Warriors : A New Omen

Chapter 10 >> Trauma

                  

Sootclaw led the patrol into camp wordlessly. But words weren't needed for their Clanmates to notice the condition they were in. Their scruffy appearance drew attention, and Driftbreeze was the first to pad over, mixed emotions swimming in her amber eyes.

"What in the name of StarClan happened?" She demanded, lashing her tail.

Sootclaw met her intense stare. "ShadowClan attacked while we checked the border. Something about prey stealing but if you ask me, they were looking for an excuse to fight." He turned his head around and flicked his ears at Willowpaw. "She needs to see Fawndapple."

Driftbreeze sent Willowpaw away without another glance. The tabby apprentice was more than relieved to be able to get away from the cats so that she could have some alone time and reflect on the battle.

She noticed that the drizzle had stopped and the previously dreary clouds now were scuttling away to leave behind a bright blue sky. A cool, albeit humid, breeze spun lazily into the gorge. It toyed with her whiskers and caressed her pelt with invisible paws.

Willowpaw was then reminded of her late brother, Jaykit.

The thought had startled her, due to the fact that her littermade was now just a hazy memory. But the soft touch of the wind brought back recollections of the warm nursery and the feel of downy furs against her own.

Are you up there, Jaykit? Willowpaw wondered quietly. She cast a glance up at the sky. Are you in StarClan right now, watching over us? Sighing, she turned her focus to her paws as they progressed to the medicine den.

"Hey, you leaving without me?" Frostpaw trotted up beside her friend and laid her tail across her shoulders.

Willowpaw, still cloudy with memories, wore a distant expression. But the delicate mist was driven away by the overpowering energy coming from Frostpaw. She knew her denmate well enough to know that she was dying to talk about the battle. At least she had the decency to stay quiet.

Both apprentices continued in silence until they reached the den entrance.  As they approached, Pondpaw spotted them from where she was exiting the elders' den. She raised her tail in greeting, then it dropped upon closer examination.

"What in StarClan's name happened to you?!" She exclaimed, rushing over.

Frostpaw was eager to answer. "We were attacked! By ShadowClan!" Her eyes were gleaming with excitement. "We kicked their tails, by the way."

Pondpaw nudged her sister. "Alright, you. C'mon let's get those scratches fixed." She motioned for the she-cats to follow and led them to the den.

There was an uneasy silence between Frostpaw and Willowpaw. The ginger and white apprentice kept her head down and distanced herself from her friend.

Upon reaching the den, Pondpaw called for Fawndapple, who was in the back working with herbs.

Willowpaw realized that this would be Pondpaw's first experience with battle injuries, and was thankful that it wouldn't be the apprentice treating her wounds. She sat against one of the walls of the den and began grooming her fur. The taste was that of faint blood and dirt.

Meanwhile, Frostpaw flexed her claws and pawed the ground, scoring small marks in the dust. Every few heartbeats she would glance over at Willowpaw then look back at the ground. Her almost arrogant aura had faded, and now she looked awkward- uncommon for the boisterous young cat. 

Fortunately, the medicine cat appeared from the shadows in the back of the den. Her fur was standing up and eyes the size of saucers. She didn't ask questions though, only trotted over and began washing Willowpaw's wounds. Willowpaw assumed that she would pick up bits of the fight from her Clanmates who were bound to stop by for herbs.