Lost Stars

Chapter twelve

Blizzardclaw awoke in a sweat. His surroundings becoming unfamiliar until he remembered he was in the nursery. He sat up as he detached himself from Brindlecloud's curled tail. Dawnlight streamed weakly on CloudClan's camp.

He breathed in slowly then exhaled. He pushed himself out the nursery and padded over to the medicine den. He went inside coming face to face with the small form of Rockpaw. "Can't sleep??"

Blizzardclaw nodded as he waited. Rockpaw calmed turned around and padded deeper inside the medicine den with Blizzardclaw behind him.

The smell of herbs were strong and Blizzardclaw remembered the herbs Rockpaw and Milo had put on Heronstar. "What was the herb you used on Heronstar??" He mewed softly. Rockpaw lifted his tail up.

"We'll talk in Milo's and Blue den. Redpaw is sleeping." Blizzardclaw looked around until he saw her sleeping form looking peacefully. "She came in around moonhigh looking scared out of her mind."

Blizzardclaw sighed softly as he padded over and licked her pelt gently then followed Rockpaw who had gathered some poppy seeds. Then he ducked underneath a low-hanging rock.

Once inside Blizzardclaw saw Milo and Blue sorting herbs. He waited by the entrance as Rockpaw went over and layed down the poppy seeds. Blue looked up moments later and gave a nod in which Blizzardclaw nodded back. He looked around the den. 'It's so spacious! And it smells so good back here!'

"What brings you to us??" Milo asked as she padded over and sniffed. Once she seemed satisfied he wasn't sick, she stood back.

"I've been having dreams of Icepaw...not recently though. They started coming back when I fell asleep last night and dreamed of Heronstar."

She nodded slowly. "That's normal when a sibling lose a sibling they were close too. Have you seen her while you were awake??"

"I wasn't close to her when she was here. Adderfrost was." He mewed angrily. "No I haven't saw her while I've been awake."

Blue padded over. "That's guilt you're feeling then. It'll go away soon, I hope. I was the same way when I lost Flea."

"When we both lost Flea." Milo murmured. "The war changed us and we aren't who we used to be."

Blizzardclaw nodded agreeingly as he watched the two medicine cats comfort each other. Rockpaw lifted up his head and yawned.
"Lavender was what we used, Blizzardclaw."

He turned confused then remembered what he had asked.

Milo nudged Blue and he turned calling out herbs and Rockpaw started reciting the names he knew. Milo then  jerked her head and padded out with Blizzardclaw.

The gray, black and white she-cat glanced at Redpaw when she padded by but kept on walking.

Blizzardclaw did the same. He came in contact with the cold, chilly wind and was glad he had a long pelt.
Milo walked over to the elders den and padded inside.

The white tom looked towards the fresh-kill pile but didn't see anything. 'This may be the coldest leaf-fall ever!'

He sat down beside the medicine den as he watched his Clanmates come over and say one last thing to Heronstar. He saw Stormclaw come out his den and watch with sad eyes as Heronstar layed there.

Milo then appeared with Weaselfur and they both looked towards Stormclaw who nodded. The gray-pelted tom then jumped off the High log and started helping Milo pick up Heronstar. The she-cat backed away as Nightwing came over and gently grabbed his scruff and they padded out the camp.

Blizzardclaw saw the apprentices sitting around their den, not talking but watching and waiting.

Moments later, Weaselfur, Stormclaw and Nightwing padded back in camp, dirt lingering on their paws. Stormclaw gave a nod to his warriors then jumped on the High log. "All cats quick enough to catch prey on the moors, gather beneath the High log!" His voice was strong as he spoke, not like last night.