Hydrowhisker's Friend - A Warrior Cats Fanfiction

Chapter 9

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It was mid-afternoon when Hydrowhisker neared the ValleyClan-SeaClan border. The sun was still high, casting shadows between the rocks and bushed. The walk had been quick due to Hydrowhisker's keenness to meet her Clanmates.

I have to take care of the whole Clan now, she realized. Cats, like Gorgepaw, trust me. I can't let them down; if I make a mistake, the cost will not be light. She tried to shake off that feeling of gravity. Everything will be alright; after all, ValleyClan has survived without a medicine cat for so long, and the only difference now is that we do have a medicine cat; if I ever need help, I can always look for help from other Clans. Right?

"A border patrol," Swashgaze sniffed the air.

"Hydropaw! You're back!"

Hydrowhisker stopped as she recognized Gorgepaw's voice. She caught him standing above on a tall rock, with his mentor Deertail after him.

"Nice to see you, Hydropaw," Deertail leaped down and greeted, "you too, Swashpaw."

Hydrowhisker casted a side glance, having trouble to hide her proud little grin. "I am now Hydrowhisker."

"And I am Swashgaze," Swashgaze answered.

The light brown warrior dipped her head in respect. "Great to hear."

"Congratulations!" Gorgepaw stepped forward. "I know you will do an amazing job as a medicine cat.

Hydrowhisker purred gratefully. "Thanks." She turned to Swashgaze. See you here at moonhigh?"

"Alright, see you then." Swashgaze nodded and was gone in a swish of the tail.

"Looks like we missed a lot," Gorgepaw meowed, looking at Hydrowhisker. "You missed something, too. Cliffsky gave birth to three kits yesterday! You have to see them-- they are absolutely adora--"

Another voice cut him off. "Hey." Spikefoot's brown pelt flashed as he from behind a rock with a fat rabbit, taking Hydrowhisker by surprise. "She is Hydrowhisker now," Gorgepaw explained enthusiastically. "And Swashpaw is now Swashgaze, though she is already gone."

"Already a medicine cat? So soon?" Spikefoot asked with amusement.

"Yeah. Just today." Hydrowhisker twitched her whiskers. Did Spikefoot think she was not good enough?

"I just thought medicine cats' apprenticeships would last some moons longer, that's all." Spikefoot picked up his rabbit and signaled the others to head back to camp. "Still, good news."

Hydrowhisker noticed her clanmates didn't look much more relieved that ValleyClan finally got a real medicine cat, they were simply... glad. Had they really gotten that used to life without a medicine cat?

"So, did you do something really smart or heroic that made Rippledrop decide you had to be a medicine cat immediately?" The ginger tabby apprentice asked.

Hydrowhisker stared at him for a moment, not knowing how to respond. A lot had happened in the last few days. "Well," she began, skipping over a piece of sharp rock on the ground, "Swashgaze and I saved a SaplingClan warrior from a disease."

"That's cool!" Gorgepaw exclaimed. "Who did you save? What disease was it?"

"Gorgepaw, let's give our new medicine cat a break. She must be very tired from all the traveling." Deertail told him gently.

"Oh, all right then, sorry." Gorgepaw fell silent. His tail drooped.

"I'm fine, really." Hydrowhisker told them, "If Gorgepaw wants to hear my story, I'll tell him." She found Gorgepaw's eyes shining again, and went on, "it was Barkleg, an old SaplingClan warrior. He got a really rare disease..." she kept going until she got to the part which she got her medicine cat name with Swashgaze, carefully ignoring the parts where she basically begged Rippledrop and Greentwig for Swashgaze to be a medicine cat, and what Lettucepaw revealed about Cloverstar's intentions on the war. Her pelt prickled uncomfortably as she thought of the war. But luckily, it should be over now, once the two leaders confront as Cloverstar realizes Barkleg was cured.