking in her nest, keeping Thistlekit close to her as though afraid that something horrible would take him from her too. Silverberry and Starpaw had given her thyme multiple times, yet they couldn't tell if it was helping her or not.

"No herb can heal a broken heart," Silverberry had told Starpaw quietly. "Only time can do that for us."

I've never felt so... sad. Starpaw thought as she swept some poppy seeds into a neat little pile, shaking remaining seeds from her pads. First Dewpaw, and now this... Why are you doing this, StarClan?

She heard pawsteps and turned to see Silverberry entering the den, carrying several stalks of horsetail in her mouth. She dipped her head to her apprentice as she set them down. "Hello, Starpaw." She hesitated. "Would you please check on Willowtail while I see the elders?"

"Alright." Starpaw was glad that her mentor hadn't mentioned Icetail and how she believed that Starpaw had foreseen his madness since the day it had happened. I hope she doesn't still think that StarClan told me about it... How could she think that I would hide something so important?

She padded past Silverberry and headed out into the clearing. She heard an irritated hiss and looked across the camp in alarm. Jaggedear was standing in front of Monarchwing, his tail lashing back and forth. He was joined by Soakedears and Scorchpaw, who looked uneasy.

"This is the third time now!" Jaggedear was exclaiming to the clan deputy, his tone edged with frustration. "Tornadopaw just disappears, then returns late at night before I can even train him."

Scorchpaw nodded, his eyes fixed on his paws. "He's hardly around anymore. He's never even in his nest when I wake up," He admitted quietly. "He smells strange now, too."

The clan deputy was looking at the cats thoughtfully. "He is your apprentice, Jaggedear," She pointed out. "You should know where he is at all times."

The tabby warrior let out a snort. "My job is to train an apprentice, not keep a curious kit in line!"

"He's right, Monarchwing," Soakedears hesitantly put in. "I have to admit, I've never seen an apprentice like Tornadopaw. He doesn't listen to any cat. It's not Jaggedear's fault."

Monarchwing let out a sigh. "I suppose you're right. Jaggedear, once he returns to camp, the two of us will have a talk with him."

Where could Tornadopaw be going? Starpaw wondered as she continued across the clearing to the nursery. Scorchpaw is right. He's acting like a totally different cat. As she slipped into the den, she heard Blazinglight's meow.