Warriors-Secrets Of The Realms:The Hope Drought #2

Chapter 4

Flowerpaw

She swished her tail across the den floor, alarmed to not find any bushy fur come in contact. "Owlpaw?" She shot up and glanced around the den. Owlpaw was nowhere in sight, nor were his littermates.

Bluepaw was stirring and she heaved to her paws. "Oh, up already, Flowerpaw?" She began slowly grooming herself, "Yes, do you know where I can find.." she trailed off. She didn't want anyone else to know of her fears for Owlpaw.

"Never mind." Bluepaw titled her head then shrugged. Flowerpaw could hear Dawnwhisker organizing a hunting patrol. "Sunshade, take Featherstep, Duskwing and Snakeheart. Try to find prey at that squirrels nest Whiteout found earlier. Dawnwhisker nodded to Whiteout. "Go with them."

She turned her gaze to Mosspetal. She was staring at a plump thrush across the clearing. Flowerpaw purred and padded towards it. She grasped it firmly in her jaws and heard towards Mosspetal. "Thank you, Flowerpaw. Sometimes. I feel like you're the only apprentice that does any work." Mosspetal sighed and took the thrush gratefully.

Leafkit and Aspenkit bounced into the clearing. "Thrush? That's my favourite!" Aspenkit squealed in excitement. "I'll catch another one for you later." Flowerpaw nudged him as he scampered toward his mother. "Okay!" He Mewed. "Can you get me a Hare?" Leafkit Asked. "Sure." She purred.

"Flowerpaw!" She heard her mentor, Runningfur, call to her. "I need you to fetch bedding for Rainstorm. He said his was soaking wet." Rainstorm emerged from his den at the sound of his name. "I'm not that weak! I'll fetch my own bedding." He slipped out of camp.

Runningfur sighed. "Sometimes Rainstorm acts a lot more younger then he is." Runningfur went back into the Warriors den. Flowerpaw yawned and stretched her legs. She might as well make herself useful. I'll see if Whirlwind has something for me to do. She went into the medicine den. "Oh, Flowerpaw! Just in time. I'm in dire need of Watermint. Featherwing has a upset stomach." Nettlepatch was sorting herbs with Featherwing waiting patiently at the corner. "I'll fetch some." She slipped out Into the forest.

She sighed and started running towards the stream that cut through Wingclan territory. It felt good to stretch her legs. She stumbled as she stretched her hindleg to far and sprained it. "Mouse-dung!" She cursed out loud as she lay crumpled on the forest floor. She dragged herself over to a nearby stream. There was a minty smell and followed it to the watermint.

She gently grasped it and dragged herself back to camp. "Oh, this will take a moon!" She complained. She heard the undergrowth rustle and Featherstep was looming over her. "By The Stars, Flowerpaw, What happened?" She was examine her sprained hindleg.

"Sprained it, that's all." She winced as she tried to haul herself to her paws. Featherstep nudged her gently and boosted her with her shoulder. "I'll carry the Watermint." Featherstep gently pulled it out of her grasp. "Wait- I'll bring more." Flowerpaw reached for more Watermint.

"You're not in fit enough condition for this." Flowerpaw hesistated. "Whirlwind needs all the Watermint she can get." She grasped the Watermint and began her trek back to camp.

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It felt like forever. She collapsed on the medicine den floor. Her sprained leg felt a lot more better, Whirlwind had checked it and it was fine by the time she got back to camp. "Here." She dropped a bundle of Watermint in her paws. Whirlwind stared in shock. "Did you collect all the Watermint?" Flowerpaw shook her head. "Why, this'll last us moons, you'll be a warrior by the time we're finished with this." Whirlwind slipped the Watermint into a hole.

Flowerpaw winced. She didn't think Whirlwind knew what she had said and what it meant to Flowerpaw. It would take her moons to become a warrior.

"Puddlesplash, do you know where Flowerpaw is?" She heard Owlpaw. "Calm down. She's probably out hunting or something." She heard Violetpaw. She charged out the medicine den. "Owlpaw!" She padded out the medicine den. "Where have you been?" She asked. "Uh, Hunting." Owlpaw hesistated. She tipped her head then shook it. It didn't matter. Owlpaw was here now.

She didn't question Where the Prey was, because he had brought back quite a large thrush, and Violetpaw was dragging three squirrels, one was thrown over her back, another one clamped in her jaws, and the third- was gone?

"How many did you catch?" She questioned. Violetpaw dropped the squirrel. "Two." She answered. She headed towards the fresh kill pile.

Flowerpaw shrugged. Hallucination. She looked back at Owlpaw, who was slinking miserably into his den. She was going to head after him, but Runningfur Called after her. "Eaglewing has a fat tick right where she can't get it. Go help her." Flowerpaw twitched an ear in annoyance.

"I can't wait to be a warrior. Then I'll start bossing you around, Runningfur." She trudged towards the elders den.