Forgotten Whispers: Silent Echoes

Chapter 4

A/N I know at this point you guys can point out I haven't had a picture of the map of the clans. I just have to work out the kinks with mapping out the territories along with their gathering place along with Birchclan's border close to the Twolegs. Other than that I hope you enjoy the story.

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  Sharp ringing stabbed Partridge's ears and the pain in her front leg felt worse than a bee sting. Partridge opened her eyes and found she wasn't in the medicine den or the meadow. Looking down at her wounded leg it was wrapped in cobweb and she tried to get up. The branches of the bush she was in pressed against her back as she tried to stand. Then, she flopped back down which worsened the pain in her leg.

  After Partridge flopped down Brightwave and Meadow came into the bush. With more cobwebs and other herbs, she recognized from her pre-apprentice training.

  "Oh, I guess someone's finally awake," Brightwave mewed before setting down bindweed and a couple of sticks that would help with Partridge's leg.

  "Should we start resetting her leg? We only put cobwebs and a poultice to stop the bleeding." Meadow mewed cutting to the point while setting down dandelion, comfrey root, broom, and stinging nettle.

  "I'm still surprised we were able to find this much out here but yes resetting the wound would probably be the best thing to do right now." The tom replied to his apprentice before looking at Partridge. "Partridge, do you mind giving me your paw for a moment?"

  Shifting in the makeshift nest Partridge flexed her right leg which made her twinge in pain. Brightwave then gave her a couple of dandelion leaves before getting to work on the leg. Although the dandelion leaves were somewhat effective small twinges of pain struck through Partridge and it made her hiss in pain.

  "Ok, that might hold for a while I need to check on Honeycomb now," Brightwave mewed before looking at his apprentice. "Meadow I need for you to keep a lookout for Partridge for me and come get Flamethistle or me if there are any complications, alright?" Brightwave's mew drew a bit cautious before Meadow gave a nod with her eyes closed in understanding. Brightwave gave a wary look at Partridge before heaving himself out of the bush.

  "Umm...Meadow why did Brightwave look worried?" Partridge questioned her littermate.

  Meadow's eyes held a melded sadness before sighing, "Partridge I don't know how to tell you this but..." She then held onto her last words.

  With Partridge knowing what she was about to say Partridge's eyes lowered with tears starting to well up.

  Meadow got nervous and mewed, "Morning is fine along with everyone else. Do you want me to go get them?" Her mew tried to sound as calming as possible.

  "I want to see Morning other than that I want to be alone...to process what happened." A small tear slid down her cheek as she hid her face under her good paw.

  "Alright, I hope you feel better," Meadow replied giving her older littermate a small lick on the head. She turned around and walked out of the bush leaving Partridge curled up in the somewhat dry grass. The somewhat stale air bringing her a little comfort.

  After what felt like a moon of laying down Morning came through the entrance with Dawnstar and Lily. It had been a while since Partridge had seen her mother but her fur looked a little unkempt and that also was the same with Morning.

  Dawnstar then rushed towards her kit and nuzzling her affectionately before speaking, "Starclan, I'm grateful you're safe when I got the word you were awake I rushed over as fast as I could." She mewed giving Partridge a lick to her ear and her head.

  "I'm so happy your alright Partridge you must be hungry I'll find what we've got," Lily mewed. Morning who was still sitting next to the entrance looked like she was dragged through a bramble bush backward and her yellow eyes looked a bit duller in color which made Partridge wonder what she looked like.

  "Don't worry I'll go get it. It'll be the fattest fresh-kill you've ever seen." Morning mewed happily which betrayed her dull yellow eyes filled with sadness.

  Dawnstar continued to groom Partridge while Lily talked with them both. Morning came back with a fat vole and three mice. Morning set them down and nudged the vole towards Partridge. With her stomach empty she ate her vole while everyone else had a mouse. With a few words exchanged and with full bellies. Dawnstar and Lily exited leaving Morning and Partridge alone.

  "Shouldn't you be sleeping with the other apprentices tonight?" Partridge questioned the gray she-cat.

  "Unless you want me to. Until then, I think I'm sleeping here tonight," Morning grunted and stretched her back before laying down next to Partridge.

"Do you know who your mentor's going to be?" Partridge questioned again.

  "I don't know honestly give me anyone that isn't cranky and I'd call it good," Morning responded with a bit of longing in her voice. "It isn't fair I was supposed to have my warrior assessment next moon why did this have to happen," Morning yowled with tears streaming down her face. Then, she continued, "And he was the only father figure I've ever had. Why does Starclan want me to suffer this punishment? I never...meant what I said...at camp." Her voice broke and she continued to cry.

  Partridge didn't know what to do so she gave a few comforting licks to her forehead. Morning cried until the moon started to rise and passed out. Partridge still remembering the field just didn't know how to react and wondered if they could have helped if they followed Honeycomb. Tears slid down her muzzle as she tried to get some sleep.

  She woke up in the field again the yellow-green grass tainted with the stench of blood. The dog that killed Swallowclaw started chasing her into the dark confusing woods of The Forest of Never-Ending Shadows.