Thornheart's Acceptance

Chapter 17

Thornpaw felt the forest start to spin as she watched Doestep race over to Brackenstar. The pale cream and white medicine cat had wide eyes with tears starting to pool, but she didn't let any fall. Instead she yelled for,

"Lilyheart!" In an instant the white queen was standing next to the amber eyed she-cat. She was too far away to hear what they were saying, but the moment that Doestep's paws moved Lilyheart quickly replaced them. Thornpaw let in a sharp intake of breath when she saw the medicine cat's paw. The normally white paws were now stained a dark red. Thornpaw could see the green eyed she-cat's mouth start to move, trying to talk to Doestep, but the medicine cat didn't pay any attention to her.

Thornpaw tore her eyes away as tears started to burn. She looked around the clearing, there weren't many cats left. To her right was Willowcreek and Fernpelt. The older grey warrior was leaning heavily on the younger, trying to keep the leg that the fox had grabbed from dragging on the ground. Willowcreek looked mostly intact only having minor wounds on his left lower shoulder. To her left was Bluetail, Owlpaw and Poppypaw. Like Willowcreek, Owlpaw and Poppypaw looked mostly intact with only minor cuts from getting thrown around. While Bluetail has two long cuts starting on the side of his neck near the base and running down his chest in on the inside of his right foreleg. Thornpaw tensed when someone pushed up against her side. She turned and looked down at Timberpaw, he was laying down on his uninjured side. With a deep breath, her right hind leg gave out causing her to sit down with a thud. She adjusted herself so that she wasn't putting pressure on her leg or shoulder.

The seven of them watched in eerie silence as Doestep and Lilyheart worked to try and stop Brackenstar from bleeding. Until Doestep's head snapped up and looked around the clearing, "You two," She called at Owlpaw and Poppypaw, "can you run?"

Thornpaw watched them, they both tensed and looked at each other.

"Answer the question!" Doestep hissed at them with a hint of panic in her amber eyes, "Can you run?"

The sharp hiss snapped them both back, "Yes ma'am." Owlpaw answered.

"Good. Run back to camp and tell Shrewtail we need all paws on deck. He'll know what it means." The medicine cat ordered.

"Yes ma'am"

"And be fast about" Doestep hissed and turned back to Brackenstar.

As soon as they disappeared into the undergrowth Frostfur walked out from the other side of the clearing. Parts of her white fur was tattered and her front paws were a dark red. She looked around the clearing before she raced over to Doestep and Lilyheart, "How is he?"

Doestep didn't answer, only leaned down so she could put her ear near the middle of his ribs.

Frostfur's blue eyes widened as she looked to Lilyheart, who just shrugged and shook her head with wide eyes. Frostfur turned back to Doestep, "Doestep, how is he?" she asked with a more urgent voice.

The cream and white medicine cat looked at her for the first time, "I don't know."

"What?"

"Something is wrong." Doestep answered.

Thornpaw felt glanced at Timberpaw, "What does she mean by 'wrong'?"

The fur on the back of Frostfur's neck started to bristle, "What do you mean by wrong? Did he lose a life?"

"I don't know. Something is wrong." Doestep answered through her teeth, "We need to get him back to camp."

Frostfur nodded before looking at everyone in the clearing, "Berrystripe, help me get Brackenstar." The cream striped warrior nodded and moved ready to grab the wounded warrior. "Everyone else get back to camp, help those around you. No one should be walking alone." She addressed the clearing, "Is that understood?"