Time for action

[Darkie]

Heronfrost padded into camp at the head of the hunting party, tail held high. It had been a productive patrol, with plenty of prey caught. Now that leaf-bare was over, there was a lot more around. She carried a finch and a mouse with her, and the rest of the patrol had two squirrels and a vole. She was glad that the prey was running well again; now she could concentrate on more important things.

Heronfrost had neglected to travel to the Moontree to receive her nine lives; a decision that many of her warriors had thoroughly disapproved of. However, it had been the heart of leaf-bare when she had become leader, and she hadn’t been willing to leave her Clan for even one sunrise, lest something go wrong, like an attack by SootClan, or some kind of random disaster. That would be just her luck. She also hadn’t been completely confident in the abilities of her new deputy; all of the cats liked him, but Heronfrost thought that might make him a bit cocky. Besides, there was something about him that made her uneasy…but it was probably nothing. Heronfrost really couldn’t put the thing off any longer, anyway; the cats would get uncomfortable if she started the fighting without having her nine lives and her name. She was hoping to go as soon as possible; tonight, even. She needed to talk to Windsong about that.

Heronfrost dropped her prey off at the fresh-kill pile and walked over to the medicine cat den. “Windsong?” she called, “Are you here?”

[Smokeleaf]

But instead of the silvery she-cat she was expecting to see, she was met with a bright white ball of fur. "Heronfrost!" Wishpaw yelped, bounding out of the den and almost knocking into her leader. "I was just showing Owlpaw my den, 'cause he wanted to know! I don't know why, though. He's kind of strange like that. Windsong isn't here right now, but I can't remember why. I wish I did, you know. I think she's out gathering herbs, or something. I wish she took me with her, but I woke up too late. I don't think I would have woken up at all, if it hadn't been for Owlpaw! Silly mousebrain. But I've been the medicine cat apprentice for a whole moon now, so I know just about everything there is to know, I think! You can tell me, I promise! Ohh, please tell me! I so wish you would! Please?"

Owlpaw followed her out of the den and watched her crash into Heronfrost like the scatterbrain she was. He sat down at the mouth of the medicine cat den and curled his tail over his paws. It was good practice, if he ever needed anything in the den without anyone knowing. You never know when an herb might come in handy. Especially traveling herbs; when he started working on a project, he hardly stopped to eat, and he sure didn't want to starve. But he couldn't tell Wishpaw that, oh no. She wouldn't really tell anyone, of course, but he didn't want her following him around with her annoying wishes; "Please let me help! I really wish you'd let me help! Please?"
...He loved her annoying wishes.

Windsong yawned as she padded back into camp, almost dropping the berries she held in her mouth, but catching them with her tongue before they hit the ground. She would have much preferred to send Wishpaw out to retrieve them, but her apprentice was probably still asleep in her den, and really, why wake her? The mousebrain...
Senseless chatter told her she was wrong.
The silver she-cat released a soft sigh and bounded forward toward her den. Sure enough, there was Wishpaw, aimlessly reciting her many wishes to Heronfrost, the Clan leader. Owlpaw sat behind her, an amused look on his face. Windsong strode forward and flicked him lightly with her tail, a clear sign that she wanted him gone. He didn't obey. She rolled her eyes slightly and sat behind Wishpaw, setting the berries on the ground. "Wishpaw, just what do you think you're doing? Nevermind. Take these berries inside and put them in their place, and please, hold your tongue! I'm sorry, Heronfrost. Is there anything I can do for you?"

[Darkie]

“Yes, as a matter of fact, Windsong, there is something I need from you.” Noticing that Owlpaw was still present, she flicked her tail, telling him to leave, and turned back to Windsong. She’d noticed the medicine cat’s silent signal before her own, and decided to have a word with Owlpaw later. Blatantly ignoring the request to leave was unacceptable in her mind.
“I have a question. I really must go to the Moontree soon; I can’t put it off anymore. Would it be possible to travel there tonight?” she asked. She hadn’t exactly made preparations yet, but she did want to leave as soon as possible; besides it would be a good test of Mudwhiskers’ abilities to see how he coped with the situation.

[Smokeleaf]

Owlpaw bowed his head respectfully and turned to leave. As soon as his back was turned, however, he sneered openly and thrashed his tail. He was too smart to be treated like a nosy kit. Maybe they were right, maybe he was nosy, but a kit he was not! He would show them just how great he was with his next big... "project." He called it a project for lack of a better word, but perhaps "scheme" is more appropriate. Either way, he was warrior material, and they all needed to know. Greatness was coming. Ambition was taking over.

Wishpaw purred at Owlpaw as he left, picking up the berries and padding back into her den. She set them down where they belonged and stared lovingly at the herbs. How magnificent, they were, all starting from small seeds and growing into lovely plants, giving up their lives for the good of the Clan! They were like warriors in that way, she decided, suddenly imagining what a warrior ceremony might be like for a plant. She purred and nosed the piles playfully. "You shall be Borageheart, and Honeytail, and Cherviltail..."

Windsong flicked her tail in slight worry. Going out, tonight? Well... "I suppose we could," she replied sweetly. "I'll have to get the traveling herbs ready immediately, and dear me, we'll have to set out as soon as they're done. But it certainly seems possible. Are you positive you want to go now? Very well. I'll get started." But before she could do so, Wishpaw streamed out of the den and sat down beside them in a flash.
"Ohhh, are you leaving tonight? Could I come, could I, could I, could I? I do so wish to speak to StarClan! They seem so amazing, and to experience a leader getting her nine lives?" To experience her best friend getting her nine lives, at that. "Ohhh, please, Windsong? Pleeease, Heronfrost? I'll be good, I promise! And don't you think I'll have to go eventually, so I can help future leaders when I'm the medicine cat? Pleeeease?"

[[[ShAdYCaUStI]]]

The sunlight caught the golden hairs in the striped pelt, accentuating the sinuous movements and the smooth muscles beneath the skin. Her ears pricked forwarad and her whiskers twitched once as she scented the breeze. She let the lids close all the way over her startlingly blue eyes and then raised them again to their usual partly-closed position. One paw lifted daintily and she gave it a cursory lick before setting it back down. She twitched her tail, looked around at the camp, and then stood. Where was Heronfrost?

She saw her, over by the medicinecat's den. They seemed to be in conversation, and from her position outside the warriors' den she could hear a long, quick chatter like a young river. That would be Wishpaw; the little mousebrain couldn't keep still and quiet for five beats of a sparrow's heart, not if her life depended on it. Friendly little thing, but scatterbrained and overeager. She sniffed once. Not that she would say anything, of course. That wouldn't be polite. Perhaps the silly little thing would grow out of it. Goodness knew all young things had their faults; she'd had many of her own, as her mother had fondly pointed out over and over again.

She opened her mouth once in a bored yawn, and then lifted each paw individually, shaking each slightly, twitched her tail again, and walked toward Heronfrost and Windsong. She blinked again, slowly, thinking about the leader. It was high time she went to recieve her nine lives; she was a good leader, they all saw that already, but no use to them if she was killed trying to defend the clan. Stubborn cat Glacierpoint thought, with an inner smile. She liked Heronfrost.

As she approached, she heard Wishpaw's chatter, begging to be taken along somewhere. What was she saying about StarClan? Did this mean that perhaps Heronfrost was going to make her journey soon? That would be good news. She paused a short distance away from the three cats, waiting politely for her turn to speak.

[Smokeleaf]

Windsong sighed. "Hush, Wishpaw. That is up to Heronfrost alone, and do not pester her." She looked up at the leader, staring warily into her eyes, but even she didn't know what she meant by it. What harm could come if Wishpaw tagged along? A lot, she thought before she could stop herself, but really, Wishpaw would have to come eventually. Whatever Heronfrost wants, that was what would happen.

Wishpaw sighed deeply, disappointed, as if Heronfrost had already told her she couldn't come. When she lifted her head again, however, she noticed Glacierpoint waiting in the background, and her spirits instantly brightened. Glacierpoint was a good cat. Wishpaw liked her - but then, Wishpaw liked everybody. She flicked her tail as if in a greeting, then directed her attention back to the Windsong and Heronfrost, waiting impatiently for an answer.