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Goosefeather's Judgment--Ch.20

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Green leaves turned to rusty reds and ochers as green-leaf turned to leaf-fall. The forest became patterned with gold and brown, shining in the dawn light. The air became chill and the leaves started to fall, spiraling down to coat the earth. Mice and squirrels started storing nuts and berries, and the cats had rich hunting. Prey was running plentifully, but everyone in ThunderClan knew it wouldn't last. Leaf-bare was just beyond the last fallen leaf.

Goosepaw was busy in the medicine cat's den, organizing their supplies and taking inventory. Gingerpelt had gone with Tawnypaw and Mosswing to collect herbs, especially catmint from Twolegplace. Goosepaw knew, first hand, how desperately the herb would be needed come leaf-bare.

He pushed a leaf piled high with poppy seeds back into its place. "Plenty of poppy seeds." He said to himself. "We're running low on catmint and borage. I'm sure Gingerpelt knows, and she'll pick some borage while she's out. But in case she doesn't, I'll head out. Hm...maybe I can ask Weedwhisker or Poppydawn to come help me with that...we should probably get some cob nuts too..."

He fluffed up his fur, yawning widely. It was a chilly day, but it was bright and sunny. He padded outside, looking around the camp. A few moons had passed since the battle against RiverClan, and things had been mostly peaceful since then. They had had a few arguments with WindClan over prey, but nothing that had sparked a battle. And ShadowClan was getting edgy along their border, what with leaf-bare growing close.

Goosepaw yawned again, swiping his tongue around his jaws. Not much was going on in camp. He looked in the nursery--Swiftkit and Stonekit were looking even more excited than usual, and he smiled. Branchstar was going to make them apprentices any day now. He chuckled softly. Then he saw Littlestream, and his smile faded.

She had moved into the nursery yesterday. The Clan was excited for her, and for new kits, especially since Swiftkit and Stonekit were about to leave the nursery. But Goosepaw was still suspicious about what she had been doing with Gorsetail. He had a sneaking suspicion he dare not admit, at least until he had some solid proof. But he couldn't help but wonder who the father of Littlestream's kits was--she hadn't shown any particular affection towards anyone in the Clan.

Anyone in the Clan. Perhaps someone from another Clan...

He spotted Branchstar coming out of his den, and he pushed his thoughts aside.

The Clan leader leaped to the top of the Highrock, clearing his throat loudly. The warriors in camp perked up, padded forward as he made the customary call. "May all cats old enough to catch their own prey, gather beneath the Highrock for a Clan meeting!"

Goosepaw smiled, padding up with the rest of the Clan. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Gingerpelt come back in through the entrance tunnel, with Mosswing and her apprentice, all carrying large mouthfuls of borage and catmint. Then he turned his gaze back to the ceremony.

Threestep trotted forward, nudging Swiftkit and Stonekit in front of her. Both of them had their fur groomed and they were shining with glee. Swiftkit twisted around, looking for someone, and brightened as she spotted Adderpaw sitting near the front. Since his rescue of her, she had become firmly attached to him. Adderpaw hadn't seemed to mind, which surprised Goosepaw. He himself looked around. Most of the Clan was gathered, but the sun-high patrol wasn't back yet, with Honeypelt, Bigtail, Larksong and Moonpaw.

"Swiftkit, Stonekit, step forward." Rumbled Branchstar in his powerful voice.

The two kits stepped forward, lifting their heads proudly. Branchstar smiled down at his kin, and continued, "This is a proud day for ThunderClan. By making kits apprentices, we show that our Clan is growing, continuing on. We show that there will be another generation of warriors to carry on after many of us are gone."

Leafclaw had hobbled out of the nursery, and he nodded sagely. Pineclaw and Poppydawn smiled at their father.

"Stonekit," he said, addressing his son, "From this day forward, you shall be known as Stonepaw." He looked up, and his eyes singled out a ruddy red tom. "Pineclaw, you shall mentor Stonepaw. You are a strong and fierce warrior, with wisdom beyond your youth. May you pass on these traits to Stonepaw."

Pineclaw looked stunned at being made a mentor, but he dipped his head and stepped forward to the young gray tom, touching noses with him. Branchstar nodded approvingly, then turned to his daughter. "Swiftkit, from this day forward, you shall be known as Swiftpaw." He looked up and nodded to Weedwhisker, who was sitting near the front. "Weedwhisker, you are solid and straight-forward, a loyal warrior. You shall mentor Swiftpaw. May you train her well."

The ginger tom dipped his head, pleased, and stepped forward to touch noses with Swiftpaw. Goosepaw nodded to himself. Weedwhisker and Pineclaw are fine choices for mentors. Pineclaw will teach Stonepaw how to be fierce, and Weedwhisker will help calm down Swiftpaw!

The Clan started to call out the two new apprentice's names. "Swiftpaw! Stonepaw! Swiftpaw! Stonepaw!" Goosepaw joined in, echoing the chant. He felt relieved that Swiftpaw was finally an apprentice--now she would be busy with apprentice duties, and she could leave his tail alone!

Swiftpaw beamed proudly, and her mother licked her brother and her. Stonepaw was glowing with excitement too. Swiftpaw bounded over to Adderpaw, who congratulated her warmly. Stonepaw started talking to Pineclaw, who laughed at his enthusiasm. Then, as the chant fell silent and the cats started to disperse, a cat raced in through the entrance tunnel. "Gingerpelt!"

Goosepaw sat up, surprised. It was Moonpaw--she looked wild. Gingerpelt immediately got to her paws and rushed over--so did Goosepaw. "What's wrong?" Gingerpelt asked.

Moonpaw gulped for breath. "It's Larksong--during our patrol, we stopped to hunt, and Larksong went after a squirrel, but the branch broke beneath her--"

"Where is she?"

"Coming." Moonpaw shook her head, ears flat against her head. "Honeypelt and Bigtail are carrying her. She can't walk--she landed on her leg, hard, and she can't walk!"

Goosepaw's ears flattened against his own head, and Gingerpelt nodded, her face serious. "Come on, Goosepaw. Let's help them carry her to the medicine cat's den." He nodded, and they streaked out of the tunnel.

Rushes to bind it in place--poppy seeds for pain--check along the leg, compare with a healthy leg, to see where the break is. Goosepaw ran the information through his mind, his breath harried. Soon he spotted the rest of the sun-high patrol coming. Bigtail had was carrying Larksong by the scruff, dragging her awkwardly, while Honeypelt helped lift her leg off the ground so it wouldn't drag. The dappled she-cat looked unconscious, which was good, otherwise she'd be in a lot of pain. Even from here, Goosepaw could see her leg was bent awkwardly at a weird angle.

He and Gingerpelt raced up to them, then helped to carry her back to camp.

They settled her down in a nest in the medicine cat den. She started to come to, gasping at the pain. Gingerpelt examined her leg while Goosepaw pulled out the rushes and some poppy seeds. "What--what happened?" Larksong gasped, her body shuddering with pain.

Gingerpelt nosed gently along her leg. "Moonpaw says you were hunting a squirrel, and the branch broke beneath you. It appears you have broken your leg." She looked up, frowning. "Goosepaw, lay down for me, like Larksong."

He obeyed immediately, dropping onto his side and sticking out of his leg. Gingerpelt looked between them and nodded. "Yes, it's broken. Thank you, Goosepaw. Get me those rushes and a good straight stick."

He nodded, dashing outside. He found a long, sturdy stick and carried it back to the den. Most of the Clan had heard the news by now. Mosswing and Bigtail were over by the warrior's den, looking anxious, but Mumblefoot was hovering by the entrance to the medicine cat den, looking desperate. Goosepaw shouldered past him and the scruffy tom didn't even snap at him. Goosepaw carried the stick inside and gave it to Gingerpelt.

She nodded, turning back to Larksong. "Take a few poppy seeds. It'll help the pain."

She nodded, lapping at the seeds. As they started to work, her eyelids began to droop. "Alright." Gingerpelt said. "Larksong, I need to straighten your leg in order to set it. It's going to hurt, even with the seeds, but you can't move. Understand?"

Larksong nodded, but she looked frightened. Goosepaw padded over to her, sitting down beside her. "It's okay." He said. "I'll be right here--it'll be okay." He licked her ears, comforting her like he had once comforted Threestep.

She looked at him gratefully, and he put his paw on her shoulder.

Gingerpelt put her paws lightly on Larksong's leg. "Are you ready?"

Larksong nodded, gritting her teeth. "I'm ready." She said.

The ginger healer nodded, then grabbed Larksong's leg. She pulled it out straight, and Larksong gasped. She dug her claws into the side of the nest, and Goosepaw tightened his paw on her shoulder. To his surprise she turned her face and pressed it against his leg, and he comforted her while Gingerpelt set her leg. She got the bone into place again and tied the stick to it with the rushes to keep it straight.

Finally Gingerpelt finished. "You did great, Larksong. Good job, Goosepaw." She said, smiling at him.

He nodded. Larksong was drowsing off from the poppy seeds, her claws sheathing again. She moved her head away from him and smiled sleepily at him. "Thanks, Goosepaw." She murmured.

"You're welcome." He said. He noticed how pretty her eyes were--such a deep shade of green. Then she closed her eyes, laying her head against the side of the nest.

"Let her sleep." Mewed Gingerpelt softly. "She needs all the rest she can get." She padded towards the front of the den, putting the extra rushes away, and Goosepaw followed her.

"So will her leg heal?" He asked.

"It should." Gingerpelt blinked. "Larksong is young and strong. It'll heal fine, as long as she lets it rest. She shouldn't try to move it or walk on it for at least a half-moon, and she'll need to stay in our den for at least a moon before she returns to her warrior duties. Maybe longer."

Goosepaw looked over his shoulder at Larksong, now sleeping soundly in her nest. He was glad that he was able to help her when she was suffering--that's what medicine cats did. He thought of the gratitude her saw in her eyes. Those pretty green eyes.

I promise you'll get better, Larksong. I'll make sure of it.
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So the kits are apprentices now and Larksong is bedridden. Not much other than that, really.

Warriors (c) Erin Hunter. Not me.

Also, today, I posted the fanfiction to Vicky Holmes' Facebook page, so hopefully the Erin Hunters might read it and enjoy it. :) I also went through all the chapters and added the links to move more easily from chapter to chapter in order and whatnot. Hope you guys like that.
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Mushroomfern's avatar
You've got me in a good mood right now!