Warriors || Aspenrose's Goodbye

Chapter Twenty-Nine

       "Thanks, Aspenrose," Heathermoon mewed beside the cream she-cat.
       Aspenrose smoothed out the elder's fresh bedding, nodding in response. The siamese she-cat lay down in her new nest with a grunt.
       "You know, it gets a bit lonely in here sometimes," Heathermoon said drowsily. She was already drifting off.
    "Fawntail, Brackenpaw, Jaggedswirl," Aspenrose heard the faint yowl of Harestar from outside the den. "Sandheart, Mallowfall, Firepool, and Aspenrose."
      Aspenrose trotted quickly out of the old badger set, hastily joining her Clanmates before they left. She caught sight of Mallowfall at the edge of her vision. The brown tabby tom's green eyes flashed with pity.
       "I wish you could come. It's my first Gathering as a warrior, I don't want you to miss it," Mallowfall mewed anxiously to his sister, Oliveclaw.
       The black tabby cuffed her brother over the ear with her paw. "Mouse-brain! It's not like there won't be more."
       Harestar started to walk, Fawntail at his side. Aspenrose followed her Clanmates at the back of the group, stars twinkling above.

Aspenrose took her place beside the other medicine cats, but she stayed at the edge avoiding their gazes. Nearby, a few apprentices chatted loudly.
       "So you two actually like swimming?" Brackenpaw's mew sounded shocked. The young brown tabby tom bristled with confusion.
       A pale ginger she-cat with a white spot on her nose exchanged an amused glance with the other apprentice. "Yes! You should try it."
       The other apprentice nodded, a white tom with faint cream stripes. "Like Cherrypaw said, its fun!"
       Brackenpaw leaned forward, clearly interested. "So, do you only eat fish?"
       The white striped apprentice, named Lightpaw, spoke up, "Mostly. But we catch mice and water voles, too."
       The young apprentices along with the rest of the gathered cats slowly grew silent. Aspenrose turned her attention to the great oak above.
       Doestar stood first, light brown and white pelt glistening in the moonlight. "ThunderClan is thriving. This green-leaf has brought plenty of prey," she turned her gaze to Waterstar, and dipped her head curtly.
       The gray flecked she-cat stood, yellow eyes flickering over the cats below. "Prey is running well in RiverClan."
Harestar made his report next, mentioning the new warriors in WindClan, Mallowfall and Oliveclaw. Cheers arose around the island, and when they died down, Rainstar stood.
The gray and white tom looked thin and his fur unkempt. His amber eyes were weary with exhaustion. "ShadowClan has suffered a great loss. Two of our Clanmembers have died, Tigergaze and our deputy Squirrelpelt."
Murmurs of confusion and shock pulsed through the clearing. Aspenrose searched the roots of the oak and realized for the first time that another cat sat in Squirrelpelt's place.
A black tom that sat at the roots raised his voice. "How did they die?" Thornear questioned.
      Worry spread over Rainstar's face. "A strange illness I have never seen before..."
       Aspenrose watched Redsplash stand beside her. "The symptoms I noticed were vomiting, weakness, and cracked paw pads. I tired every herb I know, but nothing cured them. Birch leaves seemed to help, but it wasn't long before the disease turned fatal." Redsplash's usually bright amber eyes darkened with guilt.
       Rainstar proceeded. "We will always honor our lost Clanmates, but ShadowClan stays strong. The illness has seemed to pass And Blizzardflame has been made deputy."
       A moment of silence was paid to Tigergaze and Squirrelpelt, but Aspenrose couldn't help but grow stiff with shock.
      She was surprised that Rainstar hadn't chose his son, Darkmoon, to become deputy. She remembered what Darkmoon had told her about his father wanting him to follow in his footsteps.
      She searched the clearing and found the deep amber eyes she was looking for. His gaze met her's and their eyes locked. His eyes portrayed longing, but Aspenrose turned away, ears burning. She couldn't help but feel something inside her flutter.